April 8, 2008 - New Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter just doesn't get enough respect in fantasy circles. Even after he takes center stage in ESPN's Endless Drama promotional commercials, experts and publications have barely ranked him among the game's top 100 players. For the better part of two years now, I've been curious as to where the bias comes from.

Is speed potential (Hunter had 18 steals last year, by the way) a good reason to draft Corey Hart or Hunter Pence ahead of him? Is an infatuation with young players? Fear of injury? Batting average concerns? Something else?

Those are real questions, to which I'm not sure what the answers are. A five-category contributor has stared every fantasy owner in the face and been passed up for the likes of Hart, Pence, Bobby Abreu, Curtis Granderson and even Matt Kemp in preseason drafts. Nothing against those guys - they're all very nice players in their own right - but none offer the same kind of rounded production that Hunter does.

Playing all of his home games in a pitcher's haven in Minnesota, Hunter turned 20-20 potential into 30-20 potential, though he never actually did the latter. In his seven full seasons as a starter, the only time Hunter didn't eclipse 20 homers was in 2005 when his season was cut short with a broken bone in his left ankle. In the two seasons since, he has averaged nearly 30 home runs, 103 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

Perhaps Hunter's escape from Minnesota to the spotlight of LA will reveal the All-Star ability that Hunter has as in center field. Or perhaps this time next year, he will once again be undervalued and last until the seventh and eighth rounds of drafts. That's okay, though. Their loss is your gain.

And in other news ...

Jeter Has Sore Quad
Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter will miss Tuesday's series opener versus Kansas City with a strained left quadricep. It seems to be a point of contention with new Yankees manager Joe Girardi. Jeter feels he can go on Tuesday, Girardi has said no way. If the injury is slow to heel, this could become a bigger story.

Game-Winning Home Runs a Theme
Game-winning blasts were a common theme on Monday night, with Colorado's Matt Holliday, Los Angeles' Hunter and Houston's Miguel Tejada all delivering winning knocks in the late innings. For Hunter and Tejada, both in their first seasons with new clubs, the blasts were of the walk-off variety. Hunter hit a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to atone for a blown save by closer Francisco Rodriguez, and Tejada went to the opposite field for a two-run shot off Cardinals' reliever Kyle McClellan. Tejada also bailed out his team's closer, Jose Valverde, first saving a run with a diving stop on a groundball in the top half of the ninth, then winning it for Houston in the bottom half.

Speaking of Francisco Rodriguez
He seems to believe that his sore ankles will be cause for a trip to the disabled list. He had to leave the Angels' win over Cleveland last night after aggravating the injury and blowing a 2-0 lead. If Rodriguez is to miss time, which manager Mike Scioscia told the Los Angeles Times was likely for at least 3-4 days, Scot Shields and Justin Speier could share closing duties. If you're gambling on one or the other, Shields should be your guy.

Prediction Time
This is the beginning of the end for the St. Louis Cardinals. ... The same point is on the immediate horizon for the Baltimore Orioles. ... The Tigers will finish no better than third place in the American League Central. They have too many pitching issues for their bats to have gotten off to such a slow start. Things get no easier as Detroit opens a three-game series in Boston. ... The Dodgers will win the National League West, and the Diamondbacks will win the Wild Card over the Phillies and Braves. ... After making a valiant run, the Toronto Blue Jays will finish just behind the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees and just ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East.