To win it all, you have to risk it all. Nobody ever achieved greatness by playing it safe. These theories hold true in just about every walk of life, but they are especially pertinent in the world of Fantasy sports. No matter how knowledgeable you are about a particular sport, you will always need a little luck to truly get over the top. All that you can do is put yourself in a position to actually get lucky. Think about the guy who stays out at the bar until last call, talking to girls that are way out of his league. Sure, there are safer moves than trying to pick up a Megan Fox clone, but the risk/reward of the conversation is worth the gamble.

Keeping this theory in mind, I am here to personally implore you to take a look at Brandon Marshall in your upcoming Fantasy draft. Your natural response to this idea should be to assume that I am crazy. That’s fine. I am aware that I am crazy; insanity allows me to think outside the box. After Marshall’s antics in practice, many Fantasy owners are using the “avoid at all costs” way of thinking. It certainly is understandable because Marshall does not have a track record that would lead you to believe a change of attitude is on the horizon. The trick is trying to understand what is going through Marshall’s head right now, which is no easy task.

Personally, I believe that this pre-season suspension is the best thing that could have happened for Marshall owners. Previously, he was injured, caught up in a judicial case and desperate for a big payday. Like any person, he was distracted by all this extracurricular activity and it really started to jade him. None of this even takes into account the fact that Marshall had lost his star quarterback and is being forced to learn a new offense.

The cynic in all of us says “He is being paid plenty of money to play a game; he needs to just shut up and play.” I am on the same page with everyone making that argument. Realistically, it all had to come to a head at some point and the Broncos are fortunate that it happened in the preseason. If it had not, Marshall owners would be waiting for the other shoe to drop all season long. He was on a collision course with Josh McDaniels and finding some sort of resolution sooner rather than later is ideal.

Look at it this way: it cannot get any worse.

I took a semester of Intro to Psychology in school, so I am obviously somewhat qualified to look into the way that this guy is thinking. With all of the mounting frustration in his life, Marshall lost his sanity and decided to put on one of the worst practice displays in history. I am not arguing that he was right to act like Veruca Salt in pads, but if you take away the fact that he is a professional athlete, you probably know somebody like Marshall. He expected to get everything he wanted immediately.

The driving force behind all this lunacy is money; it’s just simple greed. For as long as Marshall is suspended, not only will he hurt his chances of signing a lucrative contract for next season, he will also lose out on money this season. While he will hardly miss $2,000 for his pre-season suspension, he would lose over $100,000 per regular season game that he misses. All that this suspension really amounts to is his coach, McDaniels, making a stand against rebellion within the organization. Jay Cutler threw a fit and he got exactly what he wanted; why wouldn’t Marshall try the same thing?

McDaniels’ problem is that he set a precedent for acquiescing demands from his players and now he is trying to right that mistake. Marshall gambled that his temper tantrum would result in the Broncos giving in once again, but it turned out to be a horrible miscalculation.

The night after his foolishness in practice, Marshall told ESPN’s Trey Wingo that he acted out in frustration and just wanted a fresh start with the Broncos. Maybe I am just extremely gullible, but I believe that he will not be a problem again this season. Members of the media might tell you differently when Marshall is reinstated to the Bronco roster, but this guy needs to play. There is no chance in hell he gets his payday if he is unwilling to play under his current contract.

As it is, the lucrative contract Marshall expects is a long shot at best. If Marshall expects to be paid like the star wide receiver that he is, he will have to drop all the baggage like Randy Moss did in New England, and show that he can become a team player. NFL owners have no problem paying for talent (Michael Vick got a contract less than a month after he was officially released from prison), so Marshall has not destroyed his chances of getting the Greg Jennings’-like contract he desires. 

If there is just one person (just one) advising him that has any semblance of how the NFL works, Marshall will shut up and get back on the field.

Some Fantasy owners are acting like it is the end of the world that Marshall is missing the preseason. He’s actually getting a vacation, a chance to clear his head, and time to work out on his own schedule. For anyone that has ever seen Marshall, you know that his body is clearly his temple and he will not be sitting and watching television for these two weeks. By the time the preseason is over, he’ll be itching to get back on the field and should become a sponge with the new system.

I do not begin to presume that he will be a key factor in Week One, but remember that he did not even play last year in Week One and still ended up with over 100 receptions. Kyle Orton is not Cutler, but he’s also not as horrible as some people make him out to be. Last year, Marshall was targeted over 170 times and he caught just over 100 of those passes. That means about 40 per cent of the throws towards him resulted in incomplete passes.

No matter what you think of Orton, even he can get the ball to Marshall half the time. You should not expect 100 receptions again, nor should you expect 170 targets, but you cannot expect those numbers from any receiver that is available in the fifth round, where Marshall has been going since his suspension.

The beauty of acquiring Marshall is his No. 1 wide receiver upside. By the time you draft him, you will likely already have your stud receiver and possibly even your No. 2 receiver. If you only use two active receivers in your league, he makes for a phenomenal flex player. If he bottoms out, you will hopefully have struck gold with a later draft pick or a waiver wire all-star.

It’s easy to throw these theories at you, but it all means nothing if you don’t see proof that I have faith in the theory. My proof comes from the RotoRob Regulars league. One of the owners in the league had a real life (whatever that is) conflict with the draft time, so he was “stuck” with Marshall. When he expressed his displeasure at acquiring the malcontent, I jumped on the opportunity to bring him into the fold. With Anquan Boldin as my No. 1 and Chad Johnson (I am bothered by the whole Ochocinco thing) as my No. 2, Marshall represents a guy that I would use in my flex.

In order to obtain Marshall, I traded the very capable Lee Evans. Evans is about the same age as Marshall, has elite speed, and will benefit from more single-coverage with Terrell Owens playing on the opposite side. He’s a nice player, but we kind of know who he is at this point. With Evans having Trent Edwards at quarterback and a sieve for an offensive line, the upside of Marshall outweighs him in my eyes.

In spite of my faith in Marshall, there are plenty of signs that indicate he just “doesn’t get it.” Rumour has it that in high school he quit on his basketball team, much like he quit on the Broncos in practice last week. This type of character issues scared away more prestigious college football programs and landed Marshall at the lesser known University of Central Florida for his collegiate experience. After proving to be a man among boys in college, he still was unable to convince teams that he was worth a first round pick.

Marshall clearly possesses first-round talent and is one of the most physically gifted wide receivers in football today. If a team were willing to give Denver a third round pick today, they could probably acquire this No. 1 receiver, but the baggage remains too heavy for most teams. Marshall is a certifiable game changer, yet his attitude has caused him to become nothing more than an enigma.

Since history tends to repeat itself, it’s no wonder that general managers are not interested in making the gamble. However, the difference between a general manager and a Fantasy owner is quite significant. You’re playing to win this year, but if you fall short, you’ll be able to draft again next season. A general manager would have to tie his job to Marshall, and if it does not work out he could very well find himself unemployed. But if you’re truly looking to win a simple Fantasy league, Marshall’s talent versus his average draft position offers tremendous upside.

So sit down at that bar and take your chances with Megan Fox. You just might get lucky.

We continue our prospect roundup with Part II of the NL today. Previous parts: American League; National League Part I and II

Philadelphia Phillies

The chase for Roy Halladay threatened to leave the Phillie farm system barren, but instead they were able to bring in Cliff Lee and keep their top three prospects — not a bad trade deadline for the Phillies. Dominic Brown and Kyle Drabek were the key pieces that J.P. Ricciardi wanted in a Halladay deal. Brown is a toolsy outfielder who has the potential to be a 20/20 guy. Raul Ibanez is not getting any younger, but the Phillies certainly hope that Brown is not playing a key role down the stretch. Drabek, the son of former Cy Young winner Doug Drabek, has looked good in Double-A, but not so good that he deserved the ‘untouchable’ label.

In terms of guys that can, and have, helped this season, J.A. Happ is at the top of the list. At 8-2 with a 2.74 ERA, he has been the team’s ace this year. The addition of Lee will help and it is hard to imagine Cole Hamels is as bad as his numbers have indicated, but Happ has been the anchor to this rotation. Lee should be able to help Happ be consistent with his pitching and avoid a return to Triple-A (like Lee had to do after being a 19-game winner).

The Phillies have another bright young outfielder who is quickly moving towards the majors. Michael Taylor, a fifth-round pick in 2007, soared through two levels of Class-A last season, batting .346 with 19 homers and 15 steals. This season, the 23-year-old was absolutely fantastic at Double-A (.333 with 15 homers, 65 RBI and 18 steals in 86 games) to force another promotion, this time to Triple-A. Since arriving at Lehigh Valley, Taylor has continued to impress, batting .290 with five homers in 29 games. If he doesn’t get a September call-up this season, by mid-season 2010 he’ll definitely be forcing the Phils’ hands with these kinds of performances. The dude is really starting to put up numbers in Triple-A, with a four-RBI game and a three-RBI game among his last three contests.

Pittsburgh Pirates

I checked and, yes, the Pirates do still have players on their roster. They actually have a couple very talented guys still kicking around. In case you missed his three home run game, Andrew McCutchen (No. 12 on our Top 40 Prospect List) is kind of good. Here at RotoRob, it was predicted that he would see the majors before midseason and that was 100 per cent correct. He’s been a very exciting player to watch with a .292 average, 28 extra-base hits, and nine stolen bases. He reminds me of Matt Kemp, though hopefully he will not get buried in the Pirate batting order the way Kemp has in LA. McCutchen should be patrolling centrefield in Pittsburgh for a long time…at least until the trade deadline the season before his free agency kicks in, at any rate.

Down on the farm, the second overall pick in the 2008 draft, Pedro Alvarez (No. 20), has been promoted to Double-A where he is finally showing the bat that made him a high draft choice. Alvarez struggled to hit for average in High-A, but now he is sporting a .320 average at Double-A Altoona. He still strikes out too much, but then again, so does Mark Reynolds. Alvarez is not that far removed from a wrist injury that limited him in his junior season at Vanderbilt, so expect the bat to continue to improve. The Pirates have nothing to lose, so we may see Alvarez this September.

Another big stick that’s knocking on the door is Jose Tabata, acquired from the Yanks in last season’s Xavier Nady deal. Tabata, who just turned 21 last week, is enjoying a superb season. He hit over .300 at Double-A, earning a promotion to Triple-A where, after 10 games, he’s smoking the ball even better. Tabata deserves a look in Pittsburgh in September.

St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis did not have the deepest farm system before the Matt Holliday trade, but after the deal, it is virtually empty. The extent of the Cardinal youth movement seems to be Colby Rasmus (No. 7 on our prospect list). The outfield is getting a bit crowded with the addition of Holliday, but Rasmus has seen time spelling both Rick Ankiel and Ryan Ludwick. At times, Rasmus has looked like he is worth all the hype. Then there are other times where he looks like an overmatched 22-year-old in a pennant race. When I watch him play, I see the talent that could lead to him being a future star. The 11 home runs in 325 at bats is a total that will improve, but the lack of base stealing is a bit of a concern.

Allen Craig is not much of a prospect at 25 years old, but he is a hitter. With a .309 average and 18 home runs in Triple-A, Craig provides a nice right-handed bat that could be useful off the bench down the stretch. The addition of Mark DeRosa will limit Craig’s immediate value, while Troy Glaus is the Redbirds’ preferred third baseman down the stretch. Still, Craig has the best potential of a Cardinal minor leaguer in terms of making an impact soon.

Catcher Bryan Anderson shot up the Card prospect list last season when he hit well over .300 combined between Double-A and Triple-A, but this season the 22-year-old’s bat has regressed to a .245 mark at Triple-A. The fact that his season ended rather early thanks to a shoulder woe won’t help him stay high on any prospect lists next spring.

San Diego Padres

Mat Latos was stellar in the minor leagues and has looked equally impressive since reaching the majors. On a terrible Padre team, he is 4-1 with a 2.43 ERA. It certainly helps to play in Petco Park. But actually, he’s been fairly lucky, as he’s given up six home runs in 29 innings with the Padres. Those numbers do not extrapolate very well, so he is going to have to cut down the long balls if he wants to keep his ERA that low. Chris “Pitcher” Young has been spending time mentoring Latos and that combo could be a nice 1-2 punch for the Padres next season. Latos has the unenviable task of replacing Jake Peavy as the ace of this San Diego squad.

In the deal for Peavy, the Padres were able to get Clayton Richard back from the White Sox. Richard was one of the White Sox top prospects before he was dealt and the Padres will look for immediate returns on his arm. San Diego won the first two games that Richard started, and he pitched fairly well in both outings. As a pitcher in Petco Park, Richard could have a decent amount of value. He had a 4.65 ERA with the White Sox before being dealt, but that came in US Cellular Field against American League teams. He should be able to post a sub-4.00 ERA the rest of the way.

On the offensive side of the ball, Will Venable has been on a power binge of late. As much as Petco Park helps Latos and Richard, it will hold Venable’s power upside back. He’s 26 years old and this is his longest stint in the majors so far, so he probably is not a long-term offensive option in the Padre outfield. San Diego does lack alternatives though, so if you can handle a .260 average, Venable should be able to help down the stretch in NL-only leagues.

A younger outfielder worth watching is Kellen Kulbacki. He tore it up in the Cal League last season, batting .332 with 20 homers and 66 RBI in 84 games, but he’s essentially had a lost year this season. Injuries have limited the 23-year-old to just 36 games at Double-A, and he’s struggled to a .201 mark with no dingers and just 11 RBI. Once this kid gets healthy, he could be a starter at Petco within a couple of years.

San Francisco Giants

Madison Bumgarner (No. 4 on our pre-season list) is the prized possession of the Giant farm system. He was lights out last year and he continues to dominate this year against older competition in Double-A. He has an ERA of 1.97 between High-A and Double-A to complement his 10-2 record. Bumgarner’s stuff has not been quite as overpowering against older hitters but at 20 years old he is still just learning how to pitch. If the Giants are in the race for the wild card in September, Bumgarner could be called upon to push the team over the top.

This spring, Buster Posey (No. 18) took the Cactus League by storm. Since Bengie Molina is firmly entrenched at catcher in San Francisco, there has been no need to rush Posey. In spite of this fact, Posey has done his best to force his way on to the Giant roster. After being assigned to High-A San Jose, he proved to be a man among boys. The San Francisco brass was quick to pick up on this and jumped Posey to Triple-A where he has continued to hit. Molina is no spring chicken, so it would stand to reason that Posey could see time in San Francisco soon. If you’re in an NL-only league, it is imperative you keep an eye out for Posey.

The Giants dealt away pitching prospect Tim Alderson to acquire Freddy Sanchez, but Pablo Sandoval, one of the team’s top prospects heading into the season, has made a seamless and triumphant transition into a full-time major leaguer this season. He just turned 23 last week, but is already entrenched at the hot corner, showing nice power and a BA that only Hanley Ramirez tops among NLers. He’s obviously a must-own Fantasy asset.

Washington Nationals

One of the benefits of putting a weak team on the field is supposed to be that you draft high. Unfortunately for the Nationals, they were unable to sign first round pick Aaron Crow last season. This year the heat is on for the Nationals to sign Stephen Strasburg. If and when the Nationals sign Strasburg (they have until Monday and so far, a record offer hasn’t made it happen yet), he immediately becomes one of the top prospects in the minors. His name has been linked to some of the best college pitchers of all time, like Mark Prior and Ben McDonald, but that may also be a warning sign to the Nationals. In order for Washington to be taken seriously, it needs to sign Strasburg. If not, the Nats should be relegated like a European soccer team, and we can call up the Triple-A team with the best record. With the amount of money the Nationals are going to throw at Strasburg, look for him to be in the majors to begin next season.

The Nationals do have a few nice bats coming up through the system. Chris Marrero, Michael Burgess, and Derek Norris would all rank as top bats in any system. Marrero and Burgess are not ready to be promoted to Washington, but they are two of the premier power hitters in the High-A Carolina league. Marrero is a better all around hitter at this stage of his career, while Burgess needs to cut down on his strikeouts. Norris is even further away from the majors, playing catcher at Low-A Hagerstown. He does have a tendency to strike out, but he still has managed an OBP above .400 for the season. Norris has a good amount of power and seems to be the Washington catcher of the future.

Of course, the team’s top prospect heading into the season — starter Jordan Zimmermann — was called up early this year, and spent most of the season in the Nat rotation until getting hurt last month. Unfortunately, Tommy John surgery is going to force Zimmermann to the sidelines for at least a year, derailing what was shaping up as a promising start to his career. This injury makes it all the more important that Washington gets Strasburg’s signature on a deal.

We continue our prospect roundup with Part II of the NL today. Previous parts: American League; National League Part I.

Florida Marlins

The Marlins roster is filled with prospects every year. The minute a guy turns 27 on this roster, they immediately get shipped out for another influx of prospects. It will be interesting to see if they can keep Hanley Ramirez in town to help sell seats for the new stadium. Cameron Maybin (No. 9 on our Top 40 Prospects List) was supposed to be the next big thing for the Marlins. He was the centrepiece of the Miguel Cabrera trade and considered the team’s centrefielder of the future when the year began. Not a lot has changed, as Maybin is still the centrefielder of the future in Miami, but the stats are not as gaudy as people once thought. He’s still just 22 years old, so the lack of power is forgivable. The big concern is the lack of speed. Maybin has just six stolen bases in 240 at bats in Triple-A.

Mike Stanton (No. 26) has taken over as the top prospect in Florida. At 6’5”, 240 pounds, Stanton is about as imposing as a player gets. He’s just 19 years old which means he might still have some room to grow. Some scouts believe that he has the most power potential in the entire minor leagues. Stanton will need some more time in the minors though, as he still strikes out once every three at bats. But that’s not a huge worry because at his age, he has plenty of time to develop. Stanton will not be useful to your Fantasy rosters this year, but he will soon erase any memories of other Mike Stantons you might remember.

If you’re looking for a player that might be able to help this year, Gaby Sanchez could be the answer. The Marlins have moved him from first base to third base to help make sure that he stays in the lineup. He is the complete opposite of current Marlins third baseman, Emilio Bonifacio, as Sanchez is a big guy with power potential. He will not steal bases like Bonifacio does, but he is more of a prototypical third baseman. The Marlins have threatened to replace Bonifacio numerous times this season and his .248 average is not exactly commanding a spot in the lineup.

Let’s not overlook first baseman Logan Morrison. While his counting stats are down this year because he missed several weeks with a broken wrist, he’s still been very impressive at Double-A, showing off a tremendous batting eye and scoring 40 runs in just 58 games. The injury probably cost him a chance at a September call-up, but Morrison could very easily be manning first for the Fish on Opening Day 2010.

Houston Astros

I love the Astros. I was a big Killer B’s fan. Those days are long gone, though. Now the biggest killer ‘b’ is “barren,” as in the Astro farm system. There just is not a whole lot to talk about with the Astros. Bud Norris looked outstanding in Triple-A and has looked equally impressive in the majors since getting called up. Norris could stand to improve his control (10 walks in 16 innings in the bigs), but he has been tough to solve on a whole. He still does not seem to be a great pitcher long term, but as long as he is striking out a batter an inning, he has a place in NL-only Fantasy leagues.

Last year’s first round pick Jason Castro has looked very good just a year after being drafted. The problem with Castro’s statistics is that they are virtually impossible to analyze. For the first half of the season, he played his home games in Lancaster in the California league, which is notoriously more hitter happy than any other park in baseball. As a result, his home OPS in High-A was almost 275 points higher than his road OPS. Castro has tried to make the stats stand up as he’s hitting .304 since his promotion to Double-A, but is not drawing as many walks. He’s a patient hitter and most scouts say that the offense always comes later for catcher prospects. Considering the fact that Brad Ausmus is the standard for offensive catcher in Houston, Castro should be a breath of fresh air.

Though I think that the stats at Hi-A Lancaster are always inflations of talent, I’d feel remiss not to mention Jon Gaston’s season. In 420 at bats, he’s hit .288 with 25 doubles, 15 triples, 30 home runs, and 12 stolen bases. These stats are absolutely ridiculous and it will be very difficult to replicate when he is eventually promoted to Double-A. If Gaston does match these numbers, though, he will be one of the true big stars in baseball. Again, take the stats with a grain of salt as Lancaster is a hitter’s paradise.

Brian Bogusevic is one of the more interesting prospects in the system, as he spent his first couple of minor league seasons as a pitcher before switching to the outfield halfway through 2008. He pulled a Rick Ankiel, batting .371 in the Texas League, but that just 124 at bats worth of action. Promoted to Triple-A this season, Bogusevic has shown gap power, some patience and some speed, so he could get a chance to show his stuff this September, but he really doesn’t project as much more than a fourth outfielder in the majors.

Los Angeles Dodgers

James McDonald is one of the top pitching prospects in the Dodger organization. This year, the team has elected to use him as an integral part of its bullpen. For a while, there was a bit of talk about moving him to the rotation, but the Dodgers have decided it would be smarter to use scrap heap specials like Jason Schmidt. McDonald has little Fantasy relevance this season, but he is a guy to watch next spring when the Dodgers are filling out their rotation.

The top prospects for the Dodgers are all hanging out in the low minors. Inland Empire saw a great deal of time on ESPN due to the Manny Ramirez fiasco (how does a suspended player get a rehab assignment — that concept baffled me), but there are some nice bats down there to watch. Scott Van Slyke, son of former Pirate All-Star Andy Van Slyke, has hit .290 with 58 extra base hits, while Trayvon Robinson has been one of the most exciting players in the minors. Both hitters are still at least two years away, but should be highly regarded next spring when different rankings of prospects are published.

Outfielder Andrew Lambo enjoyed a nice season at Class-A last year, and then dazzled in a brief trial at Double-A. He hasn’t quite kept up the pace at Double-A this season, but he’s smoked 35 doubles and considering he just turned 21 this week, you’ve got to figure plenty of those will be leaving the park in time. Lambo could very well be the team’s top prospect, so let’s not ignore this kid.

Milwaukee Brewers

Everyone loved Mat Gamel (The No. 32 prospect on our pre-season list) coming into the season. The Brewers were looking to improve their pitching at the trade deadline, but Gamel was untouchable in all of those negotiations. However, Casey McGehee stole all of Gamel’s at bats in Milwaukee, leaving Gamel to ride the pine for Ken Macha. When the Brewers acquired Felipe Lopez, they finally sent Gamel back to the minors to get some regular at bats. McGehee is not the long-term answer, so Gamel should be given an opportunity to play again next season. If the Brewers fall out of the race this year, Gamel should be back in September for some additional Major League experience.

The other untouchable prospect in the Brewers minor league system is shortstop Alcides Escobar (No. 27). In Triple-A, Escobar hit .298 with 42 stolen bases, and earlier this week — as part of a major shakeup in Milwaukee — Escobar was summoned to The Show while incumbent shortstop and former All-Star J.J. Hardy was demoted to the minors. Need speed? Grab this kid. He swiped a base in his first appearance as a pinch-runner and then had a hit and a run in his first start Thursday. Escobar has to be more productive than a guy like Craig Counsell. As a middle infielder with good wheels, the upside for Escobar offensively is similar to Luis Castillo in his early years with the Marlins.

Other than Escobar and Gamel, there is a shortage of Major League ready talent in the organization. Brett Lawrie and Caleb Gindl are nice hitters, but they will not be ready for a few years.

One arm worth tracking is Jeremy Jeffress, for no other reason than he can simply bring it. Armed with a triple-digit heater, this kid struck out 115 batters in 94 IP between High-A and Double-A last season. He started at Double-A this year, and again racked up the Ks (34 in 27 1/3 IP), but walked 33 as well, forcing Milwaukee to send him back to High-A. Jeffress took the demotion well, and although the walks were still too plentiful, he couldn’t be touched at this level (.145 BAA). Unfortunately, he’s been nailed with a drug suspension for 100 games. Still, he won’t be 22 until next month, and once he figures out how to command that 100 mph heat, he’ll move fast. Don’t sleep on him. Or offer him any more drugs.

New York Mets

Met fans would love to believe their team has a deep farm system. After all, they have to be optimistic if they are going to ignore how horrible the parent club has played this season. Granted, injuries have played a large role in their failures, but that makes the weak farm system even more of a problem. A strong farm system could have helped to successfully fill the holes created by injuries. Daniel Murphy was supposed to be a nice young bat that could step in and be the number two hitter for this team. He’s flashed his ability at times, but a .252 average and some defensive mishaps have left Met fans eagerly waiting for the next big talent.

Fernando Martinez (No. 29 on our prospect list) was the top Met prospect coming into the season and he had a shot to show his skills at the Major League level. However, after hitting .288 in Triple-A, Martinez was only able to manage a .176 average in 91 at bats. Like the rest of the Mets, Martinez has been hampered by the injury bug. The team seems to be getting healthy for September and there is actually still some hope for the postseason in New York. If things go the way the Mets plan, Martinez will not be a factor for the rest of this season, but you just never know with this team.

There is help coming in the lower levels, but it is just not ready for The Show. Wilmer Flores has received comparisons to a young Miguel Cabrera, but the statistics are not there to prove it yet. In terms of younger players that might be able to help your Fantasy team this year, Bobby Parnell is the guy to watch. The Mets have had a lot of issues with their rotation and Parnell might be able to fill the void. He will slowly need to be stretched out, but there is upside in his arm.

The team’s top pitching prospect, Jonathon Niese, pitched decently at Triple-A, but gave up a few too many hits for my liking. He got his shot in the majors and held his own, and then proved he truly belonged on the Mets by suffering a season-ending hamstring injury. He’s someone to watch next spring, as he’ll get a good chance to crack the rotation.

In Part III, we’ll wrap up the remainder of the NL team’s prospects.

We’re back with the second half of our Prospects Update. Here’s the American League.

Arizona Diamondbacks

When your team is 17 games back in the division and half your roster is on the disabled list, it is a great opportunity to see if any of your farm system is ready to play in the show. You know things are going bad when you have players on the disabled list with Valley Fever. Conor Jackson has managed to catch a disease that only infects one in 5,000 people a year. The hits keep coming in the farm system, where top prospect Jarrod Parker (No. 22 on our pre-season Top 40 Prospects List) has been sidelined with a serious elbow injury. A date with Dr. James Andrews is imminent and that is just about as ominous as it gets.

Arizona traded reliever Tony Pena to get power prospect Brandon Allen from the Chicago White Sox. Allen had disappointed in Triple-A for Chicago, but he’s torn the cover off the ball since joining the Arizona farm system. In 111 at bats, Allen’s hit .315 with 11 home runs and four stolen bases for the Reno Aces. With Jackson out with obscure diseases and Josh Whitesell hitting .191 in the majors, Allen could be up for September. In the long run, Allen might be a DH but he reminds me a lot of Carlos Lee when he was coming up. He could be a great source of power if he does get the call in September.

Trent Oeltjen has already gotten the call from the Diamondbacks. After spending the better part of seven years in the Minnesota farm system, Oeltjen seems to be coming into his own for the Diamondbacks. In 2008, he hit .315 with 28 doubles, 10 triples, six home runs, and 15 stolen bases. This year, his numbers remain consistent with a .300 average, 27 doubles, 14 triples, 10 home runs, and 19 stolen bases. Since he’s been called up, he’s hit .400 with three dingers and two swipes in just four games. Obviously, he’s not as good as that, but he is a guy that gives 110 per cent all the time. Oeltjen will always get the most out of his tools and that type of high effort guy has a place in every clubhouse. With Justin Upton on the DL and Chris “Outfielder” Young in the minors, Oeltjen could be very productive for the last month and a half.

Reliever Daniel Schlereth has tremendous stuff, and he’s been pushed through the system very rapidly, getting the call to Arizona for the second time this season on Wednesday. Health has been a concern for this kid, and he needs to limit the free passes, but in an Arizona bullpen that’s ripe with opportunity, he’s someone you must track.

Atlanta Braves

The Braves are not out of the playoff race, but it is evident that they are engaging in a bit of a youth movement. Tommy Hanson (No. 13 on our list) has ascended to the Major Leagues and has looked outstanding since receiving the call. He has not been quite as overpowering against Major Leaguers but the 3.22 ERA is very impressive for a 22-year-old. As Hanson matures, his control should improve a bit to match his statistics in the minors. Jordan Schafer started the year as the Braves centrefielder and hit a home run in the opener. It has been all downhill since then for him as he was demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett and promptly injured his wrist. He probably will not be back for September.

Brandon Jones is not really a prospect anymore, but he was one of the top Braves hopes over the past few seasons. In 2007, he hit .300 with 19 home runs and 17 stolen bases, but he has been unable to match that production since. The average is still there – Jones is hitting .293 in Triple-A – but the power and speed combination have disappeared. He might be a fourth outfielder at best, but he could see time in Atlanta soon. Barbaro Canizares received his cup of coffee earlier this season and was only able to manage a .190 average. At 29 years old, he does not qualify as a prospect yet the people who organize the All Star Futures Game felt he deserved a spot on the World team. The Cuban defector has hit well in Triple-A and only Adam LaRoche stands in his way for playing time in Atlanta, so he could be a cheap source of power in NL-only leagues in September.

The real big guns in the farm system are Jason Heyward (No. #3) and Freddie Freeman. This pair of 20-year-olds has been teaming up to destroy pitching at every stop in the Atlanta farm system. In Heyward’s case, he just seems to be getting better. He hit .296 with 10 home runs in 189 at-bats at High-A, but his numbers are even more impressive at Double-A. In 111 at-bats, he’s hitting .405 with six long balls. At 6’4” and 220 pounds, Hewyard is an imposing presence when he steps up to bat. His partner in crime, Freeman, has not enjoyed the same type of immediate success in Double-A, but that’s hardly an insult to a kid his age. Freeman put together a great Spring Training and he is the first baseman of the future in Atlanta. If either of these two get a September call-up, they are must-adds for a team looking to build for the future.

On the mound, Cole Rohrbough was one of the team’s top pitching prospects heading into the season, but he’s been a massive disappointment in 2009. He continues to walk too many, but is no longer striking out enough to compensate. He’s also been far too hittable and has really taken a major step backward. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Rohrbough forced to repeat High-A.

Chicago Cubs

Chicago has a decent farm system, but it is not necessarily loaded with talent that is ready to contribute this season. Josh Vitters (No. 31 on our pre-season list) is the prized possession of the system and he absolutely destroyed Low-A pitching this year. Unfortunately, the .230 average in Hi-A indicates that he is nowhere near ready to contribute in the Windy City. The other big name in the Cub system is Jeff Samardzija. In my opinion, the hype surrounding him is not proportional to his actual talent. The recognition that he received as an All-American wide receiver for Notre Dame helped propel his career. This year he’s posted a 6.29 ERA in the majors and I doubt he will do much to become roster worthy in the near future.

Jake Fox crushed the ball in 2008 with 39 doubles and 31 home runs between stops at Double-A and Triple-A. The problem was that he only hit .222 in Triple-A. Considering he was already 25, some people felt it was too late for him to develop. After hitting over .400 for the first month in Triple-A, Fox has been with the Cubs for most of the 2009 season and in limited action, he’s hit .301 with eight home runs. With Aramis Ramirez already on the roster, Fox may not be a long-term third base solution, but the incumbent’s injury-filled season has given the kid a window of opportunity. Fox is eligible at third base and in the outfield in most formats which allows flexibility for fitting him on your NL-only roster.

Starter Andrew Cashner, the team’s first round pick last year, has soared through the system, making him a prospect worth tracking. He handled the promotion to High-A with ease, forcing the Cubs to move him up to Double-A, where he’s been even harder to hit through five starts. Cashner occasionally suffers from a bit of wildness and inconsistency, but this soon-to-be 23-year-old righty has to be on the radar of keeper league owners.

Cincinnati Reds

Sometimes, when I look at the Cincy, I forget whether I am looking at Major League stats or Triple-A stats. Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are obviously bright spots, but just about every other position seems to be a bit of a wild card. At the trade deadline, the Reds were able to pick up Wladimir Balentien from the Seattle Mariners. He has never been a truly elite prospect, but he has always been very intriguing because of the power upside. Balentien fell flat on his face with his opportunity in Seattle, but he’s hit well since arriving in Cincinnati. Right now, the five outfielders listed on the Red roster are Balentien, Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix, Willy Taveras, and Chris Dickerson. It baffles me why Taveras is still playing at all. The Reds are 15 games under .500 and Taveras is hitting .237 with a .272 on-base percentage. I know Cincy dished out a fair amount of coin to sign this dude to a multi-year (!) contract last winter, but hell, just bench the guy! Gomes and Nix are both older than Taveras, while Dickerson is 27 years old. These guys have not been able to hold down starting jobs for a reason, so Balentien may have his best opportunity to play in Cincinnati right now. This lack of outfield talent should also provide Chris Heisey a chance to play in September. He’s 25 years old already, but you can’t ignore his combined .325 BA with 17 home runs and 16 stolen bases between stops at Double-A and Triple-A. Heisey might be a fun guy to take a chance on when he does get called up.

Yonder Alonso (No. 30 on our pre-season list) is the top prospect in the system. There were rumours that he was involved in the Scott Rolen trade at the deadline. When I first saw these reports, my jaw literally dropped. Fortunately, the Reds were smart enough to hang on to Alonso. He hit well in High-A but has been a bit overmatched with a promotion to Double-A. The best thing that Alonso has going for him right now is that he is a power hitter that does not strike out every other at bat. As long as he keeps making contact, the hits will eventually start to fall. The biggest problem the Reds have with Alonso is that Votto is entrenched at first base. Too much talent is always a good problem to have, though.

Neftali Soto, a tender-aged power-hitting third base prospect, has mostly struggled to adjust to High-A. But he has a great pedigree, and is getting hot in the last couple of weeks, so he may be ready for Double-A next season, which means he’ll soon need to be on your radar.

Colorado Rockies

Coors Field is still hell for pitchers, humidor or not. Just ask a guy like Jason Hammel whether he would rather pitch in Coors or on the road (home ERA 7.02 vs. road ERA of 2.81). However, that should not scare you away from star pitching prospects like Jhoulys Chacin and Christian Friedrich. In Chacin’s case, he has already made it to the big leagues. As a reliever, he is doing exactly what the Rockies expect him to do – strike people out. As a starter, he displayed control issues. He’s since been sent back down, but it is hard for Coors Field to hurt a pitcher when the batters cannot make contact. Friedrich has been arguably the best pitcher in the minor leagues this year. Between Class-A and High-A, Friedrich has posted a 1.71 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP. In 100 innings, he has struck out 136 batters, which works out to an eye-popping 12.24 strikeouts per nine innings.

Dexter Fowler (No. 11 on our pre-season list) did not necessarily have a spot in the Colorado outfield coming out of the spring. Now he’s the proud owner of 345 big league at bats, a .264 average, and 26 stolen bases. The stolen bases are good enough for third in the National League and he still is splitting time with a plethora of other flyhawks. If you’re looking for upside over the last month and a half, look no further than Carlos Gonzalez. After being traded from Arizona to Oakland, then from Oakland to Colorado, Gonzalez seems to have found a home in the Colorado outfield. He was hitting .330 in Triple-A before getting called up. Gonzalez has 25-homer, 20-steal potential and just needs regular at bats. He has eight stolen bases in just 127 at bats and could be a cheap source of steals in the speed-starved National League. He’s also been red hot as of late (.424 BA in August).

Catcher Wilin Rosario, one of the organization’s top prospects after a huge 2008 season in the Rookie-level Pioneer League, was aggressively promoted to High-A, and has predictably struggled with the adjustment. He’s now hurt and has been shut down for the season, but we were very impressed with his progress in June and July, so he’s a name worth tucking away.

In Part II of our NL Prospects Update, we’ll cover off more of the Senior Circuit minor leaguers.

Let’s review how some of the big prospects around the Junior Circuit have fared this season and who might be coming up next month that’s worthy of monitoring.

Baltimore Orioles

Before the season started, many Fantasy pundits (including us) predicted that Matt Wieters would be the number one prospect to add to your team. As expected, he was called up in the beginning of June and has hit .269 since with three home runs and 14 RBI. These numbers do not live up to the ‘Joe Mauer with power’ description that some scouts projected, but it is important to remember that Wieters just turned 23. Catchers take a little extra time to develop and Baltimore will give him every chance to perform for the rest of the season. His value may never be lower than it is right now, so he is a nice candidate to buy low on.

The future is now in the Orioles’ rotation. In the past week, they have called upon their top two young pitchers, Brian Matusz and Chris Tillman, to fill voids on their staff. Matusz seems to be getting better with each start he makes. After posting a 2.16 ERA in High-A, he actually looked more dominant in Double-A by putting together a 1.55 ERA to go with a 7-0 record. On Tuesday, he made his Major League debut against the Detroit Tigers and picked up a victory. After demonstrating his ability to get out of jams, he could stick around for the rest of this season. Matusz should already be owned in all keeper leagues and might provide some strikeout help down the stretch in redraft leagues. As a rule I do not trust Oriole pitchers, but Matusz appears to have truly elite stuff.

Tillman has already made two major league starts and has come up empty in both. The 6.75 ERA should drop as he settles into the rotation. Tillman’s groundball/flyball rate (0.33) in his first two starts does not remotely resemble the rate he produced in Triple-A (0.98). With some initial nerves out of the way, he should settle into the rotation nicely. In Triple-A, Tillman was able to strike out over a batter an inning, so he may have a little value in redraft leagues. Because he is an Oriole, it is worth steering clear until he puts a couple good starts together at the Major League level.

Boston Red Sox

The trade deadline has come and gone with Roy Halladay remaining in Toronto. A big reason that he was not moved was Boston’s reluctance to part with too much of its farm system. In our annual Top 40 Prospects, Lars Anderson rated as the 17th-best prospect. After a great season in 2008, he has been unable to hit Double-A pitching with any consistency. He’s striking out once every 3.6 at bats and has yet to reach double-digits in home runs. Many scouts still like Anderson, but he will not be ready to help this season.

The help for this season comes from the young arms. Michael Bowden (No. 40 on our list), Daniel Bard, and Clay Buchholz have all seen time on the big league club. Bard appears to be the most prized possession within the organization, as he has already elevated himself to a key role in the Red Sox bullpen. With a low ERA and a high K/9 rate, he can help teams in dire need of quality pitching. Bard was a starter in college, but the Red Sox seem content to use him as a dominant set-up man and avoid any Joba Chamberlain rotation/bullpen debates.

Buchholz was nothing short of fantastic in Triple-A. He’s only made four starts for the Sox this year and the numbers have not matched his talent, so the stay in Boston could be short lived. It’s hard to count on Buchholz as anything more than a reliever down the stretch, though he could be a nice starter long term.

Bowden has pitched in one Major League game this year, looking virtually unhittable in a relief effort against the AL East-leading New York Yankees. The wins in Triple-A have been almost non-existent, but the 2.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP are better indicators of his talent. He could return to the Sox in September and provide some help in the bullpen. Bowden shouldn’t be of much use on your Fantasy team, though.

Chicago White Sox

Hopefully you were able to acquire Gordon Beckham when he started his Major League career in a 2-for-28 slump. Now, G-Beck is hitting .316 with six home runs, four stolen bases, and 38 RBI in just 187 at bats. If you are in a keeper league and are falling out of the race, do whatever it takes to acquire this kid. The American League rookie class has been dominated by pitchers, but Beckham has been a shining star on the offensive side. He’s my pick to win the AL Rookie of the Year. After Beckham, what you see is what you get with the White Sox current lineup. The Chicago farm system was already on the weaker side, but now that Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, and Brandon Allen have been dealt, the system is virtually barren.

The big name remaining in the minors is Dayan Viciedo. After a slow start in Double-A, this Cuban defector has started to hit well. If Alexei Ramirez needs to see time on the DL for his ankle injury, Beckham could slide over to shortstop and Viciedo might get the call up. If Viciedo does get promoted, he might be worth a flier, but Josh Fields would likely get the first shot at third base if they move Beckham to short.

Cleveland Indians

Mark DeRosa, Ben Francisco, Cliff Lee, and Victor Martinez are now gone and it is time for a new generation of Indians. Everyone assumed that trading Francisco would lead to Matt LaPorta being recalled, but apparently his .190 average in his first taste of the Show is reason enough for the Tribe to keep him in the minors. He will likely be up in September and has the bat to hit a handful of home runs in a short period of time. The move of Martinez also opened the door for Carlos Santana (prospect No. 39 on our pre-season list) at catcher, but the Indians seem content to use Kelly Shoppach and Chris Gimenez for now. Santana has been outstanding in Double-A, though, and there is a good chance he will see sometime in Cleveland this September. If you need a backstop next month, he could fill that void.

Even though his prospect star has faded in the past few years, Andy Marte is a player to watch. There was a time when this guy was the top prospect in the Braves’ minor league system. It’s entirely possible that Marte was just a little slow to capitalize on his talent. In Triple-A, he was hitting .327 with 18 home runs in just 300 at bats. Believe it or not, Marte is still just 25 years old, and he could be a cheap source of power. He’s a must-add in AL-only leagues.

Detroit Tigers

Rick Porcello (No. 8 on our pre-season list) has flashed brilliance this season. At times, he’s also shown that he is just 20 years old. Porcello has got good stuff, but he has yet to put up big strikeout numbers at the Major League level. He’s struggled with the gopher ball and is a candidate to be shut down for the remainder of the season any day now. The Tigers know they have a talented arm in this kid, and they will be careful not to risk an injury. If you need a pitcher for the stretch run, Porcello is not a good fit, but he is a great guy to look at next season.

If the Tigers need another bat, they are likely to call on Wilkin Ramirez or Jeff Larish again. Neither are top end prospects and they seem to be earning the label of Quadruple-A player because of the constant shuttling between Detroit and Toledo. The two names to watch for are Scott Sizemore and Ryan Strieby; both are hitting very well at Double-A, but they should not see considerable time this season.

Kansas City Royals

The future is still, well, in the future for the Royals. Mike Moustakas (No. 10 on our pre-season list) and Eric Hosmer (No. 23) are not ready for the majors. They are both at least another year away; maybe next year at this time they will be getting their September call-ups. Luke Hochevar still sports a 5.40 ERA, but the top pick from the 2006 draft has flashed some of his talent recently. If you need a source of some strikeouts, Hochevar can help, but do not expect many wins on the lowly Royals.

Los Angeles Angels

Los Angeles has had a highly-regarded farm system for a few years now, but the prospects that are highly regarded seem to have a way of coming up short once they make the Major Leagues. Dallas McPherson could flat out rake at Triple-A and Jeff Mathis was supposed to be very similar to Mauer; so much for that. Kendry Morales is the only top prospect that has truly been able to break through, and not until this season. In 2009, no Angel farm system was able to make the Top 40.

Perhaps Sean Rodriguez was overlooked. He’s seen time in the Majors as well as Triple-A, but the numbers in Triple-A are awesome. While Maicer Izturis, Erick Aybar, and Howie Kendrick are serviceable infielders, none of them have blossomed into superstars. Rodriguez has a .290 average with 23 home runs and deserves a chance to show what he can do. That type of power in the middle infielder is a rare commodity and something you might just want to add to your roster down the stretch.

Minnesota Twins

The Twins live off their farm system. This is an organization that does not spend a ton of money in free agency, so it has to replenish its team through the draft. Like the Angels, the Twinkies entered the season with no prospects in the Top 40. Most of this system’s talent is still playing in the lower levels, though the Major League team is very young so that is not a big deal. Scouts say Aaron Hicks is the jewel of the system, but a .230 average in Low-A Beloit indicates he won’t be ready for some time.

One player that is ready, and has already seen Major League time, is Anthony Swarzak. Kevin Slowey is out for the season and Swarzak is the guy that is going to fill in. He posted a 2.34 ERA in Triple-A and now his ERA sits at 4.25 in the Majors. Swarzak will not win you any strikeout crowns, but he will give you some quality starts and a chance for a few wins. He’s a great guy to stream in mixed leagues and a solid pitcher to own if you’re playing in an AL-only league.

New York Yankees

New York insisted that it was not interested in dealing for Halladay, but the reality is that it did not have the pieces to get the Jay ace. The luster of Phil Hughes has faded (even though he has proven to be a very capable set-up man) and there is just an overall lack of pitching in the system. Austin Jackson (No. 35 on our pre-season list) was the top guy in the system this spring and he has performed admirably since. He runs well and has hit for a high average, but he still strike outs too much for a player whose number one skill is speed. Still, he could see time in September and perhaps even sooner than that if Brett Gardner is going to be out for a long period of time. Jackson could be a cheap source of steals down the stretch.

The big gun in New York is catcher Jesus Montero. He was not in this year’s Top 40, but next spring he is going to be Wieters all over again. Jorge Posada is not being rushed out the door, but Montero is the heir apparent. If you have a league format that will allow you to add Montero and stash him away, he’s the guy to get. He may be the best prospect in the American League right now.

Oakland Athletics

Much like Minnesota, Oakland has to build from within. Youth is the name of the game and that is exactly what the Athletic roster is filled with right now. Brett Anderson (No. 14 on our list) and Trevor Cahill (No. 15) were highly rated this spring. When you consider that they are both just 21 years old, they’ve each pitched admirably this season. Anderson has been slightly better than Cahill, but Cahill has had some good moments as well. Anderson looks like a great guy to target as a keeper in AL-only leagues, while Cahill is nothing but a streaming option right now in mixed leagues.

The breakout star from the Athletic farm system this season has been All Star Andrew Bailey. As of right now, he seems to be Beckham’s chief competition in the Rookie of the Year battle. Personally, I do not trust Bailey to hang on to the closer’s role. Just last year, Brad Ziegler took the league by storm and was expected to become Oakland’s closer of the future. Ride Bailey while he is hot, but do not expect him to become the next Dennis Eckersley in Oakland (keep in mind that Joey Devine will be back next year).

Right now, Bobby Crosby and Adam Kennedy are seeing time at the hot corner in Oakland. Though Kennedy is playing well, September seems like a good time for the A’s to see what the centrepiece of the Matt Holliday trade — Brett Wallace — can do. Wallace’s bat is supposed to be big league ready, so he could be helpful if, and when, he does get the call. The knock on Wallace is his defense and whether or not he’ll be able to field well enough to stay at the hot corner.

Seattle Mariners

No Mariners graced the Top 40 at the beginning of this season, but it is safe to say that Michael Saunders just missed that list. Instead of allowing Ryan Langerhans to roam left field, the Mariners have called upon the talented Saunders. He’s yet to take the league by storm at the plate, but he is 7-for-32 which is a better start than Beckham got off to when he was called up. Saunders has also played strong defense for the Mariners, so he should stick with the team.

Down on the farm, Greg Halman is the number two talent behind Saunders. He is not ready for the Majors at this point, though. A guy that is worth monitoring is Mike Carp. Russell Branyan has had a great season, but it is hard to believe that the Mariners see him as the future at first base. Carp is not an elite talent, but he has shown good pop at Triple-A Tacoma. He had a brief trial with Seattle earlier this season, but he was never given a true chance to play. Carp could be a nice addition for AL-only teams starved for power at the corner.

Tampa Bay Rays

Tim Beckham (No. 16 on our pre-season list) and Wade Davis (No. 28) were supposed to be the big names in the Ray farm system this season. They are both still very talented, but neither player should be that relevant this season. Davis has the best shot at offering some value as he could be added to the Tampa Bay bullpen down the stretch. He does not have pinpoint control, but he has a live arm which every bullpen can use. If you can pick Davis up and store him for next year, you could very well be rewarded.

Another name that fans should get familiar with is Desmond Jennings. The Rays do not have a limitless budget like their rivals in Boston and New York, so there are strong indications that they will be looking to move Carl Crawford in the offseason. When a team loses a lead-off hitter with a ton of speed, the easiest way to replace them is with one that has a similar skill set. That is exactly what Jennings has going for him. Look for him to be called up in September as an extra outfielder and possibly even make the post-season roster over a guy like Gabe Gross (assuming the Rays make the playoffs). Jennings could very well be the left fielder for the Rays as soon as next season.

Texas Rangers

One word: Neftali Feliz. He throws absolute smoke and was very impressive in his Major League debut. With questions at the back end of the Ranger bullpen, it would not stun me if Feliz took over the closer job in Texas. C.J. Wilson is left-handed, which means he is generally better suited to be a set-up guy. Frank Francisco cannot seem to stay healthy and he does have a history of getting a little violent. While I would not say Feliz taking over as the closer is likely, it is something to be aware of. If nothing else, he’s going to strike out his share of batters.

Derek Holland was called up in April and never given a real role on the staff. Now that there have been some injuries and episodes of swine flu, he has gotten a chance to be part of the rotation. The 5.60 ERA is unimpressive, but this kid showed what he’s capable of with his 10-strikeout performance against the Seattle Mariners. He’s a good guy to have in AL-only leagues and a nice match-up guy for people that stream.

The real big name to monitor in the Ranger system is Justin Smoak. After Chris Davis was generating hurricane force winds in Texas with his swings and misses, the race to become first baseman of the future opened up. Smoak has earned comparisons to Mark Teixeira, mostly because they are both switch-hitting college first basemen that were drafted by the Rangers. The similarities with the bat are there, too. After hitting .328 in Double-A, Smoak has yet to perform in Triple-A, but he should be ready by next year.

Toronto Blue Jays

Everyone and their cousin were excited about Travis Snider this season. He made a strong Major League debut last season after an excellent stint at Triple-A. Unfortunately, he did not live up to those expectations over the first month of the season and earned a trip back to Triple-A Las Vegas. Now that he’s back in a comfortable atmosphere, he’s hitting .305 with a decent amount of power. Snider is a candidate to return to Toronto in September and could be a nice source of power.

Another interesting power bat is Brian Dopirak. He’s already 25 years old, but a dude who can go yard tends to find his way to the Major Leagues. It was just a few years ago that Dopirak was the top prospect in the Chicago Cubs organization after smacking 39 home runs in 2004. After a few off years, he got back up to 29 dingers in 2008 and has already launched 25 this season. Dopirak is even hitting for a decent average to go with the power, so he may be the first baseman of the future.

Watch for our NL Prospect Update, coming soon.

We’re back with more of the 2009 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit with yet another team preview (we’re nearly done now, with just a few teams to go). We’re going to try to shoot out all these team previews and then start releasing the kit’s other goodies (cheat sheets, sleepers/busts lists, etc.). While we wonder if the Seattle Seahawks can recover from last season’s disaster, let’s take this opportunity to welcome better-late-than-never Leon Washington to the Jets’ camp.

What Went Right

When your team goes 4-12, not a lot could have gone right. John Carlson, the second-round pick out of Notre Dame, was a revelation at tight end. He’s not exceptionally fast, but the guy can just flat out catch the football. Over the next few years, he should prove to be a top 10 Fantasy tight end on an annual basis. In other news, Matt Hasselbeck has successfully made the transition from poor prognosticator to marketable franchise quarterback.

What Went Wrong

Hasselbeck spent too much time wearing his sideline cap. The suddenly much more marketable Hasselbeck had fewer pass attempts than Seneca Wallace. With different quarterbacks at the helm, the passing game never was able to get in sync. Carlson led the team in receptions and receiving yards, but the passing game was not the only flaw on this team. Shaun Alexander’s departure paved the way for Julius Jones to lead the team in rushing with just 698 yards. Jones, Maurice Morris, and T.J. Duckett combined to put up RB3-type numbers, but individually they were virtually useless in most Fantasy formats. The poor offensive numbers, in turn, led to the downfall of talented defensive unit.

Off-Season Outlook

Mike Holmgren is out; Jim Mora, Jr. is in. This move officially occurred this offseason, but it was predetermined before the 2008 season. Hiring Mora to replace Holmgren will provide continuity for the Seahawk organization, but one has to wonder if this team wants continuity after last season. To help solve the passing game, T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been signed to replace the departed Bobby Engram. Seahawk fans will enjoy drafting Houshmandzadeh a round or two too early just to claim they have already won the championship. On the defensive side of the ball, Cory Redding has been acquired to help stop the run, while star linebacker Julian Peterson is off to Detroit. In the secondary, Ken Lucas has returned after four years in Carolina.

Draft Outlook

The horrible season for the Seahawks did allow the team to pick fourth overall in the NFL draft. After being potentially linked to exciting offensive players like Mark Sanchez and Michael Crabtree, the Seahawks did the right thing by allowing their defense to get younger. Aaron Curry, the linebacker the team selected out of Wake Forest, has a nose for the football. Some scouts feel that he could have a Patrick Willis-like immediate impact on the defensive unit. Deon Butler could have an impact on the passing game, but it is more likely that he is nothing more than a special teamer this season. After flirting with the idea of taking Sanchez, the Seahawks took Mike Teel in the sixth round. He played in a pro-style offense at Rutgers and will be the third quarterback this year.

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

Hasselbeck is reportedly healthier this year than he was last year. Granted, that’s not hard to accomplish, as he was not healthy even when he did play. Hasselbeck enters camp with no lingering injuries and is just one year removed from a 3,966-yard season. With a healthier group of receivers and no running game to speak of, he could be a steal this year. The shifty Wallace will return as his backup and will see time if Hasselbeck does go down with an injury. I like the rookie Teel in deep dynasty leagues. He played for an average team in college, but posted numbers that were second only to Sam Bradford in the second half of the last college season.

Running Backs

Last year, Jones, Morris and Duckett were the feature backs in the Seahawk offense. They combined to form the 19th-best run game in the NFL. Believe it or not, they actually averaged more rushing yards per game than San Diego, Philadelphia and St. Louis. That means the Jones, Morris, and Duckett trio was able to average more rushing yards per game than some 2008 draft darlings, like LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook and Steven Jackson.

These statistics apparently led the Seahawk front office to believe that they were too good at running the ball. Morris has left for Detroit and the onus of carrying the pigskin falls upon Jones, Duckett and Justin Forsett. Jones is the starter, Duckett is the goal line back, and Forsett was Marshawn Lynch’s backup at the University of California. Jones showed promise last year, but he has been unable to hold down a starting role his entire career. Duckett struggles to hold down even a back-up role wherever he goes. Forsett is the wild card here and will be worth monitoring during training camp. Don’t get too excited though; even the running back-needy Colts cut him last season.

Wide Receivers

Houshmandzadeh is the big addition in the passing game. He immediately becomes the number one threat in the aerial attack and should thrive in this offense. Houshmandzadeh has never been a burner; he is a talented possession receiver that just knows how to get open. Look for him to flirt with 100 receptions again in this West Coast offense. Nate Burleson and Deion Branch both return from injuries. Burleson is slated to start opposite Houshmandzadeh, while Branch’s role is uncertain. As of now, he is projected to be the slot receiver, but he could be cut if he is outperformed by Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu or Logan Payne in training camp.

Tight Ends

Carlson is the name to know at tight end. He should be one of the top ten Fantasy tight ends this season, as other defenses will likely focus on Houshmandzadeh and Burleson. This will allow Carlson to see plenty of single coverage and be one of Hasselbeck’s go-to targets on third down and in the red zone.

Defense/Special Teams

The Seahawks do play in a division with San Francisco and St. Louis, so if nothing else, this means that the defense should have the opportunity to perform well for at least 25 per cent of the season. The Seahawks had the worst pass defense in the NFL last season. They surrendered almost 260 yards per game, but they hope that the signing of Lucas will improve that statistic. The Seahawks lost one of their premier defenders in Peterson, but Curry should fill in nicely. This defensive unit was one of the better groups in the league just a few years ago, so an improvement is not out of the question. They’re not worth drafting, though.

We’re back with more of the 2009 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit with yet another team preview (we’re on the home stretch now, with just a half a dozen teams left). We’re going to try to shoot out all these team previews and then start releasing the kit’s other goodies (cheat sheets, sleepers/busts lists, etc.). Today also marks the first column from our newest writer, Matt Wilson. Help me welcome Matt to the site; he’ll be contributing baseball and football content.

Before we figure out what the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have actually kept from last year’s 9-7 team, one must wonder what the hell Michael Vick was thinking visiting a strip club on the night he’s released from house arrest.

What Went Right

The Buccaneers did not win the division like they did in 2007, but they did have a winning record at 9-7. Antonio Bryant was the biggest bright spot on the roster. In points-per-reception leagues, Bryant was the No. 9 rated receiver in the game. In fact, 83 receptions, 1,248 yards, and seven touchdowns gave Bryant better numbers across the board than Reggie Wayne. With Bryant proving to be a viable No. 1 receiver, Jeff Garcia was a viable Fantasy quarterback in the right matchup. The Buccaneers actually averaged more passing yards per game than the New England Patriots last season. On the other side of the ball, the Buccaneer defense, led by playmaker Ronde Barber, was one of the top 10 units in the league. While this was not the same Buc defense that carried a team with Brad Johnson at quarterback in 2003, they did rank third in the NFL in interceptions.

What Went Wrong

The emergence of Bryant stemmed from the disappointment of oft-injured wideout, Joey Galloway. Galloway had averaged over 1,000 yards per season over the previous three years for the Bucs, but managed a measly 13 receptions for 138 yards in an injury-riddled campaign. Earnest Graham joined Galloway as a disappointment due to injury. After a hot start that included at least 90 yards rushing in three of his first four starts, Graham started to get beat up and split time with Tampa favourite Warrick Dunn. The workload took its toll on Graham, as he did not dress for the final six games of the season. While the defense was a bright spot during much of the season, they were also a disaster when it mattered to Fantasy owners. The Buc defense allowed 38 points in Week 14 and 41 points in Week 16. For Fantasy owners expecting solid defense in their playoff matchups, the Bucs were a major letdown.

Off-season Outlook

This offseason has provided Tampa Bay with a new look to its team. While it did not get new uniforms, that is just about the only thing that did not change in Tampa. Jon Gruden was fired and defensive mastermind Monte Kiffin fled to be the defensive coordinator for his son at the University of Tennessee. The philosophy for the Buccaneers should not change too much with the appointment of Raheem Morris as the new head coach. Morris worked as the defensive backs coach in Tampa for the past two seasons under Kiffin, so there should be a sense of continuity.

As far as the player personnel goes, there has also been widespread changes. Garcia and Brian Griese are out, while Byron Leftwich has been signed to compete with Luke McCown for the starting quarterback position. In an effort to bolster the run game, Derrick Ward, who ran for 1,000 yards as a “back-up” for the Giants last year, has been signed to replace the departed Dunn. The Buccaneers have also acquired one of the most talented tight ends in the league in Kellen Winslow. He replaces Alex Smith, who was traded to the Patriots. On the defensive side of the ball, the Bucs have cut ties with Tampa legend Derrick Brooks and fellow linebacker Cato June.

Draft Outlook

Tampa hopes to resolve its revolving door quarterback issue with the selection of Josh Freeman out of Kansas State. Freeman, the 17th pick in the draft, reminds some scouts of JaMarcus Russell. He has a powerful arm and possesses great size for the position (6’5”, 248). The big question is whether Freeman will get his chance to shine this season. Wide receiver Sammie Stroughter was the only other skill-position player selected by the Bucs in April. Typically, seventh-round selections do not appear on the Fantasy radar, but the Buccaneers lack a true No. 2 receiver next to Bryant, so it’s worth keeping an eye on Stroughter.

State of the Team

Quarterbacks

If the season were to start today, McCown would be the starting quarterback. The Buccaneers cannot be all that comfortable with that idea since they went out and signed Leftwich. Just two weeks after signing Leftwich, the Bucs drafted Freeman in the first round. Freeman possesses the most upside of these three quarterbacks long term, but the Buccaneers are not going to be a passing team. Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski has already stated that he plans to put together a run-heavy scheme for the Bucs. Jagodzinski coached Matt Ryan at Boston College, so he should have a good idea of how the two compare developmentally. Freeman will not start this year unless the coaching staff really feels he’s ready. None of these quarterbacks should be relied on for Fantasy purposes except in the deepest of leagues.

Running Backs

Graham might be the incumbent, but the Bucs did not sign Ward to sit on the bench. Ward is slightly bigger than Graham, so Ward may pick up some extra carries in the red zone (he scored just two touchdowns on the ground last year…mostly because of Brandon Jacobs). For a running back, Ward has a good set of hands and that makes him even more valuable in PPR leagues. In a role where he split time, Ward had 41 receptions last year. Look for that number to increase to 50-to-60 receptions this year. The third back in Tampa is Cadillac Williams. He is a feel-good story, as some doctors expected him to never play football again, but he may open the 2009 on the PUP-list again. He’s nothing more than a mid-season waiver wire claim at best.

Wide Receivers

Bryant finally put it all together last season. In standard scoring, he outperformed Wayne, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Brandon Marshall to name just a few. Unfortunately for Bryant, the system is becoming run heavy this season. Wide receivers are historically full of hot air and Bryant is no exception to this rule. That’s why it should be particularly alarming when he is the first to admit that he expects his stats to slip in 2009. All that said, he will still be the No. 1 receiver in Tampa, if only because the alternatives are weak. Michael Clayton has never regained his form from his rookie season. Maurice Stovall, Dexter Jackson and Stroughter were all talented college receivers. Pay attention in training camp to see who will start opposite Bryant; odds are the winner will be a bye-week spot starter at best.

Tight Ends

With the transition to a young and/or less talented quarterback comes the need for a safety valve for him to check down to for an easy completion. Tampa went out and acquired one of the best tight ends in the league in Winslow. He has had a history of being injury prone, but many of the injuries are rather fluky (e.g., motorcycle accident, staph infection). When he is healthy, Winslow is capable of being the top performing tight end in football. He will act as the true No. 2 receiver in this offense and should be one of the first tight ends off the board.

Defense/Special Teams

As the team that pioneered the Cover 2 defense, this unit has always been good at producing turnovers. The pass rush, on the other hand, has been very weak since Warren Sapp left the team. Brooks is gone, but Barrett Ruud and Barber are still on the roster. If the run game plays well, it will keep the defense off the field for extended periods of time. This Buc team plans to win games 13-10, if at all, so the Buccaneers D/ST should be a safe addition after the top units are off the board. As for their kicker, this is always a crapshoot anyway, but it is worth noting that Matt Bryant was fourth in the league in field goals last year. On the downside, he did not hit one longer than 50 yards. If the quarterback play is inept but the defense is excelling, Bryant could be the beneficiary of good field position and hit a few extra field goals.