How quickly the year goes by.  In actuality, the season isn't over, since the White Sox and the Twins do have one more regular season game to go, but for most fantasy purposes, the season is over.  And what a season it was.  Between .

1.  The top pick in next year's draft should be...  If you want an absolutely sure thing, take Albert Pujols, who apparently can hit like a superstar even if he has only one good arm.  If you want someone who has a chance to put up legendary numbers, select Alex Rodriguez, who has had unbelievable numbers in odd-numbered years.  But if you are looking for the player who really has a chance to separate himself from the rest of the top five, take Hanley Ramirez, who fully justified his preseason ranking as one of the top three players in fantasy baseball.  As the leadoff hitter for the Marlins, Ramirez hit .301 with 33 HR, 67 RBI, 125 R, and 35 SB.  This year, the only thing holding him back a bit, or bringing him down closer to the rest of the pack, has been his RBI total, which might be good for a leadoff man, but ends up hurting a fantasy team.  With the Marline likely to give star prospect Cameron Maybin a chance to play every day, though, Ramirez should move down in the order, gkving him many more RBI opportunities.  Ramirez, Pujols, Alex Rodriguez should constitute the top three next year, in that order.

2. The top pitcher in next year's draft should be... Is there any doubt about the answer to this one?  Sure, Cliff Lee had an absolutely memorable season, going 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA after going 5-8 with a 6.29 ERA last year.  Johan Santana acquitted himself nicely after a slow start, and put himself right back into the conversation of who the best pitcher in baseball is.  Tim Lincecum also placed himself square into the conversation with a terrific performance, also leading the majors in strikeouts.  And, of course, Roy Halladay remained one of the great pitchers in the game with a consistent and workmanlike performance.  But nobody combines all of that with youth and history like C.C. Sabathia, who not only looks like he is in his prime, but seems to get stronger with age.  He doesn't allow baserunners, he doesn't allow runs, he throws a ton of innings, he wins games, he completes them, he shuts teams out, and he strikes batters out.  Though some may worry that his arm will fall off, there is no evidence of that right now, so there should be no hesitation about taking him as the first pitcher in next year's draft.

3.  The top relief pitcher of next year's draft should be...  It is true that Francisco Rodriguez shattered the saves record.  Mariano Rivera, of course, had an unbelievable year, topping even his own standards.  Joakim Soria proved to be one of the best young arms in the league, and Brad Lidge was one of the best stories of the year.  But the one mainstay who combines consistently excellent performance with the youth necessary to maintain that performance is Joe Nathan.  K-Rod has wonderful numbers, but the big worry is his control, which took a hit this year, resulting in a higher-than-desired WHIP.  Nathan, meanwhile, has terrific numbers all around, and he closes for a team that has good pitching but a mediocre offense.  Look for Nathan to save at least 45 games next year and be the top closer in the league.

4.  The best pickup next year will be...  In these kinds of situations, you like to look at September performances, because those callups who got their cup of coffee could make an impact next year.  Someone like David Price is a good thought, but keep in mind that, in this day in age, those top pitching prospects will be carefully monitored and put on an innings limit.  Therefore, I recommend that you look at relievers, particularly those on teams with shaky closer situations, like Baltimore and Arizona.  It says here that two names to put on your radar are Chad Qualls and Grant Balfour.  Qualls should get his chance in Arizona after a shaky post-All Star break performance by Brandon Lyon may have cost Arizona the AL West title.  Meanwhile, Troy Percival had a good year, but he proved unreliable in terms of health, and Tampa Bay will probably look to establish some more consistency at the position.

5.  C.C. and Roy watch.  Okay, so declaring the watch dead last week was premature.  Sabathia not only carried the Brewers into the playoffs, but he also fully justified the C.C. and Roy watch by pitching a complete game on the very last day of the season while on short rest.  After a string of seven-inning starts, with a 5.2 inning outing squeezed in there, Sabathia pitched the game of his life when it mattered most.  That, by the way, was his 10th complete game of the season, which is why we started the watch in the first place.  As for Mr. Halladay?  He sure did come awfully close, finishing the year with nine complete games.  How significant are their feats?  The next highest CG total came from Ben Sheets, who had five.  C.C. and Roy, it was a season of thrills, and you certainly made your owners extremely happy.

The final week of the season saw a RF trying to salvage a lost season, a proud RF who mostly DH'd this year, and one of the biggest surprises of the season top the performance list for the week.  These players' performances certainly did not make it any easier to determine how next year's draft should look:  

Gold

Travis Buck (Oakland Athletics) - Buck had a very disappointing 2008 season after showing such promise in 2007, but he at least ended the season on a high note.  Buck hit .429 while smacking three HR, driving in nine runs, and scoring three.  In so doing, Buck barely cracked the .225 mark for the season, a season filled with injury and demotions to the minors.  The A's still hold a lot of hope for Buck, and his strong play since being called up in September gives reason to believe he could be a sleeper yet again next season.

Silver

Vladimir Guerrero (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) - It has not been your typical Vlad year, as Guerrero seemed never able to get on a real hot streak.  After May, though, he was mostly consistent, and a very strong September allowed him to crack the .300 barrier yet again.  For the week, Guerrero hit .421 with three HR, six RBI, and four runs scored, capping off a September in which he hit .412 with a .691 SLG.  Nonetheless, Guerrero's stock probably falls a little again in next year's draft.

Bronze

Shin-Soo Choo (Cleveland Indians) - Choo was a very pleasant surprise for the Indians this season.  Too little, too late for the Indians, but not for owners of Choo who were in the fantasy championship hunt.  Choo hit .304 with a homer and seven RBI, to go along with eight runs scored.  Choo ended up with a .309 AVG for the season, with 14 HR, 66 RBI, 68 R, .397 OBP, and .549 SLG in only 94 games, leaving Cleveland with some interesting questions as to what they will do with their outfield next season.  Keep an eye on Cleveland transactions involving outfielders to determine what Choo's status will be for next year, though it will be hard for Cleveland to justify not giving him a solid chance at a starting job.

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

In what seemed like a season-long trend, short stops last week did not hit for much power at all, but did hit for very high AVGs and/or stole plenty of bases.  With big, powerful short stops becoming less chic, it is clear that AVG, SB, and R are the trends to look for next season, so be ready to expand your draft spreadsheets:

Gold

Yuniesky Betancourt (Seattle Mariners) - Betancourt was a disappointment both on the field and at the plate, but his final week of the 2008 season gave Seattle at least a little reason to smile.  Betancourt hit .467 with a homer, six RBI, eight R, and a stolen base.  Although he regressed from last season, he is still only 26 years old and rebounded quite well from what can only be described as a disastrous summer (.220 AVG, .308 SLG in June, .207 AVG, .244 SLG in July) with a strong September (.343 AVG, .525 SLG).

Silver

Jose Reyes (New York Mets) - Reyes continued to speak loudly with his legs rather than with his bat, which, in the fantasy world, still holds a lot of value.  Reyes hit only .258 with no homers in the final week of the season, but he stole four bases, helping him to score six runs along the way.  He also had four RBI.  Unfortunately for Reyes, he will have to answer questions again as to why he had a weak September with the bat, but his 10 SB this month put him over the 50 SB mark for the fourth time in his career and solidified his status next year as a first-round pick.

Bronze

Ramon Santiago (Detroit Tigers) - Santiago did not get to play a whole lot this year because of Detroit's acquisition of Edgar Renteria, but some injury problems to Renteria, plus his very disappointing production, allowed Detroit to give Santiago more playing time toward the end of the year.  Santiago took advantage this week, hitting .357 with three HR and four RBI while scoring six runs.  Santiago's three HR this week are actually more than he has hit in any season since 2002, when he hit four in 65 games.

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

Third basemen did not exactly end the season on a rampage, but overall, it was a very strong season for them.  This week's top third basemen consists of a blast from the past, the clear third baseman of the future, and a third baseman still trying to fulfill his unlimited potential:

Gold

Hank Blalock (Texas Rangers) - Blalock closed out the season not on fire, but as a raging inferno.  The oft-injured third baseman finished an otherwise disappointing season by hitting .400, swatting four HR, driving in nine runs, and scoring eight runs.  Blalock may have ended up playing only 65 games this season, but he did manage 12 HR in those gamesand slugged .508 overall.  If he can stay healthy next year, Blalock has shown he can still hit and do some damage in the middle of that dangerous Texas order.

Silver

David Wright (New York Mets) - Once again, the Mets could not get the job done late in the season despite being in the driver's seat for a playoff spot, but, once again, don't blame Wright.  The already-elite third baseman hit .417 for the week with six RBI, to go along with a homer and four runs scored.  Wright was extraordinarily consistent all year, but saved some of his best for last, hitting .340 with a .577 SLG and 21 RBI in September.

Bronze

Alex Gordon (Kansas City Royals) - Gordon has long been considered the next George Brett, but he has had trouble cracking this list all year.  With third basemen taking it easy this week, Gordon manages to snag a bronze with a pretty strong performance, hitting .304 with a homer, four RBI, four R, and two SB.  Gordon actually had a very strong September himself, hitting .311 with a .556 SLG, and once again teased the Royals with the thought that he could yet turn out to be a great-hitting 3B down the road.

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

Pitching is the backbone of every fantasy team. If you don’t have good pitching then you won’t win. It’s as simple as that. Next year will be a bit interesting in terms of seeing how early some pitchers get drafted. Will Johan be the first pitcher? Will it be Webb? Will it be Lincecum? Who knows. What I do know is this week Johan was absolutely brilliant and a huge reason for the Mets trying to hang onto playoff hopes (will they win the Wild Card or choke again?). Roy Oswalt has had a transformation and suddenly looks like an ace again after being horrible at the beginning of the season. Last, but certainly not least, is Gil Meche. The Royals gave him a huge payday and he’s looked as if he’s been worth every penny, at least to a team that needed pitching as badly as the Royals. These three pitchers deserve recognition and praise for their solid performances.

Gold Medal:

Johan Santana (SP - New York Mets) - Santana has ended the season with a bang. He’s had some rough times this year, mainly because the bullpen blew so many leads for him, but the Santana of old has finally showed up. He’s finally starting to strike more guys out, his ERA and WHIP are miniscule, and he’s even going the distance. He’s once again looking like the best pitcher in the league now and the Mets couldn’t be any happier. If they clinch the Wild Card (as of this time the finale is delayed), then Santana will hands down be their MVP and rightfully so.

2 wins, 0 losses, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 17 IP, 19 K, 1.06 ERA, 0.88 WHIP

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Silver Medal:

Roy Oswalt (SP - Houston Astros) - Oswalt has been a huge surprise this season. Earlier in the year it appeared he was done, but suddenly he went on a hot streak and got his numbers under control. His ERA does look a bit high, but it’s inflated due to his bad starts earlier when he had a hip problem. Take away a few bad starts and the overall numbers are just terrific. He’s racked up wins this season and has been an innings eater, as usual. Who knows how much longer Oswalt will go. The Astros have a few question marks, but suddenly Oswalt doesn’t seem like such a big one.

2 wins, 0 losses, 12 IP, 7 K, 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP

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Bronze Medal:

Gil Meche (SP - Kansas City Royals) - The Royals invested a ton of money in Meche. At the time it looked like a joke and that the Royals were just stupid. Apparently they knew something that nobody else knew; Meche is a good pitcher. He may not have the best numbers of any pitcher out there, but he’s really got some good stuff. If the Royals actually had an offense, and better defense, then Meche would be good enough for 19-20 wins, and a handful of less losses. Yes, I’m 100% serious on that. Meche has some terrific stuff, but there’s no denying that the team behind him is far from great. Meche put up some solid numbers this week and hopefully he’ll continue to do so in the future.

2 wins, 0 losses, 12 IP, 11 K, 2.25 ERA, 1.33 WHIP

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

Centerfield is a very tough position to draft because there are only a few elite players at that position. After that it’s a lot of guess work and risk. The players on this week’s list are a perfect example of just that. There are many players who are on the cusp of being elite players, but they still need to take the next step and become a bit more consistent. Jacoby Ellsbury has put up some terrific stats, but he seems to put them up in bulk. Chris Young is a talented centerfielder with tons of power and speed, but he can’t get on base to save his life. That leaves Josh Anderson, Andruw Jones’ replacement. He may not look like much on paper, but he’s got a chance to put up some great numbers if he could learn to walk more and strikeout less. Either way you cut it, these three players put up some great overall numbers and deserve recognition.

Gold Medal:

Josh Anderson (CF - Atlanta Braves) - Anderson hasn’t played in too many games, but he already looks better than Andruw Jones, the Dodgers version that is. The Braves took a huge risk by letting him go, but it seems like things worked out in their favor, as usual. As for Anderson, he actually looks like a very solid player. He’s got some nice speed and he’s been getting on base at a pretty good clip. However, first and foremost he needs to get more walks and not strike out so much. If he could succeed with that then he has a chance to be a solid later round fantasy pick for next year.

9/24, 6 runs, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB, .375 AVG

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Silver Medal:

Jacoby Ellsbury (LF/CF/RF - Boston Red Sox) - At first glance Ellsbury’s numbers don’t look too worthy to be on this list. He only had a homerun, RBI, and stolen base. However, he racked up a ton of hits and had a fantastic average. On top of that he also scored a lot of runs, thus making him a solid fantasy player this week. He’s a very talented player, but it does seem like he’s a bit overrated at times. It seems like he’ll put up some great numbers, then he’ll slow down and will have another outburst in a week or so. If he could be more consistent then his numbers could be downright scary. He is still a talented player and put up some very nice numbers this week.

13/26, 9 runs, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 SB, .500 AVG

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Bronze Medal:

Chris Young (CF - Arizona Diamondbacks) - Young is a very exciting young player in baseball. He plays good defense, he can hit, he’s got speed, and he’s got very nice power. However, he’ll never be an elite player unless he can stop striking out, learn to walk a little more, and raise his OBP. A centerfielder with a .246 AVG and a .313 OBP just isn’t going to cut it, especially since he’s got the speed to be a great leadoff hitter. He put up some nice numbers this week, but it’d have been a little nicer if he could get his average up just a little bit more and if he could have showcased his speed a bit.

7/24, 5 runs, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 0 SB, .292 AVG

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

Catchers are such a difficult position to draft because they could be great one year, but become inconsistent the next year. It also takes a big strain on the body. Sometimes it isn’t always physical though, as language barriers can also keep a player from under performing. For example, Mike Napoli has been of and on when it comes to injuries. He’s finally healthy and performing very well. Kenji Johjima is from Japan and the language barrier for a catcher to overcome in order to communicate with pitchers is huge. That leaves Russell Martin who it seems was just a bit tired out this year. Could you really blame him though? He’s been the cornerstone of the Dodgers and looks to have regained fantasy value next season.

Gold Medal:

Mike Napoli (C - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) - Napoli has hands down been the best catcher this week. His numbers have been amazing. He had nice power numbers, but his main value has come in the hits he’s collected. He was 10 for 15, which is just amazing. His average has been insane and strong enough to carry an owners’ entire average category. He may not be able to repeat this too many times in the future, but he really ended the season with a bang. Owners couldn’t have asked for anything more.

10/15, 3 runs, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 SB, .667 AVG

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Silver Medal:

Kenji Johjima (C - Seattle Mariners) - The media is completely concentrated on the whole Ichiro scenario in which players said they wanted to beat him up. However, their other Japanese player has been playing better but hasn’t been getting much recognition. Johjima has mostly been a bust since the Mariners signed him, yet they then signed him to an extension which left many people scratching their heads. Now Johjima is finally showing why he’s capable of being an MLB catcher. He may not call the best game yet, and has trouble communicating with pitchers, but his offense is the important thing for fantasy baseball and it has finally showed up. Who knows how long it’ll last, but hopefully it lasts into next season so owners have another catcher who’ll be draft worthy.

6/18, 2 runs, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, .333 AVG

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Bronze Medal:

Russell Martin (C/3B - Los Angeles Dodgers) - Martin is still one of the best fantasy catchers in the league, but his numbers are a bit of a disappointment compared to last year. Last year he put up some great fantasy friendly numbers, but this year his were good, but not great. However, it looks like he’s been better with his pitch selection and is a better field general. That could be a big reason why the Dodgers and not the D-Backs are going to the playoffs. However, expect Martin to work hard this off-season because he wants to regain the numbers he put up last season. His value slipped a little bit so he’ll probably drop a little lower than he should be. That’s great news for a smart owner.

6/15, 4 runs, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB, .400 AVG

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

The first base position may be the position of power, but it seems like the second base position has been the position of balance. There’s a nice blend of power, speed, and average from second basemen. Clint Barmes displayed that and put up some very steady numbers, but Chase Utley is the epitome of an elite second baseman. Last but not least is Felipe Lopez who proved that even when the Nationals don’t think you’re good enough to play baseball, you can keep trying and put up good numbers elsewhere. All three players deserve praise and recognition for their solid performances this week.

Gold

Clint Barmes (2B/3B/SS - Colorado Rockies) - Barmes has been an unexpected surprise this season. A few years ago he was seen as a huge talent, but then he trailed off. Now he’s back from the minors and has been simply amazing. He’s done anything anyone could have asked of him. He’s hit for average, hit his career high in homeruns, has a career high in stolen bases, and has had a very nice average. Barmes may not be of elite quality, but he’s extremely solid and capable of even more if he can continue to get playing time at second.

8/20, 7 runs, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 SB, .400 AVG

Silver

Chase Utley (2B - Philadelphia Phillies) - Utley had an unbelievable first half. His second half was good, but his first half was simply amazing. His power numbers didn’t seem to be as consistent in the second half, but he’s still had a terrific season. Ryan Howard may get all of the recognition around Philadelphia because of his numbers, but Utley may be the real MVP of the team. Without him they’d be nowhere. He’s such a talented player and should go into next year’s draft as the consensus number one second baseman.

9/23, 7 runs, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1 SB, .391 AVG

Bronze

Felipe Lopez (2B/3B/SS/LF - St. Louis Cardinals) - It seems like Lopez has bounced around from team after team. He’s capable of putting up good numbers at times, but other times he seems like the most inconsistent player around. Luckily he showed some consistency this week because he most certainly helped out those who may have taken a risk on starting him, especially in deeper leagues. He was simply amazing when it came to hitting the ball, and nearly hit .500 in 30 at bats. He also showed a little power and even some speed. He’s been a nice addition to St. Louis.

14/30, 8 runs, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, .467 AVG

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

First base is the cornerstone of power in any fantasy baseball lineup. There’s just no denying that first basemen are the biggest reason for power numbers. Even though there is nice power it’s usually followed with a low average and a high strikeout total. However, that’s not always the case, as the following players prove. For instance, Hank Blalock has been tearing the cover off the ball and has been the best offensive player over the last week or so. Albert Pujols is an elite first basemen. Last but not least is Ryan Garko. He may not have the best overall numbers, but he’s capable of going on little hot streaks and putting up great numbers. These three players went above and beyond and had amazing weeks that really helped owners out.

Gold Medal:

Hank Blalock (1B/3B - Texas Rangers) - There has been no hotter hitter in baseball over the last week or so than Hank Blalock. He hit five homeruns in five straight games. That’s very impressive, but he did more than that. He also drove in runs like crazy and basically just hit everything thrown at him. He’s always had talent, but he also has been pretty injury prone. The Rangers hold an option on him and it looks like they’d be crazy not to take it now. If you were smart enough to start Blalock then congrats because he probably helped you on your way to winning this week.

12/26, 9 runs, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SB, .462 AVG

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Silver Medal:

Albert Pujols (1B - St. Louis Cardinals) - Pujols has been phenomenal as of late. His power numbers are great and he’s hitting tearing the cover and raised his overall number. It’ll be hard for some to overlook him for NL MVP, but Ryan Howard really deserves it a bit more over him. Pujols is one of the most patient hitters in the league. He’ll wait for his pitch, but if he doesn’t get it then he’ll take a walk. The main reason he’s so great is because he doesn’t strike out. That OBP is a savior to those in leagues with more stats to play for. Pujols is hands down one of the best first basemen in the league.

9/18, 6 runs, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 0 SB, .500 AVG

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Bronze Medal:

Ryan Garko (1B - Cleveland Indians) - Garko has had some great numbers, but the reason for that is because he drives runs in bulks. This week he had several games when he didn’t drive in a run, but he’s also go two games where he put in all his homeruns and RBI. That isn’t exactly what you want from a player in reality, but it’s just fine in fantasy baseball, as long as he puts up good numbers. Garko has always had talent, but he’s never had much playing time. This week he was given some and he’s taken advantage. He’s got nice power, but he’d be so much better if he could get his average up a little more.

10/23, 4 runs, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 0 SB, .435 AVG

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

What is it that we look for in a good quality closer? Good pitching, quick inning work, the ability to shut the other team down, striking the batters out, having a low ERA? How about all of the above? There are only a few who qualify for this position. Here are the ones who passed the test this week (and oddly enough, there's a chance none of them will make the playoffs).

Gold

Joe Nathan - RP - Minnesota Twins - The Twins are currently locked in an epic struggle with the White Sox for the AL Central.  The Twins may not come out on top; but you can't blame Joe Nathan, who has been a real nice security blanket for the Twins all season long.  Here's what Nathan did last week: 4.0 IP, 1 W, 2 SV, 4 Ks, a 0.00 ERA and a 0.25 WHIP.

Silver

Chad Qualls - RP - Arizona Diamondbacks - Since taking over for former Red Sox "great" Brandon Lyon a couple of weeks ago in the closer's role, he hasn't blown a save yet.  He's now reportedly the odds-on favorite for keeping the job at the start of next season.  Here's what he did: 3.0 IP, 3 SV, 4 Ks, a 0.00 ERA and a 0.33 WHIP.

Bronze

Fernando Rodney - RP - Detroit Tigers - Maybe it's Tigers management that loves to drive their fans crazy; because after dealing with Todd Jones for the last few years, they expected a bit different from Rodney.  No dice; Rodney has become every bit the "Human Roller Coaster" as Jones was.  Luckily for Rodney, this was one of his good weeks.  Here's what he did: 4.1 IP, 3 SV, 6 Ks, a 2.08 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP.

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

It's perhaps the most important offensive position in baseball, and is soon becoming its most important defensively as well.  Here's what the top three did this week:

Gold

Josh Willingham - OF - Florida Marlins - The young star-in-the-making in Florida decided to save his best week for the last one, and he really tore it up all week long.  Here's what he did: .364 (8/22) 4 HR, 6 RBI, 7 Runs Scored, 3 Ks, and an OPS of 1.526.

Silver

Jack Cust - OF - Oakland Athletics - Granted, Cust as much deserves to be listed as "left field" as Ortiz deserves to be listed as "first base", but Cust's week deserves mention.  Not only did he inch ever closer to the Major League Strikeout Leader (Ryan Howard) this week; but he also pieced together quite the week offensively.  Here's Cust's week: .286 (6/21) 4 HR, 7 RBI, 6 Runs Scored, 9 Ks, and an OPS of 1.328.

Bronze

Jacoby Ellsbury - OF - Boston Red Sox - Tearing Up September - As was the case last year; Ellsbury picked the right part of the season to step up his game.  Not only that, he became the first Red Sox player since 1973 to steal 50 bases (Tommy Harper) and just the third in franchise history (Tris Speaker).  In fact, since 1987, no Red Sox player had stolen more than 27 bases in a season until this year.  Here's the capper week to Ellsbury's September: .500 (13/26) 1 HR, 1 RBI, 9 Runs Scored, 1 SB, 2 Ks, and an OPS of 1.385.

Other Top Performances:

C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | LF | CF | RF | RP | SP

The season is practically over, therefore there are some huge names on this list. There are some lesser named players, but there are also some of the biggest names in all of baseball on this list. Some did good, some did not. Owners needed some solid numbers in order to secure their final place in their leagues, yet some players did not deliver. This installment of MLB Status Check consists of nine total players and three categories. The categories are broken down into lived up to the hype, failed to live up to the hype, and keep an eye on. The first is for those that were drafted early and performed well. The second is for those that were drafted early and did not perform well. The third category is for those that were drafted late or available as free agents and exceeded expectations. Hopefully the good numbers helped you out and the bad ones didn’t hurt you. This has been a pretty interesting fantasy baseball season.

Lived up to the hype:

Bobby Abreu (RF - New York Yankees) - Bobby Abreu has been a model of consistency in fantasy baseball. He’s not as reliable in reality because he usually starts off extremely slow, but towards the end of the year he’s usually one of the hottest hitters. That’s exactly how he was this year. He’s been on absolute fire as of late. In mid July his average had fallen all the way down to .271, but it’s at .298 currently. He’s also been hitting for power and looks like he’s going to have a line of 100 runs, 20 HR, 100 RBI, 20 SB, .300 AVG. That is gold in terms of fantasy baseball.

8/23, 4 runs, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 1 SB, .348 AVG

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Zack Greinke (SP/RP - Kansas City Royals) - Greinke has been terrific over his last six starts. However, his last two starts have been sensational for fantasy owners. He’s finally passed the 200-inning mark for the first time in his career, and has had a great overall year, even though he hasn’t had too much run support. He hasn’t allowed a run in 14 innings, he’s only allowed six hits, and picked up two wins. In fantasy baseball that is a lifesaver this late in the season.

2 wins, 0 losses, 14 IP, 11 K, 0.00 ERA, 0.64 WHIP

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Johan Santana (SP - New York Mets) - The Mets are definitely getting their money out of Santana. If it weren’t for such a horrible bullpen then Santana could easily have over 20 wins. The bullpen has blown several games for him, but Santana has done his part for owners. He’s begin to pick up his strikeout rates a bit more and he’s getting wins. Johan is now the NL ERA leader. Everyone expected him to do well in the NL because he’d get to face pitchers, but his ERA and strikeout numbers weren’t where people expected them to be earlier in the season. Now they’re right on par.

2 wins, 0 losses, 15 IP, 18 K, 1.80 ERA, 1.27 WHIP

Failed to live up to the hype:

Tim Lincecum (SP - San Francisco Giants) - Goodbye Cy Young award. It seemed like Lincecum had a chance to beat out Brandon Webb for the award. After all, he is hovering around the ERA lead, even though a scoring change knocked him out of the lead, and he’s just about the best strikeout pitcher in fantasy baseball. However, the Giants planned on giving him more starts instead of shutting him down because they wanted him to get the award. That doesn’t sound like a bad thing, but Lincecum was absolutely horrible. His last two starts have not been pleasant. One of them was him catching a bad break, but his last start was just bad. Hopefully he can stay healthy for future drafts.

0 wins, 2 losses, 12.1 IP, 15 K, 6.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP

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Alex Rodriguez (3B - New York Yankees) - A-Rod has cooled off considerably as of late. He’s the most talented player in the game, but he does seem to have more bouts of inconsistency this year. His overall numbers are far below last year’s numbers, but keep in mind that he missed around three weeks with a quad injury earlier in the year. Add in three weeks of production and his numbers would be fantastic as usual. This week was not a very enjoyable one for his owners. Hopefully he can rebound for the rest of the week, but he may not even play anymore now that the Yankees are finished.

3/17, 0 runs, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB, .176 AVG

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Javier Vazquez (SP - Chicago White Sox) - Vazquez is a great pitcher, but it doesn’t seem like he can perform in the “clutch”, if that even exists. Every game is important, but some games are more important than others. Two games ago he had a horrible game against a slumping Mets team. That’s not totally unacceptable, if it was just one game. However, his next start was against their division rival, the Minnesota Twins, and it was a must win game. He did not get the job done. The Sox and Twins are neck and neck in the AL Central. The Sox have a half game lead and a win over the Twins could have given them some much needed breathing room. Vazquez just hasn’t delivered. He’s got great stuff, but it seems like he isn’t as strong mentally.

0 wins, 2 losses, 7.2 IP, 7 K, 12.91 ERA, 2.35 WHIP

Keep an eye on:

Hank Blalock (1B/3B - Texas Rangers) - What a week! Wow. Blalock has been disappointing the last few years because of injuries. He’s always had talent, but he can’t seem to stay healthy. He’s finally healthy again and is putting up some terrific numbers. He hit a homerun in four straight games and, during that time span, also drove in 10 RBI. He’s also got a huge average and scored a ton of runs. He’s done everything except steal a base. Blalock will probably fall down to Earth again, but he’s been extremely hot lately and it could be wise to use him for the rest of the week. Hank may just wind up giving that offensive boost to help get your team get a win this week.

14/25, 9 runs, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 0 SB, .560 AVG

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Mike Napoli (C - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) - Napoli has been a hits machine this week. He’s been racking up hits, has hit for power, and he’s been driving in runs. He’s also stolen a few bases and has just looked extremely sharp at the plate. As stated, he’s been racking up hits. That means he’s had an amazing average this week. Amazing may be an understatement. That kind of average can help win that category for the week for an owner. Hopefully he can continue to rake for the rest of the week. This is a guy to pick up if he’s available.

13/20, 6 runs, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 2 SB, .650 AVG

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Randy Wolf (SP - Houston Astros) - Wolf has been a pretty good pickup for the Astros. He’s fairly consistent, even though he’s had a few rough patches, but when he’s on he’s a very good fantasy pitcher. However, it still seems like he’s a bit of a risk because of the team he’s on, even though it looks like a better place to be than San Diego thanks to the offense. Five of Wolf’s last six starts have been quality starts. Some of them have been amazing, so he definitely does have the talent. He’s a bit of a risk, but with the way he’s throwing the ball it may just be worth it.

2 wins, 0 losses, 13.2 IP, 14 K, 0.66 ERA, 1.02 WHIP

Nothing but big names in this week's stock market.  Just like the real stock market has seen some big-time companies not just fade, but actually tank, we see some big names making the list today.  However, unlike the actual stock market, the big names in the fantasy stock market are making up both the Bulls and the Bears.  To wit:

Bulls

Joey Votto - 1B - (Cincinnati Reds):  Like a lot of young players, Votto got off to a hot start, then cooled off considerably in the summer (not unlike his teammate, Jay Bruce).  Unlike a lot of young players, Votto had regained that hot bat as the season winds down.  Votto is slugging a healthy .645 in September, with seven HR and 15 RBI in 72 ABs this month.  He has been particularly on fire of late, having hit three HR in his last seven games.  He is a solid start for the rest of this year, and makes for an intriguing keeper possibility for next year.

Francisco Liriano - SP - (Minnesota Twins):  The Twins have a solid pitching staff one through five, but did not really have that true ace for much of the year.  That is, until Liriano made his long-awaited return.  Liriano is 6-0 with a 2.05 ERA since completing his rehab from major elbow surgery (he returned for a couple outings in April, but it was clear that they rushed him, as he was awful), and has posted solid strikeout rates.  That catapults him all the way from major question mark to definite keeper.

Hank Blalock - 3B - (Texas Rangers):  "Remember me?  I'm the guy who teamed up with Michael Young to give Rangers' fans a reason to say, 'We don't miss A-Rod.'  Remember?  I'm the guy who used to be a .300/30/100 threat?  Remember, in one three-year span, I hit 86 HR and drove in 292 runs? Well, did you know that I am hitting .346 in September with a .679 SLG, including three HR and nine RBI in the last seven days?  Do you know that I look as healthy as I have ever been so that I can close this frustrating year on a really strong note?"

Runners-up Bulls:  Jason Kubel - OF - (Minnesota Twins); Mike Napoli - C - (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)

Bears

Corey Hart - OF - (Milwaukee Brewers):  There's not much at all to like about Hart's September.  When the team really needed him, he has gone in the opposite direction.  With the Brewers' playoff life at stake throughout much of September, Hart has hit .182 with a .207 OBP, .273 SLG, and zero homers, though he has driven in eight.  Hart's 14:3 K:BB ratio has to be galling to the Brewers, and he certainly has provided very little relief for his fantasy owners in the last few weeks.

Andy LaRoche - 3B - (Pittsburgh Pirates):  After the Dodgers traded LaRoche to Pittsburgh, it was thought his stock would go way up because he would finally get the playing time the Dodgers refused to give him.  So far, he is making the Dodgers look like geniuses.  LaRoche has hit .158 as a Pirate, which, believe it or not, is much worse than he was doing as a Dodger.  Not only that, but his power has been almost non-existent (.247 SLG). Until LaRoche he can hit for some semblance of a batting average, he may turn out to be just another Dallas McPherson.

Salomon Torres - RP - (Milwaukee Brewers):  When your team was comfortably in the driver's seat for a playoff position at the beginning of the month, then find yourself on the outside-looking-in on the last week of the season, getting your manager fired in the process, you better believe you will have two Bears on the list.  Torres hasn't actually pitched badly in most of his September outings, but fact of the matter is that he has only one save all month, and the Brewers don't have the look of a team that will provide him with multiple save opportunities in the final week.

Runners-up Bears: Melvin Mora - 3B - (Baltimore Orioles); Oliver Perez - SP - (New York Mets)

It's the most specialized baseball article there is; as we focus solely on one category at a time.  As usual, your disclaimer: These are NOT everyday players, and nor are they claimed to be.  These are players that will help you in one way and one way only.  Sometimes our rosters are very deficient in one area or another, and these are players who are available on the cheap (or for free) who can help sure that area up.  So, with that out of the way, let's get started on the last Free Agent Specialty of the season.

Speed Kills

Brett Gardner - OF - 4th Place New York Yankees - Gardner is a pinch-runner, essentially; but with the Yankees tanking, he is getting a bit more time.  As a pinch runner or as a starter, it hasn't mattered.  He steals bases, and that's the bottom line, as he led all players on the Waiver Wire in stolen bases this week.  Here's what Gardner's whole line was: .333 (4/12), 2 RBI, 4 Runs Scored, 3 SBs, 2 Ks, and an OPS of .885.

Chicks Dig the Long Ball

Kendry Morales - 1B - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Orange County, California, United States of America - Morales had a big time power week this past week; and it should continue as the Angels continue to periodically rest their starters for the playoffs, since they clinched in May.  Here's what Morales did this past week: .238 (5/21) 3 HR, 4 RBI, 5 Runs Scored, 1 K, and an OPS of .987.

Sometimes Average is a good thing

Cameron Maybin - SS - Florida Marlins - Maybin is in this spot currently because of the injury to Josh Beckett trade-bait, Hanley Ramirez.  He's been flat-out awesome since debuting, and shows no signs of slowing down.  Here's what Maybin did this past week: .440 (11/25) 2 RBI, 7 Runs Scored, 2 SBs, 6 Ks, and an OPS of .921.

Pitching (a.k.a. Something the 4th Place Yankees could use.)

Odalis Perez - SP - Washington Nationals - The Nationals are beyond bad, but it's nice to see Odalis Perez living up to his talent in spite of that.  He had two starts this week, and both good ones, although one was a hard-luck loss.  Here's what Perez did this week: 13.1 IP, 1 W, 1 L, 17 Ks, a 2.02 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP.

Jorge Julio - RP - Atlanta Braves - Julio got a cheap win this week, which launched him up the ranks of relief pitchers on the Waiver Wire.  However, the middle reliever did also pitch a couple of good innings this week; which is more than you could say for the team he was pitching against; the Mets.  Here's what Julio did this past week: 4.0 IP, 1 W, 0 L, 8 Ks, a 0.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.

Thanks for reading this year, and good luck to you in the playoffs.

The last week of the baseball season is upon us!  If you are looking for that last-gasp effort at moving up in your league or winning it outright, picking up players off of waivers is a good (and cheap, as in, doesn't cost you players or picks) way to find players that can make an impact. This final installment of MLB Waiver Wire consists of five players that are available in most leagues, and should give an added boost to your team, especially if you need stats in a particular category. Hopefully the listed players will put you over the top.

Cameron Maybin
Florida Marlins - OF
Owned - 39.7%

Maybin has made quite an impression for the young Marlins.  Considered their CF of the future, Maybin has not disappointed so far, hitting .440 with a .921 OPS.  He has also stolen two bases and scored seven runs while hitting leadoff.  Maybin may not hit for power this year, but Florida has every intention of seeing as much of him as possible, and batting in that plum leadoff spot, he should provide your team with plenty of runs scored as long as he can continue getting on base.

Jamie Moyer
Philadelphia Phillies - SP
Owned - 25.0%

The old man continues, simply put, to do his job.  Logically, there is no reason why a 45-year old pitcher who tops out at 85 MPH, tops, should be 15-7 with a 3.78 ERA and 122 K.  Then again, there is no reason why any pitcher who is 15-7 with a 3.78 ERA and 122 K should be on the waiver wire in any league, but there he is in many leagues.  This week, Moyer faces the woeful Washington Nationals as the Phillies try to clinch a playoff spot.  They have leaned on Moyer all year long; why shouldn't you?

Joey Devine
Oakland A's - RP
Owned - 30.1%

Frankly, we don't know what the closer situation in Oakland is.  One day, Brad Ziegler is the closer, and the next day, he is setting up for Devine.  Of course, in the next save situation, Ziegler is back out there again.  What this means is, if you have the room, it couldn't hurt to start both Ziegler and Devine, because at least one of them is bound to pick up a save or two this week.  That is, of course, if Oakland wins.

Hank Blalock
Texas Rangers - 1B/3B
Owned: 31.7%

Blalock has become somewhat of a forgotten man, but this is a guy who was near the top of many fantasy 3B lists not too long ago.  Back problems have derailed his career, but after missing most of this year, he has come back with a vengeance.  In his last 50 at-bats, he has five HR and 12 RBI while hitting .360.  Looking much fresher after not going through the grind of a 162-game season, Blalock could give your lineup some extra punch as we head down the home stretch.

Dewayne Wise
Chicago White Sox - OF
Owned - 2.9%

Wise has stepped it up for a White Sox team desperate for some offense.  Wise has hit four homers in the last two weeks, driving in nine runs and scoring eight in the process.  He has also stolen a base, giving the Chisox some spark that it has lacked since Carlos Quentin went down for the season with a wrist injury.  Wise isn't actually this good, but that matters little in the final week of the season, when it is more important to ride the hot hand than to worry about career numbers.  Right now, you take his 12 extra-base hits in 104 ABs and you run with it.