Pick up Carl Crawford and AJ Pollock to boost your stolen bases
By Mike Marteny
Over the next ten days, we will be taking a look at players that can help you in each individual category for those of you that play in roto or H2H category leagues. This installment will focus on the players that can help you in stolen bases.
I will provide three players for each position. One for standard leagues, one for moderate leagues, and one for deep leagues.
Keep in mind that a lot of these players will be one category wonders. Only you can decide what is truly the right fit for your team. This is merely a place to get started.
For players that can help in batting average, go here. For runs, go here. For home runs, go here. And for RBI, go here.
May 20, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Oakland Athletics catcher Derek Norris (36) in the dugout before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Catchers:
Standard:
Devin Mesoraco, Reds: Let’s face it: there is not much for stolen base help at the catcher position. Mesoraco does have one in 61 at bats this season, so that makes him one of the better ones!
Moderate:
Derek Norris, Athletics: Norris is tied for the league lead among catchers with two stolen bases on the season. However, he has both of them in the last two weeks, so that puts him on a slightly better pace than the field.
Deep:
Yasmani Grandal, Padres: Grandal does have two steals in 98 at bats. The bad news? He is hitting .204.
Apr 22, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; San Diego Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso (23) celebrates after scoring a run during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
First Basemen:
Standard:
James Loney, Rays: This is another position where speed is scarce. Loney’s lone steal in the last two weeks makes him one of the few that actually have one…..
Moderate:
Kelly Johnson, Yankees: He is eligible at every position except catcher. His two steals on the season make him one of the few and the proud first basemen that have more than zero or one.
Deep:
Yonder Alonso, Padres: He is tied with Paul Goldschmidt and Brandon Belt for the lead in steals at first base. All of them have three. Goldy is universally owned, and Belt is on the DL, so Alonso is the recommended one!
May 18, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) follows through after hitting for a three-run double during the third inning against the Atlanta Braves at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Second Basemen:
Standard:
Emilio Bonifacio, Cubs: Bonifacio has issues at the plate, but he is a terror on the basepaths. He is the only player not 100 percent owned at second base that has double-digit steals (11).
Moderate:
Kolten Wong, Cardinals: His second go-round in the majors is going much better, thank you. Wong has a hit in every game since being recalled, and has stolen two bases in that span as well. He is still a highly regarded prospect. It wouldn’t hurt to go pick him up.
Deep:
Danny Espinosa, Nationals: Espinosa has also gone cold from the plate, which has stunted his potential for stolen bases. It is still there though. He has four of them since Ryan Zimmerman landed on the DL, and could keep producing them until his cold bat gets him benched or demoted…….or both.
May 18, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings (16) looks on against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks won 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Shortstops:
Standard:
Alcides Escobar, Royals: Escobar has the green light all game in KC. That makes him able to put up gaudy stolen base numbers, like seven in the last two weeks.
Moderate:
Chris Owings, Diamondbacks: Owings seems to have hit himself into a starting role. He had a multi-steal game earlier this week, and has shown decent speed throughout the year by swiping six bags. His average is on the rise, so maybe more chances on base will yield more stolen bases.
Deep:
Pedro Ciriaco, Royals: Ciriaco has seen pretty consistent playing time with Omar Infante on the disabled list. He has stolen two bags in his last three games. This production likely will last only as long as Infante is out, but he could help you out in the short term.
May 18, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager (15) fields a ground ball at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Third Basemen:
Standard:
Kyle Seager, Mariners: This is another position not typically associated with speed. Both of Seager’s stolen bases on the season have come in in the last month. Yes, that might be the best you can do.
Moderate:
Mike Aviles, Indians: Aviles is tied for the league lead in stolen bases among third basemen. Although he doesn’t play much third, he is still eligible there for fantasy purposes. He has four on the season, so that gives you an idea of what you are up against trying to get steals from the hot corner.
Deep:
Brock Holt, Red Sox: He has two steals and 33 at bats. For now he seems to be starting at third base in Boston, so he could be a sneaky play for those looking for some extra speed.
Apr 12, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) catches a fly ball in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins won 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Outfielders:
Standard:
Carl Crawford, Dodgers: Crawford has three steals in his last three games to bring his season total to eight. Crawford has been red hot lately. The steals are just the icing on the cake!
A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks: Pollock leads all outfielders with six steals in the last two weeks. His injury woes seem to be behind him, and he has an everyday job in the D’Back outfield. He should be owned in far more leagues than he is.
Moderate:
Eric Young Jr, Mets: Young’s speed and basestealing prowess has never been in question. It is his recent struggles at the plate that could see his at-bats dwindle. Those of us in need of speed hope not because he has four steals in the last ten games.
Drew Stubbs, Rockies: The Colorado outfield is super crowded right now. That said, how do you bench a guy that is hitting .412 with four steals over the last two weeks? Let’s hope Colorado keeps playing him!
Deep:
Lorenzo Cain, Royals: Cain has been productive since coming off of the disabled list on May 8th. Now he is starting to run again. He has three stolen bases in the last five games. He is one of the best kept secrets in fantasy right now.
Denard Span, Nationals: Span has stolen two bases in the last week. If that trend keeps up, he will be worth adding, even though he won’t really contribute anywhere else.
Come back tomorrow as we start the pitching categories!
If you would like to have any non-standard categories covered, just leave a comment and I will get to those after the standard 5×5 ones are done.
Deep: