Seattle Sportsnet

Brandon Inge

There are few things I am truly good at, but one of them is fantasy baseball.  I’ve been participating in leagues for over a decade, and won my first league on my first try. That was when I was 14 years old, I’m 24 now.

I’ve played in nearly every format of league you could imagine. Rotisserie, head-to-head, points, keeper, the list goes on.

The difference between me and fantasy “experts” is I’m not getting paid to give you any advice, so my assistance comes pressure-free. I’m only telling you how to improve your team because I want to, not because I have to. The one and only valuable think being staked on this advice is my reputation; not a paycheck, not a career.

So you should already know that my advice is the most pure, most clean, and most worthy advice you could possibly receive. My advice is untouched, unscathed, and wearing a chastity belt.

This will be a weekly piece throughout the season, so keep checking back when you need help.

Players you need to have:

Brandon Inge, C/3B. The Detroit Tiger is off to a scorching start and is entrenched at the hot corner for the Motown Cats. That means that Inge, who has struggled when shuffled between positions, should be able to concentrate fully on his hitting as he becomes more and more comfortable as the everyday third baseman. With his eligibility at catcher, in most leagues, Inge becomes an even more valuable commodity and should be worthy of a starting spot, at least until this power surge ends.

Adam Lind, OF. Toronto’s Lind has quickly become the name to know after an insanely strong first week of play. The power-hitting Blue Jay has belted three home runs, driven in 12 RBI, and batted .400 across the season’s first few games. This is no fluke, either. The former third-round pick in the 2004 draft has never been given an opportunity to start before, and now that he has that chance he’s been able to show what he can do. Lind is a talent, and we’re finally finding that out.

Nelson Cruz, OF. Like Lind, Cruz has been a fringe major leaguer with lofty prospect status up until this point. Same as Lind, the Texas Ranger outfielder has finally been given an everyday chance to start and is not disappointing. With three home runs in the first week, Cruz should be well protected in a lineup featuring sluggers and should have very little pressure on him to overachieve. In keeper formats especially, Cruz should be obtained.

Players you can pass on:

Emilio Bonifacio, 2B/3B. Bonifacio has been an intriguing story, and arguably the most added player in standard leagues over the first week. In most leagues, the Florida Marlin third baseman is listed only at 2B (for now). That will change as soon as he racks up the requisite number of appearances at third, meaning he’ll have dual eligibility. Even still, it would appear that Bonifacio is benefiting more from opposing pitchers’ unfamiliarity with the youngster, and this hitting surge should subside at some point. If you have him, try to trade him and sell high. If you don’t have him, let someone else take him.

Marco Scutaro, 2B/3B/SS. The veteran utility infielder seemingly starts every year well. By about June, his production has declined and the career .262 average has come back into play. So even though he’s hitting .333, with two HR, and five RBI over the first week of games, don’t be fooled by this uptick in productivity. Scutaro’s career best for dingers is nine, and that came in 2005. His career-high 60 RBI were accumulated last season. And up to this point, his highest season batting average was .273, and that was acquired way back in ’04. This is a 33-year-old journeyman we’re talking about here. Don’t get too excited. Let someone else take him.

Kosuke Fukudome, OF. Anytime you happen to play for the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, or Boston Red Sox, your fantasy value is very often overrated. Such is the case with Fukudome, who had one of the most miserable second halves to a season last year when he helped the Cubbies make an early exit from the playoffs. In the first week of the season, the Japanese import has started out gangbusters (yes, gangbusters), hitting over .400 along the way. Don’t be fooled. We’ve seen this before, just last year in fact, and Fukudome will slowly begin to wane as the season progresses. Let him go.