Well, after last year's historically strong rookie class, it only makes sense that this year's class would leave a lot to be desired. We will see a lot of people going crazy and over-paying in this year's drafts for guys like Dominic Brown, Jeremy Hellickson, Mike Moustakis, Dustin Ackley and others. While all of these players, as well as other rookies, will get an opportunity to contribute on a major league stage this year, I would not expect any of them to be major players on the fantasy scene.
After last year, it is easy for fantasy owners to raise expectations for rookies. In the year of the pitcher, rookies shined through extremely bright as well. In 2010 we saw starring debuts by many young stars. Buster Posey, the NL ROY, almost single handedly carried the Giants offense. Jason Heyward showed flashes of brilliance, at age 20. Neftali Feliz, Jamie Garcia, Wade Davis and others shined all put together strong debuts on the mound. At times it looked as if Steven Strasburg was set to take his place as MLB's best pitcher, before a season ending Tommy John Surgery. Mike Stanton and Gabby Sanchez providing very strong debut seasons for the Marlins. I could really go on forever but I am sure you get the point by now. Last year was something special from a rookie standpoint.
It is important to realize what rookies were typically known for before last year when evaluating this years rookie class. While we have occasionally seen stars step right in and pretty much dominate from day one, it is not common to see multiple rookies do this in the same season. While there are some rookies that could really provide quality numbers this year, I don't see any one guy stepping up and dominating. This year's class should provide a return to normalcy with young stars that show flashes but over-all just struggle with consistency. So, with that said, here are some rookies (in no particular order) that I think will be worth a watch this year. I have also provided my projections.
1-Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays 181 innings, 12 wins, 4.13 era, 1.24 whip, 170 k's
2-Freddie Freeman, 1b, Braves 546 abs, 283 avg, 17 hrs, 80 rbi, 5 sbs, 72 runs
3-Craig Kimbrel, RP, Braves 63 innings, 3 wins, 27 saves, 2.84 era, 1.14 whip, 71 k's
4-Jake McGee, RP, Rays 53 innings, 2 wins, 16 saves, 3.49 era, 1.26 whip, 51 k's
5-Aroldis Chapman, RP, Reds 62 innings, 4 wins, 14 saves, 2.63 era, 1.11 whip, 79 k's
6-Jesus Montero, C, Yankees 263 abs, 269 avg, 11 hrs, 41 rbi, 1 sb, 33 runs
7-J.P. Arencibia, C, Blue Jays 453 abs, 254 avg, 17 hrs, 58 rbi, 0 sbs, 47 runs
8-Mike Moustakis, 3b, Royals 292 abs, 271 avg, 14 hrs, 48 rbi, 3 sbs, 42 runs
9-Domonic Brown, OF, Phillies 416 abs, 261 avg, 17 hrs, 58 rbi, 14 sbs, 53 runs
10-Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays 337 abs, 273 avg, 5 hrs, 27 rbi, 21 sbs, 46 runs
11-Peter Borjous, OF, Angels 516 abs, 268 avg, 8 hrs, 48 rbi, 28 sbs, 71 runs
12-Kyle Drabek, SP, Blue Jays 178 innings, 11 wins, 4.36 era, 1.33 whip, 143 k's
13-Michael Pineda, SP, Mariners 104 innings, 6 wins, 4.11 era, 1.29 whip, 87 k's
14-Chris Sale, SP/RP, White Sox 142 innings, 12 wins, 3.64 era, 1.29 whip, 121 k's
15-Brandon Belt, 1b, Giants 261 abs, 284 avg, 11 hrs, 31 rbi, 2 sbs, 27 runs
It is important to note position battles to watch with some of these guys. The ones that seem to be locked into a major league job this year are Hellickson, Freeman, Kimbrel, Borjous, Drabek, Sale, Chapman and Arencipia. It is worth noting that I am expecting Kimbrel to close in Atlanta and I think that Chapman will take over that role in Cincy as well. Belt, Jennings, Moustakis and a few others could see more time in the majors with a strong showing in Spring Training.
There are some good keepers in this group but it just seems like it will take them longer to develop than last year's class. Long term, Brown, Hellickson, Sale, Montero, Moustakis, Freeman and Belt could develop into real fantasy stars. Also, there is a reason that Dustin Ackley was left off this list, while he is a top prospect, I just don't see him contributing a whole lot fantasy wise.
Showing posts with label Keeper Fantasy Baseball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keeper Fantasy Baseball. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Josh Johnson-Not fully Recovered?
I just noticed ESPN's latest fantasy baseball rankings and, while not to much has changed since their last update, a major shocker to me was Josh Johnson. He has plummeted to number 76 amidst concerns about his recovery from a shoulder injury that cost him the last 3 weeks of his 2010 season. Many fantasy players, myself included, see Johnson as a potential Cy Young contender this year. I have searched around and failed to find anything more concrete about his current health. This is something to monitor closely in a couple of weeks when pitchers and catchers report for the opening of spring training.
Johnson had Tommy John surgery in August of 2007 and made it back to the majors in July of 2008. While he has had no issues since, it is worth noting that many pitchers have been out much longer after Tommy John surgery. While Johnson, coming off his second consecutive all star season and his first career era crown, could be a great number one fantasy starter, I would not draft him as my top starter until we know more. For any of you with extremely early fantasy drafts, you would be very smart to move Johnson down your draft board. There are just too many pitchers with less to worry about at this time. Stay tuned....................
As an update, mlb.com is reporting that Johnson is fully recovered and has already thrown a handful of bullpen sessions in Florida. However, I think fantasy owners may still want to monitor JJ closely. There is no doubt that this guy is as talented as any pitcher in baseball but he has to throw 200 innings in a season before I can put him in the category of elite. You can check out more from mlb.com here.
Johnson had Tommy John surgery in August of 2007 and made it back to the majors in July of 2008. While he has had no issues since, it is worth noting that many pitchers have been out much longer after Tommy John surgery. While Johnson, coming off his second consecutive all star season and his first career era crown, could be a great number one fantasy starter, I would not draft him as my top starter until we know more. For any of you with extremely early fantasy drafts, you would be very smart to move Johnson down your draft board. There are just too many pitchers with less to worry about at this time. Stay tuned....................
As an update, mlb.com is reporting that Johnson is fully recovered and has already thrown a handful of bullpen sessions in Florida. However, I think fantasy owners may still want to monitor JJ closely. There is no doubt that this guy is as talented as any pitcher in baseball but he has to throw 200 innings in a season before I can put him in the category of elite. You can check out more from mlb.com here.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Keeper Strategy
What is a keeper league?
The most common form of fantasy baseball is the yearly re-draft league. In these leagues, you will draft a completely new team every year and compete with your roster for that season in only. In keeper leagues, you keep some players from one season to the next. There are also dynasty leagues, which I define as any league in which you keep half, or more of your roster. Some dynasty leagues even keep the entire roster from one year to the next.
Dynasty and, to a lesser extent, keeper leagues take more dedicated managers and require those managers to sometimes think outside of the box. In leagues in which you keep 5 players or less, most owners will have a chance to compete every year. The more players owners are allowed to keep from year to year will directly impact the number of owners that have a shot at competing for a title in an individual season. However, just because you can't win this year doesn't mean that you can't make great strides to become more competitive in the near future.
Keeper League Strategies
1-Honestly assess your team- If you are in a league that just keeps a few players, don't take to many chances. Focus on keeping the most reliable players you can and in most cases leave the potential super-stars for others to drool over.
In leagues where you are required to keep more than a third of your roster, you need to know where you stand in relation to the rest of your league. If you lack a Franchise Bat or a Franchise Arm you are more than likely not ready to compete that season. If you view your team as a true contender, identify needs and draft reliability over potential. If you do not view your team as a contender, focus on young players with upside and consider dealing for youth.
2- Seek Age Balance- In keeper and dynasty formats young stars are extremely valuable. However, the most successful owners will have a balance between youth, veterans and players in their prime. While 2010 offered a rich rookie class, most seasons rookies will be very streaky and should not be relied upon for key roles on your team.
If you are playing to win this year, you will rarely want to count on a rookie at a key position without a solid veteran backup. While a guy like Dominic Brown will be very popular this season, his owners would be wise to carry a 4th outfielder that they are comfortable playing on a regular basis. Brown brings a lot of excitement and upside but a player like Nick Swisher or Carlos Lee offer far more reliability. At scarce positions, such as shortstop, second and third base, it can make more sense to gamble on a young star.
If you are working towards being more competitive in the future, take a few chances and be patient. In season, you can also identify young players who are hurting more competitive teams and go after them. Don't be afraid to over-pay for a young star, in season, if you feel that you can replenish it in the next season's draft.
3-Build around Scarce Positions- For 2011, there are several positions that will provide holes in a team's lineup. Shortstop, Thirdbase, Secondbase and Catcher all lack reliable and proven options. It is also important to assess the future of positions. Understand what positions stand to gain or lose strength in coming seasons. For example, third base and catcher are thin right now but they have descent futures with young stars and solid prospects. Second base has a descent future but it has never been a position of strength and likely won't change too much in the near future. Shortstop is a position that I see as a continuing problem in fantasy leagues. Since the end of the steroid era, shortstop has gotten slimmer almost every year. While there are some promising prospects coming along, most of them are better with their glove than their bats. That is not something that will help fantasy owners.
4-Muti position eligibility- While a player like Martin Prado lacks the kind of power most fantasy owners would want from a third basemen, his owners have the luxury of plugging him in at other positions as needed. This is a value in all fantasy formats. However, in keeper formats, it is important to understand what eligibility the player will have going forward. While Prado is pretty valuable in 2011, if he plays the entire season in left field, his value will most likely go down heading into next year.
5-Build around your bats-This kind of goes back to my discussion of position scarcity. Simply put, there are more quality arms in baseball than reliable bats. Even more importantly, bats tend to be far more reliable from year to year.
6- Keep Power over Speed- Reliable power bats are more valuable than base steelers in keeper formats. In almost all formats, I see guys like Rajai Davis and Michael Bourn borderline keepers at best and these are two of the top base steelers in the game the past two seasons. However, a guy like Andre Ethier or Mike Stanton are definite keepers in almost all formats. The reason for this is simple, stolen bases are a lot easier to find in a draft than homeruns.
7-Over-value Multi-Category Contributers- Simply put, the more players you have who contribute in 4 or 5 categories, the less you have to over-pay to fill the other categories.
8-Keep Value, not the Best Players- In leagues where you keep few players, focus on scarce positions as far as your keepers are concerned. Be willing to let go of higher ranked players at deep positions over lower ranked players at shallow positions. Obviously, I am not suggesting you keep Gordon Beckham over Justin Morneau but I would suggest keeping Jose Reyes over a guy like Mark Teixera in leagues where you only keep a handful of players. The odds of replacing Tex are simply much higher than they are for replacing Reyes.
9-Give Yourself a Clear Time Table- In keeper and dynasty formats, it is easy to get discouraged if you can't win that season. However, if you can set a time line of a year or two to become more competitive, it can keep you more involved. The best keeper formats need all owners to remain active, whether they can win or not. Whether you play roto or H2H, your activity level impacts the standings.
The most common form of fantasy baseball is the yearly re-draft league. In these leagues, you will draft a completely new team every year and compete with your roster for that season in only. In keeper leagues, you keep some players from one season to the next. There are also dynasty leagues, which I define as any league in which you keep half, or more of your roster. Some dynasty leagues even keep the entire roster from one year to the next.
Dynasty and, to a lesser extent, keeper leagues take more dedicated managers and require those managers to sometimes think outside of the box. In leagues in which you keep 5 players or less, most owners will have a chance to compete every year. The more players owners are allowed to keep from year to year will directly impact the number of owners that have a shot at competing for a title in an individual season. However, just because you can't win this year doesn't mean that you can't make great strides to become more competitive in the near future.
Keeper League Strategies
1-Honestly assess your team- If you are in a league that just keeps a few players, don't take to many chances. Focus on keeping the most reliable players you can and in most cases leave the potential super-stars for others to drool over.
In leagues where you are required to keep more than a third of your roster, you need to know where you stand in relation to the rest of your league. If you lack a Franchise Bat or a Franchise Arm you are more than likely not ready to compete that season. If you view your team as a true contender, identify needs and draft reliability over potential. If you do not view your team as a contender, focus on young players with upside and consider dealing for youth.
2- Seek Age Balance- In keeper and dynasty formats young stars are extremely valuable. However, the most successful owners will have a balance between youth, veterans and players in their prime. While 2010 offered a rich rookie class, most seasons rookies will be very streaky and should not be relied upon for key roles on your team.
If you are playing to win this year, you will rarely want to count on a rookie at a key position without a solid veteran backup. While a guy like Dominic Brown will be very popular this season, his owners would be wise to carry a 4th outfielder that they are comfortable playing on a regular basis. Brown brings a lot of excitement and upside but a player like Nick Swisher or Carlos Lee offer far more reliability. At scarce positions, such as shortstop, second and third base, it can make more sense to gamble on a young star.
If you are working towards being more competitive in the future, take a few chances and be patient. In season, you can also identify young players who are hurting more competitive teams and go after them. Don't be afraid to over-pay for a young star, in season, if you feel that you can replenish it in the next season's draft.
3-Build around Scarce Positions- For 2011, there are several positions that will provide holes in a team's lineup. Shortstop, Thirdbase, Secondbase and Catcher all lack reliable and proven options. It is also important to assess the future of positions. Understand what positions stand to gain or lose strength in coming seasons. For example, third base and catcher are thin right now but they have descent futures with young stars and solid prospects. Second base has a descent future but it has never been a position of strength and likely won't change too much in the near future. Shortstop is a position that I see as a continuing problem in fantasy leagues. Since the end of the steroid era, shortstop has gotten slimmer almost every year. While there are some promising prospects coming along, most of them are better with their glove than their bats. That is not something that will help fantasy owners.
4-Muti position eligibility- While a player like Martin Prado lacks the kind of power most fantasy owners would want from a third basemen, his owners have the luxury of plugging him in at other positions as needed. This is a value in all fantasy formats. However, in keeper formats, it is important to understand what eligibility the player will have going forward. While Prado is pretty valuable in 2011, if he plays the entire season in left field, his value will most likely go down heading into next year.
5-Build around your bats-This kind of goes back to my discussion of position scarcity. Simply put, there are more quality arms in baseball than reliable bats. Even more importantly, bats tend to be far more reliable from year to year.
6- Keep Power over Speed- Reliable power bats are more valuable than base steelers in keeper formats. In almost all formats, I see guys like Rajai Davis and Michael Bourn borderline keepers at best and these are two of the top base steelers in the game the past two seasons. However, a guy like Andre Ethier or Mike Stanton are definite keepers in almost all formats. The reason for this is simple, stolen bases are a lot easier to find in a draft than homeruns.
7-Over-value Multi-Category Contributers- Simply put, the more players you have who contribute in 4 or 5 categories, the less you have to over-pay to fill the other categories.
8-Keep Value, not the Best Players- In leagues where you keep few players, focus on scarce positions as far as your keepers are concerned. Be willing to let go of higher ranked players at deep positions over lower ranked players at shallow positions. Obviously, I am not suggesting you keep Gordon Beckham over Justin Morneau but I would suggest keeping Jose Reyes over a guy like Mark Teixera in leagues where you only keep a handful of players. The odds of replacing Tex are simply much higher than they are for replacing Reyes.
9-Give Yourself a Clear Time Table- In keeper and dynasty formats, it is easy to get discouraged if you can't win that season. However, if you can set a time line of a year or two to become more competitive, it can keep you more involved. The best keeper formats need all owners to remain active, whether they can win or not. Whether you play roto or H2H, your activity level impacts the standings.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
mlb.com's top 50 Prospect Countdown Show
For those of you who haven't seen it yet, mlb.com and MLB network unveiled their top 50 prospect countdown for the 2011 season. If you missed it, you can view it here. From a fantasy perspective the biggest thing that I got out of the countdown is just how special last year's rookie class was. While some guys do come with a good deal of hype for this season (Hellickson, Moustakis, Brown, Ackley, Freeman and Belt), I just don't see anybody having the major impact that many rookies did last year. The 2010 rookie class was the best I have seen in 20 years of following baseball.
The 2011 class is more in line with what we are used to seeing. There are some very exciting players, from a fantasy stand point, but they all come with some major questions. While I am not ready to go over my rookie rankings yet, I think I have settled on the top of my class. In no particular order, guys that I see topping my rankings will be Hellickson, Brown and Freeman. Dustin Ackley and Kyle Drabek are two that I am starting to like less than many fantasy owners. Both Ackley and Drabek should have long successful careers but I don't see either ever having a significant fantasy impact. Ackley seems to profile as a 15 hr (or less in Seattle) 280 average major league hitter. Drabek looks like a 3rd starter in a good major league rotation, at best.
Well, that was my immediate reaction. What is your opinion?
The 2011 class is more in line with what we are used to seeing. There are some very exciting players, from a fantasy stand point, but they all come with some major questions. While I am not ready to go over my rookie rankings yet, I think I have settled on the top of my class. In no particular order, guys that I see topping my rankings will be Hellickson, Brown and Freeman. Dustin Ackley and Kyle Drabek are two that I am starting to like less than many fantasy owners. Both Ackley and Drabek should have long successful careers but I don't see either ever having a significant fantasy impact. Ackley seems to profile as a 15 hr (or less in Seattle) 280 average major league hitter. Drabek looks like a 3rd starter in a good major league rotation, at best.
Well, that was my immediate reaction. What is your opinion?
Prospect Preview
While I like to think that I follow prospects pretty closely and know who the "big guys" are, I can't really call myself a prospect expert by any means. Since I don't have the resources to watch prospects on a regular basis, research is the only way that I have to evaluate prospects. There are many sources online that cover prospects but many are very unreliable.
For those owners that compete in leagues with minor leagues, don't sleep on prospects because the hype machine in fantasy baseball is making them increasingly more valuable. Look at how popular guys like Strasburg and Heyward were in last year's drafts. With the return on investment that these young stars provided, imagine what the hype machine will be for a guy like Bryce Harper. In fact, I own the rights to Harper in my dynasty league and I have already turned away some pretty ridiculous offers. As much as I could get for him now, I think it will be twice as much when he gets close his big league debut.
I will go over some 2011 rookie rankings here in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, I will provide some sites that I reference for prospect analysis.
Baseball America-is probably my favorite. They typically release their top 100 prospect rankings around late February and are typically one of the most accurate.
mlb.com also has descent rankings up by position.
Catchers
Firstbase
Secondbase
Shortstop
Thirdbase
Outfield
RHP
LHP
For those owners that compete in leagues with minor leagues, don't sleep on prospects because the hype machine in fantasy baseball is making them increasingly more valuable. Look at how popular guys like Strasburg and Heyward were in last year's drafts. With the return on investment that these young stars provided, imagine what the hype machine will be for a guy like Bryce Harper. In fact, I own the rights to Harper in my dynasty league and I have already turned away some pretty ridiculous offers. As much as I could get for him now, I think it will be twice as much when he gets close his big league debut.
I will go over some 2011 rookie rankings here in a couple of weeks. In the mean time, I will provide some sites that I reference for prospect analysis.
Baseball America-is probably my favorite. They typically release their top 100 prospect rankings around late February and are typically one of the most accurate.
mlb.com also has descent rankings up by position.
Catchers
Firstbase
Secondbase
Shortstop
Thirdbase
Outfield
RHP
LHP
Friday, January 21, 2011
Shortstop Rankings with Projections
For those in keeper leagues, the immediate future is not that much brighter either. There are not many stud prospects coming up at shortstop in the near future. Plus, I think that it will still be a few years before we start to see the best of Andrus and Castro. The value, in keeper formats, for Troy Tulowitzki, Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes is very high right now because there is no telling when the next wave of stud shortstops will be here.
For my complete rankings and projections, click here.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Top 25-Age 25 and Under
Alright, I will admit that I stole this idea from the yahoo message boards. It is a great topic though. Baseball is chalk full of young stars and if you look at the guys that are not even in their prime yet, you see a very bright future for the game. In order to eligible for this list, a player must be at or under 25 years of age as of opening day in 2011. So, who makes my Top 25-Age 25 and Under? When looking at the list, realize that it is not a straight ranking list. Since it is fantasy baseball, I decided that I would base it off of value more than talent. If you are in a keeper or dynasty league, these are the guys you want to get and build a championship around. Check out the entire list here.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Robinson Cano-2011 Fantasy Preview
Coming off of the best year of his career, Cano enters 2011 as my top rated second basemen and one of the best keepers in baseball. After only missing 6 games in the past 4 seasons, he also provides the kind of reliability that is very hard to find in fantasy baseball. With the Yankee lineup aging and many of their stars on the decline, will this impact Cano's ability to follow up on the best year of his career? Click here for a complete projection. If you have any thoughts on Cano, let's hear your projections. Also, check back ofton, in the next couple of weeks I plan to preview the rest of the stars on my Keeper Big Board.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Evan Longoria -2011 Fantasy Preview
Evan Longoria is another hitter who saw a decrease in his production during the year of the pitcher. However, despite only posting 22 hrs, he still had a very solid fantasy line. Longo also started running more and set a career high in steals. He also increased his contact rate and batting average for the third straight season. So, what do I expect from Longo this year?
Check it out here
Check it out here
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Hanley Ramirez-2011 Season Preview
A near unanimous 2nd pick in last year's fantasy drafts, Hanley Ramirez
disappointed his fantasy owners a bit last year. While he struggled at times and battled a few injuries his final line really was nothing to complain about. However, when you draft a guy at number 2 and he struggles to finish in the top 30 that can hurt your chances. While 2010 saw Miguel Cabrera pass him for the second spot in my overall rankings and also saw Troy Tulowitzki push him atop his position rankings, I certainly don't believe that fantasy baseball owners should drop Hanley too far after one slightly down season.
Full preview with 2011 projections
disappointed his fantasy owners a bit last year. While he struggled at times and battled a few injuries his final line really was nothing to complain about. However, when you draft a guy at number 2 and he struggles to finish in the top 30 that can hurt your chances. While 2010 saw Miguel Cabrera pass him for the second spot in my overall rankings and also saw Troy Tulowitzki push him atop his position rankings, I certainly don't believe that fantasy baseball owners should drop Hanley too far after one slightly down season.
Full preview with 2011 projections
Friday, December 31, 2010
Keeper Big Board
I plan to make this a feature of my site. My Keeper Big Board will be updated year round on a regular basis. I plan to update it around once a month during the offseason and every couple of weeks in season. Rankings are based on standard 5x5 scoring formats. They will also be weighted based upon future seasons as well. The emphasis will be on the current season at 50%, with 2012 at 30% and 2013%. Player age is also provided in parenthesis.
1-Albert Pujols (31) 1b, Cardinals-The best player in the game period.
2-Miguel Cabrera (27) 1b, Tigers-Miggy has long been overshadowed by Pujols, that may not last much longer.
3-Hanley Ramirez (27) SS, Marlins-After a slightly down year, Hanley may feel he has something to prove in 2011.
4-Ryan Braun (27) OF, Brewers-If you are one of those owners down on Braun this year, you will be sorry by the end of 2011.
5-Robinson Cano (28) 2b, Yankees-The best player at a shallow position. Cano is now in his prime and there is no reason to expect much of a drop off from his spectacular 2010 line.
6-Evan Longoria (25) 3b, Rays-Longo is the youngest player in the top 10 and that means the upside is scary. At 25, it is reasonable to believe that he could still get a lot better. Future number one?
7-Adrian Gonzalez (28) 1b, Red Sox-Talk about a good trade, Gonzo was ranked 23rd on my last list. His skill set in Fenway is just frightening!
8-Troy Tulowitzki (26) SS, Rockies-The contract extension that Tulo signed means that he will play most of his career at Coors Field, that is awesome news for his keeper owners.
9-David Wright (28) 3b, Mets-Wright entered the prime of his career very well last year. He is one of the most reliable fantasy players in the game.
10-Joey Votto (27) 1b, Reds-The defending NL MVP should have little trouble picking up right where he left off.
11-Carl Crawford (29) OF, Red Sox-Crawford should have no trouble putting up great numbers in Fenway.
12-Felix Hernandez (24) SP, Mariners-King Felix is still only 24? No doubt that he is the top pitcher in a keeper format.
13-Carlos Gonzalez (25) OF, Rockies-CarGo broke out in a big way last year. Even if you encounter growing pains this year, he still has one of the best tool sets in the game.
14-Josh Hamilton (29) OF, Rangers-Hamilton is as good of a hitter as anybody in the game. Injuries are the only thing that keep him outside of the top 5 on this list.
15-Roy Halladay (33) SP, Phillies-You gotta be pretty special to rank this high on a keeper list at age 33, Doc is more than special. He is still the best pitcher in the game and we have seen no signs of decline.
16-Tim Lincecum (26) SP, Giants-The Freak looked human for a large part of last year, then late in the season, we saw the return of "Super Freak!"
17-Justin Upton (23) OF, Diamondbacks-The skill set is certainly there for Upton. The question is, when will the results show up? At just 23, I think owners need to be patient.
18-Mark Teixeira (30) 1b, Yankees-If you can handle the slow starts, Tex always puts up great lines eventually. How scary would it be if he finished April hitting 315 with 6 bombs?
19-Chase Utley (32) 2b, Phillies-Utley had a very rough year with injuries in 2010. If he can stay healthy, he still could push Cano as the best second basemen in baseball.
20-Adam Wainwright (29) SP, Cardinals-Waino often seems to be overlooked in fantasy baseball. His consistency, until late last year, is amazing.
21-Joe Mauer (27) C, Twins-Let's just accept that Mauer isn't a serious 30 homer threat and enjoy the things he does do well. A catcher that can win batting crowns is very valuable.
22-Jon Lester (27) SP, Red Sox-Lester may be one of the biggest winners when you talk about the Red Sox offseason moves.
23-Matt Kemp (26) OF, Dodgers-Which Kemp will show up in 2011?
24-Josh Johnson (27) SP, Marlins-Johnson has the potential to grow into a true fantasy ace.
25-Ryan Zimmerman (26) 3b, Nationals-Zimmerman is a solid fantasy producer that looks like a young Chipper Jones.
26-Justin Verlander (28) SP, Tigers-While Verlander is not a true fantasy ace, he is as good of a number 2 as you can find.
27-Matt Holliday (31) OF, Cardinals-Aside from Crawford, Holliday is the most consistent outfielder in fantasy baseball.
28-Dustin Pedroia (27) 2b, Red Sox-Pedroia could profit greatly from the new arrivals in Bean Town.
29-Clayton Kershaw (23) SP, Dodgers-Kershaw has all the makings of a future fantasy ace. It is just a matter of time before he breaks through his ceiling.
30-Prince Fielder (26) 1b, Brewers-Heading into free agency and his prime, Prince could on the brink of a huge season.
31-Alex Rodriguez (35) 3b, Yankees-Arod's best years are behind him and it is no longer realistic to expect him to play more than 150 games. When he is healthy, he can still produce at a very high level.
32-Ubaldo Jiminez (27) SP, Rockies-Don't be fooled by the second half last year, Jiminez is still a very solid pitcher just hitting his prime.
33-Ryan Howard (31) 1b, Phillies-When healthy, Howard is still an elite power hitter. Health may consider to be a big issue though.
34-Cliff Lee (32) SP, Phillies-Lee landed in a great spot and should be a solid number two fantasy pitcher for the next few seasons.
35-Jose Reyes (27) SS, Mets-If Reyes can stay on the field, he still has the ability to put up solid numbers. The Mets may reign him in a bit to try and keep him on the field more.
36-C.C. Sabathia (30) SP, Yankees-Sabathia should continue to produce at the top of the Yankee rotation.
37-Andrew McCutchen (24) OF, Pirates-McCutchen has a similar tool set to Carl Crawford. Focus has been an issue for him in Pittsburgh.
38-Zack Greinke (27) SP, Brewers-Greinke looks to take full advantage of improved run support and the weaker lineups that the NL offers.
39-Jason Heyward (21) OF, Braves-Heyward looks to be a future top 10 player. In an impressive rookie year he displayed the plate discipline of a veteran.
40-Kendry Morales (27) 1b, Angels-Look for Morales to push towards the top five at a very deep 1b position.
41-Ian Kinsler (28) 2b, Rangers-If Kinsler can stay on the field, he has superstar ability. Health has to be a huge concern though.
42-Joakim Soria (26) RP, Royals-Soria is the best closer in baseball.
43-Shin Soo Choo (28) OF, Indians-Choo is sometimes overlooked but seems reliable for a 300 average with 20 homers and 20 steals.
44-David Price (25) SP, Rays-Price is a future fantasy ace. The loss of a lot of run support could impact his win total in 2011.
45-Nelson Cruz (30) OF, Rangers-Cruz fills up a fantasy stat sheet. Health has been a concern, if he can overcome that, he has top 20 talent.
46-Matt Cain (26) SP, Giants-This may seem like a reach but Cain has been on the cusp for a few years and he is just getting into his prime.
47-Francisco Liriano (27) SP, Twins-Liriano is back and in should pick right up where he left off.
48-Buster Posey (24) C/1b, Giants-Coming off a rookie of the year award, Posey could be a couple of years away from pushing Mauer atop catcher rankings.
49-Mat Latos (23) SP, Padres-Fatigue seemed to set in at the end of last year. Heading into August, Latos was a Cy Young contender.
50-Delmon Young (25) OF, Twins-Coming off of a career year, Young might have entered his prime a little bit early.
1-Albert Pujols (31) 1b, Cardinals-The best player in the game period.
2-Miguel Cabrera (27) 1b, Tigers-Miggy has long been overshadowed by Pujols, that may not last much longer.
3-Hanley Ramirez (27) SS, Marlins-After a slightly down year, Hanley may feel he has something to prove in 2011.
4-Ryan Braun (27) OF, Brewers-If you are one of those owners down on Braun this year, you will be sorry by the end of 2011.
5-Robinson Cano (28) 2b, Yankees-The best player at a shallow position. Cano is now in his prime and there is no reason to expect much of a drop off from his spectacular 2010 line.
6-Evan Longoria (25) 3b, Rays-Longo is the youngest player in the top 10 and that means the upside is scary. At 25, it is reasonable to believe that he could still get a lot better. Future number one?
7-Adrian Gonzalez (28) 1b, Red Sox-Talk about a good trade, Gonzo was ranked 23rd on my last list. His skill set in Fenway is just frightening!
8-Troy Tulowitzki (26) SS, Rockies-The contract extension that Tulo signed means that he will play most of his career at Coors Field, that is awesome news for his keeper owners.
9-David Wright (28) 3b, Mets-Wright entered the prime of his career very well last year. He is one of the most reliable fantasy players in the game.
10-Joey Votto (27) 1b, Reds-The defending NL MVP should have little trouble picking up right where he left off.
11-Carl Crawford (29) OF, Red Sox-Crawford should have no trouble putting up great numbers in Fenway.
12-Felix Hernandez (24) SP, Mariners-King Felix is still only 24? No doubt that he is the top pitcher in a keeper format.
13-Carlos Gonzalez (25) OF, Rockies-CarGo broke out in a big way last year. Even if you encounter growing pains this year, he still has one of the best tool sets in the game.
14-Josh Hamilton (29) OF, Rangers-Hamilton is as good of a hitter as anybody in the game. Injuries are the only thing that keep him outside of the top 5 on this list.
15-Roy Halladay (33) SP, Phillies-You gotta be pretty special to rank this high on a keeper list at age 33, Doc is more than special. He is still the best pitcher in the game and we have seen no signs of decline.
16-Tim Lincecum (26) SP, Giants-The Freak looked human for a large part of last year, then late in the season, we saw the return of "Super Freak!"
17-Justin Upton (23) OF, Diamondbacks-The skill set is certainly there for Upton. The question is, when will the results show up? At just 23, I think owners need to be patient.
18-Mark Teixeira (30) 1b, Yankees-If you can handle the slow starts, Tex always puts up great lines eventually. How scary would it be if he finished April hitting 315 with 6 bombs?
19-Chase Utley (32) 2b, Phillies-Utley had a very rough year with injuries in 2010. If he can stay healthy, he still could push Cano as the best second basemen in baseball.
20-Adam Wainwright (29) SP, Cardinals-Waino often seems to be overlooked in fantasy baseball. His consistency, until late last year, is amazing.
21-Joe Mauer (27) C, Twins-Let's just accept that Mauer isn't a serious 30 homer threat and enjoy the things he does do well. A catcher that can win batting crowns is very valuable.
22-Jon Lester (27) SP, Red Sox-Lester may be one of the biggest winners when you talk about the Red Sox offseason moves.
23-Matt Kemp (26) OF, Dodgers-Which Kemp will show up in 2011?
24-Josh Johnson (27) SP, Marlins-Johnson has the potential to grow into a true fantasy ace.
25-Ryan Zimmerman (26) 3b, Nationals-Zimmerman is a solid fantasy producer that looks like a young Chipper Jones.
26-Justin Verlander (28) SP, Tigers-While Verlander is not a true fantasy ace, he is as good of a number 2 as you can find.
27-Matt Holliday (31) OF, Cardinals-Aside from Crawford, Holliday is the most consistent outfielder in fantasy baseball.
28-Dustin Pedroia (27) 2b, Red Sox-Pedroia could profit greatly from the new arrivals in Bean Town.
29-Clayton Kershaw (23) SP, Dodgers-Kershaw has all the makings of a future fantasy ace. It is just a matter of time before he breaks through his ceiling.
30-Prince Fielder (26) 1b, Brewers-Heading into free agency and his prime, Prince could on the brink of a huge season.
31-Alex Rodriguez (35) 3b, Yankees-Arod's best years are behind him and it is no longer realistic to expect him to play more than 150 games. When he is healthy, he can still produce at a very high level.
32-Ubaldo Jiminez (27) SP, Rockies-Don't be fooled by the second half last year, Jiminez is still a very solid pitcher just hitting his prime.
33-Ryan Howard (31) 1b, Phillies-When healthy, Howard is still an elite power hitter. Health may consider to be a big issue though.
34-Cliff Lee (32) SP, Phillies-Lee landed in a great spot and should be a solid number two fantasy pitcher for the next few seasons.
35-Jose Reyes (27) SS, Mets-If Reyes can stay on the field, he still has the ability to put up solid numbers. The Mets may reign him in a bit to try and keep him on the field more.
36-C.C. Sabathia (30) SP, Yankees-Sabathia should continue to produce at the top of the Yankee rotation.
37-Andrew McCutchen (24) OF, Pirates-McCutchen has a similar tool set to Carl Crawford. Focus has been an issue for him in Pittsburgh.
38-Zack Greinke (27) SP, Brewers-Greinke looks to take full advantage of improved run support and the weaker lineups that the NL offers.
39-Jason Heyward (21) OF, Braves-Heyward looks to be a future top 10 player. In an impressive rookie year he displayed the plate discipline of a veteran.
40-Kendry Morales (27) 1b, Angels-Look for Morales to push towards the top five at a very deep 1b position.
41-Ian Kinsler (28) 2b, Rangers-If Kinsler can stay on the field, he has superstar ability. Health has to be a huge concern though.
42-Joakim Soria (26) RP, Royals-Soria is the best closer in baseball.
43-Shin Soo Choo (28) OF, Indians-Choo is sometimes overlooked but seems reliable for a 300 average with 20 homers and 20 steals.
44-David Price (25) SP, Rays-Price is a future fantasy ace. The loss of a lot of run support could impact his win total in 2011.
45-Nelson Cruz (30) OF, Rangers-Cruz fills up a fantasy stat sheet. Health has been a concern, if he can overcome that, he has top 20 talent.
46-Matt Cain (26) SP, Giants-This may seem like a reach but Cain has been on the cusp for a few years and he is just getting into his prime.
47-Francisco Liriano (27) SP, Twins-Liriano is back and in should pick right up where he left off.
48-Buster Posey (24) C/1b, Giants-Coming off a rookie of the year award, Posey could be a couple of years away from pushing Mauer atop catcher rankings.
49-Mat Latos (23) SP, Padres-Fatigue seemed to set in at the end of last year. Heading into August, Latos was a Cy Young contender.
50-Delmon Young (25) OF, Twins-Coming off of a career year, Young might have entered his prime a little bit early.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Franchise Arms
In keeper leagues, most owners realize, bats are much more valuable than arms. Good hitters are more reliable than good pitchers and they typically have a longer life span in keeper formats. That leads to a lack of truly reliable fantasy aces or "Franchise Arms." A franchise arm is a guy that you can take into the season and know that they will contribute very well in every pitching category that they are eligible for. They are extremely valuable just because there aren't enough of them to go around. Age and team are a major factor because, to make this list, you would have to be a player that an owner could expect to rely upon for the next two or three years.
Felix Hernandez, (24) SP, Mariners-Coming off of back to back Cy Young caliber seasons, there is no reason to believe that King Felix can't still get better. With better run support, he could approach 20 wins. The only long term concern for his owners would be the massive amount of innings that he has put up already.
Roy Halladay, (33) SP, Phillies-Halladay is at the top of his game and should be able to continue posting strong numbers for a few more years. His owners, in keeper leagues, would be smart to back him up with a good up and coming young starter. Eventually, Halladay will slow down.
Tim Lincecum, (26) SP, Giants-The Freak had a bit of a disappointing season in 2010, but, after back to back Cy Young awards expectations may have been a bit to high. He did lose a bit of velocity on his fastball last year, but, his performance late in the year and the playoffs showed that he was back to the dominant ace we all love. If his heater comes back in 2011 lookout.
Adam Wainwright, (29) SP, Cardinals-The only pitcher on this list without a Cy Young award to his credit, Waino definitely deserves a spot on this list. The runner up in the Cy Young race for the last two years, Waino has been as consistent as any pitcher in baseball. He looks to be entering into his prime now and should be in the discussion as the best pitcher in baseball.
Felix Hernandez, (24) SP, Mariners-Coming off of back to back Cy Young caliber seasons, there is no reason to believe that King Felix can't still get better. With better run support, he could approach 20 wins. The only long term concern for his owners would be the massive amount of innings that he has put up already.
Roy Halladay, (33) SP, Phillies-Halladay is at the top of his game and should be able to continue posting strong numbers for a few more years. His owners, in keeper leagues, would be smart to back him up with a good up and coming young starter. Eventually, Halladay will slow down.
Tim Lincecum, (26) SP, Giants-The Freak had a bit of a disappointing season in 2010, but, after back to back Cy Young awards expectations may have been a bit to high. He did lose a bit of velocity on his fastball last year, but, his performance late in the year and the playoffs showed that he was back to the dominant ace we all love. If his heater comes back in 2011 lookout.
Adam Wainwright, (29) SP, Cardinals-The only pitcher on this list without a Cy Young award to his credit, Waino definitely deserves a spot on this list. The runner up in the Cy Young race for the last two years, Waino has been as consistent as any pitcher in baseball. He looks to be entering into his prime now and should be in the discussion as the best pitcher in baseball.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Franchise Bats
This a topic I have been meaning to cover for a while now. Since, I play most of my fantasy baseball in keeper and dynasty leagues, this is a topic that I spend a lot of time thinking about. A franchise bat, is a hitter that you can count on to put up elite numbers for the next two to three years and has shown pretty good durability. No matter your league size or stat categories, I think that the number of true franchise hitters is pretty small. I don't necessarily look for a hitter that will help you in every category but they shouldn't kill you in any category unless they put up elite numbers in almost every other category. In a standard (5x5 stats) league, I am looking for a guy who puts up great numbers in at least four categories. History is another important factor because I think it is very dangerous to rely upon a guy who explodes for one year. We have seen that before with guys like B.J. Upton, Prince Fielder and others. If they don't have some history, to support their 2010 numbers, I just can't put them on this list.
Franchise Hitters
Albert Pujols (31 years old) 1b, Cardinals-no brainer, he is the standard. The only stat he doesn't thrive in is steals and he still gives double digits there
Miguel Cabrera (26) 1b, Tigers-Another no brainer here, Cabrera has been a first rounder for years and will continue to put up elite numbers across the board (except for sbs)
Hanley Ramirez (27) SS, Marlins-Hanley puts up great numbers in every category and is just entering the prime of his great career. He has been a top 5 pick for years and he should continue to fill up the stat sheet.
Robinson Cano (28) 2b, Yankees-While Cano has never been a first round draft pick before, he will be now. I like the journey that Cano took to get to this point. Aside from 2008, his numbers have gone up every year. He is now in his prime and should settle into the role of the best fantasy secondbasemen in the game.
Evan Longoria (25) 3b, Rays-Longo has already done a lot in his baseball career and is one of the best hitters in the game. What could make that better? How about the fact that, at age 25, we can expect a lot more. He is already the best fantasy player at his position and could become the best fantasy hitter in the game.
David Wright (28) 3b, Mets-After a down season in 2009, Wright rebounded with another stellar 2010 season. Another player in the prime of his career, Wright should continue to contribute across the board for fantasy owners.
Ryan Braun (27) OF, Brewers-Most players on this list would not complain about Braun's stat line in 2010. However, many Braun owners were very disappointed. I am certainly not off the bandwagon yet.
That is it for my list of Franchise bats. I would love to hear your list.
Franchise Hitters
Albert Pujols (31 years old) 1b, Cardinals-no brainer, he is the standard. The only stat he doesn't thrive in is steals and he still gives double digits there
Miguel Cabrera (26) 1b, Tigers-Another no brainer here, Cabrera has been a first rounder for years and will continue to put up elite numbers across the board (except for sbs)
Hanley Ramirez (27) SS, Marlins-Hanley puts up great numbers in every category and is just entering the prime of his great career. He has been a top 5 pick for years and he should continue to fill up the stat sheet.
Robinson Cano (28) 2b, Yankees-While Cano has never been a first round draft pick before, he will be now. I like the journey that Cano took to get to this point. Aside from 2008, his numbers have gone up every year. He is now in his prime and should settle into the role of the best fantasy secondbasemen in the game.
Evan Longoria (25) 3b, Rays-Longo has already done a lot in his baseball career and is one of the best hitters in the game. What could make that better? How about the fact that, at age 25, we can expect a lot more. He is already the best fantasy player at his position and could become the best fantasy hitter in the game.
David Wright (28) 3b, Mets-After a down season in 2009, Wright rebounded with another stellar 2010 season. Another player in the prime of his career, Wright should continue to contribute across the board for fantasy owners.
Ryan Braun (27) OF, Brewers-Most players on this list would not complain about Braun's stat line in 2010. However, many Braun owners were very disappointed. I am certainly not off the bandwagon yet.
That is it for my list of Franchise bats. I would love to hear your list.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Keeper Rankings-2011 Season (101-200)
101-Brett Gardner (27) OF, Yankees
102-Pedro Alvarez (24) 3b, Pirates
103-Jose Valverde (32) RP, Tigers
104-Matt Garza (27) SP, Rays
105-Adam Lind (27) OF, Blue Jays
106-Billy Butler (24) 1b, Royals
107-Jonathan Sanchez (28) SP, Giants
108-Andrew Bailey (26) RP, A's
109-Miguel Montero (27) C, Dbacks
110-Vladimir Guerrero (35) OF, Free Agent
111-Jimmy Rollins (32) SS, Phillies
112-Francisco Rodriguez (29) RP, Mets
113-Jose Bautista (30) 3b/OF, Blue Jays
114-Madison Bumgarner (21) SP, Giants
115-Roy Oswalt (33) SP, Phillies
116-Adam Jones (25) OF, Orioles
117-Aramis Ramirez (32) 3b, Cubs
118-James Loney (26) 1b, Dodgers
119-Ricky Nolasco (28) SP, Marlins
120-Torii Hunter (35) OF, Angels
121-Rafael Furcal (33) SS, Dodgers
122-Matt Wieters (24) C, Orioles
123-Aaron Hill (29) 2b, Blue Jays
124-Trevor Cahill (23) SP, A's
125-Curtis Granderson (30) OF, Yankees
126-Max Scherzer (26) SP, Tigers
127-Gavin Floyd (28) SP, White Sox
128-Chad Billingsley (26) SP, Dodgers
129-Bryce Harper (18) OF, Nationals
130-Pablo Sandoval (24) 1b/3b, Giants
131-Domonic Brown (23) OF, Phillies
132-Howard Kendrick (27) 2b, Angels
133-Ian Stewart (25) 2b/3b, Rockies
134-Paul Konerko (35) 1b, White Sox
135-Brett Anderson (23) SP, A's
136-Carlos Pena (32) 1b, Cubs
137-Johan Santana (32) SP, Mets
138-Brandon Morrow (26) SP, Blue Jays
139-Tim Hudson (35) SP, Braves
140-Denard Span (27) OF, Twins
141-Ricky Romero (26) SP, Blue Jays
142-Bobby Abreau (37) OF, Angels
143-Nick Swisher (30) 1b/OF, Yankees
144-Kelly Johnson (29) 2b, Dbacks
145-Michael Bourn (28) OF, Astros
146-Jesus Montero (21) C, Yankees
147-Colby Lewis (31) SP, Rangers
148-Javier Vazquez (33) SP, Marlins
149-Chone Figgins (33) 2b/3b, Mariners
150-Jeremy Hellickson (23) SP, Rays
151-Austin Jackson (24) OF, Tigers
152-Joe Nathan (36) RP, Twins
153-Mike Napoli (29) C/1b Angels
154-Johnny Cueto (25) SP, Reds
155-Alexie Ramirez (29) SS, White Sox
156-Starlin Castro (21) SS, Cubs
157-Shane Victorino (30) OF, Phillies
158-Jason Bay (32) OF, Mets
159-Huston Street (28) RP, Rockies
160-Shaun Marcum (29) SP, Brewers
161-Edison Volquez (27) SP, Reds
162-Drew Storen (23) RP, Nationals
163-Juan Pierre (33) OF, White Sox
164-Jeff Niemann (28) SP, Rays
165-Scott Rolen (35) 3b, Reds
166-Jair Jurrjens (25) SP, Braves
167-Drew Stubbs (26) OF, Reds
168-Gaby Sanchez (27) 1b, Marlins
169-David Ortiz (35) 1b, Red Sox
170-Vernon Wells (32) OF, Blue Jays
171-Mike Moustakas (22) 3b, Royals
172-Adam LaRoche (31) 1b, Orioles
173-Brennan Boesch (25) OF, Tigers
174-Rajai Davis (30) OF, Blue Jays
175-Kurt Suzuki (27) C, Athletics
176-Jason Kubel (28) OF, Twins
177-Geovany Soto (28) C, Cubs
178-Alfonso Soriano (35) OF, Cubs
179-Ervin Santana (28) SP, Angels
180-Aubrey Huff (34) 1b/OF, Giants
181-Francisco Cordero (35) RP, Reds
182-Aroldis Chapman (23) RP, Reds
183-Chris Perez (25) RP, Indians
184-Ike Davis (24) 1b, Mets
185-Chase Headley (26) 3b, Padres
186-Ted Lilly (35) SP, Dodgers
187-Chris Coghlan (25) OF, Marlins
188-Franklin Gutierrez (28) OF, Mariners
189-Matt Lindstrom (31) RP, Astros
190-Manny Ramirez (38) OF, Free Agent
191-Evan Meek (27) RP, Pirates
192-Leo Nunez (27) RP, Marlins
193-Dexter Fowler (25) OF, Rockies
194-Jose Tabata (22) OF, Pirates
195-Matt Capps (27) RP, Twins
196-Michael Cuddyer (32) 1b/3b/OF, Twins
197-Jorge Posada (39) C, Yankees
198-Marlon Byrd (33) OF, Cubs
199-Desmond Jennings (24) OF, Rays
200-Dustin Ackley (23) 2b, Mariners
102-Pedro Alvarez (24) 3b, Pirates
103-Jose Valverde (32) RP, Tigers
104-Matt Garza (27) SP, Rays
105-Adam Lind (27) OF, Blue Jays
106-Billy Butler (24) 1b, Royals
107-Jonathan Sanchez (28) SP, Giants
108-Andrew Bailey (26) RP, A's
109-Miguel Montero (27) C, Dbacks
110-Vladimir Guerrero (35) OF, Free Agent
111-Jimmy Rollins (32) SS, Phillies
112-Francisco Rodriguez (29) RP, Mets
113-Jose Bautista (30) 3b/OF, Blue Jays
114-Madison Bumgarner (21) SP, Giants
115-Roy Oswalt (33) SP, Phillies
116-Adam Jones (25) OF, Orioles
117-Aramis Ramirez (32) 3b, Cubs
118-James Loney (26) 1b, Dodgers
119-Ricky Nolasco (28) SP, Marlins
120-Torii Hunter (35) OF, Angels
121-Rafael Furcal (33) SS, Dodgers
122-Matt Wieters (24) C, Orioles
123-Aaron Hill (29) 2b, Blue Jays
124-Trevor Cahill (23) SP, A's
125-Curtis Granderson (30) OF, Yankees
126-Max Scherzer (26) SP, Tigers
127-Gavin Floyd (28) SP, White Sox
128-Chad Billingsley (26) SP, Dodgers
129-Bryce Harper (18) OF, Nationals
130-Pablo Sandoval (24) 1b/3b, Giants
131-Domonic Brown (23) OF, Phillies
132-Howard Kendrick (27) 2b, Angels
133-Ian Stewart (25) 2b/3b, Rockies
134-Paul Konerko (35) 1b, White Sox
135-Brett Anderson (23) SP, A's
136-Carlos Pena (32) 1b, Cubs
137-Johan Santana (32) SP, Mets
138-Brandon Morrow (26) SP, Blue Jays
139-Tim Hudson (35) SP, Braves
140-Denard Span (27) OF, Twins
141-Ricky Romero (26) SP, Blue Jays
142-Bobby Abreau (37) OF, Angels
143-Nick Swisher (30) 1b/OF, Yankees
144-Kelly Johnson (29) 2b, Dbacks
145-Michael Bourn (28) OF, Astros
146-Jesus Montero (21) C, Yankees
147-Colby Lewis (31) SP, Rangers
148-Javier Vazquez (33) SP, Marlins
149-Chone Figgins (33) 2b/3b, Mariners
150-Jeremy Hellickson (23) SP, Rays
151-Austin Jackson (24) OF, Tigers
152-Joe Nathan (36) RP, Twins
153-Mike Napoli (29) C/1b Angels
154-Johnny Cueto (25) SP, Reds
155-Alexie Ramirez (29) SS, White Sox
156-Starlin Castro (21) SS, Cubs
157-Shane Victorino (30) OF, Phillies
158-Jason Bay (32) OF, Mets
159-Huston Street (28) RP, Rockies
160-Shaun Marcum (29) SP, Brewers
161-Edison Volquez (27) SP, Reds
162-Drew Storen (23) RP, Nationals
163-Juan Pierre (33) OF, White Sox
164-Jeff Niemann (28) SP, Rays
165-Scott Rolen (35) 3b, Reds
166-Jair Jurrjens (25) SP, Braves
167-Drew Stubbs (26) OF, Reds
168-Gaby Sanchez (27) 1b, Marlins
169-David Ortiz (35) 1b, Red Sox
170-Vernon Wells (32) OF, Blue Jays
171-Mike Moustakas (22) 3b, Royals
172-Adam LaRoche (31) 1b, Orioles
173-Brennan Boesch (25) OF, Tigers
174-Rajai Davis (30) OF, Blue Jays
175-Kurt Suzuki (27) C, Athletics
176-Jason Kubel (28) OF, Twins
177-Geovany Soto (28) C, Cubs
178-Alfonso Soriano (35) OF, Cubs
179-Ervin Santana (28) SP, Angels
180-Aubrey Huff (34) 1b/OF, Giants
181-Francisco Cordero (35) RP, Reds
182-Aroldis Chapman (23) RP, Reds
183-Chris Perez (25) RP, Indians
184-Ike Davis (24) 1b, Mets
185-Chase Headley (26) 3b, Padres
186-Ted Lilly (35) SP, Dodgers
187-Chris Coghlan (25) OF, Marlins
188-Franklin Gutierrez (28) OF, Mariners
189-Matt Lindstrom (31) RP, Astros
190-Manny Ramirez (38) OF, Free Agent
191-Evan Meek (27) RP, Pirates
192-Leo Nunez (27) RP, Marlins
193-Dexter Fowler (25) OF, Rockies
194-Jose Tabata (22) OF, Pirates
195-Matt Capps (27) RP, Twins
196-Michael Cuddyer (32) 1b/3b/OF, Twins
197-Jorge Posada (39) C, Yankees
198-Marlon Byrd (33) OF, Cubs
199-Desmond Jennings (24) OF, Rays
200-Dustin Ackley (23) 2b, Mariners
Keeper Rankings-2011 Season
Over the next couple of weeks, I will cover my top 200 keepers in fantasy baseball. I assess my keeper value based on what I expect from a player over the next three seasons (60% for next year, 30% for 2012 and 10% for 2013). I have also provided each players age in parenthesis. These rankings are based on value for your standard 5x5 stats (runs, hrs, rbi, avg, sb, wins, k's, era, whip and saves).
Top 20 Keepers
Keeper Rankings 21-50
Keeper Rankings 51-100
Top 20 Keepers
Keeper Rankings 21-50
Keeper Rankings 51-100
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Miguel Cabrera (age 26) 2011 Fantasy Preview
After his most complete season in the majors, Miguel Cabrera finds himself in the discussion for the top pick in fantasy drafts for 2011. Even though I don't put him there just yet, I do think that it is now a matter of time before Cabrera passes Albert Pujols for the top spot in all of fantasy baseball. With the improvements that the Tigers have made this offseason, Cabrera is even more dangerous.2011 projection
Albert Pujols, 1b Cardinals (Age 31)-2011 Preview
Once again, Albert Pujols leads the way in my 2011 rankings for first basemen and all keeper players. How much longer should fantasy owners expect Albert to be the king of baseball and what type of numbers should his owners expect from him in the upcoming season?
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