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5U, late edition: No karate for Fat Elvis, 2-4 weeks [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 12, 2010, 4:49 pm] • Houston first baseman Lance Berkman(notes) will have "surgery to remove loose particles from his left knee" and is expected to miss two to four weeks. He's clearly no lock for Opening Day, so drafter beware. Luckily, first base is a ludicrously deep position. This short-term loss should not be too devastating for anyone. (Do we still call him "Fat Elvis," or is it strictly "Big Puma"? We'll amend the headline as needed).• Over at the Star-Tribune, Joe Christensen offers a few interesting notes about the developing closer battle in Minnesota. Please pay attention:Asked if Francisco Liriano(notes) is a closer candidate, assuming Joe Nathan(notes) can't do it, Gardenhire said every pitcher in camp is a candidate, aside from the team's top four starters: Scott Baker(notes), Carl Pavano(notes), Nick Blackburn(notes) and Kevin Slowey(notes).So that's where they're at. Everyone is a suspect; no one leaves this room. All of the candidates for the ninth inning role – Jon Rauch(notes), Matt Guerrier(notes), Pat Neshek(notes), Jose Mijares(notes), Liriano – currently have spring ERAs of 0.00, so it's difficult to argue that anyone has clearly broken away from the pack. • Mets shortstop Jose Reyes (glandular problem) is likely to open the season on the disabled list, and the team is reportedly tempted to throw Ruben Tejada into the major league lineup. Last year at Double-A, at age 19, Tejada hit .289/.351/.381 and stole 19 bases in 22 attempts. Baseball America rates him as the organization's No. 9 overall prospect. Here's a delightful quote about Tejada from Ike Davis(notes): "He's already a player, so I can't imagine when he gets a little more 'man-strength.'"When I get my man-strength, look out, commenters. • Brian Roberts(notes) (age, achy back, malaise) has been given new anti-inflammatory medication, and will reportedly "need at least a couple more days for the medication to take effect Dissenting Opinions: Weighing in on Halladay, Sabathia [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 12, 2010, 4:08 pm] No one loves a good New York-Philly throwdown as much as we do, and with that in mind we're putting a couple of aces under the microscope today. When it's time to write a check for the No. 1 guy in the rotation, who's more interesting to you, Roy Halladay(notes) or CC Sabathia(notes)?Special word/pound rules were devised for this debate: Scott Pianowski will be limited to 230 or so for his Halladay opener, but Brad Evans will get around 290 words to defend Sabathia. After you've read both sides, please weigh in with a vote and a comment. Pianow to Open: I don't mind getting the shorter word count in this debate because the Halladay case is logical and obvious. And the only thing that's going to keep the poll competitive is the scores of Yankees fans around the globe. Halladay was a better pitcher than Sabathia last year – lower ERA, lower WHIP, more strikeouts. Halladay did finish two wins behind Sabathia, but Doc should even the score now that he's with the two-time defending NL champs. Yes, it's a little silly to chase wins, but if you have to do so, start with a winning team. Halladay won't miss the mediocre Toronto club (75 victories), and he won't miss pitching against the Yankees and Red Sox, either.The difference in leagues (and divisions) makes Halladay a slam dunk. In the American League, teams use the DH and play for the big inning. In the National League, punchless pitchers try to hit and teams play small ball on a regular basis. The NL environment was a boost to Cliff Lee(notes) last year, and it bailed out John Smoltz(notes) and Brad Penny(notes). Ask Sabathia about the easier assignment – the NL couldn't touch him during his Milwaukee stint in 2008 (1.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). If people want to swim against the offensive tide of the AL East, be my guest. I'm putting my pitchers in the best place to dominate, and that's the NL. Clear off some mantle space, Doc. Noise to Close: It's only appropriate in this weighty issue to support the side of Spin Doctors: Weighing in on Halladay, Sabathia [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 12, 2010, 4:08 pm] No one loves a good New York-Philly throwdown as much as we do, and with that in mind we're putting a couple of aces under the microscope today. When it's time to write a check for the No. 1 guy in the rotation, who's more interesting to you, Roy Halladay(notes) or CC Sabathia(notes)?Special word/pound rules were devised for this debate: Scott Pianowski will be limited to 230 or so for his Halladay opener, but Brad Evans will get around 290 words to defend Sabathia. After you've read both sides, please weigh in with a vote and a comment. Pianow to Open: I don't mind getting the shorter word count in this debate because the Halladay case is logical and obvious. And the only thing that's going to keep the poll competitive is the scores of Yankees fans around the globe. Halladay was a better pitcher than Sabathia last year – lower ERA, lower WHIP, more strikeouts. Halladay did finish two wins behind Sabathia, but Doc should even the score now that he's with the two-time defending NL champs. Yes, it's a little silly to chase wins, but if you have to do so, start with a winning team. Halladay won't miss the mediocre Toronto club (75 victories), and he won't miss pitching against the Yankees and Red Sox, either.The difference in leagues (and divisions) makes Halladay a slam dunk. In the American League, teams use the DH and play for the big inning. In the National League, punchless pitchers try to hit and teams play small ball on a regular basis. The NL environment was a boost to Cliff Lee(notes) last year, and it bailed out John Smoltz(notes) and Brad Penny(notes). Ask Sabathia about the easier assignment – the NL couldn't touch him during his Milwaukee stint in 2008 (1.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). If people want to swim against the offensive tide of the AL East, be my guest. I'm putting my pitchers in the best place to dominate, and that's the NL. Clear off some mantle space, Doc. Noise to Close: It's only appropriate in this weighty issue to support the side of Spin Doctors: Weighing in on Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 12, 2010, 4:08 pm] No one loves a good New York-Philly throwdown as much as we do, and with that in mind we're putting a couple of aces under the microscope today. When it's time to write a check for the No. 1 guy in the rotation, who's more interesting to you, Roy Halladay(notes) or CC Sabathia(notes)?Special word/pound rules were devised for this debate: Scott Pianowski will be limited to 230 or so for his Halladay opener, but Brad Evans will get around 290 words to defend Sabathia. After you've read both sides, please weigh in with a vote and a comment. Pianow to Open: I don't mind getting the shorter word count in this debate because the Halladay case is logical and obvious. And the only thing that's going to keep the poll competitive is the scores of Yankees fans around the globe. Halladay was a better pitcher than Sabathia last year – lower ERA, lower WHIP, more strikeouts. Halladay did finish two wins behind Sabathia, but Doc should even the score now that he's with the two-time defending NL champs. Yes, it's a little silly to chase wins, but if you have to do so, start with a winning team. Halladay won't miss the mediocre Toronto club (75 victories), and he won't miss pitching against the Yankees and Red Sox, either.The difference in leagues (and divisions) makes Halladay a slam dunk. In the American League, teams use the DH and play for the big inning. In the National League, punchless pitchers try to hit and teams play small ball on a regular basis. The NL environment was a boost to Cliff Lee(notes) last year, and it bailed out John Smoltz(notes) and Brad Penny(notes). Ask Sabathia about the easier assignment – the NL couldn't touch him during his Milwaukee stint in 2008 (1.65 ERA, 1.00 WHIP). If people want to swim against the offensive tide of the AL East, be my guest. I'm putting my pitchers in the best place to dominate, and that's the NL. Clear off some mantle space, Doc. Noise to Close: It's only appropriate in this weighty issue to support the side of Court Report: Better late than never(?) [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 11, 2010, 5:18 pm] Terrence Williams(notes) is finally putting up numbers, while Chris Paul's(notes) owners still don't know when he'll be back.• Terrence Williams has been generating a lot of interest in recent days, thanks to averages of 30 minutes, 14 points on 50-percent shooting, 0.8 threes, 7.8 boards, 5.4 assists, and 2.2 turnovers over the past five games. Yi Jianlian's(notes) high ankle sprain has opened up some playing time, and the fact that the 7-57 Nets are trotting 31-year-old Trenton Hassell(notes) out with their starting five can't be hurting his chances either. Williams appears to have emerged from early-season issues, ready to contribute where he can. There's upside for any player with some ability on a team this desperate for production, but my only caution would be to owners who can't afford to take a hit in efficiency. Williams shot 40 percent from the field and 59 percent from the line over the entirety of his four-year college career. • Chris Paul appears to be two weeks away from returning at a minimum. He still has yet to begin running, although he's going through daily rehabilitation and re-evaluation. Jeff Bower offered the following:"When his knee is ready to begin running, then he'll be cleared to begin with that phase. To beginning to run, I think we're getting close. But I don't want to say when until I know. I don't have (specifics) as to when he's able to safely begin half-speed, three-quarter speed, full-speed running. Progress is being made."Paul maintains that he'll return this season, if only for one game, and it's looking like we'll be down to single digits by the time he is cleared to return. Two weeks from Thursday (today) is March 25, and the Hornets have nine games remaining after that date. Darren Collison(notes) owners would continue to glean huge numbers from the rookie in the interim (Wednesday's line aside). My advice for Paul's owners remains the same: you should continue to hold him as long as his being inactiv Mike Stanton hits another bomb, impresses Fredi and the Fish [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 11, 2010, 1:08 pm] On Wednesday, Florida outfielder Mike Stanton hit his second Grapefruit League home run. It's still traveling. It was a no-doubter, the sort of blast where the opposing fielders don't move.Stanton ranked No. 3 on Baseball America's 2010 prospect list, so it's hardly a surprise to see him hitting well this spring. He's 5-for-15 with seven runs scored, five RBIs, three walks and three Ks. It was particularly nice to see him connect off Wandy Rodriguez(notes), a top-of-the-rotation starter. Florida manager Fredi Gonzalez has been rather impressed by the organization's top prospect. This from MLB.com's Joe Frisaro:The way the Marlins 20-year-old outfield slugger is performing has the Marlins considering carrying him on their Opening Day roster."Funnier things have happened," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "Obviously, we'll sit down and make sure it's the right move, the right decision. But for me to say, 'absolutely not,' I can't do that right now. I can't say that he's not going to make the team. I can't absolutely tell you, 100 percent that he won't."Still, Stanton remains a longshot for the April roster. He hit 28 home runs across two minor league levels in '09, but he also struck out 144 times and struggled with the jump to Double-A (16 HR, .231/.311/.455 in 79 games). The Marlins will almost certainly keep him in the minors until he's ready to be their everyday right-fielder. But it's worth noting that Florida outfielders Cameron Maybin(notes) and Cody Ross(notes) are both sidelined by groin injuries at the moment. If Stanton continues the spring assault…well, you never know. Like Fredi says, I can't say that he's not going to make the team. He belongs on your radar. We'll re-hype him when he re-arrives. ---Photo via Getty Images 5U: CoJax keeps hitting, Holliday hurting, Twins shopping [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 11, 2010, 10:44 am] By now you should know the drill: Every weekday morning until Opening Day, we'll provide five blurbs, most of which will have fantasy relevance. (OK, sometimes it will be seven blurbs. But always a prime number). Let's get to it…• Spring statistics really shouldn't influence many fantasy decisions, except in cases where a player's spring performance impacts an actual on-field MLB decision. If we know that a position battle is taking place or a player in recovering from injury, then it's worth checking their otherwise meaningless stats. Arizona's Conor Jackson(notes) happens to be a player whose spring performance matters quite a bit. He was a non-factor in '09 due to a bout of Valley Fever, but he was terrific during winter league play, and he's carried that performance into spring. Thus far, Jackson is 8-for-14 with two doubles, one homer, two walks and no strikeouts. So far, so good. Jackson is absolutely buried in the Yahoo! pre-ranks (No. 1059), but he's worth queuing as an end-of-draft play. • Matt Holliday(notes) apparently strained a muscle in his rib cage during a workout on Wednesday, and the injury will shelve him for a little while. "Minimum (Matt) won't play this week, I'm sure," said Tony La Russa (via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). Albert Pujols(notes) (lower back pain) is expected to return to spring action sooner than Holliday. • The Twins are reportedly kicking the tires on Jason Frasor as they prepare for the likelihood of a Joe Nathan(notes)-less year. Don't assume that the 32-year-old Frasor would inherit the ninth inning, but he does have closing experience. He saved 11 games in '09 while posting the best ratios of his career (by far). • Francisco Rodriguez(notes) (pinkeye!) returned to the mound this week, now that he apparently is not contagious. (Still gross, though. Cancel all playdates with K-Rod, just to be safe). He's reportedly eyeing Monday for his spring debut. With one of his disgusting eyes. Seven Unassisted: Joba's struggles, Reyes's thyroid [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 10, 2010, 5:00 pm] Dr. Andy Behrens is saving Latin in private schools today, so I'm stepping in with some linked freshness. Settle in, and kindly turn off your cell phones. • A lot is made of how meaningless spring results tend to be, but that's certainly not the case for anyone battling for a job or specific role, like Joba Chamberlain(notes) with the Yankees. Joba threw batting practice to the Tigers Wednesday (six runs over 2.1 innings) and he's been rocked for 11 runs over 3.2 spring frames thus far. "I understand fully what's at stake," Chamberlain told the Newark-Star Ledger. "I also understand that there's no panic button. There's a sense of urgency, believe me. But there's no panic button." • The Mets are having a bunch of tests done on Jose Reyes's thyroid and although some of the reports have been mildly conflicting, it doesn't appear that there's too much to be worried about here. Reyes could be back to baseball activities later in the week. • Often times a player is the worst source to consider when we're trying to construct a return timetable; athletes as a whole tend to be wildly optimistic about their healing powers. That established, Brian Roberts(notes) (lower back) seems to think he'll be on the field for the Baltimore opener on April 5 and I'll take him at his word. • If you're tracking the groin strains in Florida, note that Cody Ross(notes) is ahead of Cameron Maybin(notes) right now. Both guys should be back by next week. • When top prospects hurt, we all hurt. Desmond Jennings(notes) is battling a sprained wrist and will be in a splint for 5-7 days; he also took a pitch off the elbow last week. Jason Heyward is also dealing with some nicks; minor bruises to his shoulder and neck got him the day off Wednesday but he should be back tomorrow. • Jesus Flores(notes) is headed to Alabama to have his surgically-repaired shoulder examined by Dr. James Andrews. Connect the dots and it's high Handicapping the WGC-CA Championship [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 10, 2010, 3:11 pm] Hello Blue Monster, old friend. Nice to see a loaded field again. Time to load up the fantasy roster for this week. A-List: To Phil or not to Phil, that is the question. Phil Mickelson erased a long-running history of mediocre Doral showings with last year's trophy hoist, but he hasn't knocked anyone's socks off so far in 2010. I'm feeling safer with Steve Stricker, who's got a respectable form here (13, 6) and has shown more in the early season. Zach Johnson's hit-and-miss resume at Doral might scare some people, but he's got three Top-10 checks in six stops, which makes him a justifiable No. 2. Who Not to Use: Something has me nervous about Steve Marino these days, can't put my finger on it. He's on my auction team, so I've love to be wrong … Vijay Singh's ball striking was superb last week but he's still searching on the greens. Until that's ironed out – and it might never be – I'm taking a pass … Kenny Perry was ninth here last season but how long can be stick with the elite players into his late 40s? He's going to need to prove something to me first. B-List: How can you not ride the Camilo Villagas train at this point? I've yet to burn one of his starts so far this year, which is a little embarrassing. At least I took the $16 plunge on him in my 13-team hometowner auction, but being locked out of his electric start is a major gaffe. The University of Florida product is obviously comfortable playing in his adopted state and while his aggressive game gets him in trouble now and then, he's fantastic with his recovery shots. Geoff Ogilvy gets a spot for his sterling iron game (tops in GIR) and name-brand recognition. He wasn't a factor at the WGC-CA Championship last year, but he won the event in 2008 and ran third in 2007. Jim Furyk also makes for an easy selection, with three Top-4 checks at Doral over the last four seasons. Stewart Cink has a moderate resume here but his iron play (second in GIR) and early-season returns get him in cons Court Report: Tuesday's gone [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 10, 2010, 3:04 am] Trevor Ariza(notes) and Marcus Camby(notes) returned to the court Tuesday, but it doesn't look like Kenyon Martin(notes) is coming back any time soon. • Trevor Ariza returned to the active roster for the Rockets Tuesday, his first game action since February 21. His shot was off (4 of 13 FG) but he was reasonably effective as a reserve (28 minutes, 13 points, 3 treys, 2 steals), given the circumstances, and he's likely to push Shane Battier(notes) to the bench once he's back to game speed. I don't anticipate a serious drop-off in his fantasy impact with Kevin Martin(notes) in town. He'll certainly lose some usage but is better suited as a supporting offensive player, and he should offset the drop in quantity of looks with an uptick in quality, with no drop-off in opportunities for defensive stats. • What to do with Randy Foye(notes)? Tuesday's line (19 minutes, 2 points, 1 of 6 FG) dropped his averages over the past 12 games to 10.7 points on 36-percent shooting, 1 three, 2.1 boards, 5.7 assists, 1.4 turnovers, and 0.3 steals in 29 minutes. With both Shaun Livingston(notes) and Earl Boykins(notes) around to poach minutes on his off-nights, you will not be faulted if you drop Foye for a better option, regardless of the quality of the Wizards' schedule moving forward. • An off night for JaVale McGee(notes) (17 minutes, 4 points, 7 boards, 0 blocks), as well, but he saw pine for much of the game as the teams ran opposing small lineups against each other. James Singleton(notes) was the beneficiary on this night (28 minutes, 12 points, 4 boards, 2 steals, 3 blocks). • The Clippers' starting backcourt on Tuesday consisted of Steve Blake(notes) (30 minutes, 11 points, 3 treys, 5 assists, 2 turnovers, 1 steal) and Rasual Butler(notes) (35 minutes, 9 points, 1 three, 5 boards, 2 blocks), as Baron Davis(notes) dealt with an illness and Eric Gordon(notes) dealt with a nagging leg injury. Davis ended up putting in a very effective 26 minu Spin Doctors: Matt Wieters vs. Miguel Montero [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 9, 2010, 3:57 pm] Let's be clear from the start: every Yahoo! expert endorses Miguel Montero(notes), and we all endorse Matt Wieters(notes). None of us ranked either player lower than fifth at the position. Today, Mr. Pianowski and I are simply addressing a small difference of opinion, in the traditional 250 words or less. Let's play the feud…Scott says: I realize I'm setting myself up for a fall as I publicly challenge the Legend of Matt Wieters. And it's not like I'm down on him; he's fairly high on my board, too. But there's logical roto theory that will probably keep him off my roster this year.Generally, it's a mistake to pay extra for a player to the point that he needs to climb a level to justify the investment; you want breakthrough players, but don't shell out for the privilege. The higher you move up the skill level in fantasy baseball, the more likely you'll see a crazy markup applied to hotshot rookies and prospects. Everyone wants to play scout, everyone wants to stick their flag in the ground first.Has Wieters become a value off his disappointing rookie season? Hardly. His ADP has jumped 34 spots; if you want Wieters, you'll have to part with a seventh or eighth-round pick. That's just bad business. Miguel Montero represents how you want to invest in our game; last year he clicked as a post-hype sleeper, and this year he's settled in as a fantastic mid-round value (ADP 142, six rounds after Wieters). Montero's glove is no longer an excuse to keep him on the bench, and there's no question about his bat (.294, 16 homers, plus the backing of A.J. Hinch). You can pay a premium for growth seasons, but that's not my style; I'd rather get behind production we've already seen, especially when the price is so affordable. Andy responds: OK, here's a point I've made before that I'm happy to make again: Wieters may have disappointed those of you who were expecting a full-season roto contribution, but if you owned him in a head-to-head league, the guy was a playoff MVP candid 5U: Nathan has 'significant' UCL tear; Strasburg, Chapman debut [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 9, 2010, 2:27 pm] • The Joe Nathan(notes) news is every bit as bad as feared. He reportedly has a "significant tear" in his right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), which obviously makes Tommy John surgery a strong possibility. This via the St. Paul Pioneer Press:Nathan will get a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon who removed bone spurs and chips from the right-hander's elbow this offseason. In the meantime, Nathan will let the soreness he's still feeling after injuring his pitching arm on Saturday subside, then try to rehab for the next one to two weeks before deciding whether to have surgery. So that's all kinds of bad. The strongest in-house candidates to replace him are Matt Guerrier(notes), Jon Rauch(notes), Pat Neshek(notes), Jose Mijares(notes) and Jesse Crain(notes) – and if we were drafting today, that's the order in which I'd rank 'em). Of course the Twins could also make a play for Heath Bell(notes), Kerry Wood(notes), or one of the Toronto semi-closers. There are options, and it's only March 9. Please stay tuned. • Early reports that Aroldis Chapman(notes) had hit 102 mph on the radar gun in his spring debut were, apparently, false. He topped out at 100. And his slider reached the low-90s. The final line was rather impressive: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.• Stephen Strasburg(notes) nearly matched Chapman's line in his exhibition start on Tuesday afternoon, pitching two scoreless frames against Detroit. He allowed two hits, no walks, struck out two (including Miguel Cabrera(notes)), and reached 98 on the gun. Nats manager Jim Riggleman has strongly suggested that Strasburg will begin the season in the minors, regardless of the quality of his spring performance:"I think it's going to come down to a philosophical decision more so than a performance decision," Riggleman said. "We anticipate that he is going to throw great." So far: pretty great. • For those who enjoy checking out other m Bracket Big Board: Racin' to Selection Sunday [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 8, 2010, 5:06 pm] The Bracket Big Board takes into consideration past returns, current performance and expected future gains in determining who should be included among the field of 65 (31 automatic and 34 at-large bids). Essentially, the Bracket Big Board is a cheat sheet designed for amateur bracketologists if they were filling out a Tourney Pick ‘Em '10 (SIGN UP NOW!!!) entry today. The Bracket Big Board is updated every Monday until the dance card is officially unveiled March 14.With joyful conference tourney victors strutting their way into the Big Dance, the Triple-B enters warp speed mode. No Oscar dismayed Na'vi need apply. However, laser-toting Wookiees are always welcome. (Insert yowl) *For games played through Sunday, February 28*RPI data provided by Rivals*Efficiency stats from kenpom.comOn the Bubble: Memphis (23-8), Arizona St (22-9), South Florida (19-11), Mississippi St (21-10), Rhode Island (21-8) Dropped Out: Connecticut, Rhode Island, UAB, Mississippi St, Coastal Carolina, Stony Brook, Campbell Conference Breakdown: American East (1), ACC (7), Atlantic Sun (1), Atlantic 10 (3), Big 12 (7), Big East (8), Big Sky (1), Big South (1), Big Ten (5), Big West (1), Colonial (1), Conference USA (1), Horizon (1), Ivy (1), Metro (1), Mid-American (1), Mid-Eastern (1), Missouri Valley (1), Mountain West (4), Northeast (1), Ohio Valley (1), Pac-10 (2), Patriot (1), SEC (4), Southern (1), Southland (1), SWAC (1), Summit (1), Sun Belt (1), West Coast (2), WAC (1) --Image courtesy of US Presswire Five Unassisted: Nathan needs MRI; Martin out 4 to 6 weeks [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 8, 2010, 8:30 am] That's right, America's favorite daily sweep of MLB links has returned for another season. You're welcome. Feel free to offer the usual unrestrained praise in the comments section... • Twins closer Joe Nathan(notes) has returned to Minnesota for "an MRI exam and CAT scan on his surgically repaired right elbow," so that's no minor concern. Here's Nathan himself via the Star-Tribune:"It's at a spot right now where I definitely wouldn't want to pick up a baseball," Nathan said Sunday morning. "It's very stiff, very sore." If he can't pick it up, he can't throw it. And if he can't throw it, then Jon Rauch(notes) or Matt Guerrier(notes) may enter the discussion. • Russell Martin's(notes) strained abductor muscle is expected to cost him four to six weeks, per the LA Times. The Dodgers have no immediate plans to dig up a replacement; they're rolling with AJ Ellis(notes). He's a powerless backstop who's about to turn 29. Ellis has delivered nice averages at Triple-A over the past two seasons, but he failed to homer in 360 plate appearances in the PCL last year. • Cameron Maybin(notes), the Marlins' presumptive Opening Day centerfielder, strained his groin while running the bases on Sunday. According to the Miami Herald, he "felt his groin 'pull as opposed to pop' shortly after stepping on third base." He's calling the injury a "day-to-day thing," so there's reason to be hopeful. Maybin, 23, is a classic post-hype sleeper heading into this season. • The Rays are reportedly in "serious talks" with Hank Blalock(notes), according to Heyman (via DRaysBay). As if a conversation with Hank could be anything other than deadly serious. He posted a Kingmanly line last year (25 HR, 26 BB, 108 Ks, .234 AVG), though his BABIP dipped to an exceptionally low .249. • You're encouraged to check out Joe Posnanski's recent review of batters and pitch-type, assisted by Fangraphs (and thus by Court Report: Week 20 Dashboard [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 7, 2010, 7:16 pm] Setting the stage for Week 20 of the fantasy basketball season. Schedule Breakdown Four-game teams: BOS, CHA, LAC, MEM, MIA, MIN, NJN, NOR, NYK, ORL, PHI, POR, SAC, SAS, TOR, UTH, WAS Three-game teams: ATL, CHI, CLE, DAL, DEN, DET, GSW, IND, MIL, OKCTwo-game teams: HOU, LAL, PHOAlso see: Basketball Monster's team schedules and ease rankings | Rotowire's value meterPickups/Plug-ins – Players owned in fewer than 40% of Yahoo! leagues• Anthony Tolliver(notes) - It took a while for Tolliver to adjust once he arrived from the D-League, but he's settled in and is playing plenty for the short-handed Warriors. Over the past 14 games, he's averaged 12.1 points, 1.6 threes, 6.6 boards, 2.2 assists, 0.9 turnovers, 0.5 steals, and 1 block in 32 minutes. Of particular note is that he's made 47 percent of his threes (22 of 47) over that stretch. Week 20: @NOR, POR, TOR • Delonte West(notes) - West's role has been increasing in recent weeks as the primary backup for both guard spots for the Cavs, and he could be rounding into form just in time to provide a spark for fantasy owners. Over the past eight games, he's averaged 13.5 points on 49-percent shooting, 0.5 threes, 4.4 boards, 3.5 assists, and 1.5 turnovers in 28 minutes per game. Week 20: SAS, @PHI, BOS • JaVale McGee(notes) - Although foul trouble has kept his minutes in check, McGee has certainly been useful since the Wizards gutted their roster at the trading deadline. Over the past nine games, he's averaged 10.8 points on 53-percent shooting, 6.6 boards, and 2.6 blocks in 24 minutes, and that many blocks certainly can help swing your average matchup. One thing to note is that he's horrific from the foul line (51% on the season). Week 20: HOU, ATL, @DET, ORL • Rodrigue Beaubois(notes) - Beaubois is a fantastic short-term option while Jason Terry(notes) is out of the lineup for the next two weeks or so (see below). Over the past three games, Beaubois has averaged 21 points on 63-percent shooting, 2 Court Report: Bogut's block party [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 6, 2010, 3:19 am] Andrew Bogut(notes) is in full beast mode, Rodney Stuckey(notes) had a scare, and Baron Davis'(notes) struggles continue. • Andrew Bogut continued his shot-blocking rampage Friday, turning away five in the Bucks' 102-74 win over the Wizards. It was the fifth time in nine games that he's blocked five shots, averaging 3.9 blocks during the stretch. Strong play is nothing new, however, as he's delivered a first-round impact since January 1 - in 31 games, he's averaged 16.8 points on 55-percent shooting, 10.8 boards, and 2.8 blocks, while making a reasonable 71 percent of his free throws. On the season, he currently ranks 10th among center-eligible players in per-game rank at 29th overall, and he and Dwight Howard(notes) are the only two players in the league currently averaging a double-double and at least two blocks per game. • Andray Blatche(notes) had his worst game since becoming completely awesome Friday, scoring 13 points on 5-of-16 shooting and grabbing six boards in 35 minutes. Meanwhile, JaVale McGee(notes) posted his second double-double in four games (13 points, 11 boards) and added four blocks in 31 minutes, while Al Thornton(notes) was more-or-less invisible for the second straight game (27 minutes, 6 points, 3 boards, 1 block). • Rodney Stuckey was taken to the Cleveland Clinic Friday after feeling lightheaded and collapsing into a Pistons trainer's arms during a timeout in the third quarter. A Pistons spokesman said that Stuckey was conscious, his vital signs were stable and he was breathing on his own, and he'll remain in the hospital overnight for tests and observation. What is particularly troubling in Stuckey's case is that he had a similar event happen during a game last season. Will Bynum(notes) will likely take over point guard duties for the Pistons while Stuckey's availability is addressed, with Ben Gordon(notes) also being in line for more playing time ... Also for the Pistons: Ben Wallace(notes) (knee) missed his second straigh Spin Doctors: Nelson Cruz vs. Jason Bay [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 4, 2010, 11:51 am] Navigating the outfield is a critical part of fantasy success – you'll need 4-5 of them in most leagues, perhaps more – and with that in mind, we've decided to throw down over a couple of big ticket items today. When it comes to that second outfield prong, are you doing a Texas Two Step, or in a New York state of mind? Brad Evans and Scott Pianowski are here to debate to the death, in around 250 words each. Noise to Open: To the cursory analyst, a Bay/Cruz comparison is ridiculously lopsided. Many would claim Halle Berry versus Mo'Nique is a tighter race. But scrutinizing the stats reveals an advantage for the Rangers slugger. Prior to being derailed by an ankle injury last August, Cruz outpaced Bay in overall worth. According to Baseball Monster, the breakthrough ranked No. 12 at his position and No. 29 overall with a .272-25-58-55-17 line through August 1. Bay checked in at No. 13 and No. 30 respectively. Due to his nagging ankle issue, his numbers plummeted down the stretch, but, if he had remained healthy, the perceived divide wouldn't have been that dramatic. At 30, the power-packed Ranger is in the midst of his statistical prime. Though he's slated to open the season batting seventh, Texas' explosive offense and abundant table-setters will keep the RBI gap relatively close. However, the same can't be said in the homer and steals categories. Arlington is a numbers generating bandbox. Last season, Cruz hit .286 with 18 homers and 45 RBI in the friendly atmosphere. Bay's transition from smallish Fenway to cavernous Citi Field will shave homers. And don't argue lowering the fences greatly enhance his chances of replicating 36 homers. Also, Cruz will likely outdistance his counterpart by roughly 10-12 steals. Bay's 13 swipes last year was his highest output since 2005. Jerry Manuel is an aggressive manager, but a regression back into the single digits is probable for the Metropolitan. Considering Cruz can be selected some 30-40 picks later, he is t Handicapping the Honda Classic [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 3, 2010, 5:54 pm] I had to crash that Honda, honey. Let's get to this week's fantasy breakdown.A-List: Not the deepest pool in the world, but I think we can use Ernie Els with confidence. He won here in 2008, he's off to a good start in 2010, it's a home game for him now, and I like the body language he showed at the Accenture. Big Easy, come on down. Steve Marino rides shotgun on my card; while he hasn't made a deep run yet at the Honda, there's a comfort in his four starts here (20, 24, 32, 32). Iron play is critical at PGA National and that plays right into Marino's wheelhouse (note his GIR ranking in recent years). Who not to pick: Justin Leonard (he's been lost all season), Vijay Singh (is this a cliff year?), Stephen Ames (who wants to root for him?). B-List: Y.E. Yang should be a consensus play this week; he's the defending champ at the Honda, the PGA Championship victory pushed his confidence to another level, and he's off to a strong start in 2010. Don't swim against the current on this one. Robert Allenby is another obvious pick; he's snagged three Top-5 checks here and this is the type of course where putting's importance is de-emphasized. Allenby will get the monkey off his back and win this year, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. What do we do with Mark Wilson this week? He took down Camilo Villegas in a 2007 Honda playoff but hasn't made the weekend since. The track seems to set up for Wilson and I like him as a bench option, but I'll play it by ear from Friday-on. Villegas? The schedule is the only concern, off nine pressurized days of play and media responsibilities, plus some off-the-course stuff. I can't blame you if you opt for him here, though I'm concerned about a mild step back. Alex Prugh? Hasn't been here yet and his distance won't give him a leg up for this week's challenge. Maybe it's time to roll with Padraig Harrington on a name drop, his early-season slump to the side (note that his 2005 Honda victory was on a different course). Who not to pick Court Report: You'd like a Holiday [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 3, 2010, 2:24 am] AI is officially done for the year, Monta is done for a while, and CP3 could be back sooner than later. • The 76ers announced Tuesday that Allen Iverson(notes) will not return to the team this season, a move that should not have come as a surprise to anyone. It's the best decision for both parties, as AI has a guaranteed contract and can now focus completely on his family, while the Sixers lose the distraction and can focus on their younger (and better) players. Louis Williams(notes) is now locked in for the rest of the season (17.4 points, 52% FG, 88% FT, 1.6 threes, 5 boards, 5 assists, 1.3 turnovers, 1 steal over the past eight games) and will play a significant factor in fantasy championships. Those of you that were patient through the past few months (or picked him up after someone wasn't) will be handsomely rewarded.Jrue Holiday(notes) should also draw some consideration from most fantasy owners. He's coming off 23 points, five threes, six assists, and two steals on Monday and has averaged 10.3 points on 51-percent shooting, 1.2 threes, 3.9 assists, 2 turnovers, and 1.1 steals in 28 minutes over the past 10 games. You speculative types will want to note is that he's quietly made 39 percent of his threes on the season and 50 percent of his attempts (12 of 24) over the past month. Playing off Williams could lead to more open threes for Holiday, as Monday's output can attest, so I'd advise at least adding him to your Watch List. Willie Green(notes) is back from his shoulder injury but has lost his starting job to Williams and his line isn't diverse enough to warrant fantasy interest as a reserve. • Elsewhere in Philly: Elton Brand(notes) missed Monday's game with right Achilles tendinitis, and he'll also be out of the lineup Wednesday. It's not the same Achilles tendon that he tore a few years back, but that's only so much of a silver lining here. Thaddeus Young(notes) and Marreese Speights(notes) stand to benefit from Brand's time off. • Three con Bracket Big Board: At-large pressure cooker has Huskies panting [Yahoo! Sports: Blogs: March 1, 2010, 10:47 am] The Bracket Big Board takes into consideration past returns, current performance and expected future gains in determining who should be included among the field of 65 (31 automatic and 34 at-large bids). Essentially, the Bracket Big Board is a cheat sheet designed for amateur bracketologists if they were filling out a Tourney Pick ‘Em '10 (SIGN UP NOW!!!) entry today. The Bracket Big Board is updated every Monday until the dance card is officially unveiled March 14.Despite dropping a critical matchup with Louisville on Sunday Senior Day, Connecticut's motto on campus still remains: "Yes UCann." Plagued by underachievement and extraneous circumstances no team could prepare for, the once lifeless Huskies are revived. The return of head coach Jim Calhoun, who missed several games with health problems, has sparked his team to three wins in its past four - two against highly ranked foes Villanova and West Virginia. The transformation is nothing short of miraculous. Recall just two weeks ago, UConn's tournament chances was on par with the Nutmeg State avoiding another Nor'easter - slim. At 14-11 overall and 4-8 in conference play on February 13, the disoriented Huskies were seemingly destined for the Not Invited Tournament. How quickly fortunes can reverse.Now 17-12 (7-9 in conference) they're on the brink of bouncing off the bubble and into the tourney field. The primary reason why UConn has emerged from the dead: Kemba Walker. The catalytic force has rapidly ascended into the Pantheon of college point guards. Last season coming off the bench, he played unrestrained. His poor decision making led to numerous turnovers. But in his second season, some of the matured point guard's rough edges have smoothed. Though missteps occasionally have happened - he's averaged 3.1 turnovers per game - his ability to push the tempo, create, distribute, draw contact and, most notably, score (23.5 ppg in his last four), has almost single-handedly propelled the Hus |