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!
No comments:
Post a Comment