Calling the Shots: Week of April 18

Monday morning aka time to set your fantasy baseball line-up for the week ahead. So close the door and make sure the boss isn't looking. We'll take care of the rest. by David F. Baer

Another week of baseball is in the books, and what an interesting week it was. The Colorado Rockies swept the Mets in a double-header Thursday and the Atlanta Braves swept the Amazin’s in a double-header Saturday, Dan Haren and his beard earned their fourth win of the young season, and Joe Nathan lost his sweet closer gig in Minnesota. In the inaugural installment of this column, I’ll take a look at who’s surging, slumping, and surprising. (The killer S’s of fantasy sports? Sure…)

Surging:

Lance Berkman, OF, Cardinals

Last Week’s Stats: 9 R, 6 HR, 12 RBI, .476 avg.

Berkman flat-out tore it up last week. Personally, I’m still not buying into him as a long-term success in fantasy unless you stole him late in your draft and stuck him at first, or you’re incredibly week in the outfield. But have to give the dude props for a killer week. Might be the right time to sell high on Berkman (I would), or you can hope he, Pujols, and Holliday put together a nasty 3-4-5 hitting combination to rival any in baseball.

Honorable Mention: Jonny Gomes and his four homeruns

Slumping:

Carlos Santana, C, Indians

Last Week’s Stats: 0-17, 2 R

Owned in 95 percent of Yahoo fantasy leagues, Santana dropped a goose egg for his owners, going 0-17 this week. Ironically, Cleveland has been winning games, but that’s been in big part to one of his teammates mentioned in the next section. (Spoiler alert, it’s Travis Hafner.) Santana owners may want to cut ties with the young backstop, for now at least. Kurt Suzuki might be a decent option.

Honorable Mention: Mets hitters not named Reyes.

Surprising:

Jeff Francoeur, OF, Royals

Last Week’s Stats: 6 R, 1 HR, 6 RBI, .429 avg.

Frenchy had a sneaky good week for a Royals team that went 4-2, winning series against Minnesota and Seattle. Francoeur can be described as streaky at best and he plays in KC - a combination doesn’t bode well for his owners (owned in only 27 percent of Yahoo leagues). I love the guy, but not for my fantasy team. If you have him, he could be potential trade bait this week.

Honorable Mention: Michael Bourn, who hit over .300, scored 9 runs, and stole 5 bases for the Houston Astros.

Words of Wisdom

Josh Beckett kicked off his week by shutting down the Yankees and looked like his normal self, so Sox fans know it will be two weeks, and I think two weeks is generous, before he implodes again… Kyle McClellan, Luke Hochevar, and Jhoulys Chacin each started and won two games this week, while in two starts Felix Hernandez didn’t win at all…Troy Tulowitzki hit 4 homers and batted over .500 this week while teammate Carlos Gonzalez hit 3-24… and Sam Fuld, the Rays outfielder who made the sick diving catch by the wall in Chicago this week, is batting .341 on the year and is tied for second in the majors in stolen bases with seven.