Tearing it Up
BUT HE'S NO TOBY HARRAH ... Okay, A-Rod is really good. Any questions? ... Draft Carlos Pena, watch him win 2002 AL Rookie of the Year. Draft him in a keeper league, watch him win 2005 AL MVP ... Frank Catalanotto is a legitimate .300 hitter, but be smart: what does the fact that he only played 13 games at 2B and 11 at 3B this season mean according to your league's eligibility rules? Cat will see virtually no IF time next season ... Rafael Palmeiro bounced back to have a strong power season, but don't expect a .300 average any time between now and the call to Cooperstown ... Mike Young will be a top-5 AL 2B next year.

Slumping
BYE, MIKE ... Mike Lamb hit a very soft .300 this year, and doesn't have enough power to start at a corner for most fantasy teams, even in AL-only leagues ... With apologies to Pena and Mark Teixeira, the system's best everyday prospect is 3B Hank Blalock. How do you think Lamb will like Baltimore? ... Many people pegged Gabe Kapler for a breakout season this year, but the .260 hitter with inconsistent power looks to be the real thing. At least he displayed 20+ SB speed ... Rusty Greer will be an old, old 33 next season -- though I'll be thrilled if that prediction falls into the "Why Cincinnati traded Frank Robinson" category.

At the Plate
WAIT IT OUT ... The Ranger OF/1B/3B/DH situation is going to be VERY messy for a while next year, and the resulting early split in playing time should affect your draft strategy. After it all plays out, Catalanotto, Kapler and -- it's fun to write this next name -- Ruben Sierra will probably have most of the OF at-bats, while Pena pushes Palmeiro from 1B to DH. That makes Greer an expensive PH, and means Chad Curtis and Ricky Ledee should pack their bags. Sierra is the big surprise; at better than .290/20/60 in just about half of 2001, he will make a nice late-round pickup or reserve next spring.

Probable Starters 04/01/02: Rick Helling 04/02/02: Doug Davis 04/03/02: Rogers? Oliver? Myette? Bell? 04/04/02: Duchschurer? Cedeno? Benoit? 04/05/02: Come back, Aaron Sele!

From the Rubber
LET'S NOT WASTE SPACE ... There are only three Rangers worth looking at early next year: Rick Helling, Doug Davis and Jeff Zimmerman. Helling and Davis are the same guy, only Davis is five years younger and throws with his left hand. Both are good bets for 220 IP, 12-15 wins, an ERA around 4.25 and 140 K. Aaron Myette has flashed promise, so keep an eye out in April, but don't draft him. Darren Oliver is still terrible, and Rob Bell has all the makings of a failed experiment. And Zimmerman? WHIP: 0.89. K/BB ratio: 4.93. Drafting one of the top four 2002 AL closers? Priceless.

On the Mend
SPARE THE I-ROD ... Yes, Pudge Rodriguez missed the end of the season for the second straight year. But it shouldn't surprise you if he's in the Texas Opening Day lineup. It also shouldn't surprise you if he ends up helping lead Atlanta to the NL East title after the trading deadline ... Kenny Rogers was having a down year before he was injured. If he comes back, as he intends to, let's hope the Rangers consider the phrase "left-handed setup man" very carefully ... If Danny Kolb and/or Coco Cordero return, they could be nice additions to AL-only bullpens ... Justin Thompson -- oh, never mind.