I'm almost embarrassed to admit it now, but in two of my leagues -- at least as far as I know -- I anxiously awaited the return of Jerry Hairston Jr., and willingly activated him today. It doesn't really matter that this guy entered 2008 seemingly offering nothing to fantasy owners. I wasn't even sure he had a team to play for, and even if he did, it didn't matter. Hairston was an outfield-only utility guy with no power, no batting average and whatever speed had been on display so many years ago and wasn't worth it ... let's just say this fella was not on anyone's fantasy baseball radar, and when he started playing well, nobody believed it.
Leave it to Dusty Baker to give him a chance, and look what happened: Here's a mildly valuable shortstop I can't wait to get back in my lineup after a relatively quick DL stint for a broken left thumb. Again, this newfound dependence on Hairston is not a source of pride or anything, but while there are many surprises this season in fantasy baseball, I think this one kind of needs another qualifier. It's past a surprise. No, Hairston isn't Josh Hamilton, knocking in a run per game, or the guy he was dealt for, who might start the All-Star game for the NL (Edinson Volquez). Those are surprises! He's not Justin Duchscherer, threatening to win the ERA title, or Xavier Nady, on pace for 107 RBIs. Those guys had jobs, they were being drafted someplace, somewhere, and when they were available on free agent lists owners weren't loathe to click on their names. Hairston wasn't even thought about in 20-team leagues. The last time we saw him, in Texas last season, he hit .188.
Now he's the starting shortstop and leadoff hitter for a major league team, and it's not a joke. Who knew he could even play the position regularly? He never had before. I can't say anything bad about that decision now, because Hairston has earned it. In May he hit .343 with nine stolen bases in 10 attempts. As a leadoff hitter, on a team that doesn't have any other options -- no, Corey Patterson should not be leading off, we all see that -- Hairston is hitting .360 with a .422 on-base percentage, with the same number of walks to strikeouts. Now you know and I know -- c'mon, let's be realistic -- that this guy isn't likely to hit .300 all season, but I am just fine with that. I want the stolen bases. Hairston is running, for some reason, and as long as Baker keeps letting him play, why can't that continue? This would be a top-20 base stealer if not for the missed time. He's tied for 29th in baseball in steals as it is, but only three steals outside the top 20, and in half the at-bats. The only player with more steals in fewer at-bats is Rajai Davis of Oakland.
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Eric Karabell
