Halfway Home

As the book closes on the first half of the MLB season, we look back at a unforgettable first half. So far, we've seen numerous injuries, suspensions, slumps, breakouts, and an abundance of young talent. As major league teams gear up for a second half run, we as fantasy owners must follow suit.

It's time to address your team needs, as well as the needs of other owners in your league. Throwing out a blind trade is an absolute no no in the world of fantasy baseball. Figure out what categories your team is lacking in, and what categories you can afford to give up. This is especially important in roto leagues, where extra stats like stolen bases will be wasted. Whether you win the stolen bases category by five or 50, you still get the same end result. If you can find a team who has what you need and needs what you have, you're well on your way to getting a deal done. It's important to always keep in mind what the other fantasy owner needs. If you consistently offer bad trades, you're really just shooting yourself in the foot, and in the end nobody will want to trade with you. When it comes to trades, name recognition is what most people use to evaluate a trade, but it's the superior fantasy owners who look past this. What matters most is team needs, for both owners. Last I checked, the name on the back of the jersey doesn't have it's own category in fantasy baseball. It's also important to keep an eye on the actual trades going on around the majors, which can help or hurt a player's fantasy value.

With that being said, it's time to review some of the first half happenings around the big leagues. Of course, Manny Ramirez has been all over the news with his recent return, and it appears he's continuing right where he left off. With the All Star voting nearing an end, Manny and Alex Rodriguez did not make the roster, a pleasant surprise to many. Although the voting process is highly flawed, it seems that the voters got something right for once.

As we've seen numerous breakout stars, such as Adam Jones and Adam Lind, none stand out more to me than Toronto's Aaron Hill. Hill, who spent most of last season on the disabled list is having a monster season. He is currently batting .295, with 20 home runs and 59 RBI. Although this pace may not hold up, a 30+ home run season and 100 RBI isn't too bad from a second baseman who was drafted at about 177th overall in ESPN leagues. Hill is not only a breakout player, but a comeback player, which makes his story extra sweet.

Two other comeback players who top my list are Justin Verlander and Victor Martinez. Verlander, who had a lackluster season last year is back and better than ever with a 9-4 record, 141 Ks, and a 3.59 ERA. Not only has Verlander been dominant but his pitch location is much improved. Last season, his K/BB ratio was slightly less than 2:1, not even close to the 4:1 ratio posted thus far. Victor Martinez is having a solid season after missing much of last year due to injury. With a .299 batting average, 14 home runs, and 57 RBI, V-Mart is a fantasy stud with his catcher/1B eligibility. Not only does he help with roster flexibility, he also gets more playing time than most catchers who sit out on regular rest.

Unfortunately, not everybody can come out of the gate flying. Jimmy Rollins has been a disappointment to everybody who drafted him, but is showing signs of life this past week. True, Rollins was drafted too early in most leagues, I guess an MVP award can do that (cough cough Dustin Pedroia), but is he worth trading? I say no, hold on to him if you've got him. The shortstop position is slim this year, and I believe Rollins will have a productive second half. He won't start hitting home runs like Albert Pujols or stealing bases like Carl Crawford, but the value you'll get in the second half will most likely exceed the value you'd receive in a trade. Rollins has a good lineup around him and is a proven winner. He is currently batting .224, with seven home runs, 33 RBI, and 11 stolen bases, but he has actually been swinging the bat fairly well. If he ends up with close to 20 home runs, 75 RBI, and 30+ stolen bases, I won't be surprised. With that, the average and runs scored will improve. I'm convinced that Rollins will turn it around soon, most likely after the All Star break. He may be aging, but his experience should help him bust out of this slump, and it always helps when you play for the reigning World Series Champs.

Remember, as the second half of the season begins, be sure to keep an eye on the waiver wire as well as what trades are being made in the majors. A fantasy championship is rarely won on draft day. It takes dedication and consistent management down the stretch to dominate the competition. Don't get caught sleeping behind the wheel, or you'll find yourself riding the pine.