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!