Fantasy spotlight: Blake DeWitt

by Jimmy Dinsmore 5/14/2008 10:49:00 PM

Joyce DeWitt played Janet on Three's Company, the spunky brunette, on the not-so-good sitcom. Well, in Los Angeles there's a revival of sorts of Three's Company going on. The three in question is third base for the Dodgers and now with Nomar Garciaparra injured (now there's a big shock), the Dodgers have called upon a relatively unknown third baseman named Blake DeWitt. In his short time since his call up, all DeWitt has done is hit, and drive in runs. That will go a long way to getting the job full-time, especially with a veteran manager like Joe Torre who knows a thing or two about playing the hot young stars.

In 102 at bats thus far, DeWitt has 3 HRs, 19 RBIS and an impressive .324 BA. The left-handed hitter is not known for a serious power stroke, and won't mirror phenom Ryan Braun last year, but he looks to be a similar type of hitter as the player he replaced in Nomar, in his younger days with Boston. If he can maintain his swing and continue to hit, DeWitt makes for an excellent pickup in mixed leagues and a very sexy pick for NL-only leagues. He is currently only owned in 27% of leagues, so go out and get him.

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Reds lose Keppinger

by Dan Clasgens 5/14/2008 9:43:00 AM

In a gruesome and devastating injury, the Reds lost one of their most productive hitters on Tuesday night as shortstop Jeff Keppinger fractured his left knee in the second inning against the Marlins. X-rays showed the fracture and he’ll undergo a more detailed MRI Wednesday morning.

He fouled a ball off his knee. eerily similar to the way Jermaine Dye did a short time ago, and was forced from the game. With the Reds' only other shortstop, Alex Gonzalez, already out with his own knee injury, the team was forced to put veteran Jerry Hairston Jr. in as his replacement.

Keppinger was hitting .320 with 3 HR's and 20 RBI's and leading all major league shortstops in batting average with runners in scoring position.

The Reds most likely will call up shortstop Paul Janish from Class AAA Louisville, where he is hitting .289, but has no major-league experience. Janish was pulled from his game in Louisville last night shortly after the injury to Keppinger occurred.

The team cut Juan Castro in Wayne Krivsky's last move last month and barring a trade simply have no other options. Brandon Phillips came up as a shortstop in the Indians' system, but is highly unlikely that the team would consider moving him from his current position at second base.

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Fantasy Baseball | MLB

Draft: Fantasy WR's

by Dan Clasgens 5/14/2008 8:59:00 AM

For the first time since 1990, there were no receivers taken in Round 1 of the draft. However, that doesn't mean there weren't some wideouts taken that will be fantasy worthy in 2008. Let's take a look at this year's crop of rookie wideouts and what their fantasy potential might be.

TOP PICKS
2 (33). St Louis Rams: Donnie Avery, Houston
With Isaac Bruce now in San Francisco, the Rams' receiving corps is in a bit of flux. Veterans Drew Bennett and Reche Caldwell are ahead of Avery on the depth chart, so don't expect him to get too many snaps without earning them. He is only 5'11, but has the capability of being a downfield threat for sure. Look for his biggest initial impact though to be on special teams.

2 (34). Washington Redskins: Devin Thomas, Michigan State
The Redskins desperately needed some size and get it with the 6'2" Thomas, who is coming off a senior season to remember at Michigan State where he led the Big Ten in receiving yards. His 4.4 forty turned heads at the combine and he'll fit nicely with Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Expect him to fight fellow second-round pick Malcom Kelly to be the 'Skins No. 3 wideout from day one.

2 (36). Green Bay Packers: Jordy Nelson, Kansas State
This guy looks like a young Javon Walker and dominated the Big 12 during his senior season as he averaged 133 receiving yards per game and scored 11 TD's. With Brett Favre out of the picture, Green Bay's passing game has some question marks, but there is no doubt that Nelson possesses enough upside to be looked at in deeper leagues as a rookie. The primary concern will be the Packers' depth at the position and where Nelson will fit into it. Obviously the team thought highly enough of his talents to take him here.

2 (41). Buffalo Bills: James Hardy, Indiana
The Bills have few options at wideout and Hardy may finally provide the compliment that Lee Evans has so desperately need. Hardy's size and leaping ability are going to make him a red zone target for Trent Edwards right out of the gate.

2 (42). Denver Broncos: Eddie Royal, Virginia Tech
Royal doesn't appeal to me as much as the others taken in Round 2. The Broncos have some depth in the passing game and how quickly Brandon Marshall recovers from his injury will go a long way towards determing Royal's value.


BEST OF THE REST
2 (46). Cincinnati Bengals: Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina
With Chris Henry and maybe Chad Johnson out of the picture, Simpson will be a part of the mix in Cincy from Day 1. Many have said the Bengals reached for the small-school guy here, but that only strengthens his case for the team to use him and how they think he will fit into their system.

2 (49). Philadelphia Eagles: DeSean Jackson, Cal
The Eagles lack a true No. 1 wideout and Jackson should benefit from that. His 29 total TDs (receiving, returning) in three years at Cal show he has the playmaking ability fantasy owners covet. Definitely worth a late-round look in nearly any format.

2 (51). Washington Redskins: Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma
High risk, high reward. That phrase is a bit overused, but definitely fits in the case of Kelly. The 'Skins took two wideouts in Round 2 and one of them is going to be the No. 3 wideout right out of the gate. Durability has been a concern as well.

2 (53). Pittsburgh Steelers: Limas Sweed, Texas
Big Ben gets his big target in Sweed. This is type of player that the Steelers have missed since the departure of Plaxico Burress. Sweed, who is nearly 6'6", will be a force in the red zone and cause problems for defenses that focus on Santanio Holmes and Hines Ward too much.


OTHER RECEIVERS DRAFTED
2 (58). Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Dexter M. Jackson, Appalachian State
3 (70). Chicago Bears: Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt
3 (81). Arizona Cardinals: Early Doucet, LSU
3 (84). Atlanta Falcons: Harry Douglas, Louisville
3 (95). New York Giants: Mario Manningham, Michigan
3 (97). Cincinnati Bengals: Andre Caldwell, Florida
4 (105). Kansas City Chiefs: Will Franklin, Missouri
4 (106). Baltimore Ravens: Marcus Smith, New Mexico
4 (125). Oakland Raiders: Arman Shields, Richmond
4 (126). Tennessee Titans: Lavelle Hawkins, Cal
4 (128). St. Louis Rams: Keenan Burton, Kentucky
5 (136). Detroit Lions: Kenneth Moore, Wake Forest
5 (153). New England Patriots: Matthew Slater, UCLA
6 (171). New York Jets: Marcus Henry, Kansas
6 (174). San Francisco 49ers: Josh Morgan, Virginia Tech
6 (182). Kansas City Chiefs: Kevin Robinson, Utah State
6 (191). Cleveland Browns: Paul Hubbard, Wisconsin
6 (193) Minnesota Vikings: Jaymar Johnson, Jackson State
6 (205). Indianapolis Colts: Pierre Garcon, Mount Union
7 (215). Baltimore Ravens: Justin Harper, Virginia Tech
7 (217). Green Bay Packers: Brett Swain, San Diego State
7 (224). Buffalo Bills: Steve Johnson, Kentucky
7 (226). Oakland Raiders: Chaz Schilens, San Diego State
7 (237). New Orleans Saints: Adrian Arrington, Michigan

Goodell: Pats never taped walkthrough

by Dan Clasgens 5/14/2008 8:33:00 AM
The Patriots videotaping saga that began eight months ago when the team was caught illegally filming signals of opposing coaches might finally have reached an end yesterday, according to the Boston Globe.

Former Patriots employee Matt Walsh met with National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell for more than three hours at league headquarters, and Goodell said afterward that no new corroborated information was revealed about the team's videotaping procedures. In addition, Goodell found no evidence that the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough practice before Super Bowl XXXVI was filmed by the Patriots, as the Boston Herald reported Feb. 2, citing an anonymous source.

Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who is one of the league's most vocal critics of its handling of the videotaping probe, might disagree. Specter, who pressured the NFL to strike a deal that would allow Walsh to come forward, met with Walsh and his lawyer, Michael Levy, yesterday in Washington for three hours inside his office in the Hart Senate Office Building. But because Walsh arrived in town later than expected, a press conference was postponed.

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