First Impressions

I love the first week of the season. It is great when my sleeper tators two knocks the first day so I can let everyone know how smart I was. I really like it when that top 30 player I put on my DTM (Dead To Me) list gets lit up in his first start. VALIDATION! Of course it all means nothing, the baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint.

With that being said let's look at a few of the opening day hitting stars and see if there is any legitimacy to the early numbers. Here are the Dirty Dozen

1. Albert Pujois Like you didn't see that coming. Great American Smallpark, Aaron Harang pitching, and no new contract. El Hombre was dialed in.
2. Garrett Jones Touted as the next, OK only, big thing to come out of the Three Rivers crowd, those of you who played the hunch were rewarded with two dingers. I think that is not a fluke.
3. Casey Kotchman Four RBIs already, can you say trade bait. Hey, he cost you a buck or a late round flyer pick. Roll with him for a few weeks.
4. Placido Polanco Love where he is playing, great lineup, guy can always hit but he is on a 972 RBI pace. Hack Wilson be damned. Hack holds the record for most RBIs in a season by the way. Seriously, he will give you great average and I think more pop than some people are giving him credit.
5. Chone Figgins Man this is why you drafted him. He takes an Ofer at the plate but still gets two runs and two steals and is playing second base which from a fantasy perspective makes total sense. This is the guy to trade for and watch him stuff those two categories and give you some steals
6. David Wright Dinger on first day, I am still not buyer it. Sell high.
7. Yunel Escobar Five RBI on opening day from a middle of the road shortstop. This kid is still young and the power stroke will come to fruition this year. Stay with him.
8. Carlos Gomez OK, this hacks me off. I was touting him heavy a year ago and he flops. A homer, a stolen base, and four hits. This kid is legit and the Brew Crew will play him. Grab him off the waiver wire and crow all season.
9. Colby Rasmus Two hits and a dinger and he is hitting between Matt Holliday and Ryan Ludwig. Most importantly he is healthy and will play everyday. Expect more of the same from him this season.
10. Vernon Wells Opening day dinger and probably wasn't drafted in many leagues. Could this be the year, I let you take the risk.
11. Jason Heyward Are you serious, with the fantasy hype machine at a fever pitch, he goes yard in hs first at bat. If you have him you won't trade him for Matt Kemp now! Let the chest thumping begin.
12. Yadier Molina I know, hits a granny on opening day and most of us didn't even think he would start the season. This guy just keeps hitting better but see Pujois, it is Cincy and they do play in an American Legion Park.

To get more from Todd Farino, RC Rizza, and Rhett Oldham. Listen to our weekly podcast at www.blogtalkradio.com/fantasy-baseball-tonight. Listen to us LIVE every Wednesday at 10pm EST for 90 minutes of pure fantasy baseball talk.