2008 TOP 5 FANTASY OUTFIELDERS WHO FEEL LEFT OUT!
The compiled list below consists of 5 outfielders who just didn't quite make the Top 5 list of their position. They have been calling me to complain why they were left off and I feel bad so I decided to include them in my blog. These guys are still top notch and if you have the chance to claim them come draft day, they will write you a thank you note!!
#1 - Torii Hunter (CF) - 2007 Stats
600 AB's, .287 AVG, 94 Runs Scored, 172 Hits, 45 Doubles, 1 Triple, 28 HR's, 107 RBI's, 18 Stolen Bases & 40 Walks.
#2 - Carl Crawford (LF) - 2007 Stats
584 AB's, .315 AVG, 93 Runs Scored, 184 Hits, 37 Doubles, 9 Triples, 11 HR's, 80 RBI's, 50 Stolen Bases & 32 Walks.
#3 - Corey Hart (RF) - 2007 Stats
505 AB's, .295 AVG, 86 Runs Scored, 149 Hits, 33 Doubles, 9 Triples, 24 HR's, 81 RBI's, 23 Stolen Bases & 36 Walks.
#4 - Jeff Francoeur (RF) - 2007 Stats
642 AB's, .293 AVG, 84 Runs Scored, 188 Hits, 40 Doubles, 0 Triples, 19 HR's, 105 RBI's, 5 Stolen Bases & 42 Walks.
#5 - Ken Griffey Jr. (RF) - 2007 Stats
528 AB's, .277 AVG, 78 Runs Scored, 146 Hits, 24 Doubles, 1 Triple, 30 HR's, 93 RBI's, 6 Stolen Bases & 85 Walks.
Mixed Outfielder Notes:
Torii Hunter - After 10 full seasons in the bigs, he has a par average of .271, but he still manages to be very damaging at the dish. He has been traded now to a team that should benefit him greatly. The Angels are a sweet offensive squad and he should fit very nicely in the heart of their line up. I still am unsure where he will hit in the order but he will be surrounded by some people with some speed and pop. Chone Figgins will most likely lead off and players like Gary Matthews Jr., Vladimir Guerrero, Garret Anderson, Casey Kotchman, Howie Kendrick & Torri should put up some great numbers in a division that they are expected to crush. Hunter has hit 23+ HR's in all of his last 7 seasons (except in '05 when he was sidelined for half of the season). He does tend to strike out a lot, but that should not scare you off from drafting him in early rounds. Expect 100 runs scored, 100 RBI's, 20 stolen bases, 40 doubles and 25+ jacks in 2008.
Carl Crawford - He turns the pivotal 27 in 2008! Another guy who likes to swing and miss a lot, but at least he is very aggressive with his attempts at the plate. He has hit .301 or higher in each of his last 3 seasons and has a lifetime AVG or .296 in 5 full seasons in the show. His power #'s aren't the best, but he will steal many bases and stretch lots of singles into doubles and doubles into triples. Last season he only managed 9 triples but in each of the three seasons before '07 he hit 19, 15 & 16 three baggers. He has hit 11+ HR's in each of the last 4 years and will always work pitchers and catchers and the base paths. In every season he has played in, he has swiped 46+ bags. His team's lineup is quite potent and he should be able to have a nice breakout year in 2008. Carlos Pena, B.J. Upton, Akinori Iwamura, Johnny Gomes, Rocco Baldelli & Evan Longoria will be a sleeper offensive squad and could really light up the AL in 2008. I can easily see Carl scoring 100+ runs and be close to having 200 hits in '08. Draft him with a smile!
Corey Hart - A name that many people still aren't in tune with. Corey arrived heavily on the scene last season and has now cemented his starting job for the Brew Crew in Right Field. The 2008 Brewers City squad will be a force to recon with. A fantastic lineup with many up and coming stars will make Corey hart a household name soon. Corey will either lead off or hit second and if he gets on base, most of the time he will score. In 500 AB's in '07 he was able to smack 24 dingers. He also will steal some bags as last year (24) and will most likely increase that # to over 30 in 2008 as his AB's will increase by about 100 plate appearances. Also, because he will get many more at bats, figure he should be able to blast 30 shots as well. Expect a 175 hits season, .300 AVG, 100 runs scored, 100 RBI's and 10 triples in 2008. He is a genuine sleeper for many fantasy owners but the ones who really do their homework will know his value. What will benefit him the most is his stacked lineup of Rickie Weeks, Bill Hall, J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder (the newly turned vegetarian) and the new addition, Mike Cameron.
Jeff Francoeur - He is only 24 and has shown he is a player who is very talented in scaring opposing pitchers. The only drawback is that he will strikeout a lot. He is a very aggressive swinger and puts the ball in play hard. His average continues to get better and he has hit over 100 RBI's in two solid seasons in the bigs. He will either hit 5th or 6th for the Braves and should have enough runners on base to hit over 100 RBI's again in 2008. His line up is one that will continue to score runs and give fits to managers of all teams that play them. Players like Brian McCann, Mark Teixeira, Chipper Jones, Matt Diaz, Yunel Escobar & Kelly Johnson will make the Braves a team that will put up many runs by either playing small ball or just by smacking the ball out of the park. I expect their lineup to be: 1 - Johnson, 2 - Escobar, 3 - Jones, 4 - Teixeira, 5 - McCann, 6 - Francoeur & 7 - Diaz. He will see many great pitches to hit as runners will be on base and Matt Diaz provides a significant amount of protection so that pitchers have to come to Jeff. There is plenty of upside with Francoeur and you should be very excited if you get him come draft day.
Ken Griffey Jr. - We all know he is the man! The only factor is his health. He has been playing for 18 seasons now and last year he maintained his health for the first time since the 2000 season. He played in the most games since '00 and in his last 3 healthy seasons he has hit 27+ blasts. He will always have a presence at the plate because at any time he can hit one out. He has no speed left but did manage to take 6 bags in '07. That was the most he has taken since the 2000 season which should show owners that his hammys are healthy and he will get time off to make sure he can complete another season in full. He has some nice pieces in their lineup that will provide protection and also base runners to get across the plate. Expect 100 RBI's, 25+ HR's, 30 Doubles and a .275 average in 2008. Be aware that he is always a player who could get hurt, so if you draft him, make sure you get a backup that could provide you a starting spot if he goes down.
Check back soon for the top 5 rookies who will roam the outfield in 2008.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
2008 Fantasy Baseball Right Fielders - Top 5
2008 TOP 5 FANTASY RIGHT FIELDERS
The top two are definitely in their own tier. No one on the list comes close to their on the field performance but this position is starting to be filled with up and coming stars. The right field position could be one of many break-out players in '08 as the youth has taken over in a position that is usually dominated by seasoned veterans. If you are unable to draft Magglio or Vladimir, don't you worry one bit; if you study up, review the stats and see what might be in store for '08, you should be able to uncover many diamonds in the rough. Many players could have been on the top 5 and the ones who made it are guys that I think are ready to become household names by seasons end.
#1 - Magglio Ordonez - 2007 Stats
595 AB's, .363 AVG, 117 Runs Scored, 216 Hits, 54 Doubles, 0 Triples, 28 HR's, 139 RBI's, 4 Stolen Bases & 76 Walks.
#2 - Vladimir Guerrero - 2007 Stats
574 AB's, .324 AVG, 89 Runs Scored, 186 Hits, 45 Doubles, 1 Triple, 27 HR's, 125 RBI's, 2 Stolen Bases & 71 Walks.
#3 - Brad Hawpe - 2007 Stats
516 AB's, .291 AVG, 80 Runs Scored, 150 Hits, 33 Doubles, 4 Triples, 29 HR's, 116 RBI's, 0 Stolen Bases & 81 Walks.
#4 - Nick Markakis - 2007 Stats
617 AB's, .300 AVG, 97 Runs Scored, 191 Hits, 43 Doubles, 3 Triples, 23 HR's, 112 RBI's, 18 Stolen Bases & 61 Walks.
#5 - Alexis Rios - 2007 Stats
643 AB's, .297 AVG, 114 Runs Scored, 191 Hits - 43 Doubles, 7 Triples, 24 HR's, 85 RBI's, 17 Stolen Bases & 55 Walks.
Center Fielder Notes:
Magglio Ordonez - What a season in '07! It will only get better in 2008 as this team is ready to ignite the Motor City. Many think "Maggs" is overrated, and if you look into his stats you should be able to dispel that opinion immediately. What is there not to like? In 10 full seasons in the show, he has a .312 average...not too shabby for an overrated player. He doesn't strike out much and he also doesn't like to walk much either (86 K's in '06 & 76 Walks in '07 tops his #'s for career). 7 of the 10 seasons he has played in, he has hit 24+ jacks. If it wasn't for a collision with Willie Harris on a pop up in '04, those HR #'s would be even more appetizing. The collision put Maggs on the DL twice and after two surgeries to fix his left knee, he found his way in Detroit becoming one of the premier Right Fielders in the game. 6 out of the 10 seasons he has put up great RBI #'s as well. In '03 he almost hit the century mark with 99, but in 6 other seasons he has topped 104 RBI's. His '08 lineup is stacked and his fantasy #'s should be top five in the game by seasons end. Maggs should hit over .333, have 20 + HR's, score 100 + times and drive in 100 runs in what could be a historic year for the Tigers.
Vladimir Guerrero - Just like Maggs, this guy doesn't like to walk or strike out much either. Vlad is one of the best bad ball hitters in the game and merely enjoys putting the bat on the ball to see what happens. In 11 full seasons, Vlad has maintained a .325 lifetime average. He has also hit over 25+ bombs in each of the last 10 years. He is a complete masher and has put up 108+ RBI's in 9 of his 11 seasons as well. Vlad is a well tuned machine and rarely gets sidelined or sent to the DL. The only thing that is starting to fade with Vladimir is his speed. He still can swipe a bag here and there and the Angels are one of the best teams in baseball going from first to third. Maggs and Vlad are pretty even when it comes to the draft board and you can't go wrong with snagging these guys with your first pick. I expect to see Vlad's HR's increase in '08 and with that said he should hit .325 and drive in 125+ runs. He plain out scares pitchers as he hits every ball well and has even been known to drive balls out of the park that are barely off the ground by an inch. He is the complete opposite of what coaches teach hitters about plate discipline, but not a one would ever change his approach as he is the cream of the crop.
Brad Hawpe - 28 years old going into his fourth season and his #'s continue to get better by the year. He does however do very poorly against southpaws. In '07 he hit only a measly .214 against lefties. Brad's career average in 3 seasons also is just about par, .282. 2007 was his coming of age (turned 27 in '07) and many think that Hawpe will just get better and better by the year as playing in Colorado should help his numbers tremendously. The Rockies are one of the top offenses in the NL and he should see many good pitches to hit as the bases should always be occupied by fellow Rocks who hit before him in the lineup. The power #'s just keep getting better for the 28 year old as his HR's keep rising every year he has been in the bigs. Many fantasy owners will overlook him and if you are able to steal him in the draft, you should be rewarded by your pickup. Expect 30+ HR's, 100+ RBI's and if he can smooth out his attempts against soutpaws his average will most likely get more around the .300 mark in 2007. If you draft him you will also have the only player in the league whom has a sweet middle name of Bonte!
Nick Markakis - It is always said that a players second year is effected by the "sophomore slump", this was definitely not the case for Nick. He was better in his second year than his first and this shows that he should have no problems in continuing to be a difficult out for opposing pitchers. 2007 showed fantasy owners that he is here to stay and that he has all the tools to impress for many years to come. He has a knack for finding the gaps as he is one of the best doubles hitters in the game. Nick is fleet of foot and should also see an increase of triples in '08. Ones who can swipe bags are also a nice pickup in fantasy leagues, especially if they hit for average and power as well. He will get over 600 AB's in 2008 as he tops the lineup for the O's and with getting closer to 200 hits in a season should see a lot of scoring opportunities. The only draw back is that the O's offense should be crippled a bit with the loss of Miguel Tejada. The O's offense isn't one that will put up stellar #'s but Nick will be an all star in 2008 and should also be one for your fantasy squad. Many owners are still not aware of his potential and a middle round draft pick up should not be hard to pull off. Expect a quiet .300 average, 20 HR's, 100 RBI's, 20 stolen bases and 100 runs scored for Nick in '08. He is only 24 and will be a top 5 pick up for right fielders for many years to come.
Alexis Rios - Rios turns the mighty maturing 27 on President's day and should blossom as a speedy, power player entering his prime. He is also a name that will go mainly unnoticed by owners who haven't done their homework. His speed at the top of the Jays order should get him across the plate over 100 times this year. He could be a leadoff hitter but his power fits nicely as a 3 or 4 hitter as Vernon Wells and Reed Johnson will most likely spark the bases to start the season. 2008 will be the year of Rios as I expect him to explode on the scene early in the season and will be drafted high for many years to come after '08. He will steal the occasional base and the Jays will have to get runners in motion to compete with the division they are stuck with. The Blue Jays have the potential to compete with teams like the BoSox and Yanks if all parts fall into place. The first 6 hitters, however they pan out in the batting order, will put up many runs and have lots of power mingled in between. Reed Johnson, Vernon Wells, Alexis Rios, Scott Rolen, Frank Thomas and Lyle Overbay will most likely be mixed in 1-6 and player like David Ekstein, Rod Barajas or Gregg Zahn will have many opportunities to drive in runs for a much underrated offense. Draft him and you should see why I ranked him about players like Jeff Francoeur, Ken Griffey Jr., Corey Hart and Bobby Abreu.
Check back soon for the top 5 outfielders who were left off the initial position lists and following that, I will list the 5 top rookies to target who play in the outfield as well.
The top two are definitely in their own tier. No one on the list comes close to their on the field performance but this position is starting to be filled with up and coming stars. The right field position could be one of many break-out players in '08 as the youth has taken over in a position that is usually dominated by seasoned veterans. If you are unable to draft Magglio or Vladimir, don't you worry one bit; if you study up, review the stats and see what might be in store for '08, you should be able to uncover many diamonds in the rough. Many players could have been on the top 5 and the ones who made it are guys that I think are ready to become household names by seasons end.
#1 - Magglio Ordonez - 2007 Stats
595 AB's, .363 AVG, 117 Runs Scored, 216 Hits, 54 Doubles, 0 Triples, 28 HR's, 139 RBI's, 4 Stolen Bases & 76 Walks.
#2 - Vladimir Guerrero - 2007 Stats
574 AB's, .324 AVG, 89 Runs Scored, 186 Hits, 45 Doubles, 1 Triple, 27 HR's, 125 RBI's, 2 Stolen Bases & 71 Walks.
#3 - Brad Hawpe - 2007 Stats
516 AB's, .291 AVG, 80 Runs Scored, 150 Hits, 33 Doubles, 4 Triples, 29 HR's, 116 RBI's, 0 Stolen Bases & 81 Walks.
#4 - Nick Markakis - 2007 Stats
617 AB's, .300 AVG, 97 Runs Scored, 191 Hits, 43 Doubles, 3 Triples, 23 HR's, 112 RBI's, 18 Stolen Bases & 61 Walks.
#5 - Alexis Rios - 2007 Stats
643 AB's, .297 AVG, 114 Runs Scored, 191 Hits - 43 Doubles, 7 Triples, 24 HR's, 85 RBI's, 17 Stolen Bases & 55 Walks.
Center Fielder Notes:
Magglio Ordonez - What a season in '07! It will only get better in 2008 as this team is ready to ignite the Motor City. Many think "Maggs" is overrated, and if you look into his stats you should be able to dispel that opinion immediately. What is there not to like? In 10 full seasons in the show, he has a .312 average...not too shabby for an overrated player. He doesn't strike out much and he also doesn't like to walk much either (86 K's in '06 & 76 Walks in '07 tops his #'s for career). 7 of the 10 seasons he has played in, he has hit 24+ jacks. If it wasn't for a collision with Willie Harris on a pop up in '04, those HR #'s would be even more appetizing. The collision put Maggs on the DL twice and after two surgeries to fix his left knee, he found his way in Detroit becoming one of the premier Right Fielders in the game. 6 out of the 10 seasons he has put up great RBI #'s as well. In '03 he almost hit the century mark with 99, but in 6 other seasons he has topped 104 RBI's. His '08 lineup is stacked and his fantasy #'s should be top five in the game by seasons end. Maggs should hit over .333, have 20 + HR's, score 100 + times and drive in 100 runs in what could be a historic year for the Tigers.
Vladimir Guerrero - Just like Maggs, this guy doesn't like to walk or strike out much either. Vlad is one of the best bad ball hitters in the game and merely enjoys putting the bat on the ball to see what happens. In 11 full seasons, Vlad has maintained a .325 lifetime average. He has also hit over 25+ bombs in each of the last 10 years. He is a complete masher and has put up 108+ RBI's in 9 of his 11 seasons as well. Vlad is a well tuned machine and rarely gets sidelined or sent to the DL. The only thing that is starting to fade with Vladimir is his speed. He still can swipe a bag here and there and the Angels are one of the best teams in baseball going from first to third. Maggs and Vlad are pretty even when it comes to the draft board and you can't go wrong with snagging these guys with your first pick. I expect to see Vlad's HR's increase in '08 and with that said he should hit .325 and drive in 125+ runs. He plain out scares pitchers as he hits every ball well and has even been known to drive balls out of the park that are barely off the ground by an inch. He is the complete opposite of what coaches teach hitters about plate discipline, but not a one would ever change his approach as he is the cream of the crop.
Brad Hawpe - 28 years old going into his fourth season and his #'s continue to get better by the year. He does however do very poorly against southpaws. In '07 he hit only a measly .214 against lefties. Brad's career average in 3 seasons also is just about par, .282. 2007 was his coming of age (turned 27 in '07) and many think that Hawpe will just get better and better by the year as playing in Colorado should help his numbers tremendously. The Rockies are one of the top offenses in the NL and he should see many good pitches to hit as the bases should always be occupied by fellow Rocks who hit before him in the lineup. The power #'s just keep getting better for the 28 year old as his HR's keep rising every year he has been in the bigs. Many fantasy owners will overlook him and if you are able to steal him in the draft, you should be rewarded by your pickup. Expect 30+ HR's, 100+ RBI's and if he can smooth out his attempts against soutpaws his average will most likely get more around the .300 mark in 2007. If you draft him you will also have the only player in the league whom has a sweet middle name of Bonte!
Nick Markakis - It is always said that a players second year is effected by the "sophomore slump", this was definitely not the case for Nick. He was better in his second year than his first and this shows that he should have no problems in continuing to be a difficult out for opposing pitchers. 2007 showed fantasy owners that he is here to stay and that he has all the tools to impress for many years to come. He has a knack for finding the gaps as he is one of the best doubles hitters in the game. Nick is fleet of foot and should also see an increase of triples in '08. Ones who can swipe bags are also a nice pickup in fantasy leagues, especially if they hit for average and power as well. He will get over 600 AB's in 2008 as he tops the lineup for the O's and with getting closer to 200 hits in a season should see a lot of scoring opportunities. The only draw back is that the O's offense should be crippled a bit with the loss of Miguel Tejada. The O's offense isn't one that will put up stellar #'s but Nick will be an all star in 2008 and should also be one for your fantasy squad. Many owners are still not aware of his potential and a middle round draft pick up should not be hard to pull off. Expect a quiet .300 average, 20 HR's, 100 RBI's, 20 stolen bases and 100 runs scored for Nick in '08. He is only 24 and will be a top 5 pick up for right fielders for many years to come.
Alexis Rios - Rios turns the mighty maturing 27 on President's day and should blossom as a speedy, power player entering his prime. He is also a name that will go mainly unnoticed by owners who haven't done their homework. His speed at the top of the Jays order should get him across the plate over 100 times this year. He could be a leadoff hitter but his power fits nicely as a 3 or 4 hitter as Vernon Wells and Reed Johnson will most likely spark the bases to start the season. 2008 will be the year of Rios as I expect him to explode on the scene early in the season and will be drafted high for many years to come after '08. He will steal the occasional base and the Jays will have to get runners in motion to compete with the division they are stuck with. The Blue Jays have the potential to compete with teams like the BoSox and Yanks if all parts fall into place. The first 6 hitters, however they pan out in the batting order, will put up many runs and have lots of power mingled in between. Reed Johnson, Vernon Wells, Alexis Rios, Scott Rolen, Frank Thomas and Lyle Overbay will most likely be mixed in 1-6 and player like David Ekstein, Rod Barajas or Gregg Zahn will have many opportunities to drive in runs for a much underrated offense. Draft him and you should see why I ranked him about players like Jeff Francoeur, Ken Griffey Jr., Corey Hart and Bobby Abreu.
Check back soon for the top 5 outfielders who were left off the initial position lists and following that, I will list the 5 top rookies to target who play in the outfield as well.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
2008 Fantasy Baseball Center Fielders - Top 5
2008 TOP 5 FANTASY CENTER FIELDERS
"Put me in coach, I'm ready to play...today, look at me, I can be... centerfield!" When I think of baseball, that song always comes to mind; that and "Take me out to the ballgame" of course. But when I started to think of the next post, which was the Center Fielders top 5, that song would not leave my head, thanks Fogerty! What an easy group of players to choose from, I had no problem sourcing my top five and if you have an issue with my decisions, please email me and I will help explain. I do think the best overall center fielder of my generation is Andruw Jones, but after last years collapse, I am scared to list him + the Dodger's Suck!!! Yes I am a true Padre Fan! On we go to position #8.
#1 - Carlos Beltran - 2007 Stats
554 AB's, .276 AVG, 93 Runs Scored, 153 Hits, 33 Doubles, 3 Triples, 33 HR's, 112 RBI's, 23 Stolen Bases & 69 Walks.
#2 - Ichiro Suzuki - 2007 Stats
678 AB's, .351 AVG, 111 Runs Scored, 238 Hits, 22 Doubles, 7 Triples, 6 HR's, 68 RBI's, 37 Stolen Bases & 49 Walks.
#3 - Grady Sizemore - 2007 Stats
628 AB's, .277 AVG, 118 Runs Scored, 174 Hits, 34 Doubles, 5 Triples, 24 HR's, 78 RBI's, 33 Stolen Bases & 101 Walks.
#4 - Curtis Granderson - 2007 Stats
612 AB's, .302 AVG, 122 Runs Scored, 185 Hits, 38 Doubles, 23 Triples, 23 HR's, 74 RBI's, 26 Stolen Bases & 52 Walks.
#5 - Aaron Rowand - 2007 Stats
612 AB's, .309 AVG, 105 Runs Scored, 189 Hits, 45 Doubles, 0 Triples, 27 HR's, 89 RBI's, 6 Stolen Bases & 47 Walks.
Center Fielder Notes:
Carlos Beltran - It has been said that the '08 Mets will be running a lot more and one to help with this duty is Beltran. The Mets have a fantastic offensive team and the top of the lineup will plate many runners with some heavy hitters in Delgado & Alou to do most of the clean-up work. Carlos sits nicely in the heart of the Metropolitans lineup and should have a terrific season. Being a switch hitter does nothing but help his value and a 100 run, 100 RBI's, 25+ HR season is on the works for this career .280 bat slinger. Carlos has hit 24+ HR's every year since '01 except in '05 when he only hit 16 jacks. In the last two seasons he has totaled 41 and 33 dingers and his round tripper total should stay around the 30 range. Even after slumping tremendously in May through June of 2007 (.230 in that time), Carlos still recorded a decent .276 average. He was not one to blame with the September collapse last year and if Delgado and Alou can return to their slugging ways, Beltran will be the #1 Center Fielder in '08. What is not to like with the Mets top 5. Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Beltran, Delgado & Alou should be an absolute force to recon with and opposing pitchers will have their work cut out for them.
Ichiro Suzuki - He would be #1 if he has more extra base hit power. Ichiro is a hit machine and has at least 200 hits in his 7 seasons playing ball in the US. In Japan, Ichiro recording a lifetime .353 average and in the US has just been a little more shabby by notching a .333. Most hitters dream of doing what he can and he gets plenty of chances as he had a whopping 678 plate appearances at the top of the Mariners lineup in 2007. Not only does he get on base, but he runs very well and forces outfielders to come up with the ball quickly as he will stretch many singles into doubles if they are on their heels. Every season in the bigs here in the states, he has scored 100+ runs as well. Not to mention he has at least 20 doubles every year too. He wont hit you many homers or drive in super #'s with his stick, but he is as consistent as they come. If Sexton, Beltre, Ibanez and Johjima do there share of the pulling; Ichiro will finish in the top three in fantasy points and who knows, he might even be at the top. Consistency matters and you can't lose in drafting the journeyman.
Grady Sizemore - Just like a fine bottle of wine, Grady increases his numbers every year and this could be the breakout season. The baseball world sees the 27 year old mark as the coming out season, and Grady still isn't quite aged yet, as he turns 26 in August. In 3 full seasons, he has recorded 22+ HR's, 111+ runs scored and has a nice .283 lifetime average. He is fleet of foot and should be able to steal around 25-30 bases in 2008. Last year he had a .390 on base percentage and that # will slowly increase as he gets more and more comfortable with the AL pitching. No longer will he have to worry about facing Santana with the recent move by him to the NL (that is if the Mets can get his deal done soon as many experts seem to think will happen anytime now). The Indians have a potent lineup with players like Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Jhonny Peralta, Casey Blake and the emerging Ryan Garko to bolster their lineup. They are one of the toughest crews for pitchers to face and Hafner should fall back into form giving opposing mangers a handful of headaches in '08. Sizemore should plate 100+ times, hit 20+ dingers, drive in 75+ runs and steal 25+ bases. Do not forget that he has a great eye for the zone as well as he walked 101 times in '07.
Curtis Granderson - The only reason why I am not completely sold on him yet as it was one terrific season that has catapulted him to being a premier center fielder. If he repeats what he did in '07, he might just be the best in the game but the only worry is his knack to strikeout. He has joined an elite group, or actually he is the only member of the 20/20/20 club (Triples, HR's & stolen bases, if you need a refresher course). Also, Curtis will be 27 for the '08 season and the Tiger faithful will most likely see the next Willie Mays in their 2008 lineup. I know you might think that a statement like that is outlandish, but wait and see. I have written plenty about of high I am on the Tigers offense and with that being said, Curtis is in store for a historic 2008 if all cards fall into place. Don't feel foolish to believe that he will score 120+ times, hit 20+ Doubles, 20+ Triples, 20+ HR's, steal 20+ bases and drive in 75+ runs in what could be the best offensive team in history. He will set the table, Polanco will move him around the bases and the rest of the slugging crew will do the cleanup. He is the best triples man in the game and as long as he can start to learn to make more contact, his average should slowly rise each year. Some do not care though as they feel if he does try to put the ball in play more, his power #'s will decline. This will be something to watch in 2008. Draft him and watch the points roll in on the Lake Michigan tsunami!
Aaron Rowand - A change of scenery will do this guy some good. He will have a lot of weight on his shoulders and will be the man in San Fran in '08. He has to and will most likely be the only shining star in this mediocre lineup. He and Bengie Molina have a lot to accomplish with the departure of Bonds (although Bonds still hasn't landed anywhere and who knows, he might not). The Giants don't want any part of Dr. Roids as they decided to put all their eggs in one basket by signing Rowand. Not only is his lineup skimpy, he now enters, what I think to be, the best pitching division in baseball. The things I do like about his new squad is that he has some members who get on base and therefore he should see some good RBI #'s. He has a fantastic swing and hits for above par average. He will not score 100 times in 2008 as he doesn't have the protection in Howard to help him out. He has great power alley prowess and if he can keep swinging a hot bat, he will have 120+ RBI's and could have 40+ Doubles & 25+ HR's come seasons end. If Dave Roberts, Omar Vizquel & Randy Winn do their job, Rowand will give the Giants fans something to cheer about; at least it won't be for a cheater.
Check back soon for the review of the Top 5 Right Fielders soon!
"Put me in coach, I'm ready to play...today, look at me, I can be... centerfield!" When I think of baseball, that song always comes to mind; that and "Take me out to the ballgame" of course. But when I started to think of the next post, which was the Center Fielders top 5, that song would not leave my head, thanks Fogerty! What an easy group of players to choose from, I had no problem sourcing my top five and if you have an issue with my decisions, please email me and I will help explain. I do think the best overall center fielder of my generation is Andruw Jones, but after last years collapse, I am scared to list him + the Dodger's Suck!!! Yes I am a true Padre Fan! On we go to position #8.
#1 - Carlos Beltran - 2007 Stats
554 AB's, .276 AVG, 93 Runs Scored, 153 Hits, 33 Doubles, 3 Triples, 33 HR's, 112 RBI's, 23 Stolen Bases & 69 Walks.
#2 - Ichiro Suzuki - 2007 Stats
678 AB's, .351 AVG, 111 Runs Scored, 238 Hits, 22 Doubles, 7 Triples, 6 HR's, 68 RBI's, 37 Stolen Bases & 49 Walks.
#3 - Grady Sizemore - 2007 Stats
628 AB's, .277 AVG, 118 Runs Scored, 174 Hits, 34 Doubles, 5 Triples, 24 HR's, 78 RBI's, 33 Stolen Bases & 101 Walks.
#4 - Curtis Granderson - 2007 Stats
612 AB's, .302 AVG, 122 Runs Scored, 185 Hits, 38 Doubles, 23 Triples, 23 HR's, 74 RBI's, 26 Stolen Bases & 52 Walks.
#5 - Aaron Rowand - 2007 Stats
612 AB's, .309 AVG, 105 Runs Scored, 189 Hits, 45 Doubles, 0 Triples, 27 HR's, 89 RBI's, 6 Stolen Bases & 47 Walks.
Center Fielder Notes:
Carlos Beltran - It has been said that the '08 Mets will be running a lot more and one to help with this duty is Beltran. The Mets have a fantastic offensive team and the top of the lineup will plate many runners with some heavy hitters in Delgado & Alou to do most of the clean-up work. Carlos sits nicely in the heart of the Metropolitans lineup and should have a terrific season. Being a switch hitter does nothing but help his value and a 100 run, 100 RBI's, 25+ HR season is on the works for this career .280 bat slinger. Carlos has hit 24+ HR's every year since '01 except in '05 when he only hit 16 jacks. In the last two seasons he has totaled 41 and 33 dingers and his round tripper total should stay around the 30 range. Even after slumping tremendously in May through June of 2007 (.230 in that time), Carlos still recorded a decent .276 average. He was not one to blame with the September collapse last year and if Delgado and Alou can return to their slugging ways, Beltran will be the #1 Center Fielder in '08. What is not to like with the Mets top 5. Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Beltran, Delgado & Alou should be an absolute force to recon with and opposing pitchers will have their work cut out for them.
Ichiro Suzuki - He would be #1 if he has more extra base hit power. Ichiro is a hit machine and has at least 200 hits in his 7 seasons playing ball in the US. In Japan, Ichiro recording a lifetime .353 average and in the US has just been a little more shabby by notching a .333. Most hitters dream of doing what he can and he gets plenty of chances as he had a whopping 678 plate appearances at the top of the Mariners lineup in 2007. Not only does he get on base, but he runs very well and forces outfielders to come up with the ball quickly as he will stretch many singles into doubles if they are on their heels. Every season in the bigs here in the states, he has scored 100+ runs as well. Not to mention he has at least 20 doubles every year too. He wont hit you many homers or drive in super #'s with his stick, but he is as consistent as they come. If Sexton, Beltre, Ibanez and Johjima do there share of the pulling; Ichiro will finish in the top three in fantasy points and who knows, he might even be at the top. Consistency matters and you can't lose in drafting the journeyman.
Grady Sizemore - Just like a fine bottle of wine, Grady increases his numbers every year and this could be the breakout season. The baseball world sees the 27 year old mark as the coming out season, and Grady still isn't quite aged yet, as he turns 26 in August. In 3 full seasons, he has recorded 22+ HR's, 111+ runs scored and has a nice .283 lifetime average. He is fleet of foot and should be able to steal around 25-30 bases in 2008. Last year he had a .390 on base percentage and that # will slowly increase as he gets more and more comfortable with the AL pitching. No longer will he have to worry about facing Santana with the recent move by him to the NL (that is if the Mets can get his deal done soon as many experts seem to think will happen anytime now). The Indians have a potent lineup with players like Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Jhonny Peralta, Casey Blake and the emerging Ryan Garko to bolster their lineup. They are one of the toughest crews for pitchers to face and Hafner should fall back into form giving opposing mangers a handful of headaches in '08. Sizemore should plate 100+ times, hit 20+ dingers, drive in 75+ runs and steal 25+ bases. Do not forget that he has a great eye for the zone as well as he walked 101 times in '07.
Curtis Granderson - The only reason why I am not completely sold on him yet as it was one terrific season that has catapulted him to being a premier center fielder. If he repeats what he did in '07, he might just be the best in the game but the only worry is his knack to strikeout. He has joined an elite group, or actually he is the only member of the 20/20/20 club (Triples, HR's & stolen bases, if you need a refresher course). Also, Curtis will be 27 for the '08 season and the Tiger faithful will most likely see the next Willie Mays in their 2008 lineup. I know you might think that a statement like that is outlandish, but wait and see. I have written plenty about of high I am on the Tigers offense and with that being said, Curtis is in store for a historic 2008 if all cards fall into place. Don't feel foolish to believe that he will score 120+ times, hit 20+ Doubles, 20+ Triples, 20+ HR's, steal 20+ bases and drive in 75+ runs in what could be the best offensive team in history. He will set the table, Polanco will move him around the bases and the rest of the slugging crew will do the cleanup. He is the best triples man in the game and as long as he can start to learn to make more contact, his average should slowly rise each year. Some do not care though as they feel if he does try to put the ball in play more, his power #'s will decline. This will be something to watch in 2008. Draft him and watch the points roll in on the Lake Michigan tsunami!
Aaron Rowand - A change of scenery will do this guy some good. He will have a lot of weight on his shoulders and will be the man in San Fran in '08. He has to and will most likely be the only shining star in this mediocre lineup. He and Bengie Molina have a lot to accomplish with the departure of Bonds (although Bonds still hasn't landed anywhere and who knows, he might not). The Giants don't want any part of Dr. Roids as they decided to put all their eggs in one basket by signing Rowand. Not only is his lineup skimpy, he now enters, what I think to be, the best pitching division in baseball. The things I do like about his new squad is that he has some members who get on base and therefore he should see some good RBI #'s. He has a fantastic swing and hits for above par average. He will not score 100 times in 2008 as he doesn't have the protection in Howard to help him out. He has great power alley prowess and if he can keep swinging a hot bat, he will have 120+ RBI's and could have 40+ Doubles & 25+ HR's come seasons end. If Dave Roberts, Omar Vizquel & Randy Winn do their job, Rowand will give the Giants fans something to cheer about; at least it won't be for a cheater.
Check back soon for the review of the Top 5 Right Fielders soon!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
2008 Fantasy Baseball Left Fielders - Top 5
2008 TOP 5 FANTASY LEFT FIELDERS
We now move on to the outfielders and we will start with left field. I apologize for the delay in posting as there was much to study as well as the beginning of each year is always a busy time! The Top 5 postings for outfielders will be a little different than infield postings; the top 5 will be posted for each of the three spots, then top 5 rookies and to round things off, the top 5 outfielders that did not make the initial list. So basically, after the next 5 posts you will have 20 top outfielders & 5 rookies/prospects that you can read up on. I decided to start in left for a couple of reasons: #1 it is the position that comes next, duh! #2 Matt Holliday is my #1 ranked outfielder of the draft in 2008. His numbers are gently rising each year and he can flat out hit. The Rockies have a very solid offensive squad and Holliday should be able to pull out a MVP in 2008. Lets get to it!!!
#1 - Matt Holliday - 2007 Stats
636 AB's, .340 AVG, 120 Runs Scored, 216 Hits, 50 Doubles, 6 Triples, 36 HR's, 137 RBI's, 11 Stolen Bases & 63 Walks.
#2 - Carlos Lee - 2007 Stats
627 AB's, .303 AVG, 93 Runs Scored, 190 Hits, 43 Doubles, 1 Triple, 32 HR's, 119 RBI's, 10 Stolen Bases & 53 Walks.
#3 - Alfonso Soriano - 2007 Stats
579 AB's, .299 AVG, 97 Runs Scored, 173 Hits, 42 Doubles, 5 Triples, 33 HR's, 70 RBI's, 19 Stolen Bases & 31 Walks.
#4 - Manny Ramirez - 2007 Stats
483 AB's, .296 AVG, 84 Runs Scored, 143 Hits, 33 Doubles, 1 Triple, 20 HR's, 88 RBI's, 0 Stolen Bases & 71 Walks.
#5 - Adam Dunn - 2007 Stats
522 AB's, .264 AVG, 101 Runs Scored, 138 Hits, 27 Doubles, 2 Triples, 40 HR's, 106 RBI's, 9 Stolen Bases & 101 Walks.
Left Fielder Notes:
Matt Holliday - Robbed of the MVP in 2007! He led the NL in average, hits, doubles and RBI's. I'm not saying that Jimmy Rollins had a bad season, but the Rockies wouldn't have been able to make the Series without Mr. Holliday. It was the closest MVP race since 1991, when Terry Pendleton edged out Dr. Roids (Bonds, like you needed the hint). In 4 seasons in the bigs, Matt has averaged a nice .319 and will get better in 2008. The last two seasons have been great in fantasy terms and he saw increased #'s in HR's, RBI's & runs scored. (2006 - 34 HR's, 114 RBI's & 119 runs scored. 2007 - 36 HR's, 137 RBI's & 120 runs scored.) He now has a fantastic #2 hitter in Tulowitzki in front of him and a table setter in Taveras to lead things off. Helton had an off year for his stats and the emergence of Atkins and Hawpe make the '08 Rockies an offensive force, not to mention getting to play in Coors Field. A 35+ HR, 125+ RBI, 45+ Double, 100 runs scored and .315+ average should be expected for this year and the next few to come.
Carlos Lee - "El Caballo" English for the horse (see Spanish to English dictionary) is exactly what he has been nicknamed! 24+ HR's in 8 full seasons & 30+ HR's in last 5. Four out of the last five years he has totalled 100+ RBI's (just missed in 2004 with 99). Also, he has racked up 35+ doubles in each of his last 5 seasons as well. The Stallion has a .288 career batting average and remains healthy year around even with his immense size! He gets to hit in the band box of Minute Maid park for his home games and has a nice potent lineup surrounding him. Hopefully Tejada stays out of roid fibbing trouble and Carlos mashes his way to a fantasy owners dream '08 season.
Alfonso Soriano - A member of the elite 40/40 club (only others are Arod, Dr. Roids & "King of Roids" aka Canseco). He was the first ever to be in the 40/40/40 club in '06 with 40 doubles on the list as well. He has averaged 34+ HR's in 7 full seasons, just under 40 Doubles (39.857) and 32 swiped bags a year. He sports a decent .282 career average and should see a potent 2008 if his hammy holds up. There are still some concerns about how that hamstring is after injuring it in 2007 but he has had some significant time to rest and has the gift a nice line up to pad his numbers. His stolen bases might slide in '08 but his line up should be able to plate him 105+ times in the 2008 season. With the newly acquired Fukudome, the beast at the hot corner ARam & hopefully a healthy D. Lee; Soriano should be able to put up numbers that will keep him in the elite left fielders.
Adam Dunn - A true eye for the plate, don't let the high strike out #'s fool you. He knows when to swing at strikes and usually lets bad pitches go. He will get 100+ walks every year due to his great discipline coupled with pitchers just wanting to stay away from his power. Adam is 28 years young and will continue to put up fantasic power numbers for many years to come. In each of his last three seasons he has hit exactly 40 bombs (26 in 2002 & 27 in 2003). He has also totalled 100+ RBI's in 3 of the last 4 seasons, just missing that mark with 99 in '06. His 40 dingers led all left fielders in 2007 and he will most likely lead in that stat category in '08 as well. He doesn't hit for good average, but when he makes contact he usually has warning track or better power as the #'s show. With Brandon Phillips coming into his own and Griffey still hitting well and being healthy, expect a very nice season from the big basher!
Manny Ramirez - ManRam is starting to get older but still can definitely crush. He is now the post season leader in HR's, taking the top during the '07 World Series Champ run. He is very clutch and the only drawback is his age. Manny has played in 13 full seasons and is 35 years old now. He suffered a strained oblique in late August of 2007 and it kept him out for most of September (24 games missed in that stretch). He did come back healthy and very strong for the post season to help the BoSox win another title. Last year was the lowest HR total in his career but he still has averaged 36+ HR's in his tenure. He also has a very respectable .313 lifetime average. ManRam hits 100+ RBI's year in and year out if you subtract two seasons where he fell short of the mark ('97 & '07 - 88 RBI's). Draft him and sit back and watch the points roll in. Manny is just being Manny!
The top 5 Center Fielders will be covered next! the post should come around early next week...lets hope!
We now move on to the outfielders and we will start with left field. I apologize for the delay in posting as there was much to study as well as the beginning of each year is always a busy time! The Top 5 postings for outfielders will be a little different than infield postings; the top 5 will be posted for each of the three spots, then top 5 rookies and to round things off, the top 5 outfielders that did not make the initial list. So basically, after the next 5 posts you will have 20 top outfielders & 5 rookies/prospects that you can read up on. I decided to start in left for a couple of reasons: #1 it is the position that comes next, duh! #2 Matt Holliday is my #1 ranked outfielder of the draft in 2008. His numbers are gently rising each year and he can flat out hit. The Rockies have a very solid offensive squad and Holliday should be able to pull out a MVP in 2008. Lets get to it!!!
#1 - Matt Holliday - 2007 Stats
636 AB's, .340 AVG, 120 Runs Scored, 216 Hits, 50 Doubles, 6 Triples, 36 HR's, 137 RBI's, 11 Stolen Bases & 63 Walks.
#2 - Carlos Lee - 2007 Stats
627 AB's, .303 AVG, 93 Runs Scored, 190 Hits, 43 Doubles, 1 Triple, 32 HR's, 119 RBI's, 10 Stolen Bases & 53 Walks.
#3 - Alfonso Soriano - 2007 Stats
579 AB's, .299 AVG, 97 Runs Scored, 173 Hits, 42 Doubles, 5 Triples, 33 HR's, 70 RBI's, 19 Stolen Bases & 31 Walks.
#4 - Manny Ramirez - 2007 Stats
483 AB's, .296 AVG, 84 Runs Scored, 143 Hits, 33 Doubles, 1 Triple, 20 HR's, 88 RBI's, 0 Stolen Bases & 71 Walks.
#5 - Adam Dunn - 2007 Stats
522 AB's, .264 AVG, 101 Runs Scored, 138 Hits, 27 Doubles, 2 Triples, 40 HR's, 106 RBI's, 9 Stolen Bases & 101 Walks.
Left Fielder Notes:
Matt Holliday - Robbed of the MVP in 2007! He led the NL in average, hits, doubles and RBI's. I'm not saying that Jimmy Rollins had a bad season, but the Rockies wouldn't have been able to make the Series without Mr. Holliday. It was the closest MVP race since 1991, when Terry Pendleton edged out Dr. Roids (Bonds, like you needed the hint). In 4 seasons in the bigs, Matt has averaged a nice .319 and will get better in 2008. The last two seasons have been great in fantasy terms and he saw increased #'s in HR's, RBI's & runs scored. (2006 - 34 HR's, 114 RBI's & 119 runs scored. 2007 - 36 HR's, 137 RBI's & 120 runs scored.) He now has a fantastic #2 hitter in Tulowitzki in front of him and a table setter in Taveras to lead things off. Helton had an off year for his stats and the emergence of Atkins and Hawpe make the '08 Rockies an offensive force, not to mention getting to play in Coors Field. A 35+ HR, 125+ RBI, 45+ Double, 100 runs scored and .315+ average should be expected for this year and the next few to come.
Carlos Lee - "El Caballo" English for the horse (see Spanish to English dictionary) is exactly what he has been nicknamed! 24+ HR's in 8 full seasons & 30+ HR's in last 5. Four out of the last five years he has totalled 100+ RBI's (just missed in 2004 with 99). Also, he has racked up 35+ doubles in each of his last 5 seasons as well. The Stallion has a .288 career batting average and remains healthy year around even with his immense size! He gets to hit in the band box of Minute Maid park for his home games and has a nice potent lineup surrounding him. Hopefully Tejada stays out of roid fibbing trouble and Carlos mashes his way to a fantasy owners dream '08 season.
Alfonso Soriano - A member of the elite 40/40 club (only others are Arod, Dr. Roids & "King of Roids" aka Canseco). He was the first ever to be in the 40/40/40 club in '06 with 40 doubles on the list as well. He has averaged 34+ HR's in 7 full seasons, just under 40 Doubles (39.857) and 32 swiped bags a year. He sports a decent .282 career average and should see a potent 2008 if his hammy holds up. There are still some concerns about how that hamstring is after injuring it in 2007 but he has had some significant time to rest and has the gift a nice line up to pad his numbers. His stolen bases might slide in '08 but his line up should be able to plate him 105+ times in the 2008 season. With the newly acquired Fukudome, the beast at the hot corner ARam & hopefully a healthy D. Lee; Soriano should be able to put up numbers that will keep him in the elite left fielders.
Adam Dunn - A true eye for the plate, don't let the high strike out #'s fool you. He knows when to swing at strikes and usually lets bad pitches go. He will get 100+ walks every year due to his great discipline coupled with pitchers just wanting to stay away from his power. Adam is 28 years young and will continue to put up fantasic power numbers for many years to come. In each of his last three seasons he has hit exactly 40 bombs (26 in 2002 & 27 in 2003). He has also totalled 100+ RBI's in 3 of the last 4 seasons, just missing that mark with 99 in '06. His 40 dingers led all left fielders in 2007 and he will most likely lead in that stat category in '08 as well. He doesn't hit for good average, but when he makes contact he usually has warning track or better power as the #'s show. With Brandon Phillips coming into his own and Griffey still hitting well and being healthy, expect a very nice season from the big basher!
Manny Ramirez - ManRam is starting to get older but still can definitely crush. He is now the post season leader in HR's, taking the top during the '07 World Series Champ run. He is very clutch and the only drawback is his age. Manny has played in 13 full seasons and is 35 years old now. He suffered a strained oblique in late August of 2007 and it kept him out for most of September (24 games missed in that stretch). He did come back healthy and very strong for the post season to help the BoSox win another title. Last year was the lowest HR total in his career but he still has averaged 36+ HR's in his tenure. He also has a very respectable .313 lifetime average. ManRam hits 100+ RBI's year in and year out if you subtract two seasons where he fell short of the mark ('97 & '07 - 88 RBI's). Draft him and sit back and watch the points roll in. Manny is just being Manny!
The top 5 Center Fielders will be covered next! the post should come around early next week...lets hope!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
2008 Fantasy Baseball Shortstops - Top 5
Since when are the shortstops the most potent men in the lineup?? After doing my stat crunching I was truly amazed with the difficulty in determining who was going to top the list. Shortstops have now become the studs of the game and many of these guys will solidify fantasy teams throughout the nation. There are plenty guys who missed the list who should do great for fantasy owners. It was difficult to set these guys on a pedistal and the list might change quite a bit before the final baseball drafts come about. Massive amounts of hits, runs scored, homers and stolen bases flood this postion not to mention doubles & triples as well. This list should help you out some but I strongly reccommend to study your shortstops as there are many diamonds in the rough that you could sleep on come draft day!
2008 TOP 5 FANTASY SHORTSTOPS
#1 - Hanley Ramirez - 2007 Stats
639 AB's, .332 AVG, 125 Runs Scored, 212 Hits, 48 Doubles, 6 Triples, 29 HR's, 81 RBI's, 51 Stolen Bases & 52 Walks.
#2 - Jimmy Rollins - 2007 Stats
716 AB's, .296 AVG, 139 Runs Scored, 212 Hits, 38 Doubles, 20 Triples, 30 HR's, 94 RBI's, 41 Stolen Bases & 49 Walks.
#3 - Carlos Guillen - 2007 Stats
564 AB's, .296 AVG, 86 Runs Scored, 167 Hits, 35 Doubles, 9 Triples, 21 HR's, 102 RBI's, 13 Stolen Bases & 55 Walks.
#4 - Jose Reyes - 2007 Stats
681 AB's, .280 AVG, 119 Runs Scored, 191 Hits, 36 Doubles, 12 Triples, 12 HR's, 78 Stolen Bases & 77 Walks.
#5 - Derek Jeter - 2007 Stats
639 AB's, .322 AVG, 102 Runs Scored, 206 Hits, 39 Doubles, 4 Triples, 12 HR's, 15 Stolen Bases & 56 Walks.
2008 TOP 5 FANTASY SHORTSTOPS
#1 - Hanley Ramirez - 2007 Stats
639 AB's, .332 AVG, 125 Runs Scored, 212 Hits, 48 Doubles, 6 Triples, 29 HR's, 81 RBI's, 51 Stolen Bases & 52 Walks.
#2 - Jimmy Rollins - 2007 Stats
716 AB's, .296 AVG, 139 Runs Scored, 212 Hits, 38 Doubles, 20 Triples, 30 HR's, 94 RBI's, 41 Stolen Bases & 49 Walks.
#3 - Carlos Guillen - 2007 Stats
564 AB's, .296 AVG, 86 Runs Scored, 167 Hits, 35 Doubles, 9 Triples, 21 HR's, 102 RBI's, 13 Stolen Bases & 55 Walks.
#4 - Jose Reyes - 2007 Stats
681 AB's, .280 AVG, 119 Runs Scored, 191 Hits, 36 Doubles, 12 Triples, 12 HR's, 78 Stolen Bases & 77 Walks.
#5 - Derek Jeter - 2007 Stats
639 AB's, .322 AVG, 102 Runs Scored, 206 Hits, 39 Doubles, 4 Triples, 12 HR's, 15 Stolen Bases & 56 Walks.
Just missed the Top 5
Troy Tulowitzki - 2007 Stats
609 AB's, .291 AVG, 104 Runs Scored, 177 Hits, 33 Doubles, 5 Triples, 24 HR's, 7 Stolen Bases & 57 Walks.
2008's Top Sleeper
Yunel Escobar - 2007 Stats
319 AB's, .326 AVG, 54 Runs Scored, 104 Hits, 25 Doubles, 0 Triples, 5 HR's, 28 RBI's, 5 Stolen Bases & 27 Walks.
Shortstop Notes:
Hanley Ramirez - 24 years of age and he is becoming the top player throughout the league. Many feel like he is the #1 player in this year's draft and it is hard to be able to build a defense for saying he should not be. Hanley sits in the top 2 ranks of 4 of the main 5 fantasy categories for shortstops and he should just get better and better as he grows up. His 2007 stats were amazing and they could have been much better if he didnt miss a few games with shoulder issues. Orthoscopic surgery during the offseason should hold that shoulder in place for this season and beyond; and even with the left shoulder giving him problems for the last few seasons, he would be the last to say it has hindered him at all and his #'s speak for themselves. Against all players in his position, he was ranked #1 in average (tied with Renteria, .332), 2nd in runs scored, 2nd in homers, 2nd in stolen bases and 7th in RBI's. As long as he stay healthy, Hanley will become a household name by season's end. Don't be scared to draft him #1, #2 or #3 in your draft!!!
Jimmy Rollins - 2007 National League MVP and he still ranks under Hanley! 1st in dingers for shortstops, 1st in runs scored, 1st in triples, 3rd in stolen bases, 4th in RBI's and tied for 6th with average. The Phillies are a run scoring machine and Jimmy will set the table time and time again (that is if he is actually on base and is not crossing the dish from leading off with a blast!) Last year was his best season to date and he should see a little of a decline as it will be hard to duplicate those #'s in 2008. He should be good for 200+ hits, 125+ runs scored, 20+ homers and 15+ triples in '08. He will most likely be drafted in the top 5 and has earned this right as his #'s should tell you he is the real deal. The Phillies are so potent in their top 6 that increased #'s for Rollins are likely but I wouldn't bet on it.
Carlos Guillen - The Tigers growl is defintely as scary as their bite! This could be the most offensive squad in the history of the game. Take a moment and go through their lineup with me, as I see it as of today. Leadoff - Curtis Granderson, 2nd - Placido Polanco, 3rd - Miguel Cabrera, 4th - Magglio Ordonez, 5th - Gary Sheffield, 6th - Carlos Guillen, 7th - Edgar Renteria, 8th - Jacque Jones & 9th Pudge Rodriguez! ARE YOU KIDDNG ME!!! On paper, this team ranks as good as any ever played. Carlos Guillen might not be a household name now but if he hits like he has in the past 3 seasons (injury shortened 2005), he will accumilate massive fantasy #'s and you should be able to steal him away in round 3 (though some might see his potential and will draft him higher than that!) With Renteria now taking over the shortstop role, Carlos moves over to first base and he should have no problem mastering that postion immediately. With that being said, he can iron out the kinks in spring training and will be able to devote most of his thoughts to hitting in '08. He will see so many good pitches to hit that I sometimes think about drafting him in the first part of the second round! His projected #'s should be 100 Runs Scored, 15+ HR's, 100+ RBI's, 175 + hits and a solid .300 AVG. You might think that I am crazy projecting him above Reyes, but I will be due some praise come October, you will see!
Jose Reyes - STUD! 24 years old! Had an off season in '07 but should rebound nicely in 2008. I say off season, which in most peoples eyes was still electrifying. 78 Stolen bases, wow... we haven't seen basepath speed like that for sometime in the bigs. He is amazing to watch and had some declining #'s in the last month in a half of '07. His average dropped 20 points from 2006 and he might be more of a .285 hitter anyway. He burns up the basepaths and stretched singles into doubles and doubles into triples constantly. Last year he was projected as a top three pick and will not be drafted like that in '08. If he shows up again this year, you might just see him in the top five for many years to come. His team's knack to score runs is prevalent and as long as he hits 1st for the Mets, he will make any fantasy owner happy!
Derek Jeter - That lingering knee problem has scared me and I think it should make many owners think twice about wasting a high draft pick on him in 2008. The Yankee's medical staff declined knee surgery in the off season and that is a red flag that maybe he will have a abbreviated '08. Even though he hits smack dab in the middle of the Yankees line-up, he is getting up there in age and a trend is developing in his #'s. His power #'s are declining, his stolen base #'s have dropped dramatically but his average is starting to gain yearly. This is a true sign that he is shifting his game as he knows his prime has slipped away. He will put up great average #'s and will still be great defensively (not that we fantasy owners care one bit about defense!), but drafting him is a great risk but could be one with nice rewards. I could be wrong with the trend that I see, but he almost didnt make the top 5 and this is the first time that I haven't thought highly about the best shortstop in Yankee history! Lowest HR #'s since '97 & lowest runs scored total in 12 full seasons. The speed has dropped off and Jeter has become a well oiled singles machine!
Troy Tulowitzki - Runner up for National League Rookie of the Year, finshed just behind Ryan Braun. Tulos #'s were not as good as Braun's, but his defense was far superior...ow yeah we don't care about defense, sorry my bad! Tulo will have some great protection behind him named Holliday! Fast Willy Taveras will set the table for the Rockies in 2008 and will be on base plenty for Troy to bash him it. Tulo scored over 100 runs in 2007 and should pass that mark again. Do not be surprised if he hits 25+ bombs as well. He will get plenty of nice pitches to hit as opposing hill dwellers wont want to put extra runners on base for the heavy hitting 3, 4, 5 & 6 hitters to pound in (Holliday, Helton, Atkins & Hawpe). Sophomore slump might pop out it's groundhog head in Denver but Troy benefits from already being very sound at defense and will try to learn as mush as possible in the box. + the Rockies play in Denver last time I checked. + Troy has something to prove; that he is one of the newest stars in the shortstop crop and last year wasn't a fluke.
Yunel Escobar - The Braves must feel pretty comfotable with their young shortstop to trade away one of the best hitter's for average from last year in Renteria. The Cuban defector has been waiting for his chance to produce and will get it in 2008. In just over 300 AB's in the bigs in 2007, he was able to hit 25 Doubles and post a nice average . He has a great bat and should hit over .300 in '08. You might get 15 HR's out of him but the most impressive part of his game is his effectiveness to put the bat on the ball and find the gaps. He will be planted in a lineup that has some already great gap hitters and the '08 Braves could be a Sleeper squad to jump back in their division to claim the NL East once again. Expect 95+ runs scored, 15 + HR's and 45-50 Doubles in 2008. He is young (25) and will get every chance from Atlanta to produce.
Check back soon for the Outfield list. The top 15 will be covered and you do not want to miss the information collected for your assistance!
Monday, January 7, 2008
2008 Fantasy Baseball 3rd Basemen - Top 5
One of the posts we all have been waiting for... THE HOT CORNER! I am sure we all know who will top the list as his 2007 season was spectacular, unless you are a Yankee fan and think he is still a bum. He doesn't like to shine in post season, but once again, this is fantasy who gives a hoot about post season unless it is yours. Fantasy is a 1 for all and all for 1 sport and these 3 baggers sure will put points on your bottom line. Hey New York fans, at least your third basemen are #1 and #2 this year in the ranks (at least the way I see it). Three of these guys make the top 5 year in and year out and the others will be here for some time as well. Enough blabbering, lets get to it!
2008 TOP 5 FANTASY 3RD BASEMEN
#1 - AROD (aka Alex Rodriguez) - 2007 Stats
583 AB's, .314 AVG, 143 Runs Scored, 183 Hits, 31 Doubles, 0 Triples, 54 HR's, 156 RBI's, 24 Stolen Bases & 95 Walks.
#2 - David Wright - 2007 Stats
604 AB's, .325 AVG, 113 Runs Scored, 196 Hits, 42 Doubles, 1 Triple, 30 HR's, 107 RBI's, 30 Stolen Bases & 94 Walks.
#3 - Miguel Cabrera - 2007 Stats
588 AB's, .320 AVG, 91 Runs Scored, 188 Hits, 38 Doubles, 2 Triples, 34 HR's, 119 RBI's, 2 Stolen Bases & 79 Walks.
#4 - Chipper Jones - 2007 Stats
513 AB's, .337 AVG, 108 Runs Scored, 173 Hits, 42 Doubles, 4 Triples, 29 HR's, 102 RBI's, 5 Stolen Bases & 82 Walks.
#5 - Ryan Braun - 2007 Stats
451 AB's, .324 AVG, 91 Runs Scored, 146 Hits, 26 Doubles, 6 Triples, 34 HR's, 97 RBI's, 15 Stolen bases & 29 Walks.
2008's Top Sleeper
Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay's Top Prospect)
This years Ryan Braun! That is all I will say. He doesn't have many stats of significance yet, but if you draft him, you will be looked at as a guru come season's end! Do not look for additional notes below, you won't find them. Evan will start opening day and Iwamura will have to be moved to 2nd base (barring injuries of course).
Just missed the Top 5
Garrett Atkins - 2007 Stats
605 AB's, .301 AVG, 83 Runs Scored, 182 Hits, 35 Doubles, 1 Triple, 25 HR's, 111 RBI's, 3 Stolen Bases & 67 Walks.
3rd Basemen Notes:
Alex Rodriguez - 275 Million + incentives (30 Million or so more). Arod has more hits than Pete Rose had at his same age, more HR's than Barry Bonds aka "*", more RBI's than Hank Aaron, and more runs scored than Rickey Henderson. He's only 32 years old and the way he is going, he will be the best player of all time when he hangs up the spikes! .306 Lifetime average in 13 full seasons. 35+ HR's and 100+ RBI's every year except for 1997 with the Mariners. Yankees have a lineup that is drunk with mashers and the headliner is AROD!
David Wright - 30/30 in 2007! Only Brandon Phillips, AROD and Barry Larkin have been able to achieve that feat for middle infielders {Braun to join them in 2008}. Fantastic line-up to hit in and was in the top ten for every offensive category except HR's (tied for 14th). He has hit 26+ dingers and has tallied 100+ RBI's in each of his three full seasons and has hit for nice average on top of that (.311 - 3 1/3 seasons). If his legs stay healthy, David will notch another 30/30 under his belt in '08! Not hard to do with Jose Reyes hitting in front of you and Beltran being your protection. Delgado had an off season and if he gets back to at least normal, Wright might score 120+ times as well!
Miguel Cabrera - 4 full seasons in the big show and he is only 24. He has switched leagues and has joined the scary, scary offensive Tigers of '08. He has hit 33+ HR's in 3 of his 4 full seasons and in the slumping year hit 26 (2006). He didn't have much lineup protection is 2006 but he was able to hit 50 doubles in the meantime. Has over 100 RBI's each season and will definitely hit 100+ again. .313 lifetime average is not too shabby either. As long as he keeps the weight off, he will be a top 5 third baseman for at least 5+ more years.
Chipper Jones - He's now 35, but don't even start to think he is aging. 13 full seasons under his belt and he has shown many Atlanta faithful how good he is from both sides of the plate. He has posted a .307 lifetime average and has hit over 21 blasts in each season (high of 45 in 1999). Him and Teixeira will crush opposing pitchers in '08 and 30 HR's and 100+ RBI's will happen. 2007 was his best year for average, .337 and his power numbers really didn't slide due to that. He has probably the best gap finding bat in baseball and would be a great addition to any fantasy team!
Ryan Braun - 2007 National League Rookie of the Year Winner! Amazing 2007 and it wasn't even a full one. Ryan was brought up last year to fill the void that Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino had in the Brewers slugging line-up. The Brew Crew's Top Brass wanted to let him learn as much as possible in the minors but they knew they couldn't wait any longer. On May 25th, Braun was in the lineup against the Padres and never exited since. His numbers were simply amazing and he is one of the brightest younger players in the league. He hits for great average, has tremendous power, has above average speed and will most likely be a 30/30 guy in 2008. Don't be surprised if he hits 35+ homers and has at least 115 RBI's. The way he hit last year is a sure sign he is here to stay and probably will be a perennial all star as well. He wont be the first pick at third base but many will take him as the 2nd overall and it is not much of a gamble. The only reason he is ranked 5th is he has only 3/4 of a year experience in the bigs and might slump a little in his sophomore year.
Garrett Atkins - With 3 full seasons under his belt, Atkins is not a newbie anymore and will continue to post nice numbers for a third basemen. He's only 28 years old and has a very potent lineup surrounding him. Expect to see at least a .300 AVG, 25+ dingers, 100+ RBI's and over 90 runs scored in '08. With Tulowitzki, Holliday, Helton and Hawpe crammed in the top 5 or 6, the 2008 Rocks will put up some serious stats and Garrett should see his numbers blossom and he plays in Colorado which can "elevate" any one's stats.
Check back soon for the Top 5 2008 Shortstops soon!!
2008 TOP 5 FANTASY 3RD BASEMEN
#1 - AROD (aka Alex Rodriguez) - 2007 Stats
583 AB's, .314 AVG, 143 Runs Scored, 183 Hits, 31 Doubles, 0 Triples, 54 HR's, 156 RBI's, 24 Stolen Bases & 95 Walks.
#2 - David Wright - 2007 Stats
604 AB's, .325 AVG, 113 Runs Scored, 196 Hits, 42 Doubles, 1 Triple, 30 HR's, 107 RBI's, 30 Stolen Bases & 94 Walks.
#3 - Miguel Cabrera - 2007 Stats
588 AB's, .320 AVG, 91 Runs Scored, 188 Hits, 38 Doubles, 2 Triples, 34 HR's, 119 RBI's, 2 Stolen Bases & 79 Walks.
#4 - Chipper Jones - 2007 Stats
513 AB's, .337 AVG, 108 Runs Scored, 173 Hits, 42 Doubles, 4 Triples, 29 HR's, 102 RBI's, 5 Stolen Bases & 82 Walks.
#5 - Ryan Braun - 2007 Stats
451 AB's, .324 AVG, 91 Runs Scored, 146 Hits, 26 Doubles, 6 Triples, 34 HR's, 97 RBI's, 15 Stolen bases & 29 Walks.
2008's Top Sleeper
Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay's Top Prospect)
This years Ryan Braun! That is all I will say. He doesn't have many stats of significance yet, but if you draft him, you will be looked at as a guru come season's end! Do not look for additional notes below, you won't find them. Evan will start opening day and Iwamura will have to be moved to 2nd base (barring injuries of course).
Just missed the Top 5
Garrett Atkins - 2007 Stats
605 AB's, .301 AVG, 83 Runs Scored, 182 Hits, 35 Doubles, 1 Triple, 25 HR's, 111 RBI's, 3 Stolen Bases & 67 Walks.
3rd Basemen Notes:
Alex Rodriguez - 275 Million + incentives (30 Million or so more). Arod has more hits than Pete Rose had at his same age, more HR's than Barry Bonds aka "*", more RBI's than Hank Aaron, and more runs scored than Rickey Henderson. He's only 32 years old and the way he is going, he will be the best player of all time when he hangs up the spikes! .306 Lifetime average in 13 full seasons. 35+ HR's and 100+ RBI's every year except for 1997 with the Mariners. Yankees have a lineup that is drunk with mashers and the headliner is AROD!
David Wright - 30/30 in 2007! Only Brandon Phillips, AROD and Barry Larkin have been able to achieve that feat for middle infielders {Braun to join them in 2008}. Fantastic line-up to hit in and was in the top ten for every offensive category except HR's (tied for 14th). He has hit 26+ dingers and has tallied 100+ RBI's in each of his three full seasons and has hit for nice average on top of that (.311 - 3 1/3 seasons). If his legs stay healthy, David will notch another 30/30 under his belt in '08! Not hard to do with Jose Reyes hitting in front of you and Beltran being your protection. Delgado had an off season and if he gets back to at least normal, Wright might score 120+ times as well!
Miguel Cabrera - 4 full seasons in the big show and he is only 24. He has switched leagues and has joined the scary, scary offensive Tigers of '08. He has hit 33+ HR's in 3 of his 4 full seasons and in the slumping year hit 26 (2006). He didn't have much lineup protection is 2006 but he was able to hit 50 doubles in the meantime. Has over 100 RBI's each season and will definitely hit 100+ again. .313 lifetime average is not too shabby either. As long as he keeps the weight off, he will be a top 5 third baseman for at least 5+ more years.
Chipper Jones - He's now 35, but don't even start to think he is aging. 13 full seasons under his belt and he has shown many Atlanta faithful how good he is from both sides of the plate. He has posted a .307 lifetime average and has hit over 21 blasts in each season (high of 45 in 1999). Him and Teixeira will crush opposing pitchers in '08 and 30 HR's and 100+ RBI's will happen. 2007 was his best year for average, .337 and his power numbers really didn't slide due to that. He has probably the best gap finding bat in baseball and would be a great addition to any fantasy team!
Ryan Braun - 2007 National League Rookie of the Year Winner! Amazing 2007 and it wasn't even a full one. Ryan was brought up last year to fill the void that Craig Counsell and Tony Graffanino had in the Brewers slugging line-up. The Brew Crew's Top Brass wanted to let him learn as much as possible in the minors but they knew they couldn't wait any longer. On May 25th, Braun was in the lineup against the Padres and never exited since. His numbers were simply amazing and he is one of the brightest younger players in the league. He hits for great average, has tremendous power, has above average speed and will most likely be a 30/30 guy in 2008. Don't be surprised if he hits 35+ homers and has at least 115 RBI's. The way he hit last year is a sure sign he is here to stay and probably will be a perennial all star as well. He wont be the first pick at third base but many will take him as the 2nd overall and it is not much of a gamble. The only reason he is ranked 5th is he has only 3/4 of a year experience in the bigs and might slump a little in his sophomore year.
Garrett Atkins - With 3 full seasons under his belt, Atkins is not a newbie anymore and will continue to post nice numbers for a third basemen. He's only 28 years old and has a very potent lineup surrounding him. Expect to see at least a .300 AVG, 25+ dingers, 100+ RBI's and over 90 runs scored in '08. With Tulowitzki, Holliday, Helton and Hawpe crammed in the top 5 or 6, the 2008 Rocks will put up some serious stats and Garrett should see his numbers blossom and he plays in Colorado which can "elevate" any one's stats.
Check back soon for the Top 5 2008 Shortstops soon!!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Is there a particular topic you want spotlighted??
Hey all! If you would like for me to highlight some sort of fantasy topic, please shoot me an email and I will make it happen.
fantasysurgeon@yahoo.com
Thanks for reading,
Todd
fantasysurgeon@yahoo.com
Thanks for reading,
Todd
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