Erik Bedard became the Orioles' ace in 2006 and set career highs in wins, ERA, IP, WHIP and K's. He pitched at least five innings in 29 of his 33 starts and was better after the All-Star break (3.10 ERA) than before it (4.28 ERA)

American League Hitters & Pitchers Report: Week 1   
Contributed By: Dan Heyder

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Hitters: Nick Markakis showed this spring why he belongs in the Orioles everyday lineup.He batted.343 with 3 homers and 11 RBIs in 70 ABs. Markakis is expected to hit third in the Orioles' lineup I have him projected for a .288-22-80-3 season, which quite honestly is not unique among outfielders.

Pitchers: No one disputes that Daniel Cabrera is capable of great things. The problem is that he hasn't shown enough consistency to warrant mixed league consideration yet. He'll often follow strong starts with walk-filled implosions. Erik Bedard on the other hand emerged as one of the majors' best lefties in 2006. He became the Orioles' ace and set career highs in wins, ERA, IP, WHIP and K's. He pitched at least five innings in 29 of his 33 starts and was better after the All-Star break (3.10 ERA) than before it (4.28 ERA).

BOSTON RED SOX

Hitters: Last season, J.D. Drew posted career-highs in games played and RBIs, but he's a different player now, with more doubles, fewer home runs and almost no stolen bases. His on-base and slugging numbers were pretty much consistent with his career levels (.393/.512 respectfully). This Boston lineup is the best that's ever been surrounded around Drew so you can expect his overall numbers to go up in 2007….provided he stays healthy of course.

Pitchers:  It's now time for the 100 mil. dollar man to display this thing called the 'gyro-ball' and prove to the baseball world; and Fantasy Nation for that matter, that he is indeed the real deal. I expect Daisuke Matsuzaka to dominate early (April-May) and then slow down a bit once teams have seen him for the 2nd and 3rd time. Remember, he now pitches every 5th day and if you combine that with the number of pitches this guy has been accustomed to throwing, its not completely unreasonable to expect a slide in the 2nd half of his rookie year, and according to SG projections 23-26 starts for the entire regular season. A number that currently doesn't equate to his ADP or AAV.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Hitters:  Jim Thome rebounded from back and elbow injuries in 2005 to win the AL Comeback Player of the Year award so I guess he still has something left. Thome, who hit .282 this spring with 4 HRs and 13 RBIs, is still one of the most feared power hitters in the game, but he has started showing signs of decline evidenced by last year's fall off in the 2nd half. Expect a good couple of months but be ready to move him come the mid-point of the season.

Pitchers: Six consecutive years of 200-plus innings pitched might have caught up with Mark Buehrle. Or maybe the league began to figure out his crafty but far from overpowering mound style. For whatever reason, the lefthander is coming off of his worst season in 2006 -- and first losing season. Because Buehrle doesn't throw hard, he is going to give up hits, I just find it hard to believe we'll see a repeat of 2006 which was the hits were strung together far more often.

CLEVELAND INDIANS

Hitters: The fact that Travis Hafner, affectionately known as 'Pronk', did not hit a HR this spring (or well for that matter) shouldn't concern owners. Hafner could be headed for an MVP-type season in 2007. Before a pitch broke his right hand and ended his season last August, he was leading the AL in OPS and what might be most impressive about Hafner is his effectiveness against lefthanders; He hit .321 with 16 homers and 46 RBIs in 184 at-bats against them in 2006.

Pitchers: C.C. Sabathia can still blow an upper-90s fastball by hitters, but the past two seasons, he has gotten by just as well with a wicked slider that he now throws earlier in the count. In '06, that deceptive mix helped him tie for the major league lead in complete games (six), though a lack of run and bullpen support hurt his win total.His numbers over the last 3 years are trending in a positive direction, which leads me to believe 2007 should be a career year for him.

DETROIT TIGERS

Hitters: A wrist injury cost Gary Sheffield four months of the season in 2006, but he shouldn't have any problems this year as a result of the injury. When healthy, Sheffield is a top run producer and he's a big-time power bat in a good lineup, but keep in mind he is getting older so appreciate that he'll DH a lot for the Tigers this year which will keep him fresh over a full season.

Pitchers: Despite fading late in the season (5.83 ERA from July-August), staff ace Justin Verlander outpaced some tough competition to win AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2006. Like many of the Tigers' young arms, Verlander throws some serious heat, and his K's should rise this season. However, because of last season's workload in the regular season and postseason, there are concerns about wear and tear for 2007 so beware.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

Hitters: All the talk thus far has circled around stud phenom Alex Gordon, but what Fantasy Nation is losing site of is last year's breakout player Mark Teahen.Teahen, who hit .329 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs this spring is proving last year wasn't a fluke. A former waiver-wire gem in 2006, Teahen is now a borderline No. 1 third baseman in mixed leagues whose value is rising because of position flexibility (OF).

Pitchers: RHP Zach Greinke's comeback continues as he had an encouraging spring; 3.00 ERA with 27 K's in 24 IP, displaying some of the stuff he showed in 2004 and 2005. After a successful rookie season, Greinke struggled mightily last year and should rebound slightly in 2007. However, he does pitch for the hapless Royals so mixed leaguers should only view him in spot starts against favorable opponents.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

Hitters:  An All-Star in the making by most accounts, 2B Howie Kendrick makes good contact and will develop power as he progresses. All Kendrick lacks at this point is plate discipline and the ability to recognize and lay off breaking pitches; 44 K's in only 267 ABs last year. Kendrick is too raw to become a mixed-league stud, but 2007 will still be a decent year for him in mixed leagues with a breakout season in 2008 very realistic.

Pitchers:  2005 Cy Young Winner Bartolo Colon was 1-5 with a 5.11 ERA in 10 starts last season after winning a career-high 21 games the previous year. The 33-year-old right-hander was on the DL from April 19 to June 17 with an inflamed right shoulder and missed the final two months because of a torn rotator cuff. Colon is expected back in the rotation by the end of April and should be considered someone who should be stashed in all leagues that allow DL spots. He is doing well in his recovery, hitting 94 mph on the radar gun in a recent outing against Double-A Cubs players.

MINNESOTA TWINS

Hitters: OF Michael Cuddyer has developed into a solid Fantasy option in all leagues after his breakthrough 2006, especially because he's book-ended by studs Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. His spring numbers of .348 BA with 4 HRs and 9 RBIs in 69 ABs cements that theory.

Pitchers: RHP Boof Bonser emerged as a legitimate rotation member at the end of the season, going 4-1 with a 2.63 ERA in his final six starts. His ability to mix in his curveball and changeup along with a 93-mph fastball late in the year gave him an increased confidence on the mound and led to his success. Even though his spring had mixed reviews; 2.86 ERA, 24 K's in 22 IP with 3 HRs alllowed, Bonser definitely has mixed-league potential, but he's probably best suited for AL-only leagues to start the season.