Eight players off to fast starts in 2008 who aren't likely to keep up their pace:
SELL
Ryan Ludwick, OF, Cardinals
Even the most optimistic Cardinals fan wouldn’t have penciled him in for 13 homers, 39 RBI, a .327 batting average and a ridiculous 1.110 OPS in late May. He torn it up in May – a .342 average with nine homers and 25 RBI – and he was productive in 303 at-bats with St. Louis last season (14 homers and 52 RBI). Still, he had never batted better than .267 prior to this season, and don’t be shocked if he finishes the season in that range. Ludwick is a decent starting option, but now might be a good time to trade him while his value is inflated.
David Murphy, OF, Rangers
He’s batting .288 with six homers and 36 RBI as a rookie, and he has 30 RBI since April 24, making him a popular addition on the waiver wire and to starting lineups. A stat to remember: His minor-league power numbers from 2005-07 weren’t impressive (a combined 34 homers and 191 RBI). He should be an every-week starter – in 2009 or 2010.
Milton Bradley, OF, Rangers
Texas has joined Pittsburgh in the 2008 Who Would’ve Thunk It? Outfield Competition. The difference: The Rangers have a pair that can’t be expected to drive in 100 runs – especially Bradley, who has played in more than 101 games only once in his first eight seasons. He’s batting a robust .327 with eight homers, 31 RBI and 30 runs this year, but he always hits. He’s also always hurt (2005 was his only season with more than 377 at-bats). Keep him in your lineup in deeper leagues, but make sure his future replacement is on your roster.
Aubrey Huff, 1B, Orioles
Remember him? This former fantasy stud (a combined 85 home runs and 303 RBI with Tampa Bay from 2003-05) has eight homers and 29 RBI in his first 197 at-bats. He’s worth a roster spot, but I wouldn’t start him. Huff’s season has taken a turn for the worse in May – a .230 average with just three homers and 10 RBI.
Emil Brown, OF, Athletics
Another Mr. April who has made owners wish they would’ve started him a month earlier. After driving in 25 runs in March and April, Brown enters the weekend batting .250 with two homers and 12 RBI in May. For the season, he has a dismal .288 on-base percentage and is slugging at a weak .397 clip. I would anticipate his numbers eventually resembling his averages from the previous three seasons in Kansas City -- .279, 13 homers, 76 RBI. That’s OK for a reserve, not a starter.
Troy Glaus, 3B, Cardinals
Once one of fantasy’s best-slugging third basemen (a combined 75 home runs and 201 RBI in 2005-06), Glaus is on pace to drive in 90-plus runs. The problem: His power numbers have vanished. He has one homer in May and two for the season. He’s never been a huge average guy (.254 for his career; .261 this season), so if he’s not hitting homers, he shouldn’t be in your lineup.
Conor Jackson, 1B, Diamondbacks
Like the majority of this list, he was awesome in the first month (five homers and 22 RBI) and pretty mediocre in this one (.256 with one homer and 10 RBI in May). He will hit for a decent average (Jackson batted a combined .288 the previous two seasons), but he’s never had more than 15 home runs. You need more than that from your starting first baseman.
Mark Reynolds, 3B, Diamondbacks
He was productive as a rookie last season (.279 with 17 homers and 62 RBI), and he was very good at the start of this one (five homers in his first eight games). But he has gone deep only four times in 41 games since, and he’s struck out a Ryan Howard-like 63 times in 179 at-bats. His nine home runs and 30 RBI look good on paper, but Chad Tracy’s recent return from injury should cut into his playing time, and his .235 average should keep him out of your lineup.
On Page 1, players who should keep up their pace.
