Sleepers: Milwaukee Brewers

By Adam Forsyth

The Shallow

Manny Parra – Starting Pitcher

Expectations are high for this 26-year old California native, as the Brewers rotation lost a pair of aces in the off-season , when Ben Sheets was not tendered a contract offer, and CC Sabathia hit the trails with stacks of cash falling out of his pockets en route to YankeeVille.

 With a starting five that has many question marks, Ned Yost and the Brew-Crew will be expecting Parra to build on his decent rookie campaign, which saw him go 10-8 through 29 starts. Parra has a good mix of pitches to depend on, but must become more accountable in hitting the strike zone, as his walks can be a concern in his growth.

It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t pitch in a dome, because Parra, in a controlled environment, has a solid line of 4-0, 2.80-45-21-1.28 with a BAA of .228. This may be a bizarre test of number crunching, but the best outings from the lefty came wedged in the middle of a slow start and a dreary finish of the season. I wouldn’t expect monster numbers, but a K per inning after the All-Star break, has me intrigued at what another year of development may render for Prince Fielder's favorite clubhouse pal.

The Deep

Mat Gamel - 3B

Milwaukee has done a nice job in developing this prime 3B prospect, and adjusted their own line-up by placing the error-prone Ryan Braun into a more natural position for his glove.

Gamel has spent four seasons abusing pitchers, and they haven’t rushed him through the system which has given him the ability to adjust at a proper pace. Gamel may not have the abrupt power that many of the blue-chip prospects and hot names have; however, he definitely has four-tool upside that many others don’t necessarily have.

What may keep him from making or staying in the bigs, is his glove. Comparable to that of the Brewers previous 3B experiment with their other phenom Ryan Braun, part of the reason that made them shift Braun to the LF was his inability to go error free. Gamel displays similar issues, as exposed by his minor league career .878 fielding percentage and could be destined to shift positions as well. Where do you put him though?

They could shift Corey Hart to CF when Mike Cameron becomes expendable and allow Gamel the other corner spot? It is hard to ignore a bat like Gamels’ waiting in the wings, when he is raking at a .329 clip at AA-Huntsville (.329-19-96-6 with a .932 OPS) it is apparent that he will either start the season surprising many and making the big club, or shift gears to AAA for the full season where he can ply his trade and work on his fielding skills. One way or the other, this somewhat controversial prospect has “Future Stars of The Cage” written all over him.

Even Deeper

Brett Lawrie - 2B

Before our faithful Brew Crew fans email us nastier comments than Bernie Brewer's breath; claiming Brett Lawrie is a Catcher - not a Second Basemen, here's the scoop!

At the Brewers #1 2008 draft picks request, Brett Lawrie will be moving up the diamond, and a little to the right. Clearly, his road to the Major Leagues is still some years away - but that path could become the Autobahn if Rickie Weeks doesn't get it in gear this year! In addition to being an incredible athlete - the Langley BC native, is one smart cookie to realize that the Milwaukee Brewers back stop future likely lies with Angel Salome - so a switch to the world of "Chase and Peds" seemed both imminant, and potentially advantageous in getting his duffle bag to the bigs.

Editor's Note: It appears Bill Hall will miss the 2009 MLB seasons opening month. This could be opportunity knocking for Mat Gamel, but unfortunately he is battling a shoulder impingement, which may inhibit his status for the beginning of the year as well.

Stay tuned to WaiverSharks - The Shallow and The Deep, as we keep you up to date all year round with daily pick-up advice, and insights on the up and comers in Minor and Major League Baseball.

Sleepers: NL CENTRAL

HOUSTON ASTROS

DIVISION RANK : 1 (MLB RANK : 9)

Closer – Jose Valverde – I’m not sure how anyone else felt about Jose after his impressive 47 save campaign, but he followed that up with another stellar season of 44 saves. While his peripherals were up across the line for the most part, his K/BB ratio improved slightly. Concern can be raised for the amount of long balls that he tends to give up, but overall Valvarde has moved into the top third of the leagues closers.

Grip on Closers Role – Extremely Firm

Injury Concerns – Minimal

Next in Line – LaTroy Hawkins, Doug Brocail

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – In a bullpen followed by average arms, it wouldn’t necessarily be crazy to consider Fernando Nieve as a longshot. He at least has decent enough stuff to be given a shot ahead of the veterans mentioned above. At 26, it is time for Nieve to make the club out of the spring and with a tad of experience in the last year or so closing out games at AAA Round Rock, Fernando may be a short-term solution for a desperate Astros team.

Even Deeper…The baseball world may not know much about Samuel Gervacio at the moment, but we soon may have our eyes opened to this 24-year old Dominican prospect. With 23 saves over the past two minor league seasons, he has racked up 200 big K’s over 151.1 innings. Deep? Perhaps, but with impressive lines like that, tied in with the fact that he doesn’t walk an absurd amount of batters, nor give up the big hit (only 10 HR’s allowed over the same timeframe) Gervacio may be the answer upon the expiration of Valverdes’ contract at the end of this season.

CHICAGO CUBS

DIVISION RANK : 2 (MLB RANK : 12)

Closer – Carlos Marmol – There is no questioning the goods of his stuff; however, Marmol may be best suited remaining a set-up man in the Windy City . With Kerry Wood flying the coop, Marmol is the likeliest candidate to inherit the job on a team that is anticipating a big season. Expect lots of K’s and batters looking silly swinging aimlessly, it will surely come down to the mental toughness of the 26-year old to determine how many games he can close out. With the under-rated Kevin Gregg in the wings, it should make a good case for the competition to garner the title of Cubbies’ closer.

Grip on Closers Role – Firm

Injury Concerns – Slight

Next in Line – Kevin Gregg, Jeff Samardzija

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Neil Cotts is a solid if not under-valued lefty that can provide the Cubs with the depth that they will require in order to go on a deep playoff run. He can be a workhorse if necessary and provide the team with a dependable back-up plan if the bad stuff hits the fan.

Even Deeper…Without too much in their system, the Cubs are more than likely dependant on attracting free-agent arms to close out games, or with acquiring solid arms via trade. Out of all of their developing arms the one that could be a future closer in our eyes is Stephen Vento. A raw 22-year old pitching prospect, he has only reached high A-ball and notched up 17 big saves along the way. A few years away for sure Vento; if handled properly, could become a legitimate major league arm.

CINCINNATI REDS

DIVISION RANK : 3 (MLB RANK : 13)

Closer – Francisco Cordero – Many knock his ability to be considered a valuable closer, even on a sub-par Reds roster, he has shown that he isn’t a flash in the pan. With mid to upper 90’s fastballs and a solid slider to depend on, Cordero has been dependable racking up 211 saves over his last eight professional seasons. At 33-years old, expect him to increase his save total of last year, and resting on a plus-40 save season.

Grip on the Closers Role – Extremely Firm

Injury Concerns – Minimal

Next in Line – David Weathers, Arthur Rhodes

WaiverSharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Question marks abound in Cincy with a few older arms being depended on and not many other options, look for Jared Burton to possibly step up and make some noise. Effective when the ball was handed to him in various situations it may be a nice opportunity to see how he handles the pressure in a major league game with three outs remaining.

Even Deeper…Making his way through the minor league system Josh Roenicke has been given the opportunity and performed well in locking down 43 games in three seasons and whiffing 160 batsmen in 131.2 innings. He may not be the prototypical closer type, but he has paid his dues along the way. At 26, it may be the year that Roenicke can contribute at the major league level.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

DIVISION RANK : 4 (MLB RANK : 14)

Closer – Matt Capps – Another box-type closer that has a solid arm and intimidating presence to his advantage, Capps may not get the amount of save opps’ that most teams provide, but he usually makes good on his attempt. After dealing with an injury shortened 2008 season, Capps will return to his role and provide the Bucs’ with the type of stuff that will rest their mind when entering the late innings with a lead. May never be a 40+ save type closer, but he will comfortably settle in at 30-37 saves each year, pending health.

Grip on the Closers Role – Extremely Firm

Injury Concerns – Fair

Next in Line – John Grabow, Tyler Yates

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Take a look at Romulo Sanchez and you can see the type of goods that he has are closer worthy. At 24, this big Venezuelan righty has an opportunity if Capps gets derailed again, as the Bucs’ bullpen has as many question marks as the Riddlers’ jacket. Without an overly powering fastball, Sanchez surprises with his control and ability to work the count. May not stand out, but is simply effective in his effort.

Even Deeper…Jesse Chavez is the name that comes to mind when thinking about the Pirates future closer. Thrown into the role last year at AAA-Indianapolis, Chavez impressed by holding hitters at bay (.225 BAA) and punching out more than one batter per inning (70 K’s in 68.2 inn.) and getting a taste of the majors and keeping that rate constant (16K’s in 15 inn.) Chavez and many of the other young arms have an opportunity to make the team should they impress in spring training and while he hasn’t wowed anyone with his showing in winter ball in the Dominican League, Chavez will be ready.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

DIVISION RANK : 5 (MLB RANK : 15)

Closer – Trevor Hoffman – Can the old man continue to add to his storied career and major league record career saves mark? The Brewers hope so and after the Eric Gagne experiment exploded in their face, they signed the 41-year old in hopes that he could at least be serviceable, since they have struggled to find a replacement for Francisco Cordero. Bernie Brewer hopes to celebrate along with the thousands of inebriated fans leaving Miller Park should the “Hells Bells” afficienado be able to get the three final outs with some sense of regularity.

Grip on the Closers Role – Firm

Injury Concerns – Fair

Next in Line – David Riske, Jorge Julio

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Where does Carlos Villanueva stand in the Brewers plans? I for one, believe that his name may be one that comes up when discussing a potential closing candidate. Let’s be honest, Hoffman wasn’t horrible, but wasn’t terrific either. Villanueva has worked hard and limited his walks to improve his K/BB ratio to more than 3:1, all the while keeping the rest of his peripherals in check. I expect big things in 2009, who’s to say that adding closer to his title isn’t possible?

Even Deeper…Omar Aguilar is a potential closer in the making. Resembling former Brewer Salomon Torres, Aguilar has closed out 26 big games over the past two minor-league seasons while sitting down 135 batters over 121.2 innings of A and AA-ball. Many believe that he is on the cusp of being on the opening day roster, and we couldn’t agree more. Expect Aguilar to get a legitimate shot at contributing to the Brewers movement.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

DIVISION RANK : 6 (MLB RANK : 26)

Closer – Chris Perez – Could be Perez, could be Franklin . For the sake of who we think it will be, we’ll go with the younger, more closer type arm of Perez. Injury riddled in 2008, Perez seemed to take the closer reins and be running with it, but hit a wall. The off-season controversy hasn’t resolved who Tony LaRussa will call on come the ninth, but we feel even if it does end up being Perez, he could only hold on for a limited amount of time.

Grip on the Closers Role – Paper Thin

Injury Concerns – High

Next in Line – Ryan Franklin, Brad Thompson

WaiverSharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Perez could fall in the ranks and have rookie Jason Motte roll right on by. Motte certainly has the goods to be an effective closer, with a solid debut in 2008. Expected to begin the year as potentially a set-up man, Motte can pitch his way into the closer’s role before the All-Star break. Expect several Cards’ to get the chance to pad their saves stats in what may be a long season in Missouri .

Even Deeper…What is not to love about Noel “Fernando” Salas? This heat-throwing righty pitched incredible in the 2008 season for AA-Springfield and ran up some impressive stats. A 6.25 K/BB ratio is impressive at any level, and while he has a tendency to give way to the long ball (12 HR’s allowed) he racked up 25 saves. To his credit, Salas still has some work to do, but the raw talent is definitely there. The expectation is to have him step up to AAA-Memphis this spring, where they will definitely give him every chance to close out games for the Redbirds.

By Ryan Roach

The Future Stars of The Cage is expanding!

In the past, our Future Stars of The Cage section centered around a 50 Player listing of minor league players who were rising toward a call-up to the Majors.

Fast forward to today...

Top 100 Fantasy Baseball Prospects: Within the week, we'll be adding an additional 50 players to the list, with bonus commentary on the Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Prospects.

Add to that, this valuable list of "25 Fantasy Baseball Prospects Who Should Hit The MLB in 2009", and you have all the makings of a unique Fantasy Baseball tool, sure to put you ahead of your competition this season.

25 Fantasy Baseball Prospects
Who Should Hit The MLB in 2009 

1. Gio Gonzalez – SP (OAK)

2. Nick Adenhart – SP (LAA)

3. David Huff – SP (CLE)

4. Jeff Samardzija – RP (CHC)

5. Taylor Teagarden – C ( TEX )

6. Chris Perez – RP (STL)

7. Elvis Andrus – SS ( TEX )

8. James McDonald – SP (LAD)

9. Brett Cecil – SP (TOR)

10. Aaron Poreda – SP (CWS)

11. Kila Ka’aihue – 1B (KC)

12. Jeff Niemann – SP (TB)

13. Adam Miller – SP (CLE)

14. Michael Saunders – OF (SEA)

15. Lou Marson – C (PHI)

16. Matt Antonelli – 2B (SD)

17. Jordan Zimmerman – SP (WSH)

18. Ryan Perry – RP (DET)

19. Max Ramirez – C ( TEX )

20. Jonathan Meloan – RP (CLE)

21. J.P. Arenciba – C (TOR)

22. Jaime Garcia – SP (STL)

23. Will Inman – SP (SD)

24. Brent Lillibridge – SS (CWS)

25. Jason Donald – 2B/SS (PHI)

Sleepers: Atlanta Braves

By Adam Forsyth

The Shallow

Jair Jurrjens – Starter (SP)

The Detroit Tigers will surely raise their fists to the heavens wondering why they dished this youngster for an aging Edgar Renteria. Jurrjens became the first ever Curaçao born pitcher to pitch in a major league game in 2007.

While the Tigers didn’t overwork him at all (only 30 IP in 7 starts), they certainly didn’t get a long enough look at the shifty right-hander to determine his worth. Atlanta stole him from the Tigers (ahhh, memories of John Smoltz…), where he will ply his trade in hopes of building on an extremely successful 2008 break-out season, in which he finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

Not everyone is sold though, as Jurrjens definitely needs to improve his consistency, and  his K/BB ratio (which sits almost exactly at 2:1), in order to be placed amongst the upper ranks of starters in the fantasy world. A strange statistic to consider, along with the fact that his peripherals at home are a touch higher than that on the road, is that in almost the same amount of IP, Jurrjens rang up nearly 21 more K’s in starts in the heat of Georgia, compared to road starts.

At only 23, Jurrjens has a solid career ahead of him and can certainly be considered a valuable fantasy asset in 2009.

The Deep

Jordan Schafer – Outfield (CF/RF)

Last season was definitely an interesting one for the young outfielder. His season started out by getting suspended for taking Human Growth Hormone; and upon his return in early June, struggled mightily, only to have a second half resurgence that brought up his line to finish his fourth season at a more respectable .269-46-10-51-12 in just under 300 AB. Not necessarily earth-shattering numbers, but the still developing talent has plenty of room to grow.

Still only 22 years old, Schafer has some time before he becomes a bust. His stats aren’t eye-popping, and for that reason, he isn’t linked with some of the bigger named prospects in our review; however, he has good speed, a little pop, and plays solid defense. He is a nice player, and can get the job done.

The positive "growth hormone" test has definitely marred his name, but hopefully being so young is an advantage, as he can learn from his mistakes, work harder to shake the stigma of being a “doper”, and rise above with his natural skills.

Editor’s Note: Does the Atlanta Braves recent addition of wily veteran Garret Anderson further spell out Schafer’s likelihood to remain in the MiLB throughout 2009? Stay tuned to our latest feature: The Shallow & The Deep – with daily waiver wire pick-up advice COMING SOON. ALL the latest news and keen insights regarding hot up and coming prospects throughout the league.

National League: NL WEST

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

DIVISION RANK : 1 (MLB RANK : 8)

Closer – Jonathon Broxton – Big Box Brox as I like to call him. Broxton is an intimidating 6 foot 4 inch 290 pound fire-baller and has the opportunity to throw his name into the top-tier of closers at the tender age of 24. Broxton was born to close out games and should be able to give the Dodgers as many wins as they give him opportunities.

Grip on the Closers Role – Extremely Firm

Injury Concerns – Minimal

Next in Line – Guillermo Mota, Hong-Chih Kuo

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Cory Wade showed that he belongs with the big club after waiting patiently for the opportunity. The slender 25-year old is ready to take the next step and could even enter the season as a set-up man for Broxton should he have a solid spring.

Even Deeper…Josh Roenicke has raised through the minor league ranks and could be a true darkhorse if given the opportunity in La-La Land. He has had solid statistical back to back seasons and may be a threat to take one of the six or seven bullpen spots out of the spring training.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

DIVISION RANK : 2 (MLB RANK : 16)

Closer – Brian Wilson – After many questions were posed as to whether or not he could handle the pressures of being the teams closer, Wilson locked up 41 games for a sub-par Giants team. He may not be the most flashy, but the man that shares his name with a Beach Boy, you’ve got to say he gets the job done.

Grip on Closers Role – Firm

Injury Concerns – Minimal

Next in Line – Bob Howry, Jeremy Affeldt

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Sergio Romo was extremely effective last year in his first exposure to major league quality bats. His WHIP of 0.71 and BAA of .138 are more than impressive. Over the 34 innings that he got into action he didn’t give up a hit in more than two-thirds of the games (20 of 29). Wilson has gone through injuries before and should either of the aforementioned vets struggle this 25-year old California native may step in and exceed all expectations.

Even Deeper…With 54 saves over the last two minor league seasons, it appears that the Giants are grooming Daniel Otero as their next lockdown game ender. At 24-years old, he needs to take a major step though to show that he is ready, as he has been toiling in A-Ball to this point. Expect him to at least begin in AA with the Connecticut Defenders and perhaps with a strong showing, reaching AAA at some point. He is still at least a season or two away from any MLB action.

COLORADO ROCKIES

DIVISION RANK : 3 (MLB RANK : 19)

Closer – Huston Street – Considered more of a finesse pitcher than prototypical closer, Street will look to build on his return to form late in the 2008 season after losing his closer’s role in Oakland. Never overpowering, Street depends on a mix of pitches and speeds to stun batters. Expect him to stay sharp as he knows that Corpas is more than capable of the job at hand, which should help him pitch his best. Injuries are always a concern, but Street should be 100% healthy coming into the ’09 season.

Grip on Closers Role – Loose

Injury Concerns – High

Next in Line – Manny Corpas, Taylor Buchholz

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Ever since being dealt to Colorado, it seems that Jason Grilli has found his stuff again. While he continues to walk batters at an alarming rate, he still reaches the upper 90’s with his fastball. Tigers fans won’t be happy to hear that he is succeeding; however, on a youthful team such as Colorado, he may have found his niche.

Even Deeper…Steven Register doesn’t provide anything flashy. He doesn’t necessarily strike out too many batters, but he doesn’t walk a lot either (close to a 3:1 K/BB ratio). He does have a tendency of giving up a lot of home runs but has slowly started to keep that in check as well. There is one thing that he does well though and that is pick up saves. After closing out 37 games in 2007 at AA-Tulsa, Register stepped up to AAA ball and locked down 16 games for Colorado Springs over the 2008 season. He could be a sneaker and find his way onto the Rockies roster at some point.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

DIVISION RANK : 4 (MLB RANK : 20)

Closer – Heath Bell – Entering his first Opening Day in being a full-time closer, Bell is a power pitcher that is generally a two pitch pitcher. He won’t surprise too many batters and has been hittable over his career. The Padres are hoping that he is able to make a smooth transition from the MLB save king Trevor Hoffman era. We’ll try to stay optimistic, but it may be a bumpy ride.

Grip on the Closers Role – Firm

Injury Concerns – Minimal

Next in Line – Clay Meredith, Justin Hampson

WaiverSharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Mike Adams could be a guy that would be able to step in and provide a solid game-stopper. An impressive 3.89:1 K/BB ratio shows that he hits the strike zone with consistency and with four seasons under his belt, he may be ready to heed a promotion.

Even Deeper…Greg Burke may be able to make a jump this year, as he has been more than solid in the Padres system the past two seasons. A converted starter, Burke made a smooth transition in 2008 by accumulating 23 saves while striking out 92 in 84 innings of work. Hopefully getting into that many games won’t wear him down and he can make the jump to the big club in 2009 or 2010.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

DIVISION RANK : 5 (MLB RANK : 22)

Closer – Chad Qualls – After taking over mid-season for a struggling Brandon Lyon, Qualls was either effective and lights out, or very hittable and ultimately forgettable. Arizona’s success may have something to do with how their bullpen fares, but don’t expect too much from Qualls as he has typically been hittable throughout history. With a serviceable threat in Jon Rauch on board, Qualls reign as closer may be short lived.

Grip on Closers Role – Loose

Injury Concerns – Slight

Next in Line – Jon Rauch, Tom Gordon

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – With the recent free-agent signing of Tom Gordon the D’Backs won’t be hesitant I’m sure to try different options should Qualls struggle. We know that Rauch would be able to do the job, but I see Tony Pena as a real sleeper option here. Hard-throwing 25-year old righty has six career saves and could be another option for Bob Melvin to test along the way.

Even Deeper…With 45 saves over the past 2 seasons, Reid Mahon is being touted as next closer for the D’Backs. While he looked slightly out of place in his first exposure at AAA-Tucson he should make the jump this year and get more seasoning. Arizona can take their time as they have more than enough options already in place to allow this kid the ability to develop properly.

If Hollywood actor Ethan Hawke had an athletic tank for a younger brother - he very well may resemble Travis Snider. Fantasy stalwarts hope the budding ballplayer’s opening act last season was an audition for a more prominent role in this year’s 2009 Indie gem: Jay on the Rise.

The 5’11”, 230lb left handed Toronto Blue Jays prospect, dubbed “The Franchise” by reporter Kevin Gray - should provide fans plenty to cheer about down at the Rogers Center for years to come.

The difficult question is: What about 2009?

Well, before we look forward we need to look back.

Some guys are still glowing with man crush conviction when mentioning Snider’s “Broadway Shot”. His junior season homer left nothing but a vapor trail until it touched down approximately 500 feet out of Everett Memorial Stadium – landing outside onto the Broadway Ave. cement.

But Wily Mo Pena has catapulted some tape measure taters. One long shot doesn’t make you a great ballplayer.

Snider was also the 2008 Eastern League Home Run Derby Champion.

Yeah, so…Miguel Tejada won a Major League Home Run Derby, and now all he does is lie about everything…his age, roids…I’m not even sure if I believe he’s an Astro anymore!

Okay, naysayers. Snider, was called up last season at the end of August – and he didn’t fair too badly for a 20 year old kid, hitting .301 in 24 games – while launching a couple of bombs, and knocking in 13 runs.

His minor league path, to use an old Asteroids term – has been set to “Hyperspace”.

Some fine tuning is still in order to cut down on the K’s, but you’d have to be blind not to see a VERY bright future ahead for the hulking…(pause) Left fielder?…er…RF?…umm..1B?...or DH? (Cue the sound of a record being ripped out from a needle) This mini collection of letters & numerals (LF/RF/1B/DH) is currently the biggest issue with why we still need to cautiously bid for the right to Snider’s 2009 fantasy services in non-keeper leagues. Like Ray Durham…he doesn’t have a bonafied home still. Well, he has a team…but:

Where will Travis Snider play this year?

His outfield skill set is pretty average, and first base duties (for now) belong to Lyle Overbay , and backed up by the recent big name Jays offseason signing of Kevin Millar. But, ah yes – in the American League, pitchers don’t pick up sticks. (Too bad for Dontrelle Willis, he could have at least had some form of success last year had he stroked a few doubles)

Designated Hitter would seem to be the most appropriate landing spot for the talented thumper. A solid mix of super power – with an ability to hit for a respectable average throughout his minor league career won’t ensure Snider’s capture of the DH role in T.O. – but it definitely puts him in the running.

The Toronto Blue Jays took the high road when it came down to signing any big name free agents thus far. We can’t see them suddenly breaking the bank for Manny Ramirez or anyone else who could further cloud Snider’s ability to take regular batting practice this Spring. (Can you imagine ManRam as a Toronto Blue Jay? Yeah, neither can we!)

But let us put aside the 73 at bat performance from Snider’s cup of java for a second. Although an impressive microcosm (good word) on one hand – could be counter pointed (not a word) with the fact that Snider struck out nearly 1/3 of the times he batted last season. But my point is, after all the BABIP, and OBP & McDLT (That actually was a short lived McDonald’s burger that separated the hot side from the cold side) and countless other stats you could use to analyse 73 at bats – there really just isn’t enough significant data to project Snider’s 2009.

I expect some bumps, and bruises in 2009 for Snider, as his gifted bat becomes acquainted with some extremely gifted strike-out pitchers in the AL East. There is still the chance he won’t even head north once the Jays rosters are finalized come April - couple that with the fact Snider just recently celebrated his 21st birthday. (Man, at 21 years old I just wanted to detail my van while listening to Twisted Sister!) BTW, Travis Snider has no relation to Stay Hungry vocalist/co-writer - Dee Snider. Imagine if he had inherited these blood-lines instead – Yikes!

But, all the Pitfall Harrys aside - Now that the Blue Jays budding star is of legal drinking age, I plan to toast his potential success with a tall frothy glass of Miller beer while taking a late round flyer on him in every dog gone 2009 fantasy baseball draft I have the pleasure of partaking in this year!

I think it’s a smart strategy to have a handful of good potential youngsters to take a stab at during the final couple rounds. So, when “cautious Bill” from accounting decides to round out his pitching staff with Paul Byrd, why not select a potential lumberjack like Travis Snider?

Here’s to you Travis – *Burp* Excuse me… Say, he doesn’t look like Ethan Hawke now? He looks like two Ethan Hawkes!!!

Like a handful of cashews to go with your “Miller Genuine Live Draft”, nothing compares to a fitting fantasy denouement than grabbing a solid upside player who could surprise in the final couple rounds – especially when he ends up shocking everyone! In all of my leagues last season, I rolled the final picks dice with either Edinson Volquez, or Carlos Gomez. Ya win some, ya lose some. Cheers!

Sleepers: Toronto Blue Jays

By: Adam Forsyth  

The Shallow

Adam Lind – Outfield (LF)

This kid has got some serious pop. Teamed up with Alex Rios and Vernon Wells, this under-rated trio may provide the league with the right to the most effective outfield in the American League. For several years, the Jays management has been waiting for Lind to get the opportunity to show his stuff. In the first couple of call-ups, he failed to impress.

Until the 2008 season, Lind was hurting his prospects of becoming a full-time major leaguer, with sub-standard play. While growing pains are expected, and the acknowledgment that you can’t count everything into a brief debut in the bigs, Lind blasted the ball with consistency in the second half of the season. He showed Jays brass, and fans alike, that they do indeed have something on their hands.

With nearly 32% of his big league hits going for extra bases in over 320 AB’s, Lind showed that he is a natural power-hitter at the heart of things. He blends that with a tenacity at the plate, portraying to the opposition that he walks with a swagger.

I expect the development of this Blue Bird to take another step forward, and wouldn’t consider a year with 25+ bombs, and 85+ RBI’s being out of the realm of possibility. While he does strike out at a fairly alarming rate, and doesn't have above average speed, expect Lind to remain a building block in the Jays hopes of re-storing their early 1990’s glory.

The Deep

Brett Cecil – Starting Pitcher

After rolling through a record breaking career at the University of Maryland, setting school records as an effective shut-down closer, Cecil has been transformed into a full-time starting pitcher within the Jays organization.

I’m certain that the Jays are trying to accentuate the tools that this blue-chip prospect brings to the mound, as he has been extremely effective in a starters’ role. At the tender age of 22, Cecil has already rolled through the entire minor league system, with a fair amount of success along the way. Last season, he started the year in Dunedin (High A-Ball) and proved that he was ahead of the curve. He followed that up with a stop in AA-New Hampshire, and ended a very positive year of growth in AAA-Syracuse.

With a fastball that tops out in the low 90’s, Cecil depends on his slider as his big pitch. However, in order to have fantasy relevance, Cecil is going to have to develop the ability to mix speeds and locations with his pitches more effectively, or he’ll be exposed.

I don’t suspect that the Jays will push his development, as they do not want to tire out his arm by having him throw too many innings; however, with the loss of AJ Burnett, along with the injuries to two of their starting five, (McGowan, may not be back until June and Marcum, done for the year), depending on how the Jays and their existing starting five are doing, Cecil may get a shot to show the Jays brass what he can do to help out the big club in 2009.

Sleepers: Oakland Athletics
By: Adam Forsyth

The Shallow

Ryan Sweeney – Outfield (CF)

After appearing in 115 games last year, Sweeney got some valuable at-bats under his belt, which will help him in his development. The addition of the big bats of Matt Holliday and Jason Giambi, will certainly provide the young center fielder some better looks at the plate that he has yet to experience in what was typically a punchless Athletics attack.

Originally drafted by the White Sox, and hailed as the organizations top prospect by Baseball America, Sweeney was dealt to the A’s in the Nick Swisher deal (along with pitching stud Gio Gonzalez).

While Sweeney isn’t going to hit for power, or knock in 100 runs in a year, what he can provide is a solid, patient bat at the plate, decent speed, good defense; basically average, across the board five-tool contribution. Considered more of a line-drive contact hitter, Sweeney has settled in to the right park for his trade, as the vast outfield of Network Associates Coliseum (what a horrible name for a park) can quickly turn base hits into extra base hits.

He’ll probably be the beneficiary of bumped up stats based on the new protection that he will receive in the line-up, and should hit for a decent average, while providing 12-18 HR’s, and upwards of 70+ RBI’s in another year of development.

The Deep

Brett Anderson – Starting Pitcher

Anderson isn’t your typical raw 21-year old that comes in with the nasty goods, and has just made it on talent alone. He is a student of the game; the type that clever A’s GM Billy Beane just loves to get his hands on and bring to the organization. Beane has a knack for finding gems in a draft, and through deals, after plucking the tall lefty from the Diamondbacks in the Dan Haren deal.

Quickly meandering up the depth chart, Anderson comes with impressive stuff. Anderson knows that he may not get an opportunity this year, but will continue to listen, learn and develop into what should be another great arm that seems to supplant the league with pitching talent in Oakland.

The pitching machine known as the A’s, stays well oiled, as Anderson is entering the season as the number three prospect in the A’s organization. He will need some help as far as injuries, or struggles, to get in and make an appearance in the 2009 MLB season. However, dynasty leaguers, or poolies with a minor-league system, should take note that Brett Anderson is going to be ready for the bigs in 2010.

The Toronto Blue Jays Sleepers are on deck, and in honor of President Barack Obama visiting Canada - WaiverSharks will be concentrating ALL of our efforts on some up and coming Jays during the next couple days!  

Sleepers: Houston Astros

By: Adam Forsyth

The Shallow

Wandy Rodriguez – Starting Pitcher

If injuries didn’t get in the way of Wandy completing last season, he probably wouldn’t continue to be a sleeper candidate. His 2008 season, he appeared to have finally put together all of his skills and assets to pitch with the confidence required to have success at the major league level.

Aside from the 2006 season, Rodriguez is typically a slow-starter getting out of the gate with several lackluster performances. In order to have fantasy relevance Rodriguez needs to learn how to be effective with runners in scoring position and display a knack for getting out of jams. His career ERA with RISP at 9.29, (his ERA with RISP and two outs…21.78) shows that once you get to him, he has been known to give up the big inning every now and then.

The 30-year old Dominican lefty has shown signs of improvement in each of his four seasons with the Astros and typically gets better and better as the game progresses. With the anomaly of his 2007 season well behind him, in which he was lights out at home en route to a sparkling 2.94 ERA, compared to terribly forgettable on the road as outlined by his 6.37 ERA, he was able to drop over two full runs from his road ERA while keeping the pace in Texas.

A lot of Rodriguez' issues are mental - and believing in his stuff. Because once Wandy finds his groove, he becomes much more difficult to hit. With a career K/BB ratio of just over 2:1, he needs to lock in greater control to raise his fantasy relevance, but we feel that he is going to make a big jump this year and pending health, could be a big surprise in fantasy circles as a solid number three roster option, instead of waiver regular.

The Deep

Drew Sutton – 2B/3B/SS

With the outfield position seemingly locked up for the next little while with Carlos Lee inked in as the everyday left-fielder, along with the still developing Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence at the other two spots, it forced WaiverSharks.com to take a look at some of the other positional players and make a decision.

Look no further than the versatile and naturally athletic Stephen Drew Sutton. At six-foot three and a smallish 185 pounds, Sutton could surely afford to put a few more pounds on his frame; however to this point, it hasn’t stalled his development into a potential 20/20 candidate. Blessed with a good glove, Sutton has played all of the infield positions during his time in A and AA ball, but is being groomed as a second baseman.

His transition from a successful high-school and junior college career has gone without a hitch as he had success at every rank and been named a league all-star in all four of his minor league campaigns. This switch-hitting prospect has shown flashes of power along the way with more than 35% of his hits over the past three seasons going for extra bases proving that this 25-year old devout Christian has enough pop to make him a plus in what is already a fairly potent Astros attack.

At AA-Corpus Christy, Sutton worked on his plate discipline in 2008 and his determination paid off handsomely with a near .050 point jump in both his BA (which rose to .317) and his OBP (courtesy of a 20 BB jump, to a solid .408).

We feel that with the likelihood of Matsui going down with yet another bizarre injury, along with the ‘Stros options at third being less than impressive (is the combination of Geoff Blum and Aaron Boone really better than giving the kid a chance?) the slight stumbling blocks shouldn’t be in the way too much longer in getting Sutton some major league experience. Look for his glove to give him the chance, but his bat to keep him there.

WaiverSharks will continue throughout 2009 Spring Training to provide our growing legions of Fantasy Baseball fanatics with The Shallow and The Deep Sleepers. And we once again want to remind you that once the regular season (Hint: or maybe even a little sooner!) begins we will be bringing you DAILY pick-up advice. One Shallow, and one Deep waiver wire pick-up will be available right here - throughout the 2009 MLB Major League Baseball campaign. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE: NL EAST

NEW YORK METS

DIVISION RANK : 1 (MLB RANK : 3)

Closer – Francisco Rodriguez  - After shattering the individual season saves record by recording an incredible 62 games saved, K-Rod jumped ship and went for some money signing in New York. The pressure will be a tad different, and switching numbers (Johan Santana wears number 57) to number 75 may have a mental effect. Just kidding…But don’t expect 62 more saves, a more down to earth 42-48 saves wouldn’t be a surprise though.

Grip on Closers Role – Extremely Firm

Injury Concerns – Minimal

Next in Line – J.J. Putz, Pedro Feliciano

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Another piece in the JJ Putz deal, Sean Green may have the ability to close out some games should this totally revamped bullpen collapse beyond recognition. Green is the most likely roster candidate to get a shot to close out a game here or there (vulture saves count too!!!) should injuries take place, or in situations where K-Rod and Putz are unavailable. With this being said only the deepest of deep fantasy drafts should a name like Sean Green be called out.
 
Even Deeper…The Mets have a great looking back end of the bullpen at the moment. Currently they have lots of hard throwing arms that are used to working lots of innings which may hurt a young developing closer. Regardless, 22 year old Eddie Kunz could be their next developed closer. At 6 foot 5 inches, 265 pounds, he is an intimidating hurler that has racked up 34 saves in the last two seasons. His K/BB ratio could improve, but they won’t have to rush him to get him in the majors as they have at least three years of the explosive K-Rod to depend on.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

DIVISION RANK : 2 (MLB RANK : 4)

Closer – Brad Lidge – Pure power pitcher, brings it every night. A perfect season last year after being run out of Houston due to mental lapses and struggles, Lidge obviously gets the last laugh. I have always been a big fan and when you can get nearly 100 K’s from your closer, and solid all-around stats, you can deal with a mental lapse here and there.

Grip on Closers Role – Extremely Firm

Injury Concerns – Minimal

Next in Line – Ryan Madson, *J.C. Romero (Suspended first 50 games)

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – If the Phillies want to test drive anyone that is currently on their 40-man roster, I think that they should give Joe Bisenius an opportunity. Bisenius has above average goods and a near 2:1 K/BB ratio through his five minor league seasons. At 26 he is mature enough to handle situations and could be a nice addition in deep drafts.

Even Deeper… Dynasty leaguers could take a chance on Sam Walls. While Walls was phenomenal in A-Ball, he became slightly erratic in making the jump to AA last year. Expect another year or two of grooming but with a 0.81 ERA, nearly 3:1 K/BB ratio, .152 BAA and a WHIP under 1.00 he will more than likely spend the entire season up a level in preparation for the next jump.

ATLANTA BRAVES

DIVISION RANK : 3 (MLB RANK : 21 )

Closer – Mike Gonzalez – A great arm that has been mangled in recent history to various injuries. Gonzo’s strange delivery that definitely strains his pitching arm is also part of his effectiveness. He has shown that he can be lights out in a closers role, so his success is merely determined by how healthy he can remain.

Grip on the Closers Role – Stable

Injury Concerns – Fair

Next in Line – Rafael Soriano, Buddy Carlyle, Boone Logan

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – While Manny Acosta isn’t a shocking name, Bobby Cox tested him with success in closing out 3 games last season, so he has had an opportunity in getting the final out. Not an overly powerful pitcher, Acosta would need to work on his control to be given a true shot, as you don’t get too many chances if you can either put the ball in play, or hit the strike zone.

Even Deeper… Luis Valdez accumulated 28 saves last season, while running up a 10.66 K/9INN rate. A flame thrower by trade, Valdez also has a tremendous slider that he can depend on when he needs to throw a strike. Working his fair in winter league ball in his native Dominican Republic, expect another season or two in order to fine tune, but he could be closing Braves games before you know it.

FLORIDA MARLINS

DIVISION RANK : 4 (MLB RANK : 27)

Closer – Matt Lindstrom – What can you really expect from Lindstrom that he hasn’t already shown. He’s a decent pitcher, with decent stuff and who knows, maybe he’ll turn into another Kevin Gregg? Regardless, the Marlins will need a solid bullpen to hold on to games as their starting rotation will keep them competitive. Expect Lindstrom and committee to be used as I’m not sold on him being the only hurler to get the opportunity to close games in Florida.

Grip on the Closers Role – Loose

Injury Concerns – Slight

Next in Line – Leo Nunez, Scott Proctor

WaiverSharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – What happened to Taylor Tankersley last season? After showing some strong stuff in the previous two seasons, the Tank took a dramatic step back in his dependability and we at WaiverSharks.com believe that he’s still got enough in the Tank at the tender age of 25 to bring it all back together. Almost anyone in the Marlins ‘pen could be considered a sleeper at this point, but - if anyone,  it could be the University of Alabama southpaw that steps up and grabs the role.

Even Deeper… If anyone in the Marlins system were to make a jump to potentially close games, it would have to be Chris Mobley. Great control, high K/BB ratio of nearly 4.5/1 and an impressive BAA (.224) makes this 25 year old appealing. Mobley's been closing out games within the minor leagues for a couple of seasons now, and with an old closer in AAA, expect him to make a jump this year. He could very well find his way on the major league club at some point.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

DIVISION RANK : 5 (MLB RANK : 30)

Closer – Joel Hanrahan – Probably the most loose grip on a closers role as you can get this year, Hanrahan had a brief audition last year racking up nine saves; however, he also blew four saves as well. The Nationals will more than likely continue to struggle, and a solid back end of the ‘pen is necessary to collect as many wins as possible. Challengers will rise which will hopefully help the performance, but I see Hanrahan as a more effective set-up man.

Grip on the Closers Role – Loose

Injury Concerns – Slight

Next in Line – Steven Shell, Saul Rivera

Waiversharks.com Deep Sleeper Candidate – Hmmm, you could probably pick any other name in the bullpen, but if I had to select just one “sleeper” candidate to potentially close out games in D.C. I’d have to pick Mike Hinckley. He was very impressive in his debut last season not giving up 0 runs in 13+ innings and showing great control with 3:1 K/BB ratio. Don’t expect anything phenomenal from this motley crew of potential closers.

Even Deeper… Incredibly,  the Nationals have a fairly thin set of pitching prospects which exposes an even more limited stock of closer prospects. If there is one player that sticks out, I’d have to say 24-year old Adam Carr is that name. Slithering his way through the system, he hasn’t been given a shot at the bigs, but perhaps this is the year. He has good control, throws four pitches and has closed out games the past three seasons. Selecting a deep sleeper in this situation is like a needle in a haystack, so use this information with caution.