Nick Fruscello: Hello again and welcome to Fantasy Friday...the 13th! As the weather starts to get hotter, so do the baseball season, along with tempers. Doug Mientkiewicz and Randy Johnson got into it, Milton Bradley stormed up to the broadcaster booth looking for a Royals announcer that make remarks about him that he didn't appreciate and the D-Rays got into a fight with each other. With the more physical sports a few months away, its good to see a little agression and fight in baseball. Also, this past week Albert Pujols owners were dealt a big blow as he strained his left calf and will out for the next 3-4 weeks. You don't replace a guy like Pujols, but then again there is a lot of good first basemen out there that are capable of filling a hole in your lineup.

NeedHelp: My trades keep getting vetoed in my Yahoo league. Is there anything I can do about that?

Nick Fruscello: Its a bad situation to be in, but I don't think there's anything you can do. Majority rules in most Yahoo leagues and if most of the league doesn't think its fair then, its not happening. It get frustrating, but try making a similar deal and add or subtract players from it and see if the rest of the league goes for it.

mazer9: Jeremy Guthrie or Gavin Floyd?

Nick Fruscello: That's a tough one. Floyd has been getting better and better each start and he's starting to look like the 4th overall pick in the 2001 draft. But Guthrie, aside from last night's start, has looked very impressive this season and should produce solid numbers throughout the year. The x-factor in all this that Floyd has a much better team around him in the White Sox. He'll get run support, he'll get wins and he's a really tough pitcher to pass on right now. He's just playing too good. Get Floyd and if you can get Guthrie.

mazer9: Thome? Keep? Drop?

Nick Fruscello: Its tough to get a read on him. He's hitting .219 right now, which typically is waiver wire material, but he has 13 homers and 33 RBI's. Not great numbers, but my point is when he does make contact big things happen. Career wise, Thome has been a pretty solid hitter so I expect his average to climb back up around 270-280 and he'll finish with over 30 HR's and close to 100 RBI's. Not great, but not bad either. I'd keep him unless you find someone that will eclipse those numbers.

mazer9: Bedard and Soriano (cubs) for Brandon Webbb?

Nick Fruscello: Wow, Mazer. That's a pretty impressive trade offer. Why don't I get trades like these in my leagues?? Soriano is, of course, injured and is supposed to be out 4-6 weeks, although he believes he'll be back before then. Bedard, along with the whole M's team, is having a rough start to the season. I really believe that Bedard will come on strong in the second half and there's whispers about him being traded to a contender already. However Webb is the best pitcher in the NL right now. He's 11-2, well on his way to winning 20 games. If I were you, I'd like to see more in exchange for Webb. You don't trade your best pitcher for a struggling ace and a guy on the DL.

BronxBombers: I have Pudge as my catcher and I feel comfortable with him there, but Ryan Doumit is really hot right now. Which one will finish with better stats?

Nick Fruscello: I really hate to recommend a Pirate, but Doumit at the catcher position is extremely valuable. The numbers he's posted so far this season are tremendous and if you can get those kind of numbers from a catcher, you're in really good shape. Pudge is reliable, but his numbers aren't all that great and he's not much different than what's on waivers right now. Drop Pudge for Doumit and ride the hot streak while it lasts.

BronxBombers: I was offered Jose Guillen for Prince Fielder and I laughed when I first saw it, but now I'm thinking about it. What do you think?

Nick Fruscello: I wouldn't do it. Even though Fielder has had a rough start to his season, Fielder's worst year (28 HR's and 81 RBI's) isn't too far off from Guillen's best year (27 HR's and 104 RBI's). Guillen is riding a hot streak right now while Fielder is starting get back into last years' form. Go with your first impression and reject it.

Jason_Bay_Voorhees: Josh Hamilton is the man! Are you impressed with his performance this year?

Nick Fruscello: Who wouldn't? Considering everything he's overcome in his past and is now leading the AL in homers and the whole league in RBI's is a great story. Hamilton is the AL MVP at this point and I can't say I'm really that surprised. I was telling fantasy owners back in April about his hot spring and how owners should snatch him up asap.

Jason_Bay_Voorhees: Is Chipper Jones going to finish the season above the elusive .400 mark?

Nick Fruscello: I doubt it. Hitting .400 at the end of the season has eluded hitters like Todd Helton , Tony Gwynn and John Olerud who are better average hitters than Chipper. He'll probably win the batting title this year, but it'll be at 300 something.

malkin71: I heard rumors about my boy going to LA. We NEED Geno!

Nick Fruscello: I heard those same rumors on NHL radio and ESPN 1250, Malkin for Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. In my opinion, it would be a great deal for the Pens. Kopitar is almost every bit as good as Malkin (yes, that's right) and Dustin Brown is a lock for 40-50 goals in the next few seasons. Two good players for one? It'd be an easy choice for me. I have bad feeling though that Malkin will sign and will sign for a lot of money and cause cap problems down the road.

malkin71: Did you see they mispelled Lidstrom's name on the awards show last night? Is the NHL garbage or what??

Nick Fruscello: I did see that. Its only the 6th time in 7 years that he's won it. Apparently he still hasn't made a big enough name for himself yet. Blame Canada

Jason_Bay_Voorhees: Ryan Doumit is playing his position right now like Mike Piazza in his glory days. Is it worth dropping Geovany Soto for him?

Nick Fruscello: I don't think I would go to that extreme for Doumit. Exchanging a serviceable catcher for Doumit is one thing, but Soto has proved himself this year to be more than serviceable. Keep Soto.

Jason_Bay_Voorhees: What the H is up with Derrek Lee? He started the season off so hot, but lately he hasn't been getting me much at all.

Nick Fruscello: Lee has definately fallen on hard times as of late. He finished May with a 234 average and is hitting 205 as of right now in June. Players get into slumps and I know he'll get out of his. A couple years ago he almost won the triple crown (average, HR, RBI's). He's far too good of a hitter to stay in this slump for much longer.

Clueless: I have good alternatives. Jay Bruce only 9 for 27 in the last week, and his productivity has fallen way off. Do I think about benching him?

Nick Fruscello: I wouldn't. They have a bunch of home games coming up at the hitter friendly Great American Ballpark. Give the guy a chance, he may have just needed a day off.

malkin71: Really??? Kopitar almost as good as Malkin?! I've never even heard of the guy!

Nick Fruscello: Just because you never heard of him, doesn't mean he isn't any good. That's the problem with west coast teams, you never really get to see them very often because they're usually playing while you're asleep. Kopitar scored 32 goals and 45 assists with the lowly Kings and played the Sharks, Stars and Ducks each 8 times, who are all very good defensive teams. Plus the Red Wings and Wild 4 times each. Kopitar is a monster and if he played for anyone other than the Kings people would know a lot more about this guy.

theWellHungarian: Hi Nick-- I posed this question to Bob Smizik earlier in the week, however I find him to be an idiot & I value your opinion more ... What do you think about Pittsburgh having an MLS team & getting rid of the Pirates? I'm sure all it would take is a few minor renovations to PNC Park. My reasoning is I think an expansion team in any other league is closer to a championship than the Buccos will ever be & The Pirates fan base is starting to die off

Nick Fruscello: HA! I did read you and him going back and forth on this in his transcript earlier in the week. I think it would be an interesting idea and you're right, an expansion team is closer to a championship than the Pirates, but there isn't a lot of interest in soccer right now. Baseball is a more popular sport in this country and will generate more money. I wouldn't mind seeing an MLS team in Pittsburgh, however I don't think they should get rid of the Pirates in exchange for one.

Clueless: To make room for Peavy coming off the DL, who would you release, Laffey, Floyd, Oswalt or Harang or an extra closer such as Ryan, Gregg or Capps?

Nick Fruscello: I'd drop Laffey. Floyd, Oswalt and Harang are too good to drop and all of those closers are solid and nothing is worse than to try to fill a bad closer position and trying out different guys and watching them kill your ERA.

theWellHungarian: Following the Euro 2008 at all?

Nick Fruscello: Nope, can't say that I am.

Clueless: In a very thin 12-team league, I was offerred Lincecum for Reyes. I could move Guillen to SS, though that really hurts my flexibility, and I really hate dealing an every day player for a starter. But my pitching stinks partly because of Harang! Would you like Lackey for Reyes any better?

Nick Fruscello: Harang will come around either with the Reds or another team. Your starting pitching is actually pretty good, they're just not playing up their potential right now. If those guys can get it together and return to their usual form, you'll regret trading a player like Reyes for another pitcher. Hold onto Reyes, he's played really well the past couple months and he's one of the best sources of steals you can have.

theWellHungarian: My pitching stats are awesome. My batting stinks. My friend has offered me Vernon Smells for Cole Hamels. I have a great staff: Erv Santana, C. Zambrano, AJ Burnett, Pete Martinez, Liriano (still stashed), and others ... Should I do it?

Nick Fruscello: Vernon Smells... I like it. No, I wouldn't trade a top tier pitcher for an average hitter just because you're desperate for hitting. Helping the other guy fill his needs at your expense is never a good idea. If you need hitting, scan the waiver wire for a hot bat and hope he stays that way. That was my approach last year and it worked out pretty well for me.

theWellHungarian: i just read Kopitar's wikipedia page & saw his stats ... You're right ... When can I pick up your resume to drop off to Mario to take over for Ray Shero?

Nick Fruscello: HA!! Well I wouldn't go that far... yet.