Spring Stockwatch: Week 2

Every Monday we'll take a look at the Fantasy Baseball gainers and decliners in our Fantasy Stockwatch.

Although it's only the second week of spring training, it is also getting close to the make-or-break time for opening day -- especially with regard to pitchers. Watch the news very closely, because players who have been idle are starting to get going (Randy Johnson, Scott Kazmir and Francisco Liriano) and players who have been playing are starting to show whether or not they are ready to help us in Fantasy leagues (Evan Longoria, Carlos Marmol and Chase Headley).

	Albert Pujols, 1B, STL This is a difficult one to swallow, because Pujols is having himself a strong spring to date, hitting .450 with a baseball-leading three homers. We downgrade him because the team doctor came out and said the slugger has a tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, which won't repair itself without surgery. Ouch. Pujols will treat it and play with it until he blows it out completely. We like his ability to perform on the level of anyone in the first half, but it will be hard to trust him down the stretch in Head-to-Head leagues. He could shut it down and cost you dearly in Fantasy crunch time.
	Francisco Liriano, SP, MIN Liriano made it through his first start with rave reviews. The true challenge comes when he pushes it past 60-80 pitches this spring, but so far, so good for the potentially elite left-hander. He is being drafted 31st among pitchers in our Draft Averages for mixed Rotisserie leagues, 22nd among starting pitchers. He is also 22nd among starting pitchers in Head-to-Head formats. This is an arm capable of being in the top 10, easily, if he proves healthy this season.
	Brandon McCarthy, SP, TEX A sore elbow will keep McCarthy from being ready for the start of the season, so the curse of the DVD boys continues. McCarthy was the key piece of the John Danks trade a year ago and after failing to live up to expectations, he will likely start the year on the DL this April. McCarthy had solid potential, but even when he gets healthy, we don't give the Rangers much of a chance to make him a .500 pitcher.
	Kevin Correia, SP, SF Correia came into spring training competing for the No. 5 starter's spot after having a great stretch run in the rotation last season. He went 3-1 with a 2.54 in eight starts in August and September. Now, amid a solid spring, he is a virtual lock to be the Giants' No. 4 starter. He is a sleeper in deeper NL-only formats at this point.
	Noah Lowry, SP, SF As if the nine walks in 12 batters last week wasn't enough, the Giants lefty will open the season on the DL with a wrist problem. First it was his elbow last September and now his wrist this spring. Lowry wasn't a good candidate to repeat his 14-8 record of a year ago -- because that is a weak Giants team outside of front-line pitching -- but Lowry's recent news led us to downgrade his projections by a good chunk.
	Chase Headley, LF, SD Headley didn't need to have a great spring to win the job in left for the power-needy Padres. He also didn't need another injury to Jim Edmonds to get him a closer look. Well, both has happened inside 10 games. Headley has two homers, a team-high eight RBI, a .471 average and a 1.059 SLUG. Those are slow-pitch softball numbers. Headley is a sleeper for NL Rookie of the Year honors and a must-have in deeper leagues for his potential to make a splash.
	Andy LaRoche, 3B, LAD LaRoche has 30-homer power potential and could have been an NL Rookie of the Year candidate, but surgery on his torn finger ligament will have him out for the first month or two. He came into spring training on equal footing with Nomar Garciaparra for the starting third base job. It is likely he will get a lengthy rehab assignment, or a designation to the minors once healthy now, too. Consider him a sleeper to make an impact in the second half in deeper leagues.
	George Sherrill, CL, BAL He hasn't been officially named the closer, but yours truly says it won't be news when he is. He has the look of a closer, warms up like his pants are on fire and enters games to the sound of '80s rock cranking on the PA in spring training. You shouldn't target closers on bad teams, but there are far worse options if you are desperate in deeper leagues.
	Josh Beckett, SP, BOS As if you needed a reason to avoid picking Beckett in the first round of your Fantasy draft this spring, he's made it easier on you by looking a little chunky and then having back spasms. The latter could be related to the former. We will keep him among our top five aces, but you should be warned about postseason workhorses the year following a championship. Last year, Chris Carpenter only made one start. That extra month of pitching can affect you.
	B.J. Ryan, RP, TOR We have said often this spring that Ryan is rushing things, and his doctors agreed, but he is still slated to get on the mound this weekend. With a few healthy outings, he could be ready for the start of the season and might even be a candidate to close out of the gate. You have to expect some setbacks, especially on the timetable he is pushing, but if you can still steal Ryan in the latter rounds, you'll be doing yourself a huge favor on Draft Day.

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