How to handle one-category busts
Surely by now you've heard all about one-category players.
What about one-category busts? Strangely, they're rarely discussed, yet come draft time, fantasy owners tend to have a similar level of fear of drafting them as they do one-category wonders.
But there's value to be had in the speedster with no power, the pitcher who gets no run support or the slugger lucky if he bats .250. You simply need to know what players to surround them with, to make up for their inadequacies in their one poor category.
That's where this column comes in. Taking a look at our top 150 players overall, the 18 listed below are what I'd call below average in one particular rotisserie category, at least compared to the MLB average (which is listed in each category header).
To help you craft a balanced roster, I've included a handful of names available either around the same time of the draft or several rounds later that you can pair with the 18 names below. Consider bumping up those perfect category-mates a few spots on your draft sheets if you opt to snatch one of these "one-category busts."
Adam Dunn (.264 in 2007, .248 career): The 40 homers and 100 RBIs and runs scored classify him as elite in those categories, so invest in a batting average-stolen bases specialist. Bump up Ichiro Suzuki, Chone Figgins, Brian Roberts and Juan Pierre.
Chris Young (.237 in 2007, .238 career, .266 minors career): He's a potential 30/30 man -- 20/20 at worst -- who's adequate in RBIs and runs (think mid-70s in one, 90 in the other). Young meshes best with a high-average hitter who offers at least modest totals in the other four categories. Bump up Edgar Renteria, Howie Kendrick and Placido Polanco.
Dan Uggla (.245 in 2007, .263 career): He's a downside risk in the category, and a terribly streaky fella, so a safe, reliable choice is best. A handful of steals would be nice. Bump up Todd Helton, Polanco, Freddy Sanchez and Randy Winn.
Rickie Weeks (.235 in 2007, .249 career): It's all in how healthy he is, but even 130 games makes him a strong bet for 25 homers and 30 steals. Weeks is a little like Young, though Young is a little stronger in power, Weeks in steals. Look to a similar supporting cast to Young's, though. Bump up Young's crew, plus Helton.
Nick Swisher (.262 in 2007, .251 career): He should be good for an easy 30 homers, and depending on where he bats, he'll be better than 50/50 for either 100-plus RBIs or runs scored. I'm betting the White Sox are smart and slot him in the No. 2 hole, so bump up batting average/RBI guys like Helton, Robinson Cano and Kevin Youkilis.
Andruw Jones (.222 in 2007, .263 career): Fantasywise, he might not be much different than Dunn, with the exception that he's riskier because he's coming off a terrible year. Bump up Shane Victorino, Pierre and Jacoby Ellsbury.
Ichiro Suzuki (6 in 2007, 8 per 600 AB career): As mentioned above, Dunn is a perfect partner for Ichiro owners, though he's not the only one. You merely want big-time homer/RBI guys, because owning Ichiro means extra at-bats to keep your batting average stable. Bump up Carlos Pena, Paul Konerko and even Jim Thome.
Chone Figgins (3 in 2007, 6 per 600 AB career): He's a slightly stronger steals option than Ichiro, but noticeably weaker in batting average (partially due to fewer at-bats). Don't get quite as creative, though you need to take some chances since Figgins offers little in homers or RBIs. Bump up Konerko, Adrian Gonzalez and Jeff Francoeur.
Juan Pierre (0 in 2007, 2 per 600 AB career): He's a playing-time risk, which hurts his valuable counting stats (steals, runs scored). As such, owning Pierre might require supplementing him with two sluggers, one a big bopper, one a bit safer in batting average. In addition to the above, bump up Nick Markakis and Brad Hawpe.
Shane Victorino (46 in 2007, 65 per 600 AB career): It's his weakest category, but he's better than average in steals and runs, and adequate in batting average and home runs. Bump up Markakis, Konerko and Jeff Kent, RBI men sound in batting average and homers.
Johnny Damon (63 in 2007, 69 per 600 AB career): Frankly, it's odd that he's so-so in RBIs considering the depth of the Yankees' offense. With batting average Damon's next-riskiest category, bump up Hawpe, Chipper Jones and Youkilis.
Matt Cain (7 in 2007, 10 per 200 IP career): Isn't it frustrating that he's so productive for fantasy, but got so little run support last season? He's not quite a 200-K candidate though, so look to someone who pitches for a winning team and gets a modest number of strikeouts. Bump up Andy Pettitte, Brad Penny and John Maine.
Tim Lincecum (7 in 2007): Besides wins, WHIP is Lincecum's second-riskiest category, accounting for his tendencies toward wildness. He sure fills K's nicely, so bump up Chien-Ming Wang, Tim Hudson, Greg Maddux and Jered Weaver.
Ian Snell (9 in 2007, 11 per 200 IP career): He fills practically every category but wins nicely and has top-25 starter upside, but then, there's no guarantee he'll realize that potential, either. As such, go for a pitcher on a contending team, but one who's consistent. Besides Wang and Hudson, bump up Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe.
Roy Halladay (139 in 2007, 138 per 200 IP career): He's entirely sound in all the other rotisserie categories, so feel free to get creative and look big in the strikeouts category. Bump up Rich Hill, A.J. Burnett and even Randy Johnson.
Fausto Carmona (137 in 2007, 135 per 200 IP career): Treat him similarly as you would Halladay, though there's a tad more breakdown risk for him. In other words, don't gamble on Johnson, but bump up Hill, Maine, Chad Billingsley and Lincecum.
Tim Hudson (132 in 2007, 137 per 200 IP career): He's a tad below average in K's, and with a 1.26 career WHIP, is a bit of a gamble in that category, too. In other words, go hard after pitchers somewhat safe in WHIP but with strikeout potential. That means bump up James Shields, Dustin McGowan and Hill.
Chien-Ming Wang (104 in 2007, 85 per 200 IP career): An exceptional source of wins, Wang has poor K totals which are hard to make up after the round where he'll surely be selected. Scott Kazmir is actually a perfect partner for him in the early rounds. Sleepers are your best bets mid-to-late. Bump up Clay Buchholz, Joba Chamberlain and Francisco Liriano.
Tristan H. Cockcroft covers fantasy sports for ESPN.com. You can e-mail him here.
