Fantasy Busts by Dan Tress
Catcher: Mike Piazza, New York Mets
While Piazza is still rated among the top fifteen fantasy catchers, you should expect his injury problems to continue. He will no longer have first base to attend to, returning to full-time catching duties now that the Mets have acquired Doug Mientkiewicz’s glove at first. Piazza has missed significant time in the last few years due to injuries, and, even when he is healthy enough to play, his production has been declining.
First Base: Shawn Green, Arizona Diamondbacks
Despite being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers where he struggled to produce in a pitcher’s park, Green will still not approach the numbers that made him one of the top fantasy players in the game several years ago. Although his numbers last year were slightly improved from 2003, Green will be hurt by moving into an even more anemic lineup than he was in last year with the Dodgers.
Second Base: Jeff Kent, Los Angeles Dodgers
One of the top fantasy second basemen for almost the past decade, Kent is due for a down year. He is 37 years old and has had a few injuries in recent years. Yet, the most important factor in his decline may be his move from hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park, and a very good Houston Astros’ lineup, to the classic pitcher’s haven of Dodger
Stadium, with a mediocre lineup.
Third Base: Vinny Castilla, Washington Nationals
Castilla has never really had a good year outside of Colorado, and this year should be no different for the 38 year old. His highest homerun total outside of Coors Field has been
25 and that was in very friendly Minute Maid Park. He’s never reached 100 RBIs outside of the thin air. Now expect him to struggle on an awful Nationals’ team.
Shortstop: Rafael Furcal, Atlanta Braves
Furcal does not get on base as much as a prototypical leadoff hitter (a career .347 OBP).
This means he needs the guys behind him to come through with RBIs when he is on base.
In the last two seasons Furcal either had Gary Sheffield or a healthy J.D. Drew behind him; now he has Brian Jordan and Raul Mondesi. He will still steal bases, but don’t expect 100 runs from him again.
Outfield: Sammy Sosa, Baltimore Orioles
I am taking a risk here, but not as much of a risk as the Orioles did in trading for him.
With his increased age, health has now become an issue as Sosa missed 36 games last season. Accustomed to being a fan favorite in Chicago, it will also be interesting to see how he responds to increasing scrutiny concerning his possible use of steroids.
Starting Pitcher: Kerry Wood, Chicago Cubs
While Wood can still dominate when he is healthy, he has not been healthy and dominant at the same time in several seasons, and he is already having arm troubles this spring.
Whenever a pitcher is having arm troubles, watch out.

Relief Pitcher: Armando Benitez, San Francisco Giants
Closers always face a lot of pressure, and Benitez has never performed well in the spotlight, just ask the New York Mets. This could potentially cost him his closing job if he blows big games in what should be a very tight NL West race.
Comments and Criticism:
Very nice job. I think it needs to be a little more balanced (even amount of information about each player and more American League players) and it needs more statistics (since this is a fantasy article and stats are what it’s all about), but it’s a very good piece. I especially liked your one on Castilla…what were they thinking? And I happen to disagree with your assessment of Sammy (lots to prove and great lineup to do it in),
Furcal (contract year) and Green (much better hitters park…though, as you point out, an even worse lineup to hit in), but that’s why they’ll play the game. I think the biggest thing you need to include next time is stats like the OBP of Furcal’s I added (or maybe Piazza or Wood’s “declining” numbers). Good work.
-Andrew Katz