Catchers-With top rated signal callers like Joe Mauer battling injuries and Buster Posey out for the season, it is likely that the catcher position has been a position of great movement in your league. Thanks to a late push in the All-Star voting Alex Avila earned the nod as the AL catcher. Thus far Avila is leading AL catchers in AVG, Doubles, RBI, & slugging percentage and is a solid source for HRs and runs. If you were able to pounce on Avila, you have been fortunate enough to latch hold of a solid backstop for the rest of the season. Expect him to get the occasional day off allowing Victor Martinez behind the plate, but that only stands to minimize wear and tear on him and keep him fresh through the dog days of summer.
First Baseman-Chances are you haven't parted ways with your original draft pick at the deepest fantasy position this year, but that doesn't mean there haven't been solid options to add to the depth of your team from the first base position. A slow start and a stint on the DL may have resulted in Adam Lind being available and he has come back and been a beast at the plate. His power has tapered off lately but you can expect a strong average and another fifteen homers in the second half.
Other first baseman(and first base eligible batters) could have been key contributors to your team. Guys like Justin Smoak, Michael Morse, Carlos Pena, and Michael Cuddyer have likely been available and if you are able to grab them when they are hot you can ride their production up the standings.
Second Baseman-Everyone expected Danny Espinosa to hit with power from second base but few people saw him for his across the board production. He is already on the cusp of surpassing his projections for RBI and stolen bases.
Daniel Murphy of the Mets has been playing very well in the absence of David Wright and will continue to get playing time due to his multiple position eligibility.
While they are losing at-bats of late players like Ryan Roberts, and Ty Wiggington have had hot streaks in the first half and players like this are capable of contributing to your team in short windows.
Third Baseman-No game changer jumps out at you as free agent options from the third base position. Several players like Murphy, Roberts and Wiggington are 3B eligible and along with other guys like Mike Aviles, and Maicer Izturis can fill in for stretches and help you through injuries.
Shortstops-Asdrubal Cabrera has catapulted himself in to the elite status of shortstops in the first half of 2010. Through the first half of the season he finds himself hitting nearly .300 while being in the top three shortstops in hits, runs, home runs, and RBI while stealing twelve bases. Many are already comparing his fielding to Omar Vizquel and he should be a mainstay in Cleveland for many years to come.
They can't be counted on to provide power but Darwin Barney and Jamey Carroll have been hot in the first half both logging over 80 hits.
Outfielders-Lance Berkman was likely a late round draft pick or may have been overlooked all together, but he is on the roster of many top fantasy squads at the mid-way point. Berkman has been hanging out at first base of late, but will be finding his way back to the outfield with the return of Albert Pujols. In the first half he is third in HRs for an outfielder while driving in more than sixty runs and is nearly hitting .300.
Michael Morse caught fire early in the season and finds himself contributing in several categories in the world of fantasy baseball.
Jeff Francoeur has been his own worst enemy in years past, pushing himself too hard, but he has put a solid first half together. While he isn't going to hit .300, he should continue to be a contributor in each of the other categories going into the second half.
Tomorrow I will discuss the surprises in the first half on the mound.
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