Ride The WAVE - AL Central Outfielders

AVG/OBP/SLG, followed by AVG/Runs/HR/RBI/SB:

CHW: Carlos Quentin - .254/.336/.423

• A trade to Chicago should open the door for more playing time in 2008. He's better than he's shown thus far in his brief MLB career, and should start to put things together this season. WAVE projects .254/66/15/78/5 in 508 AB.

CHW: Nick Swisher - .269/.390/.499

• Swisher was also acquired in an off-season trade, this time with the A's. He goes from a pitchers park to a hitters park in his age 27 season, making him a fine sleeper for 2008 after a down 2007. WAVE: .269/98/29/93/1 in 551 AB.

CHW: Jermaine Dye - .272/.336/.520

• Dye shouldn't ever approach his MVP numbers of '06 again, but he's better than he showed last season. WAVE is projecting .272/77/32/89/5 in 519 AB.

CLE: Grady Sizemore - .283/.378/.487

• A potential 30/30 man, and only 25 years old. 'Nuff said. WAVE likes Sizemore for a .283/120/25/78/28 line in 637 AB.

CLE: Franklin Gutierrez - .260/.309/.462

• It appears as though Gutierrez will be given a shot to play right field every day in 2008. He has power and speed, but lacks plate discipline, and isn't likely to hit for a high AVG. WAVE sees him going .260/71/19/57/12 in 431 AB.

CLE: Jason Michaels - .267/.332/.388

• Michaels and Dellucci are likely to split time in LF, and eat up any other leftover AB in the outfield and at DH. For some reason there was a lot of hype over Michaels as a sleeper a few years ago. I'm as confused now as I was then. WAVE: .267/51/7/40/4 in 322 AB.

CLE: David Dellucci - .240/.326/.441

• Dellucci missed much of '07 while recuperating from surgery to repair a torn hamstring. He's healthy, and should log more AB in '08 as part of an OF platoon in CLE. WAVE is projecting .240/54/14/41/3 in 329 AB.

DET: Curtis Granderson - .314/.381/.576

• Granderson became the third player in MLB history to record 20 homers, 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 stolen bases in a season in 2007. He's a legitimate 5 category fantasy player, entering his age 27 season, hitting atop one of the most potent lineups in the Majors. WAVE: .314/125/26/83/22 in 609 AB.

DET: Magglio Ordonez - .316/.384/.524

• Mags won't come anywhere near his '07 AVG of .363, but he's shown to be quite capable of batting .315 or so in the past. RBI opportunities will continue to be plenty on the AL Central favourite Detroit Tigers. WAVE projects .316/102/25/124/3 in 580 AB.

DET: Jacque Jones - .273/.328/.434

• Jones is likely to share time in the OF with Marcus Thames, but the fact that he is only one year removed from a .285 AVG, 27 HR, 81 RBI campaign, and plays for Detroit, makes him a bit of a sleeper. If he regains his old form, and secures regular playing time, runs and RBI should be plentiful. As is, WAVE pegs him at .273/55/13/63/7 in 436 AB.

DET: Marcus Thames - .244/.299/.520

• Thames should get enough AB to accrue value in AL only leagues, with the potential to blast 20 home runs on the cheap. WAVE: .244/37/18/47/1 in 250 AB.

KC: David DeJesus - .278/.360/.411

• DeJesus is already 28 and he plays for the Royals. He's shown that he's adept at only one thing in his 4 year MLB career - scoring runs. Despite all this, every year the man makes multiple sleeper lists. If you're looking for a player who will help you in 1 of 5 rotisserie categories, and display mediocrity elsewhere, DeJesus is your man. Let someone else bid too much for the perennial fantasy dissapointment. WAVE is projecting .278/99/9/63/9 in 598 AB.

KC: Mark Teahen - .282/.348/.432

• When Joe Randa left KC after the 2004 season in order to let then third basemen Mark Teahen take over the position, I remember reading a quote that I whole-heartedly agreed with. Unfortunately I can't find it to attribute it to the proper author, but it went a little something like this: "I don't know why people are so excited about 'prospect' Mark Teahen. He looks to me to be, at best, as good as the man he is replacing: Joe Randa." There was nothing in Teahen's scouting report, nor his Minor League numbers, to suggest anything different. Yet when he blasted 18 HR in 393 AB in 2006, he instantly became everyone's favourite sleeper, when really, it should have been ovbious it was a fluke (Teahen never hit more than 8 HR in the Minors). Teahen hit 7 HR in 544 AB in '07, which is more in line with what should be expected going forward. Long story short: don't be the guy that bids like the '06 numbers are coming back. WAVE: .282/80/11/68/12 in 539 AB.

KC: Jose Guillen - .288/.349/.473

• So long as Guillen stays healthy, he'll continue to be productive at the plate. WAVE projects .288/80/23/91/3 in 556 AB.

MIN: Michael Cuddyer - .278/.356/.448

• Cuddyer regressed in '07 after his fine breakout in '06. When in the Minors, it was thought that he would be a slugger, so maybe a few more 20+ HR seasons are in store. WAVE likes him to bat .278/88/18/83/5 in 547 AB.

MIN: Delmon Young - .324/.351/.472

• Young should build on his near ROY campaign, and within a few years, be one of the best sluggers in the AL. WAVE is projecting .324/72/17/99/12 in 636 AB.

MIN: Jason Kubel - .288/.347/.473

• Kubel will likely spend much of the year as the DH, but qualifies in the outfield with 84 games played there in '07. Had a big second half last year, batting .303 after the break compared to .250 before. He should be able to carry that success into 2008. WAVE: .288/70/20/90/6 in 562 AB.

MIN: Carlos Gomez - .242/.303/.352

• Gomez isn't likely to be an asset in any category but steals for his first full MLB season. He's expected to add power to his 6'4" frame, and could reasonably be a five category player in his prime. WAVE has him at .242/50/8/44/40 in 454 AB.