Fantasy Sports

BY ADAM RONIS

C.C. Sabathia continues to dominate the National League. He threw a one-hit shutout, walking three and striking out 11. He is 9-0 with a 1.43 ERA since joining the Brewers. The hit was also a questionable call that upset the Brewers. Sabathia went to pick up a slow roller to the third base side of the mound and went to snare it with the bare hand and couldn't. At least for Mets fans, you will miss him when the Mets play the Brewers starting Monday.

Ty Wigginton had a great month of August and capped it with his 21st homer giving him 12 for the month. Make sure he is owned in your league.

The Braves had one of the best lineups in the league entering the season. Now, they resemble the Washington Nationals. Yunel Escobar hit fifth today. He went 2-for-4 with a run, homer and three RBIs. He is hitting .282 with eight homers and 55 RBIs. And the Yankees thought they have it bad.

Chris Dickerson is off to a fast start for the Reds. The outfielder went 1-for-4 with two runs and a walk and is now hitting .324 with 14 runs, four home runs and 10 RBIs in 68 at-bats. He also stole his fifth base today. He's worth a pickup, especially if you need steals.

Carlos Beltran might be ready to go on one of his usual torrid tears. He homered for the second time in three games and has 21 homers and 93 RBIs.

The Mets bullpen didn't blow it this time, allowing Pedro Martinez to pick up his fifth win of the season. He went six innings and allowed seven hits, two runs, one walk and struck out four. He is 5-3 with a 5.07 ERA. Don't count on him.

Rocco Baldelli could be a big boost for the Rays as well as your fantasy team in the final month. He went 3-for-3 with two runs, an RBI and a walk. He is hitting .351 in 34 at-bats and the talent is there. It's always a question of health with him. He's a good pickup.

Jayson Werth is getting the chance to play every day with Geoff Jenkins on the disabled list and he's taken advantage. He hit his 21st homer and also drove in three. He's a worthy addition for the final month.

If you're in dire need of pitching, take a look at Kevin Milwood. I picked him up last week in a deep league and he came though today. It was his third straight excellent start. He pitched two consecutive complete games before going 6 2/3 innings and allowing five hits, two runs, no walks and struck out seven for the win.

Jake Peavy throws eight scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts and doesn't get a win because Trevor Hoffman blows the game. Then Hoffman gets a win.

Carlos Zambrano was scratched from his start with a tired arm. He could start Tuesday or Wednesday.

BY ADAM RONIS

Chris Young will come off the disabled list after sitting out with a strained forearm and start tomorrow against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Young has been on the disabled list twice this season. The first time was because of a broken nose when he was hit in the face off a line drive from Albert Pujols. Young has struggled this season, but if he is available in your league, you will find few pitchers with his upside. He is 4-4 with a 4.74 ERA. If you need pitching, grab him.

BY ADAM RONIS

Here's some news that will be helpful when participating in the final few drafts this week.

The Bengals released running back Rudi Johnson. Johnson took too long to recover from the same hamstring he hurt last season. Johnson could sign with another team. He's worth a late-round draft pick in the hopes of landing somewhere where he could get some carries. Still, his health is a major concern.

With Johnson gone, Chris Perry will get most of the carries for the Bengals. Perry has yet to show he can remain healthy. Kenny Watson will also get some carries.

The Cardinals will start the season with Kurt Warner as the quarterback. Warner had some of the best fantasy numbers among quarterbacks the second half of the season last year. He will put up good numbers. I just can't see him staying healthy the entire season.

At least the Texans made it a little easier for fantasy owners to decided which back of theirs to take. Chris Brown was placed on injured reserve with a back injury, ending his season. That leaves Ahman Green, the starter for now with a penchant for getting injured, Steve Slaton and Chris Taylor. I wouldn't take any of these guys early. I'd gamble on Slaton late.

Cowboys wide receiver Sam Hurd has an ankle injury and will miss the first game. He could be a sleeper in deep leagues.

The Seahawks depleted receiving corps took another hit when Ben Obomanu was placed on injured reserve with a broken clavicle ending his season.

The Saints released kicker Taylor Mehlaff. Martin Gramatica will kick.

BY ADAM RONIS

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spfantasy0831,0,5941778.column

BY ADAM RONIS

If you are an avid fantasy baseball player and follow the minor leagues, Blue Jays outfielder Travis Snider needs no introduction. It didn't look like he would get called up this season, but the Blue Jays traded Matt Stairs to the Phillies Thursday, which opened a spot for Snider to join the Blue Jays.

Snider, selected 14th overall two years ago, made his major league debut tonight and went 1-for-3 with a double to deep center in the sixth and scored the lone run in a 2-1 loss. I was at the game and here are some of his thoughts after the game.

"It's unbelievable," said the 20-year old. "The timing of everything worked out. I couldn't ask for a better situation. It's been a dream of mine to play here."

Snider, who is 5-11, 245 pounds, lined out to Derek Jeter in the third inning before lacing a double over the head of Johnny Damon with one out in the sixth. He scored on a single by Marco Scutaro.

"It felt good to go out there and put the ball in play," Snider said. "It went over his head and to start your career with a double in Yankee Stadium is pretty special."

Snider came up with runners at first and second and no outs in the eighth against Edwar Ramirez and struck out looking.

"I got good pitches to hit and didn't pull the trigger," he said. "It's a good learning situation for me in my debut in front of all these fans. I take it as a lesson learned."

Snider started the season at Single-A, advanced to Double-A and was promoted to Triple-A earlier this month. He hit .344 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in 18 games for Triple-A Syracuse, which is why the Blue Jays decided to recall him. He has struck out 154 times in 487 minor league at-bats this season.

Snider played mostly rightfield in the minors, but has played leftfield the past month and has a good arm. It is expected that he and Adam Lind will rotate between leftfield and designated hitter. Lind was the designated hitter tonight.

Snider should be added in keeper leagues and deep mixed league as well as AL-only leagues. He is clearly a good hitter, but he will strike out a lot.

BY ADAM RONIS

I was a guest of Mark Healy from Gotham Sports on his show discussing mainly fantasy football and a little bit of fantasy baseball. Here's the link to the show.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Gotham-Sports-Media/2008/08/29/Fantasy-Football-Primer

BY ADAM RONIS

The Indians activated catcher Victor Martinez from the disbled list today and he is in the starting lineup at first base. Martinez struggled before going on the disabled list and hasn't hit a home run this season. He is worth an add if he is available in your league because of his track record.

BY ADAM RONIS

The Red Sox placed Josh Beckett on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 19 with a strained right elbow. Beckett visited Dr. James Andrews today and everything came back fine. Beckett had had his start pushed back three times before being placed on the DL today. He is scheduled to pitch next Friday.

BY ADAM RONIS

Here is the top 20 from today's paper. An extended list will be up soon.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/ny-spfantasy295821153aug29,0,7741451.column

BY ADAM RONIS

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall won the appeal of his suspension and had it reduced from three games to one. If you already had your draft and selected him, you are very lucky. He will now move further up in drafts. I compiled my receiver list for Friday's paper before this news. He moves into my top 10. He had 102 receptions for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

BY ADAM RONIS

Paul Greco is in the running for MLB's Rookie Reporter Showdown and is currently second in the voting. Greco, who runs melnickandgrecofantasysports.com along with Lenny Melnick, should get your support to push him over the top. You can vote here.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fan_forum/gillette/reporter/vote.jsp?loc=astros&vid=c35ed2134f34ce6135c5e6d0362a426a

BY ADAM RONIS

I participated in a 12-team draft last night and had the No. 7 pick. It's a league where you start QB. RB, RB, WR, WR, TE, K, DEF and must draft 2 QB, 4 RB, 4 WR, 2 TE, 2 K and 2 DEF. It's standard scoring except the longer the touchdown, the more points you get.
Here's my team:

Round 1: Steven Jackson
Round 2: Reggie Wayne
Round 3: Marques Colston
Round 4: LenDale White
Round 5: Kellen Winslow Jr.
Round 6: Selvin Young
Round 7: Roddy White
Round 8: Matt Schaub
Round 9: Jake Delho