2.20.2009

Fantasy Baseball Preview

MLB.com has their Fantasy Baseball preview up and running, and they list out the top 100 players that should be the top draft choices. Really, there are no surprises in the top ten.

Hanley Ramirez SS FLA 42 Prime power/speed option worth top dollar.
Albert Pujols 1B STL 41 Already the best, now with a healthy elbow.
David Wright 3B NYM 39 Five-tool stud poised to surpass A-Rod.
Alex Rodriguez 3B NYY 39 Delivers outstanding numbers even in down years.
Jose Reyes SS NYM 39 Speedster offers all-category upside.
Ryan Braun OF MIL 35 Elite young slugger primed for MVP-caliber campaign.
Miguel Cabrera 1B, 3B DET 34 Adjustment to AL complete, primed for career year.
Grady Sizemore OF CLE 32 Multi-talented stud reaching prime years of career.
Mark Teixeira 1B NYY 31 Consistent slugger gets prime spot in Yankees lineup.
Josh Hamilton OF TEX 31 Could be in store for mammoth '09 numbers.

Maybe the one person who shouldn't be so high is Miguel Cabrera, who did not have that good of a year last year. Yes, he might have adjusted to the A.L. and the Tigers might be meshing better, but I think that his rank is certainly a product of his potential and not his recent production.

If the reports are true on Hanley Ramirez, then he certainly deserves to be #1, even over Albert Pujols, because he can hit for power, average, and can run well, much better than Pujols. Rodriguez certainly deserves to be in the top five despite recent admissions and post-season performances. He is still the all-around standard for season-long performance. Hamilton sneaks into the top ten by virtue of his outstanding 2008 season, including that MONSTER Home Run Derby performance, and he can run well, too. Texeira, well, I might be hesitant to pick him this high until he proves that he can handle the New York glare.

Of course, Grady is The Man in my eyes, and he deserves top ten billing normally, but he had a sub-par year last year, so maybe he shouldn't be so high up. However, should Hafner and Martinez recover their forms and Derosa add a new dimension to the Indians lineup, then he might challenge for the best fantasy acquisition this year.

A couple of good pickups down the list might be players like Ryan Ludwick who had a stellar break-out year in 2008 and benefits from being in the same lineup as Pujols; Chipper Jones, who fell in the rankings due to age and injury; Pittsburg outfielder Nate McLouth, who I've always liked as a catalyst for a young team; and newcomer Chris Davis, the Texas first baseman, who has the potential to be a big-time run producer.

I'm not sure I have the time or inclination to do a Fantasy league this year, but I certainly enjoy ranking the players, and seeing if I can't predict who might emerge as a star.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I agree with you - Miguel Cabrera does not belong in the top ten. He had a horrible year - I will join your Fantasy league.....

Captain Canuck said...

I like how they have David Wright ranked so high when he's not even the best 3b in the NL East...