A reader emailed two weeks ago saying she had been offered Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki in a proposed trade.

She was being asked to give back Carl Crawford and Jhoulys Chacin. At the time, she was in last place in her rotisserie-style league.

At the time, both Pujols and Crawford were on the disabled list, only Pujols was four days into what was expected to be at least a six-week absence because of a broken left wrist.

Since she was in last place, I told her she probably couldn't afford to wait on Sir Albert.

We entered Wednesday with Pujols back in the Cardinals' lineup -- and Crawford still on the DL.

Pujols missed all of 17 days with the injury. Crawford, who has a hamstring injury, hasn't even gone on a rehab assignment yet.

To her, I say: Oops. My bad.

None of us could have foreseen this, not even the ESPN producers behind this commercial.

Before his injury, Pujols was batting .317 with eight home runs, 14 RBI, 19 runs and a 1.197 OPS in 63 at-bats in June.

Wednesday night, he was 1-for-6 with an RBI in his return.

He really is a machine.

I should have realized that two weeks ago.

A few quick notes before we get to the finale of our 10-part 2011 preview:

-- We dropped Phillies second baseman Chase Utley from second at his position and No. 18 overall to No. 6 at second and No. 55 overall because of concerns over a knee injury that will force him to begin the season on the disabled list. The Phillies have been vague about a return date for Utley, all of which pushes him further down everyone's draft boards.

-- Brian Roberts' back injury doesn't seem to be as big of a concern for the Orioles as it was two weeks ago. The second baseman would be a sixth-round bargain if he produces as he did in 2009 (.283, 16 homers, 79 RBI, 110 runs and 30 stolen bases).

-- Brewers outfielder Corey Hart isn't expected to be ready for opening day because of an oblique injury. He's a risky sixth-round choice.

-- We seem to be among the few who believe Grady Sizemore can be an effective No. 3 outfielder this season. He's not the stud he was from 2006 to '08, but he could hit for power and steal enough bases to be a worthwhile starter.

-- There seem to be no signs of concern about Giants closer and YouTube sensation Brian Wilson. The eccentric reliever likely will begin the season on the disabled list because of an oblique injury, but he shouldn't be sidelined long and his numbers from the last two seasons are too good to pass up if you're looking for a closer.

-- Angels first baseman Kendry Morales will start the year on the DL because of a foot injury, which has dropped him to No. 12 in our first-base rankings and to No. 88 overall.

-- Strained obliques apparently are in this spring. The Yankees' Curtis Granderson is suffering from the ailment, which might force him to the DL, but, like Wilson, it doesn't seem to be a major concern.

-- For a column on when to draft a pitcher, along with sleepers, busts, overrated and underrated players, go to the sports section of The News-Herald's website on Friday.

1. Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
2. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies
3. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins
4. Carl Crawford, OF, Red Sox
5. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers
6. Josh Hamilton, OF, Rangers
7. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies
8. Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
9. Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers
10. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies
11. Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees
12. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners
13. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
14. Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants
15. David Wright, 3B, Mets
16. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, Yankees
17. Matt Holliday, OF, Cardinals
18. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox
19. Joe Mauer, C, Twins
20. Buster Posey, C, Giants
21. Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays
22. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox
23. Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Indians
24. Jose Reyes, SS, Mets
25. Jayson Werth, OF, Nationals
26. Kevin Youkilis, 3B, Red Sox
27. Jon Lester, SP, Red Sox
28. Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees
29. Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers
30. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals
31. Cliff Lee, SP, Phillies
32. Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers
33. CC Sabathia, SP, Yankees
34. Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers
35. Victor Martinez, C, Tigers
36. Jason Heyward, OF, Braves
37. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
38. Prince Fielder, 1B, Brewers
39. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers
40. Dan Uggla, 2B, Braves
41. Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds
42. Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
43. Brian McCann, C, Braves
44. Nelson Cruz, OF, Rangers
45. Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies
46. David Price, SP, Rays
47. Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies
48. Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins
49. Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies
50. Josh Johnson, SP, Marlins
51. Adam Dunn, DH, White Sox
52. Hunter Pence, OF, Astros
53. Justin Upton, OF, Diamondbacks
54. Alex Rios, OF, White Sox
55. Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
56. Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers
57. Chris Young, OF, Diamondbacks
58. Jered Weaver, SP, Angels
59. Andre Ethier, OF, Dodgers
60. Alexei Ramirez, SS, White Sox
61. Paul Konerko, 1B, White Sox
62. Roy Oswalt, SP, Phillies
63. Delmon Young, OF, Twins
64. Shane Victorino, OF, Phillies
65. Mat Latos, SP, Padres
66. Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles
67. Michael Young, DH, Rangers
68. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox
69. Corey Hart, OF, Brewers
70. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies
71. Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Cubs
72. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers
73. Chris Carpenter, SP, Cardinals
74. Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners
75. Grady Sizemore, OF, Indians
76. Martin Prado, OF, Braves
77. Carlos Santana, C, Indians
78. Brian Wilson, RP, Giants
79. Heath Bell, RP, Padres
80. Clay Buchholz, SP, Red Sox
81. Francisco Liriano, SP, Twins
82. David Ortiz, DH, Red Sox
83. Joakim Soria, RP, Royals
84. Casey McGehee, 3B, Brewers
85. Aubrey Huff, 1B, Giants
86. Billy Butler, 1B, Royals
87. Matt Cain, SP, Giants
88. Kendry Morales, 1B, Angels
89. Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs
90. Curtis Granderson, OF, Yankees
91. Neftali Felix, RP, Rangers
92. Yovani Gallardo, SP, Brewers
93. Tommy Hanson, SP, Braves
94. Mariano Rivera, RP, Yankees
95. Carlos Marmol, RP, Cubs
96. Vernon Wells, OF, Angels
97. Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins
98. Bobby Abreu, DH, Angels
99. Adam Lind, 1B, Blue Jays
100. Juan Pierre, OF, White Sox

POSITION PREVIEWS: Catchers, first basemen, second basemen, shortstops, third basemen, designated hitters, outfielders, starting pitchers, relievers

Before we get to the seventh in our 10-part series previewing the fantasy baseball season, a quick word of advice on Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore.

I think the former fantasy stud is undervalued on the rankings of most websites. I realize Sizemore is recovering from a very serious knee surgery, but he is only 27 and isn’t Greg Oden.

That said, if you are drafting in a league in Northeast Ohio, you likely won’t be able to get Sizemore on the cheap.

Regardless of how underrated you might think he is this year, don’t draft him as your No. 2 outfielder unless you wait longer than normal to fill out that position while you stock up everywhere else.

We have Sizemore ranked 23rd at his position, but I’d feel much better drafting him as a No. 3 outfielder, then making sure I pull the trigger relatively quickly on a No. 4 as insurance.

On to the rankings:

Rank, player: R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Carlos Gonzalez, Col: 111-34-117-26-.336
2. Carl Crawford, Bos: 110-19-90-47-.307
3. Josh Hamilton, Tex: 95-32-100-8-.359
4. Ryan Braun, Mil: 101 25-103-14-.304
5. Matt Holliday, StL: 95-28-103-9-.312
6. Jose Bautista, Tor: 109-54-124-9-.260
7. Shin-Soo Choo, Cle: 81-22-90-22-.300
8. Jayson Werth, Was: 106-27-85-13-.296
9. Matt Kemp, LAD: 82-28-89-19-.249
10. Jason Heyward, Atl: 83-18-72-11-.277
11. Andrew McCutchen, Pit: 94-16-56-33-.286
12. Nelson Cruz, Tex: 60-22-78-17-.318
13. Hunter Pence, Hou: 93-25-91-18-.282
14. Justin Upton, Ari: 73-17-69-18-.273
15. Alex Rios, CWS: 89-21-88-34-.284
16. Chris Young, Ari: 94-27-91-28-.257
17. Andre Ethier, LAD: 71-23-82-2-.292
18. Delmon Young, Min: 77-21-112-5-.298
19. Shane Victorino, Phi: 84-18-69-34-.259
20. Jacoby Ellsbury, Bos: 10-0-5-7-.192
21. Corey Hart, Mil: 91-31-102-7-.283
22. Ichiro Suzuki, Sea: 74-6-43-42-.315
23. Grady Sizemore, Cle: 79-20-71-18-.256
24. Martin Prado, Atl: 100-15-66-5-.307
25. Curtis Granderson, NYY: 76-24-67-12-.247
26. Vernon Wells, LAA: 79-31-88-6-.273
27. Mike Stanton, Fla: 45-22-59-5-.259
28. Juan Pierre, CWS: 96-1-47-68-.275
29. Torii Hunter, LAA: 76-23-90-9-.281
30. Drew Stubbs, Cin: 91-22-77-30-.255
31. Austin Jackson, Det: 101-4-41-27-.293
32. Nick Markakis, Bal: 79-12-60-7-.297
33. Nick Swisher, NYY: 91-29-89-1-.288
34. Denard Span, Min: 85-3-58-26-.264
35. Jay Bruce, Cin: 80-25-70-5-.281
36. Brett Gardner, NYY: 97-5-47-47-.277
37. Jason Bay, NYM: 48-6-47-10-.259
38. B.J. Upton, TB: 89-18-62-42-.237
39. Carlos Quentin, CWS: 73-26-87-2-.243
40. Colby Rasmus, StL: 85-23-66-12-.276
41. Adam Jones, Bal: 76-19-69-7-.284
42. Ben Zobrist, TB: 77-10-75-24-.238
43. Angel Pagan, NYM: 80-11-69-37-.290
44. Carlos Lee, Hou: 67-24-89-3-.246
45. Raul Ibanez, Phi: 75-16-83-4-.275
46. Michael Cuddyer, Min: 93-14-81-7-.271
47. Coco Crisp, Oak: 51-8-38-32-.279
48. Andres Torres, SF: 84-16-63-26-.268
49. Magglio Ordonez, Det: 56-12-59-1-.303
50. Michael Bourn, Hou: 84-2-38-52-.265
51. David DeJesus, Oak: 46-5-37-3-.318
52. Jose Tabata, Pit: 61-4-35-19-.299
53. Ryan Raburn, Det: 54-15-62-2-.280
54. Rajai Davis, Tor: 66-5-52-50-.284
55. Alfonso Soriano, ChC: 67-24-79-5-.258
56. Johnny Damon, TB: 81-8-51-11-.271
57. Lance Berkman, StL: 48-14-58-3-.248
58. Marlon Byrd, ChC: 84-12-66-5-.293
59. Travis Snider, Tor: 36-14-32-6-.255
60. Cody Ross, SF: 71-14-65-9-.269

Preseason top 100 players (28): Gonzalez (2), Crawford (4), Hamilton (6), Braun (9), Holliday (17), Bautista (21), Choo (23), Werth (25), Kemp (34), Heyward (36), McCutchen (37), Cruz (44), Pence (52), J. Upton (53), Rios (54), C. Young (57), Ethier (59), D. Young (63), Victorino (64), Ellsbury (68), Hart (69), Ichiro (75), Sizemore (76), Prado (77), Granderson (90), Wells (96), Stanton (97), Pierre (100).

Short hops
We have the Rockies’ Gonzalez ranked higher than most, but I would select him first in the outfield and No. 2 overall after a fantastic first full season. ... Bautista is one of the draft’s biggest wild cards after his out-of-nowhere 54-homer season. ... The Tribe’s Choo has averaged 21 homers, 88 RBI, 22 steals and batted .300 the last two seasons. ... The Braves’ Prado makes the move from the infield to the outfield, where we consider him a low-end No. 2 in a 12-team league. He’s much more valuable at second base, though, and if you can draft him there, you should.

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2010 season. ... Players are listed only at the positions at which they are expected to spend the most time in 2011.

THIS WEEK: Outfielders, today; coming soon: relief pitchers, starting pitchers and overall top 100.

LAST WEEK: Shortstops, March 17; third baseman, March 19; designated hitters, March 20.

TWO WEEKS AGO: Catchers, March 7; first baseman, March 8; second baseman, March 9.

Grady Sizemore’s offseason began with elbow surgery on Sept. 9, when 24 games remained in the Indians’ 65-97 season.

Two months later, semi-nude photos of him were posted on the Internet — forcing Sizemore to apologize, Major League Baseball to investigate why the pictures allegedly were stolen from an e-mail account and causing females everywhere to say how much they liked them, but wonder why he decorated his bathroom in such a manner.

Now Sizemore, seemingly healthy and with the embarrassing incident behind him, is the best player on a team that seems to have a policy of trading its stars a year before free agency — which in Sizemore’s case would be next season, a year before the Tribe’s club option of $8.5 million for 2012.

From a fantasy perspective, he could be undervalued in many drafts following a 2009 season in which he posted five-year lows in games played, at-bats, runs, hits, extra-base hits, homers, RBI, stolen bases and batting average.

That likely won’t happen in Northeast Ohio, as Tribe fans might be overanxious to select the Tribe’s best player.

Don’t overpay for someone who has a career batting average of .275 and has struck out once per 4.5 at-bats in his six-year career. But aside from Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday and Carl Crawford, I’d be willing to take a chance that Sizemore will outproduce any other player at his position and would put his value in the late second-round range for 12-team leagues.

In 2007 and ’08, Sizemore averaged 29 home runs, 84 RBI, 36 steals, 110 runs and 70 extra-base hits.

Will he be a 30-30 player again, as he was in 2008? Will his elbow be a problem? Will the ladies swarm center field on opening day?

Those questions we can’t answer. What we can do is believe in a player who, prior to 2009, had a track record of hitting for power, scoring a lot of runs and stealing about 30 bases.

On to the rankings:

Rank, player: R-HR-RBI-SB-Avg.
1. Ryan Braun, Brewers: 113-32-114-20-.320
2. Matt Kemp, Dodgers: 97-26-101-34-.297
3. Matt Holliday, Cardinals: 94-24-109-14-.313
4. Carl Crawford, Rays: 96-15-68-60-.305
5. Grady Sizemore, Indians: 73-18-64-13-.248
6. Jacob Ellsbury, Red Sox: 94-8-60-70-.301
7. Justin Upton, Diamondbacks: 84-26-86-20-.300
8. Curtis Granderson, Yankees: 91-30-71-20-.249
9. Jason Bay, Mets: 103-36-119-13-.267
10. Manny Ramirez, Dodgers: 62-19-63-0-.290
11. Andre Ethier, Dodgers: 92-31-106-6-.272
12. Nick Markakis, Orioles: 94-18-101-6-.293
13. Jayson Werth, Phillies: 98-36-99-20-.268
14. Shin-Soo Choo, Indians: 87-20-86-21-.300
15. Bobby Abreu, Angels: 96-15-103-30-.293
16. Carlos Lee, Astros: 65-26-102-5-.300
17. Josh Hamilton, Rangers: 43-10-54-8-.268
18. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: 88-11-46-26-.352
19. B.J. Upton, Rays: 79-11-55-42-.241
20. Shane Victorino, Phillies: 102-10-62-25-.292
21. Nelson Cruz, Rangers: 75-33-76-20-.260
22. Torii Hunter, Angels: 74-22-90-18-.299
23. Hunter Pence, Astros: 76-25-72-14-.282
24. Carlos Quentin, White Sox: 47-21-56-3-.236
25. Nate McLouth, Braves: 86-20-70-19-.256
26. Raul Ibanez, Phillies: 93-34-93-4-.272
27. Johnny Damon, Tigers: 107-24-82-12-.282
28. Andre McCutchen, Pirates: 74-12-54-22-.286
29. Alex Rios, White Sox: 63-17-71-24-.247
30. Denard Span, Twins: 97-8-68-23-.311
31. Michael Bourn, Astros: 97-3-35-61-.285
32. Adam Jones, Orioles: 83-19-70-10-.277
33. Michael Cuddyer, Twins: 93-32-94-6-.276
34. Brad Hawpe, Rockies: 82-23-86-1-.285
35. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs: 64-20-55-9-.241
36. Carlos Beltran, Mets: 50-10-48-11-.325
37. Nyjer Morgan, Nationals: 74-3-39-42-.307
38. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies: 47-22-58-3-.223
39. Ryan Ludwick, Cardinals: 63-22-97-4-.265
40. Juan Pierre, White Sox: 57-0-31-30-.308
41. Vernon Wells, Blue Jays: 84-15-66-17-.260
42. Juan Rivera, Angels: 72-25-88-0-.287
43. Jay Bruce, Reds: 47-22-58-3-.223
44. Rajai Davis, Athletics: 65-3-48-41-.305
45. Mark DeRosa, Giants: 78-23-78-3-.250
46. Delmon Young, Twins: 50-12-60-2-.284
47. Garrett Jones, Pirates: 45-21-44-10-.293
48. Nolan Reimold, Orioles: 49-15-45-8-.279
49. Franklin Gutierrez, Mariners: 85-18-70-16-.283
50. Julio Borbon, Rangers: 30-4-20-19-.312
51. Corey Hart, Brewers: 64-12-48-11-.260
52. Chris Coghan, Marlins: 84-9-47-8-.321
53. Cody Ross, Marlins: 73-24-90-5-.270
54. Marlon Byrd, Cubs: 66-20-89-8-.283
55. Mike Cameron, Red Sox: 78-24-70-7-.250
56. Nick Swisher, Yankees: 84-29-82-0-.249
57. Dexter Fowler, Rockies: 73-4-34-27-.266
58. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers: 54-9-50-3-.310
59. Colby Rasmus, Cardinals: 72-16-52-3-.251
60. J.D. Drew, Red Sox: 84-24-68-2-.279

Preseason top 100 players (26): Braun (3), Kemp (6), Holliday (13), Crawford (20), Sizemore (21), Ellsbury (27), Justin Upton (28), Granderson (33), Bay (34), Ramirez (51), Ethier (53), Markakis (55), Werth (58), Choo (63), Abreu (65), Lee (66), Hamilton (69), Ichiro (70), B.J. Upton (75), Victorino (79), Cruz (80), Hunter (87), Pence (88), Quentin (89), McLouth (92), Ibanez (94)

Short hops
In his three-year career, Braun has batted .308 and averaged 34 homers, 106 RBI and 16 steals. ... In 235 at-bats after being traded to St. Louis last season, Holliday batted .353 and had 13 homers, 55 RBI and a 1.023 OPS. ... Ellsbury will steal a ton of bases (120 the last two seasons), but he doesn’t score as many runs as you might think (96 per season in the last two) and he has no power. ... Crawford has batted .305 or better with 50-plus steals in three of the last four years. ... Bay, who has 67 homers the last two seasons, likely will suffer a dip in power playing half his games at spacious Citi Field. ... In 900 at-bats the last two seasons, Choo has 34 homers and 152 RBI. ... The underrated Carlos Lee has batted .300 or better and averaged 31 homers and 109 RBI the last four years. ... Ichiro posted career lows in steals and runs, and had his second-worst RBI total last season. ... The enigmatic B.J. Upton was great in 2007 (24 homers, 82 RBI, .300, 22 steals), but he’s averaged 10 home runs, 61 RBI and 82 runs while batting .257 the last two seasons. If you draft him in the first few rounds, you better be a huge fan of stolen bases.

NOTE: Statistics are from the 2009 season. ... Positions listed are according to the depth charts at mlb.com.

THIS WEEK: Outfielders, today; relief pitchers, Thursday; starting pitchers, Friday

LAST WEEK: Third baseman, March 8; designated hitters, March 9; shortstops, March 11

TWO WEEKS AGO: Catchers, March 2; first baseman, March 4; second baseman, March 5

The knock on Joe Mauer was always a lack of power.

We knew he'd hit well over .300, walk more times than he struck out, get on base twice as often as David Dellucci and drive in 70 or 80 runs.

This, we never could have guessed -- especially not after the Twins catcher missed the first month of the season because of a back injury.

I'm no hitting coach -- and I don't play one on the Internet -- but I would think recovering from a back injury wouldn't help a player's chances of hitting a home run. In Mauer's case, he's turned into the Albert Pujols of backstops.

In 224 at-bats, he's hit 15 home runs -- two more than his previous career high -- and his 1.118 OPS is almost 200 points better than his prior best.

Aside from Pujols, Mauer was the easiest selection on the list that follows. Without further adieu, our first-half fantasy all-stars. All stats are through Wednesday night's games.

Sorry, fellas, no incentive clauses included.

Catcher: Joe Mauer, Twins -- Did we mention he's batting .388 and has scored 48 runs in 60 games? Runner-up: Victor Martinez, Indians. What a difference a year makes.

First base: Albert Pujols, Cardinals -- Now that he's stealing bases (10 on the season), you couldn't ask for more. He's batting .331 with 67 runs, 31 homers, 82 RBI, 34 more walks than strikeouts (69-35) and a 1.184 OPS. Runner-up: Justin Morneau, Twins. With 21 homers, he is just two away from his 2008 total.

Second base: Chase Utley, Phillies -- So much for spring training injury concerns. Utley narrowly edges Ian Kinsler, thanks to his .306 batting average, 57 runs and .997 OPS. Runner-up: Ben Zobrist, Rays. Possibly fantasy's biggest surprise, Akinori Iwamura's replacement at second in Tampa has 17 homers and 50 RBI, along with a 1.017 OPS, in only 232 at-bats. More on Kinsler in a bit.

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins -- We've had fun at his expense, but only because of many owners' draft-day decision of Ramirez over Pujols at No. 1 overall. He's currently bothered by a hip injury and his stolen-base total is way down (12, after averaging 46 the previous three years), but he's still been great. Ramirez is batting .346 with 14 homers and 60 RBI. Runner-up: Derek Jeter, Yankees. Even at 35, he's a fantasy standout, batting .315 with 10 homers, 35 RBI, 55 runs and 17 steals.

Third base: Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks -- Before the season, I never would have guessed this would be the worst position at the top. Reynolds is batting only .262 and he strikes out even more often than an Indians regular (115 in 313 at-bats). But he hits for power (24 homers and 62 RBI), steals bases (14), has an .896 OPS and is on pace to reach triple figures in runs scored. Runner-up: David Wright, Mets. He's batting well and stealing bases, but what happened to his power (five homers, after totaling 63 the previous two years)?

Designated hitter: Ian Kinsler, Rangers -- Like Utley, he hits for power (20 homers and 54 RBI) and scores a lot of runs (60). He's better on the basepaths (17 steals), but will bring down your batting average (.252).

Outfielders: Carl Crawford, Rays; Jason Bay, Red Sox; and Ryan Braun, Brewers. Crawford is batting .314 with 43 steals, and Bay has done everything but hit for average (.263). Braun, however, is the best of the bunch -- .324, 59 runs, 16 homers, 58 RBI, seven stolen bases and a .962 OPS.

Runner-up: Torii Hunter, Angels. He sat out Wednesday's game with an abdominal injury, which is a concern after a fantastic first half (.305, 17 homers, 65 RBI, 56 runs, 13 steals).

Next up: The pitchers.

There is no more difficult statistic to analyze in fantasy baseball than the stolen base.

Most of the time, it's overrated. Players who have no business being selected in the third or fourth round of the draft are taken because of one stat: the steal. In category leagues, players such as Carl Crawford have the ability to take the point all by themselves -- witness Crawford's six-steal effort Sunday against Boston.

I've always taken a simple approach with the steal -- I underrate it.

I'd rather select players who will help me in three or four areas instead of one. Most of the stolen-base threats are one- or two-dimensional. They'll help you in steals and maybe runs scored, but not much else.

Of the six players who have stolen eight bases or more (two per week) this season, only two (Crawford and the Angels' Bobby Abreu, who has a surprising 11 steals) have reached double figures in RBI. The six have combined for a grand total of four home runs, and the group includes a .226 hitter who has three RBI (the annually overrated Chone Figgins) and a player who recorded five of his nine steals in one game (Colorado's Dexter Foxler).

Players such as Abreu (who has yet to hit a homer, but averaged 22 long balls the previous 11 years) and Texas' Ian Kinsler are draft-day gold. They'll steal bases, but they also will hit for power and average.

But for every Abreu and Kinsler, there are four or five Michael Bourns and Chone Figgins.

If you drafted Crawford, who is healthy after a mediocre, beat-up 2008, you did the right thing -- even if you reached for him in the third round. He's on pace to steal 105 bases, he's batting .317 and he should score more than 100 runs.

He's not much of a power boost -- he has yet to hit a homer -- but you can ignore that as long as he's helping you in a few other categories.

With Crawford, that is the case. With most of the speed guys, that is not.

So long, Travis: Tribe designated hitter Travis Hafner is on the disabled list with (boring Eric Wedge quote alert) what his manager describes as "some soreness and a little fatigue" in his bothersome shoulder.

Translation: We gave this guy a huge contract, he was terrible last year, he had offseason surgery on his shoulder and now we've typed the 14 words no organization wants to include in a press release: "(Enter player's name) is heading to Birmingham, Alabama, to be examined by Dr. James Andrews."

The Indians are downplaying the injury, and maybe they're right. But I don't blame the 17 percent of owners in ESPN.com leagues who dropped Hafner last week (his ownership percentage is down to 66.1).

Since hitting his fourth homer of the season on April 18 at Yankee Bandbox, Hafner is batting .240 (6-for-25) in eight games. In that span, he scored one run and had zero RBI.

His days as a fantasy force might be over, which is a gentle way of saying I wouldn't count of him helping you the rest of the season.

Pick three

This week's look at three possible free agents who should be an asset in deeper leagues, with the rule of thumb that all must be available in more than half of the leagues on ESPN.com:

Russell Branyan, 1B, Mariners: He hits a lot of homers and he strikes out a lot more. Lately, though, he's been Albert Pujols-like (only if Pujols struck out way too much): Since April 24, Branyan is batting .368 with four homers, four doubles, 11 RBI and nine runs scored in nine games.

He's a career .233 hitter who has an amazing 816 strikeouts in 2,071 at-bats, so you know he won't sustain his success. But he's also eligible at third base, where he's more of an asset than at first in fantasy, and he's a home-run and RBI machine when he's on his game.

Again, it's not going to last. But if you need help at third, allow Russell to give you some needed muscle for a week or two. Just remember to bench him once he goes on one of his patented runs of 0-for-15 with 10 strikeouts.

Melky Cabrera, OF, Yankees: Brett Gardner opened the season as the Yankees' starting center fielder, but Cabrera has taken over, starting nine of the last 10 games. He's hit in seven straight games, and he's batting .321 with four homers and 10 RBI in 56 at-bats this season.

Cabrera wasn't much of an asset last season, when he batted .249 with eight homers and 37 RBI, but he was decent in 2006 and '07 (a combined 15 homers, 123 RBI and 141 runs in 1,005 at-bats). In deeper leagues, he can be a serviceable third outfielder who is capable of batting .280, scoring 90 runs and hitting 15 homers.

Kurt Suzuki, C, Athletics: I neglected to mention him in the blog about the struggles of catchers this season, which hasn't proven to be a wise move. Suzuki is batting .333 and has hits in 16 of the 20 games in which he's played.

He's only 25 and any catcher who is a threat to hit .300 is worthy of being started. Don't expect much power (Suzuki has 15 homers in 824 career at-bats), but this Athletic can reach double figures in home runs, bat better than .280 and drive in at least 70 runs.

Check back later this week for more NFL draft leftovers, good luck in Week 5 and remember to thank the owner at the top of your draft who selected Hanley Ramirez over Pujols.