Waiver wired: Add Ellis, Edmonds?

AMERICAN LEAGUE

MARK ELLIS, 2B, ATHLETICS

Running the Disney Marathon in January, I saw a plethora of creative signs. One that comes to mind recently: "Run like you stole something."

Enter Mark Ellis.

Not that this is a slow guy. He stole at least 21 bases three seasons in the minors. But he's never swiped more than 9 in a big league season. And now, he's running like he stole something - and it's usually second base.

Counting today's first-inning swipe, Ellis has four steals in the last five games and 11 for the season.

Does this mean, we're seeing the second-coming of Rickey Henderson in Oakland? Ha.

But Ellis is suddenly looking like a 20-20 guy (he has 9 HR so far), with outside 20-30 potential. And there's not too many folks like that still hanging around your waiver. He's also a great source of runs for you 5x5ers.

Take a look at what your 2B is doing lately. Or utility spot.

There's gotta be room for this power-hitting rabbit somewhere.


NATIONAL LEAGUE

JIM EDMONDS, OF, CUBS

I've been very up front to many of my colleagues here, I'm still not an Edmonds fan.

Yeah, he's helped my Cubbies win a few games, make a few spectacular catches, blah, blah, blah ... but I still look at him as a Cardinal. The enemy. (Growing up in central Illinois, you simply had to pick sides).

Maybe if Edmonds helps lead the North Siders to a World Series title, I can finally get the hated Redbird Edmonds taste out of my mind. Maybe. (It taste a little like feathers, btw).

Still, most of you probably don't have these psychological or emotional issues when you look at Edmonds' name on the wire.

Lou Piniella seems to love the guy, playing him virtually every day in center field. And even when Alfonso Soriano comes back, he's still probably getting all starts against righties.

Over the past month, Edmonds has ranked 41st of all OF in the Yahoo! game with 6 HR, 17 RBI, 10 runs and a .292 average.

I'll admit, tThose are nothing to shake a stick at.

Unless you're this Cubs fan.