Buy Low/Sell High - June 10th (Markakis/Berkman)

Buy Low: Nick Markakis

Key Stats:

G	AB	R		H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
61	230	32		66	14	0	10	29	8	3	38	55	0.287
BABIP			P/PA			BB/SO		GB/FB		HR/FB
0.265			3.82			4.11		1.688		20.83%

Nick is one of those young players that can really help your team. He’s a 5 tool player who is only getting better as time goes on. He has improved his P/PA each year and has gone from a BB/SO ratio of 3 last year to the current 4.11. In 2006 his GB/FB ratio was 2.18 so he’s hitting more FB which we all know leads to more doubles and HR. Finally he has brought his HR/FB% up to 21% which is good for a young hitter. I love this hitter and he should definitely be targeted in all keeper leagues. On top of this he is known as a slow starter so with him performing like this already, it could end up being a breakout year for him.

Markakis, Nick RF BAL for Fuentes, Brian RP COL

Markakis, Nick RF BAL for Volquez, Edinson SP CIN

Markakis, Nick RF BAL for Cuddyer, Michael RF MIN and Pierzynski, A.J. C CHW

Sell High: Lance Berkman

Key Stats: 

G	AB	R		H	2B	3B		HR	RBI		SB	CS	BB		SO	BA	OBP	SLG
63	231	60		86	23	2		18	51		10	1	36		33	0.372	0.458	0.723
BABIP			P/PA				BB/SO			GB/FB				HR/FB
0.337			3.65				2.64			1.162				24.32%

Lance has been probably the best all around fantasy player this year so far. I say sell him now and get the kings ransom. His HR/FB has actually decreased from 32% in 2006 to 24% now. His BABIP is the highest it has been in 3 years (versus .253 and .276 in 2007 and 2006 respectively) He’s also seeing the lowest amount of pitches per plate appearance. But whatever is in the zone he’s swinging at. Last year he walked 1.76 times for every strikeout and in 2006 it was 1.73. Combine this is the decreased P/PA and it means every single pitch in the zone he is swinging at. Eventually his luck will run out. He may end up hurting me short term but long term you can set yourself up for a championship.

Also after being so scorching hot with HR, he has hit only 1 in the last 7 days giving him 4 RBI’s in a week.

Berkman, Lance 1B HOU for Santana, Johan SP NYM

Berkman, Lance 1B HOU Miguel Cabrera 3B DET
Hawpe, Brad RF COL Ryan Howard 1B PHI
Shields, James SP TB for

Berkman, Lance 1B HOU Nathan, Joe RP MIN
Molina, Bengie C SF for Rodriguez, Alex 3B NYY