EFB DRAFT RANKINGS

Tuesday May 6th, 2008

The Stock Exchange: Vlad, from 5-Tool Star to 5-Star Tool?

by Cory Channell

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Overall Top 25 Drafts

Top 10 rankings by Scoring Category

League by League Breakdown

The Stock Exchange identifies those players whose stock is rising, falling or holding steady in the world of fantasy baseball. Each week, I'll pick nine players whose value looks to be changing in the near future. Feedback is welcome and encouraged as your comments may be used in later articles.

RISING

Lance Berkman, 1B/OF, Houston Astros - Lance Berkman became the first member of the prestigious 30-30 club this season. OK, it's runs and RBI, but he is the first to reach the mark in those two categories. Berkman has also registered 10 home runs, just three off the pace being set by the Phillies' Chase Utley. Berkman is one of those guys who probably didn't get drafted all that high, but still produces like a first-rounder. In the past 15 days, Berkman is hitting .388 with 15 runs, 6 home runs and 20 RBI. He's even stolen four bases on the season. This just in - Berkman is good.

Harry Leroy Halladay III, SP, Toronto Blue Jays - Yeah, I'd go by Roy, too. Halladay should have at least six wins by now, but sits at 3-4 thanks to the light-hitting Blue Jays, who have scored fewer than three runs in all four of Halladay's losses. A 38:7 K/BB ratio has his ERA at 3.00 and WHIP at a

sparkling 0.98. He's striking out between 6-7 batters a game, and recently threw four consecutive complete games with a single victory for his efforts. Halladay is keeping his pitch count down, even when he's asked to do the bullpen's work. Halladay's consistency will start netting him some more wins soon enough.

Rafael Furcal, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers - Furcal recorded a team-record 17 extra-base hits in April. As a result, Furcal has scored 33 runs and is batting a brisk .369. Furcal is the top-rated shortstop in the game, just ahead of first-rounder Hanley Ramirez. With an ADP of 111, Furcal is contributing to a lot of owners' success thus far. Manager Joe Torre has a history of getting the most value out of mediocre shortstops (slight dig).

HOLDING STEADY

Brett Myers, SP, Philadelphia Phillies – Myers struck out a season-high 10 batters in a 3-2 loss to the Giants on Saturday. His ERA is still high at 4.70 with a 1.36 WHIP, but a recent film session revealed he wasn't pushing off with his legs as much as he thought he was. If that's the case, expect a bump in K's soon. He has a tough matchup against Brandon Webb and the D-Backs on Thursday, so temper your expectations for a win this week.

RPs Takashi Saito (Dodgers), Francisco Rodriguez (Angels), Jose Valverde (Astros) - After a bumpy start to their seasons, discussions about the next closers-in-waiting have died down. Saito is 38, but he is still pitching effectively. The Dodgers just haven't given him many save situations. K-Rod scared his fantasy owners when he sprained an ankle early this season and Scot Shields stepped into the role for a game or two. There's no question about his health now as he has been lights-out by

posting a league-leading 13 saves. His strikeouts are down considerably this season, but no one can argue with his performance so far. Valverde has not given up an earned run since April 17. In that time he has worked 9.2 innings with a WHIP of 0.76 struck out 13 and lowered his ERA from 12.77 to

5.29.

Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals - It's hard to believe, but Pujols is still in the prime of his career at age 28. He leads the majors with 33 walks and is batting .358. He reached base for the 32nd consecutive game this season, so he is still terrorizing pitchers. Last season was considered

an off-year for Pujols, yet he still hit 32 home runs with 103 RBI. I compared his stats this April with last season's and he looks to be rebounding nicely. (plus-4 R, plus-12 H, plus-3 DBL, minus-1 HR, plus-5 RBI, plus-19 BB and plus-.115 BA.) Owners who nabbed him late in the first round are feeling pretty good so far.

FALLING

Manny Corpas, RP, Colorado Rockies - It wasn't too long ago that Rockies pitchers were avoided like the plague. And while this season's staff is nowhere near plague status, Corpas is the closest. Corpas hasn't had his head on straight for some time now. Taylor Buchholz has passed him on the

depth chart and is now the set-up guy for closer Brian Fuentes. Corpas was special last year down the stretch for the Rockies. If he doesn't figure it out soon, he should be sent down to the minors. But for now, the Rockies want him pitching earlier to avoid high-pressure situations late in the

game.

Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Los Angeles Angels - Guerrero is batting a very unVlad-like .261 this season with just three home runs and 14 RBI. No, he won't steal more than 10-12 bags this season, but we all expected more than what he is offering so far. At 32, Vlad's best years are behind him. He

once was a five-tool player. Without the stolen bases, he had become a four-tool player. Now, with no power and an Andruw Jones-like average, he has just become a tool.

Rafael Betancourt, RP, Cleveland Indians - The Indians turned to Betancourt when Joe Borowski was placed on the DL, but he isn't doing much to earn the team's trust. He allowed his fourth home run of the season on Sunday to the Royals. He allowed only four home runs in 79.1 innings last season. With just two saves, an ERA of 6.39 and a WHIP of 1.58, Borowski may be handed his old job back when he returns in 2-3 weeks from his triceps injury.

MAILBAG

Do you have a comment about the players included or excluded in The Stock Exchange? Send an e-mail with The Stock Exchange in the subject line to bumpercrumpler@yahoo.com. Include comments along with your name, hometown, Elite team name and division. Comments may be used in future articles.

(Daily)- The box scores don't always tell the whole story, but you don't have to miss out on he inside scoop. Check in everyday as Tarrell Graham highlights the previous days MLB action from a fantasy perspective.

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(Tuesdays)- Cory Channell brings Wall St. to the fantasy baseball world as he gives you the scoop on when to Buy Low, Sell High and Hold tight.

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