Should you Drop Matt Kemp in standard leagues?

May 23, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn (44) reacts after hitting a two run game winning home run. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

We are now two months into the baseball season.  We are roughly a third of the way home.  There are some stars who are struggling, and some better performers sitting out on waivers in your standard league wire.  You are in the middle of the pack, and have an itchy trigger finger.  I get it.  We have all been there.  Some of us revisit that place every season.

Just like you can’t go on autopilot if you have a lead, you have to continue to be dilligent if you are in the middle or back of the pack as well.  You have to work the wire to win the league.

But who do you drop?  Nobody wants to be the one that drops a guy that goes on a hot streak.  But at the same time, you can’t afford to just sit there and waste away in the middle of the pack.  You need to do something.  If you can’t find a suitable trade partner, you will have to work the wire for what you need.

I get it that you form a bond with the players that you picked, but fantasy is no place for feelings of nostalgia and loyalty.  Just because Adam Dunn helped you win a league title a few years ago does not mean you have to keep rolling with him.

Here are some players that can be dropped in standard leagues.  If your league has more than three bench slots, feel free to hang on to these guys.  But in standard leagues, bench slots are usually too important to use on slumping players.  The players listed here are owned in 75 percent or more of ESPN leagues.

Apr 30, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies catcher Wilin Rosario against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Catchers:

Brian McCann, Yankees: I understand that it is hard to give up on a left-handed hitter with power in Yankee Stadium.  That’s like Hershey’s deciding to quit making chocolate and focus on health food.  It just sounds like a horrible idea.  That said, Yankee Stadium has not boosted McCann’s power much.  And the fact remains that he is still hitting  just .230 on the season.  Those numbers are solid for deeper leagues, but for standard leagues, you can often do better unless several teams are carrying two catchers.  Which seems unlikely with only three bench slots.

Miguel Montero, Diamondbacks: Montero has gone cold again, which means your heart should unto him.  He is hitting just .194 with three RBI in the last two weeks.  He is worth picking up again if he gets hot.  If not, having a revolving door at catcher in a standard league is not the worst thing in the world.

Wilin Rosario, Rockies: Rosario has had a disappointing season to say the least.  He is hitting just .225 on the season, and .189 over the last two weeks.  He does have five home runs, but there are a dozen players with at least that many eligible at the catcher position.  Out of those players, only Yasmani Grandal and Carlos Santana have a lower average.

Try instead:

A.J. Pierzynski, Red Sox: The 37 year old Pierzynski is on quite a tear lately.  He has a hit in 11 of his last 13 games, with multi hit efforts in six of those.  He has raised his season average to .283 to go with his four homers and 27 RBI.

Brayan Pena, Reds: Pena has filled in admirably for Joey Votto at first base.  He has ten hits in his last 12 games, putting his season average at .290 with three home runs.  His value is likely limited until Votto returns, but if he keeps hitting, the Reds might have to get creative to keep his bat in the lineup.

Wilson Ramos, Nationals: Ramos missed all of April and the first week of May, and was not very effective when he first came back.  Ramos has heated up lately, tallying a hit in seven of his last eight games.  He average is slowly creeping upward, and as we saw last year, he has some pop.  He hit 16 homers in just 78 games.

May 31, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon (19) rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Outfielders:

Matt Kemp, Dodgers: I’m going to catch hell for this one, and that’s okay.  I have reasons for putting him here.  Kemp is just 4-29 since Carl Crawford landed on the disabled list, and was recently demoted to the fourth outfielder slot before Crawford got hurt.  If Kemp had set the world afire with Crawford out, he likely would have stayed in the starting lineup.  But with his poor 4-29 showing, it is likely that he won’t start more than three games a week.  That makes him droppable.  Let’s take the stats for what they really are.  A .243 hitter with five homers and 15 RBI who is in a part-time role should not be rostered in a standard league.

Starling Marte, Pirates: It is hard for me to do this because I’ve been a Marte fan, but he is in a dreadful slump and is showing no signs of coming out of it.  Marte is just 6-44 since May 22nd, dragging his season average down to .237.  Gregory Polanco will be up soon, and he will need some place to play.  With the hot hitting of Josh Harrison, it doesn’t seem likely that the offensively starved Pirates will bench him.  That leaves Jose Tabata and Marte to fight for at-bats.  I could be wrong here, but if Marte continues to struggle until Polanco comes up, there is a strong chance he will lose playing time.

Charlie Blackmon, Rockies: It was bound to come to an end sometime.  Blackmon has just one home run since May 11th, and is hitting a dismal .184 over the last 15 games.  With all of the hot hitters in the Rockies outfield, it won’t be long until Blackmon’s slump costs him at bats.  His numbers on the season are still very good, so if you can find a taker, trade him instead.

Austin Jackson, Tigers: Jackson is struggling again this year with a .240 average and only three home runs.  He is hitting just .160 over the last two weeks.  Jackson has struggled since his breakout 2012 season.  After a year and a third, this seems to be the rule rather than the exception.  He is an average outfielder fantasy-wise, and is no longer worth hanging on to in standard leagues.

Jun 3, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn (24) knocks in two runs with a double in the seventh inning. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Try instead:

Michael Bourn, Indians: He started slow, but Bourn is shredding opponents with hits in 21 of his last 24 games since missing a week with a bum hamstring.  His season average is now up to .299, and he is starting to run a little more.  He is safe to pick back up in all leagues if he was droppped.  At least until the next injury strikes.

Ben Revere, Phillies: This is what Philly Phanatics were waiting for from Revere.  He is hitting .339 with three steals and his first major league home run over the last two weeks.  Ride him until he cools off!

Lorenzo Cain, Royals: Cain has been on fire over the last week, hitting .480 with a homer, a steal and seven RBI in that span.  Cain is still getting regular days off in an attempt to keep him healthy so he may sit more than most starters, but when he plays, he has been money.

Come back tomorrow for the corner infielders!