By Dalton Del Don – Senior Writer
Handed the No. 1 pick in not one, but two different fantasy leagues this year, I debated long and hard over whom to take between Albert Pujols or Jose Reyes. It’s early, but not too soon to be extremely frustrated. I like Pujols’ chances of improving on his .152 average, but Reyes has LaDainian Tomlinson like fantasy dominance ability. He could lead the league in steals and also swat 25 homers. The fact he’s already walked five times in seven games shows he’s continuing to improve.
If I set the over/under on Alex Rodriguez’s RBI total at 140 for the season, which side would you take? He’s the first Yankee to homer six times in the first seven games and should be batting with both Derek Jeter and Bobby Abreu on base 40 percent of the time. He’s not a sell-high candidate, so sit back and enjoy.
Tim Hudson’s splitter looked nasty Tuesday. And even though he was pitching against the Nationals, MLB is going to go ahead and still count the stats anyway. While oblique injuries have robbed Hudson’s ability to lift weights during the offseason in the past, Hudson ignored that cautious tactic and lifted six times a week during winter. Apparently, this “best shape of his career” storyline may be for real. The 12 strikeouts over 14 innings are especially important for Hudson, who hasn’t been missing too many bats in an Atlanta uniform. A return to 2003-type numbers are unlikely, but Hudson is going to put up his best season in the Senior Circuit by far this year.
Congratulations if you drafted Orlando Hudson, as it looks like you got a potential top-15 middle infielder at a likely cheap cost. O-Dog has always had this ability but been a little slow to develop. Already the game’s premiere defensive second basemen, Hudson is in prime position to have his best season yet, hitting third in one of the very best hitter’s parks. This isn’t out of nowhere, as Hudson dramatically improved his plate discipline after the All-Star break last year, sporting a 27:32 K:BB ratio. A 20/20 season is attainable.
Delmon Young and Jeff Francoeur are hitting a combined .345, yet with a 12:1 K:BB ratio, suggesting that average will last about as long as Jorge Julio will as Florida’s closer – not very.
Can’t wait for Dice-K v. King Felix Wednesday night.
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