By Dan O’Shea
I’ve already had an unusually good number of Cubs and White Sox mentions in this column this season, which is a neat trick considering neither team is a real contender (don’t fool yourselves, Sox fans).
Yet this week I find myself on the topic of local heroes once again – it’s the week of the Crosstown Cup.
Now, maybe this series is not what it was. Maybe it would be more exciting to see Jose Abreu wrestle a bear than watch his team take on the other named for baby bears. But there is still reason while you’re perusing the waiver wire to occasionally stop at the name of a Cubs or Sox player.
In fact, here are two names beyond the usual suspects – the Abreus and Rizzos – who might be able to help your fantasy team.
Tyler Flowers, White Sox: I’ve considered the loss of A.J. Pierzynski to be much more meaningful to the Sox’s chances than the departure of Mark Buehrle or the active-but-ineffectual semi-retirement of Paul Konerko. Flowers has never seemed like the answer, yet he’s still hitting above .300 more than a month into the season, with his power sure to kick in as the weather warms. You could do worse at a position with shallow fantasy value. Available in about 80% of Yahoo! leagues.
Hector Rondon, Cubs: The closer job on the North Side is indeed a thankless one, with a rotating door, too. But, Rondon looks like a safe bet right now with both Jose Veras and Pedro Strop injured. Even if the Cubs don’t get him many save opportunities, he’ll still see late-game action. He currently has three saves, with 18 strikeouts in 16 innings. His ERA rose to 1.69 after he gave up two runs to the Cardinals on Sunday, but he was victim to some horrible calls, and should have been out of the inning clean.
Expert Wire
* Yahoo! Sports has Rondon on its Saves Index – if you dig deep enough.
* SI.com breaks down the breakout year of Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon.
* Bleacher Reports says you’re missing out on former Cub folk hero and present-day Ray Dioner Navarro, and a bunch of other no-names.
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Dan O’Shea is our man in fantasyland. He welcomes your comments.
Posted on May 8, 2014