First to 300

The new steroids policy has taken an effect on 300's fantasy record. Where do they rank with Erik?

Bolivar 300 has their seen their team undergo many changes in the first half of the season. A team that was once led by strong pitching now has their line-up as their stronger suit.

Line-up (including DH)

1. Jose Reyes – SS - .310 AVG, 4 HR, 34 RBI, 43 SB
2. Brian Roberts – 2B - .323, 5, 26, 26
3. Todd Helton – 1B - .309, 7, 46, 0
4. Matt Holliday – LF - .352, 14, 68, 4
5. Chipper Jones – 3B - .329, 15, 41, 2
6. Victor Martinez – C - .326, 15, 66, 0
7. Kevin Youkilis – DH - .329, 9, 44, 2
8. Aaron Rowand – CF - .309, 11, 43, 5
9. Nick Markakis – RF - .274, 9, 48, 8

Pitching Staff

1. Josh Beckett – 12-2, 3.44, 92 K, 21 BB, 1.14 WHIP
2. Ian Snell – 7-5, 2.93, 93, 33, 1.17
3. Ben Sheets – 10-4, 3.41, 87, 25, 1.17
4. Joe Blanton – 8-4, 3.09, 84, 24, 1.04
5. Javier Vasquez – 5-5, 3.70, 100, 26, 1.08

Bullpen

Middle Relief – Chad Billingsley – 5-0, 3.44, 53, 19, 1.15
MR – Dustin McGowan – 5-4, 4.65, 57, 28, 1.33
MR – Jason Marquis – 6-4, 3.31, 59, 38, 1.21
Set-up – David Weathers – 1-3, 3.02, 32, 11, 0.98, 16 Saves
Set-up – Brian Fuentes – 0-4, 4.06, 31, 11, 1.17, 20
Closer – Trevor Hoffman – 2-3, 1.97, 19, 6, 0.78, 24

Summary

There might not be a better 1-2 punch than Jose Reyes and Brian Roberts. Both hit for a high average, can lay down a bunt, show some power and can steal a bag. After that combo comes the two Rockies. The only thing that worries me about Helton and Holliday is getting half of their stats from Coors Field. Over the last three years, Holliday is a .358 hitter at home and a .262 hitter away from Coors with about half the homers.

The amazing thing about this line-up is that every hitter is currently hitting over .300 sans Nick Markakis – who got the nod over Michael Cuddyer because of upside and defense. Overall, this is a great line-up that is only devoid of a true masher, and you have to love the Reyes-Roberts combo at the top.

On defense, Bolivar 300 is outstanding in the infield. Reyes makes a few too many errors but gets to balls that no other shortstop could touch. Roberts and Jones are very solid and Helton is a gold-glover at first. Martinez is not overwhelming defensively as his bat is his calling card. This would leave 300 susceptible to teams who can put pressure on them on the basebaths. In the outfield, Markakis has a cannon and could be on his way to a few gold-gloves. Rowand is solid but not outstanding in center and Holliday is average in left.

Pitching is where this always gets interesting. The WHIP numbers put out by 300’s starters are great, but there are still some question marks. Beckett has the stuff to be a true ace, but he hasn’t been quite as good as his 12-2 mark would indicate. Ideally (on rosters like this), Beckett would be a #2 with the possibility of becoming a true ace. Snell seems to be having a breakout year and is a solid #2 whose record would be better if he did not play for the lowly Pirates. Sheets has #1 stuff and has been solid this year. His K’s are down, but if he stays healthy, he is a great option as a third starter. As with most 4th and 5th starters, I have some reservations about Blanton and Vasquez. Blanton has been very good so far this year, but can he keep it up all year? Vasquez has the stuff but his head hasn’t been up to the level of his arm since his brief stint in the Big Apple.

In the bullpen, things get a little sketchy. The middle relief trio of Billingsley, McGowan, and Marquis is very questionable. Billingsley will strike people out (and walk them) and is getting better every time out. McGowan has recently shown signs of being for real – can he keep it going? Marquis is having an average year, but by his standards, it is a very good year. At the back-end, 300 has an average set-up man in David Weathers. They also have Brian Fuentes who was recently relieved (get it?) of his duties as closer in Colorado. If used properly as a left-hand specialist, Fuentes is the second best part of this bullpen. Closing games for 300 will be the ever-reliable Hoffman who has a change-up that makes Johan Santana jealous. Hoffman keeps this bullpen from being below average because of his reliability and could teach a thing or two to his counterparts.

Overall, 300 has a great line-up minus a big power threat. Their defense and pitching are a touch above average and where their bullpen is.

Rankings

Line-up
1. Alba
2. 300

Starting Pitching
1. 300
2. Alba

Defense
1. 300
2. Alba

Bullpen
1. Alba
2. 300

Overall
1. 300
2. Alba