Each year, I choose a particular team who is, honestly, God awful. The team has to have consistently bad or sub-par seasons with little to no stars. The past few years I have been following the Royals, Nationals, and Pirates, hoping to see fantasy player surprises, game upsets, and playoff pushes. Last year, the Padres went a run with really good pitches and no-name position players.
This year, the Baltimore Orioles are my team to watch. I've always been interested in the Orioles. From the orange and black unis, to legends like Cal Ripken Jr. and Frank Robinson. The last time the Orioles were a threat, they had the power of Javy Lopez, Rafael Palmeiro, in his prime Miguel Tejada, and Mike Mooooosina in the early 2000's. They since have had sub-par seasons, riddled with injuries, bad pitching, and bad free-agent signings (remember when the Orioles signed Sammy Sosa for 5 minutes?).
But this season, I am excited. I look at the lineup, and, on paper, it looks powerful. The infield is good for 80-90 home runs. Derrek Lee, Brian Roberts, JJ hardy, and Mark Reynolds. Power hitters, yes. Injury prone, yes. The outfield is solid with power from Luke Scott and Nick Markakis, with the athletic Adam Jones roaming center. All this offense anchored by up-and-coming young buck Matt Weiters. On paper, this team looks to put up as many runs at the Tigers were projected to back in the day (1000 for the season?!). AND, they signed Vlad Guerrero to DH. Vlad's critics were silenced when he KILLED in Texas. The Orioles' pitching is young, but Brian Matusz is going to be really good and the Orioles bolstered their bullpen with Kevin Gregg. The hiring of BuckSho was a underrated one. Showalter should be able to right many wrongs inside the organization. He turned around the D-backs in the late 90's and did not have enough time to dig Texas out of its hole in the early 2000's. I believe with some better pitchers and youth, he can turn a bottom dweller to a respectable club in a few seasons.
So many home runs, so many runs scored. It's hard to believe that the Orioles will be last in the AL East. BUT, they are in the same division as the Yanks, Sawx, Rays, and the Toronto Lumberjacks. I see Baltimore still ending in last place in the East season, but look for their games won to improve, as well as their HR totals, run totals, and bases stolen. Last season's 66-96 should turn into a record between 75-87 and 80-82. As with the Rams under Mike Martz, the Orioles will be fun to watch, but not the perennial contender they could be with better pitching. All Hail the Greatest Sho on Earth!
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Thursday, March 03, 2011
Miguel Cabrera
Instead of just focusing on fantasy primers like yahoo, I am going to devote my writing to baseball topics and then include relevant fantasy info. That seems the way to go so I don't burn myself out this year.
Miguel Cabrera. MLB MVP candidate. Tigers 1st baseman and HR/RBI machine. Dabbler in the drink. These things aptly describe one of the best 1st baseman in the MLB. In essence, Miguel Cabrera has a drinking problem and needs help. With 2 strikes (DUIs) under his belt, he's one strike away from being called out and sent to the slammer. This needs to be fixed, big time. I heard recently that there was talk of Miggy have a "sponser" or teammate to tail him to make sure he doesn't partake in any more DUIs. I don't think sponsership is enough. If I am Jim Leyland, or the Tigers organization, I sit Miggy down and say the following:
"Fix this, or you're benched."
Harsh? maybe. Necessary? Definitely. Miggy is the cornerstone of the Tiger's offense and of the Tigers organization. Players drink all the time. But you NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DO SO. Don't drive. It's that simple. Miggy doesn't have the money for a cab? Or a friend can't let him pass out in the back seat of his Escalade? Are Escalade's out of style yet? Cause they should be. Anyway, Miggy is already 28. He's an adult. He should understand the consequences of these actions. But apparently, he doesn't. It cause him to show up late to spring training. He needs to get sober. And fast. With Morneau and Nathan coming back to the Twins, the Tigers are going to need more than Victor Martinez to spring them ahead of the Twins for the Central. They need Miggy's leadership and numbers. And the Tigers won't get them if Miggy ends up in the local jail cell. The Tigers need to AGGRESSIVELY push Miggy to get clean.
As for a fantasy perspective, Miggy's numbers should be amazing as normal. Watch this spring to see how he reacts to the media attention. Let's see if all this attention and drama takes a toll on him. I know he's a big guy, but he was looking kinda husky in today's Braves v. Tigers game. I am sure he will be ready for the regular season and let's see if this second DUI is a driving force for another MVP-type season. He should be a lock for 35 HR, 110 RBI, 90 runs, and a .300+ BA.
Miguel Cabrera. MLB MVP candidate. Tigers 1st baseman and HR/RBI machine. Dabbler in the drink. These things aptly describe one of the best 1st baseman in the MLB. In essence, Miguel Cabrera has a drinking problem and needs help. With 2 strikes (DUIs) under his belt, he's one strike away from being called out and sent to the slammer. This needs to be fixed, big time. I heard recently that there was talk of Miggy have a "sponser" or teammate to tail him to make sure he doesn't partake in any more DUIs. I don't think sponsership is enough. If I am Jim Leyland, or the Tigers organization, I sit Miggy down and say the following:
"Fix this, or you're benched."
Harsh? maybe. Necessary? Definitely. Miggy is the cornerstone of the Tiger's offense and of the Tigers organization. Players drink all the time. But you NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE IF YOU DO SO. Don't drive. It's that simple. Miggy doesn't have the money for a cab? Or a friend can't let him pass out in the back seat of his Escalade? Are Escalade's out of style yet? Cause they should be. Anyway, Miggy is already 28. He's an adult. He should understand the consequences of these actions. But apparently, he doesn't. It cause him to show up late to spring training. He needs to get sober. And fast. With Morneau and Nathan coming back to the Twins, the Tigers are going to need more than Victor Martinez to spring them ahead of the Twins for the Central. They need Miggy's leadership and numbers. And the Tigers won't get them if Miggy ends up in the local jail cell. The Tigers need to AGGRESSIVELY push Miggy to get clean.
As for a fantasy perspective, Miggy's numbers should be amazing as normal. Watch this spring to see how he reacts to the media attention. Let's see if all this attention and drama takes a toll on him. I know he's a big guy, but he was looking kinda husky in today's Braves v. Tigers game. I am sure he will be ready for the regular season and let's see if this second DUI is a driving force for another MVP-type season. He should be a lock for 35 HR, 110 RBI, 90 runs, and a .300+ BA.
I'm back! For a second...post?
Ok. So I was a lazy bum and only did one blog entry when I created this blog. Work and marriage are alot on your plate when you want to write a blog. But, I am back. And time to discuss MLB 2011!!!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Hey everybody! Sorry for the delay in posts, work and school have me crazy busy.
I first want to relay to you, the viewers, what theory and perspective I use in analyzing fantasy baseball. I call it: The Nick Braun School of Baseball. Plain and simple, I look at the player’s surroundings: his supporting cast, the ballpark, etc. The first example of NBSB is Robinson Cano. Solid player who had a great year last year. But, look at his supporting cast -> A+. In its opening year, Yankees Stadium had more balls hit out than the number of Toyotas that were recalled. He had a career year thanks to the Yankees and the new stadium. But...BUT...put him on the A’s, Royals, Pirates...or even the Nationals, Padres, or Orioles...I bet his numbers fall faster than the pants of a certain crowd’s bachelor party... What I am saying is: I think, “I” being the key word, believe a player’s value and production is correlated to his surroundings. A player in city A may actually be better if he plays in city B. Take Matt Holliday. He is a beast in St. Louis. But his numbers were even better in Colorado and HORRIFIC in Oakland. Take this into consideration when drafting each player. Adrian Gonzalez would be better in Philly or Texas, anybody would be worse out of Coors Field. And there you have it: the NBSB.
Alright, I am going to take different roads for many of my articles. This post I am going to discuss sleepers in this season’s draft. A “sleeper” is a player who may be unknown, in the minors, a bench player in the majors, or an up-and-coming talent. Someone who is not yet a star, may be, may not be, but who has the potential to win you your season. A sleeper has the POTENTIAL to be awesome. Again, key word: POTENTIAL. Each year for the past few years, I have given KC’s 3B Alex Gordon a chance because his potential breakout was supposed to be a big one. The problem with sleepers is: Gordon’s breakout...hasn’t happened yet. Check out players like last year’s Aaron Hill, Adam Lind, Randy Wells, Kendry Morales, and Nelson Cruz. These guys were sleepers at the beginning of last year’s season. Their careers had been ok (Aaron Hill), subpar (Morales and Cruz), or nonexistent (Lind and Wells). But, they all broke out and had unbelievable seasons. So the focus of this article is on this year’s sleepers. Everyone can draft Pujols, A-Rod, or Lincecum. But, what happens when the elite talent is gone around the 4th, 5th, or 6th rounds? You can go with proven veterans. But sometimes, you would rather reach for a sleeper’s POTENTIAL rather than settle for an aging veteran’s possible decline in numbers. So without further ado, your 2010 sleepers:
Catchers:
Kurt Suzuki: I know he is in Oakland, but he is entering the prime age of baseball talent (26-27). His HRs and RBIs have risen the past few years and he has room to improve. Suzuki can approach 20/10 status. You can get Suzuki in the later rounds and if he can repeat himself or more, his value will be way higher than his draft position.
Yadier Molina: I had him in a league last year and he was a huge help. The defensive Molina brother approached 10/10 and hit .300 last year. He probably won’t steal more bases than that because he is big guy. Ok, a pretty big guy. All of the Molinas are big. This Molina anchors a strong Cardinal pitching staff and contributes offensively, albeit not like his San Francisco brother Bengie. He could be a 12/5/.300 catcher again and his defensive nature will allow you to nab him in the middle to late rounds. His young age of 27 is prime for another good year.
Carlos Ruiz: Chooch is not known for his amazing offense. He has 19 HRs combined the last 3 years, and bats around .250. But, he is one of the leaders of the his team and anyone on the Phillies has the chance to put up bigger offense numbers than other teams. If Chooch has an amazing season, a 12/50/.270 year could be had. Nothing great, but a solid late, late round bid or second catcher.
1B:
Billy Butler: A year or so ago, you could have called this guy the Hamburglar. Fatty McHamburger. Apparently, you need to be in shape to play baseball. Well, he did that. Last offseason, he shed some weight and he put up a 20/90/.300 year. And...he’s 23. 23!!! Redonk. He will continue to hit well in KC’s lineup and warrants an early middle draft pick. As he gets more mature, his numbers will rise. Grab him and hope for an early surprise.
Nick Johnson: Another interesting draft choice. Nick Johnson was never an All-Star type player and never really got to break out. He’s 31, but he’s healthy (it seems), and has left the Nats for the Yankees. This has to be a good thing. Watch spring training and see how the Yanks use him. He will be able to DH and give Texiera an off day. He could be another surprise like Nick Swisher was last year. Except, a Nick Swisher who can talk a walk and hit for average.
Chris Davis: Has 30 HR potential but led the league in Ks. He isn’t patient, swings too much, and doesn’t walk. Not a good combo. But, he’s young and has room to improve. If he can control himself, he could reach the 25-30 plateau and you always need to keep your eye on someone who can hit 25+ HRs.
2B:
Howie Kendrick: Still waiting on that batting crown Howie...Although, I can’t be too mean to you. I have a poster on my wall and you signed it! Thanks Holbabe. Anyway, Kendrick is another player prone to bad luck. Health issues and a demotion to triple-A have plagued Kendrick, but his post-All Star break numbers were solid. If he is able to play 150+ games, he could be a .320/15/15 guy.
Placido Polanco: I know he’s old. Every other fantasy blogger and analyst hates Polanco as a fantasy pick. But, let’s slow down a second. His Rs, AVG, and OBP have declined the past three seasons, even though his HRs, SBs, and RBIs pretty much stayed the same. His best years were with Philly and now he’s back. They didn’t sign him for his offense. His gold glove was requested at 3rd. But! His Rs should rise, as should his AVG/OBP because of his supporting cast. He won’t be an All-Star for his offense, but I think he will surprise many.
Eric Young Jr.: He’s a speedster on the bases like his dad, but is on a full roster of young talent. Should an injury or demotion give him some playing time, his SBs and AVG will be the reason you pick him. Waiver wire for now.
SS:
Mike Aviles: In 08, I was lucky enough to draft Aviles. He rewarded me with 10/50/80.325 in only 400 at-bats. He’s 29 and coming off Tommy John and might not be called up till later this season, but he definitely has the potential to push your team into the playoffs with a post-All Star game streak.
Elvis Andrus: He’s rookie season was a very successful one. He stole 33 bases while hitting .267. He streaked the second half of the season. With the hot and powerful Rangers offense, he could score a ton of runs, steal a lot of bases, and hit for a respectable average. His youth and lack of experience is the only thing holding him back. Draft him when the elite SS are off the board.
Erick Aybar: Is known for his AVG and SB. He’s always platooned with other Angel infielders, so now he can truly stand out now that he’s an everyday starter. He won’t wow in any category but can produce a full season of 8/60/20/.300 if he gets everyday at-bats. However, now that Vlad and Figgy are gone, the Angels have kind of lost their oomph. Hopefully Aybar can help spark the fire.
Everth Cabrera: According to my Sporting News Fantasy Baseball magazine, Cabrera stole 73 bases in a minor league season. He should be given a ticket for all that speeding! HAHA! No? Wasn’t that funny huh? Anyway, I will be drafting him in the later rounds. But don’t completely let him go. If he starts thieving bases early, he’ll be guilty of grand larceny! BAM! Just make sure that if you need SBs, that he’s on your team.
Ian Desmond: A late September call-up allowed him to impress the Nats. He’ll vie for opening day starting SS. He could be NL ROY potential. Possible 10/10/.275 guy or more.
3B:
Alex Gordon: C’mon already! 3 years in a row with this bullshit. “Attention! Huge Sleeper!” That’s what they were saying about him 3 years ago. Fantasy analysts are still holding on for that last vestige of hope. I’ve given up but put him here because, God forbid, he actually does something on KC, he could be a 20/15 guy.
Chase Headley: Even in SD, can put up 15/10 numbers. He would be better if on another team (NBSB). But he’s young. Pick him up early in the season off the waiver if he starts hot.
Pedro Alvarez: Apparently he’s the biggest name in the minors. He the next Albert Pujols I’m hearing?? He’s on the Pirates and they’re not going anywhere, so watch for his progress. It’ll probably be a year or so before he’s draftable unless an early call-up and hot streak occurs.
OF:
Nolan Reimold: Don’t really know who this is. Apparently on the Orioles. Shouldv’e paid more attention since he hit 19/.279/12 in his rookie season. Should be even better this year.
Xavier Nady: In 08, he hit 25/97/.306 for the Pirates and Yanks. Last year an elbow surgery kept him from repeating another great year. He will fall far in the draft b/c of the surgery but pick him up! He could be another steal of the draft.
Brett Gardner: If he plays full time, you can pick him up for his steals. Plus his runs should spike because of his supporting cast. However, his HR, RBI, and AVG won’t win you anything.
Colby Rasmus: Hit .250 with 16 HRs in his rookie campaign. A highly touted minor league talent, he should improve and be good for a long time. See an increase in numbers, but won’t break out for a few years.
Will Venable: In only a half season’s worth of ABs, he hit 12 HRs, hit .250, and stole 6 bases. I know he plays in SD, but he can get hot and he is part of a new, young SD outfield. With a full season, we could see a 20/10/.275 guy.
Juan Pierre: Because of the crowded OF in LA, he hasn’t started in a couple of years. He played great when Manny was out, but hasn’t been as consistent as past seasons. However, with a possible starting job in Chicago, and a powerful offense, he could surprise a lot of people. He can hit .300 and steal a bunch of bases. No real power though.
SP:
Kevin Millwood: Millwood has had a roller coaster career. His highs are really good, his lows pretty bad. Even at his age, he has random great seasons such as in Texas. He has the chance to mentor the young Orioles and has a solid core of offensive players. Averaging 125 Ks, 170 innings, and a 4-5 era, he could get 12-15 wins. Not a guy I am reaching for, but you have to look at the aces of every staff.
Francisco Liriano: Potential – great. What we get – crap. Dominant before his Tommy John, he needs to regain his control and command and keep his K rate up to be a late round draft flier.
Tim Wakefield: I love Wakefield. If I had the room on my team, I would draft him every year. Knuckleballing is a lost art and he is an endangered species. Even so, he can definitely win double digit games even though a 4-5 era.
Chien-Ming Wang: A past 19 game winner, last year he imploded. His Ks are not why you draft him and he is no longer on the Yankees. However, with the young and up-and-coming Nats, if he can regain his form, he could be a surprise. Waiver wire fodder for now.
Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Ricky Romero: This is a young and talented Blue Jays pitching corps. But, M&M are constantly injured and Romero is still young, but getting his experience in the bigs. If these guys can stay healthy, they can win 10-12 games each. Romero is draftable late but the other two aren’t until their health stays up. Watch spring training for updates.
Tim Hudson: One of the ex-Big Three, Hudson missed most of 2008 and half of 2009. But, when he came back, he was a force to be reckoned. He didn’t shut down everyone but he did much better than anyone thought coming off of Tommy John. On the Braves, he could win 10-15 games with a 3.5 era. His Ks might decline but Huddy can return to most of his excellence that he has with the A’s.
Jeff Francis: I am very intrigued by Francis. A 17 win season in 07, he’s been plagued with injury ever since. His ERA has always been in the 4’s, but watch spring training. If he could get back to form, he could be a strong contributor in a young and talented Rockies pitching staff.
Rich Harden: His upside is so high! But he is very injury prone. In 08, his ERA was a ridiculous 2.07. In 09, 4.09. Hm. The Rangers will give him lots of offense and if he can stay healthy, he could end up being the biggest steal of the draft.
Jonathan Sanchez: The Ks are there, but his ERA will probably stay in the 4s. He is entering the prime years, so if he can hone his control, he could be a very solid pitcher for the next few years.
Kevin Correia: He is already 29 and he pitches at Petco. That means: a low ERA in the 3’s and only about 10-12 wins. Keep your eye on him. He has potential for more.
Aaron Harang: For years, he was a dominant force in the NL. He had an ERA in the 3’s and could strikeout 200+ per year. However, in 08 and 09, he hit a wall and never returned. His Ks never came back and his wins for the past two years were 12-31. He has battled some injuries so we’ll chalk these up to injuries. But fantasy owners are not willing to watch a 3rd year go down the tubes. Hopefully, he can rebound into some or most of his old form. When healthy and strong, he can win 12-15 and K 200/yr.
Pedro Martinez: He is a free agent right now, but he helped the Phillies get to the World Series for the second year in a row. Depending on the team he ends up on, he could contribute. And I’ll tell ya, I’d rather have an aging Pedro, than many of the other team’s 4th and 5th starters.
John Smoltz: He’s 42. He’s a free agent. Someone will pick him up. Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, Pedro Martinez. These guys are shells of their former selves, but like I said about Pedro: I would love to have any of these guys as my 4th or 5th starters. If he stays healthy, his Ks and
RP:
Fernando Rodney: Fuentes is the closer for the Angels until he implodes or goes on the DL. However, Scioscia loves to platoon guys who are hot and cold. Rodney could steal some saves if he stays healthy.
There are your 2010 sleepers. Please comment and let me know if there are any articles in particular you would like me to write. Also! For an up-and-coming article, I would like to answer reader emails about fantasy baseball. Send me your best questions!
-Casey
I first want to relay to you, the viewers, what theory and perspective I use in analyzing fantasy baseball. I call it: The Nick Braun School of Baseball. Plain and simple, I look at the player’s surroundings: his supporting cast, the ballpark, etc. The first example of NBSB is Robinson Cano. Solid player who had a great year last year. But, look at his supporting cast -> A+. In its opening year, Yankees Stadium had more balls hit out than the number of Toyotas that were recalled. He had a career year thanks to the Yankees and the new stadium. But...BUT...put him on the A’s, Royals, Pirates...or even the Nationals, Padres, or Orioles...I bet his numbers fall faster than the pants of a certain crowd’s bachelor party... What I am saying is: I think, “I” being the key word, believe a player’s value and production is correlated to his surroundings. A player in city A may actually be better if he plays in city B. Take Matt Holliday. He is a beast in St. Louis. But his numbers were even better in Colorado and HORRIFIC in Oakland. Take this into consideration when drafting each player. Adrian Gonzalez would be better in Philly or Texas, anybody would be worse out of Coors Field. And there you have it: the NBSB.
Alright, I am going to take different roads for many of my articles. This post I am going to discuss sleepers in this season’s draft. A “sleeper” is a player who may be unknown, in the minors, a bench player in the majors, or an up-and-coming talent. Someone who is not yet a star, may be, may not be, but who has the potential to win you your season. A sleeper has the POTENTIAL to be awesome. Again, key word: POTENTIAL. Each year for the past few years, I have given KC’s 3B Alex Gordon a chance because his potential breakout was supposed to be a big one. The problem with sleepers is: Gordon’s breakout...hasn’t happened yet. Check out players like last year’s Aaron Hill, Adam Lind, Randy Wells, Kendry Morales, and Nelson Cruz. These guys were sleepers at the beginning of last year’s season. Their careers had been ok (Aaron Hill), subpar (Morales and Cruz), or nonexistent (Lind and Wells). But, they all broke out and had unbelievable seasons. So the focus of this article is on this year’s sleepers. Everyone can draft Pujols, A-Rod, or Lincecum. But, what happens when the elite talent is gone around the 4th, 5th, or 6th rounds? You can go with proven veterans. But sometimes, you would rather reach for a sleeper’s POTENTIAL rather than settle for an aging veteran’s possible decline in numbers. So without further ado, your 2010 sleepers:
Catchers:
Kurt Suzuki: I know he is in Oakland, but he is entering the prime age of baseball talent (26-27). His HRs and RBIs have risen the past few years and he has room to improve. Suzuki can approach 20/10 status. You can get Suzuki in the later rounds and if he can repeat himself or more, his value will be way higher than his draft position.
Yadier Molina: I had him in a league last year and he was a huge help. The defensive Molina brother approached 10/10 and hit .300 last year. He probably won’t steal more bases than that because he is big guy. Ok, a pretty big guy. All of the Molinas are big. This Molina anchors a strong Cardinal pitching staff and contributes offensively, albeit not like his San Francisco brother Bengie. He could be a 12/5/.300 catcher again and his defensive nature will allow you to nab him in the middle to late rounds. His young age of 27 is prime for another good year.
Carlos Ruiz: Chooch is not known for his amazing offense. He has 19 HRs combined the last 3 years, and bats around .250. But, he is one of the leaders of the his team and anyone on the Phillies has the chance to put up bigger offense numbers than other teams. If Chooch has an amazing season, a 12/50/.270 year could be had. Nothing great, but a solid late, late round bid or second catcher.
1B:
Billy Butler: A year or so ago, you could have called this guy the Hamburglar. Fatty McHamburger. Apparently, you need to be in shape to play baseball. Well, he did that. Last offseason, he shed some weight and he put up a 20/90/.300 year. And...he’s 23. 23!!! Redonk. He will continue to hit well in KC’s lineup and warrants an early middle draft pick. As he gets more mature, his numbers will rise. Grab him and hope for an early surprise.
Nick Johnson: Another interesting draft choice. Nick Johnson was never an All-Star type player and never really got to break out. He’s 31, but he’s healthy (it seems), and has left the Nats for the Yankees. This has to be a good thing. Watch spring training and see how the Yanks use him. He will be able to DH and give Texiera an off day. He could be another surprise like Nick Swisher was last year. Except, a Nick Swisher who can talk a walk and hit for average.
Chris Davis: Has 30 HR potential but led the league in Ks. He isn’t patient, swings too much, and doesn’t walk. Not a good combo. But, he’s young and has room to improve. If he can control himself, he could reach the 25-30 plateau and you always need to keep your eye on someone who can hit 25+ HRs.
2B:
Howie Kendrick: Still waiting on that batting crown Howie...Although, I can’t be too mean to you. I have a poster on my wall and you signed it! Thanks Holbabe. Anyway, Kendrick is another player prone to bad luck. Health issues and a demotion to triple-A have plagued Kendrick, but his post-All Star break numbers were solid. If he is able to play 150+ games, he could be a .320/15/15 guy.
Placido Polanco: I know he’s old. Every other fantasy blogger and analyst hates Polanco as a fantasy pick. But, let’s slow down a second. His Rs, AVG, and OBP have declined the past three seasons, even though his HRs, SBs, and RBIs pretty much stayed the same. His best years were with Philly and now he’s back. They didn’t sign him for his offense. His gold glove was requested at 3rd. But! His Rs should rise, as should his AVG/OBP because of his supporting cast. He won’t be an All-Star for his offense, but I think he will surprise many.
Eric Young Jr.: He’s a speedster on the bases like his dad, but is on a full roster of young talent. Should an injury or demotion give him some playing time, his SBs and AVG will be the reason you pick him. Waiver wire for now.
SS:
Mike Aviles: In 08, I was lucky enough to draft Aviles. He rewarded me with 10/50/80.325 in only 400 at-bats. He’s 29 and coming off Tommy John and might not be called up till later this season, but he definitely has the potential to push your team into the playoffs with a post-All Star game streak.
Elvis Andrus: He’s rookie season was a very successful one. He stole 33 bases while hitting .267. He streaked the second half of the season. With the hot and powerful Rangers offense, he could score a ton of runs, steal a lot of bases, and hit for a respectable average. His youth and lack of experience is the only thing holding him back. Draft him when the elite SS are off the board.
Erick Aybar: Is known for his AVG and SB. He’s always platooned with other Angel infielders, so now he can truly stand out now that he’s an everyday starter. He won’t wow in any category but can produce a full season of 8/60/20/.300 if he gets everyday at-bats. However, now that Vlad and Figgy are gone, the Angels have kind of lost their oomph. Hopefully Aybar can help spark the fire.
Everth Cabrera: According to my Sporting News Fantasy Baseball magazine, Cabrera stole 73 bases in a minor league season. He should be given a ticket for all that speeding! HAHA! No? Wasn’t that funny huh? Anyway, I will be drafting him in the later rounds. But don’t completely let him go. If he starts thieving bases early, he’ll be guilty of grand larceny! BAM! Just make sure that if you need SBs, that he’s on your team.
Ian Desmond: A late September call-up allowed him to impress the Nats. He’ll vie for opening day starting SS. He could be NL ROY potential. Possible 10/10/.275 guy or more.
3B:
Alex Gordon: C’mon already! 3 years in a row with this bullshit. “Attention! Huge Sleeper!” That’s what they were saying about him 3 years ago. Fantasy analysts are still holding on for that last vestige of hope. I’ve given up but put him here because, God forbid, he actually does something on KC, he could be a 20/15 guy.
Chase Headley: Even in SD, can put up 15/10 numbers. He would be better if on another team (NBSB). But he’s young. Pick him up early in the season off the waiver if he starts hot.
Pedro Alvarez: Apparently he’s the biggest name in the minors. He the next Albert Pujols I’m hearing?? He’s on the Pirates and they’re not going anywhere, so watch for his progress. It’ll probably be a year or so before he’s draftable unless an early call-up and hot streak occurs.
OF:
Nolan Reimold: Don’t really know who this is. Apparently on the Orioles. Shouldv’e paid more attention since he hit 19/.279/12 in his rookie season. Should be even better this year.
Xavier Nady: In 08, he hit 25/97/.306 for the Pirates and Yanks. Last year an elbow surgery kept him from repeating another great year. He will fall far in the draft b/c of the surgery but pick him up! He could be another steal of the draft.
Brett Gardner: If he plays full time, you can pick him up for his steals. Plus his runs should spike because of his supporting cast. However, his HR, RBI, and AVG won’t win you anything.
Colby Rasmus: Hit .250 with 16 HRs in his rookie campaign. A highly touted minor league talent, he should improve and be good for a long time. See an increase in numbers, but won’t break out for a few years.
Will Venable: In only a half season’s worth of ABs, he hit 12 HRs, hit .250, and stole 6 bases. I know he plays in SD, but he can get hot and he is part of a new, young SD outfield. With a full season, we could see a 20/10/.275 guy.
Juan Pierre: Because of the crowded OF in LA, he hasn’t started in a couple of years. He played great when Manny was out, but hasn’t been as consistent as past seasons. However, with a possible starting job in Chicago, and a powerful offense, he could surprise a lot of people. He can hit .300 and steal a bunch of bases. No real power though.
SP:
Kevin Millwood: Millwood has had a roller coaster career. His highs are really good, his lows pretty bad. Even at his age, he has random great seasons such as in Texas. He has the chance to mentor the young Orioles and has a solid core of offensive players. Averaging 125 Ks, 170 innings, and a 4-5 era, he could get 12-15 wins. Not a guy I am reaching for, but you have to look at the aces of every staff.
Francisco Liriano: Potential – great. What we get – crap. Dominant before his Tommy John, he needs to regain his control and command and keep his K rate up to be a late round draft flier.
Tim Wakefield: I love Wakefield. If I had the room on my team, I would draft him every year. Knuckleballing is a lost art and he is an endangered species. Even so, he can definitely win double digit games even though a 4-5 era.
Chien-Ming Wang: A past 19 game winner, last year he imploded. His Ks are not why you draft him and he is no longer on the Yankees. However, with the young and up-and-coming Nats, if he can regain his form, he could be a surprise. Waiver wire fodder for now.
Shaun Marcum, Dustin McGowan, Ricky Romero: This is a young and talented Blue Jays pitching corps. But, M&M are constantly injured and Romero is still young, but getting his experience in the bigs. If these guys can stay healthy, they can win 10-12 games each. Romero is draftable late but the other two aren’t until their health stays up. Watch spring training for updates.
Tim Hudson: One of the ex-Big Three, Hudson missed most of 2008 and half of 2009. But, when he came back, he was a force to be reckoned. He didn’t shut down everyone but he did much better than anyone thought coming off of Tommy John. On the Braves, he could win 10-15 games with a 3.5 era. His Ks might decline but Huddy can return to most of his excellence that he has with the A’s.
Jeff Francis: I am very intrigued by Francis. A 17 win season in 07, he’s been plagued with injury ever since. His ERA has always been in the 4’s, but watch spring training. If he could get back to form, he could be a strong contributor in a young and talented Rockies pitching staff.
Rich Harden: His upside is so high! But he is very injury prone. In 08, his ERA was a ridiculous 2.07. In 09, 4.09. Hm. The Rangers will give him lots of offense and if he can stay healthy, he could end up being the biggest steal of the draft.
Jonathan Sanchez: The Ks are there, but his ERA will probably stay in the 4s. He is entering the prime years, so if he can hone his control, he could be a very solid pitcher for the next few years.
Kevin Correia: He is already 29 and he pitches at Petco. That means: a low ERA in the 3’s and only about 10-12 wins. Keep your eye on him. He has potential for more.
Aaron Harang: For years, he was a dominant force in the NL. He had an ERA in the 3’s and could strikeout 200+ per year. However, in 08 and 09, he hit a wall and never returned. His Ks never came back and his wins for the past two years were 12-31. He has battled some injuries so we’ll chalk these up to injuries. But fantasy owners are not willing to watch a 3rd year go down the tubes. Hopefully, he can rebound into some or most of his old form. When healthy and strong, he can win 12-15 and K 200/yr.
Pedro Martinez: He is a free agent right now, but he helped the Phillies get to the World Series for the second year in a row. Depending on the team he ends up on, he could contribute. And I’ll tell ya, I’d rather have an aging Pedro, than many of the other team’s 4th and 5th starters.
John Smoltz: He’s 42. He’s a free agent. Someone will pick him up. Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Jamie Moyer, Pedro Martinez. These guys are shells of their former selves, but like I said about Pedro: I would love to have any of these guys as my 4th or 5th starters. If he stays healthy, his Ks and
RP:
Fernando Rodney: Fuentes is the closer for the Angels until he implodes or goes on the DL. However, Scioscia loves to platoon guys who are hot and cold. Rodney could steal some saves if he stays healthy.
There are your 2010 sleepers. Please comment and let me know if there are any articles in particular you would like me to write. Also! For an up-and-coming article, I would like to answer reader emails about fantasy baseball. Send me your best questions!
-Casey
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
And here...we...go! Here is my analysis and thoughts of the 2010 MLB 3rd basemen.
ARI - Mark Reynolds
Hmmmm...Who saw THAT happening last year? The kid is young, powerful, fast, and is Arizona's version of Ryan Howard when it comes to striking out. He is on a team with young guys who are still growing up (e.g. Upton, Young, etc.) As long as you don't care about batting avg, He will probably go in the second or third round. I, personally, will not be drafting him unless he falls into the third or fourth round. I would rather pick a stud SP, OF, or 1B than reach for another 45/25 year. I see a little drop in HR numbers, but a 35/25 season could be ahead.
ATL - Chipper Jones
This guy has HoF written all over him. He's 100 years old and for the first two months of th season last year he was hitting around .400!! Atlanta looks to be in rebuild mode so another huge year might not happen. But, with McCann, McClouth, and a healthy Troy Glaus (???), he could be in the middle of another solid lineup. Never, EVER count out Bobby Cox and his bag of tricks. I would pick Chipper in the middle rounds once the top tier of 3rd basemen are gone.
BAL - Miguel Tejada
His best years of all-star numbers and steroids are behind him. The Orioles are still rebuilding but have some solid pieces (Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Wieters). Tejada will be in the middle or latter 3rd of the lineup behind some contributors. The pitching sucks but I see the Orioles making a few waves. Look for Tejada to post a 15/80/.290 year, sign on for one more keep-the-vetern-to-teach-the-new-young-kid year and then retire. Pick him in the middle to later rounds.
BOS - Adrian Beltre + Mike Lowell
Interesting free agent pickup Boston. He is aging yet yearly 25/80/.270 guy. Boston lost Jason Bay, Big Papi is more like Flacid Papi, and JD Drew and Mike Cameron make up 2/3 of their outfield. Elite no more BoSox. However, your pitching, V-Mart, and Youk will keep you afloat in the AL East. I am interested to see how Beltre reacts to a new stadium, new team, and a new rivalry (NYY). I pick Beltre middle to later rounds depending on his spring training at Fenway. Lowell is even older, but keeps surprising fantasy owners each year. However, losing his starting job at 3rd kills any value he might have had. If he plays full time, draft him late. If not, don't draft at all unless you have like 5 util spots.
CHC - Aramis Ramirez
Steady as they come. Even though an injury kept him from contributing last year, he will give you 25/100/.290. However, the rest of the Cubs have been in hibernation for a while and I don't see them becoming grizzlies anytime soon. Draft him in the early middle rounds.
CWS - Mark Teahen
Sucked in KC. However, now he is in spacious U.S. Cellular Field with some veteran and young pieces around him. Let's see a 20/80 season. As much as he a lower ranked player, I see him as a sleeper in Chicago. Pick him middle to late rounds because no one else is fighting for him.
CIN - Scott Rolen
Old. Injured often. Don't draft. But do watch for him on ESPN's web gems. I grew up idolizing Rolen when he was on the Phils. The old timer sure does still have a solid glove at the hot corner.
CLE - Jhonny Peralta
Very interesting...a 20/80 3B/SS? I'm in. Oh wait, he's on the Indians. They are rebuilding and Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo are the only reliable pieces. Did I just say that? Sizemore never truly broke out into his 40/40 season and Choo is solid but really? Shin-Soo Choo is your second best player? Peralta’s numbers may not be as high as usual thanks to a subpar staff. Draft middle to late because of the drop in 3B.
COL - Ian Stewart
The Rockies are priming themselves for a long-term shot at the title. Tulo, Fowler, veteren leadership (I have a man crush on Todd Helton) and young awesome pitching. And Stewart is a 25/70 guy in his early 20’s? Room for improvement. See similar numbers but a rise in avg. Let's not hope he mimics last year’s .228 again. Draft in the middle rounds with lots of upside.
DET - Brandon Inge
What happened to the 1,000-runs-in-a-year Tigers? They are rebuilding but still have pieces. Inge is the only offense not named Miguel Cabrera. It seems that when he plays a full season he is capable of 25/80 seasons. It's only happened twice in his career and the other years are 12/65 years. With an aging clubhouse, I see a 15/70 year. Draft him middle to late and let’s hope for that C eligibility again!
FLA - Emilio Bonafacio
Remember last season when Bonafacio was hot for like 2 minutes and everyone picked him up off the waiver wire? I was one of them. Then, right after I picked him up, I dropped him. Because I remembered that he is EMILIO BONAFACIO. There are better 3B to be had. Draft him late if you miss out on all other 3B.
HOU - Pedro Feliz
Don't draft him. I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt for a few years now. He hit 90+ RBIs one year. I thought he could boost the Phillies into multiple World Series winners. He couldn't even go beastmode in Philly's sandbox. Bastard hit .260 with only about a dozen HRs. That simply will not do. A toddler could hit 20 HR in that park. And you keep getting injured! What makes you think he will break out in Houston? His glove is why he is on the team.
KC - Josh Fields
Hasn’t had much playing time because he was on the White Sox. Did manage a 23/67/.244 year in 2007 in only 100 games. Most people don’t break out in KC though... I’ll pass until he makes a name for himself.
LAA - Maicer Izturis
C’mon Angels. Figgins is gone. Now give Brandon Wood the chance he deserves. Maicer Izturis is one of those players that you would probably want as a Util player on a real team, but don’t want any part of in fantasy. He doesn’t produce HRs, RBIs, Rs, and hits for a decent average. Even his SBs aren’t that impressive. I am not going to draft him unless there are no 3B on the waiver wire and ALL of my 3B get injured.
LAD - Casey Blake
Every year he is a .270/18/75 guy. He’s not elite. He’s not even great. He’s just good. And sometimes that can win you a championship. What’s great about Blake is that, because he is not the best 3B in the league, he is the kind of guy who needs to bust his ass every day to help his team. He contributes in the field and at the plate. I draft him middle to late. I don’t see much upside or downside. You can nab him later and still feel safe with your 3B choice.
MIL - Mat Gamel
A young talent who needs experience. Apparently going to be an amazing power threat. I would stash him in keeper leagues. Don’t draft to start until 2011 or 2012.
MIN - Brenden Harris
Harris has bounced around the league and seems to have settled in Minnesota. However, his numbers say that he a Util guy playing 3B. His numbers don’t preview anything special. But hey, he has yet to play a full season. Let’s see how he does in the new Target stadium.
NYM - David Wright
There’s no way he can mimic last season. No possible way! I see a big season ahead. I know analysts have been saying that Wright will be the NL MVP for years now. But injuries plagued the Mets all season (not that I’m complaining... *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*). With Johan Santana, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay, AND David Wright all healthy, the Mets could climb out of the gutter this season. Look for Wright to Wright the ship (see what I did there?) and get back to his usual .300/30/100/30 self. I wait and see where Wright falls to. If he slips to the 2nd or 3rd round, nab him and ride your team to victory.
NYY - Alex Rodriguez
Honestly, I would draft him first overall. Even over Pujols. Let me explain. A-rod is the ONLY 50/25 guy in the league. After A-Rod, Longoria, and Wright, there really aren’t any all-star 3B. However, the list of awesome 1B goes on forever. It’s called position scarcity. I would rather pick A-Rod first and settle with Morneau, A-Gonz, or Youkilis than choose Pujols and get stuck with Michael Young or Casey Blake. A-Rod still has something to prove after the steroid scandal and that supporting cast of All-Stars can’t be bad either. He hit .280/30/100 in only 120 games! He could have easily hit 40/120 last year. Look for a 40/110/25/.300 year and maybe more. Draft first or second overall.
OAK - Kevin Kouzmanoff
Kouz was a 20/80/.260 guy in SD. That’s not bad considering Petco, while one of the nicer stadiums I have visited, is not friendly to hitters. Even though he split his HRs away and home last year, he hit much better away from Petco (as does ever other hitter). Maybe a change of scenery could be beneficial. I’ve been waiting for a big year from Kouz for a while. I know OAK is not the best place for batters either, but another 20/80/.275 year could be on the horizon. I draft him in the middle rounds to late rounds. I draft him higher if he is on a different team than Eric Chavez.
PHI - Placido Polanco
I am REALLLLLLLLY hoping this works out. I was hoping that the Phillies got Beltre or DeRosa in the off season, so I really surprised when we got Polanco back. I mean, he had his best offensive years when he was on the team pre-Chase Utley. But is older now. Still, he is capable of 10 HRs, a .300 batting avg, and 70-80 RBIs and Rs in Detroit. I see a small spike in numbers because of the location, but not a huge spike because of his age. I see his runs spiking a lot though if he bats at the top of the order. I like this super sleeper pick. He should go in the middle rounds but I see his age bumping him down a few slots. Either wait for him to fall to you, or reach a bit. You won’t be disappointed.
PIT - Andy Laroche
If one of the catagories in your fantasy league consists of throwing a ground ball into the dugout, then choose Laroche!! I know he’s still young and hit double digit HRs last year, but c’mon... He’s on the Pirates. I had the Pirates as a sleeper team last year with Zach Duke and Nate McClouth. They still have young pieces but they won’t be winning any time soon. I don’t like the supporting cast or the front office. Laroche is not on my radar.
SD - Chase Headley
SD is another mess. They sold all their pieces (except Gonzo) and are not going to win anytime soon. However, the SD youngsters from last season were surprisingly effective. Headley, Everth Cabrera, Will Venable. Not the best core of youngsters but they can make a little noise here and there. He’s young and has room for improvement. Look for a modest improvement across the board. I’m thinking 15/75/10. Choose him if there aren’t any names left or you have an empty Util spot. A better supporting cast would raise him in the rankings. I’m intrigued and will be keeping tabs all year.
SF - Pablo Sandoval + Mark DeRosa
Right now I am a closet Giants fan. I really wanted them to make the playoffs last year. They have a phenomenal 1-2 punch in Lincecum and Cain. Their team consists of a lot of veterans and young talent. The Giants picked up DeRosa as a Util/3B. Depending on what elegibility Sandoval has, he could have 3B and 1B status early into the season. Aubrey Huff is the Giants’ first baseman but thanks to the addition of DeRosa, Panda could occasionally play 1B while DeRosa picks up some 3B play. Last year Panda hit 25/90/.330. And in the offseason I heard he lost some weight to get into better shape. I see a 30/100/.300 season! And he’ll throw in half a dozen SBs for good measure! Pick him when the elite are gone.
SEA - Chone Figgins
Figgins, Suzuki; Suzuki, Figgins. Either way, the Mariners’ 1-2 speed punch will be hell on opposing defenses. He’s never been a power guy, but he will solidify the team’s defense. With the addition of Cliff Lee, and the extension of King Felix, I see the Mariners fighting for the AL West this year. Look for Figgy’s numbers to be solid as usual. He’s aging, don’t get me wrong. But, 40 SBs and a .300 average should be as common as Ichiro’s 200 yearly hits.
STL - David Freese
I don’t know who he is or how good he is. Other than Pujols and Holliday, I have no idea how the Cardinals have an offense! Their pitching is superb. I guess I should place Tony La Russa into the same category as Bobby Cox: always with a bag of tricks. I just hope this guy becomes an All-Star so that we can call him Mr. Freese.
TB - Evan Longoria
Any guy who hits 30/110/.280 is on my radar. I am still not 100% sold because he hasn’t consistently produced this much. He’s a young guy on a talented team so I’ll draft him if I get the chance. Once A-Rod is off the board, Longoria and Wright are next. Draft him high and let’s hope for a 35/120/.290 year. I can see it happening.
TEX - Michael Young
Unfortunately, Young’s All-Star days are behind him. However, Nolan Ryan has bolstered the Rangers’ offense. Nelson Cruz, a Josh Hamilton resurgence, Kinsler, and the addition of Vlad Guerrero as DH have made the Rangers extremely dangerous and competitive. I see Young contributing but not as much. I see 15/75/.300. Solid numbers, just not amazing. Draft him in the middle rounds. Maybe he’s got one or two surprising seasons left...
TOR - Edwin Encarnacion
Encarnacion was pretty solid in CIN. He’s young, talented, and an injury marred last season. After wrist surgery, he should be ready for spring training. The Blue Jays have power, I’ll give them that. Their starting pitching is suspect at best. As for Edwin, I think a full season at 3rd will surprise some people. A 20/70/.250 season could be ahead; maybe more. Draft middle to late.
WAS - Ryan Zimmerman
Mr. Web Gem. This guy is just gross. Last year he hit 33 HRs, 100 RBIs, and batted .290. And he’s only 25! He’s coming up on those magical age years when his production peeks. If Adam Dunn can hit 40 HRs a year, so can Zim. The problem is his supporting cast. Elijah Dukes? Josh Willingham? Pudge Rodriguez? Zim needs better teammates. However, if with the Washington Strasbergs’ current talent list, Zim should still post amazing numbers and maybe even a spike. I’m waiting for the 40/120/.300 year. It could be coming soon. Draft him in the middle rounds.
Well there it is. My first article. Pretty good stuff if I do say so myself. Please comment and let me know if I could make anything better.
Up next, OF.
-Casey
ARI - Mark Reynolds
Hmmmm...Who saw THAT happening last year? The kid is young, powerful, fast, and is Arizona's version of Ryan Howard when it comes to striking out. He is on a team with young guys who are still growing up (e.g. Upton, Young, etc.) As long as you don't care about batting avg, He will probably go in the second or third round. I, personally, will not be drafting him unless he falls into the third or fourth round. I would rather pick a stud SP, OF, or 1B than reach for another 45/25 year. I see a little drop in HR numbers, but a 35/25 season could be ahead.
ATL - Chipper Jones
This guy has HoF written all over him. He's 100 years old and for the first two months of th season last year he was hitting around .400!! Atlanta looks to be in rebuild mode so another huge year might not happen. But, with McCann, McClouth, and a healthy Troy Glaus (???), he could be in the middle of another solid lineup. Never, EVER count out Bobby Cox and his bag of tricks. I would pick Chipper in the middle rounds once the top tier of 3rd basemen are gone.
BAL - Miguel Tejada
His best years of all-star numbers and steroids are behind him. The Orioles are still rebuilding but have some solid pieces (Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Wieters). Tejada will be in the middle or latter 3rd of the lineup behind some contributors. The pitching sucks but I see the Orioles making a few waves. Look for Tejada to post a 15/80/.290 year, sign on for one more keep-the-vetern-to-teach-the-new-young-kid year and then retire. Pick him in the middle to later rounds.
BOS - Adrian Beltre + Mike Lowell
Interesting free agent pickup Boston. He is aging yet yearly 25/80/.270 guy. Boston lost Jason Bay, Big Papi is more like Flacid Papi, and JD Drew and Mike Cameron make up 2/3 of their outfield. Elite no more BoSox. However, your pitching, V-Mart, and Youk will keep you afloat in the AL East. I am interested to see how Beltre reacts to a new stadium, new team, and a new rivalry (NYY). I pick Beltre middle to later rounds depending on his spring training at Fenway. Lowell is even older, but keeps surprising fantasy owners each year. However, losing his starting job at 3rd kills any value he might have had. If he plays full time, draft him late. If not, don't draft at all unless you have like 5 util spots.
CHC - Aramis Ramirez
Steady as they come. Even though an injury kept him from contributing last year, he will give you 25/100/.290. However, the rest of the Cubs have been in hibernation for a while and I don't see them becoming grizzlies anytime soon. Draft him in the early middle rounds.
CWS - Mark Teahen
Sucked in KC. However, now he is in spacious U.S. Cellular Field with some veteran and young pieces around him. Let's see a 20/80 season. As much as he a lower ranked player, I see him as a sleeper in Chicago. Pick him middle to late rounds because no one else is fighting for him.
CIN - Scott Rolen
Old. Injured often. Don't draft. But do watch for him on ESPN's web gems. I grew up idolizing Rolen when he was on the Phils. The old timer sure does still have a solid glove at the hot corner.
CLE - Jhonny Peralta
Very interesting...a 20/80 3B/SS? I'm in. Oh wait, he's on the Indians. They are rebuilding and Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo are the only reliable pieces. Did I just say that? Sizemore never truly broke out into his 40/40 season and Choo is solid but really? Shin-Soo Choo is your second best player? Peralta’s numbers may not be as high as usual thanks to a subpar staff. Draft middle to late because of the drop in 3B.
COL - Ian Stewart
The Rockies are priming themselves for a long-term shot at the title. Tulo, Fowler, veteren leadership (I have a man crush on Todd Helton) and young awesome pitching. And Stewart is a 25/70 guy in his early 20’s? Room for improvement. See similar numbers but a rise in avg. Let's not hope he mimics last year’s .228 again. Draft in the middle rounds with lots of upside.
DET - Brandon Inge
What happened to the 1,000-runs-in-a-year Tigers? They are rebuilding but still have pieces. Inge is the only offense not named Miguel Cabrera. It seems that when he plays a full season he is capable of 25/80 seasons. It's only happened twice in his career and the other years are 12/65 years. With an aging clubhouse, I see a 15/70 year. Draft him middle to late and let’s hope for that C eligibility again!
FLA - Emilio Bonafacio
Remember last season when Bonafacio was hot for like 2 minutes and everyone picked him up off the waiver wire? I was one of them. Then, right after I picked him up, I dropped him. Because I remembered that he is EMILIO BONAFACIO. There are better 3B to be had. Draft him late if you miss out on all other 3B.
HOU - Pedro Feliz
Don't draft him. I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt for a few years now. He hit 90+ RBIs one year. I thought he could boost the Phillies into multiple World Series winners. He couldn't even go beastmode in Philly's sandbox. Bastard hit .260 with only about a dozen HRs. That simply will not do. A toddler could hit 20 HR in that park. And you keep getting injured! What makes you think he will break out in Houston? His glove is why he is on the team.
KC - Josh Fields
Hasn’t had much playing time because he was on the White Sox. Did manage a 23/67/.244 year in 2007 in only 100 games. Most people don’t break out in KC though... I’ll pass until he makes a name for himself.
LAA - Maicer Izturis
C’mon Angels. Figgins is gone. Now give Brandon Wood the chance he deserves. Maicer Izturis is one of those players that you would probably want as a Util player on a real team, but don’t want any part of in fantasy. He doesn’t produce HRs, RBIs, Rs, and hits for a decent average. Even his SBs aren’t that impressive. I am not going to draft him unless there are no 3B on the waiver wire and ALL of my 3B get injured.
LAD - Casey Blake
Every year he is a .270/18/75 guy. He’s not elite. He’s not even great. He’s just good. And sometimes that can win you a championship. What’s great about Blake is that, because he is not the best 3B in the league, he is the kind of guy who needs to bust his ass every day to help his team. He contributes in the field and at the plate. I draft him middle to late. I don’t see much upside or downside. You can nab him later and still feel safe with your 3B choice.
MIL - Mat Gamel
A young talent who needs experience. Apparently going to be an amazing power threat. I would stash him in keeper leagues. Don’t draft to start until 2011 or 2012.
MIN - Brenden Harris
Harris has bounced around the league and seems to have settled in Minnesota. However, his numbers say that he a Util guy playing 3B. His numbers don’t preview anything special. But hey, he has yet to play a full season. Let’s see how he does in the new Target stadium.
NYM - David Wright
There’s no way he can mimic last season. No possible way! I see a big season ahead. I know analysts have been saying that Wright will be the NL MVP for years now. But injuries plagued the Mets all season (not that I’m complaining... *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*). With Johan Santana, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay, AND David Wright all healthy, the Mets could climb out of the gutter this season. Look for Wright to Wright the ship (see what I did there?) and get back to his usual .300/30/100/30 self. I wait and see where Wright falls to. If he slips to the 2nd or 3rd round, nab him and ride your team to victory.
NYY - Alex Rodriguez
Honestly, I would draft him first overall. Even over Pujols. Let me explain. A-rod is the ONLY 50/25 guy in the league. After A-Rod, Longoria, and Wright, there really aren’t any all-star 3B. However, the list of awesome 1B goes on forever. It’s called position scarcity. I would rather pick A-Rod first and settle with Morneau, A-Gonz, or Youkilis than choose Pujols and get stuck with Michael Young or Casey Blake. A-Rod still has something to prove after the steroid scandal and that supporting cast of All-Stars can’t be bad either. He hit .280/30/100 in only 120 games! He could have easily hit 40/120 last year. Look for a 40/110/25/.300 year and maybe more. Draft first or second overall.
OAK - Kevin Kouzmanoff
Kouz was a 20/80/.260 guy in SD. That’s not bad considering Petco, while one of the nicer stadiums I have visited, is not friendly to hitters. Even though he split his HRs away and home last year, he hit much better away from Petco (as does ever other hitter). Maybe a change of scenery could be beneficial. I’ve been waiting for a big year from Kouz for a while. I know OAK is not the best place for batters either, but another 20/80/.275 year could be on the horizon. I draft him in the middle rounds to late rounds. I draft him higher if he is on a different team than Eric Chavez.
PHI - Placido Polanco
I am REALLLLLLLLY hoping this works out. I was hoping that the Phillies got Beltre or DeRosa in the off season, so I really surprised when we got Polanco back. I mean, he had his best offensive years when he was on the team pre-Chase Utley. But is older now. Still, he is capable of 10 HRs, a .300 batting avg, and 70-80 RBIs and Rs in Detroit. I see a small spike in numbers because of the location, but not a huge spike because of his age. I see his runs spiking a lot though if he bats at the top of the order. I like this super sleeper pick. He should go in the middle rounds but I see his age bumping him down a few slots. Either wait for him to fall to you, or reach a bit. You won’t be disappointed.
PIT - Andy Laroche
If one of the catagories in your fantasy league consists of throwing a ground ball into the dugout, then choose Laroche!! I know he’s still young and hit double digit HRs last year, but c’mon... He’s on the Pirates. I had the Pirates as a sleeper team last year with Zach Duke and Nate McClouth. They still have young pieces but they won’t be winning any time soon. I don’t like the supporting cast or the front office. Laroche is not on my radar.
SD - Chase Headley
SD is another mess. They sold all their pieces (except Gonzo) and are not going to win anytime soon. However, the SD youngsters from last season were surprisingly effective. Headley, Everth Cabrera, Will Venable. Not the best core of youngsters but they can make a little noise here and there. He’s young and has room for improvement. Look for a modest improvement across the board. I’m thinking 15/75/10. Choose him if there aren’t any names left or you have an empty Util spot. A better supporting cast would raise him in the rankings. I’m intrigued and will be keeping tabs all year.
SF - Pablo Sandoval + Mark DeRosa
Right now I am a closet Giants fan. I really wanted them to make the playoffs last year. They have a phenomenal 1-2 punch in Lincecum and Cain. Their team consists of a lot of veterans and young talent. The Giants picked up DeRosa as a Util/3B. Depending on what elegibility Sandoval has, he could have 3B and 1B status early into the season. Aubrey Huff is the Giants’ first baseman but thanks to the addition of DeRosa, Panda could occasionally play 1B while DeRosa picks up some 3B play. Last year Panda hit 25/90/.330. And in the offseason I heard he lost some weight to get into better shape. I see a 30/100/.300 season! And he’ll throw in half a dozen SBs for good measure! Pick him when the elite are gone.
SEA - Chone Figgins
Figgins, Suzuki; Suzuki, Figgins. Either way, the Mariners’ 1-2 speed punch will be hell on opposing defenses. He’s never been a power guy, but he will solidify the team’s defense. With the addition of Cliff Lee, and the extension of King Felix, I see the Mariners fighting for the AL West this year. Look for Figgy’s numbers to be solid as usual. He’s aging, don’t get me wrong. But, 40 SBs and a .300 average should be as common as Ichiro’s 200 yearly hits.
STL - David Freese
I don’t know who he is or how good he is. Other than Pujols and Holliday, I have no idea how the Cardinals have an offense! Their pitching is superb. I guess I should place Tony La Russa into the same category as Bobby Cox: always with a bag of tricks. I just hope this guy becomes an All-Star so that we can call him Mr. Freese.
TB - Evan Longoria
Any guy who hits 30/110/.280 is on my radar. I am still not 100% sold because he hasn’t consistently produced this much. He’s a young guy on a talented team so I’ll draft him if I get the chance. Once A-Rod is off the board, Longoria and Wright are next. Draft him high and let’s hope for a 35/120/.290 year. I can see it happening.
TEX - Michael Young
Unfortunately, Young’s All-Star days are behind him. However, Nolan Ryan has bolstered the Rangers’ offense. Nelson Cruz, a Josh Hamilton resurgence, Kinsler, and the addition of Vlad Guerrero as DH have made the Rangers extremely dangerous and competitive. I see Young contributing but not as much. I see 15/75/.300. Solid numbers, just not amazing. Draft him in the middle rounds. Maybe he’s got one or two surprising seasons left...
TOR - Edwin Encarnacion
Encarnacion was pretty solid in CIN. He’s young, talented, and an injury marred last season. After wrist surgery, he should be ready for spring training. The Blue Jays have power, I’ll give them that. Their starting pitching is suspect at best. As for Edwin, I think a full season at 3rd will surprise some people. A 20/70/.250 season could be ahead; maybe more. Draft middle to late.
WAS - Ryan Zimmerman
Mr. Web Gem. This guy is just gross. Last year he hit 33 HRs, 100 RBIs, and batted .290. And he’s only 25! He’s coming up on those magical age years when his production peeks. If Adam Dunn can hit 40 HRs a year, so can Zim. The problem is his supporting cast. Elijah Dukes? Josh Willingham? Pudge Rodriguez? Zim needs better teammates. However, if with the Washington Strasbergs’ current talent list, Zim should still post amazing numbers and maybe even a spike. I’m waiting for the 40/120/.300 year. It could be coming soon. Draft him in the middle rounds.
Well there it is. My first article. Pretty good stuff if I do say so myself. Please comment and let me know if I could make anything better.
Up next, OF.
-Casey
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
My 1st Official Post
Welcome! My name is Mike Casey (call me Casey) and I am a fantasy baseball freak. I am 23 and I live in Mission Viejo, CA with my fiance. I have loved the sport of baseball since I was a wee little lad and my thirst for fantasy baseball came during high school. The statistics intrigued me, the games thrilled me, and the drafting...Mmmm drafting... That probably sounded creepy so...let's change topics. I want to discuss why I am writing this blog. For years I have been a fan and frequent player of fantasy baseball. I have my own opinions and ideas but there seems to be no money in being a fantasy baseball guru unless you are Andy Behrens, Craig Falzone, or Scott Pianowski. I follow their Yahoo columns and love their sense of humor and analysis of the players. I know I am not of their caliber but I figure...What the hell?! I can contribute to the fantasy baseball pool of knowledge. I like to think that I am no slouch or noob when it comes to fantasy baseball. I do my homework, order my yearly Lindy's Fantasy Baseball magazine, and mock draft weeks before the MLb season starts. I have to say up front that I am a die-hard Philadelphia Phillies phan. So if I am biased in some articles, I apologize... Wait, no I don't. Go Phillies. However, other than the Phillies, I am not really partial to any team. Therefore, all of the teams will be talked about and analyzed. So don't worry Pirates, Royals, or Nationals fan...your teams will be discussed as well. :-)
Please spread the word about this blog. It would make me really happy. Also, feel free to respond with opinions, facts, comments, or clever baseball jokes in order to keep this entertaining and fun.
-Casey
Please spread the word about this blog. It would make me really happy. Also, feel free to respond with opinions, facts, comments, or clever baseball jokes in order to keep this entertaining and fun.
-Casey
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