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Are you tired of columns telling you that the smart "pickups" each week are players who are already owned in your league & and more often than not sold for real money at auction? If you're hardcore, then this is column is for you: real world pickups for deep AL- or NL-only leagues.

Carlos Gomez, OF, NYM -- Gomez is a top prospect, the kind that's likely owned in nearly all leagues with any kind of farm system. He's worth grabbing in all other keeper leagues, but in single-year leagues he's only worth a pickup if you need steals. Gomez is very fast. He swiped 64 bases in Single-A in 2005 with a 72 percent success rate, then stole 41 last year in Double-A while improving his success rate to 82 percent. Gomez won't turn 22 until December, and has always been young for his levels. He's got good strength and bat speed, and many scouts think he will develop plus power. Some see this guy as the next Carl Crawford, but he could still end up as Tom Goodwin if his pitch recognition and plate discipline don't improve. Gomez has shown poor control of the strike zone thus far in his career, but it has been much better this year in his first tour of Triple-A. He still chases lots of breaking balls outside the strike zone, however, and is only in the majors until Moises Alou is healed. It's doubtful that he'll have much value in 2007 beyond the speed, but he's an excellent choice if you need steals -- and for keeper leaguers.

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