ESPN SportsNation Fantasy Sports' AJ Mass

AJ Mass

Good morning gang! Second cup of coffee and that gold ball in hand... so let's get right to sixty minutes of fantasy chattage. It's rankings day! Who is up first?

Dave (Pa)

Trade Longoria for Trout in a keeper league?

AJ Mass

Although the sample size is small, Trout is not likely to plunge off a cliff. If you have even the remotest chance at winning this season, you make the deal without hesitation and worry about the future when it gets here.

Wayne (MD)

What are your thoughts on Ellsbury ROS? I just snaked him for cheap

AJ Mass

I like him to be in the top 100. Obviously the precise return date plays into the exact ranking, but we are talking about a player who was expected to be a top 10 talent before his injury.

Keith (VA)

I assume it is safe to say Kemp will be back in the lineup after the break. Right?

AJ Mass

If he's not, yet took part in the HR Derby -- hell to pay.

Jason (NY)

Is it safe at this point to just straight drop Tim Lincecum? He doesn't seem like he is turning around at all

AJ Mass

Nate and I discussed this on today's 06010 podcast. If you believe he's toast, you drop him. If you think he fixes whatever it is that ails him, he's a top 100 value the rest of the way. However, there's no in-between here.

Alex (NJ)

AJ could you or one of the other experts post a guide to starting a new keeper league with rules on keepers etc?

AJ Mass

Go back and check the MLB Draft Kit... I've written that article and we typically rerun it each year.

Tyler (VT)

AJ, my team has been beat up by injuries recently, Pedroia, Tulo, and Stanton all went down. Would you rather have Rollins or Desmond at SS? What about Morse or Ethier in the OF? Thanks!

AJ Mass

I'd rather have Rollins. I think the Phillies lineup could well explode, given the return of Utley and Howard. Meanwhile, Desmond is going to have to deal with a lot of questions regarding his "being hurt" or "not being hurt"... not sure how he responds or if he's really hurt. Ethier's own injury issues makes me rule against him.

Eric (Pittsburgh)

re-ranks coming out today?

AJ Mass

Yes. Yes they are.

Rob (Philly)

Where would you see Wainwright the rest of the year? I can see him finishing strong...top 20 SP.

AJ Mass

Could well be... I have him just behind YoGa.

Kerfluffle (Desert)

Which Billy Hamilton would prefer to have; the 19th-century or 21st-century version?

AJ Mass

I'll take the stats from the Hall of Famer, but odds are he's not stealing too many bases in 2012.

RJ (CT)

How do you rate Will Middlebrooks and JD Martinez as keepers going forward?

AJ Mass

Long-term I like Middlebrooks, but for this season I go Martinez. I am simply afraid that Will has hammy issues that nag him on and off that will eat into his PT.

Dan (Boston)

Uggla for Hamels fair deal? (Backup 2B are Scutaro or Ackley, 12-team non-keeper).

AJ Mass

Fair for who? I make the deal if I am giving Uggla.

MeisterNJ (Mendham)

Trade Rasmus while the tradin's good?

AJ Mass

Have him at 185 on my re-rank, so that sums up the direction I think he's headed.

James (Boston)

With Dan Haren typically being a stronger pitcher in the first half and fading in second, can we expect a reverse in this trend? Stunk the first half (mainly due to back problems) and will come out throwing darts in the second half?

AJ Mass

I disagree with the Haren second-half fade reputation (career 3.79 May, 3.85 Sept) but that said, his recent back woes make it hard for me to buy in going forward in 2012.

steve (seattle)

Will Victorino turn it around?

AJ Mass

My guess is no, and if there's a Phillies hitter to be sent packing, I'd wager its him.

Scott (Northglenn, CO)

Football....would you take Ryan Mathews 3rd overall? Norv will give him the opportunity to see 350 touches, and the guy is sick...lot of love but I think it's warranted...or do I need to pump the brakes?

AJ Mass

Really like Mathews this year. Not sure I'd go as high as 3 but definitely a top 6 candidate.