The first 10 weeks of the 2007 Fantasy Baseball season are just about in the bags and that means that now it's time to turn your attention to week 11. Lucky for you the GNUru is here to help you with your week 11 lineup decisions.
Week 11 - GNUru Batter Banter
With 10 full weeks in the books, it time to reconsider some of your veteran players off to slow starts. While the GNUru doesn't recommend dropping sluggish sluggers, you may want to consider getting some of these hot hitters in your fantasy lineups. While some on the list are no-brainers (Alfonso Soriano, Vlad Guerrero, Ryan Howard, etc.) others are still scratching their way into fantasy lineups (Corey Hart, Casey Kotchman, Edwin Encarnacion, Brendan Harris, etc.) and warrant lineup consideration.
Who's Hot
Player
AB
R
H
HR
RBI
BB
SB
BA
Figgins, Chone CF ANA
46
11
22
0
7
2
10
0.478
Young, Michael SS TEX
55
9
23
0
8
5
2
0.418
Kotchman, Casey 1B ANA
36
9
15
3
8
9
0
0.417
Cabrera, Miguel 3B FLA
51
10
21
4
12
3
0
0.412
Ordonez, Magglio RF DET
53
10
21
1
10
7
1
0.396
Encarnacion, Edwin 3B CIN
51
7
20
2
9
4
0
0.392
Soriano, Alfonso LF CHC
59
13
23
6
9
3
0
0.390
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL
43
9
16
3
6
8
5
0.372
Abreu, Bobby RF NYY
44
12
16
1
6
10
3
0.364
Holliday, Matt LF COL
53
7
19
2
9
2
0
0.359
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL
43
10
15
7
12
8
0
0.349
Matsui, Kaz 2B COL
49
12
17
1
7
3
4
0.347
Sheffield, Gary RF DET
52
15
18
7
19
12
2
0.346
Hawpe, Brad RF COL
41
8
14
3
11
9
0
0.342
Harris, Brendan 2B TB
47
10
16
3
12
5
1
0.340
Martinez, Victor C CLE
47
5
16
4
16
2
0
0.340
Suzuki, Ichiro RF SEA
59
14
20
1
11
4
4
0.339
Howard, Ryan 1B PHI
42
7
14
5
13
9
0
0.333
Guerrero, Vladimir RF ANA
51
6
17
2
14
8
0
0.333
Pena, Carlos 1B TB
34
12
11
4
8
8
0
0.324
Markakis, Nick RF BAL
50
8
16
3
15
3
1
0.320
Crawford, Carl LF TB
58
11
18
1
11
0
5
0.310
Pujols, Albert 1B STL
46
9
14
5
11
5
0
0.304
Sizemore, Grady CF CLE
56
13
17
3
8
6
2
0.304
Rodriguez, Alex 3B NYY
46
9
13
3
14
9
2
0.283
Also of interest are the teams that play a full schedule of games and those that play a light schedule. Chicago Cubs, Cleveland, Houston and Seattle
Week 11 - GNUru Rotation Ramblings
Finally, we start to see some pitchers settle down and most games being played. Now is the time you can begin to make assumptions on players, ride the hot hands, and play the double-start game. Here is a list of the scheduled double start pitchers. As always, be warned some pitchers could lose that advantage in a heartbeat via a rainout. So make sure you chose your pitchers wisely!
Probable Week 11 Double Starters
Player
Start #1
Start #2
Aaron Cook COL
Tim Wakefield
Scott Kazmir
Adam Eaton PHI
Javier Vazquez
Justin Verlander
Brad Thompson STL
Brian Bannister
Joe Kennedy
Brandon Webb ARI
Chien-Ming Wang
Brian Burres
Brian Bannister KC
Brad Thompson
Scott Olsen
Brian Burres BAL
Micah Bowie
Brandon Webb
Bronson Arroyo CIN
Kelvim Escobar
Kevin Millwood
Carlos Zambrano CHC
Woody Williams
Chris R. Young
Cha Seung Baek SEA
Paul Byrd
Woody Williams
Chien-Ming Wang NYY
Brandon Webb
Orlando Hernandez
Chuck James ATL
Kevin Slowey
Fausto Carmona
Claudio Vargas MIL
Justin Verlander
Kevin Slowey
Fausto Carmona CLE
Scott Olsen
Chuck James
Greg Maddux SD
Scott Kazmir
Rich Hill
Jarrod Washburn SEA
Rich Hill
Roy Oswalt
Javier Vazquez CHW
Adam Eaton
Zach Duke
Joe Kennedy OAK
Roy Oswalt
Brad Thompson
Josh Towers TOR
Matt Morris
Micah Bowie
Justin Verlander DET
Claudio Vargas
Adam Eaton
Kelvim Escobar ANA
Bronson Arroyo
Randy Wolf
Kevin Millwood TEX
Zach Duke
Bronson Arroyo
Kevin Slowey MIN
Chuck James
Claudio Vargas
Matt Morris SF
Josh Towers
Tim Wakefield
Micah Bowie WAS
Brian Burres
Josh Towers
Orlando Hernandez NYM
Randy Wolf
Chien-Ming Wang
Paul Byrd CLE
Cha Seung Baek
Kyle Davies
Randy Wolf LA
Orlando Hernandez
Kelvim Escobar
Rich Hill CHC
Jarrod Washburn
Greg Maddux
Roy Oswalt HOU
Joe Kennedy
Jarrod Washburn
Scott Kazmir TB
Greg Maddux
Aaron Cook
Scott Olsen FLA
Fausto Carmona
Brian Bannister
Tim Wakefield BOS
Aaron Cook
Matt Morris
Woody Williams HOU
Carlos Zambrano
Cha Seung Baek
Zach Duke PIT
Kevin Millwood
Javier Vazquez
In weekly head-to-head (H2H) leagues, it's often the better strategy to avoid weak double starters and go with pitcher with proven track records (or at least look to be in mid-season form). Here is a list of which starting pitchers have impressed early and warrant rotation consideration regardless of how many starts they will make in week 11. Numbers are compiled during the last 14 days.
Do you have a fantasy baseball question that begs for an unbiased second opinion? If so, submit your questions to the GNUru by filling out the Ask the GNUru Form or send an email to
Submitted questions may be chosen to be featured in the GNUru Mailbag.
I'm in a 12-team CBS Sportsline, standard scoring, head-to-head, keeper fantasy baseball league. With the return of Josh Hamilton from the DL, I am forced to drop a player from my roster. Who should I drop? My roster is copied below.
Starters:
C- Barrett, Michael C CHC
1B- Lee, Derrek 1B CHC
2B- Utley, Chase 2B PHI
3B- Ramirez, Aramis 3B CHC
SS- Young, Michael SS TEX
OF- Francoeur, Jeff RF ATL
OF- Ordonez, Magglio OF DET
OF- Hunter, Torii CF MIN
DH- Nick Swisher OF OAK
SP- Lee, Cliff SP CLE
SP- Peavy, Jake SP SD
SP- Willis, Dontrelle SP FLA
SP- Zambrano, Carlos SP CHC
SP- Looper, Braden RP STL
RP- Cordero, Chad RP WAS
RP- Papelbon, Jonathan RP BOS
Bench:
Youkilis, Kevin 1B BOS
Drew, Stephen SS ARI
Markakis, Nick RF BAL
Arroyo, Bronson SP CIN
Hill, Rich SP CHC
DL - Josh Hamilton
With part two of the GNUru's All-GNUru Team selection, the GNUru will break down those pitchers who have exceed expectations. Those deemed worthy by the GNUru have been honored by being named to the distinguished All-GNUru Fantasy Team. The following list of players are not necessarily the best at their position but they are considered value picks as their production has vastly exceed their preseason expectations. Congrats to the 2007 All-GNUru Pitchers after the first 2 months of the season!
Starting Pitchers
#1 Jake Peavy - San Diego Padres
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
80.1
7-1
0
1.68
92
21
Although Jake Peavy was considered one of the top fantasy pitchers headed into the 2007 season, his dismal (by Peavy standards) 2006 season dropped his stock considerably. Among all the starting pitchers drafted in the early rounds only Peavy has refused to disappoint his fantasy owners.
#2 C.C. Sabathia - Cleveland Indians
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
90
9-1
0
3.40
83
14
Despite tremendous potential, Sabathia has never been able to put together a full season of dominance. Sabathia was formerly an annual sexy pick come draft day but many fantasy owners had given up on him. Those that drafted C.C. late got rewarded with a fantasy ace at a 3rd or 4th starter price.
#3 Dan Haren - Oakland Athletics
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
90
6-2
0
1.70
70
21
With the A's off-season loss of Barry Zito, many looked to Rich Harden to be the ace. However, it has been Dan Haren who has taken the torch from Zito. Although Haren was not likely over-looked on draft day he certainly wasn't expected to produce at his current level.
#4 Chad Gaudin - Oakland A's
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
71
6-1
0
2.41
48
28
If you had Chad Gaudin on the radar on draft day you can consider yourself the Billy Beane of fantasy baseball. Year after year the A's lose big name free agents and continually replenish the team with up-start young talent.
#5 Oliver Perez - New York Mets
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
70.2
6-4
0
2.80
66
21
The once coveted pitching prospect went un-drafted in many leagues. Fantasy owners who were previously burned by Perez were reluctant to give Perez much of a chance even though he would be in the rotation of a team with impressive offensive talent.
Honorable Mention: Chris Young, Randy Wolf, John Maine, Kelvim Escobar, James Sheilds
Setup Men
Jonathan Broxton - Los Angeles Dodgers
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
Holds
30
2-1
1
3.00
34
13
13
While many had hoped Broxton could secure the closer role for the Dodgers, Broxton has emerged as one of the top setup men in the game. It's only a matter of time before he emerges as one of the best closers as well.
Matt Capps - Pittsburg Pirates
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
Holds
31.1
2-2
2
2.87
24
6
15
Although Capps days as a setup man has come to a close, Matt's impressive job did not go unnoticed. Those that identified his talent now have a solid closer in their grasp. Not bad for a guy who wasn't drafted in most leagues.
Closers
Francisco Cordero - Milwaukee Brewers
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
24.2
0-0
22
0.36
35
8
The failed closer of the Texas Rangers has found his home in Milwaukee and has been the most dominant closer in fantasy baseball. His microscopic ERA and high K totals will gain you mega points in any scoring format. Not too shabby for a guy who barely made many top 20 closer rankings this preseason.
Jose Valverde - Arizona Diamondbacks
IP
W-L
SV
ERA
Ks
BB
24
0-2
20
3.38
26
10
Jose Valverde has always been considered a good sleeper pick at closer and this year he is finally living up to his potential. Although his ERA is less than spectacular, his 20 saves put him on pace for an impressive 54 on the season!