O.K., so that there is no confusion, this is not an All-STAR team (that may come next).  But rather, this is a team composed of players that have been expecially nice surprises that the fantasy communities didn't see coming or expect back in spring training.  If you have more than 2 of these guys on your squads with your regular good contributers, my guess is you are near the top of your standings.  To help see part of the reason for these players being placed here, their pre-season rank and current rank will follow their names.  And again, these are my personal feelings; if you have other ideas please let your voice be heard.  With that, here is the MID-SEASON ALL-SURPRISE TEAM for 2011:

C: Alex Avila (Pre: 347- Current: 107) You could of waited until 22 other catchers were drafted last spring in your fantasy league before picking up this years number one catcher!  His line of 24-9-35-.301 has him at the top.  Bonus: 3 SB's too!

1B: Paul Konkerko (95-17)  Most first basemen have been near their projections.  This pick is based on the idea that no one talked as if Konkerko could repeat last years supreme performance at his age.  Most talked as if it were a fluke.  But his line of 32-16-52-.322 has no one talking that way now.  If you waited for 14 other 1B to be picked before getting Paul to start for you at 1B in the pre-season, kudos to you on your fantasy smarts.  He's currently the #4 ranked 1B in fantasy!

2B: Chase Utley (64-754)  O.k., those previous numbers might have you asking, huh?  This pick is based on no other 2B going way beyond their projections AND more importantly what was going on in pre-season.  As you recall, Utley couldn't play in the spring for mysterious leg and knee injuries.  He was on the DL for about 2 months.  There was talk that he might not be back.  When he was rehabbing, it was fielding grounders with no sign of running.  So now he has 80 major league at-bats under his belt.  Yes, he is at a respectable .275 with 3 HR's, but the numbers that stand out so far are 2 triples and 3 stolen bases, so that leg/knee sure had a great turnaround.  This return is surprising indeed!

3B:  Ryan Roberts (501-74)  For the price of the pre-season ranked #45 third baseman, you could of had the current #6 guy.  Although his 37- 10-28-9-.262 line isn't going to wow you too much, no one comes close to this kind of surprise at 3B.  Yes, maybe Bautista is a surprise that he is repeating last years feats, but we'll save him for the all-STAR team.

SS: Asdrubal Cabrera (190-16)  This kid is just raking, and I imagine carrying fantasy teams to great heights what with this kind of production from the pre-season #13th ranked shortstop.  His unexpected 41-12-43-.301 line not only had fantasy owners on top, but the Cleveland Indians too.  Currently the #2 ranked shortstop in fantasy.

LF: Alex Gordon (285-64)  There are other outfielders who could go here instead of Gordon, but I like to think I play 'real' fantasy baseball, and he is the top of the left field group.  Finally realizing his potential, Gordon comes in at a 38-7-36-5-.285 clip.  I could use to see a few more HR's and RBI's here, and if he played all his games at home I would.  His next step in his progression is to do it on the road.  Still, the pre-season #33 left fielder is giving us #8 overall numbers, so not bad.

CF: Curtis Granderson (103-4)  Not as big a rankings difference as others, still, from 104 to the #4 player overall!  Are you kidding me?  Never saw that coming after last years terrible batting average and drop off in stolen bases.  What do #4 overall numbers look like?  How about 56- 21-51-10-.282?  Damn Yankees!

RF:  Lance Berkman (283-22)  That pre-season 283 ranking was a result of people thinking the Cards putting Berkman in right field after last seasons numbers was akin to putting him out to pasture.  Well, give us more sheep if they are going to come in at 42-17-48-.318.  Did Dave Duncan refer to becoming the hitting coach what with this surprising turnaround?  These numbers have Berkman as the overall #3 right fielder in fantasy.

UTIL:  David Ortiz (140-14)  Another "old man" making good, he comes in at a 42-17-43-.321 clip and is a real life DH to boot.  So he really fits here.  Plus, most are truly surprised by those numbers.

SP: James Shields (213-25)  There are A LOT of surprising pitchers (as there is every year), such as A. Ogando and J. Jurrjens amongst others, but my favorite by far is Shields.  He got shelled last year, and no one believed in him, to the point that you could wait for 54 other starting pitchers to be taken in pre-season drafts before nabbing him.  But he has put up ace like numbers and helped the Rays contend in the AL East, which is a surprise what with their off-season losses.  Striking out 98 batters in 103 innings, I feel comfortable picking him despite "only" 6 wins so far.  He also sports a 2.60 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.  And when you see names like Halladay, Verlander, and Hamels next to his in the rankings, it's a pretty impressive surprise indeed.

RP: Joel Hanrahan (165-70)  Remember in the pre-season when it was going to be the Evan Meek show?  Sure, there was a spring training battle to be waged, but one got the impression that it was Meek's job to lose.  Well, he didn't lose it as much as Joel took it away.  And take it away he did, as he is only one save off the major league lead.  With the Pirates!  Along with those 19 saves, he sports a 1.39 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and 29 K's in 32 innings of work.  You could of taken 19 other relief pitchers ahead of him in the pre-season too.

So there it is, dissenters may now start having at me…..

Thanks Roy…that was a fun little project to do.

I agree with you about Johnny Damon, but it is FRUSTRATING too!  I want to see Desmond Jennings called up!!