Ryan Howard has a career OPS which jumps 168 points after the All-Star break.
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
The Home Run Derby is over, the All-Star game has been completed and you have been relaxing for the last couple of days with no lineups to change or boxscores to check, but now is not the time to relax.
This is an important time of year, both for real life general managers and fantasy general managers. Both have to make sure their rosters are set for the run to the finish and with trade deadlines approaching, it's no time to relax or let your mind wander to NFL training camps.
Sure, it's a fun to think about drafting Adrian Peterson or when to select Tom Brady, but there will be plenty of time for that in late August and September. Not now.
A couple of weeks ago I did a six-part series on those hitters who have a history of better second-half production than first half. You would be wise to go back and check the numbers out.
Knowing a player such as Jimmy Rollins, who has struggled mightily this season, has a career OPS 78 points higher in the second half could help you improve your squad. If he's on your team, you don't want to "give" him away because of his frustrating first half. If he's available for trade, you might get him for less than his expected second half value.
Or that Ryan Howard has a career OPS which jumps 168 points after the All-Star break. Or that Carlos Quentin who is just coming back from a long visit to the DL and might be available for trade at a reasonable price, has a career OPS 155 points higher after the break.
Below is a list of all hitters who have a second half OPS of at least 100 points above his pre-All-Star break OPS. But 100 points is just an artificial number, you should check out every player you are interested in to see what their history says about their second half production and adjust your rosters accordingly.
