Toolbox

Sporting News, The, July 12, 2004 by Rob Hurtt

Owners always are looking for mistakes pickups who can put their teams over the top. They spend hours scouring the wires and trolling for trade partners in search of the final piece in a championship run. The difference-maker this year, however, could be TSN Fantasy Source's midseason addition: the Trend Center.

This new tool, a juiced-up version of sortable stats, is unlike anything fantasy owners ever have seen. It compares a player's performance with the major league norm. Users also can compare a player's current production with what he has done in the past to get an idea of whether his hot (or cold) streak will continue.

If you're looking for help in a specific category, sort your results by that stat. Searching for the best overall player? Trend Center can show a player's total 5x5 production. Time frames also can be adjusted, so it's a cinch to see which players have been the best over the past week or the past two months. Even better, the results can be shown both in numerical form and in charts. If Casey Blake is on a tear, the chart will show his stock rising as his production increases.

Because this tool relies on average production per plate appearance or inning pitched, it can uncover players who are performing better than their overall numbers indicate. If these guys get more playing time in the second half, they could be the sleepers who will vault your team to a title.

To try the Trend Center, visit fantasysource. sportingnews.com.