By Ryan Taylor
July 7, 2008 4:45pm CDT

How about this dilemma? You're in an NL-only keeper league and you are number one on the waiver list. C. C. Sabathia is coming over to the National League and is most likely the best player by far that will change over to the NL this season. What is the dilemma, you might ask? Well, you are in a keeper league and it is doubtful that Sabathia will re-sign with the Brewers after this season when he becomes a free agent. In fact, the Dodgers are possibly the only NL team in a position to make a play for the rotund left-hander. In other words, there is a good chance that Sabathia will be just a rental for the Brewers, as well as your fantasy team. If you are in the upper division of your league then you probably should go for it, but in the bottom half you may rather have a player that you know will be on your roster next season.

Now that I have that off my chest, let us see who is hot and who is cold.


Hot

National League

J.J. Hardy is coming off NL Player of the Week honors.

J.J. Hardy, SS, Brewers (.295-12-38-37-2) Maybe Hardy knew that C.C. Sabathia was coming and was so excited that he went and had possibly the best week of the season for any major leaguer. All Hardy did last week was go 18-for-30 (.600 average) with 11 extra-base hits, six home runs, 12 RBI, eight runs scored, and throw in a stolen base. Hardy had five straight games with at least two hits, including back-to-back four hit games on July 3rd and 4th. That is some explosive fireworks from the Brew Crew shortstop.

Brad Lidge, P, Phillies (2-0, 1.00 ERA, 49K, 1.06 WHIP with 19 SV in 36.0 IP) Lidge had a streak of nine straight appearances without giving up a run that was snapped Sunday, but he remains as one of the hottest relievers in the game. The Phillies have rewarded Lidge for his success by signing him to a three-year deal worth more than $12 million per year. The struggles that Lidge had in Houston are now far in the rearview mirror and a spot in the All-Star game is icing on the cake.

Cody Ross, CF, Marlins (.266-15-47-28-4) If not for J. J. Hardy, would be calling Ross the King Kong of the National League. Ross has a current 10-game hitting streak as well as a streak of four straight games with three hits. Last week Ross hit .500 and recorded two home runs, 15 RBI, and eight runs scored as the Marlins remain in the hunt for the National League East crown.

American League

Carl Crawford, LF, Rays (.290-8-47-62-23) Crawford continues to impress, as he ranks second in the American League in runs scored and sits in sixth place in stolen bases. This past week Crawford continued his strong season by hitting .435 with eight runs scored and a couple of stolen bases. Crawford especially loves hitting in Tropicana Field, as he has a .339 average there this season.

John Danks, P, White Sox (6-4, 2.52 ERA, 86 K, 1.17 WHIP in 107.0 IP) Danks was snubbed as an All-Star, but he has definitely been putting up All-Star numbers. The lefty has given up just four runs in his last five starts covering 32.1 innings. Currently Danks is third in the AL in ERA and 10th in WHIP. He is a big reason why the Pale Hose are leading the American League Central.

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers (.332-14-53-79-23) Add Kinsler to the list of Rangers having monster seasons in the Lone Star State. This past week Kinsler hit .458 with a home run, eight runs scored, and three stolen bases. Currently he is leading the American League in batting average and runs scored and he also ranks 10th in RBI, fifth in stolen bases, fourth in OPS, and sixth in slugging percentage. Like most Rangers, Kinsler has big home/road splits, but his .299 average and .898 OPS on the road is not too shabby.

Cold

National League

Brandon Backe, P, Astros (5-9, 5.22 ERA, 75 K, 1.59 WHIP in 101.2 IP) Backe has given up 11 earned runs in his last two starts and he has won just one time in his last seven outings. Righties and lefties are both hitting over .280 against Backe in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Backe will tease you with the occasional quality start, but with a career ERA of 4.77 and WHIP of 1.49, it appears that he lacks the consistency to be a good fantasy play.

Michael Bourn, CF, Astros (.218-4-15-38-31) Bourn ranks third in the National League in stolen bases, so if you own him it is not a complete disaster. This past week Bourn went through a 1-for-24 performance that included just one walk and no stolen bases. The old adage that you can't steal first base applies here.

Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers (.208-8-23-52-11) Weeks remains one of the biggest teases in baseball as he continues to struggle to put all that talent together. Last week, he hit .136 with six strikeouts and his batting average now hovers just barely above the Mendoza line. Weeks has the potential to be a 20/20 guy, but he is obviously a big hit to your batting average.

American League

Paul Byrd, P, Indians (3-10, 5.53 ERA, 39 K, 1.33 WHIP in 96.0 IP) Byrd has given up at least four runs in each of his last five starts for a total of 24 earned runs covering 25.1 innings. Left-handed batters are hitting .332 against Byrd this year and batters are hitting .308 on the road against him. Byrd has always been a pitch-to-contact pitcher, but at 37 years old he may not have the stuff left to get batters out.

Manny Ramirez, LF, Red Sox (.278-16-53-52-1) Manny was not being Manny this past week, as he hit .105 with just one RBI and nine strikeouts. The Red Sox have won just twice in their last nine games and with David Ortiz still out with a wrist injury, more of the offensive burden remains on Ramirez's large shoulders. Last week Manny fell far short of expectations for both the Red Sox and his fantasy owners.

Edgar Renteria, SS, Tigers (.254-5-32-38-2) Just when you thought that the Tigers were going to get back into the thick of the American League Central, they go and lose four in a row; though they broke that streak on Sunday. Renteria was not much help for the cause, as he went 1-for-26 with no RBI and just one run scored. Renteria is hitting only .237 against right-handers this season and just .208 on the road.