FanHouse JoseLopez

Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Johan Santana had never seen the Metrodome before the Twins took him from Single-A in the Rule 5 draft.

"When I first got there," Santana told FanHouse, "my first impression was, 'How can you play baseball in a place like this?'

"I came from Single-A and from Venezuela, and we don't have any of that stuff. ... I couldn't figure it out. How could this thing [the roof] be up in the air? And then it feels like you're in a bubble. And then you play baseball."

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

Ervin Santana went 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 214 strikeouts last season. The promising 26-year-old has yet to rekindle the success in 2009, though, due mostly to arm injuries. Still, we know the potential he possesses, which is why there's no reason to give up on him halfway through the season. Any sign of a turnaround is sure to give fantasy baseball owners hope.

Thursday night, we got a glimmer. Santana dominated the A's. He worked 8 innings and struck out 4, while only allowing 3 hits, 1 earned run and 2 walks -- garnering the win in the process.

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

There I am. Bottom of the 10th inning. Promenade section of Citi Field.

With my hands swollen from furious applause throughout the night and my legs bobbing to stay warm, Fernando Martinez laced a hit to right field. We came alive once more, while the old man sitting next to me grumbled: "Another friggin single? Pelfrey's the only one who drove somethin'."

Sixteen hits and pitcher Mike Pelfrey was the Met with pop.

The 26-year-old Rickie Weeks looked to be finally fulfilling the promise of his lofty draft spot (second pick overall in the 2003 draft). He was hitting .272 with 9 home runs, 24 RBI, 2 stolen bases and 28 runs. Now, what appeared to be his breakout campaign has been summarily dismantled on one swing. Weeks tore up his wrist on a swing Sunday and his season is over.

There's no rest for the weary in fantasy baseball, though. Weeks owners must lick their wounds and find a way to recover. A recovery should be possible, considering how little owners probably had to spend on Weeks in their auctions or drafts. The three options are as follows (make sure to check out number three).

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Starting Five is our wrapup of the previous day's baseball action, with a quick nod to what is ahead.

You Oughta Know ...
That the Cardinals haven't started out this hot in 65 years.

St. Louis is 17-7, its best 24-game record since 1944. That team went 105-49 and beat the crosstown Browns in the World Series.

These Cards have won nine of 11 and, with a rotation that's 14-2, already have a four-game lead in the NL Central.

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We just concluded our fantasy draft here at Fanhouse. I have to say that I like what I did here.

It's a 12-team, rotisserie mixed-league using standard 5X5 scoring categories and rosters that include two catchers, a first baseman, a second baseman, a shortstop, a third baseman, a corner infielder, a middle infielder, five outfielders, a utility hitter, nine pitchers and three bench players.

Here's the Extra Base Knox team:

Round 1(3) - Albert Pujols, Cardinals - Wright and Hanley Ramirez went with the first two picks. Pujols is the best remaining player so I went with him. I'll take his massive offense in four of the five categories and smile all the way.

Round 2(22) - Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners - I made a tough decision here between him and Justin Morneau. I love Ichiro's speed and great batting average. With such high batting averages from my first two picks, I should be able to grab a big home run hitter with a low average later in the draft if I choose.

Round 3(27) - Carl Crawford, Rays - I didn't go power, I went speed again. Crawford plus Ichiro will pretty much guarantee my team is near the top in stolen bases.

Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over.

Meet the...
Team who someone predicted would win the World Series last year. Seriously. When you stop laughing, you can check out the link (he's the top one listed -- though when you see his other atrocious picks you won't be surprised). Was I any better? Glad you asked. I actually took Mr. Downey to task before Opening Day. You can check the rest of my stuff if you wish, as there were some misses in there.

Anyway, it's safe to say expectations are a slight bit lower heading into '08.

Pablo Sandoval, Giants -- What do you call a 22-year-old kid who hits .345 in 145 major league at-bats with three home runs and 24 RBI, all while playing games at first base, third base and catcher? You call him anything he wants, and you thank him for his time and versatility.

That's right, MLB Power Rankings. You do know that that means, right? It means we're only a few short weeks/months (depends on you how you want to look at it, you pessimistic jerk) from starting the 2009 baseball season. Spring is nearly here, everyone has a bounce in their step and there's not an illegal, injectable steroid in sight!

So without further ado, let's get down to business and rank every single Major League Baseball team right freaking now. Because baseball can't wait any longer to get going.

Second base has been less surprising than first or the backstop positions this year, if only because, once again, Chase Utley has been playing the role of pace car. Don't forget that he probably would have won the MVP last year if he hadn't gotten beaned in the hand.

If Yunel Escobar's owner hasn't figured out how good he is yet, well, you need to hop on that. He's completely legit and has eligibility almost everywhere on the inside of the diamond. Howie Kendrick has started the season white hot, currently hitting above .450 for the season. Dude doesn't have a ton of power but he's long been thought of as a AVG monster, if only he could harness that upside.

Jose Lopez, though, has to be considered a tremendous surprise this early in the season, if you think about how he finished last year. Of course, then you can remember that he started out 2007 pretty hot too, and realize you should a) start him for now and b) sell high on him as soon as possible. His first half line for last year: .321/.415/.284 with eight homers, 12 doubles and 47 RBI. His second half line? Yeaaaaah: .238/.281/.213 with three homers, five doubles and 15 RBI. So, make sure and remember that.

Player	Team	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
Utley	PHI		HOU	HOU	HOU	NYM	NYM	NYM
Hill	TOR	at BAL	at BAL	TEX	TEX	DET	DET	DET
Roberts	BAL	TOR	TOR	CHW	CHW	NYY	NYY	NYY
Kendrick	LAA	at TEX	at TEX	KC	KC	SEA	SEA	SEA
Phillips	CIN		at CHC	at CHC	at CHC	MIL	MIL	MIL