By Andy Behrens
June 11, 2008
• Roto Arcade blog
 Let's just be clear from the start: you can't fully replace Albert Pujols' contributions to your fantasy team.
If that strained left calf forces him to the disabled list -- and at the moment, a DL stint seems overwhelmingly likely -- then you'll need to identify the categories of greatest importance and focus on those. We could offer up a list of widely-available first basemen that begins with Aubrey Huff and ends with Lyle Overbay, but none of the players on such a list can actually deliver Pujolsian numbers. It would be a useless exercise. The essential thing to do when an elite player gets hurt is to figure out what they were providing that you can least afford to do without, and attempt to replace that. For instance, it's entirely possible that your team needs Pujols' run-scoring a whole lot more than it needs his batting average, or his home runs. The best strategic move for your specific roster might be to add a non-first baseman, then execute an elaborate fantasy wheel play, shifting resources. All we care about in fantasy leagues is our performance within statistical categories, not roster positions.
That said, an injured Pujols is clearly a huge problem. He's utterly dominant in four of the five standard hitting categories. (Video of the injury here. He appears to be dying of calf soreness). You can't just throw Chris Duncan at this predicament, although that's what the Cardinals are forced to do. Viva El Birdos has an excellent take on Duncan today:
"It's obviously the most sensible, easiest move, but I wonder if it's really the right one. Duncan was sent down to Memphis in order to try and get his stroke back, in a lower pressure environment, with less of the microscope that comes with failing at the major league level. He hasn't done that. He's played six games total since being optioned, (and isn't starting against left handed pitchers there, either) and is currently hitting .190 without a homer. That's not exactly indicative of a player who has his stroke back." It's worth noting that without Pujols, that Cardinals' lineup is an unintimidating group. For interested streamers, they'll face Johnny Cueto today, Bronson Arroyo on Thursday, Kyle Kendrick on Friday, Adam Eaton on Saturday, and Brett Myers on Sunday...also an unintimidating group.
For the record, here's the Cardinals' lineup tonight, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch... Schumaker, lf
Miles, 2b
Ludwick, rf
Ankiel, cf
Glaus, 3b
Duncan, 1b
LaRue, c
Looper, p
Ryan, ss They'll be without Pujols for at least three weeks. The Post-Dispatch reports that the injury is a "moderate strain." Don't expect Pujols to be DL-eligible in fantasy leagues until he's officially placed on the real-life DL by St. Louis. That may not happen until Thursday. --- Updatier: Naturally, the Pujolsless Cardinals score 10 runs, and they maul Cueto. Andy Behrens has written for ESPN.com, the Chicago Sports Review, NBA.com, the Chicago Reader and various other publications. In all likelihood, Andy owns more Artis Gilmore memorabilia than you. Send Andy a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast. Send Andy a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast. Updated on Thursday, Jun 12, 2008 12:20 am, EDT Email to a Friend | View Popular
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