Today's Fantasy Rx

National League Third Basemen with Single-digit Positive Draft Value

Quick Key to the tables:
AB = At-bats.  H = Hits.  BA = Batting Average.  HR= Home Runs.
RBI = Runs Batted In.  SB = Stolen Bases.  R = Runs.  B = Bats.  T = Throws.
Pos = Position qualification based on 20 appearances or max. # of games in 2004.
Age = Player's Age as of October 1, 2004.
4x4 = BA, HR, RBI, and SB in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
5x5 = BA, HR, RBI, SB, and R in 12-team, $260 leagues with 23-man rosters.
RAR = Runs Above Replacement; Adjusted RAR = RAR modified to
consider a player's 2004 defensive rating in Scoresheet fantasy baseball.

Players are ranked in order from the highest draft value in a 4x4 league to the lowest. As the majority of fantasy leagues allow you to keep anyone traded to the other league, all players are listed in the league where they began the season.

17.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Mike Lamb		278	80	.288	14	58	1	38	3
HOU Astros		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 29	B:L    T:R	9		9		15.9		11.8

Lamb returns to Houston as the primary reserve cornerman, pinch-hitter, and potential platoon starter at third base. A career-best 4.11 #P/PA demonstrates his improved approach at the plate, and thanks to the power boost provided by Minute Maid, he appears capable of echoing his .867 OPS. While the Astros seem to realize that Morgan Ensberg merits another chance at starting following a strong second half, Lamb remains an excellent fallback option both for Houston and fantasy owners. Considering you probably can grab him in a very late round, perhaps even during Dollar Days, Lamb belongs on your target list in most NL leagues, especially since he could approach $20 if he somehow spends the year as a everyday player.

18.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
John Mabry		240	71	.296	13	40	0	32	3O
STL Cardinals		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 33	B:L    T:R	8		7		13.9		8.8

Posting a .338/.406/.654 line with 12 HR, 35 RBI, 27 R, and a 17:29 BB:K for AAA Memphis(PCL) earned Mabry another shot with the Cardinals. He continued excelling in the majors, compiling the best averages of his big league career. Re-signing with St. Louis returns Mabry to role of the primary backup for Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols, as well as no less than a weekly outfield starter. Although I don't expect him to do more than echo these numbers in 2005, Mabry at least merits a Dollar Days' play due to respectable skill set and useful position flexibility.

19.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Wes Helms		274	72	.263	4	28	0	24	3
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	B:R    T:R	1		1		-3.9		-5.5

While Helms might reclaim his starting job at third base, especially after posting a career-best 3.87 #P/PA, another increase in his formerly impressively low ground-fly rate further reduces his power potential. His .248/.306/.332 performance against right-handers should leave him in no role bigger than the short side of a platoon right Russ Branyan. Spending a buck or two on Helms isn't a terrible idea due to his upside, but don't invest in him as anything more than an endgame cornerman with no more than a slight chance of approaching double-digit value.

20.		AB	H	BA	HR	RBI	SB	R	Pos
Russ Branyan		158	37	.234	11	27	1	21	3
MIL Brewers		4x4		5x5		RAR		Adj. RAR
Age: 28	B:S    T:R	1		1		5.6		4.6

His .279/.382/.566 performance with 26 HR, 79 RBI, and a 55:113 BB:K in 341 AB between AAA Richmond(IL) and AAA Buffalo(IL) nicely illustrates Branyan's potential. With a 4.07 #P/PA, .57 G-F, and .57 contact rate, Branyan won't deviate from his 2004 performance to any great extent, other than the potential boost of remaining in the majors all year. Considering he posted a .935 OPS against right-handers while struggling to barely half that average against southpaws, Branyan should flourish in a platoon with Wes Helms. If Ned Yost keeps him from facing more than a few lefties, Branyan even could keep his BA near the league average while easily accumulating 20 homers and 60 RBI. Gambling a few bucks here looks like a good move in any league where you own a good qualitative base.

'04 Third Basemen Week continues tomorrow, featuring National Leaguers without PDV.

Today's Fantasy Rx: While this day ran somewhat short of players due to the unexpected appearance of sixteen NL third basemen on the double-digit PDV list, all four players here deserve some consideration in spring drafts. Both Mike Lamb and John Mabry offer decent upside at likely minimal cost. More interestingly, the undecided battle for the Brewers' starting job merits monitoring during spring training, although a straight platoon between Branyan and Helms looks like an ideal option that might push Milwaukee's third base production among the top dozen big league teams.