This week’s Fantasy Roundtable, hosted by Fantasyhockey.com, examined Fantasy-worthy rookies.

Representing RotoRob, I went all-in for John Tavares. You can read the rest of the Roundtable here.

Next week’s Roundtable will actually be hosted here at RotoRob, which will make for a very convenient commute.

We’ve got more of the 2009-10 RotoRob NHL Draft Kit with the release of our list of the top 10 rookies. While you’re wondering how much of a difference Phil Kessel will make to the Maple Leafs this season, let’s examine some freshmen who could be difference makers. (How’s that for segue?)

It now comes to the time of the year where we have gone over the usual suspects. You already know the players that are a little more experienced. There was much research involved with this, but we came up with 10 rookies worth watching. Damn, this means I am probably going to get sued because I know it’s a Monty Python reference with shrubberies but oh well. Here is our list from the home office rumoured to be somewhere in New Jersey.

Top 10 Rookies

1. John Tavares, C, New York Islanders: It’s obvious why Tavares tops this list. He probably became bored playing in the OHL for three years before finally getting drafted in June by the Islanders. Tavares conquered the World Juniors and the OHL, so really complacency probably had set in by his 17th birthday not his 18th. Now the hype and expectations of a team’s fandom rests on his shoulders. I almost forgot that Mr. Tavares had three straight seasons of over 100 points in the OHL. All signs point to a steady player with a pretty good shot and playmaking ability that is along the level of a Zach Parise.

In theory, Tavares should win the Calder Trophy (Rookie Of The Year). If he does not, Islander Nation may revolt and burn down whatever is not bolted into the ground. Seriously, Tavares has the potential to produce anywhere from 55-75 points on this team with guys like Mark Streit, Kyle Okposo and Josh Bailey around. Add in a mentor like Doug Weight and you should get eggroll.

2. Matt Duchene, C, Colorado Avalanche: What, no Victor Hedman? Blasphemy was the words I heard I swear. However, Colorado’s Duchene has the highest potential to make a Fantasy impact because let’s face it — this team is all about rebuilding right now. Eventually the old vets will be shipped out by the deadline or sooner and this will be Paul Stastny’s team (another youngster). Duchene, by the way, had a glorious run for Brampton (OHL) last year. He scored 79 points in 57 games and then tallied 26 points in 21 games in the playoffs for the Battalian. Led by Duchene, Brampton beat the heavily-favoured London Knights along the way.

The question is what can we expect this season. Well, he is going to make the roster…that much is true. Duchene potentially could play on a line with Wojtek Wolski and Paul Stastny. That would not be bad. I really could see a year where he gets 45-50 points and makes a solid secondary scoring impact. Duchene has great hands, an above average shot and only a bit of an attitude to overcome. People have said worse things about the other top three picks in this year’s draft.

3. Victor Hedman, D, Tampa Bay Lightning: Yes, Hedman is No. 3. Now get over it. If Tampa was not such a circus, I would not be so worried about his player development. The good news is that it appears that Hedman is over that nagging shoulder injury that plagued him in the World Juniors and beyond. He’s also got a pretty good guy to learn from in coach Rick Tocchet. However, the revolving band of players and a team that may be more in love with its “French Connection II” line may not be the best thing for Hedman. Fortunately, he has the talent and ability to overcome all of those obstacles.

Another good thing for Hedman is he has fellow Swede Mattias Ohlund on his side. Signed from Vancouver in the offseason, Ohlund was a mainstay on the Canuck blueline and should be able to tutor Hedman in the fine art of defensive play in today’s NHL. It will be hard to predict how many points Hedman could get in Tampa but I will say this: he will make a sizable impact especially once that frame of his fills out. Expect lots of the feisty Hedman that you did not see in the WJC and maybe 25 points.

4. Cody Hodgson, C, Vancouver Canucks: Thanks to the assumed departure of Mats Sundin plus other circumstances, Hodgson will get more playing time. Well, honestly he is just too good. Keep in mind he is only 19, but Hodgson has already made an impact with Canuck brass by playing so poised in the AHL playoffs against Hershey. Yes, the Manitoba Moose forward only scored six points in 11 games, but it was his two-way game that had Canuck fans buzzing about the future. With Vancouver’s salary cap woes that future may be bumped up a bit.

I like the way Hodgson plays the game. He has some speed, but has a little bit of grit as well. I am not saying he will make the Canucks out of camp, but at some point in the season he is going to see sizable chunks of playing time. To project a point total would be a bit premature but he is very high up on this list based on potential similar to our next rookie…

5. John Carlson, D, Washington Capitals: Carlson is a former USHL stud who took his game to the OHL and then excelled there as well. The knock on him was his decision making and yet he did play excellent in his own end as Hershey went on to win the AHL Calder Cup over Manitoba last season. Carlson is kind of cut out of the Scott Stevens mold — he is a guy who can play big and physical, but will also be able to score. His OHL stats will tell you that: 76 points in 59 games and 65 PIMs to boot for London. I think the kid who I saw for the better part of five or six years in New Jersey has the talent.

Given how below average the Capital defense is, there is a distinct possibility that Carlson will be called up during the season and it will probably happen early in the campagin. After Mike Green there is not much else. Again, to predict a point total would be not very smart, but expect good things from here on out from a guy who is just a beast no matter the place or the time. It’s that simple, and it’s a scary thought.

6. James vanRiemsdyk, LW, Philadelphia Flyers: This guy is scary good, but it’s hard to tell what kind of potential he may have in the City Of Brotherly Love. The Flyer prospect played for Team USA and excelled in the WJC, did very well in college, and now is making a bit of a splash in training camp. I am not saying he will make the team out of camp, but he might — especially if injuries bite the Flyers like they normally do this time of year.

Most like JVR’s size (6′3″, 211), but I like his strength with the puck. He is the quintessential power forward in that sense and the kind of player that could flourish in the Flyer system. Something tells me we will see vanRiemsdyk in orange and black sooner rather than later, but he likely will start the season in the AHL. He is a guy to definitely watch for in 2009-10, but even moreso in 2010-11.

7. Colin Wilson, C, Nashville Predators: What is it with these WJC guys? Wilson did great things with the U.S. Team as well then moved on to two years at Boston University where he continued to dominate. Scoring 55 points in 47 games last year for National Champion BU will get you more than noticed. Writers from the Preds are expecting him to possibly make the jump onto the roster when the season starts. I am guessing he is impressing that many people at camp again this year just like last year.

Now what can Wilson do for this season? Actually, quite a bit. Nashville needs a centre that can put some points up in case Jason Arnott gets hurt again, and Wilson is the perfect man for the job. The question is will they put him in the AHL to start or do they need him that badly right now? The latter option seems to be winning out and the reality is Wilson has the potential to break out as an NHL player this year. Look deep in your leagues, especially keeper ones, for this kid.

8. Matt Gilroy, D, New York Rangers: This kid’s life seems almost not fair. He was a walk on to a major university then wins a National Title. Now, he’s dazzling the world in the Ranger camp. It seems like a fairy tale story and yet it is not. Gilroy’s four years at Boston University saw him mature into the playmaking defenseman that he is now. I saw him make a play just the other night that blew my mind. Yes, it’s only preseason, but when a player can knife through a Jacques Lemaire defense, that will cause you to raise your eyebrows very quickly.

Now I know how the Rangers develop their youngsters (see Hugh Jessiman). However, Gilroy is not only can’t miss but he may be New York’s best defenseman come the end of the year. That says a lot for a kid just coming out of college, but he is that good. Gilroy will not only make the team, but he’ll make quite an impact — he may get 30 or 35 points from the blueline this year. Gilroy will even make some plays that will make you just say ‘wow!’

9. Jonas Gustavsson, G, Toronto Maple Leafs: This is a guy that broke all of Henrik Lundqvist’s old SEL records. That will get you some pub right there. Yes, Gustavsson also did have a minor heart procedure and people will cringe and think the worst, but it was just that — minor. Also, he is being thrown into the lion’s den a bit in Toronto. We all know that and yet most think he can excel because well he is so fundamentally sound and he is not 20 like most prospects.

Gustavsson turns 25 next month and does Vesa Toskala or Joey MacDonald really seem like much to stand in his way? Probably not. The Monster will start this season in Toronto and with the help of a beefier blueline (Mike Komisarek and Francois Beauchemin), he will achieve a little bit of success unlike Justin Pogge, who was absolutely like a deer in headlights. The biggest thing that will aid Gustavsson is his ability to adapt and that is why he will win close to 15-20 games even in Toronto with limited time.

10. Mikael Backlund, C, Calgary Flames: Do not sleep on this one. Backlund is playing well in camp and though he’s in the WHL as of now, that may not stop him. He did have a cup of coffee (one game) with Calgary last year. If injuries strike, there is a possibility that Backlund could crack the lineup and what a nice lineup it is in the Sea Of Red. By the way, Backlund had 30 points in 28 games for Kelowna of the WHL and that is no easy task.

So what should you expect from Backlund this year? I think he cracks the Calgary lineup late in the season. He may or may not play in the WHL, but I think the AHL may be a more likely destination at this time. Backlund’s poise in the playoffs for Kelowna may have assured that. More importantly, he has the chance to make an impact anywhere he plays and not many prospects can say that.

Well, that is it for the rookies, which means we are getting closer to the start of the season. Happy drafting.

To wrap up the 2009 RotoRob NFL Draft Kit, we’re going to take a look at some Rookies you need to be aware of for Fantasy purposes.

Quarterbacks

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets: The USC product has already been named the starter, but under Rex Ryan look for the J-E-T-S to lean heavily on Thomas Jones, Leon Washington and even Shonn Greene. That and a strong defense was a recipe for success in Baltimore last year, which is where Ryan served as defensive coordinator. Expect Sanchez to post modest totals, meaning he should only be selected in leagues where you’ll be carrying three quarterbacks.

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions: Stafford has completed just 12 of his 27 passes this preseason, though a banged up receiving corps hasn’t done him any favours. It seems unlikely he’ll unseat Daunte Culpepper as the team’s Week One starter, and even once he gets in the lineup, there isn’t a lot of high-end talent outside of Calvin Johnson. Bypass Stafford in single-year leagues.

The rest…

The only other true quarterback drafted in the first three rounds was Tampa Bay’s Josh Freeman, who remains in a three-way competition with Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich for the starting job. It’s hard to picture anyone in that group being better than a No. 3 Fantasy QB.

Running Backs

Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos: Moreno (knee) has carried the ball just three times this pre-season due to a sprained MCL. However, despite rumblings that Peyton Hillis might be the team’s Week One starter, Moreno remains the best bet in the Denver backfield. Given the team’s depth the rookie may not be a true featured back, but he’s still worth grabbing as a low-end No. 2 option.

Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals: Much like Moreno, Wells (ankle) has been held back this pre-season by an injury and has yet to appear in a game. With Wells sidelined, Tim Hightower has looked pretty good (15 carries, 66 yards) and should at least split time with Wells this season. What is really working against both of them is Arizona’s deadly passing attack, which will certainly reduce the ground game to an afterthought some weeks. Draft Wells as a mid-level No. 3 Fantasy back.

Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts: Brown has looked explosive in limited touches thus far, but unlike the two rookies listed above him, the UConn product has little chance of being the No. 1 back this year unless Joseph Addai were to be injured. Instead, expect the Colts to deploy a committee approach with Addai and Brown, similar to what they did in years past with Dominic Rhodes. As such, Brown is more of a fourth back or Flex candidate, though Addai owners would be wise to handcuff the two.

The rest…

Philadelphia’s LeSean McCoy has gotten plenty of work with Brian Westbrook (ankle) recovering from ankle surgery, and he’s looked good in the process. Unfortunately, the Eagles are loaded with impact players on offense, leaving McCoy primarily as a necessary handcuff for Westbrook owners. He’s also a strong No. 5 back on his own…San Francisco’s Glen Coffee leads the NFL in pre-season rushing (196 yards). That’s the good news. The bad news: Marcus Mason led the league in 2008. Yes, that Marcus Mason. Coffee has shown enough to be worth a late-round selection, just don’t expect him to see the field much as long as Frank Gore stays healthy…The New York Jets’ Shonn Greene has been banged up and is behind Jones and Washington on the depth chart, but he’s got enough potential to be selected as your fifth or sixth back in deeper leagues…Jacksonville’s Rashad Jennings is battling with Chauncey Washington to be the backup to Maurice Jones-Drew. While this may not sound like a great spot to be in, keep in mind Jones-Drew has never reached 200 carries in a season so his ability to hold up under a full-time workload is unproven. Jennings isn’t a name for standard leagues, but those in deep single-year or keeper formats might want to roll the dice.

Wide Receivers

Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers: Any breakdown of Crabtree must begin with his contract status, as the 10th overall pick continues to hold out because he feels he should be paid more than the seventh pick. Whatever. Even unsigned, Crabtree offers the most upside of any rookie receiver, though the longer he holds out the longer it may take to see it. He’s a risk/reward selection at this point and is someone only an owner with a strong top three receivers should consider. Just make sure your fifth receiver is a steady one.

Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings: Perhaps the most intriguing rookie this season, Harvin is expected to line up all over the field, including serving in the club’s new Wildcat formation. He has speed to burn and is a threat to go the distance every time he touches the ball. That being said, Harvin’s durability is a red flag, which combined with his less-than-stellar work as a route runner make him a bit of a risk. Some may fall in love with his potential and reach for him on draft day. Don’t be that guy. If he’s around in the latter rounds, though, by all means make him your fourth receiver.

Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles: Maclin should push Reggie Brown to be the team’s third receiver, but as noted with McCoy, Philly has a lot of options offensively. Maclin’s value is no greater than that of a low-end No. 5 or quality No. 6 receiver, though those that count special teams yardage should keep on him to see if his fumbling issues subside enough to earn him a regular role as the Eagle return man.

Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants: There are a ton of young wideouts in Gotham, but Nicks might have the most upside of the bunch. He’s physically mature at 6’1”, 215 pounds, and should still be available in the final round of most standard drafts. He’d be a great flier at that point.

The rest…

Oakland’s Darrius Heyward-Bey was the first wideout taken, but he went into a bad situation. The Raiders have a quality triumvirate of tailbacks, which should be the focal point of the offense, while JaMarcus Russell continues to struggle with his consistency from one practice to the next. Heyward-Bey isn’t an option in standard leagues and is no more than a borderline sixth or seventh Fantasy receiver…Cleveland’s Brian Robiskie has been improving as camp wears on and remains in contention for the starting job opposite Braylon Edwards. It’s debatable how much value that post would afford, however, leaving Robiskie as a mediocre sixth wideout at this point.

Tight Ends

Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions: A quad injury has slowed Pettigrew in the preseason, but the starting job is still his. With limited options outside of Johnson, Pettigrew could be the target of a lot of underneath and check down routes. Consider him an interesting sleeper as a No. 2 tight end in point-per-reception formats.

Chase Coffman, Cincinnati Bengals: Coffman posted huge numbers in college and has a great pedigree (his father, Paul Coffman, was an NFL tight end). Unfortunately, the tight end position has never been featured in Cincinnati with Carson Palmer at the helm, and Coffman is still behind Ben Utecht on the depth chart. At best he’d earn a roster spot if someone the caliber of Antonio Gates or Tony Gonzalez was your starter and you wanted to draft purely on potential in the final round.

The 2009 RotoRob MLB Draft Kit continues today as we kick off the RotoRob Top 10 Lists of Lists that Fantasy Owners always Wanted, but were Afraid to Ask For with the RotoRob debut of our newest voice, Todd Habiger, who brings us the Top 10 rookies. Please join me in giving Todd a hearty welcome to RotoRob. He’s a long-time fantasy expert and is an excellent writer, to boot!

This list includes players (with less than 130 major league at-bats or 50 innings pitched) that will create the biggest stir this season.

In fantasy leagues, owners are constantly search for the next big – that mega star that will lift their team to fantasy glory. But there is a danger in investing in too many rookies. For every Evan Longoria there’s an Alex Gordon, the player that despite the hype only puts up modest numbers in their rookie season. Unfortunately, most rookies aren’t going to pan out and give you superstar numbers, so buyer beware (or caveat emptor, for my Latin friends). Even so, rookies can be good for injury fill-ins or to plug into your starting lineup in deeper leagues.

Below are my best bets to help you this year.

1. Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles: You got to like it when a rookie catcher is compared to Mike Piazza (unless they’re talking about his defense). Wieters comes into this season with a tremendous amount of hype, and based on his average draft position, you’ve noticed. He is a superb prospect that can help your team this year – but probably not for the first month or two. With the O’s not expected to contend, the plan is to keep Wieters in the minors long enough to delay his service time. So if you draft him, be sure you get a serviceable backup for the first month. After that, sit back and enjoy the ride.

2. Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis Cardinals: This super prospect lost a little luster last year with injuries and mediocre numbers. But don’t fret, he’s the real deal and will arrive this season. Tony La Russa plans to bat him ninth to start the season, but if Rasmus shows he can handle the bat he’ll move up in the order quickly. I expect a solid season for Rasmus in the range of .280-20-65-10.

3. David Price, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays: If you haven’t heard of Price, stop reading right now, take your wife and kids out for a nice meal, take up building model cars and send the money you were going to waste playing fantasy baseball this year to: Todd Habiger, PO Box 1259, Overland Park, KS 66204. Of course, Price is one of the most hyped prospects of our time. His coming out party was when he closed the door on the Red Sox to send the Rays to the World Series. But his fame is going to be as a starter and from the looks of things he’s going to be a good – if not great – one. But remember, he is a rookie and his innings are going to be watched. Think 12 wins and an ERA in the mid to upper 3s.

4. Chris Perez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals: La Russa doesn’t plan on naming a closer, but rather go with a bullpen by committee. Really, how often has a committee worked out well? Expect Perez to eventually lay claim to the job and hold on to it for say, the next five to 10 years. He has a great fastball that can reach the upper 90s when he needs something extra. But Perez can be wild and lacks a consistent secondary pitch. Still, he’s the best option in a rather mediocre St. Louis pen. I’m putting him down for 25 saves.

5. Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays: Snider shot through the Blue Jays farm system last year, starting out at High A and ending up in the Show. This kid is the real deal and should lay claim to either an outfield or the DH slot. Power is Snider’s game and he should eventually find his way into the middle of the Jays lineup. Despite a somewhat high strikeout totally, scouts expect that Snider to settle into a .280 hitter or better.

6. Cameron Maybin, OF, Florida Marlins: This kid is an all-world athlete. A true five-tool player, Maybin should be able to translate those skills into a regular stint in the 30-30 club. As of now, he doesn’t have the greatest plate discipline, so don’t expect a stellar batting average or on base percentage right way. What you can expect is tape measure home runs, blazing thefts of second and lots of Sports Center moments. All that with a .230 BA.

7. Taylor Teagarden, C, Texas Rangers: The Ranger farm system is so deep that Teagarden didn’t even make Baseball America’s Top five Texas prospects. But my money’s on him having the biggest impact on the big league club this year. Teagarden had an impressive debut, smacking six home runs in 47 at bats to give him a leg up on the starting catcher position entering 2009. But it’s a tough road with former top prospect Jarrod Saltalamacchia and fellow prospect Max Ramirez standing in the way. Still, Teagarden offers more of a complete package with his defense ability to call a game.

8. Brett Wallace, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals: Wallace is one of my big hunches this year (for more, see below). The man can hit. He started knocking the cover off the ball in High A ball and when an injury created an opportunity at Double-A, Wallace didn’t lose a beat, batting over .300 with power. With Troy Glaus injury prone and no suitable replacement on the St. Louis bench, I think Wallace could have an opportunity to make an impact on the big league club right away.

9. Dexter Fowler, OF, Colorado Rockies: Fowler is a superb athlete who is still translating all his potential on the baseball field. Blessed with natural speed and strength, Fowler had an amazing 2008, being selected to the Futures Game and making the Olympic Team. While he hasn’t shown much power yet, scouts seem to think it’s only a matter of time. With the Colorado outfield looking pretty underwhelming right now, Fowler could find himself in a battle to make the opening day roster. If that happens, snatch him up.

10. Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas Rangers: Not even old enough to legally drink yet, Andrus nonetheless unwittingly caused a ruckus this offseason when the Rangers said they were moving All-Star shortstop Michael Young to third base to make room for the kid. Young immediately asked for a trade, but eventually backed down and agreed to the move. While he will probably only show modest power in his career, Andrus has good speed and should be able to steal 20+ bases regularly.

Habby’s Hunches

RotoRob only wanted my top 10 so I gave him my best bets. But still, with no insider knowledge, I just have a feeling about the five guys below. There’s nothing out there to say these guys are ready or have an easy path to a big league job, but there’s something about them that my gut is telling me “these guys are going to do something this year.” If they pan out, remember you heard it here first. If they don’t, hey they were only hunches, what do you expect?

Alcides Escobar, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: One J.J. Hardy stands in Escobar’s big league path, but eventually Hardy is going to be just a speed bump. Escobar is outstanding defensively and projects to hit with decent power, Throw in a touch of speed and you’ve got a future All-Star in the making.

Gordon Beckham, SS, Chicago White Sox: I must admit, I have a major man crush on Beckham. I think he’s going to be an outstanding power hitting shortshop (provided he stays there). The kid can simply rake. He hit the ground hitting, so to speak. Beckham showed good power in his minor league debut and then tore into AFL pitchers this winter. With Chris Getz no sure thing at 2B in ChiTown, I’m thinking Beckham might have a shot at seeing the Show this year.

Chris Tillman, RHP, Baltimore Orioles: Tillman is a good bet to open the year in Triple-A, but where he ends it is up for debate. He has nasty stuff – the kind No. 1 starters are made of. I’m guessing the first injury to the O’s rotation will unleash Tillman on big league batters and then, look out.

Kila Ka’aihue, 1B: Kansas City Royals: There’s nothing to suggest that Ka’aihue has any shot in hell of making the Royals this year. The club traded for Mike Jacobs and, if needed, Billy Butler can slap on a glove and play first base. But Ka’aihue has good plate discipline (something Jacobs can only dream about) and something the Royals sorely need. I personally think he’d look great in the middle of the Royal lineup.

Tommy Hanson, RHP, Atlanta Braves: The Braves have revamped their starting rotation by adding Derek Lowe and Javier Vazquez to the mix and seemingly leaving Hanson to fend for himself in Triple-A. Last year, Hanson had a season to remember, putting himself near the top of everyone’s top pitching prospects list. He dominated High A ball and didn’t miss a beat upon promotion to Double-A, a stint which included a no-hitter. The hitter-friendly AFL didn’t slow Hanson down either, as he won the pitching Triple Crown.

George Hill, PG, San Antonio Spurs: Hill, a 6”2” combo guard, turned down the opportunity to play at more renowned basketball programs, opting to attend IUPIU so he could stay near his sick great grandfather. He really stepped up offensively last year, averaging 21.5 PPG to take home Summit League Player of the Year honours. Speed and athleticism are Hill’s calling cards, but he’ll need to work on his defensive play and add strength. Hill will get a long look in exhibition play, but with Roger Mason, Jr. added to the mix in San Antonio, it will take an injury for him to see significant PT.

Darrell Arthur, PF, Memphis Grizzlies: The athletic Arthur has a chance to be an Antonio McDyess type. He’s gifted with a superb midrange shot, but there are plenty of scouts who question his intensity and toughness. Arthur will need to add strength before he’s ready to make a real impact in the NBA. He slipped in the draft because of (apparently false) reports that he was dealing with kidney problems, so he could turn out to be a steal down the road. This season, however, with Hakim Warrick and Antoine Walker ahead of him in the pecking order, I doubt he’ll see much action until later in the season when the Grizz are ready to think about 2009-10 (which probably won’t take too long).

Donte Greene, SF, Sacramento Kings: Acquired in the Ron Artest deal, former Orangeman Green has great size (6’10”, 220), but the problem is he sort of falls between the three and four. A possible Marvin Williams type, Green’s great jump shot belies his potential, but given how much work he needs on D, he’s still a project. He scored a team-high 18 in the team’s opening pre-season tilt, but with John Salmons and Francisco Garcia providing depth at the three, and the Kings crowded at the four spot, I don’t see Green getting much of a chance to put up those kind of numbers when the stats count.

D.J. White, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder: A second-team All-American last season for the Hoosiers, athleticism is White’s calling card. The problem is, he just isn’t overly quick and his size (6’9”, 230) doesn’t stick out as outstanding for his position. A possible Leon Powe-type, White is known for his toughness and all-out effort, which should fit it very well on a Thunder team that could use a jolt of energy. Unfortunately, injuries have limited him early in preseason, but down the road, there’s a chance White could make a push for a starting gig.

J.R. Giddens, SG, Boston Celtics: The key for Giddens will be to avoid contact with sharp objects. But seriously, he’s coming off a solid senior season with the Lobos, and the 23-year-old impressed Coach Doc Rivers during his early workouts following the draft. He’s a good scorer who has added to his game as his college career has progressed. And fortunately for him, he’s getting tutelage from Ray Allen, one of the greatest two guards of all time. It’s a rather remote prospect that Giddens will have any impact this season, but he is someone to watch.

Bill Walker, SF, Boston Celtics: Strong and powerful, Walker will put on a show with his dunking ability, as no doubt you’ve already witnessed in recent highlight packages.

Walter Sharpe, SF, Detroit Pistons: He endured his share of issues in college, including getting shot (but at least in Detroit, he’ll feel at home that way), but Sharpe has shown smooth offensive skills.

Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies: The 23-year-old younger brother of Pau Gasol was ironically dealt to Memphis last year as part of the trade that sent his brother to the Lakers. He’s got sleeper potential and could surprise with his double-double skills.

Mario Chalmers, PG, Miami Heat: Chalmers has a chance to get plenty of action off the Heat bench this year. The 22-year-old is a great defender, but he needs to add strength.

Goran Dragic, PG, Phoenix Suns: This Slovenian combo guard is big (6’4”, 200) for a PG, but he needs major work on his outside shooting touch. He’ll see plenty of action behind Steve Nash as Phoenix’s point guard of the future.

Greg Oden, C, Portland Trailblazers: Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Last year’s first overall pick is finally healthy enough to make his assault on the NBA, and we’re expecting plenty of points, board and blocks from the team’s starting centre. Incredible size (7’0”, 250), great athleticism, wonderful defense, and chairman of the boards type play – this is what you will see from the 40-year-old NBA virgin.

Rudy Fernandez, SG, Portland Trailblazers: And the beat of tremendous young talent keeps coming for Portland. This 23-year-old Spaniard could become another Kevin Martin with his great athleticism. He needs to get stronger, and a sprained ankle has slowed him early in the preseason, but don’t sleep on this guy – he will be a factor this season.

Roko Ukic, PG, Toronto Raptors: With T.J. Ford gone, the Raptors have brought over their 2005 second round pick from Croatia to take over as Jose Calderon’s backup, and early reports suggest that he plays a very similar game to The Spanish Fly. He has great size for a PG (6’5”), something that will help him defend two guards. His biggest weakness, much like Calderon’s when he entered the NBA, is his long range game.

Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana Pacers: This 21-year-old is an absolute behemoth, gifted with incredible size (7’2”, 278) and strength. A big part of the package sent by Toronto to Indy for Jermaine O’Neal in a draft day deal, Hibbert has a chance to be the next Big Z, a true old school centre who may lack the athletic qualities of new age big men, but one who should make up for it with his sheer frame and excellent hands. I expect him to be a strong defender from day one, but his quickness could hold him back in an up-tempo offense, which is something the Pacers attempted to employ last year with better results. Fortunately, long-term, Hibbert fills a major gap in the Indy game by bringing a post presence, but don’t look for him to help out much this year.

JaVale McGee, PF, Washington Wizards: This 20-year-old has an NBA body (7’0”, 237) that has scouts drooling. Compared to Channing Frye, McGee needs to add major strength before he’s ready to bang bodies under the basket with wider big men. McGee didn’t get the kind of press other big men did in this draft class, but few can match his potential. Unfortunately, the future will have to wait for the Wizards as McGee is a long way from contributing at the NBA level. He’ll spend the year learning the system and bulking up.

J.J. Hickson, PF, Cleveland Cavaliers: Hickson, compared to Brandon Bass, looked solid in Summer League play, showing a nice ability to play in traffic. He has the physical tools, despite the fact that he’s just 6’9”, making him a tad undersized at the four slot. However, he makes up for that with great strength and tremendous rebounding ability. Where he falls short is in his lack of quickness. Hickson is another project, not nearly ready to contribute in the NBA. However, given the fragility of the Cav frontcourt with Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Anderson Varejao and Ben Wallace, there’s a definite chance that Hickson will be counted on to help at some point this season.

Alexis Ajinca, PF, Charlotte Bobcats: I like this 20-year-old’s size (7’0”, 238), and his potential – especially as a defensive stalwart, but like many young, big men, he simply lacks the strength to be successful in the NBA right away. A possible Mikki Moore type when he matures, Ajinca is gifted with an impressive wingspan, but damn, he needs to eat some Fromage Royales. New Bobcat coach Larry Brown is talking like Ajinca could help the team now, but the reality is this Frenchman needs time to develop.

Ryan Anderson, PF, New Jersey Nets: The first Cal soph to ever top 1,000 points in his career, Anderson has great size for the four (6’10”, 240), but like many young big men, he needs to add strength. In time, he could become a Troy Murphy-type, gifted with a strong jump shot and nice post skills. He’s not overly athletic, however, so may struggle on defense – especially if matched up against quicker players. Reports of him schooling Yi Jianlian – his main competition at PF — in Nets’ scrimmages certainly raise hopes that Anderson may be able to make some contributions this season. If the PT comes, this kid will produce.

Courtney Lee, SG, Orlando Magic: Lee, compared to Anthony Parker, has been lauded for his excellent body control, but there’s some concern that as a product of Western Kentucky, he hasn’t been tested against elite competition in the Sun Belt Conference. For my money, this kid has a jump shot to die for, and that makes him a player ready to make an impact as a rookie. Lee’s size (6’5”, 200) may be a factor at the two guard spot – and given his less than stellar distribution skills, PG seems a stretch (although the team has tried him there during training camp, so maybe he can develop into a combo guard). I’m not sure how much I like him as a long-term prospect, as I think that given that he’s 24 already there’s only so much upside, but that will work to his advantage as a freshman. He’s already wowing in training camp, but faces a tough battle in getting PT given the depth the Magic has at SG.

Kosta Koufas, C, Utah Jazz: This 19-year-old, a former McDonald’s All-American, will try to use his excellent size (7’1” 245) to one day take the job of the man he’s often compared to – Mehmet Okur. Koufas is a decent athlete, but not exactly lauded for his athleticism. Still, he showed he’s capable of helping out on offense given his play in Summer League action. With a great jump shot and tremendous post skills, Koufas has a chance to be a special talent. But – stop me if you’ve heard this one before – he needs to add strength. Such is the lot for young big men; it just takes time before they can handle the day-to-day pounding of NBA life. Having said that, this kid is even impressing notorious rookie-hater Jerry Sloan with his play in training camp, so maybe he’ll steal some minutes from backup Jarron Collins this season.

Serge Ibaka, PF, Oklahoma City Thunder: One of the most athletic players in this year’s draft, Ibaka is a Tyrus Thomas-type whose frame and wingspan had scouts drooling. The biggest downfall with him is he’s raw and lacks experience. Ibaka is yet another big man who needs to get stronger, and he also needs lots of work on his post game. In fact, he probably won’t even see this side of the Atlantic this year, making him currently nothing more than a name to stash away for the future.

Nicolas Batum, SF, Portland Trailblazers: At 6’8”, 214, Batum has tremendous size for a small forward, drawing comparisons to Rudy Gay. Unfortunately, the 19-year-old Frenchman needs work on his ball handling, and doesn’t appear to be the type of player you can build a team around. However, given his speed and athleticism, Batum has great potential and gives Portland yet another possible stud in the making for an organization overflowing with young talent.

Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls: Rose has the physical skills to drive to the hole, but he was more of a penetrate and kick-out player in college. Rose will be a solid three-category guard, but if he wants to be a fantasy stud he will need to be more aggressive. — JM

Michael Beasley, PF, Miami Heat: Beasley is going to be a great producer of points and boards, all the while being solid enough with his FG and FT percentages to not be a typical rookie. Remember, he plays alongside Dwyane Wade and Shawn Marion, so don’t expect God-like numbers from him. — JM

O.J. Mayo, SG, Memphis Grizzlies: Mayo is one of the most NBA ready players coming out of the draft. He can score in bunches and defend with the best of the rookies. Expect points and assists, but those will come at the expense of turnovers and FG percentage. — JM

Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder: Westbrook is going to play the point, but he has the body of a shooting guard. He won’t be worth much to your fantasy team in season one, but the assists he will get from dishing the rock to Kevin Durant could be worth a late pick. — JM

Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves: I happen to know that Love will see minutes early and often, but his defense will cause problems. He will get you solid rebound totals, but remember that monster next to him named Al Jefferson? Don’t expect high scoring totals because Love didn’t handle bigger players last year in college. –JM

Danilo Gallinari, SF, New York Knicks: Isn’t it sad when a rookie comes in and is already the best all-around player on the team? Gallinari has a more NBA type of game than most Europeans, but most season one transfers hit a lot of bumps in the NBA road. He is more of a second half watch list player. –JM

Eric Gordon, SG, Los Angeles Clippers: Gordon has the potential to be a total package player, but his late-season shooting problems left a bad taste in many people’s mouths. Points, 3-pointers and a hearty FT percentage will be his contributions, but he will kill you in FG percentage. — JM

Joe Alexander, PF, Milwaukee Bucks: The problem Alexander faces is the fact that he is still learning the game. While it is true that he is improving his mid-range game, already has crazy athletic skills and is as tough as nails, the NBA isn’t a place where learning bodes well for fantasy players. He isn’t going to steal minutes from Richard Jefferson and he will get crushed as a PF, so bench minutes are in his immediate future. — JM

D.J. Augustin, PG, Charlotte Bobcats: Augustin could very well start the season playing behind Raymond Felton. Add that to the fact that rookie point guards often struggle and you have someone to avoid until the final rounds of a draft. Redraft leagues can take him as a handcuff to Felton and keeper leagues owners will want him as a future star. — JM

Brook Lopez, C, New Jersey Nets: Lopez is a Tim Duncan wanna-be. The best thing going for him is that he is an offensive minded player and the Nets offense is…well…offensive. Lopez will be good enough to get you solid points, rebounds and blocks for a rookie. — JM

Jerryd Bayless, PG, Portland Trailblazer: Bayless is about as perfect a fit with Brandon Roy as you are going to find. Even with Portland having such a stacked young team, I still expect Bayless to break camp in the starting lineup. As a member of the Pacers organization, I was mad when I saw they traded him. — JM

Jason Thompson, C, Sacramento Kings: Now this pick just made my head hurt. With no real upside, there too is no real fantasy value in Thompson. I’ve just wasted two whole sentences on a guy that will never be much in the NBA, let alone fantasy leagues. — JM

Brandon Rush, SG, Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger told me Brandon is better than his brother, Kareem Rush. I will put him at the top of the list when it comes to most NBA ready as a rookie, but he will have to come off the bench with Mike Dunleavy and Granger cemented in the starting lineup. Points and threes are his claim to fame as a rookie, but I sure would have rather been talking with Bayless in camp! — JM

Anthony Randolph, PF, Golden State Warriors: Randolph is in the same boat as Gallinari, future more than present. The Warriors are already deep at the four spot and Randolph looks more like a shaved bird than a power forward. He showed some skills this summer that makes me think he could be a major factor for fantasy teams in a few years, but not right now. — JM

Robin Lopez, C, Phoenix Suns: Where Brook is the offense, Robin is the defense. I don’t see the Suns sitting Shaquille O’Neal in favour of the rookie, even if they should. But, if Lopez can harness that offensive game he has and does his thing with the rebounds and blocks, Shaq may see more breathers than he really needs. — JM

Marreese Speights, PF/C, Philadelphia 76ers: A great post player with the Gators, the 6’10” 21-year-old finds himself in the dangerous position of being a tweener as a pro, perhaps lacking the diversity and patience in his low post game to be a centre, but lacking the ability to put the ball on the floor necessary to be a decent power forward. He has the tools and frame to succeed as an NBA player – some compare his skill set to Al Jefferson’s – but he’ll be playing behind a healthy Elton Brand in Philly, so I’m not expecting him to see much PT in his debut season. If Brand suffers another serious injury, Speights could be forced into a baptism by fire. Should that happen, he could contribute a bit offensively (he scored 14.5 PPG last year with the Gators), but I expect Speights’ contributions to come more on defense in the form of boards and blocks. — RR

Steven Stamkos, C, Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa’s first-round pick (first overall) is supposed to be NHL-ready, and he’s receiving particular praise for his shot and skating The Lightning are suddenly very deep so Stamkos won’t have the pressure of carrying the team, but he’s expected to garner second-line minutes and even some PP time.

Kyle Okposo, RW, New York Islanders: Okposo has been rushed up to the NHL because the Islanders have so little talent. He played a few games at the NHL level last season and didn’t look out of place at all, potting five points in nine contests. But the Islanders really want him to succeed, so he should get lots of opportunities this season, especially now that rookie-hating head coach Ted Nolan has left the Island. The organization fully expects Okposo to receive regular playing time and to contribute immediately; take your cues from them.

Zach Bogosian, D, Atlanta Thrashers: The Thrashers signed the defenseman to a three-year deal with the goal of moving him into the defensive rotation right away. The word is he was the best defenseman at the NHL Prospects Tournament. Bogosian, the third overall pick in this year’s entry draft, is a huge Bobby Orr fan, which should tell you something about his style of play, however, asking someone who just turned 18 to have an immediate impact as an NHL defenceman may be a bit much.

Nikita Filatov, LW, Columbus Blue Jackets: Columbus asked him to stop playing exhibition games with his Russian club, which seems a strong indication the Blue Jackets are ready to drop him into the NHL as soon as possible. First, of course, he’ll have to get over a hairline fracture in his fibula, an injury that’s expected to keep him sidelined another couple of weeks. He may not miss the beginning of the season, fortunately.

Kyle Turris, C, Phoenix Coyotes: Don’t be fooled by his one point in a three-game call-up last season. He’s a sleeper pick with a lot of upside and he’s expected to play on the second line in Phoenix, which means plenty of minutes.

Nikolai Kulemin, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs: With the Leafs in hardcore rebuilding mode, it seems to make sense the 2006 second-round pick will make the team. Kulemin’s alleged speed might make for a good pairing with Jason Blake. If nothing else, at least Kulemin has superstar Evgeni Malkin’s endorsement.

Artem Anisimov, C New York Rangers: The Rangers’ 2006 second-round pick has long been rumoured to be NHL-ready. He put up 43 points in the AHL last season and with the Rangers shockingly short of snipers, he could find his way onto the opening day roster. The only concern about him seems to be his weight — he’s 6′4″, but just 200 pounds — and the team would like to see him fill out before he’s ready to handle the rigours of NHL duty. This is a player to watch very closely in training camp, as his play will dictate whether he forces his way onto the roster or not.

Drew Doughty, D, Los Angeles Kings: The Kings gave their 2008 first-round (second overall) pick a three-year entry-level contract, meaning they probably intend to play the 18-year-old defenseman. Unlike a lot of NHL rookies who desperately try to put on the weight, Doughty has been shedding pounds to make himself more mobile. As long as he gets off to a decent start in camp, he should make the opening day roster for LA.

Alex Pietrangelo, D, St. Louis Blues: The St. Louis Blues defenseman is supposed to be NHL-ready. The first-round (fourth overall) pick is also supposed to have a bit of a scoring touch, although who knows how that will translate to the NHL level. He just signed a three-year contract with the Blues, though, so at least the paperwork is all set. If it’s any indication, Pietrangelo looked very good at the NHL Prospects Camp, logging two assists on Tuesday.

T.J. Oshie, C, St. Louis Blues: The 2005 first-round pick (24th overall) is expected to make the Blues this training camp. The center is supposed to have a lot of talent, but the Blues have a history of moving rookies in and out of position and on and off lines, so it could be a rough adjustment. The early results at the NHL Prospects Camp have been promising, as Oshie potted a pair of goals Tuesday.

With the September 1 deadline having now passed, and roster expansion to the 40-man roster occurring, I felt it was prudent to take a quick look at some of the first wave of call-ups and their potential fantasy impact.

With most of the Triple-A teams wrapping up their regular seasons at the beginning of next week, this list is but a preliminary one as more promotions will be announced in the next several days and weeks.

Do they, and can they make a difference to your fantasy squads? You betcha!

It is now September 2, and to those that gambled early on Saturday’s starting pitchers, the rewards have been huge. In two of my leagues, league owners who weren’t glued to either their televisions or computer monitors last night, woke up this morning to the news that their starting pitcher for the Red Sox, Clay Buchholz, had in fact pitched a no-no in his second career start. Does that somehow transcend into some nice fantasy numbers? Without a doubt. Something tells me that Buchholz is going to be one hot pickup in the next several days.

Mike Pelfry of the Mets pitched a one-hitter through six innings with seven Ks in his first game back in the bigs. Ian Kennedy replaced the ineffective Mike Mussina and pitched seven strong innings of five-hit ball with six Ks and only one earned run — a very nice effort and this probably guarantees at least a couple more starts down the stretch.

Now don’t, of course, take this as a ringing endorsement of these guys; they’re all young and are going to be prone to the growing pains associated with their recent promotions to the bigs, but without a doubt all three are solid prospects and, at this time of the year, the game we play can be decided by the narrowest of margins.

To those who risk and gamble go the rewards. Over my 17 years playing this wonderful game, I have seen league titles been won by as little as one RBI, one SB, two Ks, and in one year, the BA title went down to a difference of .0003. Last year, in my 20-team league, in which I managed to squeak out a victory by the slimmest of margins, the team in second trying to track me down started nine starting pitchers on the last day and came up two wins short of beating me.

Differing depths and strategies to leagues make any and all pickups in these last few weeks all potentially both big winners and losers. When looking at the potential of many of these call-ups, my belief is that playing time is of the utmost importance and focusing on this aspect will allow us to weed through the enormous level of player movement. The teams out of contention will be giving most often ample looks to the guys they’ll be assessing in the spring, and in those final couple weeks as teams clinch, the veterans will be rested, again giving those September call-ups an opportunity to display their talents.

As we head into the final weeks of our season the risks are great, as are the rewards, and sometimes in that heated battle, those Fall call-ups can and do make the difference to those final fantasy league standings. Enough intro already – let’s get on to taking a quick scan through the first wave of call-ups.

Mike Pelfry: There were no bats in the pelfry last night as Mike was on a roll. Is this a forerunner to a more consistent and solid approach or a one-timer? He most certainly has the potential to post solid numbers in September for the Mets.

Clay Buchholz: Okay, now that the construction crews have moved into Fenway and commenced work on the statue and shrine, my guess is he’s going to see a bit more action in the immediate future.

Franklin Morales: Okay Todd, this one’s for you. The Rockies will probably be taking a serious look at this guy in September. With a quick return to the rotation for Aaron Cook now ruled out, this 21-year-old southpaw should get an opportunity.

Edinson Volquez: Add Volquez to the list of winners yesterday, although his effort fell into the less-than-spectacular category. Look for him to be a regular fixture in the starting rotation for the Rangers in September.

Matt Chico: Those first-half numbers before the demotion were certainly a good indicator that the potential is there, but when is the future? This 24-year-old lefty had a nice run through May and June and the Nats are hoping for a return to form here.

Kevin Slowey: In eight starts since his demotion to Rochester, Slowey has given up one or less earned runs every time out. There is nothing left for him to prove at the Triple-A level and with the mighty Boof Bonser struggling, expect to see Slowey get an opportunity to start in the next several weeks.

Cliff Lee: Watch this one rather carefully, as the Indians are going to have him working out of the pen for the next while. Some decent innings pitched could lead to a start or two down the stretch.

Jonathan Sanchez: The Giants are most certainly going to be resting those young arms down the stretch, and in his most recent start, Sanchez had a decent outing, going 5 1/3 with seven Ks. With 32 Ks in 23 IP in the minors this year, he could be of help in both the win and strikeout categories.

Ronny Cedeno, Eric Patterson, Geovany Soto: All three of these players are coming off outstanding seasons at Triple-A and should be a big part of the Cubs’ plans for ‘08. With the Cubs in a serious pennant chase, the playing time opportunities will probably not be there, but all three should be owned in deep keeper formats. I especially like Soto and that Pacific Coast League MVP award. With 26 HR, 109 RBI and a .353 BA, the future looks very bright for Soto in Chicago.

Garrett Olson: His Norfolk Tide numbers were very solid with a 3.16 ERA and 120 Ks in 128 IP. He has been roughed up pretty good so far in Baltimore, but looks to be locked into the rotation for the duration of the season.

Adam Lind: Hitting .368 for the Syracuse Chiefs in the month of August should guarantee some playing time down the stretch, especially with the Jays out of the race and Vernon Wells hurting.

Julio Franco: From a fantasy perspective, Franco’s contributions should be fairly minor, but any MLB hitter that is still playing at age 49 at least deserves the recognition here in my opinion. Congrats on a great career, Julio!

Dana Eveland: Those outstanding minor league numbers have yet to translate at the MLB level. He’s probably a long shot at best to get any more starts with Arizona this year, but most certainly should be on “watch” lists heading into next spring.

Jacoby Ellsbury: Ellsbury posted a solid average with 41 SBs at two levels in the minors. With the BoSox outfield currently hurting, this should lead to some playing time over the balance of the season and offer help for those looking for some last minute stolen bases.

Chris Volstad: With only six starts at the Double-A level, any contributions this year would be a surprise, but he should get several starts over the final couple weeks of the season.

Josh Anderson: With the ‘Stros seriously missing a speed element, those 40 SBs at Round Rock could translate to some opportunities in Houston.

Jason Bulger: Bulger could be an asset in allowing a bit of rest to the Halos’ pen down the stretch. What gets my attention are those 81 Ks in 51 IP.

Ian Kennedy: He’s seen a rather dramatic ascent to the majors this year, moving up through three levels in the minors and enjoying a very successful debut for the Yankees. In 146 cumulative innings in the minors, he allowed only 91 hits and struck out 163 with a combined ERA of 1.91. It looks like he might be sticking around for a bit.

PS: Wayne, you’re dragging your feet on those call-ups, were you listening?

Today, we’re going to look at who we believe to be the top 10 National League position player rookies. We’ve spent much time already assessing rookie pitchers in both the American League and the National League, so it’s time to pay homage to the young bats of the Senior Circuit. Later, if the mood strikes us (or if we remember) we’ll check out the AL class of rookie bats (which, by the way, pales in comparison to this list).

So, now that our long-winded intro is through, let’s check out the top 10 NL rookie hitters (for dramatic purposes, we will count up):

Honourable mentions (includes players who either don’t have enough PT yet to qualify for serious consideration or those who are bubbling just under our top 10): Luke Scott, Houston (currently on fire); Chris Duncan, St. Louis (not just some pitching coach’s kid after all); Chris Coste, Philadelphia (is making the Phillies think that Mike Lieberthal is expendable); Stephen Drew, Arizona (probably a slam dunk for ROY if he had been up all season); Russ Martin, Los Angeles (a good Canadian kid who has taken over as the Dodgers’ catcher of the future); Eli Alfonzo, SF (what’s this? A homegrown Giant position player? At a premium position — catcher — to boot!); Matt Kemp, LAD (have you seen this kid? What a beast! Looks like he could run through a wall and hit a ball 600 feet); Angel Pagan, CHC (deserves a nod, but doesn’t really have one outstanding skill to hang his hat on); Ryan Spilborghs, COL (while it’s true that Rockies hitters are not obvious selections anymore, Spilborghs shows good BA and power potential, so I don’t care where he plays).

10. Nate McLouth, OF, Pittsburgh — The speedster has been slowed by an ankle injury of late, and probably won’t return until mid-September, so doesn’t offer much for the rest of the year. However, he’s just 24, and showed top-of-the-order skills last year at Triple-A (almost .300 BA, .364 OBP, 34 steals, good strike zone judgment). Worst case scenario for next year is Pittsburgh has McLouth and Chris Duffy battle for the CF and lead-off job. McLouth showed enough (50 runs in just 270 at-bats, with 16 doubles and 10 steals) to have the inside track for 2007.

9. Josh Barfield, 2B, San Diego — Known as Jesse’s son around these parts, the 23-year-old keystone cornerman is second among NL rookies with 16 steals, and his .280 BA has been better than I expected. However, he’s managed just nine homers and that’s something I’d like to see him develop over time to become a top-tier fantasy second baseman. As usual, Barfield’s strike zone judgment (24 BB/64 K) is weak, but again, not nearly as bad as I anticipated. He had been scuffling a bit this month until some decent performances earlier this week.

8. Andre Ethier, OF, LAD — The Dodgers simply stole this kid from Oakland, and all they had to surrender was Milton Bradley, a player who has talent but may be possessed by demons, and Antonio Perez, a good, but ultimately spare part. Ethier has a chance to be a very special hitter, with seriously high averages and some modest power potential. The 24-year-old had excellent minor league numbers, but nothing that would suggest this kind of MLB performance. Looking at NL players who have at least 300 plate appearances, Ethier ranks 13th in OPS. That’s among all players, not just rookies. Can he maintain this pace? I strongly doubt he’s a .545 slugger long term, but Ethier may be a bit better than the A’s thought, and Billy Beane doesn’t make many player evaluation mistakes.

7. Josh Willingham, OF, FLA — Depending on your league rules, Willingham may qualify at both first base and, more importantly, as a catcher this year, something that significantly boosts his fantasy value. He’s shown power (.480 SLG), more patience than I expected (in fact, he’s third among qualifying rookies in pitches per plate appearance) and will not hurt you with that .270 BA. For the sabremetric-heads among you, Willingham ranks third among rookies in RC/27 at 5.76, which essentially means that a complete lineup of Josh Willinghams would score 5.76 runs for every 27 outs, or normal nine-inning game. Now, I have no idea whether you’re turned on or not by the prospect of nine Josh Willinghams batting back to back to back, but this much is certain: he’s a pretty damn fine player. Willingham is 27, so there’s not a ton of room for improvement, except perhaps in the power department, but if he keeps qualifying at catcher, he becomes a very useful asset in many leagues going forward.

6. Mike Jacobs, 1B, FLA — Not to tip our hand too much, but Jacobs, the former Met farmhand, is the second of four Marlins to make the list. Talk about rebuilding in a serious hurry. The 25-year-old is batting .270 and has shown good power, with 31 doubles, a triple and 15 homers (.480 SLG). His strike zone judgment isn’t bad, but I’d like to see some improvement before I believe Jacobs will move to the next level. Still, if this is as good as it gets, it’s a solid rookie effort.

5. Conor Jackson, 1B, ARZ — Here’s a guy who’s all about strike zone judgment. Jackson shows a grasp of the strike zone that you don’t often see in a young player, and that makes me believe he has tremendous upside as a high average hitter. While he could become the next Mark Grace — a perennial .300 hitter, there’s a chance that as the 24-year-old increases his strength, he’ll be Rafael Palmeiro-lite and consistently put up 25+ HR seasons to go along with that high average. (Offhand, would becoming Palmeiro-lite involve taking a smaller dose of performance enhancement “supplements?” Just thinking out loud here, people.)

4. Hanley Ramirez, SS, FLA — I wonder if Boston is missing its shortstop of the future yet? With Josh Beckett surrendering more home runs than the NSA has wiretaps, do you think the Bosox are second guessing this deal considering the impact Ramirez has had at the top of the Marlins’ order? (Don’t forget that Florida also got the emerging starter Anibal Sanchez plus a couple of other young arms in this deal.) Any pre-season questions that Ramirez was ready for prime time are now ancient history. This kid is the real deal, a bona fide lead-off hitter with tremendous speed (38 steals). He’s shown gap power (26 doubles, 11 homers) and fantastic patience (4.1 pitches per plate appearance, tops among all rookies), which is a huge asset at the top of the order. Ramirez will learn to walk more (45 so far this season) as he matures, and that will help him rival another great shortstop and lead-off hitter in the NL East — Jose Reyes. Ramirez is still just 22, so the sky’s the limit once he starts getting on base at a clip of .370 or higher.

3. Prince Fielder, 1B, MIL — Fielder is the second son of an ex-Blue Jay to make the list, although father Cecil was just slightly more known for his exploits as a Tiger. And it was at that time that we first heard what seemed to be urban legends at the time — stories of a 13-year-old Prince launching balls out of old Tiger Stadium during BP. I’m sure that led an owner or two to draft him out of junior high in extreme keeper leagues. Well, Fielder is now 22, and he’s finally arrived in the Show, and so far he’s been showing us that his power is for real. His 22 jacks paces all rooks and he’s slugging almost .500, but he’s not one of those all or nothing power hitters. Fielder knows the zone, as evidenced by a .349 OBP. Hell, he’s even swiped five bags! Not bad for a kid who once reportedly weighed more than 300 pounds, thereby qualifying him for a Homer Simpson mumu. His current listed weight is 260, which is still plenty to pack onto a 6′0″ frame. That’s obviously the primary concern for Fielder when looking at his career path — can he maintain a sub-Super Size It weight or will he break down with injuries because of the extra poundage?

2. Dan Uggla, 2B, FLA — Surprise. The top-rated Marlin on the least is perhaps the least-touted of them all (even though he did make the All-Star team). And I admit it, I was one of the doubters. Last year when the former Diamondback showed up as a Rule 5 draft pick in Florida and was touted as the primary candidate to man second on the Marlins, I was skeptical. Uggla? What kind of a name is that, I remember saying to myself or anyone who would listen. I put him on my sleeper list, but only because he was battling Pokey Reese for the job. Anyone remember that one? Perhaps you recall that Reese actually went missing in Spring Training, thereby giving Uggla the decision by acclimation. Pokey? Has anyone seen Pokey? Well, regardless of Pokey Reese’s whereabouts, Uggla has showed himself to be a real find. He’s got power (19 homers, six triples), can definitely hit (.291 to pace all freshmen), and knows how to get on base (.349 OBP). It may come as a surprise to many, but Uggla leads all rookies in OPS, total bases, Runs Created and RC/27, among the serious hardcore-fantasy categories. So it was real close whether Uggla should rank second on this list, or go straight to the top. In the end, I decided that as impressive as Uggla has been this year, he’s already 26, so won’t improve much. So I settled instead for…

1. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, WAS — Zimmerman’s tender age (21) and broad range of skills were the deciding factors here. He came into the season highly touted after batting almost .400 in a 20-game trial last season, and while he hasn’t maintained that pace (big shock there, eh?), Zimmerman has combined batting average (.286), power (37 doubles, 16 homers, .480 SLG), run production (78 RBI), speed (nine steals, although he’s been caught seven times), patience (3.92 P/PA), on-base skills (49 walks, .356 OBP) and, reportedly, some superb defense at third base. By any means of performance evaluation, Zimmerman leads this year’s NL rookie class. But what most impresses me is the fact that he’s been showing improvements as the season has progressed. And considering Zimmerman has been legally drinking for less than a year (of course, were he from Canada, he could have been drinking since 19, but that’s another story), he has the potential to grow into one of the bigger fantasy studs in the game. Think .320, 30 HR, 120 RBI, 15 SB kind of potential. And that makes him the top NL rookie hitter for RotoRob’s money.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

East

Florida: Well, we may as well start with a team that’s buzzword is opportunity, for that’s where the rookies will play. After all, there’s almost no veterans on the roster. Having said that, the performances the Marlins have got from their rookie pitchers has been unbelievable. Taylor Tankersley has fanned 15 batters in just 12.2 IP, and looks like he’s settling in nicely in a set-up role. Carlos Martinez has also found his niche as a set-up man, although he’s allowing too many baserunners. Josh Johnson was given a chance to start and has run with it, fanning 80 in 90.2 IP. Anibal Sanchez, a key component of the Josh Beckett deal, has been inconsistent, but has looked brilliant at times. Last night, for instance, he threw seven shutout innings of one-hit ball at the Nats. Scott Olsen, when he’s not getting in Miggy Cabrera’s face, has been solid, with 85 Ks in 96.2 IP. Logan Kensing is another rookie hurler excelling as a set-up man. Ricky Nolasco has also looked sharp at times.

Atlanta: The Braves are another team where opportunity knocks for any pitcher — especially a reliever — who can actually get anyone out. Atlanta went el cheapo on its bullpen this year, and the results have shown. But it’s created a situation where unproven pitchers are getting their shot. And some of them have succeeded. Ken Ray, for instance, looks like he’ll get save chances for the time being. Starter Chuck James is not striking out as many as I’d like to see, but he’s getting outs. Relievers Kevin Barry and Tyler Yates are enjoying success, a rarity in the Braves’ pen this year.

Washington: Pitching highlights haven’t been plentiful in Washington this season, but Mike O’Connor has held the team in quite a few games, and he’s managed six quality outings among his 15 starts.

Philadelphia: Cole Hamels has pitched a bit better of late, and he’s averaging a strikeout per inning.

New York: This mostly veteran squad was getting superb work from Brian Bannister before he got hurt. More recently, last year’s top pick, Michael Pelfrey, has begun to make a contribution with a pair of solid starts.

Central

St. Louis: The Cards have had some pitching issues this year, but recently recalled Anthony Reyes has helped stabilize the rotation and looks like he’ll stick all season. Reliever Adam Wainwright has possibly been St. Louis’ most consistent pitcher in 2006 and he’s worked his way into a set-up role.

Milwaukee: The Brewers have failed to take the next step forward this year, and a big reason why is their pitching failures. But Jose Capellan has finally delivered on his promise and looks like a solid set-up man. Swingman Carlos Villanueva, up earlier in the season, showed a lot of promise. Expect him back soon. Probably sooner than Neil Smith’s tenure as the Isles’ GM.

Houston: Fernando Nieve has performed admirably in a swing role while Taylor Buchholz’s periperhals suggest a much better season than his ERA does. A propensity for throwing the gopher ball has hurt Buchholz, but if he can reduce the long ball rate, you can expect greater results in the second half.

Chicago: Pitching, the Cubs main strength in recent years, has let them down this season in a very forgettable 2006 campaign. On the plus side, however, injuries to veteran hurlers have opened the door for a pair of rookies to make their mark. Carlos Marmol has had his command issues, but a low hit rate has paved the way for his success. Sean Marshall hasn’t been quite as fortunate in overcoming command issues of his own, but he has won five games and as a result has worked his way into the Cubs’ plans on a more long-term basis.

Pittsburgh: The Pirates have built quite a collection of young arms. Now if they could just keep them healthy (Sean Burnett, John VanBenschoten, etc.), maybe they’ll finally turn the franchise’s fortunes around. Last year brought Ian Snell and Zach Duke and this season a new wave of Pirate youngsters has descended, including Matt Capps, who looks like a very solid reliever in the making; Paul Maholm, who’s taking his rookie beating, but has potential; also Tom Gorzelanny, another young arm with a bright future that’s taking his licks right now. Sleeper alert for reliever Jonah Bayliss, up earlier this season and a potentially dominant pitcher.

Cincinnati: The Reds haven’t gotten much out of any rookie pitchers, but they just acquired one in the Austin Kearns deal. Bill Bray has been a bit wild, but effectively so to date, getting decent results in his rookie season.

West

San Diego: The Padres have put together the second best pitching staff in the NL and several rookies have played key roles this year. Reliever Brian Sweeney, a former Mariner farmhand, is hardly dominant, but he limits the baserunners he allows, and has experienced good success as a result. Cla Meredith, stolen from the Bosox who were desperate to get back Tim Wakefield’s personal catcher (Doug Mirabelli), has tremendous potential as a reliever. As for the starters, both Mike Thompson and Clay Hensley have enjoyed some success, but I would like to see both of them improve their command.

Los Angeles: The great Dodger prospect machine has been very active of late, and this year it generated a trio of arms who are making significant contributions to the club. Takashi Saito, while hardly a kid at 36, is technically a rookie because MLB refuses to recognize that professional ball exists anywhere outside of North America. Either way, he’s been tremendous, taking over as the closer when Eric Gagne went down. Jonathan Broxton is one of the best young pitchers in the game and now that he’s made the transition from starter to reliever, it’s just a matter of time before he’s closing. He has future closer written all over him. Finally, Chad Billingsley, despite some serious command issues, has been getting decent results in his first taste of big-league ball. He will probably settle in as a strong second or third starter.

San Francisco: Jonathan Sanchez looks almost unhittable. He’s another potential closer. Matt Cain has gotten mixed results, but he’s held opponents to a .220 mark and that bodes well for his future.

Colorado: The Rockies have actually had a decent pitching staff this year, which is rare footage indeed. I love what I’ve seen from reliever Ramon Ramirez, who has quickly moved up the depth chart with his excellent results.

Arizona: Enrique Gonzalez has not been overmatched. His low WHIP suggests that his ERA is currently inflated, so I’d expect it to lower over the course of the second half.

Jon Lester’s amazing one-hit shutout, finished off by Jonathan Papelbon; Francisco Liriano coming within one out of his first complete game; Chad Billingsley tossing seven superb innings for his first career win; Joe Saunders throwing an excellent seven innings with just four hits allowed; Shaun Marcum firing five innings of shutout, one-hit ball; Carlos Marmol earning a win by throwing six strong innings with 6 Ks; Mike Pelfrey winning on the strength of a solid six-inning outing; Clay Hensley chalking up a victory based on six strong innings.

Notice anything interesting about all this? The fact that every single one of those gems was put up by a rookie leads me to believe that we could soon be entering a new golden age of pitching.

In recent years, high-end fantasy pitching has been dominated by the Geritol set: Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Kenny Rogers, Curt Schilling, Tom Glavine, Jamie Moyer, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz and the like.

Now these vets are all still quality options, but the rookie pitcher crop of 2006, unlike any I’ve seen in many, many years, suggests that the baton is about to be passed to a new generation of mound stars.

Of course, that doesn’t even factor in second- and third-year pitchers who have already or will soon establish themselves as aces (such as Scott Kazmir, Jeff Francis, Francisco Rodriguez, Huston Street, Felix Hernandez, etc.) or minor league prospects still waiting their chance (Homer Bailey, Phillip Hughes, Scott Elbert, Jason Hirsch, etc.)

This wave of young, talented arms certainly answers the question that many fantasy owners have had for years: where is all the young pitching? Well, it’s arrived.

But they’re not just here. They’re real, and they’re spectacular.

Every major league team has at least one freshman hurler who’s made a contribution this season. Let’s run through the Show and recap the highlights of the rookie class of 2006.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

East

Boston: Papelbon has been all that, and more. He’s ruining his chances as a future starter because he’s just so damned lights out as a closer. After yesterday’s gem, Lester is now 5-0, 2.38. Who would have thought the Bosox would find the answer to their rotation depth within their own system? Having already dealt away Anibal Sanchez, Jesus Delgado and Harvey Garcia in the Josh Beckett deal, and Cla Meredith to get Doug Mirabelli back, the Sox left themselves fairly thin in the pitching prospect ranks. Or so it looked. Other young Bosox hurlers to step up this season include Manny Delcarmen and Craig Hansen, who have helped stabilize the bullpen.

Baltimore: Rockin’ Leo Mazzone’s presence hasn’t exactly had the positive impact on the starting staff as many (myself included) expected, but the bullpen looks solid thanks to great work from a trio of rooks: Chris Britton, Kurt Birkins and Sandy Rleal.

Tampa Bay: Tim Corcoran has fit in well as a swing man, while Jon Switzer and Ruddy Lugo have each earned more important roles as set-up men for the Rays.

Toronto: Casey Janssen has been inconsistent, but he’s kept the Jays in many games, especially when he was first called up. And although he’s since been farmed out, reliever Francisco Rosario opened some eyes in the Toronto organization.

New York: Matt Smith gave up only four hits in 12 scoreless innings, but was sent down because the club needed outfield help. He’ll be back.

Central

Detroit: The Tigers’ renaissance this year has been built upon their arms, and rookies have played key roles, from Justin Verlander excelling as a starter to Joel Zumaya looking like the heir apparent at closer with his 100 mph+ heat. Despite some command issues, Jordan Tata showed promise as a middle reliever before getting demoted. Zach Miner gives Detroit a second rookie in its rotation, and he hasn’t looked overmatched in the least.

Cleveland: It’s been a tough year in Cleveland, but on the plus side the club may have found its long-term closing solution in Fausto Carmona. He’s been elevated to a set-up gig and should Bob Wickman be dealt, Carmona could get a shot at some saves. The bullpen has also been bolstered by freshman Edward Mujica and, earlier in the season, Rafael Perez.

Minnesota: Forget about being the top rookie, Liriano looks like he’ll be the best pitcher in baseball in short order. He won his 11th game last night, cutting his ERA under 2.00. What are they feeding those young twirlers in Twins Land?

Chicago: Closer Bobby Jenks is proving his playoff run last season was no fluke. How about 50 Ks in 42.1 IP?

Kansas City: There’s not much to be excited about in KC these days. Joe Nelson has been the club’s best rookie pitcher, but he’s 31 years old. Yup, like I said. Not much to get jacked about.

West

Texas: The Rangers have plenty of pitching prospects on the way (Edison Volquez, Thomas Diamond and John Danks, for instance), but this year, the pair who have shone brightest are relievers Bryan Corey and Wes Littleton. Corey, of course, is not exactly a long-term prospect at the age of 32.

Oakland: The A’s had a great rookie pitching class last year with Joe Blanton and Street. This year, the only notable contribution came from Ron Flores, who pitched well, but was sent down to Triple-A a couple of days ago.

Seattle: Jake Woods has made the most significant contribution to the Mariners among rookie pitchers. If he gets his control under wraps, his value will increase.

Los Angeles: Jered Weaver has made a huge splash, not only for his brilliant pitching, but also because the Angels had him replace his own brother!

Tomorrow, we’ll recap the National League rookie pitcher class.