7/8/07 post

Bounce Back Candidates

Every season at around this time of the year, we hope for certain players on our rosters to catch fire in the second half and hopefully propel our teams forward towards the league title.

In this week’s blog, I’d like to list these fantasy players on each of our fantasy teams who I predict will soon turn it around and pile on statistics that will make up for his mediocre season so far. I call these our “Bounce Back Candidates for 2007.

Bounce Back Candidates:

1. Upstate NY K9’s: It’s Nick Swisher…. So far his stats are mediocre but he’s too good for that. I predict a power surge at around the time Oakland makes a strong push towards stealing the lead from LAA for just a few weeks…

2. No Shot (ISUK): Easy… it’s Vernon Wells. This guy is already heating up. His swing is looking good and maybe leading off in the lineup was all he needed to change his approach. Expect 30+ homers by the end of the season. Actually, Toronto’s a pretty good team. Watch out Yankees!

3. Team Curran (CURR): Jason Bay. I know he’s really slumping right now, but maybe the All-Star Break is the time he needs to sit back and realize how to revitalize his talent. It’s not like he’s hurt or anything… If he gets traded to a pennant contender, that could also get him going.

4. Lost Causes (LOST): Travis Hafner. What’s up with that batting average. This guy is a little late this year with his surge but maybe he’ll make up for it with a HUGE surge starting NOW…. As divisional race gets tighter, this guy gets going. MVP may not be in the cards but he can be a huge contributor to his team.

5. Crazy Carl (CRCZ): Brian McCann: While everyone is watching Russell Martin, this catcher will help to propel the Atlanta Braves to the wildcard. I just have that feeling… and as the Braves go, so will McCann. He’s too talented.

6. Help Wanted (COOL): I LOVE that new team logo! Okay, the player I’m eyeing on your team is Ryan Zimmerman. This guy has unbelievable hand-eye coordination which means those outs he’s making are soon going to turn into hits and he figures out his mechanics. This guy went on a tear in the second half last year. No different this year.

7. Baseball Ambassadors (MIKE): Rafael Furcal: This guy has great speed and a good batting eye. He SHOULD be getting more steals and more hits. If he gets going, the Dodgers will definitely get going.

8. Southern Sting (SS): Manny Ramirez. Tick… tick… tick… and when he explodes, it’s going to be huge for a nice long stretch. He’s going to need to do this as the Sox head into the playoffs and the World Series.

9. Haymarket Boppa (BOPP): So much talent on this team. The one guy that stands out is JIM THOME. He’s having a decent but mediocre season for his standards. The White Sox may be out of the divisional race, but it doesn’t mean that Thome cashes in… he’ll end up with good stats.

10. Hilo Firebirds (HILO): David Ortiz. His stats are decent, but not Papi-like. I’m not sure if he’s injured or not, but I think he’s due.