Chicago Fantasy Baseball Week in Review 8/1

by Jerome Cusson

The big headlines for the trading deadline turned out to be “White Sox trade veterans for young arms” and “Cubs stand pat.” This week, we’ll spotlight three players. One is a slugger who has apparently risen from the dead again. The second is a slugger who has propelled the Cubs with his ability to bat lead-off and actually play a decent outfield. We’ll also take a look at a Cubs pitcher who started out rough, but has had a very good season these last three months. And it might not be who you think.

Chicago White Sox

Somehow Jermaine Dye is still with the White Sox. He hasn’t had the greatest of seasons, but in recent weeks has begun to pick his game up. Of course, he could still be traded over the wires this month, but those types of deals are very hard to come by. In addition, the Sox might be considering giving Dye a contract extension. If there’s one thing I can tell you, Dye burned a lot of people with his poor season, both the Sox organization and fantasy owners.

From the moment Dye started the season, he struggled. After the month of April, he was hitting just .221. His power numbers have been okay throughout, but his lack of other protection has clearly been one of the reasons the White Sox have played so poorly. A lot of it is also because of the bullpen, but after a career year, there’s no reason to expect that dramatic of a shift. There may not have been any way for Dye to put up those same numbers again, but he’s still, when healthy, a .274 hitter and good power numbers.
Dye has been injured this season, and it’s safe to assume that some of his struggles could be attributed to his struggles. Instead of going on the disabled list, Dye played through a lot of his injuries. And finally Dye has begun hitting again. After hitting a low of .193, his average has gotten back up to .235. He hit 8 home runs and 17 RBIs during the month of July. So if you’ve had him sitting on the bench, consider bringing up if he continues his hot hitting ways. And if he’s available, through waivers or trade, then he could be a good chance to take for the last couple months of the season.

Other Notes: Last week I said Bobby Jenks would not be a good investment for a fantasy owner, and he follows that up with a four save week… I guess you can’t them all right. Keep an eye on all these young players for the Sox, especially for keeper leagues or American League only leagues. Next week, I’ll talk more about Jerry Owens, Josh Fields, and Danny Richar. We’ll assess their fantasy value and look at what they might bring to the table the rest of this season and beyond.

Chicago Cubs

Alfonso Soriano probably doesn’t deserve all the years and dollars he signed for, but that’s neither here nor there if he continues to play well like he has since the middle of May. It may have been an adjustment to all those pesky Wrigley Field day games, but he did not look comfortable, and his attempt to become a centerfielder clearly impacted the way he swung the bat. Moving back to left, even though the Cubs don’t have a solid centerfielder, was ultimately the best move. Although his July numbers weren’t as good as June, the power numbers were still there.

Upcoming games at homer friendly parks like Wrigley Field, Minute Maid Park, and Coors Field could help Soriano’s numbers out even more. The most important thing to remember is how streaky he can be. When he’s hot, look out. But I definitely consider someone valuable for your team because of his ability to hit for power and be speedy on the basepaths. And with Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez, he will certainly have good protection.

While Carlos Zembrano has been very good the last few months, Ted Lilly may be the most pleasant surprise thus far this season. He started with a mixed bag. One start he would be on and the next he would pitch terribly. But the month of July was fantastic for Lilly with the exception of his start on the 30th. In fact, that start was his first loss in almost two months. Lilly would be an excellent option for any fantasy owners. He’s been very dependable this season and is on pace to throw a career high in innings.

But as a soft throwing lefty, keep an eye for match-ups and the occasional hiccup. Also with Lilly logging so many innings, Lou Piniella might pull Lilly early from some games. But with Zembrano as the anchor and Lilly as the big supporting cast member, the Cubs appear ready to take over the central and get into the postseason.

Other Notes: Aramis Ramirez is starting to cool down while Derrek Lee continues to be Mr. Consistency. Jacque Jones is actually starting to hit. Unlike the Sox who are playing for next year with young players, the Cubs’ young players got the team off and running when they were struggling. Next week, we’ll look at Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, and Carlos Marmol.