Updating All-Arkansas fantasy baseball team

I admire greatly people who can turn a negative into a positive, a characteristic which demands an update for our All-Arkansas fantasy baseball team.

Welcome back, Drew Smyly.

THIRD BASE

Brian Anderson (Miami Marlins)

The headline read “Grand slam by Anderson not enough” in loss by Miami.

The Marlins are an awful franchise and Anderson (16 HRs, 52 RBIs, . 245 BA) may be the team’s best player in only his third season in the major leagues.

You’ll know he’s reached elite status when the Marlins decide to trade him for cash or minor leaguers who fail to develop.

SECOND BASE

Logan Forsythe

(Texas Rangers)

Texas values Forsythe, a free agent addition who has played multiple positions in 74 games with the Rangers.

So do we.

LEFT FIELD

Andrew Benintendi (Boston Red Sox)

The Red Sox are struggling this season, but Benintendi (11 HRs, 54 RBIs, .281 avg.) is still a star and the centerpiece on our All-Arkansas team.

He’s only 25, folks, and already owns a World Series ring.

CATCHER

James McCann (Chicago White Sox) McCann had a message for the Detroit Tigers, who cut him loose after four seasons.

“I want to beat them 19 times a year,” McCann told a reporter in Chicago after he signed with the White Sox.

Chicago is 5-3 this season against Detroit, which has the worst record in the major leagues. McCann has cooled off (.278, 12 HRs, 33 RBI) after a fast start but he’s still hitting 60 points higher than he did in his last season with Detroit.

McCann, 29, made the American League all-start team and had a hit in his only plate appearance in the game.

SHORTSTOP

Matt Reynolds (Triple-A Fresno/Washington Nationals)

Reynolds is having a strong season at Fresno, where he’s batting .293 with 12 home runs and 46 RBI.

Reynolds is only 28, so there’s still time for him to make it back to the major leagues, where he’s played in 127 games.

FIRST BASE

Chad Spanberger (Double-A New Hampshire/ Toronto Blue Jays)

Spanberger needs to make more contact (10 HRs, 47 RBIs, .218 BA) but Toronto likes the potential of the 23-year-old first baseman.

“He impacts the ball as loud as anyone in our system,” Toronto Blue Jays Director of Player Development Gil Kim told MLB.com earlier this season. “Right now, it’s about becoming more consistent with his approach at the plate, but he’s a hard worker and we’re excited about him.”

CENTER FIELD

Jonathan Davis (Toronto Blue Jays)

Davis’ diving catch in center field near the wall was ranked No. 1 by ESPN for the week of May 27-June 2. But he must improve at the plate, where he’s batting .140 in 52 plate appearances.

RIGHT FIELD

Forrestt Allday Lincoln Salt Dogs/American Association

Craig Gentry retired after 10 years in the majors, which left us scrambling for another outfielder.

We’ll go with Allday, the former Central Arkansas star and a career minor leaguer who describes himself on his Twitter page as “just an average guy with exceptional hair.”

That’s good enough for our All-Arkansas team, which is quite average this season, hair or no hair.

STARTING PITCHER

Dallas Keuchel (Atlanta Braves)

Even a former Cy Young winner needs some spring training work before being fully prepared to face major league hitters.

Keuchel signed with the Braves on June 7 after leaving Houston last season as a free agent. He dropped to 3-4 with Atlanta heading into Saturday’s start against Cincinnati.

STARTING PITCHER

Drew Smyly (Philadelphia Phillies)

Texas gave up three weeks ago on Smyly, who was trying to make a comeback from Tommy John surgery.

“I think it’s just best for him, and honestly best for us, to just have him move on,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward told reporters after Smyly was released.

Oh, he’s moved on all right. Woodward can check the boxscore from July 31, when Smyly pitched seven scoreless innings in a 4-2 victory over San Francisco.

Smyly admits he wasn’t good in Texas and the Phillies could benefit greatly by giving him another chance.

RELIEF PITCHER

Blake Parker (Philadelphia Phillies)

Parker pitched a scoreless inning last week in his debut with Philadelphia, where he joined Drew Smyly.

Parker hopes to regain his effectiveness after leaving Minnesota, where he was 1-2 with 10 saves and a 4.21 ERA. I’ll always remember Parker as player who ripped off the catcher’s gear and made a successful transition to the mound.

That’s hard to do, even in Little League.