It happens every spring.  MLB clubs head into the new season filled with all of the promise and excitement that a new year brings.  Injured players are healthy, dissapointing performance are forgotten and optimism rules the day. Unfortunately, many also begin the new campaign focused more on finances than the standings and thus, head into battle without a full arsenal of weaponry.

Without going into all of the legal issues surrounding the MLB arbitration process, suffice to say that the most important element is service time; specifically, days on a Major League roster.  If a rookie that would normally be eligible for arbitration after two years is held back until the end of May, he cannot be credited with the service time required for a full season.  Therefore, the big payday usually gained through arbitration is delayed by a full calendar year.

On the surface, it seems like sound, fiscal planning by the big clubs; a strategy carried out for years.  However, after drilling down a little deeper, you discover a very seedy. three-card-monte type of scam with MLB fans as its victims.   While these franchises knowingly and intentionally fail to put their best product on the field, their loyal supporters continue to be charged top ticket prices for an inferior product.  The nerve required to perpetrate this bait-and-switch is exceeded only by the gall needed by the GM to keep a straight face as he proclaims the player in question to suddenly be of Major League skill level at the same time the deadline passes.

Over the course of the last two weeks, four such prospects; each having had some aspect of their game questioned by management, took up prominent positions with the parent club without so much as a small hiccup.  In San Francisco, Buster Posey seems to stroke two hits a day as he’s become the best run producer on the offensively challenged Giants.  Michael Stanton, professional baseball’s leading home run hitter with 21, has seamlessly worked his way into the Marlins’ lineup with 5 RBI over his first 5 games.  Friday, the Indians called up Carlos Santana whose .310 BA and 51 RBI apparently were not enough to unseat the light hitting Lou Marson over the first two months.  Santana, incidentally, was the Tribe’s number three hitter all weekend and poked his first HR on Saturday.

Then, of course, there’s Stephen Strasburg.  Nationals’ brass, somehow managing not to laugh, voiced their concern about the phenom’s ability to pitch from the stretch.  As he ripped through Double a and Triple A, the pressure to promote him grew; but not enough to make the Nats’ flinch.  Finally, on June 8th, Strasburg got the call and lit up the baseball world with a 14 K performance.  Good luck finding anyone that believes Strasburg couldn’t have done that in April.

Three decades ago, MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn would have stepped in and put an end to this fraud under the credo that it was not in the best interest of the game.  Unfortunately, today’s commissioner, Bud Selig, is the errand boy for ownership, having been a member of the club, himself.  As a matter of fact, the Milwaukee Brewers, run by Selig’s daughter, pulled the same nonsense three years ago with Ryan Braun. As it’s unlikely that an empty suit such as Selig will ever rule against his brother owners, expect the nonsense to continue; while fans pay through the nose to watch inferior talent.

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Buy Low- Here’s an idea.  Find a Yankee fan, commiserate with him about Javy Vasquez’s high ERA and the silly notion that he can’t win in New York. Then, steal him away and laugh all the way to September.  Vasquez is a strikeout machine who’s won four straight.  That he pitches for an offensive juggernaut makes him more attractive.  In Houston, Carlos Lee is in the midst of rebounding from an awful start.  He’s still only at .225, so you might find a frustrated trading partner.

Sell High- Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena recently homered in six straight.  Pray that it camouflages his miserable .185 BA and dump him on the unsuspecting.  With the wheels coming off of the White Sox bandwagon, look for Bobby Jenks to be moved. A marginal closer with a poor K ratio, Jenks is more likely to be used as a setup man should he be traded.

Grab Bag- With Jason Bartlet on the DL in Tampa, 2B Sean Rodriguez has begun to emerge.  The big name for the Rays in last year’s Scott Kazmir deal, Rodriguez is a power hitter who’s lifted his average to .270.  Gaby Sanchez has done nothing but hit during his rise through the Marlins, system.  Now, he’s in the two hole, feasting on a diet of fastballs hitting in front of Hanley Ramirez.

Drop Zone- Time to pull the plug on Aaron Hill.  It’s a mystery, now, as to what was in Toronto’s water last year but, whatever it was, it’s gone. He no longer warrants a spot in your lineup. Ever since rumors surfaced about possible PED use, Colorado’s Todd Helton has become more of a high average hitter with little pop.  Now, the average is gone, too, rendering him almost useless.

No position has undergone more change over the last decade than the Middle Infield. Long a collection of slap hitting, base stealers and the occasional power guy, it saw drastic change with the emergence of big guns like Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, Jeff Kent and Barry Larkin.  Even marginal, late round options like Jose Valentin were good for better than 20 HR.

However, retirement, injury and position change have all been factors in depleting the ranks of the Middle Infielders that’ll give you a boost in the power department.  While some do remain, (Hanley Ramirez and Chase Utley will cost you a first rounder), for the most part, many Fantasy Baseball owners will settle for the mid-round options that produce low, double-digit HR’s, a solid BA and a decent number of SB.  The trick is, to find that one player who could break the mold and give you a top tier performance for a second tier price.

Fantasy Stars

-  Unless you’ve got one of the first two picks, you can forget Hanley Ramirez.  After that, Troy Tulowitzki and Jose Reyes top the Shortstop list but neither is a sure thing. Tulo comes off a terrific season but Fantasy Baseball owners still bear the burn marks from his disastrous ’08 season.  New York Mets’ star, Reyes, is not only coming off of a campaign lost to injury but was just cleared to play after a thyroid condition sidelined him for most of camp.  Don’t reach for either.  On the other side of the bag, Utley and Ian KInsler are the cream of the crop but Cincinnati Reds’ second sacker, Brandon Phillips, may be the best value.  He’s a guaranteed 20-20 from a position where that’s rare and he bats cleanup.  Going with that theory, we’d also have to add Robinson Cano of the New York Yankees, as he’s been moved to the five hole of that very potent lineup.

Fantasy Sleepers

- Cleveland’s Asdrubal Cabrera had a terrific season and gives you the added benefit of dual eligibility.  Look for him to ring up double digit HR.  Rickie Weeks makes his annual appearance on the Moonlight Fantasy Sleeper list; this time coming off of a wrist injury.  He opened ’09 stronger than he ever has, only to be felled, once again, by injury.  He’s been healthy throughout the spring and, at 27, could finally deliver the production Milwaukee’s been waiting for since he first came up.  As late as he’ll go, his 20-20- potential makes him worth a selection.

Fantasy Slippers

- The Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins continues to go relatively high for a guy whose stats have slipped so much in two years.  While he’s still a top option at the position, his sub .300 OBP last season is cause for serious concern.  Let someone else reach for him too early. In Baltimore, Brian Roberts is battling back problems that have plagued him throughout camp and will likely cost him SB when he returns.

Fantasy Stiffs

- Even in an NL only league, do everything you can to avoid Luis Castillo.  The BA and SB he posted last year, modest as it was, will disappear as he moves back behind Jose Reyes and gives up AB to sacrifice bunts. Forget a bump in RBI in the new/old spot, as outfielders play at Little League depth when he’s up and no one can score from second on a base hit.  At shortstop, Seattle’s Jack Wilson simply can’t hit or get on base anymore.  He slumped to .250/.290 in those categories last year and failed to reach the 100 hit mark.  Stick a fork in old Jack.

Moonlight Graham’s Top Ten Fantasy Middle Infielders

Hanley Ramirez                                            Chase Utley

Troy Tulowitzki                                            Ian Kinsler

Jose Reyes                                                  Brandon Phillips

Ben Zobrist                                                  Aaron Hill

Yunel Escobar                                               Dustin Pedroia

Jimmy Rollins                                                Ben Zobrist

Derek Jeter                                                  Jose Lopez

Jason Bartlett                                               Brian Roberts

Alexei Ramirez                                              Rickie Weeks

Stephen Drew                                               Dan Uggla

Got a call the other day from Jack Sullivan, proprietor of The Big Steins in the Hausier’s Krowedum Rotisserie League and proud owner of the second and sixth picks in the upcoming HKRL Fantasy Baseball Draft.  Jack had just started his draft prep by going over a few mock drafts and Top 100 lists.  He was surprised to find Joe Mauer listed no higher than 12th on any of the material he was studying and had a question for me. “Now, with the second pick, Hanley Ramirez is a no-brainer. But, with the sixth pick, I want Joe Mauer.”  “The list I’m looking at has him listed 12th but I’m not sure he even lasts until number 6.  Am I crazy?”

Well, Jackson, one could make the argument that, in fact, you are; especially after your tragic decision to waive Jason Kubel just a day after last year’s draft.  But, in this case, you’re right on the mark with Kubel’s teammate, the great Joe Mauer.  As a matter of fact, the rationale behind your first pick confirms Mauer as worthy of a mid-first round choice.

In most drafts, Albert Pujols is the logical first choice.  Ramirez usually goes second, not so much because his statistics are markedly better than alternative choices such as Ryan Braun or Alex Rodriguez but due to the fact that he produces at their level while playing a very thin position.  Think about what your roster would look like were you to pick Braun.  You’d have a stud outfielder but would now be forced to dip down into the shortstop pool later on; let’s say to the 10th round where both Jason Bartlett and outfielder Nelson Cruz will be available.  Your team is obviously stronger with Ramirez and Cruz than with Braun and Bartlett.

The same logic must be applied to Mauer.  He’s a three time batting champ and the reigning MVP who, by the way, became a stud power hitter last year while batting .370.  Those stats put him in the first round no matter what his position.  That his is actually the weakest of all, you absolutely cannot afford to turn down his kind of production at that spot.  So, do you think you’re better off with Mauer and Joey Votto in the fifth round or with Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann?  Looks like an easy decision, Jack.  Good luck.

Catcher-Brian McCann noses out Geovany Soto for the nod as top backstop in the NL.   Despite an Atlanta lineup that had difficulty staying healthy and then lost Mark Teixeira, McCann stayed consistent all year.  His .301 BA, 23 HR and 87 RBI solidified his spot on top of the fantasy rankings headed into the 2009.

First Base-While Ryan Howard’s 46 HR and 148 RBI carried the Phils into the post season, it was Albert Pujols’ overall excellence that garners him the nod here. Albert posted an amazing .357 BA while smashing his usual 37 HR and 116 RBI.  That he did it all with an elbow that needed surgery is even more amazing.

Second Base-Philly’s Chase Utley seemed to lock up this honor by Memorial Day.  However, his slump during the middle months brought him back to the pack before his late season surge put him on top for good.  Look to grab his .292 BA, 33 HR and 104 RBI in the first round of next year’s draft.

Shortstop-Hanley Ramirez may have been the most productive Fantasy player across the board in the Major Leagues.  If only the Marlins would drop him from the leadoff spot and let him get 100 RBI.  As it was,  his .301 BA, 33 HR 125 R and 35 SB warrant the first pick of 2009.

Third Base-Wright.  The Mets’ third sacker has established a model of consistency that has almost become boring.  Even though his SB were down somewhat this year, he is still a top five pick in any league.

Outfield-Fresh off his being robbed of last year’s MVP award, the Rockies’ Matt Holliday set about raising his game.  While his 25 HR and 88 RBI were lower than expected because of a month lost to injury, his 28 SB and .321 BA made him one of the elite.  The subject of off season trade rumors, he’s a keeper no matter where he plays next season.  Carlos Beltran quietly provided another 25 HR 25 SB season while also knocking in 112 RBI and scoring 116 R.  Houston’s Lance Berkman split his time between 1B and OF and gains recognition here for his overall excellence.  On top of his .312 BA, 29 HR and 106 RBI he also posted 18 SB.

Starting Pitcher-If you were fortunate enough to draft Tim Lincecum, hang on to the youngster for as long as you can.  He had 18 W for a team that won only 70 and led the league in K by a wide margin; ringing up 265 batters.  Can’t wait to see his W totals as the Giants improve.

Relief Pitcher-Brad Lidge is an easy choice with 41 S in 41 chances while posting 92 K out of the bullpen.