Rotisserie By The Numbers: MLB

Aug 28, 2008 - 5:54 PM By Craig Rondinone PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

This is the time of the season when fantasy baseball owners need unlikely heroes to help them win their leagues. It could be that light-hitting singles slapper who goes on a home run tear, or that pitcher with a 6.00 ERA who surprisingly wins both of his starts during a two-start week.

So who have been the heroes of the last couple weeks? Here is a look at the Superman, Batman and Spider-Man of fantasy baseball.

Barry Zito, Giants: The $100 million bust is trying his darndest to salvage his season. While it might be too little, too late for that, Zito has put together a couple decent starts during these crucial weeks for the fantasy owners out there dumb enough to still have him on their rosters. In a short two-start stretch against Atlanta and San Diego, Zito won both games and only allowed three runs in 15 innings. Granted, the Braves and Padres do not exactly have "Murderer's Row" lineups, but wins are wins no matter who they come against.

Brian Schneider, Mets: Schneider is known for his defense, his handling of pitchers and his veteran presence behind the plate. He is not known for hitting like Mike Piazza. Yet after hitting only two home runs in the first four months of the season, Schneider has broken out the power stroke and slammed four homers in the past two weeks alone. Do not expect the Johnny Bench routine to last much longer, however, especially with Ramon Castro getting his fair share of at-bats to impede Schneider's fantasy progress.

Joel Hanrahan, Nationals: This hombre is nastier than Joe Pesci in any mobster movie. He has been striking out hitters left and right (81 strikeouts in 75 innings) and saving games here and there (six saves in August since being named closer). The great thing about Hanrahan and another new closer, Oakland's Brad Ziegler, is that these guys regularly enter games in the eighth inning and get one-plus and even two-inning saves. Every inning and strikeout counts this late in the fantasy season, so the extra work is much appreciated by fantasy owners.

FANTASY HOME RUNS AND STRIKEOUTS:

The Home Runs:

Roy Oswalt, Astros: It only took two-thirds of the season for Oswalt to convince fantasy owners he still has a little life left in his arm. The velocity is back on his fastball and the break is back on his curve. Oswalt is 4-1 with a 1.94 ERA over his past five starts.

Kelly Shoppach, Indians: Not sure why Victor Martinez is bothering with his rehab assignment in the minors. Cleveland is doing just fine behind the plate with Shoppach. The backstop has shown surprising pop with 17 homers on the year.

Melvin Mora, Orioles: Here is the biggest surprise of the second half of the season. Mora hit a paltry .233 before the All-Star break and was probably dumped in most fantasy leagues because of it. But look at his stats now. Thanks to hitting a Ted Williams-like .411 since the break, Mora now stands with 23 homers, 97 runs and a .283 batting average. No one could have predicted this turnaround.

The Strikeouts:

Alex Gordon, Royals: The next coming of George Brett looks like he is years away from becoming a .300 hitter, let alone somebody who could fool around with .400. His sophomore slump would not be so bad if his freshman season was any good, but Gordon barely showed any improvement from year-to-year, and now he is likely out for the remainder of 2008 with a torn quadriceps muscle. Gordon is almost as young as a Chinese gymnast, though, so do not give up on him yet. He could still blossom and have a Brett-like career.

Shawn Marcum, Blue Jays: I know Marcum struggled since coming off the disabled list, but he had a three-start run of pretty good outings before one last disastrous one earned him a trip to the minors. Toronto says Marcum has to work out kinks in his mechanics. I say the Blue Jays need to work out one huge kink in their front office and dump general manager J.P. Ricciardi.

Joe Saunders, Angels: Hitters are locking in on Saunders' junk and demolishing it. The southpaw has baffled batters with his wide array of slow and slower stuff for most of the season, but lately his pitches have floated and looked bloated. Saunders has an 11.56 ERA over his last three starts and may need some extra rest to prep him for the playoffs.

ROT WATER COOLER - Three things being talked about more than the Democratic convention:

MLB using instant replay: Home runs are now subject to instant replay. Umpires can use it to see if balls are fair or foul, and if balls went over the wall or were interfered with by fans. This means Tony LaRussa will not be the only person holding up games anymore.

The Boston Red Sox trading for Mark Kotsay: Brian Giles snubbed the Sox, but Kotsay is a decent backup plan. Fantasy-wise Kotsay is not worth much anymore because he does not homer (six), steal (two) and or drive in many runs (37 RBI), but any hitter that moves to Boston gets an immediate fantasy boost because of Fenway Park and the Red Sox lineup.

B.J. Upton's lack of hustle: Upton needs to go to baserunning school, and not only because he has yet to master the art of running out a ground ball. He also leads the league in times caught stealing with 14. Put this together with his eight homers and his .265 average and you can see why the eldest Upton is considered one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy baseball in 2008.

For more information on Craig and his columns, visit publishedauthors.net/craigrondinone and suite101.com.