Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
Gay Marriage Vote Puts Heat On Christie
There's four guys at the top of the HR standings after one week. Albert Pujols should have been the first selection in your league, and while Nelson Cruz was probably a pretty high pick in your draft, Vernon Wells wasn't. Alex Gonzalez wasn't drafted at all. Could it be the start of something grand for Wells? Maybe, but he did most of his damage in Texas, and unlike Cruz, he doesn't have 81 games scheduled there this season.Gonzalez's power didn't just come out of nowhere, as he did have 16 HRs in less than 400 at-bats back in 2007. After missing 2008, he had just eight HRs last year. Bottom line is that you don't get credit for his huge Week 1 if you pick him up now, so I'd ignore him and move along.
The gentlemen with three HRs after one week include Ryan Howard, Garrett Jones, Dustin Pedroia, Paul Konerko, Chris Young, Kelly Johnson and everyone's favorite rookie phenom Jason Heyward. All of those guys (yes, even the second basemen) should be good-to-great sources of power this season.
Looking for a power boost in Week 2? Let's check out some potential pickups:
Jeff Francoeur has started the season strong by going 10-for-21 with two homers. Anyone that knows his history also loves to see his four walks in this first week versus just two strikeouts. He's in Colorado and St. Louis this week and could continue his hot streak.
Chris Snyder deserves a look by anyone looking for cheap power at the catcher slot. Miguel Montero's injury has opened up playing time for Snyder, and he celebrated with a HR during Arizona's 13-run fourth inning on Sunday. He easily has double-digit power and is an asset in most leagues, though he has a tough road trip to Los Angeles and San Diego in Week 2. Teammates Young and Johnson (both with three HRs already) are other options for you.
Colby Rasmus has a pair of homers to his credit already, and he gets to take on Wandy Rodriguez before reaching the meat of the Astros rotation. He'll then face the Mets, a team with exactly one quality starting pitcher. I expect Rasmus to put together another multi-homer week.
J.J. Hardy is a guy that'll give you nice power numbers from a middle infield slot. As I stressed in the pre-season, Hardy is the same guy that hit 50 homers between two seasons before last year's forgettable numbers. With two HRs and a .286 average over one week, he looks to be back in form.
Of course, you should also be targeting any of the three and four HRs hitters from Week 1 (except for Gonzalez, who has value only in AL leagues).
Pressure Mounts On Mortgage Giants To Pursue Principal Reductions
Washington Gay Marriage Legislation Signed Into Law By Governor Chris Gregoire
House GOP Offers Deal In Big Fight
Officials Confirm: Prescription Drugs Found In Whitney Houston's Room
Obama Budget Signals Shift From Austerity Measures To Campaign Promises
U.S. Green-Lights Google's Massive $12.5 Billion Purchase
Syrian Rebels Fight Off Attack On Key Town
Downgraded: Moody's Cuts Credit Ratings Of Italy, Portugal And Spain
WATCH: Fox News Pundit's Disturbing Comments About Rape
How Long Will Santorum's Surge Last?
When Will The New iPad Be Announced?
Wall Street Fears Volcker Rule Will Force Testosterone Monitoring
Topless Protesters Target 'Gas Gangsters'
Afghanistan Base Named 'Aryan' Raises Objections From Soldiers
WATCH: CPAC's 'Best In Show'
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
Obama's Birth Control Rule Will Hurt Homeless Veterans, Warns GOP Congressman
WATCH: Bill Maher Rips GOP Concept Of 'Elites'
GOP Candidates Out Of Step With Catholic Church On Unemployment
WATCH: Anderson Cooper's Hilarious Adventures With Adele
Supreme Court Justice Robbed
It's Only Getting Worse: Economists' Latest Dire Prediction
Huff TV: WATCH: Arianna Weighs In On Tony Bennett's Call To Legalize Drugs
