Roto Chronicles: National League - March 31

“Take a chance, take a chance, take a chance on me.” –Abba

Undoubtedly, you have either already drafted for your fantasy league or will be shortly. You’ve also probably received an update on the players that they have been sent to the Minors or saying that he’s on the DL. Don’t let that be a deciding factor in whether you want to pick him up in the draft or keep him on the waiver wires. Instead, keep an eye on them and if you have room on your roster, keep them on it for a little while. There are a number of reasons that a team sends a player to the Minors, and it’s not always that they didn’t produce in Spring Training. Some are sent because there are other needs on the field that the particular player can’t fulfill, i.e. playing a different position, or the team taking a gamble on another player.

Take Ian Stewart, 3B prospect for the Colorado Rockies, for example. He bat .275 in Spring Training, but was optioned to Triple-A on March 27th. He competed with a strong defensive core of Garret Atkins and Jeff Baker, though Baker’s numbers weren’t as impressive as Stewart’s in Spring Training. Baker bat .253 with 10 RBIs. Coaches are leery in bringing in unproven players at certain positions due to their maturity on the field and have different plans for the player later. Though Stewart showed flashes of brilliance in his limited time with the Rockies last season, it is only a matter of time when he breaks the line-up once again.

For every Ian Stewart that gets sent to the Minor Leagues, you have to research whether those team needs are being met in the clubhouse, what kind of offseason acquisitions were made, injuries, and whether one player came out of the ashes to turn into an all-star. Also consider that the players that get sent down means coaches are taking chances on other players, and the payoff may or may not be there.

It just takes an injury to get the players back and in a game where injuries happen often, the transactions are high. Don’t give up on these players just yet. The likelihood of a player playing the entire season at their position is very slim. If you’ve stacked your roster with roster players, keep them and start them, but go under the assumption that they are going to go on the DL eventually. Either they will go on the DL or their performance will make way for potential players to come up into the league.

There is a lot of baseball to be played so don’t give up on players if they’re in the minors or on the DL. The DL and the minors are only temporary fixes. Here are some players to keep your eye on that are on the DL or designated for assignment:

Ian Stewart, AAA (Colorado): Aforementioned, however, he has power to be a legitimate home run threat. His defensive play is suspect, but look for him to tune that in Triple-A. He won’t be in the Minor Leagues for long.

Mark Prior, DL (San Diego): He will start the season on the 60-day DL. Though his health has been a question in the past, he will give you innings and consistency when he’s not on the shelf. If you’re team is struggling with strikeouts or WHIP he will be a good one to keep or pick up to help boost those numbers.

Josh Towers, AAA (Colorado): Defecting from Toronto in the offseason, he was optioned on March 29th making him one of the last players to be optioned. He pitched well in the spring, but a nagging shoulder injury prevented him from having a good spring. However, if history is any indication, the Colorado coaching staff will experiment with their starting rotation and won’t hesitate to be bring up Towers to fill in as a fourth or fifth starter.

Brad Lidge, DL (Philadelphia): He is a fastball pitcher with a knack to play with batters’ minds, working both sides of the plate well. He was placed on the 15-day DL on March 21st so he should return before April 5.

Ryan Langerhans, AAA (Nationals): He is better known for being with the Braves. His offensive numbers aren’t terrific, but he does draw walks. He was touted as being one of the best defensive players to come out of the Braves’ organization. Though he wasn’t an everyday starter he made the most of his opportunities playing well in the field. He played 104 games in 2006 with Atlanta and committed only 1 error and netted 2 assists. Washington is in need of consistent outfield play. Look for him to break the Nationals’ roster before interleague play.

Wily Mo Pena, DL (Nationals): He tore a muscle in his left arm and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks. He should be able to regain his old form. He bat .293 with the Nationals, but only hit .201 with the Red Sox. Don’t let that stat alarm you, however. A change of scenery was what he needed. He doesn’t strike out often and he will be a good addition to any roster. His defensive skills are good as well, making 0 errors in 2007.

Marcus Giles, (Unknown): This former Padre has been in the league for a while. He will bounce back with someone. He lost his job to rookie Jayson Nix in Rockies camp, but Giles hit .321 in the spring with four doubles and a triple. That warrants a roster spot with most teams, but he will find a way to crack the majors again. He was reported to not accept an assignment in the minors.

Other notable players on the DL:

Kazuo Matsui, 2B (Houston): 15-day DL on March 21st—anal fissures.

Moises Alou, OF (Mets): 15-day DL on March 21st—hernia surgery.

Freddy Sanchez, 2B (Pittsburgh): Though not officially on the DL yet, he is still experiencing pain in his right shoulder. If coaches deem it necessary he will start opening day on the DL, though it doesn’t look like it will be an extended amount of time.

Jim Edmonds, OF (San Diego): 15-day DL retroactive to March 21st—strained right calf.

Chris Duffy, OF (Pittsburgh): 15-day DL retroactive to March 21st—recovering from shoulder surgery.

Juan Encarnacion, OF (St. Louis): 15-day DL retroactive to March 21st—recovering from a fractured eye socket. Though the 15-day DL is just a formality, he may never play again. Keep your eye on that situation; no pun intended.

Remember, the DL and being optioned are only temporary. Players who start the season will likely see bench time due to performance or nagging injuries. Keep an eye on these players and others that will surely make an impact even if they don’t start with their perspective teams.