By Dalton Del Don

Quietly, Jose Lopez has been a very valuable middle infielder this year. He doesn’t offer great speed or power, but he’s batting .298 and is on pace to finish with 80 runs scored and 88 RBI. That’s sneaky production.

Speaking of middle infield run producers, Jed Lowrie has been an excellent source of RBI since he took over shortstop duties for the injured Julio Lugo. Since the All-Star break, Lowrie has posted a .326/.404/.506 line with solid plate discipline. If you prorate his stats over a full season, you’d be looking at 108 runs batted in.

What has gotten into Paul Maholm? He’s allowed two runs or fewer in five of his last six starts, including a 52:14  KBB ratio since June ended. With a 2.94 ERA and 1.10 WHIP since the second half of the season started, the former first round pick looks to be putting it all together.

Could Dan Uggla’s nightmare of an All-Star game be having such a  carryover effect? Since that game, he’s batting .189, and his power has all but evaporated. The weirdest part of his season has to be his .190/.289/.333 line against left-handers.

Max Scherzer has to be owned in all leagues right now. His arm feels fresh after returning from the DL, as his fastball has reached 97 mph. His slider and changeup are still coming along, but he has the stuff to make a major impact as soon as Arizona recalls him, something that figures to happen within a week or two. Rightfully, he’ll go back into the starting rotation.

As a Giants fan, it’s positively horrifying to hear that Matt Cain has thrown more pitches than anyone in the league. Tim Lincecum is No. 2.

Amazing what happens when Toronto quit messing with Adam Lind and just left him in the lineup. He’s batting .324 with six homers since the All-Star break, including four long balls over the past six games. Impressively, Lind has also hit southpaws even better than he has righties.

Ian Stewart is going to be the type of difference maker who wins fantasy leagues for those who added him when he was called up last month. He has 27 RBI during the 28 games since getting recalled. Production like that is pretty hard to find for someone available at second base. Remarkably, the left-hander has posted a 1.330 OPS against southpaws this season and has actually hit better on the road than at Coors Field so far.

All right fine, I give up. I believe in Ryan Dempster. He still walks too many batters, but with an 8.2 K/9 IP mark, this breakout is legit. How about a 1.86 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 45 Ks over 38.2 innings since the All-Star break? He’s been a little lucky still with his hit rate (.270 BABIP), so a sub-3.00 ERA shouldn’t be expected, but all those strikeouts and groundballs induced will lead to future success regardless. I must admit, I didn’t see this one coming.

A.J. Burnett, Rich Harden and Kevin Slowey combined for a 35:1 K:BB ratio Tuesday. That’s pretty good.

I was thinking of putting together a fantasy football league consisting of RotoScoop readers. If interested in joining, let me know in the comments or e-mail me at seven3d@aol.com

By Dalton Del Don

TIER ONE

1. Kellen Winslow – Winslow only caught 55 percent of the passes thrown his way last year, but that’s more to do with all those targets (148) than lack of skill. He’s essentially Cleveland’s No. 2 wideout, and considering the team’s poor defense and Braylon Edwards taking up much of the opponent’s attention, it’s a great situation to be in. All those knee surgeries may eventually catch up to him, but he’s the top rated TE for 2008.

2. Jason Witten – Witten’s in a similar situation as Winslow, acting as the No. 2 option in the passing game while playing in a great aerial attack with an elite WR beside him. Despite last year’s seven scores, he’s rarely targeted in the red zone, so he’s a better option in yardage heavy leagues.

3. Antonio Gates – He’s still the best, but the lingering toe/foot injury knocks him down a couple of pegs. With Chris Chambers’ arrival and the emergence of Vincent Jackson, there’s also more options in the passing game than ever before in San Diego. The injury is a legitimate concern.

TIER TWO

4. Tony Gonzalez – Thought to be on the downside of his career, Gonzalez’s 2007 season was one of his best ever, thanks in no small part to a league-leading 154 targets. Unlike running backs, receivers can still be effective into their 30s, so there’s no reason to expect a total collapse this year. Because Kansas City is likely to be playing from behind early and often, plenty of more looks should follow.

5. Jeremy Shockey – Shockey can’t stay healthy, so there will be safer options here. However, the move to New Orleans was a big boost to his fantasy value. The Giants frequently asked him to block more than he liked, and he immediately becomes the Saints’ No. 2 option in the passing game. His YPA is typically disappointing for a perceived star, but New Orleans throws the ball more than any team in the league, and you can be sure Sean Payton will effectively use him downfield.

6. Chris Cooley – Cooley is very solid, especially in TD-heavy leagues, but he doesn’t get targeted like the other elite tight ends. Moreover, Al Saunders’ departure is of some concern. Still, he’s a safe pick.

7. Vernon Davis – Davis doesn’t have great hands, but his physical ability is second to none. Of course, that doesn’t always translate to success on the gridiron, but he’s still at the stage of his career where a huge leap forward is possible. New OC Mike Martz has never utilized the tight end position, but he’s all about creating mismatches, and Davis is the team’s best playmaker in the passing game. Quarterback figures to be a big problem in San Francisco, but that doesn’t mean VD can’t still breakout.

8. Owen Daniels – Playing in perhaps the league’s most underrated passing attack, Daniels got 8.17 YPA last year, which was higher than both Winslow and Witten. In this his third year, expect a big leap. And don’t punish him for last year’s subpar TD total (three), as touchdowns can be fluky. Remember, Witten had just one score in 2006. At 6-3, 247 lbs, there’s no reason Daniels can’t be utilized in the red zone.

9. Tony Scheffler – Scheffler’s lingering foot problems aren’t without concern, but his 8.45 YPA last year reveals a future star. If that’s not enough, he caught a ridiculous 75 percent of the passes thrown his way – both marks better than Gates. Of course, that came in a more limited sample size, but Denver has produced huge TE numbers before, and Jay Cutler is a rising superstar. In your draft, you’ll likely be able to wait much longer than where Daniels and Scheffler are placed here, so keep that in mind. Since tight ends have a limited upside, it’s best to wait and target one of these two.

10. Todd Heap – Heap’s extremely productive when on the field, but he’s now missed an average of five games over the past four seasons. He’s also already dealing with a nagging calf injury and has a weak quarterback throwing to him. Still, he’s not a bad target if he falls coming off such a down year.

11. Dallas Clark – Clark scored 11 touchdowns last year and plays in the prolific Indy offense, but don’t go chasing last season’s stats. For one, he’s injury-prone. Also, his catch rate (57 percent) and YPA (6.10) are subpar, and he’s unlikely to find himself in such an ideal situation as last year, as either Marvin Harrison will return to health and/or Anthony Gonzalez will develop even further. A remarkable 25 percent of Clark’s targets last year came in the red zone, so he’s totally reliant on scoring.

12. Alge Crumpler – Crumpler should bounce back after coming to a Tennessee system that loves to feature the tight end. He’s already developing a nice rapport with Vince Young, who figures to dump off to him frequently. There isn’t much upside, but Crumpler could reemerge as a TE1 option.

TIER THREE

13. Greg Olsen
14. Heath Miller
15. Randy McMichael
16. Zach Miller
17. Ben Utecht
18. Ben Watson
19. Donald Lee
20. L.J. Smith

Here’s a podcast from this week’s segment. Ch. 144, Tuesdays at 11 am Pacific time. Can also be listened to online now, over at XMradio.com.

A new edition of Risers & Fallers.

By Dalton Del Don

Without looking, try to guess who leads the National League in complete games. If your answer was someone with seven starts (CC Sabathia), you’d be correct. Has there ever been a more valuable midseason addition to NL-only leagues? Chances are his 1.58 ERA and 0.91 WHIP are only going to lower after his next start against the Padres. Still, all this Cy Young talk seems off base, given that it’s a league-split award. Of course, I may change my tune by the end of September.

Kosuke Fukudome has been solid during his first year in the U.S., posting a .372 OBP. However, his .403 slugging percentage is unacceptable, and he’s been dreadful since June, with a .239/.321/.380 line after the All-Star break. The league has made an adjustment, and now it’s time for him to do the same.

Speaking of slumps, David Ortiz currently looks like a shell of his former self. Since returning from the wrist injury, Big Papi has just one homer and four extra-base hits over 59 at-bats. He has struck out in seven consecutive games. Ortiz’s swing doesn’t look noticeably slower, and it stands to reason it may take a while to get back into a groove after missing two months, but the loss of Manny Ramirez has led to far fewer pitches to hit. Wrist injuries can also linger for a long time, and the recent “click” sound he heard can’t be good news either.

Alfonso Soriano has missed 49 of the Cubs’ 117 games this season yet still leads the team in home runs with 21. If you prorated his stats over a full 162 game season, you’d get: .296 BA, 50 HRs, 26 SBs, 133 RBI, 119 runs. He’s 32 years old and increasingly injury-prone, but his bat currently looks as good as ever.

Brett Myers has a 2.10 ERA and 0.90 WHIP during his four starts since returning from the minors, but there’s still little to be encouraged about. It’s nice that he’s allowed just one homer after previously acting as a human launching pad, but the 4.64 K/9 IP mark suggests he’s hardly all the way back to old form. A start in Washington and another at home against the Pirates probably has more to do with the success than any tinkering in the minors did. If anyone believes otherwise, I’d sell.

Hanley Ramirez is having a rather odd season. He’s already set a career-high in walks, yet he’s also striking out more than ever. His on-base percentage remains strong, but he’s going to fall well short of his normal SB totals, thanks largely to a career-worst success rate (71 percent). Ramirez is also on pace to shatter his personal best in home runs with 25 already, yet his slugging percentage is 33 points lower than last season.

Not that I expected him to become a star, but Melky Cabrera has been a huge disappointment in 2008. He’s a terrific center fielder, and because he more than held his own as a 21-year-old in the majors a couple of seasons back, there was reason for optimism. However, he’s regressed badly since, and his current .640 OPS won’t cut it. His trade value has plummeted, and Cabrera has basically become a fourth outfielder of late.

Speaking of sinking trade value, what’s up with Huston Street? Brought in during the fifth inning Sunday, Street allowed three more runs, raising his ERA to 4.65. His peripherals remain fine, but he has walked eight batters over his last five outings, so maybe he’s not right physically. He currently looks no better than the third best reliever in his own pen. I’m not sure what’s more amazing, Brad Ziegler’s MLB record setting 37 straight scoreless innings, or the fact he was able to do so with a weak 17:11 K:BB ratio. Joey Devine is Oakland’s best reliever.

Adam Wainwright may very well return and be a dominant closer, but I personally wouldn’t count on it. Well on his way to becoming one of the game’s better starting pitchers, Wainwright’s finger injury is one that can often be felt up to a year later, and because his best pitch (curveball) is also the one the injury affects most, his return may come with some inconsistency.

Could it be? My main man Rocco Baldelli is back in action, folks, and hitting cleanup no less. The odds are greater he won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow than he’ll be back in the lineup, but because Carl Crawford’s mess of a 2008 season got even worse with what looks like a season-ending injury, Baldelli could be looking at all the at-bats his fragile body can handle, making him someone to gamble on. Still, there’s a better chance Tim Lincecum accepts my hand in marriage than Baldelli staying healthy.

Bill Belichick is no dummy. He fully plans on using the “Madden” strategy in regards to the new coin toss rule, meaning he’ll always defer to the second half if he wins the flip. While the rest of the herd figures to stay the course, Belichick acts like you’d be insane not to, and rightfully so.

It was great to see Barry Bonds back at AT&T Park for the first time since retiring – err, being blackballed – Saturday, and the crowd properly treated him like the great man he is. It got even better when he later joined Kruk and Kuip in the TV booth for a couple of innings, referring to Aaron as “Scott” Rowand. Barry! Barry! Barry!

Top-5 Entities

1. Family
2. Sports
3. Friends
4. Radiohead
5. TV/Movies/Food

By Dalton Del Don

Roy Halladay is more machine than man. In today’s game, the fact he’s averaged 7.2 innings per start this season is truly remarkable. His strikeout rate is far from special, but his 5.14:1 K:BB ratio and 1.87 G/F marks are. Without a doubt, he’s one of baseball’s elite pitchers.

Emilio Bonifacio is likely long gone in deep leagues, but he could prove useful in even mid-sized formats. He could learn how to take a walk, but the stolen base ability is legit. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s virtually guaranteed regular playing time from here on out, and out of the leadoff spot to boot.

Matt Lindstrom currently has a 1.51 WHIP. However, a closer inspection reveals he hasn’t allowed a run since June, a span of 13.1 innings. He also sports a 13:3 K:BB ratio over that time. Lindstrom, who can reach triple digits on the radar gun, looks like the Marlins’ closer for 2009.

Ubaldo Jimenez is having an interesting season. After a rough start, he gave up three runs or fewer over his last seven starts, including just one run allowed over the last three outings before getting blown up Thursday. But it gets real weird digging deeper, as he entered Thursday with a 2.58 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 5.29 K/9 IP mark while pitching at home. On the road, his numbers were: 4.72 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 9.37 K/9 IP. Forget the fact he was posting much better numbers at Coors Field, the discrepancy in K rates versus production was the biggest anomaly of all.

Ian Kennedy has a 2.14 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 46.1 Triple-A innings this season. As dreadful as he’s been up in New York, he’s worth monitoring. He could prove to be a difference maker.

Since the All-Star break, the Giants have hit six home runs. Six! Fernando Tatis has hit five. Aaron Rowand became the first San Francisco player to reach double-digits (and last team to do so) when he clubbed his 10th HR on Wednesday. They are on pace to finish the season with 90 home runs. No team has hit fewer than 100 in a season since 1992, and the Phillies currently have 159 HRs. In unrelated news, Barry Bonds remains unemployed, despite the fact he’s stated he’d donate this season’s salary to charity.

Is there anyone more insufferable than Rick Reilly?

Chris Johnson, Kenny Watson, Tim Hightower and Ray Rice are all terrific later round fliers. I’d be willing to bet one – if not two or three – finish with better production than the currently listed starters above them on their respective depth charts.

The Texans might very well have four of the top-25 properties in the NFL on their current roster. DeMeco Ryans and Amobi Okoye might very well be top-50 properties as well. Football is way too much of a team sport for that to mean instant success, and there are gaping holes elsewhere, but this squad is dangerous. Speaking of Mario Williams, I definitely got that one wrong, as I stupidly chided them for not taking Reggie Bush at the time. That has turned out to be one of the biggest mismatches of value in the league. Although I did get the Dwight Howard over Emeka Okafor pick right, I also went crazy when the Twins took Joe Mauer over Mark Prior.

Never, under any circumstances, not draft a player because they have the same bye week as someone you already selected. Don’t even think about it.

Top-5 Meals

1. New York Steak
2. Rack of Lamb
3. Chicken Parmigan
4. Prime Rib
5. Dungeness Crab

Here’s this week’s podcast, where Chris and I discuss the recent RotoWire “Steak” league fantasy football draft we were in. As expected, my team is better than his.

Check out the newest version of my risers and fallers.

Drew Brees or Tony Romo?

Brett Favre coverage or a root canal?

Jessica Alba or Jessica Biel?

Frank Gore or Marion Barber?

CC Sabathia or Johan Santana?

Calvin Johnson or Roy Williams?

I recently did a draft with RotoWire folks. It’s a deep, 14-team, IDP league. Losers buy dinner plus drinks at an expensive steakhouse at season’s end. Last year I was runner-up, but I may have went a little too upside heavy this year, especially considering the format. Here are the results.

Check out the first edition of this year’s risers and fallers.

Here’s an updated, midseason version of rankings. This isn’t based on how they’ve played so far, but rather, how I view them from this point going forward.

I’m going to be out of town in a wedding this weekend, so I might not be able to defend myself when you bash/heap praise on these rankings for a couple of days.

1. C.C. Sabathia
2. Johan Santana
3. Jake Peavy
4. Tim Lincecum
5. Cole Hamels
6. Dan Haren
7. John Lackey
8. Brandon Webb
9. Josh Beckett
10. Roy Halladay
11. Cliff Lee
12. Joba Chamberlain
13. Scott Kazmir
14. Ben Sheets
15. Justin Verlander
16. Felix Hernandez
17. Chad Billingsley
18. James Shields
19. Matt Cain
20. Carlos Zambrano
21. Rich Harden
22. Justin Duchscherer
23. Derek Lowe
24. Ervin Santana
25. Chris Young
26. Edinson Volquez
27. John Danks
28. Zack Greinke
29. A.J. Burnett
30. Ted Lilly
31. Jair Jurrjens
32. Ricky Nolasco
33. Joe Saunders
34. Scott Baker
35. Ryan Dempster
36. Mike Mussina
37. Andy Pettitte
38. Jon Lester
39. Roy Oswalt
40. Aaron Harang
41. Javier Vazquez
42. Kevin Slowey
43. Manny Parra
44. Jonathan Sanchez
45. Johnny Cueto
46. Jered Weaver
47. Matt Garza
48. Kyle Lohse
49. Adam Wainwright
50. Max Scherzer

By Dalton Del Don

Watching the New York/Florida game Monday, the Mets announcers were comparing Jose Reyes to Hanley Ramirez. Both concluded they’d “easily” take Reyes over Ramirez. There’s homerism, and then there’s downright delusional. Sure, Ramirez may eventually need to switch positions, but it’s not like Reyes is some gold glover at shortstop. Ramirez both gets on base more and hits for more power. His career OPS is 126 points higher. And this isn’t even factoring in Reyes’ attitude problems.

A.J. Burnett’s contract makes him difficult to trade for: if he pitches well over the rest of the season, he can opt out and become a free agent. If he suffers a major injury, then he won’t opt out, and the team would be on the hook for $12 million. However, he has the type of arm that can be a true difference maker for a contending team come October. His 4.50 ERA is obviously disappointing, but his FIP is 3.50, which is one of the bigger discrepancies among all pitchers in baseball. His groundball (1.44 G/F) and strikeout (9.18 K/9 IP) rates are fantastic, and his current BABIP (.338) is 52 points higher than his career mark.

If you haven’t watched “Mad Men,” I suggest you rent the season one DVDs. Season two started Sunday, and it’s not too late to catch up. Great show.

Hiroki Kuroda might be the most inconsistent pitcher in baseball. After going all of May allowing three runs or fewer in every start, he’s since allowed zero runs during three outings and five runs or more in five of his six other starts. Lately, the trend has been going the wrong way.

For someone batting .253 with just one homer and 21 RBI, Willy Taveras has been an awfully valuable fantasy outfielder. With Scott Podsednik shelved, he’ll now see even more playing time, and his 92 percent success rate on steals is nothing short of fantastic. He’s on pace to swipe 70 bases this season.

Daisuke Matsuzaka’s 11-2 record and 3.04 ERA sure do look nice, but this is one inefficient (and lucky) pitcher. He’s walked multiple batters in 16 of his 18 starts this year, leaving him with a horrendous 86:62 K:BB ratio. He’s not easy to hit, but his 3.40 ERA and 1.38 WHIP are mutually exclusive, so expect some regression moving forward.

I mean, “The Dark Knight” was made well and all, but I’m starting to be over all these superhero type films. Heath Ledger was terrific (did you hear he died?), but the movie dragged on a bit. Maybe I let all the hype get to me too much.

I liked the Mark Teixeira trade for both teams. The Angels are a legit contender, but their offense was missing a big bat, and they are one of the teams that can possibly sign Teixeira long-term after the season. Both are plus defenders at first base, and the Braves are now obviously in rebuild mode. Casey Kotchman hasn’t exactly lived up to his potential, but he’s a 25-year-old with developing power and amazing plate discipline, although more walks would certainly be nice. Speaking of the Braves, has there been a team more snake bit this season? They’ve had to endure serious injuries to John Smoltz, Tim Hudson, Rafael Soriano, Tom Glavine, while Jeff Francoeur is doing his best Andruw Jones impression.

By Dalton Del Don

Facing a Rockies team batting .245 on the road this year (third worst in baseball), Homer Bailey allowed a ludicrous 15 hits over 4.2 innings Saturday. He now sports a 39:41 K:BB ratio over 74.1 big league innings. Depending on format, of course, Bailey might be worth cutting bait even in keeper leagues at this point.

Carl Crawford has been one of the bigger disappointments in 2008. A .692 OPS? And if that’s not bad enough, he’s stopped running as well, having not recorded a single steal over his last 15 games. He’s not exactly an ideal No. 3 hitter for a team fighting for the playoffs, which is where Tampa Bay is currently batting him.

We’ll give Fausto Carmona a break since Saturday’s shelling came during his first start since May 23, but what happened to the pitcher he was last season? He’s struck out more batters than he’s walked in just two of his 11 starts this year, leaving him with an ugly 24:41 K:BB ratio. Things certainly haven’t gone as planned in Cleveland this season, but I do applaud them acquiring Anthony Reyes for peanuts.

Troy Tulowitzki has been downright awful this year, but he could be a difference maker from here on out. Still available in some shallow leagues, it’s easy to forget just how good Tulowitzki was last season, and he still has Coors Field to his advantage. Over the six games since coming off his most recent trip on the DL, Tulowitzki is 13-for-26, so a move up in the lineup should follow.

Robinson Cano is officially a second half player. Like clockwork, as soon as the All-Star beak ended, Cano is batting .514 (18-for-35) and has multiple hits in seven of eight games. He also has two homers with 10 RBI. This after he hit .365 during the second half of 2006 and .343 post All-Star break in 2007. Maybe there’s nothing to this sample size, and it’s never advisable to time the market, but Cano is certainly someone I’d want on my team from here on out.

As if the B.J. Ryan fiasco wasn’t bad enough, now there’s word Dustin McGowan has been pitching with an undisclosed damaged shoulder all season long. At least it gives reason for McGowan’s disappointing 2008, but this is the latest example of how some underlying cause can contribute to struggles. That and the Blue Jays cannot be trusted. Ever.

The Dodgers’ latest trade is another example of them just not getting it. Casey Blake isn’t horrible or anything, but I doubt he’s a big upgrade over Andy LaRoche, and he’ll be a liability on defense, also having to learn a whole new set of pitchers. Jonathan Meloan has had a poor 2008, but he’s been transitioned to starter in a tough environment for pitchers and entered 2008 as one of the league’s best relief prospects. If he can cut down the walks, he’s a future closer. Carlos Santana is a 22-year-old catcher currently sporting a .994 OPS in High-A. Plus, he’s not bad on the guitar. Bring back Paul DePodesta.

Although Jose Tabata has a bunch of potential, I don’t have a problem with the Yankees’ recent trade, especially since Tabata has been such a discontent. Marte’s proven he can pitch in the AL before, and despite its terrific success, New York’s pen did need a lefty. Xavier Nady isn’t a difference maker, but he’ll be an upgrade over Brett Gardner, so this deal did fill two needs without giving up a major piece. The Pirates certainly came down from their original asking price.

All this talk about Francisco Rodriguez being the AL’s Cy Young is an absolute joke. What does opportunity have to do with performance? Forget the fact Cliff Lee has been way more valuable, since he’s thrown 95.1 innings more and all, but even looking at relievers in the American League, Mariano Rivera, Joakim Soria, Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon have all outpitched Rodriguez this season, and it’s really not all that close.