The DL slot in many fantasy leagues is one of the most misused and misunderstood positions on fantasy baseball teams. For most people, it’s believed to be where the hopes and dreams of their teams like Mike Morse, Chris B. Young (or if you like your KFC version, it’s Krispie Young) and Jacoby Ellsbury go to die while you go stick your head in the proverbial oven…or the literal oven, depending on how much you’re into this game. For others, they see it for what it could and should always be used for: an empty bench spot. To put it in literary canonical terms, it’s not just there for Paradise Lost, it’s also there for Paradise Regained (PS, I was an English major in college. PSS, I didn’t read either, that is what Cliff’s Notes is for. PSSS, now don’t tell me how bad my grammar is as I only read Chaucer, I didn’t write it. PSSSS, don’t get an English degree, you won’t use it unless you plan on teaching or being homeless.). Not only can you sock away one of your already owned injured players here, you can also put your imagination to the test when your team is healthy and use the spot or spots for a big dive into the ‘what if?’ pool. Don’t get too wrapped up on the concept that the player may or may not come back successfully. That is not the point. The point is you don’t know what your team is going to look like in a week, a month or two months which means you don’t know if some guy that is on the DL could make an impact for your team when they come back. With that, let’s get started on the first batch of players that are less than 50% owned in ESPN, Yahoo and Fleaflicker leagues:
Lorenzo Cain (ESPN 5.9%/Yahoo 15%/Fleaflicker 29%): March Grey told you to buy him and now whenever this gets posted ONC is telling you to stash him if you can. He was recently sent to rehab which is worrisome. I didn’t think he was friends with Josh Hamilton *re-reads news blurb* Ah, he’s been sent on his rehab assignment to double-AA as of April 22nd and there is hope he’ll be back within a week. If your DL spot is lonely, give it a little Sugar!
Mike Carp (ESPN 1.7%/Yahoo 13%/Fleaflicker 16%): It’s hard to tell which Carp is going to show up at your door. Will it be the one pan-seared in butter with rosemary and thyme that gave us a .322 average and 8 homers from July through August of 2011 or will he be the September Carp that your cat found in your neighbor’s trash can and drop a .230 average on you while still hitting 4 bombs? And was that first analogy delicious or what? The power is real, the average should be about .270’ish and he should be back as soon as he demonstrates he can play something other than DH. Go Fish!
Freddy Sanchez (ESPN 0.4%/Yahoo 2%/Fleaflicker 2%): This one may be more of a deep league or NL-Only call, but all I can say is he can hit .300 while providing a decent amount of runs with little to no power nor speed. Wanna know who that reminds me of? Daniel Murphy, the guy who’s hitting .321 who has scored 5 runs and has a 0/0 in the homerun and stolen base department through 14 games and is owned at a 92.6% clip over at ESPN. You say poh-tay-toe I say tubers because I like being difficult. He is set to begin his rehab assignment on April 23rd. If you’re in need, there are worse things you can do to your middle infield than give it a Freddy Sanchez.
