Oooh, fun game...my turn to give eagle a view into what he's going to be sending on the field:
Catcher
Michael Barrett has been solid (.291, 6 hr) and should, barring injury, be the starting backstop opening day. Just keep Pierzynski off the field. Dioner Navarro should be able to step in (.280/.372) should the need arise, and George Kottaras is tearing up AA pitching, and looks ready to step in if Piazza's knees give out in San Diego.
First Base
I was expecting to be in trouble and need here, but converted 3B Kevin Youkilis has been stellar (.305/.423) in the leadoff spot for the Red Sox and should be able to go the distance for me. He'll need to, as Hee-Seop Choi was banished to the minors early on, and "Super Fox" Doug Mientkiewicz (wow, spelled it right on the first try) is keeping up the all-glove, no-bat play he's gained a reputation for.
Second Base
Placido Polanco is playing well enough to start (.303/.314), but has fallen off from the surprising $6 mill season he put up last year. He'll have to start, since I don't have anyone else expecting to get any ML playing time. Eddy Garabito got traded away from the friendly confines of Coors and is now languishing in the Orioles system behind Roberts, though he looks to be playing well enough to merit a call-up if there is a need.
Third Base
Quite the conundrum here... Chad Tracy picked up where he off (.305, 8hr) last year, despite the move across the diamond to accomodate Conor Jackson. However, I've still got Aramis Ramirez to man this spot, despite his early-season slump (.234/.312), and I expect him to pull those averages up significantly by the end of the year. However, I can only play one of them at a time, unless we get a DH... Wes Helms is still in the league, and he's not terrible, but I don't think he's destined to hold a roster spot for me.
Shortstop
This one didn't turn out quite as I'd expected. Mike Morse and Jason Bartlett were two guys I thought would receive extended playing time for their respective clubs, but both have spent their seasons thus far in the minors, with Morse just recently being called up to replace Matt Lawton, and it don't much seem like he'll be playing short anytime soon. Bartlett's hitting very well in AAA, but it was his glove that got him there, and I can't say if that's improved or not. If the Twins continue to struggle, I expect he'll get a good share of AB's before long. Ronny Cedeno, who I picked as somewhat of a middle round flier, has stepped into Garciaparra's shoes nicely (.286/.305), though his average has fallen off from the scalding start he got.
Outfield
Trouble with a capital T. Coco Crisp, new Boston Red Sox leadoff man has been DL'ed for all but a few games this year. Not much looking like a franchise cornerstone for me right now. Larry Walker retired, as expected. Curtis Granderson, of all people, is holding this unit together (.268/.363, 8hr), and might provide a jolt of speed if paired with Crisp in the coming years. Juan Encarnacion is doing little to ease my hesitance to take him where I did last year (.248/.286), and Jacque Jones took his sweet time to get going, but is finally rounding into form (.278, 7hr). Ryan Church has gotten little more than a look as a starter this year, when I expected him to play full-time. Luis Terrero currently has the priviledge of riding a Major League bench. Terrmel Sledge hasn't even gotten that, though I expected less. So, right now I'm sitting at 2 1/2 OF's, hoping for a little friendly action from MLB managers.
Starting Pitching
Jake Peavy started slow, but has returned to Cy Young-caliber form and is justifying the first-round selection (3.64, 1.09). Ben Sheets has loitered on the DL for much longer than I'd like, since I'll need Sheets' innings come crunch time. Cliff Lee has been a bit disappointing (4.65, 1.45), but he's eating innings, and that's alright. Casey Fossum(5.19, 1.43), Josh Fogg(4.35, 1.35), and Kameron Loe(4.29, 1.41) have been solid but unspectacular, and keep making their turns in the rotation, which is about what I was hoping for. Angel Guzman and Joe Saunders haven't seen any time on the ML roster, so I'm crossing my fingers for a little help there.
Relief Pitching
Eric Gagne, like Sheets, has been reluctant to come off the DL, and his presence is missed. Chris Reitsma has been getting saves, but he's been making them much more interesting (6.41, 1.63) than I'd prefer. Bobby Jenks has been better (4.26, 1.32), but not the lights-out sort I'd like to see. Randy Flores still has a job (4.73, 1.20), which is more than I can say for his former teammate, Al Reyes, apparently done for the year due to TJ. Will Ohman hasn't improved (6.16, 1.53) like I'd hoped. Esteban Yan is, well, Esteban Yan (6.85, 1.43) and that's all there is to say about that. Roman Colon was only recently called up into the Tigers' pen, though I really don't know how long he'll last.
Minor Leagues
George Kottaras is probably the hottest prospect I've got, though I've got enough young guys at the major league level that I can hopefully draft to fill things up from the back end for a little while. Tom Gorzelanny moved up the Pirates' prospect list and is playing well in AA (2.56 era). Phil Humber is out with TJ for another few months. Kory Casto is holding his own in AA (.273/.394), though Zimmerman might force him to be traded or moved, not that I'd mind with the 3B logjam I already have. Joaquin Arias is hurting in the averages (.260/.278), but his speed (12/15 sb) is keeping me interested. Hernan Iribarren fell out of BA's top 10 for the Brewers, but is playing well in Hi A (.304/.341), though he doesn't look like he'll fill my need for a backup 2B anytime soon, especially with Weeks in Milwaukee.
Others are out there, but I've written enough here for those of you looking for trade bait.
Also, I'll be updating the list in the next few days, since I've got time now with finals over. Keep an eye out
