For results on tonight's Battle of the Fantasy Gods Expert League draft, please visit
Battle of the Fantasy Gods .
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Monday, January 05, 2009
2009 Mock Draft Mania
It's Monday, January 5th and you are about to witness the first installment of The Fantasy Man's Mock Draft Mania for 2009! Mock Draft Mania is my most popular creation. It's a fantasy baseball podcast like no other!
Back in January of 2007, I fineagled my way into Fantasy Sports Magazine's Expert Draft for their 2007 fantasy baseball guide. The name of the league was Krause Publications 2 Expert League. FSM does two fantasy baseball mags every season and this particular draft was featured into the second mag. This was my shining moment with the big dogs as I was still somewhat of an unknown in the industry but it's one of the reasons why some people now call me an expert. I participated in this draft with guys from Yahoo, CBS, and ESPN and in some ways, put The Fantasy Man on the map of respectability. I was so excited about this draft that I took the day off of work and I podcasted my thoughts live as I drafted. The podcast was a mess and a huge risk on my end, but I posted it and it became an instant hit among Fantasy Man followers. There was more demand and since then, I do a few Mock Draft Mania's each season. There are some who try to duplicate it, but none that can match it! This is the first of 2009. By the way, I finished in 3rd place in that league missing by only 3.5 points in the last week of the season.
So fast forward to 2009. Tonight, at 8PM at www.MockDraftCentral.com I will podcast my thoughts, ideas, and strategies as I draft for my very own expert league, the Battle of the Fantasy Gods! We have a great lineup of experts and you can view the rules and the draft order at the official site www.BattleoftheFantasyGods.com . I will also post the podcast and the draft results there later tonight!
If you are new to The Fantasy Man Show Podcasts, beware, this is a tough listen. I try my best to keep the conversation flowing but I do throw out an occasional bad word, long silent pauses, weird noises and whatever else comes my way during a draft. You get every aspect of me doing a draft online. It's a blast, but its unedited (as are all my podcasts) and like I said, tough to listen too. The podcast will probably be about 1-2 hours long, so be patient when downloading.
Stay tuned!
FM
Back in January of 2007, I fineagled my way into Fantasy Sports Magazine's Expert Draft for their 2007 fantasy baseball guide. The name of the league was Krause Publications 2 Expert League. FSM does two fantasy baseball mags every season and this particular draft was featured into the second mag. This was my shining moment with the big dogs as I was still somewhat of an unknown in the industry but it's one of the reasons why some people now call me an expert. I participated in this draft with guys from Yahoo, CBS, and ESPN and in some ways, put The Fantasy Man on the map of respectability. I was so excited about this draft that I took the day off of work and I podcasted my thoughts live as I drafted. The podcast was a mess and a huge risk on my end, but I posted it and it became an instant hit among Fantasy Man followers. There was more demand and since then, I do a few Mock Draft Mania's each season. There are some who try to duplicate it, but none that can match it! This is the first of 2009. By the way, I finished in 3rd place in that league missing by only 3.5 points in the last week of the season.
So fast forward to 2009. Tonight, at 8PM at www.MockDraftCentral.com I will podcast my thoughts, ideas, and strategies as I draft for my very own expert league, the Battle of the Fantasy Gods! We have a great lineup of experts and you can view the rules and the draft order at the official site www.BattleoftheFantasyGods.com . I will also post the podcast and the draft results there later tonight!
If you are new to The Fantasy Man Show Podcasts, beware, this is a tough listen. I try my best to keep the conversation flowing but I do throw out an occasional bad word, long silent pauses, weird noises and whatever else comes my way during a draft. You get every aspect of me doing a draft online. It's a blast, but its unedited (as are all my podcasts) and like I said, tough to listen too. The podcast will probably be about 1-2 hours long, so be patient when downloading.
Stay tuned!
FM
Friday, January 02, 2009
Introducing Adam Cohen - Fantasy Baseball Express Writer
Adam Cohen's Impact Rookies for 2009
I will list 5 hitters and 5 pitchers which I believe will have a major impact on your fantasy baseball season.
Hitters
1. Matt Wieters, C, BAL
It seems like the Orioles will do with Wieters what the Rays did with Evan Longoria. They will leave him in the minors for the first two weeks so that they can push back arbitration. All off season the Orioles have made moves to create room and support a move to the majors for this kid. They dealt Ramon Hernandez, and have spent the rest of the time looking for a veteran catcher who is willing to sign to be a back up and mentor Wieters. In his first year in the minor leagues across two levels (A+ and AA), he finished with a combined line of .355/.454/.600, not to mention the 27 homeruns he hit over that span. This guy shows the tools to be a middle of the lineup hitter from the catcher position and could eventually provide Mike Piazza type numbers. He will not be that good this season and I’d look for him to end up as more of a Bengie Molina when it comes to his final line. Baltimore really lacks true middle of the lineup bats, and if Wieters can show he is ready early, he will be plugged into the middle of the lineup. Look for a fantasy line of 80-21-85-.280.
2. Matt LaPorta, 1B/OF, CLE
Here is another guy who might start the season in the minors. However with the power that he shows I find it hard to believe that Cleveland will keep him down very long and he should win the 1b job out of spring training. Simply put Ryan Garko is nothing special on either side of the ball and should not hold back a guy like LaPorta. He has middle of the lineup power and it won’t be long until he is there for the Indians. More likely that he hits in the 6 or 7 spot to start his career as they do have other productive hitters who can take the pressure off of LaPorta. He could probably use a little seasoning in the minors to become more of a complete hitter, however with Cleveland struggling on offense last year, LaPorta’s pure power may be needed sooner rather than later. If he were to play a full season you could expect a Pat Burrell type year. 30 or so home runs with a pedestrian .250 batting average.
3. Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA
This guy should be the starting center fielder in Florida. Simply put, this guy is a 5-tool player, and could contribute in all 5 categories as early as this season. In AA last year he finished with 13 HR and 21 SB while hitting .277, not to mention his 15 doubles and 8 triples. This guy has the speed right now to make a major contribution. Given a full season’s worth of at bats he could end up north of 50 stolen bases. With a line of .277/.375/.456 it’s clear to see that he has the ability to contribute now. I think a more realistic line of Carlos Gomez for this season. Something around .255-90-11-50-30, I figure he might get thrown into the lead off role in order to move Ramirez into the 3 hole. That should lead to a high number of runs scored despite his less than stellar batting average, along with a fairly low RBI total since he won’t be given many opportunities for those. He strikes out a ton, but can hit the ball hard when he makes contact so I think he is a good bet for double digit homeruns and I think a 30 steal prediction is modest.
4. Travis Snider, OF, TOR
Snider in my opinion will be the most productive rookie on this list and should be the front runner as far as offensive players are concerned. He had a brief stint in the majors in September for the Blue Jays and totaled 78 at bats. In that limited time he his over .300 and slugged .466 which included 6 doubles and 2 homeruns. This guy has true gap to gap power and could show that this year at the major league level. Snider jumped 4 levels last year including the previously mentioned trip to the majors; in the minors he had a line of .275/.358/.481, and something very similar at the MLB level. Snider has a chance to bat in the middle of this lineup, and as such could see a line similar to Vernon Wells last year. Something in the range of .270-80-25-90.
5. Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX
As of now Teagarden is penciled in as the starting catcher for the Rangers. His defense is what puts him in there over Saltalamaccia. I believe they may try and showcase Blalock for a trade later in the season at which time they would move Chris Davis to 3b and Salty to 1b. Until then I think Teagarden and Salty will be platoonning the catcher job, with Teagarden getting the bulk of the at bats. He is another one of the new crop of power hitting catchers coming through the minors, however last year he struggled in the high minors to hit for power. He also struggled to hit for average last year in the minors. During his short stint in the majors however, he hit well over .300 and showed he could likely handle some type of major league role. Being in Texas will help his offense blossom earlier than expected, although don’t put too much stock in him yet. If he struggles early he might be sent back to the minors, my hunch says he stays in the pros all year. Fact is, he is still a catcher and catchers just don’t produce as much as other positions, with that said I’ll predict a .250 avg with 50 runs, 14 hr, and 50 RBI which is very respectable for a catcher.
Pitchers
1. David Price, SP, TB
This guy showed last year in the post season that he was ready to be in the front of a rotation right now. His ceiling is easily to be a #1 and truly one of the aces of the major leagues. For now he will slide into the #4 spot in the Tampa Bay rotation. With that in mind he will likely avoid many tough match ups against other team’s aces, and could lead to more wins in his rookie season than one might expect. Pitching in 3 different levels across the minors last year Price posted an ERA of 2.31 and a WHIP of 1.14. He struck out nearly a batter per inning (109 Ks in 109.2 IP). Then he got a call to the majors where he pitched mostly out of the pen for 14 innings. During that limited time he posted a 1.93 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP while striking out 12. I think this season he could compare to his teammate James Shields. 15+ wins, an ERA around 3.60, a WHIP around 1.20, and about 160 K, though I think he’ll be limited in IP and will only reach around 170 at most.
2. James McDonald, SP, LAD
McDonald will be at the back of the Dodgers rotation this year, and is the reason they were able to let Lowe and Penny go without getting involved in the free agent pitcher market. At the two highest levels of the minors last year he earned a 3.26 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP while striking out one per inning pitched. He too made a September debut however only totaled 6 innings pitched and failed to surrender a run during that time. He should be plugged into the 4th or 5th spot in this rotation and should be a good bet for double digit wins and an ERA around 4.00. His whip shouldn’t be much higher than 1.30 and will contribute in strikeouts while posting a k/9 of something like 7+. Something similar to what Carlos Zambrano put up last year wouldn’t surprise me.
3. Gio Gonzalez, SP, OAK
Gio has been among the league leaders in strikeouts in the minors for the past few years. Last season averaged one more walk per nine innings than he is used to and it translated into more runs given up, his 4.24 ERA in the minors last year was higher than many expected. Yet he still earned a trip to the majors, while there he did far from impress. Looking through his minor league history it seems to take him two seasons at one level to really hit his stride. I don’t think Oakland can afford to give him that time right now; they will need to count on him this season, and although I do not think he will be a major fantasy contributor like the guys above could be, but will have his uses. Pitching in Oakland will help his cause as well. He may not reach double digits in wins, however I still consider him a guy who will contribute in strikeouts in a big way. I’d say his strike out rate ends up around 8 per 9 innings. My gut feeling tells me this guy will end up with around 11 wins and 150 strikeouts. The down side to him is that he will likely carry an ERA over 4.50 and a WHIP above 1.40.
4. JA Happ, SP, PHI
Happ is the guy I figure to fill in the #5 spot in the Philadelphia rotation. He has been a quality strikeout pitcher throughout his minor leaguer career never going below 8.7 k/9 in any stop he pitched more than one game. During his brief time in a Phillies uniform last season he put up the type of numbers I will be expecting this season. His ERA was about 3.70; I’ll guess it goes up a bit too around 4.00 the more he is exposed to major league hitters. He also struck out 26 batters in nearly 32 innings pitched. He will be a factor this season in strikeouts. With this team having great offensive firepower I’d look for him to get some wins he probably shouldn’t and give him a win total in the double digits. He’ll also be a guy who you can count on for around 130-140 strikeouts and draft very late in a draft. His ERA and WHIP likely won’t help you win either of those categories but they aren’t likely to kill you either.
5. Nick Adenhart, SP, LAA
With the terrible showing he had last season in the pros and the fallout that occurred in the minors after his demotion, Adenhart is likely to start the season in the minors again. This guy truly has top of the rotation stuff and believe his time in the majors will arrive this season. Currently the Angels have penciled in Moseley as their 5th starter. Moseley simply isn’t good enough to keep the job throughout the season and as soon as Adenhart shows he is back to his old self he will get the call up. Once Adenhart gets the call he won’t look back this time. I think he could do something similar to what Jered Weaver did when he first made the jump. I do not predict the exact same as Weaver was a bonafide ace down the stretch of that season. However I do envision something like a 3.60 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP, while striking out nearly 1 per inning. This team is built on defense and a strong bullpen. They will not require Adenhart to push himself into later innings because they don’t have a trustworthy bullpen. Adenhart will benefit from the defense and bullpen the Angels have to support him and could end up around 12 wins given the proper amount of starts.
I will list 5 hitters and 5 pitchers which I believe will have a major impact on your fantasy baseball season.
Hitters
1. Matt Wieters, C, BAL
It seems like the Orioles will do with Wieters what the Rays did with Evan Longoria. They will leave him in the minors for the first two weeks so that they can push back arbitration. All off season the Orioles have made moves to create room and support a move to the majors for this kid. They dealt Ramon Hernandez, and have spent the rest of the time looking for a veteran catcher who is willing to sign to be a back up and mentor Wieters. In his first year in the minor leagues across two levels (A+ and AA), he finished with a combined line of .355/.454/.600, not to mention the 27 homeruns he hit over that span. This guy shows the tools to be a middle of the lineup hitter from the catcher position and could eventually provide Mike Piazza type numbers. He will not be that good this season and I’d look for him to end up as more of a Bengie Molina when it comes to his final line. Baltimore really lacks true middle of the lineup bats, and if Wieters can show he is ready early, he will be plugged into the middle of the lineup. Look for a fantasy line of 80-21-85-.280.
2. Matt LaPorta, 1B/OF, CLE
Here is another guy who might start the season in the minors. However with the power that he shows I find it hard to believe that Cleveland will keep him down very long and he should win the 1b job out of spring training. Simply put Ryan Garko is nothing special on either side of the ball and should not hold back a guy like LaPorta. He has middle of the lineup power and it won’t be long until he is there for the Indians. More likely that he hits in the 6 or 7 spot to start his career as they do have other productive hitters who can take the pressure off of LaPorta. He could probably use a little seasoning in the minors to become more of a complete hitter, however with Cleveland struggling on offense last year, LaPorta’s pure power may be needed sooner rather than later. If he were to play a full season you could expect a Pat Burrell type year. 30 or so home runs with a pedestrian .250 batting average.
3. Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA
This guy should be the starting center fielder in Florida. Simply put, this guy is a 5-tool player, and could contribute in all 5 categories as early as this season. In AA last year he finished with 13 HR and 21 SB while hitting .277, not to mention his 15 doubles and 8 triples. This guy has the speed right now to make a major contribution. Given a full season’s worth of at bats he could end up north of 50 stolen bases. With a line of .277/.375/.456 it’s clear to see that he has the ability to contribute now. I think a more realistic line of Carlos Gomez for this season. Something around .255-90-11-50-30, I figure he might get thrown into the lead off role in order to move Ramirez into the 3 hole. That should lead to a high number of runs scored despite his less than stellar batting average, along with a fairly low RBI total since he won’t be given many opportunities for those. He strikes out a ton, but can hit the ball hard when he makes contact so I think he is a good bet for double digit homeruns and I think a 30 steal prediction is modest.
4. Travis Snider, OF, TOR
Snider in my opinion will be the most productive rookie on this list and should be the front runner as far as offensive players are concerned. He had a brief stint in the majors in September for the Blue Jays and totaled 78 at bats. In that limited time he his over .300 and slugged .466 which included 6 doubles and 2 homeruns. This guy has true gap to gap power and could show that this year at the major league level. Snider jumped 4 levels last year including the previously mentioned trip to the majors; in the minors he had a line of .275/.358/.481, and something very similar at the MLB level. Snider has a chance to bat in the middle of this lineup, and as such could see a line similar to Vernon Wells last year. Something in the range of .270-80-25-90.
5. Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX
As of now Teagarden is penciled in as the starting catcher for the Rangers. His defense is what puts him in there over Saltalamaccia. I believe they may try and showcase Blalock for a trade later in the season at which time they would move Chris Davis to 3b and Salty to 1b. Until then I think Teagarden and Salty will be platoonning the catcher job, with Teagarden getting the bulk of the at bats. He is another one of the new crop of power hitting catchers coming through the minors, however last year he struggled in the high minors to hit for power. He also struggled to hit for average last year in the minors. During his short stint in the majors however, he hit well over .300 and showed he could likely handle some type of major league role. Being in Texas will help his offense blossom earlier than expected, although don’t put too much stock in him yet. If he struggles early he might be sent back to the minors, my hunch says he stays in the pros all year. Fact is, he is still a catcher and catchers just don’t produce as much as other positions, with that said I’ll predict a .250 avg with 50 runs, 14 hr, and 50 RBI which is very respectable for a catcher.
Pitchers
1. David Price, SP, TB
This guy showed last year in the post season that he was ready to be in the front of a rotation right now. His ceiling is easily to be a #1 and truly one of the aces of the major leagues. For now he will slide into the #4 spot in the Tampa Bay rotation. With that in mind he will likely avoid many tough match ups against other team’s aces, and could lead to more wins in his rookie season than one might expect. Pitching in 3 different levels across the minors last year Price posted an ERA of 2.31 and a WHIP of 1.14. He struck out nearly a batter per inning (109 Ks in 109.2 IP). Then he got a call to the majors where he pitched mostly out of the pen for 14 innings. During that limited time he posted a 1.93 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP while striking out 12. I think this season he could compare to his teammate James Shields. 15+ wins, an ERA around 3.60, a WHIP around 1.20, and about 160 K, though I think he’ll be limited in IP and will only reach around 170 at most.
2. James McDonald, SP, LAD
McDonald will be at the back of the Dodgers rotation this year, and is the reason they were able to let Lowe and Penny go without getting involved in the free agent pitcher market. At the two highest levels of the minors last year he earned a 3.26 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP while striking out one per inning pitched. He too made a September debut however only totaled 6 innings pitched and failed to surrender a run during that time. He should be plugged into the 4th or 5th spot in this rotation and should be a good bet for double digit wins and an ERA around 4.00. His whip shouldn’t be much higher than 1.30 and will contribute in strikeouts while posting a k/9 of something like 7+. Something similar to what Carlos Zambrano put up last year wouldn’t surprise me.
3. Gio Gonzalez, SP, OAK
Gio has been among the league leaders in strikeouts in the minors for the past few years. Last season averaged one more walk per nine innings than he is used to and it translated into more runs given up, his 4.24 ERA in the minors last year was higher than many expected. Yet he still earned a trip to the majors, while there he did far from impress. Looking through his minor league history it seems to take him two seasons at one level to really hit his stride. I don’t think Oakland can afford to give him that time right now; they will need to count on him this season, and although I do not think he will be a major fantasy contributor like the guys above could be, but will have his uses. Pitching in Oakland will help his cause as well. He may not reach double digits in wins, however I still consider him a guy who will contribute in strikeouts in a big way. I’d say his strike out rate ends up around 8 per 9 innings. My gut feeling tells me this guy will end up with around 11 wins and 150 strikeouts. The down side to him is that he will likely carry an ERA over 4.50 and a WHIP above 1.40.
4. JA Happ, SP, PHI
Happ is the guy I figure to fill in the #5 spot in the Philadelphia rotation. He has been a quality strikeout pitcher throughout his minor leaguer career never going below 8.7 k/9 in any stop he pitched more than one game. During his brief time in a Phillies uniform last season he put up the type of numbers I will be expecting this season. His ERA was about 3.70; I’ll guess it goes up a bit too around 4.00 the more he is exposed to major league hitters. He also struck out 26 batters in nearly 32 innings pitched. He will be a factor this season in strikeouts. With this team having great offensive firepower I’d look for him to get some wins he probably shouldn’t and give him a win total in the double digits. He’ll also be a guy who you can count on for around 130-140 strikeouts and draft very late in a draft. His ERA and WHIP likely won’t help you win either of those categories but they aren’t likely to kill you either.
5. Nick Adenhart, SP, LAA
With the terrible showing he had last season in the pros and the fallout that occurred in the minors after his demotion, Adenhart is likely to start the season in the minors again. This guy truly has top of the rotation stuff and believe his time in the majors will arrive this season. Currently the Angels have penciled in Moseley as their 5th starter. Moseley simply isn’t good enough to keep the job throughout the season and as soon as Adenhart shows he is back to his old self he will get the call up. Once Adenhart gets the call he won’t look back this time. I think he could do something similar to what Jered Weaver did when he first made the jump. I do not predict the exact same as Weaver was a bonafide ace down the stretch of that season. However I do envision something like a 3.60 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP, while striking out nearly 1 per inning. This team is built on defense and a strong bullpen. They will not require Adenhart to push himself into later innings because they don’t have a trustworthy bullpen. Adenhart will benefit from the defense and bullpen the Angels have to support him and could end up around 12 wins given the proper amount of starts.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Fantasy Man's Top 20 Minor League Prospects of 2009
The Fantasy Man's Top 20 Minor League Prospects for 2009. These are the minor leaguers I have my eye on for the upcoming season as players who could make the biggest impact in 2009, or even just an impact. All of these players have a chance to make the team out of the spring or at least a chance to be called up by mid-season.......
1. David Price, SP, TB - 23 - Price is a rarity in baseball maturity. Think Tim Lincecum. Think Joba Chamberlain. Think LaBron James. Price is awesome, plain and simple. You saw what he could do when he closed out Game 7 of the ALCS against the Red Sox. Price is 6'6" 225lbs with tantalizing stuff and fantastic command. As it stands, Price will fit in at the end of the rotation in Tampa and probably give you about 180 IP. Be prepared for him to be shut down in September possibly if he pulls a Lincecum-like rookie year but it looks as if he'll start the year in the rotation barring any spring set backs. If you want Price on your fantasy team, expect to pay about $8-$12 depending on hype in your league and expect to select him by round 10 in a 12 team mixed league draft if you really want him!
2. Matt Wieters, C, BAL - 22 - Between A and AA, Wieters hit .355/27/91 with a .454OBP and a 1.054OPS. What makes Wieters more intriguing is the 76K with 82BB all in 437AB. Those are Bugs Bunny numbers. The Orioles traded Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati leaving the door wide open for Wieters. Assuming he experiences some growing pains but continues to be an OBP guy, I think it's safe to say with 450+ AB, Wieters can be a .280/20/80 guy in his first season barring any set backs. Draft him by round 13 if you're targeting him in snake drafts. He's a $5-$8 player in auction drafts.
3. Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA - 21 - Some have already said that Maybin could be the Hanley Ramirez of the Outfield this year. I seriously doubt that but Maybin does have some extreme potential. What we don't know yet however is what Maybin's ceiling really is. Maybin is 6'4" 200lbs, so he has the frame to hit 20+HR eventually, maybe even 30+ or 40 + as he fills out, we don't know yet. What we like about Maybin now, is his speed! Think Carlos Gomez with better on base skills and the same K rate. They are clones in size. In 2008, the Marlins, who acquired Maybin in a deal for Miguel Cabrera in the off season, kept Maybin down in the minors for the entire season. In AA, Maybin batted .277 with 13 HR and 21 SB along with a .375 OBP thanks to his 60 BB. What's alarming however is the 124 K in 390AB. Yikes! Naturally, Maybin's speed promotes more doubles and triples making him a potential points league or H2H leagues dream. As of now, Maybin plans to compete for the CF job for 2009. From early reports, it seems that it's not if Maybin will make the team or not, it's whether or not Maybin will lead off or bat at the bottom of the lineup. Hanley Ramirez hasn't show he can be a #3 hitter yet and with Uggla already entrenched in the #2 spot, it's possible Maybin gets pushed down to accomodate Hanley. Personally, I think Hanley should be and will be batting 3rd, and Maybin will get the nod at lead off! If that happens, I'm looking at a .270/12HR/30+SB type of season with 500+ AB from Maybin. Draft in or after the 16th round as a 4th or 5th OF and steal for $2-$4 in the auction!
4. Kila Ka'aihue, 1B, KC - 25 - Kila blasted his way through AA and AAA in 2008 putting up Daffy Duck numbers like .313/37HR/99RBI/.452OBP/1.086OPS with 104BB and only 66K. This guy is an OBP/OPS hog and reminds you of a potential Ryan Howard type. He's a big dude at 6'3" 230lbs. and could get the nod at 1B or DH in 2009 despite the log jam with Billy Butler and Mike Jacobs. Kila is a little older at 25 but there's not much use for this guy in AAA. Definitely a player with extreme power potential and on base skills to make an impact in 2009. If the Royals are smart, they'll start this guy at 1B, Billy Butler at DH, and use Mike Jacobs off the bench.
5. Travis Snider, OF, TOR - 21 - Snider had a nice showing after being called up by the Blue Jays last season as he hit .301/2HR/13RBI in 73 AB. He also had 23 K but the dude was only 20 years old. Between High A and AAA last season, Snider batted .275/23HR/91RBI/61BB/153K in 484AB. Yes, the K's are quite alarming but if he has a chance to make the team out of spring training, you'll have to suffer the growing pains with Snider. He'll have immediate 20+HR power and with 400+AB, can probably knock in 75+RBI if he gets consistent playing time. The 61 BB in the minors last year is a great indicator that there is better things to come, especially in the OBP department. Grab this guy for a buck or at the end of your snake draft and stash on that bench for a bigger second half. He'll probably start slow, but he had loads of upside!
6. Max Ramirez, C, TEX - 24 - Ramirez came out of nowhere to post some insane numbers between AA and AAA as a catcher batting .347/19/57 with 69K, 42BB, a .439OBP and a 1.067OPS in 285AB. The walks and the high OBP potential make up for the K's but Ramirez has 20+HR power in that catcher spot. The question is.... will he have a full time job coming out of the spring? If the Rangers can find a way to trade Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Hank Blalock, Ramirez could definitely get a shot at either C or DH. He'll be battling Taylor Teagarden for that spot. My prediction is that Ramirez wins over Teagarden if Saltalamacchia and Blalock both stay.
7. Matt LaPorta, 1B, CLE - 24 - LaPorta batted .279/22/74 with a .386 OBP in 362 in AA (Cleveland and San Diego) as he was the cernterpiece in the C.C. Sabathia trade. LaPorta also played on the U.S. Olympic team in '08. LaPorta will provide a fair share of walks and K's but I'm still trying to decide if he's an Evan Longoria type or a Connor Jackson type. The jury is still out. I have a feeling LaPorta will start the year in AAA but certainly be a mid-season call up. Great player to grab at the end of your draft and stash. He's a player that could be drafted late by a manager or might be saved for the waiver wire. Keep an eye on the hype this spring.
8. Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL - 22 - Hanson is a monster at 6'6" 210lbs. He put himself on the map in 2008 when he threw a 14-K No Hitter for Double A Mississippi. At that point in the season, Hanson only brought his ERA down to 4.32. By the end of 2008, Hanson's line was 11-5, 2.41ERA, 0.99WHIP, 163K in 138IP. Those are awesome numbers between High A and Double A. Hanson has a real chance to make the Atlanta rotation out of spring training and is a great guy to take a flier on! The question is.... do you think Hanson can beat out a guy like Charlie Morton for that 5th spot based on last years numbers? I do.
9. Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT - 22 - McCutchen was great in AAA last season batting .283/9HR/32SB/.372OBP/only 87K with 68BB in 512AB. That's a sweet season for a guy who could probably start in CF right now. Nate McLouth is currently your starting CF but I wouldn't mind seeing Pittsburgh shift McLouth to LF to make room for the future in McCutchen. Or, better yet, why doesn't Pittsburgh pack it in like usual and trade McLouth to a winner and then make room for McCutchen. Either way, McCutchen will get a chance to play in 2009. He has a great batting eye, keeps the K's to a minimum and has 30+SB speed. Throw in 15HR and you maybe have a Shane Victorino type but 3 inches taller.
10. Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX - 25 - Teagarden hit 6 HR in 47 AB after being called up last season while batting .319 in that span. In the minors, Teagarden only hit .211 in 2008 with 9 HR in 246 AB. However, in 2007, TT hit .300/27HR in 394 AB. When you look at the minor league numbers the past few years, they are not all that intriguing. Yes, TT has some power and showed it off in his 47 AB, but he strikes out a ton. In 756 AB in his minor league career, he has 249 K. Throw on top of that the competition for 3B, 1B, C, and DH between Teagarden, Max Ramirez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Hank Blalcok, and Chris Davis, someone is going to get left behind, and despite what other experts think, I feel that it will be Teagarden. Unless a move is made, i.e. Saltalamacchia to Boston or Hank Blalock to SF, I think Teagarden starts the year in the minors. If a move is made, Teagraden makes a great #2 catcher with upside at the end of the draft.
11. Fernando Martinez, OF, NYM - 20 - This guy is the pride and joy of the Mets farm system. No matter what, the Mets won't include Martinez in a trade. Somehow, the Mets kept him out of the Johan Santana deal and so far in this off-season, the Mets have kept him out again. I think they're going to go with some combination of Carlos Beltran, Ryan Church, Josh Reed, Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis in the outfield with Beltran and Church as the mainstays while the other guys hold the fort for Martinez to mature. Martinez possesses a fantastic power/speed combo as he had 8HR and 6SB in 352AB. Those numbers don't jump off the page at you but Martinez is only 20 but he missed some time last year with some injury. Martinez probably won't make the team out of spring training but could be a mid season call up if A. the Mets are decimated with injury or B. Martinez absolutely tears up AA.
12. Angel Salome, C, MIL - 22 - A young solid contact hitting catcher with some power could push Jason Kendall for playing time by midseason or 2010. In AA Huntsville, Salome batted .360,13HR,83RBI,3SB,.414OBP with only 57K and 33BB in 367AB. This is a guy to watch, especially if he hits in AAA. You probably don't need to stash him because he's not really on the radar, well, except for mine. Keep this guy on the back-burner as he may become useful either by midseason or for 2010.
13. Jess Todd, SP, STL - 22 - Todd blew up in the minors in 2008 pitching at all three levels and posting a combined line of 2.88ERA/1.03WHIP/136K/42BB in 153IP. Throw in that he only gave up 16 total HR, held batters to a .213BA, and has a K per 9 rate of 8. The Cardinals rotation looks set at the moment, but here is a guy who could start the year in the bullpen and be that 6th starter. We'll see Todd at some point in 2009 with a chance to crack the rotation with an injury. There is already talk that Chris Carpenter might not be ready to start the season and that's the opportunity Todd needs who word is, could probably be the #3 started right now behind Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter!
14. Neftali Feliz, SP, TEX - 20 - Between Low A and AA last season, Feliz produced a line of 2.69ERA/1/10WHIP/153K in 127IP. Wait, what? 153 K in 127IP?? That's right! This guy is a flame thrower, that of the 100MPH club. 106K in 82IP in Low A and 47K in 45IP in AA. Not bad for a guy no one has ever heard of. What I love best is his opportunity to crack the rotation at some point in 2009. I mean,look at this competition.... Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Matt Harrison, Brandon McCarthy, Dustin Nippert, Kason Gabbard, Eric Hurley, Luis Mendoza, and Scott Feldman. It's almost laughable.....
15. Matt Gamel, 3B, MIL - 23 - Gamel has Ryan Braun like hitting potential. In 2008, Gamel batted .325/20/99/.392OBP/6SB in 529AB between AA and AAA. There is talk that Mat Gamel can make the team out of the spring but I think he's more of a mid-season call up as he'd have to beat out Bill Hall and Mike Lamb. The real problem is his defense, which was the same reason why Ryan Braun didn't make the team out of Spring Training in 2007.
16. Kyle Blanks, 1B, SD - 22 - Blanks has power potential and has proved it in the minors thus far but he's blocked by Adrian Gonzalez. What I like here is that the rest of the Padres offense is dismal outside of Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headley. I'm thinking Blanks could make a switch to RF possibly as an option to get him in the lineup. Otherwise, maybe the Padres can trade him in the Jake Peavy deal where he'll get some playing time. In 2007 A Ball, Blanks hit .301/24HR/100RBI/11SB/.380OBP and only 98K with 44BB in 465AB. Then, in 2008 in AA, Blanks hit .325/20HR/107RBI/5SB/.404OBP and only 94 K with 51BB in 492AB. As you can see, Blanks performed better at the next level (AA) while decreasing his K's and increasing his BB with about 30 more AB. I like that potential. I'm confident we'll see this bat somewhere in late 2009 and right now no one is talking about him!
17. Colby Rasmus, OF, STL - 22 - Rasmus is one of the most talented prospects in the Cardinals farm system, but last years poor performance in the minors might have dropped Rasmus down a notch. Still, at 22, the talent is there as is the upside and a quality spring will put Rasmus back on the map and even more so if the Cardinals trade Rick Ankiel either before the season starts or at the July deadline. Ankiel is playing for a new contract this year which could open a spot for Rasmus. Rasmus is a Power/Speed guy, potential 20/20 but at this point, might only be a .275 type hitter as he whiffs a lot. Rasmus is a guy you draft in the last round or spend a buck on and stash as he has the talent to be called up and perform immediately.
18. Wade Davis, SP, TB - 23 - Davis is the next top pitching prospect in line for the Rays. If by chance David Price ends up in the bullpen, Davis would be a candidate to get that 5th spot. Otherwise, he's next in line after Price. Last season between AA and AAA Davis produced a combined 3.47ERA/1.30WHIP/136K in 160IP. The numbers are inflated a bit as his AA stint was only mediocre while the 53IP in AAA were stellar. Davis has nasty stuff, stands in a 6'5" 220lbs., and looks like a K/IP type of pitcher. Keep an eye in spring training to get a sense on whether to draft late or save for a waiver wire pick up. I'd recommend a last round flier and stash on a deep bench because he'll see time in late 2009.
19. J.P. Arencibia, C, TOR - Arencibia is 23, was a 1st round pick and in two minor league seasons (2007 in A and 2008 in AA), he batted .298/27/105 in 510AB. However, Arencibia has totaled only 101 K's but with only 18 BB and a .322 OBP in those two seasons, so there is much to work on. This is a guy you grab for a buck though and stash on the bench in deep leagues until July or August a la Matt Weiters or Max Ramirez of 2008. This is a guy we might be talking about for 2010!
20. Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC - 22 - Batted .272/21HR/71RBI/8SB/86K/44BB in 496AB. He can play SS or 3B and those numbers remind me of an Evan Longoria type. These are Low A numbers so there a good chance he'll start the season in High A or AA but has a great chance to be called up in September and explode. He's a highly touted prospect who gets pushed to the side a bit because he's with Kansas City, but if he gets SS eligibility, he'll become even more of a hot commodity as a prospect to watch for 2010.
On the Bubble:
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT - 22 - Alvarez was a top pick in the 2008 draft but some say he's ready for the bigs right now! The Padres still have Andy LaRoche and prospect Neil Walker above Alvarez on the depth charts but a good spring and hot start in the minors could shoot Alvarez up the charts. Keep an eye on his progress in the spring. His estimated time of arrival with a good showing in the minors in 2009 is 2010!
1. David Price, SP, TB - 23 - Price is a rarity in baseball maturity. Think Tim Lincecum. Think Joba Chamberlain. Think LaBron James. Price is awesome, plain and simple. You saw what he could do when he closed out Game 7 of the ALCS against the Red Sox. Price is 6'6" 225lbs with tantalizing stuff and fantastic command. As it stands, Price will fit in at the end of the rotation in Tampa and probably give you about 180 IP. Be prepared for him to be shut down in September possibly if he pulls a Lincecum-like rookie year but it looks as if he'll start the year in the rotation barring any spring set backs. If you want Price on your fantasy team, expect to pay about $8-$12 depending on hype in your league and expect to select him by round 10 in a 12 team mixed league draft if you really want him!
2. Matt Wieters, C, BAL - 22 - Between A and AA, Wieters hit .355/27/91 with a .454OBP and a 1.054OPS. What makes Wieters more intriguing is the 76K with 82BB all in 437AB. Those are Bugs Bunny numbers. The Orioles traded Ramon Hernandez to Cincinnati leaving the door wide open for Wieters. Assuming he experiences some growing pains but continues to be an OBP guy, I think it's safe to say with 450+ AB, Wieters can be a .280/20/80 guy in his first season barring any set backs. Draft him by round 13 if you're targeting him in snake drafts. He's a $5-$8 player in auction drafts.
3. Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA - 21 - Some have already said that Maybin could be the Hanley Ramirez of the Outfield this year. I seriously doubt that but Maybin does have some extreme potential. What we don't know yet however is what Maybin's ceiling really is. Maybin is 6'4" 200lbs, so he has the frame to hit 20+HR eventually, maybe even 30+ or 40 + as he fills out, we don't know yet. What we like about Maybin now, is his speed! Think Carlos Gomez with better on base skills and the same K rate. They are clones in size. In 2008, the Marlins, who acquired Maybin in a deal for Miguel Cabrera in the off season, kept Maybin down in the minors for the entire season. In AA, Maybin batted .277 with 13 HR and 21 SB along with a .375 OBP thanks to his 60 BB. What's alarming however is the 124 K in 390AB. Yikes! Naturally, Maybin's speed promotes more doubles and triples making him a potential points league or H2H leagues dream. As of now, Maybin plans to compete for the CF job for 2009. From early reports, it seems that it's not if Maybin will make the team or not, it's whether or not Maybin will lead off or bat at the bottom of the lineup. Hanley Ramirez hasn't show he can be a #3 hitter yet and with Uggla already entrenched in the #2 spot, it's possible Maybin gets pushed down to accomodate Hanley. Personally, I think Hanley should be and will be batting 3rd, and Maybin will get the nod at lead off! If that happens, I'm looking at a .270/12HR/30+SB type of season with 500+ AB from Maybin. Draft in or after the 16th round as a 4th or 5th OF and steal for $2-$4 in the auction!
4. Kila Ka'aihue, 1B, KC - 25 - Kila blasted his way through AA and AAA in 2008 putting up Daffy Duck numbers like .313/37HR/99RBI/.452OBP/1.086OPS with 104BB and only 66K. This guy is an OBP/OPS hog and reminds you of a potential Ryan Howard type. He's a big dude at 6'3" 230lbs. and could get the nod at 1B or DH in 2009 despite the log jam with Billy Butler and Mike Jacobs. Kila is a little older at 25 but there's not much use for this guy in AAA. Definitely a player with extreme power potential and on base skills to make an impact in 2009. If the Royals are smart, they'll start this guy at 1B, Billy Butler at DH, and use Mike Jacobs off the bench.
5. Travis Snider, OF, TOR - 21 - Snider had a nice showing after being called up by the Blue Jays last season as he hit .301/2HR/13RBI in 73 AB. He also had 23 K but the dude was only 20 years old. Between High A and AAA last season, Snider batted .275/23HR/91RBI/61BB/153K in 484AB. Yes, the K's are quite alarming but if he has a chance to make the team out of spring training, you'll have to suffer the growing pains with Snider. He'll have immediate 20+HR power and with 400+AB, can probably knock in 75+RBI if he gets consistent playing time. The 61 BB in the minors last year is a great indicator that there is better things to come, especially in the OBP department. Grab this guy for a buck or at the end of your snake draft and stash on that bench for a bigger second half. He'll probably start slow, but he had loads of upside!
6. Max Ramirez, C, TEX - 24 - Ramirez came out of nowhere to post some insane numbers between AA and AAA as a catcher batting .347/19/57 with 69K, 42BB, a .439OBP and a 1.067OPS in 285AB. The walks and the high OBP potential make up for the K's but Ramirez has 20+HR power in that catcher spot. The question is.... will he have a full time job coming out of the spring? If the Rangers can find a way to trade Jarrod Saltalamacchia or Hank Blalock, Ramirez could definitely get a shot at either C or DH. He'll be battling Taylor Teagarden for that spot. My prediction is that Ramirez wins over Teagarden if Saltalamacchia and Blalock both stay.
7. Matt LaPorta, 1B, CLE - 24 - LaPorta batted .279/22/74 with a .386 OBP in 362 in AA (Cleveland and San Diego) as he was the cernterpiece in the C.C. Sabathia trade. LaPorta also played on the U.S. Olympic team in '08. LaPorta will provide a fair share of walks and K's but I'm still trying to decide if he's an Evan Longoria type or a Connor Jackson type. The jury is still out. I have a feeling LaPorta will start the year in AAA but certainly be a mid-season call up. Great player to grab at the end of your draft and stash. He's a player that could be drafted late by a manager or might be saved for the waiver wire. Keep an eye on the hype this spring.
8. Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL - 22 - Hanson is a monster at 6'6" 210lbs. He put himself on the map in 2008 when he threw a 14-K No Hitter for Double A Mississippi. At that point in the season, Hanson only brought his ERA down to 4.32. By the end of 2008, Hanson's line was 11-5, 2.41ERA, 0.99WHIP, 163K in 138IP. Those are awesome numbers between High A and Double A. Hanson has a real chance to make the Atlanta rotation out of spring training and is a great guy to take a flier on! The question is.... do you think Hanson can beat out a guy like Charlie Morton for that 5th spot based on last years numbers? I do.
9. Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT - 22 - McCutchen was great in AAA last season batting .283/9HR/32SB/.372OBP/only 87K with 68BB in 512AB. That's a sweet season for a guy who could probably start in CF right now. Nate McLouth is currently your starting CF but I wouldn't mind seeing Pittsburgh shift McLouth to LF to make room for the future in McCutchen. Or, better yet, why doesn't Pittsburgh pack it in like usual and trade McLouth to a winner and then make room for McCutchen. Either way, McCutchen will get a chance to play in 2009. He has a great batting eye, keeps the K's to a minimum and has 30+SB speed. Throw in 15HR and you maybe have a Shane Victorino type but 3 inches taller.
10. Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX - 25 - Teagarden hit 6 HR in 47 AB after being called up last season while batting .319 in that span. In the minors, Teagarden only hit .211 in 2008 with 9 HR in 246 AB. However, in 2007, TT hit .300/27HR in 394 AB. When you look at the minor league numbers the past few years, they are not all that intriguing. Yes, TT has some power and showed it off in his 47 AB, but he strikes out a ton. In 756 AB in his minor league career, he has 249 K. Throw on top of that the competition for 3B, 1B, C, and DH between Teagarden, Max Ramirez, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Hank Blalcok, and Chris Davis, someone is going to get left behind, and despite what other experts think, I feel that it will be Teagarden. Unless a move is made, i.e. Saltalamacchia to Boston or Hank Blalock to SF, I think Teagarden starts the year in the minors. If a move is made, Teagraden makes a great #2 catcher with upside at the end of the draft.
11. Fernando Martinez, OF, NYM - 20 - This guy is the pride and joy of the Mets farm system. No matter what, the Mets won't include Martinez in a trade. Somehow, the Mets kept him out of the Johan Santana deal and so far in this off-season, the Mets have kept him out again. I think they're going to go with some combination of Carlos Beltran, Ryan Church, Josh Reed, Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis in the outfield with Beltran and Church as the mainstays while the other guys hold the fort for Martinez to mature. Martinez possesses a fantastic power/speed combo as he had 8HR and 6SB in 352AB. Those numbers don't jump off the page at you but Martinez is only 20 but he missed some time last year with some injury. Martinez probably won't make the team out of spring training but could be a mid season call up if A. the Mets are decimated with injury or B. Martinez absolutely tears up AA.
12. Angel Salome, C, MIL - 22 - A young solid contact hitting catcher with some power could push Jason Kendall for playing time by midseason or 2010. In AA Huntsville, Salome batted .360,13HR,83RBI,3SB,.414OBP with only 57K and 33BB in 367AB. This is a guy to watch, especially if he hits in AAA. You probably don't need to stash him because he's not really on the radar, well, except for mine. Keep this guy on the back-burner as he may become useful either by midseason or for 2010.
13. Jess Todd, SP, STL - 22 - Todd blew up in the minors in 2008 pitching at all three levels and posting a combined line of 2.88ERA/1.03WHIP/136K/42BB in 153IP. Throw in that he only gave up 16 total HR, held batters to a .213BA, and has a K per 9 rate of 8. The Cardinals rotation looks set at the moment, but here is a guy who could start the year in the bullpen and be that 6th starter. We'll see Todd at some point in 2009 with a chance to crack the rotation with an injury. There is already talk that Chris Carpenter might not be ready to start the season and that's the opportunity Todd needs who word is, could probably be the #3 started right now behind Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter!
14. Neftali Feliz, SP, TEX - 20 - Between Low A and AA last season, Feliz produced a line of 2.69ERA/1/10WHIP/153K in 127IP. Wait, what? 153 K in 127IP?? That's right! This guy is a flame thrower, that of the 100MPH club. 106K in 82IP in Low A and 47K in 45IP in AA. Not bad for a guy no one has ever heard of. What I love best is his opportunity to crack the rotation at some point in 2009. I mean,look at this competition.... Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Matt Harrison, Brandon McCarthy, Dustin Nippert, Kason Gabbard, Eric Hurley, Luis Mendoza, and Scott Feldman. It's almost laughable.....
15. Matt Gamel, 3B, MIL - 23 - Gamel has Ryan Braun like hitting potential. In 2008, Gamel batted .325/20/99/.392OBP/6SB in 529AB between AA and AAA. There is talk that Mat Gamel can make the team out of the spring but I think he's more of a mid-season call up as he'd have to beat out Bill Hall and Mike Lamb. The real problem is his defense, which was the same reason why Ryan Braun didn't make the team out of Spring Training in 2007.
16. Kyle Blanks, 1B, SD - 22 - Blanks has power potential and has proved it in the minors thus far but he's blocked by Adrian Gonzalez. What I like here is that the rest of the Padres offense is dismal outside of Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headley. I'm thinking Blanks could make a switch to RF possibly as an option to get him in the lineup. Otherwise, maybe the Padres can trade him in the Jake Peavy deal where he'll get some playing time. In 2007 A Ball, Blanks hit .301/24HR/100RBI/11SB/.380OBP and only 98K with 44BB in 465AB. Then, in 2008 in AA, Blanks hit .325/20HR/107RBI/5SB/.404OBP and only 94 K with 51BB in 492AB. As you can see, Blanks performed better at the next level (AA) while decreasing his K's and increasing his BB with about 30 more AB. I like that potential. I'm confident we'll see this bat somewhere in late 2009 and right now no one is talking about him!
17. Colby Rasmus, OF, STL - 22 - Rasmus is one of the most talented prospects in the Cardinals farm system, but last years poor performance in the minors might have dropped Rasmus down a notch. Still, at 22, the talent is there as is the upside and a quality spring will put Rasmus back on the map and even more so if the Cardinals trade Rick Ankiel either before the season starts or at the July deadline. Ankiel is playing for a new contract this year which could open a spot for Rasmus. Rasmus is a Power/Speed guy, potential 20/20 but at this point, might only be a .275 type hitter as he whiffs a lot. Rasmus is a guy you draft in the last round or spend a buck on and stash as he has the talent to be called up and perform immediately.
18. Wade Davis, SP, TB - 23 - Davis is the next top pitching prospect in line for the Rays. If by chance David Price ends up in the bullpen, Davis would be a candidate to get that 5th spot. Otherwise, he's next in line after Price. Last season between AA and AAA Davis produced a combined 3.47ERA/1.30WHIP/136K in 160IP. The numbers are inflated a bit as his AA stint was only mediocre while the 53IP in AAA were stellar. Davis has nasty stuff, stands in a 6'5" 220lbs., and looks like a K/IP type of pitcher. Keep an eye in spring training to get a sense on whether to draft late or save for a waiver wire pick up. I'd recommend a last round flier and stash on a deep bench because he'll see time in late 2009.
19. J.P. Arencibia, C, TOR - Arencibia is 23, was a 1st round pick and in two minor league seasons (2007 in A and 2008 in AA), he batted .298/27/105 in 510AB. However, Arencibia has totaled only 101 K's but with only 18 BB and a .322 OBP in those two seasons, so there is much to work on. This is a guy you grab for a buck though and stash on the bench in deep leagues until July or August a la Matt Weiters or Max Ramirez of 2008. This is a guy we might be talking about for 2010!
20. Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC - 22 - Batted .272/21HR/71RBI/8SB/86K/44BB in 496AB. He can play SS or 3B and those numbers remind me of an Evan Longoria type. These are Low A numbers so there a good chance he'll start the season in High A or AA but has a great chance to be called up in September and explode. He's a highly touted prospect who gets pushed to the side a bit because he's with Kansas City, but if he gets SS eligibility, he'll become even more of a hot commodity as a prospect to watch for 2010.
On the Bubble:
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT - 22 - Alvarez was a top pick in the 2008 draft but some say he's ready for the bigs right now! The Padres still have Andy LaRoche and prospect Neil Walker above Alvarez on the depth charts but a good spring and hot start in the minors could shoot Alvarez up the charts. Keep an eye on his progress in the spring. His estimated time of arrival with a good showing in the minors in 2009 is 2010!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Join The Fantasy Man for a 2009 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft on TUE DEC. 30 at 11AM Est.
JOIN the Fantasy Man for a MOCK DRAFT TOMORROW, TUESDAY DEC. 30th at 11AM EST at www.MockDraftCentral.com
To participate, go to MDC and sign up for a free account or pay for the fantasy baseball package so you can do mock drafts whenever you want!
This specific draft is a 12 team, 23 man roster, mixed league, roto, 5x5 with 2C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, MI, CI, 5OF, 1DH, 9P. I'll probably post this mock draft here at Fantasy Baseball Express. Also, I'd be happy to include any write ups about your strategies and thoughts of the draft. No need to email me (however, please feel free to post a comment here that says you will be attending), just go and sign up at MDC and be ready to draft by 11AM eastern on Tuesday morning.
If you ask me what the best way to prepare yourself for a successful rotisserie fantasy baseball season is, it's participating in mock drafts with serious people. Mock Draft Central has a fantastic platform to help you elevate your came. try it out and you'll see what I mean.....
The Fantasy Man
To participate, go to MDC and sign up for a free account or pay for the fantasy baseball package so you can do mock drafts whenever you want!
This specific draft is a 12 team, 23 man roster, mixed league, roto, 5x5 with 2C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, MI, CI, 5OF, 1DH, 9P. I'll probably post this mock draft here at Fantasy Baseball Express. Also, I'd be happy to include any write ups about your strategies and thoughts of the draft. No need to email me (however, please feel free to post a comment here that says you will be attending), just go and sign up at MDC and be ready to draft by 11AM eastern on Tuesday morning.
If you ask me what the best way to prepare yourself for a successful rotisserie fantasy baseball season is, it's participating in mock drafts with serious people. Mock Draft Central has a fantastic platform to help you elevate your came. try it out and you'll see what I mean.....
The Fantasy Man
Friday, December 26, 2008
The Fantasy Man's first Fantasy Baseball Short Film
"Stupid Boss Doing A Fantasy Baseball Draft At Work"
Starring John Iavarone of J2 Comedy .
A Timeless Classic.......
This video was made for The Fantasy Man as part of a new initiative called Fantasy Man Entertainment in an attempt to add some creativeness that the fantasy sports industry desperately needs.....
Enjoy! And please go ahead and rate the video and send it to friends and league mates. If you like, we will do our best to produce more videos in the near future.
Here is the link to the video in case you cannot view this....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFgUClBo19A
Starring John Iavarone of J2 Comedy .
A Timeless Classic.......
This video was made for The Fantasy Man as part of a new initiative called Fantasy Man Entertainment in an attempt to add some creativeness that the fantasy sports industry desperately needs.....
Enjoy! And please go ahead and rate the video and send it to friends and league mates. If you like, we will do our best to produce more videos in the near future.
Here is the link to the video in case you cannot view this....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFgUClBo19A
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
2009 Christmas Day Spectacular Podcast NOW PLAYING!
The Fantasy Man's 2009 Christmas Day Spectacular podcast is now available!
Go to www.Libsyn.com to listen or download The Fantasy Man's Podcast! This Spectacular is all about the Snake Draft! Learn how to master this years draft and arm yourself with everything from draft preparation tips to sleepers to the only players The Fantasy Man considers.
Click here to subscribe to the Podcast!
I also want to wish you and your families a happy, healthy and safe holiday!
Mike
Go to www.Libsyn.com to listen or download The Fantasy Man's Podcast! This Spectacular is all about the Snake Draft! Learn how to master this years draft and arm yourself with everything from draft preparation tips to sleepers to the only players The Fantasy Man considers.
Click here to subscribe to the Podcast!
I also want to wish you and your families a happy, healthy and safe holiday!
Mike
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Waiver Wire
I found a fantastic blog the other day that is managed by Alex Zelvin called The Waiver Wire! It's great site if you need up-to-date information on players you might expect to see on the...... waiver wire.... naturally. However, at this point in the off-season, Alex points out some of the names that could be nice/not-so-nice sleepers going into 2009. So check out The Waiver Wire and stay up-to-date before the draft and during the season.
Actually, check out the analysis on a few players recently posted....
Joel Hanrahan
Daniel Cabrera
Greg Reynolds
John Lannon
Josh Fields
Actually, check out the analysis on a few players recently posted....
Joel Hanrahan
Daniel Cabrera
Greg Reynolds
John Lannon
Josh Fields
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Carlos Quentin Complete's Me!
It's about time I set the record straight, I have an extreme man-crush on Carlos Quentin for the 2009 Fantasy Baseball season. I'm not going to lie, it's a strong feeling and at times, it may make my wife a bit jealous. You see, I have to try to stop bringing Carlos' name up at the dinner table or when we're out running errands, but if there was one player with monster upside you could count on, it's Carlos Quentin. I have said recently that I love the potential of Quentin and I have already drafted Quentin quite early in the two expert mock drafts like the 2009 CBS League of Champions Expert League Draft and the 2009 Fantasy Man's Early Bird Expert Mock Draft. Quentin even slipped to me in the 3rd round of Mock Draft Central's first 2009 Expert Draft. With this post, I wanted to justify why I believe in Quentin for those who still don't agree.
I'm going to start with a conservative projection. Yes, I'm being serious, this is a modest projection for 2009.... .290/30HR/110RBI/100R/7SB. What you are looking at is a Carlos Lee alternative in the late 2nd round of a 12 team mixed league draft. However, when I mentioned "monster upside" above, I believe there is potential for .300+/40+/120+/100+/10 which certainly puts Quentin on par with guys like Albert Pujols, A-Rod, Ryan Braun, Miguel Cabrera, maybe Mark Teixeira, and possibly even Prince Fielder. I know it's risky to get this crazy on a guy who has only done it for one season, but let's take a look at the numbers. Plus, if anyone remembers, I got crazy for Nate McLouth based on his 2007 numbers (a half a season's worth) and look what he did in 2008. I'm on a roll. Sometimes I'm wrong, i.e. Ronny Paulino and Felipe Lopez, but sometimes I'm right!
In 2007, Quentin hit .288/36HR/100RBI/96R/7SB in 480 AB with a .394OBP/.571SLG/.965OPS (which are fantastic H2H numbers by the way). Quentin also had 66BB with only 80K. Those numbers are insane, and he missed a whole month because of stupidity after he punched a wall. His only slow month was June when he hit .266 but with 5 HR and 13 RBI, and that's when everyone thought the Carlos Quentin's run was over. Plus, he hit .274 with 21HR and 48RBI at home while hitting .300 on the road. But just think for a minute, we haven't even talked about the minor leagues yet and here is a guy who had a break out year at 26 years old and 480AB. He turns 27 in August 2009 and imagine if he had another 120AB or so. So not only does Quentin make a nice roto 5x5 pick, he's an even better option in H2H leagues that count OBP/SLG/OPS/BB/K/etc.
In four minor league seasons (drafted in the 1st round of 2003), Quentin has a career minor league line of .313/55HR/257RBI/19SB/169BB/187K/.413OBP/.527SLG/.940OPS in 1337AB.
With the exception of his first minor league season (2004), Quentin sported a .400+ OBP in each of the following three seasons. He hit .300+ in every season but 2006 (.289), and in 2005, his biggest season in the minors with 452 AB, Quentin had 21HR and more BB (72) than K's (71). These are huge indicators! Now, take a look at the minor league line and then look at his 2008 stats. What do you notice? I notice a major league BA that could increase, the 100+ RBI potential is obvious, and I am a believer that his minor league OBP/SLG/OPS carried over into 2008 and thus will continue to remain consistent into 2009. If those stats stay consistent in 2009, there is no reason to believe Quentin won't be a .290/35/120/100/10 type player with that "monster upside" I mentioned earlier. Period.
What hurts the fantasy value of Quentin aside from his 2008 break out is the poor showings in his first two chances in the majors in 2006 and 2007. Quentin only had 166AB in 2006 with a poor showing which is normal and he did suffer a shoulder injury in early 2007 which pretty much blew more than half that season. So it's understandable why he did not perform in two years and I think that sticks out in the minds of most fantasy managers who don't do the research. I have done the research for you here. If there was ever a fantasy player who you could draft after a one year breakout and feel confident he can do it again, it's Quentin. He put up the same solid numbers all through the minors which realistically match his 2008 totals. Carlos Quentin is for real people.
Let's talk fantasy draft for a minute. Here is a fact..... no matter what I say here or what your opinion of Quentin, fact is, he'll be gone by the time your pick in the 3rd round comes. If he lasts past the late 3rd, I think we can all agree that he'd be a steal! I think what's in question is whether or not he's more of an early 2nd round pick or an early 3rd round pick. I'd agree that Quentin should not be choosen in the first round, but I do believe that by the end of 2009, we will be saying that Quentin deserved a late 1st round or early second round pick. Also, if you choose Quentin in your top 15 or top 20, like I did in one of the drafts I linked above, you are most likely passing up on Outfielders like Manny Ramirez, Carl Crawford, Carlos Beltran, maybe B.J. Upton to name a few, and if you are really high on Quentin you might even draft him over Carlos Lee. In auction leagues, I'd say Quentin is close to a $25-$30 player with White Sox fans and managers with a man-crush going as far as $35, which might be over paying a tad. But, I am telling you now, it's a good bet. You are putting all your chips on the table with Quentin this early, but you'll at least split the pot, no less.
So be confident with your pick of Quentin. Barring any setback or freak injuries, Quentin is a guy you can build a team around and he should still be somewhat cheap for the type of stats he'll put up compared to some of the other comparable players like Carlos Lee, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, etc.
Comments? Yay or nay on Quentin in the 2nd round?
Don't forget to check out The Fantasy Man's newest creation at www.FantasyPlayersExpress.com! It's a new Fantasy Players Database and we need fantasy managers of all levels to post their analysis, comments, questions, and strategies regarding ALL fantasy players! It's free to join! Check it out!
I'm going to start with a conservative projection. Yes, I'm being serious, this is a modest projection for 2009.... .290/30HR/110RBI/100R/7SB. What you are looking at is a Carlos Lee alternative in the late 2nd round of a 12 team mixed league draft. However, when I mentioned "monster upside" above, I believe there is potential for .300+/40+/120+/100+/10 which certainly puts Quentin on par with guys like Albert Pujols, A-Rod, Ryan Braun, Miguel Cabrera, maybe Mark Teixeira, and possibly even Prince Fielder. I know it's risky to get this crazy on a guy who has only done it for one season, but let's take a look at the numbers. Plus, if anyone remembers, I got crazy for Nate McLouth based on his 2007 numbers (a half a season's worth) and look what he did in 2008. I'm on a roll. Sometimes I'm wrong, i.e. Ronny Paulino and Felipe Lopez, but sometimes I'm right!
In 2007, Quentin hit .288/36HR/100RBI/96R/7SB in 480 AB with a .394OBP/.571SLG/.965OPS (which are fantastic H2H numbers by the way). Quentin also had 66BB with only 80K. Those numbers are insane, and he missed a whole month because of stupidity after he punched a wall. His only slow month was June when he hit .266 but with 5 HR and 13 RBI, and that's when everyone thought the Carlos Quentin's run was over. Plus, he hit .274 with 21HR and 48RBI at home while hitting .300 on the road. But just think for a minute, we haven't even talked about the minor leagues yet and here is a guy who had a break out year at 26 years old and 480AB. He turns 27 in August 2009 and imagine if he had another 120AB or so. So not only does Quentin make a nice roto 5x5 pick, he's an even better option in H2H leagues that count OBP/SLG/OPS/BB/K/etc.
In four minor league seasons (drafted in the 1st round of 2003), Quentin has a career minor league line of .313/55HR/257RBI/19SB/169BB/187K/.413OBP/.527SLG/.940OPS in 1337AB.
With the exception of his first minor league season (2004), Quentin sported a .400+ OBP in each of the following three seasons. He hit .300+ in every season but 2006 (.289), and in 2005, his biggest season in the minors with 452 AB, Quentin had 21HR and more BB (72) than K's (71). These are huge indicators! Now, take a look at the minor league line and then look at his 2008 stats. What do you notice? I notice a major league BA that could increase, the 100+ RBI potential is obvious, and I am a believer that his minor league OBP/SLG/OPS carried over into 2008 and thus will continue to remain consistent into 2009. If those stats stay consistent in 2009, there is no reason to believe Quentin won't be a .290/35/120/100/10 type player with that "monster upside" I mentioned earlier. Period.
What hurts the fantasy value of Quentin aside from his 2008 break out is the poor showings in his first two chances in the majors in 2006 and 2007. Quentin only had 166AB in 2006 with a poor showing which is normal and he did suffer a shoulder injury in early 2007 which pretty much blew more than half that season. So it's understandable why he did not perform in two years and I think that sticks out in the minds of most fantasy managers who don't do the research. I have done the research for you here. If there was ever a fantasy player who you could draft after a one year breakout and feel confident he can do it again, it's Quentin. He put up the same solid numbers all through the minors which realistically match his 2008 totals. Carlos Quentin is for real people.
Let's talk fantasy draft for a minute. Here is a fact..... no matter what I say here or what your opinion of Quentin, fact is, he'll be gone by the time your pick in the 3rd round comes. If he lasts past the late 3rd, I think we can all agree that he'd be a steal! I think what's in question is whether or not he's more of an early 2nd round pick or an early 3rd round pick. I'd agree that Quentin should not be choosen in the first round, but I do believe that by the end of 2009, we will be saying that Quentin deserved a late 1st round or early second round pick. Also, if you choose Quentin in your top 15 or top 20, like I did in one of the drafts I linked above, you are most likely passing up on Outfielders like Manny Ramirez, Carl Crawford, Carlos Beltran, maybe B.J. Upton to name a few, and if you are really high on Quentin you might even draft him over Carlos Lee. In auction leagues, I'd say Quentin is close to a $25-$30 player with White Sox fans and managers with a man-crush going as far as $35, which might be over paying a tad. But, I am telling you now, it's a good bet. You are putting all your chips on the table with Quentin this early, but you'll at least split the pot, no less.
So be confident with your pick of Quentin. Barring any setback or freak injuries, Quentin is a guy you can build a team around and he should still be somewhat cheap for the type of stats he'll put up compared to some of the other comparable players like Carlos Lee, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, etc.
Comments? Yay or nay on Quentin in the 2nd round?
Don't forget to check out The Fantasy Man's newest creation at www.FantasyPlayersExpress.com! It's a new Fantasy Players Database and we need fantasy managers of all levels to post their analysis, comments, questions, and strategies regarding ALL fantasy players! It's free to join! Check it out!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Mock Draft Central Live Expert Mock Draft #1
Last night I participated in Mock Draft Central's first Live Expert Mock Draft for 2009.
To get the results of the mock, CLICK HERE .
To get live coverage and analysis of the draft by Lenny Melnick, Paul Greco, and Tony Cincotta of Melnick & Greco Fantasy Sports and to hear Paul mis-pronounce my name all 23 times, CLICK HERE . It's "Kuch-Era" .... Paul! Ask Lenny, he knows!
Anyway, the draft last night was cake and typical of an expert draft! Jump on the top guys early, a few surprises too early on the young guys like Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Evan Longoria, etc., a late closer run, and waiting on SP's (I got Brandon Webb in round 5!!). Sometimes these expert dudes like to make statements with their early picks of youg players with potential superstardom powers. I just like to pick the best available players to load up on cats and positions.
I feel like I did myself justice with the team I ended up with. As many of you know, I am big on drafting for categories more than just looking for good value or position scarcity. Sometimes I get an itch to just start loading up on everything! Being that HR's we down so much in 2008, I feel that loading up on the best power hitters early is smarter in 2009 as I can pick up cheap steals later, and I think I proved this during this mock which I will analyze below. So take a look at the mock by clicking the link above and see some of the big names in this draft like Yahoo's Brandon Funston, MLB.com's Alex Cushing, and of course the great Geoff Stein of Mock Draft Central who is a legend around these parts. Those are only a few of the fantasy baseball masters in this draft.
So let's take a look at the roster of the top dog of them all, me, The Fantasy Man! You know what it is, I just feel good because I feel like I managed a great draft. That's it. I'm on my own high horse at the moment. Okay, maybe not. You guys all know how modest I am, but here is a peek at my thoughts and my plan as I went through this draft....
My Plan: To be honest, I didn't have one. I didn't get home from work until about 20 minutes before hand and Prison Break was on at 9pm, so my mind was wandering! I had the 5th pick so I was guaranteed one of A-Rod, Hanley, Pujols, Reyes, or Wright. I was hoping for Reyes or Pujols. That was my plan. I figured once I knew who I was getting, I could build from there. Overall plan though, load up on either power early or speed early and then take care of the other later. Simple as that. I'm a simple man. When I didn't get the first guy I really wanted (Reyes), I was on to Plan B. When I missed on Santana in round 2, I was on to Plan C when Prince Fielder ended up in my lap, and the rest is history.....
R1 - Albert Pujols - .330+/35+/100+/100+/10sb/.400+, what else do I need to say!
R2 - Prince Fielder - I was hoping for Johan Santana or B.J. Upton with Fielder third on my queue. Santana and Upton were both taken and even though Manny Ramirez was still available, I went with the younger Prince Fielder and decided I was going to load up on the power categories and hoard them all to myself. The drop off is huge for big time power guys so I am glad I made this decision. I was figuring in the third round I'd either take David Ortiz and stash in my DH spot or hop that Carlos Quentin would last as I want to take up all the power I could. Also, Ortiz has been slipping into the 4th round in a lot of drafts so my new plan after Fielder was to grab Quentin and then hope for Ortiz in the 4th.
R3 - Carlos Quentin - Well, Ortiz was choosen 3 picks later, so I jumped on Quenti who I believe can be a .300/35+/100+/100+/10 type of player. Oops! What? That looks a lot like what I am expecting from the guy in my #1 spot minus some batting average.
R4 - Adrian Gonzalez - Paul and Lenny gave me a hard time about this one. Lenny felt that since the Padres are looking so weak on offense, Gonzalez is going to have a down year! I know I can't scream through the speakers but since when did Adrian Gonzalez ever have any lineup protection? Who protected him last season when he had a great year? He still has Kevin Kouzmanoff, he has Chase Headley who is supposed to be solid (just unproven), Brian Giles still at the top of the lineup and the rest is the norm. The Padres didn't have much at 2B last year, Khalil Greene at SS was a bust, the Pads never have a solid catcher, and CF never really had anyone worth adding to your fantasy team. So what about 2008 says that Gonzalez will have a down year in 2009? The guy hits .280/25+HR (35+ potential anywhere else but Petco)/100+RBI/90+R/and .375+ OBP. The guy K's a lot but that obviously doesn't affect him much. So, with all of that being said, I am expecting AGone to have a year like last year and in the 4th round with Pujols, Fielder, and Quentin already enlisted, Gonzalez just solidifies my chances of having the most power in the draft no matter what happens later on. Problem is, now I need steals. At this point, after 4 rounds, I'd be lucky if Pujols/Fielder/Quentin combined gave me 25 SB's. Lucky for me, they all steal a few every year.
R5 - Brandon Webb - I had Papelbon ready but he was taken a few picks before me. Johan, C.C., Lincecum and Hamels were all taken and I couldn't believe my eyes when Webb and Jake Peavy were still available at this pick. It was a toss up but I went with the sure thing in Webb. Peavy obviously has a bit more flash but with the way experts wait on starting pitchers, I wouldn't have been surprised if Peavy lasted another round, so I went with the consistentcy in Webb.
R6 - Derek Jeter - So I had my power, I had my 1B, CI and DH locked up and it was time to look at the middle infielders. I could have taken Rafael Furcal. I could have taken J.J. Hardy. I could have jumped on Stephen Drew. All 3 of those guys are risky. Hardy seems like a half year type of player, Furcal is a huge injury risk, and Drew hasn't lived up to potential yet. So I picked Jeter. Paul Greco can call it "homer-ism" if he wants (To be honest, Jeter is my favorite real life player), but Jeter is a smart move here for me whether Lenny Melnick agrees or not.
1. Jeter is a .300 hitter and will be in 2009.
2. Jeter's numbers were only slightly down last season, but so was every other Yankees' numbers!
3. Yes, Jeter is on the decline, but he's only 34. He still has 2-3 more productive seasons I think.
4. This was my chance to pick one of the most durable and consistent players in the game and pick up 15-20 SB at the same time. Simple as that!
R7 - Dan Uggla - I was thinking about Bobby Abreu here because he's another guy who could get me a durable and consistent .290/15/100/20sb, but I took a risk and hoped Abreu would last another round as I saw all the SP's starting to fly off the board. I went with Uggla because I saw a chance to load up on 25-30 more HR at the 2B position. He won't steal many bases but I felt like I can still make them up later. I also was thinking about solidifying my pitching staff.
R8 - Bobby Abreu - Pitching staff still on hold, I couldn't believe Abreu was still there. Add another 20 SB to this team. My goal is 125 total projected from this squad. So far I project about 60 at this point between my top 4 and Uggla (25), Jeter(15), and now Abreu(20). That's not good.
R9 - Francisco Rodriguez - 9th round??? I can't believe it! You know what K-Rod? If no one wants you on their team, it's okay, don't worry, The Fantasy Man will make room for you! Unbelievable!
R10 - Cliff Lee - What? I thought K-Rod in the 9th was unbelievable. I debated in the 9th whether to let K-Rod go so I could take Lee instead but glad I did it this wait! Lee in the 10th is a steal. I know these experts love their K's and I believe that's why they let Lee slip. They're loss I guess. This is my favorite pick!
R11 - B.J. Ryan - I took advantage of the unusually low ranking MDC gave Ryan and I jumped on him to solidify my closer situation. Now I don't need to think about Saves and crappy ERA/WHIP situations with all the risky closers out there.
R12 - Pat Burrell - Totally against my philosophy, I went with value and went for Burrell. I though I could load up on more power, which I did, but then I realized who I really wanted to pick and that was Rick Ankiel. Problem was, at that point, I only had two OF slots open and I still need steals. I was saving these 2 spots for guys like Carlos Gomez, Michael Bourn, Willy Tavares, Cameron Maybin, etc.... I went with Burrell for the .275/30/100 potential and consistency each year ending up with those types of numbers, but if I was going to do that, I would have much rather went with the maturing Rick Ankiel who is in a contract year and has as much or more power potential in 2009 than Burrell. Still a solid pick here, but I should have taken the younger potential star in Ankiel.
R13 - Orlando Cabrera - I don't normally panic in drafts as I can always find great value later, but SS is way too thin this year and I still need a middle infielder and steals. Cabrera gives me an instant 20SB which brings me up to about a projected 80 steals. There is still work to be done.
R14 - Chen-Ming Wang - How can you pass up a 17+ game winner for sure if he stays healthy this late?
R15 - Matt Garza - Has a ton of potential, surprised he was still here at this point!
R16 - Cameron Maybin - Now it's round 16. I need 2 Catchers, a 3B, 3 SP and 2 OF and I still need about 65 projected SB's to reach my goal. Carlos Gomez is gone and I don't want to get stuck drafting Juan Pierre or Michael Bourn. Lucky for me, I can take some risk here so I went with Maybin who I believe can steal 30+ if he gets 500AB in 2009, which it looks like he will! That puts me at about 95 projected SB.
R17 - Willy Tavares - BOO-YAH! Let's say Tavares drops down a bit in 2009 and steals 50, I just put myself past my goal of 125 projected SB to about 145. Plus, Tavares can certainly hit .280, hit a few dingers and score 100 runs so I think I made a nice score here. I drafted so much power early and then again with Uggla and Burrell that I could afford to take Maybin and Tavares back to back.
R18 - Kelly Shoppach - I waited on catchers but if he can get 400+ AB again and hit 20+ HR, then I am find shoving him in my lineup. If he gets traded to a team where he can start, then I hit the jack pot!
R19 - Fausto Carmona - Time to take a risk and Carmona could be a super solid SP agan in 2009. It's a risk and the talent is there, but he's kind have been a forgotten man in drafts lately.
R20 - Dallas McPherson - Still needed a 3B. Could have went for Troy Glaus but again, I took another risk and still have the potential to load up on more power.
R21 - Gavin Floyd - A young SP on the rise. Was glad he was still available as I look at his name on my roster and comfortable with Floyd at the bottom of my rotation because there is still a lot of upside.
R22 - Mike Pelfrey - See Gavin Floyd!
R23 - Taylor Teagarden - What's funny is that Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Teagarden and the Max Ramirez all went consecutively in that last round. Question is..... who will be the odd man out? Or, will any of them be left out? If the Rangers can trade Hank Blalock, 1B or 3B will be open, Chris Davis plays the other, or maybe they can stick Max Ramirez in the OF. Should be interesting to see how it turns out....
To get the results of the mock, CLICK HERE .
To get live coverage and analysis of the draft by Lenny Melnick, Paul Greco, and Tony Cincotta of Melnick & Greco Fantasy Sports and to hear Paul mis-pronounce my name all 23 times, CLICK HERE . It's "Kuch-Era" .... Paul! Ask Lenny, he knows!
Anyway, the draft last night was cake and typical of an expert draft! Jump on the top guys early, a few surprises too early on the young guys like Jacoby Ellsbury, Dustin Pedroia, Evan Longoria, etc., a late closer run, and waiting on SP's (I got Brandon Webb in round 5!!). Sometimes these expert dudes like to make statements with their early picks of youg players with potential superstardom powers. I just like to pick the best available players to load up on cats and positions.
I feel like I did myself justice with the team I ended up with. As many of you know, I am big on drafting for categories more than just looking for good value or position scarcity. Sometimes I get an itch to just start loading up on everything! Being that HR's we down so much in 2008, I feel that loading up on the best power hitters early is smarter in 2009 as I can pick up cheap steals later, and I think I proved this during this mock which I will analyze below. So take a look at the mock by clicking the link above and see some of the big names in this draft like Yahoo's Brandon Funston, MLB.com's Alex Cushing, and of course the great Geoff Stein of Mock Draft Central who is a legend around these parts. Those are only a few of the fantasy baseball masters in this draft.
So let's take a look at the roster of the top dog of them all, me, The Fantasy Man! You know what it is, I just feel good because I feel like I managed a great draft. That's it. I'm on my own high horse at the moment. Okay, maybe not. You guys all know how modest I am, but here is a peek at my thoughts and my plan as I went through this draft....
My Plan: To be honest, I didn't have one. I didn't get home from work until about 20 minutes before hand and Prison Break was on at 9pm, so my mind was wandering! I had the 5th pick so I was guaranteed one of A-Rod, Hanley, Pujols, Reyes, or Wright. I was hoping for Reyes or Pujols. That was my plan. I figured once I knew who I was getting, I could build from there. Overall plan though, load up on either power early or speed early and then take care of the other later. Simple as that. I'm a simple man. When I didn't get the first guy I really wanted (Reyes), I was on to Plan B. When I missed on Santana in round 2, I was on to Plan C when Prince Fielder ended up in my lap, and the rest is history.....
R1 - Albert Pujols - .330+/35+/100+/100+/10sb/.400+, what else do I need to say!
R2 - Prince Fielder - I was hoping for Johan Santana or B.J. Upton with Fielder third on my queue. Santana and Upton were both taken and even though Manny Ramirez was still available, I went with the younger Prince Fielder and decided I was going to load up on the power categories and hoard them all to myself. The drop off is huge for big time power guys so I am glad I made this decision. I was figuring in the third round I'd either take David Ortiz and stash in my DH spot or hop that Carlos Quentin would last as I want to take up all the power I could. Also, Ortiz has been slipping into the 4th round in a lot of drafts so my new plan after Fielder was to grab Quentin and then hope for Ortiz in the 4th.
R3 - Carlos Quentin - Well, Ortiz was choosen 3 picks later, so I jumped on Quenti who I believe can be a .300/35+/100+/100+/10 type of player. Oops! What? That looks a lot like what I am expecting from the guy in my #1 spot minus some batting average.
R4 - Adrian Gonzalez - Paul and Lenny gave me a hard time about this one. Lenny felt that since the Padres are looking so weak on offense, Gonzalez is going to have a down year! I know I can't scream through the speakers but since when did Adrian Gonzalez ever have any lineup protection? Who protected him last season when he had a great year? He still has Kevin Kouzmanoff, he has Chase Headley who is supposed to be solid (just unproven), Brian Giles still at the top of the lineup and the rest is the norm. The Padres didn't have much at 2B last year, Khalil Greene at SS was a bust, the Pads never have a solid catcher, and CF never really had anyone worth adding to your fantasy team. So what about 2008 says that Gonzalez will have a down year in 2009? The guy hits .280/25+HR (35+ potential anywhere else but Petco)/100+RBI/90+R/and .375+ OBP. The guy K's a lot but that obviously doesn't affect him much. So, with all of that being said, I am expecting AGone to have a year like last year and in the 4th round with Pujols, Fielder, and Quentin already enlisted, Gonzalez just solidifies my chances of having the most power in the draft no matter what happens later on. Problem is, now I need steals. At this point, after 4 rounds, I'd be lucky if Pujols/Fielder/Quentin combined gave me 25 SB's. Lucky for me, they all steal a few every year.
R5 - Brandon Webb - I had Papelbon ready but he was taken a few picks before me. Johan, C.C., Lincecum and Hamels were all taken and I couldn't believe my eyes when Webb and Jake Peavy were still available at this pick. It was a toss up but I went with the sure thing in Webb. Peavy obviously has a bit more flash but with the way experts wait on starting pitchers, I wouldn't have been surprised if Peavy lasted another round, so I went with the consistentcy in Webb.
R6 - Derek Jeter - So I had my power, I had my 1B, CI and DH locked up and it was time to look at the middle infielders. I could have taken Rafael Furcal. I could have taken J.J. Hardy. I could have jumped on Stephen Drew. All 3 of those guys are risky. Hardy seems like a half year type of player, Furcal is a huge injury risk, and Drew hasn't lived up to potential yet. So I picked Jeter. Paul Greco can call it "homer-ism" if he wants (To be honest, Jeter is my favorite real life player), but Jeter is a smart move here for me whether Lenny Melnick agrees or not.
1. Jeter is a .300 hitter and will be in 2009.
2. Jeter's numbers were only slightly down last season, but so was every other Yankees' numbers!
3. Yes, Jeter is on the decline, but he's only 34. He still has 2-3 more productive seasons I think.
4. This was my chance to pick one of the most durable and consistent players in the game and pick up 15-20 SB at the same time. Simple as that!
R7 - Dan Uggla - I was thinking about Bobby Abreu here because he's another guy who could get me a durable and consistent .290/15/100/20sb, but I took a risk and hoped Abreu would last another round as I saw all the SP's starting to fly off the board. I went with Uggla because I saw a chance to load up on 25-30 more HR at the 2B position. He won't steal many bases but I felt like I can still make them up later. I also was thinking about solidifying my pitching staff.
R8 - Bobby Abreu - Pitching staff still on hold, I couldn't believe Abreu was still there. Add another 20 SB to this team. My goal is 125 total projected from this squad. So far I project about 60 at this point between my top 4 and Uggla (25), Jeter(15), and now Abreu(20). That's not good.
R9 - Francisco Rodriguez - 9th round??? I can't believe it! You know what K-Rod? If no one wants you on their team, it's okay, don't worry, The Fantasy Man will make room for you! Unbelievable!
R10 - Cliff Lee - What? I thought K-Rod in the 9th was unbelievable. I debated in the 9th whether to let K-Rod go so I could take Lee instead but glad I did it this wait! Lee in the 10th is a steal. I know these experts love their K's and I believe that's why they let Lee slip. They're loss I guess. This is my favorite pick!
R11 - B.J. Ryan - I took advantage of the unusually low ranking MDC gave Ryan and I jumped on him to solidify my closer situation. Now I don't need to think about Saves and crappy ERA/WHIP situations with all the risky closers out there.
R12 - Pat Burrell - Totally against my philosophy, I went with value and went for Burrell. I though I could load up on more power, which I did, but then I realized who I really wanted to pick and that was Rick Ankiel. Problem was, at that point, I only had two OF slots open and I still need steals. I was saving these 2 spots for guys like Carlos Gomez, Michael Bourn, Willy Tavares, Cameron Maybin, etc.... I went with Burrell for the .275/30/100 potential and consistency each year ending up with those types of numbers, but if I was going to do that, I would have much rather went with the maturing Rick Ankiel who is in a contract year and has as much or more power potential in 2009 than Burrell. Still a solid pick here, but I should have taken the younger potential star in Ankiel.
R13 - Orlando Cabrera - I don't normally panic in drafts as I can always find great value later, but SS is way too thin this year and I still need a middle infielder and steals. Cabrera gives me an instant 20SB which brings me up to about a projected 80 steals. There is still work to be done.
R14 - Chen-Ming Wang - How can you pass up a 17+ game winner for sure if he stays healthy this late?
R15 - Matt Garza - Has a ton of potential, surprised he was still here at this point!
R16 - Cameron Maybin - Now it's round 16. I need 2 Catchers, a 3B, 3 SP and 2 OF and I still need about 65 projected SB's to reach my goal. Carlos Gomez is gone and I don't want to get stuck drafting Juan Pierre or Michael Bourn. Lucky for me, I can take some risk here so I went with Maybin who I believe can steal 30+ if he gets 500AB in 2009, which it looks like he will! That puts me at about 95 projected SB.
R17 - Willy Tavares - BOO-YAH! Let's say Tavares drops down a bit in 2009 and steals 50, I just put myself past my goal of 125 projected SB to about 145. Plus, Tavares can certainly hit .280, hit a few dingers and score 100 runs so I think I made a nice score here. I drafted so much power early and then again with Uggla and Burrell that I could afford to take Maybin and Tavares back to back.
R18 - Kelly Shoppach - I waited on catchers but if he can get 400+ AB again and hit 20+ HR, then I am find shoving him in my lineup. If he gets traded to a team where he can start, then I hit the jack pot!
R19 - Fausto Carmona - Time to take a risk and Carmona could be a super solid SP agan in 2009. It's a risk and the talent is there, but he's kind have been a forgotten man in drafts lately.
R20 - Dallas McPherson - Still needed a 3B. Could have went for Troy Glaus but again, I took another risk and still have the potential to load up on more power.
R21 - Gavin Floyd - A young SP on the rise. Was glad he was still available as I look at his name on my roster and comfortable with Floyd at the bottom of my rotation because there is still a lot of upside.
R22 - Mike Pelfrey - See Gavin Floyd!
R23 - Taylor Teagarden - What's funny is that Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Teagarden and the Max Ramirez all went consecutively in that last round. Question is..... who will be the odd man out? Or, will any of them be left out? If the Rangers can trade Hank Blalock, 1B or 3B will be open, Chris Davis plays the other, or maybe they can stick Max Ramirez in the OF. Should be interesting to see how it turns out....
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