OK so what is the deal on these kids? Looks like both are on their way to win a spot in the rotation to start the season.

Cueto against DET today (no Irod, Grandy):
4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO

His Spring ERA is not at 2.08. What kind of pitcher is he? His minor league numbers are impressive for his age especially his command. I've heard some grumblings about his workload but he's been great everywhere he's pitched. Is he this year's Gallardo as in not as much hyped but quietly put up great numbers?

As for Volquez, it seems like he finally got his control down in 07.

What type of stuff do these guys have and also any projections for them?

10 team, 5x5, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, CI, MI, OF, OF, OF, OF, OF, U, keep 6:

Pujols
Santana
BJ Upton
Granderson
Sabathia
Hamels
Kazmir
Phillips
Hart
Braun
Holliday
Rollins

Leaning towards Pujols, Santana, Upton, Braun, Holliday and Rollins but not sure with Pujols's injury. Do I bite the bullet and keep him or replace him with someone else?

Obviously it is impossible to predict a breakout season like Braun's 2007. However, it seems like more and more teams are aggressively advancing their youngsters to the big leagues. It also seems like the top consensus prospects like Delmon, Gordon, etc are not the ones that make the most immediate impact.

The top names I see going into the season are Rasmus, Bruce, Upton, Longoria, Maybin. Which of these youngsters (or anyone else) do you think will make the biggest impact in 2008 and why?

5x5 league, keep 6 players...

C-McCann
1B-Fielder
2B-Weeks
3B-Wright
SS-Lugo
CI-Pujols
MI-Phillips
OF-Hunter
OF-Holliday
OF-Taveras
OF-CBYoung
OF-Granderson
U-Upton
-------------
SP-Gregg
SP-Kazmir
SP-Lincecum
SP-Haren
RP-A.Reyes
RP-Nathan
P-Isringhausen
P-Soriano
B-Sheets
B-JSantana
B-Escobar
B-Ollie Perez

I am getting offered Bonds/Chipper/Zito for Wright/Escobar. Wright is the only keepable player here and I could certainly use more pop in my offense. Just not sure if I want to take on both Bonds and Chipper but I doubt I'll get a better offer from this guy. Thoughts?

Our keeperleague draft is this Saturday and I could use some good insight. 10 teams, H2H (5-8 starts per week), 5x5, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, OF, OF, OF, OF, OF, U, SP, SP, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P with 4 bench spots. We keep 6 and I have the #3 overall pick.

My keepers:
Pujols
Santana
Wright
Holliday
Sheets
Fielder

Best available (lots of pitchers):
McCann
Cano
Atkins
Furcal
Dye
Damon
Kazmir
Lackey
Smoltz
Felix
Bonderman
Matsuzaka
Cain
Haren
Myers
Young
Harden
Schilling
Krod
Nathan
Rivera
Wagner

I just counted 14 pitchers being kept that include Olsen and Sowers (rookie keepers) so we are looking at only 12 legitimate pitchers being kept. One closer is being kept, Ryan.

My initial thinking is to go pitching with either Nathan or Felix (although Harden is looking really good right now). I would like to get a good backup for Sheets, someone with a ridiculous upside. I don't think either will make it back to me as Nathan will be the first closer taken. Felix is young and his upside is high so I expect him to go with the first 15 picks.

Is my offense good enough that I can go with pitching right away? Or do I have too many corners and I should grab someone like Furcal or Damon who are very safe bets? Or McCann? OF is always a tough position to fill.

Thanks!

5x5, keep 6 players. I am leaning towards Sheets at the moment but I'd hate to throw back Kazmir. I have the 3rd overall pick at the draft so I may be able to get one back at the draft. My keepers:

Pujols
Santana
D.Wright
Holliday
Fielder

Which should I keep and would you try to get the other back at the draft?

Is Hamels a top 100 keeper? There were questions about his youth, inexperience, control, health, durability... Here are the hard numbers:

Minors:
36 GS, 1.43 ERA, 201 IP, 117 H, 3 HR, 74 BB, 276 K, 0.00 HR9, 3.31 BB9, 12.36 K9, 0.95 WHIP

Majors:
23 GS, 4.08 ERA, 132.1 IP, 117 H, 19 HR, 48 BB, 145 K, 1.29 HR9, 3.26 BB9, 9.86 K9, 1.25 WHIP

Facts: 22 yo rookie with limited minor league experience (only 6 G above A before joining MLB). Had numerous non pitching related injuries throughout his career which limited his experience and development. Made 31 starts in 06 starting at A ball and MLB.

Cain is on a tear since the AS break. Felix has been much better in the second half but still can't seem to string together good starts like Cain has. Their current results are very similar.

I know that Felix is 1 year ahead in development but at this stage of their career, which one do you like better?

Although I've seen a lot of posts re: young phenoms like Verlander, Liriano, Bonderman and other minor league prospects this season, I haven't seen a lot of talk about Scott Kazmir.

Here is a 22 yo hard throwing lefty on one of the worst teams in baseball.

League Rankings: 10th in VORP, 3rd in ERA and ERA+ behind only Santana and Halladay, 9th in PRC, 2nd in SO9 only behind Liriano.

He will most likely be shut down for the season due to his recent shoulder worries but what can we expect from 2007 and beyond?

Are you able to do an analysis on foreign players like Seung Yeop Lee and Daisuke Matsuzaka?

Both will most likely make their way over here in the next couple of years and I wanted to know if there is any way to project their future based on what they've done in Korea/Japan.

If not, then does anyone else do this type of analysis?

Thanks.