Bust. Among baseball people and fantasy players, this is a dirty word. Dirtier than anything George Carlin ever included in his bit. If you have played fantasy baseball for long enough, you’ll probably remember names like Drew Henson, Khalil Greene, and Ruben Mateo. All were super prospects destined to rule the baseball world for years to come. Instead, they have all become inside jokes for baseball fans across the country. Punch lines, whose names are used to impress your friends with your awesome ability to recall random names of baseball players’ past. There is another route, however, and that is that of the late-bloomer; guys who, for whatever reason, have taken a bit longer than expected to put it together. Think Luis Gonzalez circa 1999. So while it may be more fun to focus on the busts, it serves our purpose better to look at three guys having career rebirths in 2011. After all, prudence is a virtue.
Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians
Much like the team he plays for, very little was expected of Asdrubal Cabrera heading into the 2011 season. Always a good glove man, Cabrera had spent the first few years of his baseball career as little more than a fringe fantasy option. This season has been a completely different story for the 25-year-old. He is coming off his first All-Star appearance where he started for the American League (I know Mr. 3000 was voted as the starter but Cabrera has been far superior to the New York Yankees Derek Jeter) and has been a stat sheet filler for much of the first half. In fact, he has been the best fantasy shortstop this side of Jose Reyes in the first half. His power numbers have been stellar so far as his 14 bombs and 51 RBI’s only trail Troy Tulowitzki for tops at the position. When you also factor in that his good average (.293), ability to score runs (55 so far), and his ability to swipe a base (12 SB) it is easy to see why there is talk about his AL MVP candidacy, despite low name recognition away from the Cuyahoga and baseball enthusiasts. More importantly for fantasy owners, Cabrera has provided a dynamic option at a position where there are very few to speak of this year. There is very little chance that he is still available in your league but if a misguided owner is willing to part with him for a big-name outfielder take him on his offer and make sure to thank him. For a look at a whole team’s fantasy value broken down, take a look at the”http://fantasy.rantsports.com/?p=2294″>Cleveland Indians Quotient
James Shields, Tampa Bay Rays
Shields has been a mainstay in the Rays rotation for the past five years and even made an opening day start in 2009. He had solid seasons in 2007 and 2008 and was the first and remains the only Tampa Bay Ray to win a World Series game. Unfortunately for Shields and for fantasy owners, his career has failed to live up to the early promise. That is, until now. After leading all pitchers last year in hits allowed, earned runs allowed and home runs allowed (the trifecta we’ll call it), Shields has been dominant at times this year. He is once again a league leader this year but the results are now positive. He leads all of baseball in complete games with seven and is the AL leader in shutouts with three. The rest of his numbers are outstanding (2.33 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 137 K’s) which is why Shields was named to his first All-Star team this year. With numbers like these, the 29-year-old appears to have finally figured things out. The only thing keeping him from having a Cy Young-type season is his record, which at 8-7, is respectable. The 7 losses not all that pertinent when in comes to fantasy value. If you own him, give yourself a pat on the back. If you don’t and you need pitching, Shields is an optimal trade possibility because of his spotty track record and poor name recognition amongst casual baseball fans.
Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
When Alex Gordon first came up in 2007, he was considered the best prospect the Kansas City Royals had had in a long time. Both third basemen, the comparisons to George Brett were free flowing and premature. Gordon struggled to hit big league pitching and stumbled through four seasons with major injuries derailing his last two seasons. But a hot start to the 2011 season has Gordon seeing the game from a completely different perspective, literally. During his first four years in Kansas City Gordon was notorious for taking his hitting woes with him into the field (or vice versa). So to combat this problem the Royals have moved the 27-year-old to left field. For his part, Gordon seems to be responding well to his change of scenery. All things considered, he has had a fantastic first half (11 HR, 50 RBI, .299 AVG) and is on pace to easily set high water marks for his career if he is able to stay healthy during the second half. Gordon has fantasy value going forward as an outfielder but he gets extra points if your league still gives him positional credit as a third baseman.
*The 2011 HR Derby turned into a Father-Son Story
