I'm catching up from a crazy week spent at the All-Star festivities and then in Los Angeles at the ESPYs, and let's just say I was in no position to react to the Joe Blanton trade to make a fantasy move. I wasn't online when it happened, nor the day after, so I didn't get Blanton in my NL-only league. I'll live, trust me.
I was home, however, when the big Ray Durham trade went down with Milwaukee. Minor trade, on the surface, but as one of the biggest Eugenio Velez fans out there, it made me pretty happy. You see, I was touting Velez back in February, and when I discuss players I like in fantasy in any forum, I want them on my teams as well. Velez is everywhere on my squads because he's a middle infield eligible player who runs -- fast. And when he couldn't hit with the big club, I waited for him. Now he's back. I'd like to be correct on him, not because I want to prove I was right, but because he'll help my fantasy teams!
Velez had one of those minor league seasons in 2006 that makes the fantasy owner desperate to see him in the majors. It was only low Class A in the Sally League, but still, 14 home runs, 90 RBIs, 20 triples, 29 doubles, 64 stolen bases and a .315 batting average is a monster campaign. Velez doesn't have much power, but even in 42 games in the Pacific Coast League this season, he slugged .509. We know he can run. I'll take the next Delino DeShields, won't you? This could be a 30-steal guy this season, easily.
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Eric Karabell
