Has Gavin Floyd made Tim a believer?

We are in the midst of Week 6 of the season, and by now you should have a good feel for your fantasy team’s strengths and weaknesses. Without a doubt you should be looking for ways to improve your team on a regular basis, whether it be via the trade market, or through the judicious plucking of players on the waiver wire. Look for players left for dead by impatient owners, who dropped them before they have had a chance to gain their stride, or undiscovered gems just sitting there awaiting your arrival to rescue them and put them to work for your team. Before launching into this week’s profiles, I want to remind you that if you have questions about players, trade offers, or anything else related to fantasy baseball, pay a visit to the Sports Grumblings fantasy baseball forum. Simply post your question, comment, or suggestion there, and I promise you an answer within 24 hours. OK? Let’s take a look at some players now. Shall we?

Mixed League Options

Gavin Floyd – Starting Pitcher – Chicago White Sox – Floyd has started six games this season. In three of those games he held opponents to two hits or less, and in five of the six he held them to three runs or less. In his last outing, he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, before Joe Mauer, who hit a double into the gap, broke it up. Floyd skill stats are a bit troublesome in that his K/9 rate is down, while his BB/9 is up a bit. But his HR/9 is down considerably, so he seems to have gotten over the gopheritis that has plagued him during his early career. Floyd has clearly taken a step in the right direction with his stuff, and I expect his peripheral stats will return to their previously strong levels. He is worth a flier in mixed leagues, as the opponents he will face come primarily from the AL Central, which is extremely weak this season. All three of his wins have come against AL Central teams. Watch the match ups you use him against, and don’t be shy about sitting him when he is facing stronger teams like the Angels and Red Sox. Otherwise, he should be a good source of low ratios, wins, and eventually strikeouts.

Yunel Escobar – Middle Infielder – Atlanta Braves – When the Braves traded away Edgar Renteria during the offseason, they did so knowing that they had a talented young player in Yunel Escobar, who could step in to replace him without missing a beat. So far, he has met or exceeded all their expectations, and been an excellent compliment to their lineup as one of the primary table setters for the heart of their line up. Escobar has 21 runs scored already, has maintained an average well above .300 (currently .321) since the season began, and has even shown a little power with 3 home runs and 13 RBI. About the only thing he does not do very often, is steal, as he has only two stolen bases on the season. The Braves used him in a utility role last season, so Escobar is eligible at second, third, and short in most leagues, which only adds to his value in the fantasy realm. Escobar should continue to post excellent numbers, especially in runs and batting average, atop the Braves line up, and in front of Chipper Jones, who is simply mashing this season. Escobar should be on rosters in every fantasy league, in every format, and is an excellent player to target in a trade if you can pry him from his owner in your league.

Adam LaRoche – First Baseman – Pittsburgh Pirates – Adam LaRoche is off to a terrible start, and that’s the reason you should go after him now. If he is not on your waiver wire (which would be a surprise), then get a hold of his owner and make him an offer to acquire LaRoche. I tell you this because he is about to go off in a big way. The first signs have come in his last 12 games in which he has had 14 hits, including two home runs and seven RBI, and he raised his average more than 60 points to .270. Remember, this is a guy who mashed 32 home runs in 2006, and another 21 last season (after an equally dismal start). He is going to be good from here on out. I would not be surprised to see him bat .275+ and stroke 25 home runs. Trust me on this one, and go get him now, because in another week or so, your buy low opportunity will be gone.