NFL Fantasy Preview: Quarterbacks
August 11, 2008
Carson Palmer is ready to show the NFL that he is an elite quarterback
[PHOTO BY ICON SMI]
BY MICHAEL GANCI
UPDATE! Writer
Quarterbacks do not grow on trees. You can’t just trust anyone to be your number one quarterback, and you need to look at more than just reputation alone. Just because a QB had a successful 2007 doesn’t mean he will repeat that performance in 2008. There are many things that factor into a quarterback’s success, including the cast of characters he has to work with. Below, UPDATE! will show you who you should buy on, who you should stay away from and who you should sleep on.
HOT 15
1. Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts
2007: 337-515, 4,040 YDS, 31 TD, 14 INT
Comments: While 2007 was the first year since 2003 in which Peyton did not exceed a 100 passer rating, he still put up exceptional numbers for his position. He connected on 31 touchdown passes for the second straight season, and he did so a lot of the time without his biggest weapon: Marvin Harrison. Harrison’s health is big in terms of Manning’s production. Also, Harrison being healthy opens up Reggie Wayne for some passes. Manning can be counted on for 30 touchdowns and almost 4,000 yards, which are the numbers he puts up every season. Even though Tom Brady had a monster year last season, Manning continues to be the number one quarterback in fantasy.
2. Tom Brady
New England Patriots
2007: 398-578, 4,806 YDS, 50 TD, 8 INT
Comments: 2007 was an awesome season, even for Tom Brady. He shattered the record by throwing 50 touchdowns during the season. He found a new favorite target in Randy Moss. Brady also amassed over 4,800 yards in the air. He figures to not repeat those numbers because the coaching staff seems to have more faith in Lawrence Maroney going into the season. He will still be good for 3,500 yards and upwards of 30 touchdowns.
3. Tony Romo
Dallas Cowboys
2007: 335-520, 4,211 YDS, 36 TD, 19 INT
Comments: Romo has a lot going for him, and I am not even talking about Jessica Simpson. While sporting a 97 quarterback rating last season, Romo threw for 4,211 yards and completed 36 touchdown passes. He has the best defense in the NFL, so he will be on the field more than the average quarterback. He also has an elite wide receiver in Terrell Owens, and maybe the number one tight end in Jason Witten.
4. Drew Brees
New Orleans Saints
2007: 440-652, 4,423 YDS, 28 TD, 18 INT
Comments: Brees, in terms of yardage, is coming off of his best year as a pro. He threw for 4,423 yards, and also had a career high in touchdowns with 28. One unflattering note about 2007 for Brees was his interception total, in which he accumulated 18. His completion percentage was the best it’s ever been, and with the addition of Jeremy Shockey, he now has that go-to option for third downs. Brees is an elite quarterback and there is no reason to think he will be anything less.
5. Carson Palmer
Cincinnati Bengals
2007: 373-575, 4,131 YDS, 26 TD, 20 INT
Comments: Palmer is coming off of a good season, but we all know he is capable of much better. He had the highest interception total of his career with 20, but his yards were a career high as well. He amassed 4,131 yards in the 16 games that he played. His QB rating was the lowest it has been since 2004, but Palmer has battled an array of injuries. His completion percentage was better, but he will tell you that he knows he can play at a higher level. Look for Palmer to have a breakout season, eclipsing 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns. He will definitely be a top five QB in fantasy.
6. Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers
2007: 264-404, 3,154 YDS, 32 TD, 11 INT
Comments: is coming off a breakout season, one in which he made the Pro Bowl and shattered a Steelers single-season record with 32 touchdown passes. The scary thing is that may not be his best, because he is still learning a new offensive scheme. He also accumulated over 3,100 yards and threw only 11 picks on the season. He is not as valuable as a Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Tony Romo, but he is definitely on top of the next tear of quarterbacks. The 104 rating was the highest of his career, and there is no reason to believe that he won’t keep producing next season.
7. Matt Hasslebeck
Seattle Seahawks
2007: 352-562, 3,966 YDS, 28 TD, 12 INT
Comments: When people talk about the top quarterbacks in the NFL, Hasslebeck is often looked over for some reason. If you look at the numbers, he is right up there with the best of them. After an off year in 2006, Hasslebeck rebounded nicely, throwing 28 touchdowns against only 12 picks in 2007. The also amassed 3,966 yards, which is a career high for the former Green Bay Packer. He also proved that he is more than capable of completing the big pass. He tied a career high by completing seven passes of 40 yards or better. Hasslebeck is showing no signs of slowing down, and is a good option in all fantasy leagues.
8. Jay Cutler
Denver Broncos
2007: 297-467, 3,497 YDS, 20 TD, 14 INT
Comments: This is probably my surprise pick of the bunch. While he hasn’t fully proven himself yet, Cutler has the making to be one of the NFL’s top QB’s and this may be the year for him to break out. Remember, last year was his first full season, and he threw 20 touchdowns and 14 picks. The interception total needs to come down, but no one will complain with nearly 3,500 yards of production. Cutler has a nice young core of receivers, so he should have an even better year this season. Have faith in him.
9. Philip Rivers
San Diego Chargers
2007: 277-460, 3,152 YDS, 21 TD, 15 INT
Comments: Philip Rivers is coming off of his second full season as the starting quarterback, and this year was not as successful as the first. He threw for 200 yards less than 2006, and he also threw 6 more interceptions. He has a decent receiver core, and he is coming off of an injury. We will have to see if he is on top of his game. I think it’s going to be a rebound year for Philip. He will look to regain his form of 2006 in which he threw for 22 touchdowns and only nine interceptions. This is not the time to give up on him just yet. He is probably a guy who will go in the fourth or fifth round.
10. Donovan McNabb
Philadelphia Eagles
2007: 291-473, 3,324 YDS, 19 TD, 7 INT
Comment: Everyone in their right mind knows that Donovan McNabb still has the ability to be an elite quarterback in the NFL, but the key with him is health, and right now, that may be a concern. Although he keeps denying it, his right shoulder may be an issue. If he is right, he still remains a good fantasy option. Last year he started 14 games and threw 19 touchdowns against seven picks. He also tallied up 3,324 yards, which was his highest total since 2004. A lot of people are going to be afraid to draft him due to health concerns, so you may find him lying around in the fourth round. It is risky, but I believe it is a gamble that is worth taking.
11. Derek Anderson
Cleveland Browns
2007: 298-527, 3,787 YDS, 29 TD, 19 INT
Comments: Derek Anderson was the surprise of the year in 2007, and he put up some big numbers. He started all 16 games, and he totaled 29 touchdowns and over 3,700 yards. The two areas in which he would like to improve is his completion percentage, which was 56.5 percent last season, and his interceptions, in which he threw 19. Donte Stallworth joins a talent receiver crew that includes Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius, and having those guys as targets makes Anderson a low end number one quarterback. He will be available in the middle rounds, so don’t be afraid to take him.
12. Eli Manning
New York Giants
2007: 297-529, 3,336 YDS, 23 TD, 20 INT
Comments: Last year, Anthony Lamberti said that 2007 would be a year to define Eli Manning, and it sure was. People were questioning his integrity during the season, but an incredible run put those questions to rest. His numbers don’t scream Super Bowl Champion. He still has room for improvement. In 2007, Manning eclipsed 3,200 yards passing for the third straight season. He has also thrown at least 23 TDs in each of those seasons. One area in which Manning would like to improve upon is interceptions. The 20 he threw in 2007 was a career high for the young Manning. If he can minimize them, he will be a force. The loss of Jeremy Shockey hurts, but Manning is still a viable fantasy quarterback.
13. David Garrard
Jacksonville Jaguars
2007: 208-325, 2,509 YDS, 18 TD, 3 INT
Comments: Garrard played only 12 games last season, and that is because Byron Leftwich was released after four games as the team’s starter. The numbers that Garrard put up after that opened a lot of eyes around the NFL. In 12 games, Garrard threw 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He completed 64 percent of his passes and had an impressive 102.2 passer rating throughout the campaign. Adding Jerry Porter will help his value if the former Raider can stay healthy, and I look for Garrard to lead the Jaguars to success in the upcoming season. He could be a guy you might be able to wait until the fourth or fifth round to pick up. But, believe me, he will be worth it.
14. Jake Delhomme
Carolina Panthers
2007: 55-86, 624 YDS, 8 TD, 1 INT
Comments: Delhomme’s season was cut short last season due to injury, and he is looking to come back with a vengeance. He only participated in three regular season games, but he amassed 8 touchdowns while throwing only one interception. He has always been able to accumulate yards, and as a starter, he never threw under 2,800 yards in a season before last season was cut short. He is showing in camp that his injury is no longer hampering him, so he should be ready to go. He is a good number two fantasy option.
15. Matt Leinart
Arizona Cardinals
2007: 60-112, 647 YDS, 2 TD, 4 INT
Comments: When you have WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, you’re going to have a decent year. However, the offensive line is still better at run blocking, and Leinart can also be a health risk, so I wouldn’t rank him as high as you may expect. Leinart comes into 2008 as a No. 2 QB for fantasy because he doesn’t have the big ability yet. He is going to be pushed hard for the starting job by Kurt Warner, who continues to battle for a new contract, so whoever starts will hold this spot in the rankings. This could be the breakout year that is expected of Leinart. He will be available in the late rounds if you need a number two quarterback.
UPDATE! SLEEPERS
1. Trent Edwards
Buffalo Bills
2007: 151-269, 1,630 YDS, 7 TD, 8 INT
Comments: Edwards was hardly impressive in his first nine games as a starter in the NFL, but sometimes, good things take time. Edwards tried to do too much and he often got burned because of it. He threw seven picks against eight interceptions in those nine games, which is something that he will be looking to improve upon. He has a new addition in rookie WR James Hardy, but Edwards will not be a good option right away. You have to wait and see how guys like Lee Evans play before you can judge Edwards’ value, but this may be a guy to put on your sleeper list.
2. Tavaris Jackson
Minnesota Vikings
2007: 171-294, 1,911 YDS, 9 TD, 12 INT
Comments: Jackson didn’t have many consistent targets to throw to, and management tried to solve that problem by adding former Bears’ wide receiver Bernard Berrian. While he will certainly help Jackson progress, other guys are going to need to step up as well. Jackson nine touchdown, 12 interception ratio is something that is going to need to be fixed, but he is still very young. If you want to take a big chance, you can draft him late, but don’t waste a mid round pick on him. He may develop into a number two quarterback as the season wears on.
3. Vince Young
Tennessee Titans
2007: 238-382, 2,546 YDS, 9 TD, 17 INT
Comments: I have a feeling people are going to eat me alive for this pick, but let me explain myself. Vince Young has shown small flashes of brilliance since being drafted by the Tennessee Titans. The key to this season being different than the last two is the fact that he has a new favorite target, Alge Crumpler. With his ability to be mobile, receivers should be able to get open. The Titans’ offensive line still leaves much to be desired, but they added a couple of old faces on the team, including an old favorite of Tennessee fans, Justin McCareins. Maybe he will help Young as well. Only time will tell.
JUST SAY NO!
1. Jon Kitna
Detroit Lions
2007: 355-561, 4,068 YDS, 18 TD, 20 INT
Comments: If you are desperate for someone who can accumulate yards, Kitna is your man, but only then. Kitna is a guy who has some value when with Mike Martz, but that honeymoon has coincided, and Kitna has come back down to earth. I n2007, Kitna threw for over 4,000 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he also threw 20 picks. He is unlikely to have the same yardage success this year, and I would avoid him as a fantasy player. He hasn’t thrown for more than 21 touchdowns since 2003. Leave him alone.
2. Marc Bulger
St. Louis Rams
2007: 221-378, 2,392 YDS, 11 TD, 15 INT
Comments: For Bulger, he has all the tools to be a number one QB, but he has been showing signs of decline. In 2007, Bulger had no protection, and because of that he missed games because of rib and head injuries. The Rams are going to try to move to the fast-paced offense that helped them win the Super Bowl in 1999, but who knows what Bulger is capable of? He will look to regain his form of 2006, but I just don’t see it happening with the terrible offensive line that is in front of him.
3. Rex Grossman
Chicago Bears
2007: 122-225, 1,411 YDS, 4 TD, 7 INT
Comments: The only people who have benefitted from the production that Rex Grossman has put up in his career are the waiver wire people of 2006. For the people who continue to play, it is important to realize that 1006 was a mirage, and it is likely that Grossman will not even be the starter in Chicago this season. As of now, he is currently on an even playing field with Kyle Orton, who is getting his shot as well. Even if Grossman does win the job, he will be at best a low end number two QB, but is not really someone worth considering at all in fantasy.
The Mirages of Baseball: Soon to Disappoint
June 30, 2008
Chipper won’t be able to keep up the pace in the second half of 2008.
PHOTO BY ICON SMI
BY MICHAEL GANCI
Update Writer!
Every year in baseball, there are people who shock the world into thinking that they are breaking out into their prime, only to let their fantasy owners down in the second half. Last year, Jose Reyes may have been a perfect example. The following is a list of ten players who will not be worth the gamble in the second half.
BATTERS
1. CHRISTIAN GUZMAN, SS, Washington Nationals
Comment: The Nationals are making a big mistake by offering Guzman a multi-year contract extension. His numbers have been solid thus far. He is leading the league with 110 hits, and has opened a lot of eyes with his .313 average. He never walks, and that has hurt his on-base percentage. In fact, his career OBP is only .305, which is below average for a major league shortstop. Although he hit over .300 last year, remember that his season was cut short due to injury. He only played 46 games. The last time before last season that he hit over .300 was in 2001, when he was a member of the Minnesota Twins. My advice would be to sell high, because you can probably net a decent bounty before he comes back down to earth.
2. MILTON BRADLEY, OF, Texas Rangers
Comment: Texas made a risky investment when they signed Bradley in the offseason, but thus far, he is exceeding expectations by far. He is tied for the American League lead with a .323 average and has already belted 16 homers. He has an impressive .443 on base percentage, and is clearly the MVP on this Rangers team. So what’s the problem? The only time Milton Bradley has exceeded 500 at-bats was in 2004 when he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. And, in that season, he only hit 19 homers. While his numbers when the season is all said and done might be above average, I think people need to think about the injury-risk. Bradley has spent plenty of time on the disabled list in the last few years, and he even injured himself while arguing with an umpire. Cash in while you can.
3. CHIPPER JONES, 3B, Atlanta Braves
Comment: Now, before people jump down my throat, let me explain. Chipper is hitting a nasty .394 with 16 homers and 46 RBI in 2008. He has also scored 48 runs and his ob-base percentage is .485. Currently, Chipper is battling injury. He sat out his eighth straight game recently and it is things like this that will prevent him from putting up the monster line when all is said and done. He is a mild tear, and who knows if that will hold up for the rest of the season? He could be one pull away from season-ending surgery. In 1996-2003, Chipper appeared in over 150 games each year. But, since then, he hasn’t accomplished that feat once. The most he appeared in was 137 in 2004. The wear and tear is starting to get to Chipper, and although this may be a hard decision for you to make, you need to deal him while you can, and especially in keeper leagues, because he could net you two or three young quality players.
4. SKIP SCHUMAKER, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Comment: Schumaker has been a pleasant surprise for the Cardinals this season to go along with Ryan Ludwick. He is hitting .304 with six homers and 30 RBI in 276 at-bats thus far this season. His average is the 11 th best in the National League. The 28-year-old is a career minor leaguer who is performing for the first time at the big level, but no one in their right mind expects this to last. Odds are, if you have Schumaker on your team, you got him off the scrap heap. Now is the time to deal him for a pitcher, because pitchers are going to look at tape and find his vulnerability.
5. JORGE CANTU, 3B, Florida Marlins
Comment: Cantu has been impressive this season for the Marlins. He was recently in the midst of a slump, but he may have ended that with a game-winning hit on Sunday. He is currently hitting .278 on the season, with 14 homers and 47 RBI. This is a guy that was brought in to compete with other players for the starting job, and was also someone no one took seriously. He is a major part to why the Marlins are having the success that they are enjoying. His career year was in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He hit .286 and scorched 28 homers and 117 RBI. Since then, he has failed to eclipse 14 homers and 62 RBI. The Rays gave up on him, and so did the Reds. The reason is because he is not consistent enough to keep this going for an entire season. Thus, my recommendation would be to deal him for a more proven consistent player.
PITCHERS
1. BRADEN LOOPER, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
Comment: Looper has been a pleasant surprise for the Cardinals this season, as he sports a 9-5 record thus far. He was a 4.26 ERA in just under 100 innings thus far. He has only struck out 44 hitters. People need to remember that Looper has never thrown more 175 innings, and he only did that once. Before becoming a starter last season, his high was 86 innings with the 2002 Marlins. Looper doesn’t dazzle hitters, but he has been able to get good run support and has been able to wean his way out of jams. I don’t think his arm will last through the season, so my recommendation would be to sell high.
2. VICENTE PADILLA, SP, Texas Rangers
Comment: Padilla is on a roll right now on a Texas team that isn’t. He is 10-4 on the season, and has pitched at least six innings in six straight starts. Four of those were wins. But, don’t let the good overshadow the bad. Padilla has been maybe the most inconsistent pitcher in baseball over the last few years. First off, from 2004-2007, he exceeded nine wins only once. Secondly, he has given up 19 homers already, which means he is going to give up more homers than he ever has. That is almost a 40 pace. He has exceeded 200 innings only once since 2003, and is someone you most certainly should sell high on.
3. ANDY SONNASTINE, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
Comment: The 25-year old Sonnastine has had a nice first half after a subpar year of starting in which he went 6-10 with a 5.85 ERA last season. But, this year, he is sporting a 9-3 record and a 4.60 ERA to go along with 67 Ks in 101.2 innings. People need to remember the year he had last year, and also remember that he is only 25. He is not going to be a 20-game winner. His value right now is through the roof, and I don’t think I would be overreacting if I said that he probably went undrafted in 80 percent of leagues. If you are lucky enough to be benefitting from his excellent first half, field some offers, and if the right one comes around, don’t be afraid to deal him.
4. RYAN DEMPSTER, SP, Chicago Cubs
Comment: People often forget that Dempster was a starter for six years before being moved to the bullpen, and he was average at best. His record in those six years was 47-48 in the games he started. Then, he spent four years in the bullpen before being reinstated in the rotation in 2008. He is ten games under .500 for his career with almost a 5.00 ERA. This first half performance is surprising, but people need to remember that he gets tons of run support. It is time for the Dempster owner to think long and hard about the bounty they would be able to get for the Cubs starter, and see if it is worth it for your team, because I don’t think he will be this good in the second half.
5. TIM REDDING, SP, Washington Nationals
Comment: Before reading his name here, many of you probably didn’t realize that Redding was having a good first half. Well, he is. Currently, he has gone seven straight games in which he has gotten no-decisions. He is 6-3 on the year for a hopeless Nationals team. The journeyman was picked up in spring training to compete for a spot, and he was given his chance when John Patterson was cut and the wave of injuries hit. There is no way he is going to be this productive in the second half, and if you own him in a deep league, now is the time to cash in.
College Football: Preseason Top 25
June 23, 2008
BY BRETT MAUSER
Update! Writer
TOP 25
Georgia returns just about everybody, including Heisman-type RB Knowshon Moreno. The schedule’s wicked, with dates at Arizona State, LSU and Auburn, plus a neutral site war with Florida, but even though it should keep the Dawgs from going unbeaten, they’re plenty good to win the whole thing.
2. USC
Even though three of its alumni went in the first round of April’s draft, the Trojan D promises to be vicious thanks to the Rey Maualuga-led linebacking corps and an experienced secondary.
3. OHIO STATE
The Buckeyes are loaded. Chris Wells leads an offense that’s largely intact from a year ago; on defense, James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins are future top 10 picks. The big test: at USC Sept. 13.
4. OKLAHOMA
Smooth Sam Bradford and shifty DeMarco Murray will make the Sooners tough to stop, and linebacker Curtis Lofton stands amid a fine OU defense. Without Missouri on the regular season schedule, the road’s wide open to the Big 12 title game.
5. FLORIDA
Tim Tebow’s as versatile as they come, and has undoubtedly drawn the attention of the Griffin family. Percy Harvin, too, is a chameleon, and their joint effort will let it be known they can score on anybody.
6. MISSOURI
QB Chase Daniel, WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman are sure to put up crooked numbers on the scoreboard, and the defense brings back 10 starters.
7. TEXAS
QB Colt McCoy should have plenty of time behind a polished O-line; on the other side, DE Brian Orakpo fuels a potentially game-changing pass rush.
8. AUBURN
Brad Lester will run wild behind an offensive line that returns five starters, provided his quarterback, JC transfer Chris Todd, keeps defenses from loading the box.
9. CLEMSON
QB Cullen Harper, RB James Davis and WR Aaron Kelly are arguably the country’s most balanced offensive trio, and the Tiger secondary is among the best anywhere.
10. KANSAS
Despite the loss of Aqib Talib, the Jayhawks defense is stacked with talent, led by MLB Joe Mortensen.
11. WEST VIRGINIA
Electric RB Noel Devine will make the Mountaineer faithful forget all about the departure of Rich Rodriguez and Steve Slaton.
12. LSU
The Tigers are still loaded, but quarterback inexperience plus the loss of Bo Pelini will make it tough for LSU to repeat.
13. TEXAS TECH
QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree might be the top two picks in your fantasy league, but can the system win at A&M, Kansas and Oklahoma?
14. ARIZONA STATE
With QB Rudy Carpenter and RB Keegan Herring leading the way, points will only be an issue if the young offensive line doesn’t develop.
15. BYU
Between play caller Max Hall, bruising back Harvey Unga and a positively massive offensive line, the Cougars can move the ball with ease, making up for an undersized and inexperienced defense.
16. WISCONSIN
Much of an unusually giving Badger D looks to redeem itself, with safety Shane Carter leading the way. The real issue’s at quarterback, where Wisconsin tries its luck with a first-year starter.
17. SOUTH FLORIDA
Look out, Big East. The Bulls return almost all of an offensive unit that averaged 34.7 points per game last year, led by do-it-all QB Matt Grothe.
18. TENNESSEE
After three years behind Erik Ainge, Jonathan Crompton is ready to step right in. His line, which returns four starters, gave up just four sacks last year in 534 pass attempts.
19. ALABAMA
John Parker Wilson isn’t on anyone’s draft board, but he’s steady, and the Bama attack can run all day behind Outland candidates Antoine Caldwell and Andre Smith.
20. OREGON
A playmaking secondary headlines a stout Duck defense, which will give the offense, now without Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart, time to adjust.
21. FLORIDA STATE
The Seminoles are far from the elite level at which they played during the 1990s, but QB Drew Weatherford and CB Tony Carter should make them players in the ACC.
22. WAKE FOREST
Intact linebacker and secondary units should keep the Demon Deacons in every game, although QB Riley Skinner’s surrounded by unfamiliar faces in the huddle.
23. RUTGERS
With Ray Rice gone, it’s time for Mike Teel to accept more responsibility, and he has Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood, maybe college’s best returning WR tandem, flanking him.
24. SOUTH CAROLINA
A defense that took its lumps in a five-game losing streak to end last year should fare better, led by an awesome secondary.
25. UCLA
Rick Neuheisel, Norm Chow and DeWayne Walker are capable of making magic happen with haste at the Rose Bowl.
First Basemen
March 20, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Fantasy owners tend to get a sizable amount of power from the first base position. It seems that most of the league’s top sluggers play the position, making it a relatively deep pool. Some folks like to wait on snagging a first baseman, noting how potential 25-plus home run guys are available late in drafts or even on the waiver wire. If you follow this tactic, just make sure you have some insurance because landing a dud at first base could derail your title dreams. Without further ado, Update! presents the top twenty first basemen.:
2007 Stats: .327 AVG, 32 HR, 103 RBI, 99 R, 2 SB
Comment: Pujols was the consensus No. 1 overall pick heading into the 2007 draft. He went on to have somewhat of an “off-year.” Heed these words: Pujols is not in decline. He’s a 28-year-old beast who should come back strong this year to clobber 40-plus HR, 120 RBI and score at least 100 runs. As far as Update! is concerned, he’s still the elite pick of the position and should be taken in the early part of the first round.
2007 Stats: .268 AVG, 47 HR, 136 RBI, 94 R, 1 SB
Comment: When it comes to power numbers, Howard is as productive as they come. He would have topped 50 HR for the second consecutive year, but he started off the season slowly. Of small concern should be Howard’s batting average; in 2006 he hit .313, but that figure dropped big-time in 2007. It’s worth noting, however, that he batted .280 in the second-half. Any way you slice it — with that lineup in that small ballpark — Howard should be a 50 HR, 130-plus RBI threat once again in 2008.
2007 Stats: .288 AVG, 50 HR, 119 RBI, 109 R, 2 SB
Comment: Fielder became the youngest player ever to hit 50 HR in the majors last season. He has a bright future ahead of him; he just needs to work on his steadiness. Here are Fielder’s month-by-month AVG/HR totals in 2007: .270/6, .321/13, .258/8, .277/3, .267/9 and .333/11. As you can see, he jumps up and down in his production. The amazing part is that despite his variations in stats, he still ends up with elite numbers. Just imagine how mammoth his game could be if he maintained a consistent pace.
2007 Stats: .306 AVG, 30 HR, 105 RBI, 86 R, 0 SB
Comment: Teixeira’s numbers with the Texas Rangers in 78 games last year were as follows: .297 AVG, 13 HR, 49 RBI and 48 R. Not too shabby, but check out Tex’s stats in just 54 games with the Braves: .317 AVG, 17 HR, 56 RBI and 38 R. He obviously had no problem adapting to his new team and joining a contending squad seemed to spark his bat. Teixeira could be in store for his best season yet in 2008, perhaps with a terrific batting average to boot.
2007 Stats: .271 AVG, 31 HR, 111 RBI, 84 R, 1 SB
Comment: Morneau was on pace for a monster season through the first-half of 2007, totaling a .295 AVG, 24 HR, 74 RBI and 57 R in 83 games. But he really fell apart (like the rest of the Twins team) in the second-half, garnering a .243 AVG, 7 HR, 37 RBI and 27 R. This is strange to see from Morneau, who did the complete opposite in 2006 en route to an AL MVP. Even though fantasy owners run some risk with Morneau struggling for a stretch of the season, the man can still be counted on for 30-40 HR and 110-125 RBI when it’s all said and done.
2007 Stats: .282 AVG, 46 HR, 121 RBI, 99 R, 1 SB
Comment: Pena exploded onto the scene in 2007 as a 29-year-old breakout after the Boston Red Sox cut him the season before. If his numbers aren’t convincing enough, consider his Top 5 ranking in the American League in HR, RBI, slugging percentage (.627), on-base percentage (.411), extra base-hits (76), walks (103), OPS (1.037) and at-bats per HR (10.7). There is some risk involved with taking a player who has had only one great season, especially when that player will be 30 in May. But Pena’s game seems legit. Consider him a No. 1 first baseman.
2007 Stats: .278 AVG, 34 HR, 102 RBI, 95 R, 7 SB
Comment: Berkman regressed some in 2007. After spending 2006 putting up brawny stats (.315 AVG, 45 HR, 136 RBI, 95 R, 3 SB), his numbers suffered considerably in 2007. There are plenty of players out there who would consider last year a great season, but for Berkman, it may be the sign of a decline. It’s encouraging that Houston has built a better lineup in the off-season, so he should at least match last season’s stats if healthy in 2008.
2007 Stats: .331 AVG, 15 HR, 67 RBI, 41 R, 0 SB
Comment: The future is now for Loney, who made his case for as the starting first baseman for 2008 by hitting .382 with nine HR, 32 RBI and 18 runs in Sept. If the Dodgers are smart, he’ll hit no later than fifth in the lineup. It’s not everyday that you get a young, gifted slugger like Loney who can drive the ball and hit for a high batting average. With Grady Little gone from the manager’s role (he stubbornly kept Loney out of the starting lineup for most of the season despite Los Angeles’ struggling offense), Loney will flourish this season.
2007 Stats: .282 AVG, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 101 R, 0 SB
Comment: It’s frustrating that Gonzalez can’t play all his games on the road; he pounded 20 HR and drove in 64 runs in 82 games away from San Diego. This off-season, the Padres added Tadahito Iguchi and Jim Edmonds, which gives the offense a boost (though they still lack protection for Gonzalez’s bat). He turns 26 in May and is still getting better, so he should at least improve a little on last season’s numbers, regardless of the home stadium situation.
2007 Stats: .296 AVG, 21 HR, 102 RBI, 86 R, 13 SB
Comment: Guillen makes the shift to first base from shortstop this season due to his diminishing fielding range and the acquisition of Edgar Renteria. While he doesn’t fit the bill of a power-hitting first baseman, Guillen did reach career-highs in HR and RBI in 2007. He’s a great hitter that can hit well over .300 and should score over 100 runs in that explosive runs Tigers lineup. For fantasy purposes though, since he’ll probably be shortstop eligible, he’ll have more value slotted in as a shortstop (though he’s bound to finish as a top-15 first baseman as well).
2007 Stats: .317 AVG, 22 HR, 82 RBI, 91 R, 6 SB
Comment: It wasn’t exactly a return to his incredible 2005 campaign, when he knocked 46 HR with a .338 AVG and 120 runs, but Lee sort-of bounced-back after an injury-ruined 2006 season. He hit .317 in 2007, but his HR and RBI numbers could have been better. One positive for him from last season, however, is the fact that he swatted 16 HR in the second-half, meaning he does have the potential to hit 30 HR.
2007 Stats: .259 AVG, 31 HR, 90 RBI, 71 R, 0 SB
Comment: The entire White Sox offense struggled mightily for most of the season, attributing to Konerko’s mediocre stat-line. The good news for fantasy owners is that the White Sox organization is adamant about once again becoming a contending team. They’ve gone out and added Orlando Cabrera and Carlos Quentin to help the offense and the development of players like Jerry Owens and Josh Fields should lead to a much better White Sox lineup for 2008. Konerko should rebound this season and drive in over 100 runs while hopefully getting his batting average back to the .280 range.
2007 Stats: .320 AVG, 17 HR, 91 RBI, 86 R, 0 SB
Comment: Helton’s 30 HR days appear to be over, but he still has significant fantasy value at age 34. With players like Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe, Garret Atkins and NL MVP Matt Holliday, the Rockies have built themselves a formidable middle of the order, one that Helton stands to benefit from. Don’t be surprised if he actually improves on last season’s numbers.
2007 Stats: .288 AVG, 16 HR, 83 RBI, 85 R, 4 SB
Comment: The Gold Glove winner provided an incredible amount of grit and plate patience to the 2007 World Series Champs, but fantasy owners shouldn’t think of him as a mere role player on draft day. Youkilis had career-highs in batting average, HR and RBI. The beauty of Youkilis’ game is his versatility. He can hit anywhere in the lineup, so if he’s given a bulk of at-bats in the two-hole, he’ll pick up a ton of runs with Big Papi and Manny Ramirez hitting behind him. If he bats fifth, he’ll drive in a ton of runs. It’s a win-win with Youkilis, who should continue to improve in 2008.
2007 Season: .258 AVG, 24 HR, 87 RBI, 71 R, 4 SB
Comment: Delgado enjoyed quite possibly the worst season of his career in 2007. The man’s going to be 36 in June and is coming off a horrid season. Delgado has some incentive to improve, however. The Mets have a club option for 2009 worth at least $12 million, so if he wants to prove that he is still worth double-digit millions, he will have to come back strong in 2008. Look, he’s still in a great lineup that will give him plenty of RBI opportunities. There were times last season where he looked poised to bust out of his slump with a couple of big games, only to slip again. The guy could top 30 HR and 100 RBI and is worth taking a chance on. Just make sure you have a back-up first baseman drafted as insurance.
2007 Stats: .347 AVG, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 16 R, 1 SB
Comment: Barton has to battle Dan Johnson for playing time, but if Barton’s play following his 2007 call-up suggests, he should get plenty of at-bats in 2008. He showed some nice power and based on his upside, Barton should be the everyday first baseman when it’s all said and done.
2007 Stats: .292 AVG, 8 HR, 52 RBI, 38 R, 0 SB
Comment: Played in just 92 games in his rookie season but still came away with solid numbers. Despite getting some time at first, Butler figures to slot in as the full-time DH for 2008. The Royals offense should be stronger with the development of Alex Gordon and the acquisition of Jose Guillen, so Butler could surprise a lot of people with a fantastic season.
2007 Stats: .321 AVG, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 11 R, 1 SB
Comment: We’ll have to see how new manager Dusty Baker plays it, but Joey Votto sho
Designated Hitters
March 20, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Designated hitters are usually unattractive fantasy options. Since most fantasy leagues have just one or two utility slots, players with a DH tag leave little roster flexibility. But in the past couple of seasons, some big bats have gone from playing everyday positions in the field to full-time designated hitter roles. There are some strong bats in the DH pool, and Update! went ahead and ranked the top ten designated hitters heading into the 2008 season:
2007 Stats: .332 AVG, 35 HR, 117 RBI, 116 R, 3 SB
Comment: Ortiz finally looked like he was slowing down heading into the All Star break, having belted just six HR total in May and June. Sox officials then revealed that he was playing on a bum knee that would require surgery; fantasy owners figured he would taper off as the season wore on. That was not the case. Big Papi finished with career-highs in batting average and even stolen bases! All right, so three swiped bags isn’t much, but the fact that he turned in a terrific fantasy season despite playing hurt is great news for owners heading into 2008. Ortiz had off-season surgery to repair the knee and is expected to be at full health for the start of the season.
2007 Stats: .266 AVG, 24 HR, 100 RBI, 80 R, 1 SB
Comment: While Hafner did manage to drive in over 100 runs for the fourth consecutive season, he also hit below .300 and scored under 90 runs for the first time during that span. He took off in September (.316, five HR, 23 RBI) but that was before he really stumbled in the post-season, ending with a meager .186 AVG in the playoffs. Hafner shouldn’t be ignored or anything in 2008 drafts, but after a season like last year, maybe he truly peaked in 2006.
2007 Stats: .265 AVG, 25 HR, 75 RBI, 107 R, 22 SB
Comment: When Sheffield was healthy, he was a dangerous bat in the Tigers lineup. He started off the season terribly, batting .200 in April before becoming one of the best contributors in fantasy baseball between May and July. Shoulder woes took a toll on him late in the season and Sheffield had off-season surgery to try to patch it up. He’s been dealing with shoulder injuries for what has felt like forever, so he definitely is an injury-risk for 2008. But in Detroit’s potent offense, Sheffield could put up beastly numbers this season.
2007 Stats: .275 AVG, 35 HR, 96 RBI, 79 R, 0 SB
Comment: Thome enjoyed another productive season with the Chicago White Sox in 2007 and that was with a lineup that had a hard time mustering runs for most of the year. Chicago should be better heading into 2008, so Thome could improve on last season’s numbers. He did miss 32 games in 2007 and is turning 38 in Aug., but Thome should still be a nice fantasy option at the DH spot.
2007 Stats:.277 AVG, 26 HR, 95 RBI, 63 R, 0 SB
Comment: The Big Hurt played in 155 games last season, the most since 2000 when he played in 159 games with the Chicago White Sox. He closed the 2007 campaign out especially strong, hitting .325 with 10 HR and 41 RBI in the final two months of the season. Thomas is turning 40 in May, but needs 469 plate appearances this year in order for his 2009 option to kick in. If he’s healthy, he should swat about 30 HR in 2008.
2007 Stats: .236 AVG, 14 HR, 39 RBI, 31 R, 1 SB
Comment: Giambi was limited to just 83 games in 2007, as injuries again affected his game. He’s entering a walk-year in 2008, but his playing time is in jeopardy. He’s going to have to share time at DH with Hideki Matsui, and the Yankees have Shelly Duncan and Wilson Betemit to use at first base. Giambi’s playing time is likely going to be predicated on how he performs. If he swings a hot stick, the Yankees are going to find a way to get him at-bats. If he struggles, however, things will be much cloudier.
2007 Stats: .240 AVG, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 19 R, 1 SB
Comment: Botts played well during Winter League play and is hoping to land a starting gig with Texas for the start of the 2008 season. He has tremendous power potential and could fill in the DH role, vacated by Sammy Sosa, nicely. He can play the outfield as well, but because the Rangers acquired Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradely, there probably isn’t enough room for him out there. If Botts wins an everyday job out of Spring Training, he could be an excellent source of HR and RBI in 2008.
2007 Stats: .244 AVG, 17 HR, 49 RBI, 48 R, 12 SB
Comment: It was a bit disappointing that the Rays signed veteran Cliff Floyd to a one-year deal. It looked like Gomes was sure to get more playing time after Tampa Bay sent Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes packing. Don’t worry too much though. Because Rocco Baldelli and Floyd are injury-prone, Gomes figures to at least match his 348 at-bats from last season. He’s shown nice power in the past and a 25 HR season wouldn’t be surprising.
2007 Stats: .280 AVG, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 68 R, 1 SB
Comment: Outside of an outstanding August (.363 AVG, 8 HR, 19 RBI and 19 R), Huff was merely okay during the 2007 season. Huff is 31-years old and underwent off-season sports hernia surgery in mid-January. The Orioles aren’t exactly offensive juggernauts heading into 2008, so don’t expect a return to his 30 HR / 100 RBI days of 2003 and 2004.
Seattle Mariners
2007 Stats: .314 AVG, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 78 R, 0 SB
Comment: Serving as a full-time DH for the first time in his career, Vidro benefited greatly. He managed to play in 147 games in 2007 - the most since 2002. And while the HR and RBI numbers were not typical DH figures, he still helped the team out a lot. His .314 batting average last season was his best mark in five years and he should provide similar stats in 2008. age 26.
Texas Rangers
Comment: A little too old to be a true prospect (28 in July), but Botts should get a real crack at playing consistently in 2008.
Free Agent
Comment: Sosa’s status for 2008 is up in the air, as no teams seems willing to sign him. He may be forced to retire if interest in him remains ice-cold.
New York Yankees
Comment: Yankees’ fans will be popping champagne at the end of the 2008 season to celebrate the end of Giambi’s $120 million contract.
TRAVIS HAFNER
Cleveland Indians
Comment: In July of 2007, Hafner signed a four-year, $52 million extension that has him locked up with Cleveland until at least 2012.
Relief Pitchers
March 20, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
It’s an old adage, repeatedly exclaimed by fantasy experts every season: don’t draft closers too early. The logic generally stems from the high turnover rate of the position, inconsistencies from year to year and their dimished impact on several categories (strikeouts, wins, etc.). Basically, you do not want to risk a third or fourth-round draft pick on someone with such volatile properties. While this philosophy does carry weight, it is important to note that many fantasy owners take this “don’t draft closers early” mantra too far, mistakenly waiting too long and ending up stuck with the likes of Armando Benitez. Sure, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to add closers throughout the season, but you don’t want to rely on the waiver wire alone. Free agent fantasy additions should be more about deepening your bullpen rather than building one. With that in mind, here are the top 30 closers heading into this season:
2007 Stats: 1-3, 37 SV, 58.1 IP, 1.85 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 84 SO
Comment: No one needs to worry about Papelbon moving to the starting rotation anytime soon. In his second season working in the closer’s role, Papelbon once again put up sick numbers. The World Series Champion Red Sox are going to win a lot of games in 2008, so Papelbon should top the 40 save mark with ease. Draft him with the utmost confidence.
2007 Stats: 5-2, 40 SV, 67.1 IP, 2.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 90 SO
Comment: Last season, he sported a career-low 1.25 WHIP and his 2007 ERA was his highest mark since posting a 3.03 ERA in 2003. This might seem like nit-picking, but for Rodriguez, those are just OK numbers. Seeing as he is just 26-years-old, Rodriguez is probably not headed for a decline. But he’ll need to bounce back to re-establish himself as the top of the relief pitching position.
2007 Stats: 6-1, 40 SV, 71.2 IP, 1.38 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 82 SO
Comment: Most were skeptical about how he would handle ninth-inning duties in 2007 after breaking out in 2006, but Putz once again finished the season as a premiere closer. He was bothered late in the season by arm troubles (tightness in his right triceps) but is presumed to be fine for spring training. Putz will be 31 in Feb., which is a concern since he has only had two great seasons in the big leagues, but those two seasons have been too dominant to ignore.
2007 Stats: 3-5, 40 SV, 65 IP, 2.77 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 56 SO
Comment: Jenks enjoyed the best season of his career thus far with a fine 2007. He closed the year out especially well, giving up just three earned runs in the final two months of the season. It’s somewhat discouraging that his strikeout numbers dropped noticeably after he whiffed 80 in 2006, but it’s clear that he’s stepped up his game overall. Chicago added Scott Linebrink in the off-season so Jenks should have a better bridge to bring him leads late in games. That should translate to another 40 save season.
2007 Stats: 4-2, 37 SV, 71.2 IP, 1.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 77 SO
Comment: Nathan is entering his fifth season as the Twins closer and is in walk-year status. As his 2007 suggests, he should be in for a nice-pay day following this season. The Twins know this and they are expected to shop Nathan around to see what they can get for him. It would be a shame if he were dealt to a contending team that acquires him to be a set-up man, particularly if you waste a fantasy draft pick on him before the season began. This presents a bit of risk with Nathan, but if he pitches in the ninth inning for all of 2008, history shows that he’ll finish amongst the top closers in the game.
2007 Stats: 2-1, 39 SV, 64.1 IP, 1.40 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 78 SO
Comment: Despite dealing with hamstring and shoulder ailments, Saito put together another impressive season with a dynamite 2007. Saito has had great numbers the past couple years, but he’ll be 38 in February and with Jonathan Broxton breathing down his neck, he’ll have little room for failure. Another negative for Saito this season is the presence of new manager Joe Torre. Torre is notorious for blowing out bullpen arms by overworking his relievers, and with Saito’s age an injury could be imminent. If he’s healthy all season, Saito should again be amongst the best closers in fantasy baseball. Just keep in mind that he comes with some risk.
2007 Stats: 2-2, 34 SV, 68.1 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 80 SO
Comment: Wagner looked like he was headed for a huge 2007 after a fantastic start (first half: 1-0, 17 SV, 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 51 SO in 38.1 IP). His second-half, however, was flat-out bad (1-2, 17 SV, 3.90 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 29 SO in 30 IP). His overall season ERA, WHIP and strikeouts were his worst since 2001. Wagner is turning 37 in July, so he may be on the decline. As long as his ERA stays under 3.00 and he accumulates over a strikeout-per-inning, he should remain a nice closer option for the competing Mets in 2008.
2007 Stats: 3-4, 30 SV, 71.1 IP, 3.15 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 74 SO
Comment: It’s peculiar that Rivera became the highest-paid closer of all time after one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. The fact that he’s 38-years old is a concern, but the Yankees are obviously going to keep him in the closer’s role. He still had solid numbers and has been incredibly reliable in his career. When you’re closing games for a perennial contender like the Yankees, the saves are going to come. Just because he hasn’t had 40 saves in the past two seasons does not mean he can’t reach that mark in 2008.
2007 Stats: 4-5, 42 SV, 57.1 IP, 2.98 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 44 SO
Comment: Hoffman finished the regular season very poorly, giving up 12 ER in 21.1 innings during the final two months of the season, including blown saves in the Padres final two games — effectively ending their 2007 season. This is the last year of his current contract, so Hoffman will probably have to turn in another effective season in order to prove that he can still close games. That being said, the Padres aren’t going to shy away from him in the ninth inning if he has a couple of bad games, so he should be safe to use in 2008.
2007 Stats: 1-4, 47 SV, 64.2 IP, 2.66 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 78 SO
Comment: Enjoyed the best season of his career in 2007 with the Diamondbacks. Now with the Astros, Valverde will have a hard-time breaking 40 saves for the second consecutive year. Aside from his inconsistency issues prior to this season, he’s going from an up-and-coming team that went to the NLCS in 2007, to a team with that was among the worst in baseball. The Astros have improved their offense on paper, so they shouldn’t be as bad as they were in 2008. If Valverde can stay healthy, he should be able to garner 30-plus saves with solid overall numbers.
2007 Stats: 3-3, 37 SV, 75 IP, 3.36 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 62 SO
Comment: The fantasy community was pretty disappointed with Cordero’s 2007 season given his talent. But the guy still ended up with 37 saves on the Washington Nationals (who won only 73 games all season). Sure the 1.39 WHIP was ugly last season, but the Nationals have made it clear that Cordero is still the closer, no matter how much he struggles. That’s encouraging heading into 2008 as Washington should win more games thanks to their fervent activity this off-season. 40 saves may actually be a real possibility this season and at age 25 (he’ll be 26 in March), Cordero is still capable of turning in a brilliant season.
2007 Stats: 0-4, 52 SV, 63.2 IP, 2.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 86 SO
Comment: Cordero picked the perfect time to have the best season of his career as he cashed in on a deal with the Reds. His numbers seem bound to suffer at least a little as he’s moving to one of the smallest home-run parks in all of baseball. The Reds seem committed to winning as evidenced by the signing of manager Dusty Baker, but who knows how much they’ll improve on a 72-win season. The good thing about Cordero is that he should be in no jeopardy of losing the closer’s gig thanks to the big contract. So long as you understand that his ERA may rise in the smaller home stadium, feel free to draft Cordero and expect 30-plus saves this season.
2007 Stats: 4-2, 19 SV, 78 IP, 2.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 58 SO
Comment: Corpas took over closing duties for three-time All Star Brian Fuentes in July and he didn’t look back when given the keys to the ninth-inning gig. He finished the season with an impressive overall stat-line. As of right now, it appears as if the Rockies are going to go with Corpas as their closer to start 2008. Of course, should he falter, Colorado could always go back to Fuentes, who has 85 career saves. This presents a great risk for fantasy owners looking to draft Corpas. But as long as he maintains his effectiveness from 2007 and staves off Fuentes, he should be a great option at the relief pitching positions for the National League Champion Rockies.
2007 Stats: 4-7, 18 SV, 79 IP, 2.28 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 64 SO
Comment: Capps big-frame proved intimidating in 2007 as he produced great numbers while being named the closer in June. At age 24, Capps looks like the real deal and Pittsburgh has heard plenty of teams come calling about his services. The Pirates are reportedly going to try to lock him up with a multi-year contract. Should Capps remain a closer in Pittsburgh, he probably won’t see 40 saves, but he should provide another great season overall.
2007 Season: 3-3, 9 SV, 72 IP, 3.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 70 SO
Comment: While he only has 13 career saves, Soriano is being thrust into the closer’s role for Atlanta in 2008. He’s got great stuff and fantasy owners should not shy away from him just because of his inexperience. His overall season line of 2007 looks pretty good, but it does not tell the whole story. When pitching in the ninth inning, he held opposing batters to an insane .099 batting average. The Braves might have a tough time putting him in a situation to get 40 saves, but Soriano has the make-up to have a big season and make the most of his save opportunities.
2007 Stats: 2-3, 17 SV, 69 IP, 2.48 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 75 SO
Comment: Soria enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign in 2007, being used in the closer’s role while Octavio Dotel was out before being given the job for good following Dotel’s trade to Atlanta. He’s turning 24 in May and has a bright future ahead of him. The Royals may not look like a team good enough to give him a ton of save chances, but don’t judge a book by its cover. The team had 36 saves last season from seven different players, meaning that Soria should be good for about 30 if he stays healthy.
2007 Stats: 4-0, 32 SV, 65.1 IP, 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 54 SO
Comment: Following a let down 2006, in which Isringhausen dealt with injury virtually all season, the veteran closer came back strong in 2007. The Cardinals picked up their option on Izzy for the 2008 season and he is due to be a free agent after this season. He’s no spring chicken (35-years old), but Isringhausen could earn a multi-year deal following this season if he turns in another solid campaign.
2007 Stats: 5-2, 16 SV, 50 IP, 2.88 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 63 SO
Comment: The 2005 AL Rookie of the Year was rather injury-prone in 2007 after two straight seasons of pitching 70-plus innings. He’s got the talent to be a top closer, but the A’s are no longer the competitive team they once were, meaning less save chances for Street. Since Oakland seems to be chugging towards a rebuilding era, Street may be dealt at some point. If he lands a closer’s job elsewhere, his value would gain a nice boost. Of course, any team that may acquire him could put Street in a set-up role.
2007 Stats: 5-3, 19 SV, 67 IP, 3.36 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 88 SO
Comment: The Phillies got Lidge for cheap in the off-season, but while many are giddy at the prospects of Lidge returning to his former dominant self, fantasy owners should proceed with caution. Keep in mind that Lidge will now be playing home games in tiny Citizen’s Bank Park. If the fragility of his psyche is still an issue, he could be a game-winning HR away from a total implosion. Philadelphia still has Tom Gordon and Brett Myers on staff, so they have alternatives to Lidge if he can’t stand the pressure of playing for the reigning NL East Champion Phillies.
2007 Stats: 4-2, 16 SV, 52 IP, 3.81 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 51 SO
Comment: Gagne was signed to close games for the Brewers, but those of us who witnessed his awful showing in Boston last season (2-2, 0 SV, 6.75 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, 22 SO in 18.7 IP) know that he has meltdown potential. It’s not encouraging that Milwaukee has Derrick Turnbow, David Riske and Salomon Torres throwing in the bullpen; all of them have closing experience. Since Gagne is signed to a one-year deal, the team may not feel it necessary to stick with him in the closer’s role if he struggles mightily, particularly if they are competing for the playoffs. He’ll probably have a decent leash on the job, but have some insurance on your roster in case he falters.
2007 Stats: 1-2, 6 SV, 23.2 IP, 2.28 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 18 SO
Comment: The future is now for Brian Wilson, who will battle Brad Hennessey and Tyler Walker for the closer’s gig in San Francisco. He was effective last season when given the opportunity to close and this spring training, there shouldn’t be much of a competition. Wilson is clearly the better option in the bullpen and he should begin the season as the Giants closer.
2007 Stats: 5-4, 2 SV, 85.1 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 63 SO
Comment: The Diamondbacks established themselves as a competitive force in the NL West and with their group of young, gifted players, they should remain competitive in 2008. One of those young stars, Tony Pena, would be a terrific option to fill the vacant closer’s seat left by traded reliever Jose Valverde. In his first full-season, Pena opened eyes with his ability to get hitters out. Unfortunately, Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin named Brandon Lyon the closer heading into spring training, but given Pena’s talent, don’t be surprised if he usurps Lyon in the role.
2007 Stats: 5-1, 69.2 IP, 1.43 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 96 SO
Comment: We all know that the Cubs re-signed Kerry Wood to a one-year deal with the intention of trying him out as their closer. But judging from the past few seasons, banking on Kerry Wood to be healthy all year is a loser’s bet. Anyone who saw the Cubs bullpen last season knows that Marmol was far and away their best pitcher. If Wood has any issues staying healthy (and he will), Marmol would be the favorite to collect saves for the Cubs. Even as a set-up man, he’s great for fantasy purposes.
2007 Stats: 1-4, 38 SV, 61.1 IP, 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 33 SO
Comment: Jones signed a one-year, $7 million contract to stay with Detroit in 2008, but that was probably more out of desperation on Detroit’s part. With Joel Zumaya out at least half the season, the Tigers had to retain Jones. The good thing for fantasy owners here is that manager Jim Leyland has stuck by Jones through tough times even when Zumaya and Fernando Rodney were clearly outperforming him. There’s no reason to think Leyland won’t continue to stand by Jones.
2007 Stats: 4-4, 2 SV, 82 IP, 2.85 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 99 SO
Comment: Dodgers closer Takashi Saito is pushing 40 and showed some fragility in 2007. If Saito goes down because of injury, Broxton could finally get his shot to close full-time in 2008. The monstrous Broxton has the talent to be a top closer for fantasy owners, though if new L.A. manager Joe Torre does indeed blows out Saito’s arm, it’s possible that Broxton would be next on Joe’s hit list.
2007 Stats: 4-5, 65.2 IP, 5.07 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 58 SO
Comment: He led the AL in saves last season, but Borowski’s age (37 in May) and season ERA in 2007 bode poorly for his chances in 2008. He also has a ton of competition waiting to take his job in Mashide Kobayashi, Rafael Perez and Rafael Betancourt. Let’s face it, the Indians bullpen was a strength last season and it had little to do with Borowski’s adventurous style of garnering saves. The only good thing going for him is the fact that Indians manager Eric Wedge showed tremendous loyalty to Borowski in 2007. If Borowski struggles, Wedge could do the same in 2008.
2007 Stats: 2-1, 12 SV, 68.1 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 63 SO
Comment: Wilson is the front-runner for the closer’s job in Texas. He needs to be tracked in spring training as the Rangers may decide to put Joaquin Benoit in the role if Wilson struggles, but that seems a long shot to happen. Texas should be considerably better in 2008 thanks to their busy off-season that saw them make improvements to their offense. Wilson hit his peak in July, when he gave up all of two ER all month long, before stumbling some at the end of the season. He could far exceed his draft day value in 2008 so fantasy owners can consider him a sleeper for saves.
2007 Stats: 0-5, 32 SV, 84 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 87 SO
Comment: Gregg did a respectable job as the team’s closer for almost all of 2007, but he is in the unfortunate circumstance of being in a bullpen loaded with potential closers. Between Matt Lindstrom, Taylor Tankersley and Lee Gardner, Gregg will have to play pretty well in order to hold onto the role. Judging by his 6.23 ERA in Sept., Gregg may lose his grip on the ninth inning gig sooner than later.
2007 Stats: 1-1, 0 SV, 24.1 IP, 3.33 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 24 SO
Comment: Wood signed a one-year, $4.2 million contract to stay with the Cubs in 2008, and the hope in Chicago is that he develops into a devastating bullpen arm. While many believe that the Cubs are grooming Wood to be their closer, it’s hard to imagine them giving him the job right out of spring training unless he can prove to them that he can handle the workload. Perhaps he has a tremendous Spring and silences his critics, but since the Cubs have guys who can close — like Carlos Marmol and Bob Howry — it’s more likely that if he does earn the closer’s job, it’ll be some time during the regular season.
San Diego Padres
2007 Stats: 6-4, 2 SV, 93.2 IP, 2.02 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 102 SO
Comment: Bell did an incredible job in his first season with the San Diego Padres, becoming a reliable bridge to future Hall-of-Famer Trevor Hoffman. Bell isn’t in any position to usurp Hoffman, but at age 40, who knows what can happen. Bell was never really a great pitcher before joining the Padres, but he’s clearly found a niche in San Diego.
Los Angeles Angels
Comment: K-Rod is going to shatter the salary mark for highest-paid closer in baseball. The Angels would be fools to let him get away.
Detroit Tigers
Comment: With the way he’s looked the last couple of years, retirement may be just around the corner (especially if Detroit wins a World Series this season).
Cincinnati Reds
Comment: He hit the free agent pool as the most sought-after reliever in baseball and signed a four-year, $46 million contract.
HUMBERTO SANCHEZ
New York Yankees
Comment: Sanchez underwent Tommy John surgery in April 2006 and might become the Joba Chamberlain of 2008 for the Yankees as a starter-turned-reliever. Sanchez has tremendous talent.
Second Basemen
March 17, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies was the only second basemen worth taking in the first or second round in the 2007 draft. But as the new season approaches, at least a handful of players have made a case for early fantasy ownership. Utley still leads the pack, but more and more quality second baseman have cropped up. While 2007 was the year of the shortstop, 2008 could very well be the time for two-baggers to step up around the league. With that in mind, Update! presents the top twenty second basemen to draft for the 2008 season:
2007: .332 AVG, 22 HR, 103 RBI, 104 R, 9 SB
Comment: Despite missing 30 games in 2007, Utley still finished with superb second-base numbers. He’s the only two-bagger in fantasy worth taking in the first-round and with good reason. He’s a sure-fire bet for batting over .300 with 25-35 HR, 100-115 RBI, 105-120 runs and double-digit stolen bases if healthy for a full season.
2007: .288 AVG, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 107 R, 32 SB
Comment: Phillips’ 2007 numbers are even more impressive considering how atrocious Cincinnati’s offense was last season. He turns 27 in June and should only continue to improve, particularly if the Reds are healthier in 2008. And if some of their talented prospects (Jay Bruce and Joey Votto) step-up, Phillips may even top 100 RBI.
2007: .306 AVG, 19 HR, 97 RBI, 93 R, 4 SB
Comment: Most of Cano’s at-bats in 2007 were spent in the six-hole or later in the Yankees staggeringly powerful lineup, making his numbers even more impressive. Cano is 25 now, so don’t be surprised if he’s asked to bat higher in the order. Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada are not getting any younger, and Cano may already own a more dangerous bat than both players. Should Cano be moved up the batting order, he could finally top the century mark in both runs and RBI while possibly topping 20 HR as well.
2007: .263 AVG, 20 HR, 61 RBI, 96 R, 23 SB
Comment: After busting out of the gates in 2007 with a white-hot April, Kinsler really slowed down. But despite his struggles, he still ended up with a solid overall fantasy line. Manager Ron Washington has indicated that Kinsler will mostly bat second as it stands, though he could also bat leadoff depending on the lineup. Kinsler turns 26 in June and should continue making strides.
2007:.290 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 103 R, 50 SB
Comment: The switch-hitting infielder tied the American League lead in stolen bases last season (14 more than his career-high set in 2006). 2007 also marked the third consecutive year that Roberts has reached double-digit HR totals. The 30-year old speed demon will likely swap 45-plus bases again in 2008, but his run production may slip with Miguel Tejada now playing for the Houston Astros.
2007: .245 AVG, 31 HR, 88 RBI, 113 R, 2 SB
Comment: No one’s arguing with most of his 2007, but that .245 batting average is keeping him from the cream of the second base crop. Uggla needs to figure out how to bring his home-field comfort (.275 AVG in 80 games) to the road (.216 AVG in 79 games). He no longer has Miguel Cabrera hitting behind him, which should negatively affect the quality of pitches he sees and likely bring down his run totals. But chances are the Marlins are going to turn to Uggla to drive in runs, which should help him improve his RBI numbers.
2007: .341 AVG, 9 HR, 67 RBI, 105 R, 7 SB
Comment: Polanco slotted in perfectly as the No. 2 hitter in front of the big bats of Maggilo Ordonez and Gary Sheffield last year. With the Tigers offense super-charged by the acquisitions of Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cabrera, Polanco could reach 130 runs scored. Manager Jim Leyland loves Polanco’s game, so he should stick in the two-hole for 2008, putting him in the perfect position to turn in another productive season.
2007: .322 AVG, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 55 R, 5 SB
Comment: Since manager Mike Scioscia likes using aggressive base running at the top of his lineup, Kendrick may end up taking most of his at-bats in the sixth hole or farther down the lineup. It’s a shame because Kendrick showed a lot of promise in 2007. He’s got the talent to bloom anywhere in the lineup, but obviously the higher up in the order he is, the better his stats are going to be. Kendrick has decent speed, so hopefully the Angels opt to use Kendrick in the two-hole in front of Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero.
2007: .317 AVG, 8 HR, 50 RBI, 86 R, 7 SB
Comment: The 2007 AL Rookie of the Year winner looked like a seasoned-vet en route to a fantasy worthy regular season performance. He struggled mightily in April, leaving us to wonder how much better his numbers would have been had he got off to a hot start. With a full-season of big league play under his belt, Pedroia should be able to improve on his 2007 campaign in that especially potent Red Sox lineup.
2007: .294 AVG, 10 HR, 63 RBI, 69 R, 10 SB
Comment: Before succumbing to a torn ligament in his left thumb, Hudson was enjoying a pretty good 2007 season. Those numbers may not leap off the page, but there’s good reason to think he will enjoy an improved 2008. Hudson becomes a free agent after the 2008 season and he has made it clear that he wants to stay with the Diamondbacks. The club has let it be known that they prefer to see how the season plays out before working out a new contract, which means Hudson will have to really show them something in order to convince Arizona to retain his services.
2007: .302 AVG, 20 HR, 79 RBI, 78 R, 1 SB
Comment: Kent proved there was still something left in his bat in 2007. He led the team in HR but will be turning 40 this season. Fortunately, the Dodgers have added Andruw Jones and have a new coaching staff on board, looking to create a winning atmosphere. With the development of young players like James Loney and Matt Kemp, the Dodgers lineup could be strong this season and Kent could improve on those numbers.
2007: .276 AVG, 16 HR, 68 RBI, 91 R, 9 SB
Comment: The Braves gave Johnson a chance last year and he provided strong across-the-board numbers in his first full season. Atlanta is going to have to lean more on Johnson with the loss of Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones if they want any shot at making the post-season in 2008. He will have to improve his numbers during the last stretch of the season especially. He struggled mightily in Aug. and Sept. in 2007 (.240 AVG, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 26 R and 2 SB in 47 games).
2007: .301 AVG, 1 HR, 38 RBI, 91 R, 19 SB
Comment: Helton’s 30 HR days appear to be over, but he still has significant fantasy value at age 34. With players like Troy Tulowitzki, Brad Hawpe, Garret Atkins and NL MVP Matt Holliday, the Rockies have built themselves a formidable middle of the order, one that Helton stands to benefit from. Don’t be surprised if he actually improves on last season’s numbers.
2007: .302 AVG, 11 HR, 81 RBI, 77 R, 0 SB
Comment: The 2006 NL batting champion was remarkably injury-prone in 2007, playing with various eye, shoulder, wrist and knee ailments. Despite all that, he missed only 15 games and finished with an impressive line. He underwent shoulder surgery in the off-season but will reportedly be at full health heading into spring training. The Pirates lineup is obviously not ideal for fantasy purposes, but Sanchez has topped 80 RBI for two straight seasons and should hit for average once again in 2008.
2007: .291 AVG, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 87 R, 4 SB
Comment: Hill reached career-high marks in HR, RBI and runs while setting a franchise record for doubles by a second baseman with 47 last year. He closed out 2007 exceptionally well, batting .406 AVG with 23 runs. Hill is in a good-enough lineup with Toronto, and since he’s still pretty young (26 in March), he could top last season’s stats.
2007: .288 AVG, 4 HR, 37 RBI, 84 R, 32 SB
Comment: Matsui finally enjoyed the type of season folks expected when he arrived before the 2004 campaign by posting solid numbers in 2007. While he is no longer playing home games at Coors Field (where he batted .330 in 2007), Matsui will be joining a pretty good Astros lineup in Houston. Unfortunately, he missed 58 games last year with back and hamstring ailments and his health will likely take a couple of hits in 2008 as well.
2007: .276 AVG, 19 HR, 76 RBI, 84 R, 9 SB
Comment: Ellis forced the Athletics to pick up his 2008 option by producing a career year. Ellis has been injury-prone throughout his career, but he showed last year that he could be a productive player when healthy. He’s entering a walk-year this season, so the motivation should be there for him to possibly top his numbers from 2007.
2007: .235 AVG, 16 HR, 36 RBI, 87 R, 25 SB
Comment: Weeks set career-high marks in HR, runs and SB, but most folks will tell you that he had a rough 2007. It’s a fair assessment to make since his batting average was simply unacceptable for most fantasy owners. Weeks was way better in the tail end of 2007 — he scored 29 runs and hit nine HR in Sept. The Brewers lineup is looking pretty good right now and Weeks is capable of having a useful season.
2007: .283 AVG, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 30 R, 0 SB
Comment: Cabrera took over for the ineffective Josh Barfield at second base mid-August last season and put up good numbers. He hit primarily in the two-hole of Cleveland’s lineup, a spot that could see him produce big numbers in 2008. If he remains near the top of the order this season and Travis Hafner improves his game from 2007, Cabrera could stand to benefit greatly.
San Diego Padres
2007: .267 AVG, 9 HR, 43 RBI, 67 R, 14 SB
Comment: Iguchi was a great fantasy second baseman in 2006 and should not be written-off just because of an average 2007. Since he will be playing everyday, Iguchi could easily reach double-digit home run totals in 2008 - he had 33 dingers from 2005-2006. The Padres lineup will be better than it was last season, and if Iguchi hits near the top of the lineup, he may turn in a surprising season - especially with Adrian Gonzalez hitting behind him.
Colorado Rockies
Comment: Since the Rockies signed Marcus Giles, it means that Stewart will have to compete against Giles, Jayson Nix, Clint Barmes… Let’s just say there are tons of options for Colorado at second. If Stewart plays everyday though, take an immediate flyer on him.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Comment: Kent didn’t seem as if he was really considering retirement before the 2008 season, despite weighing the option in years past. Still, he’s turning 40 in March.
Baltimore Orioles
Comment: It seems inevitable that the Orioles are going to trade Roberts, with the Chicago Cubs being the front-runners to land him.
LUIS CASTILLO
New York Mets
Comment: The Mets overpaid for Castillo when they signed him to a four-year, $25 million contract. He’ll be 36 when the deal expires.
Shortstops
March 17, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
From Jimmy Rollins’ NL MVP campaign to Troy Tulowitzki breakout season, 2007 was the year of the shortstops. The position is as deep as it’s been in recent memory and boasts an elite top three that could all go in the first round of your fantasy draft. So with that in mind, Update! presents the top twenty shortstops for 2008:
2007: .332 AVG, 29 HR, 81 RBI, 125 R, 51 SB
Comment: Ramirez became the cream of a suddenly rich shortstop position with a dominant 2007. At age 24, there’s still room for improvement — shocking considering how incredible he was last year. Manager Fredi Gonzalez has mentioned moving Ramirez out of the leadoff spot with Miguel Cabrera gone. With the Marlins looking to replace his offensive production, there’s a good possibility that Ramirez will top 100 RBI in 2008. Ramirez could land in the three spot and thrive as a 30-plus HR threat. Really though, it doesn’t matter where he hits, this guy’s going to get his stats.
2007: .296 AVG, 30 HR, 94 RBI, 139 R, 41 SB
Comment: Although it’s rather difficult imagining the 29-year-old Rollins reaching the lofty heights he touched last year, he should continue to produce at an elite rate in 2008 thanks to a forgiving home ballpark and a strong lineup around him. Rollins hasn’t missed more than eight games in a season since 2001, so you know you can count on him to perform all year long.
2007: .280 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 122 R, 78 SB
Comment: Reyes was a consensus No. 2 overall pick for fantasy drafters in 2007, but just because his value has slipped a bit does not mean that he isn’t a fantastic player. The guy stole an amazing 78 bases last season — the most since Marquis Grissom swiped 78 in 1992. His HR and RBI totals were disappointing in 2007, but he’s just 24-years old and could very well return to the top of the shortstop rankings by the end of this season.
2007: .291 AVG, 24 HR, 99 RBI, 104 R, 7 SB
Comment: Tulowitzki enjoyed a remarkable rookie campaign last season. Considering he only had two HR entering June and finished with 24, the potential for a 30-plus HR season is definitely there. The only real knock on Tulowitzki is that his home stats (.326 AVG, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 54 R and 2 SB in 77 games) and road numbers (.256 AVG, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 50 R and 5 SB in 78 games) don’t quite match up. If he can maintain a consistent performance away from Coors Field, Tulowitzki could take his game to the upper tier of infielders.
2007: .322 AVG, 12 HR, 73 RBI, 102 R, 15 SB
Comment: Jeter enjoyed yet another useful fantasy season in 2007. While he’ll likely spend another season hitting in the two-hole, there is cause for concern in Jeter’s game. He’s turning 34 in June and while he has maintained a high batting average the past couple of seasons, his numbers have dropped elsewhere. His 102 runs last season marked the first time he failed to score at least 110 runs since 2004. His HR totals have dropped consistently every season since 2004 as well. Many consider Jeter a veritable fantasy warhorse, but he may just be on the cusp of a real statistical decline.
2007: .332 AVG, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 87 R, 11 SB
Comment: Renteria missed 38 games in 2007, but still provided good numbers with the Atlanta Braves. With the move to Detroit, Renteria enters a terrific situation, ripe with potential. The Tigers feature what has to be the best lineup in baseball, and Renteria should benefit. He will be reunited with manager Jim Leyland (the man under whom he won a World Series ring in 1997 for the Florida Marlins), and fantasy owners should expect big things from Renteria in 2008.
2007: .315 AVG, 9 HR, 94 RBI, 80 R, 13 SB
Comment: It’s nice that Young matched his career-high in stolen bases last season. Plus, he now has four straight 90-plus RBI seasons and continues to hit at a great clip year-in, year-out. But the nine homers he bopped last season is probably evidence that the days of his 20-plus HR power are over. Hopefully, with the acquisition of players like Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley, Young can improve on last season’s numbers.
2007: .296 AVG, 18 HR, 81 RBI, 72 R, 2 SB
Comment: Tejada missed 29 games last year, but his 2007 stats were still pretty solid. A nagging wrist injury limited Tejada’s production last year, but after a healthy off-season he should improve a bit. He belted 10 homers in Aug. last season, proving he still has 20-plus HR pop, and the Astros lineup is a significant upgrade over the Orioles, meaning Tejada should remain productive in 2008.
2007: .301 AVG, 8 HR, 86 RBI, 101 R, 20 SB
Comment: Cabrera turned in arguably his best season ever with Los Angeles last year. Now, he’ll be asked to be a regular producer near the top of the White Sox lineup, following a 2007 White Sox fans desperately want to forget. Cabrera should continue to be a run scoring and stolen base threat. And considering that he’s in a walk-year, there’s no reason to believe he won’t improve on last season’s numbers.
2007: .254 AVG, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 89 R, 4 SB
Comment: While he hit just .254 last season, he’s clearly solidified himself as a power-threat in the Padres lineup. With San Diego adding Jim Edmonds and Tadahito Iguchi to their offense, the lineup should be better in 2008. Greene has a tendency to be streaky and that trend could continue this season. But at age 28, perhaps he’s turned a corner.
2007: .270 AVG, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 87 R, 25 SB
Comment: Furcal battled ankle woes last season, causing a drop in his stolen base numbers. He missed 26 games in 2007, but should be fully healthy in 2008 and is still in a position to produce with Los Angeles. The acquisition of Andruw Jones could help Furcal top 100 runs scored, and if the team continues to run heavily, he could easily swipe over 35 bases in a rebound season.
2007: .277 AVG, 26 HR, 80 RBI, 89 R, 2 SB
Comment: Hardy enjoyed a blistering start to the season, compiling tremendous numbers in April and May (.300 AVG, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 34 R and 0 SB in 52 games). That, unfortunately, made up for most of his overall stats thanks to a mediocre showing the rest of the season (.260 AVG, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 55 R and 2 SB in 99 games). Hardy has got talent, but he obviously needs to work on his consistency. He has tremendous upside in an improving Brewers offense, but he also has the potential to kill your team for long stretches of time.
2007: .270 AVG, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 87 R, 4 SB
Comment: Cleveland has an offense that has made a habit of scoring a ton of runs the past few seasons, meaning Peralta should have plenty of opportunities to at least match last season’s totals. He’s hit 20-plus HR twice now in his career and hopefully he can do it again in 2008. Peralta will be turning 26 in May, so the best may be yet to come.
2007: .237 AG, 8 HR, 73 RBI, 71 R, 33 SB
Comment: Lugo didn’t have the big year many envisioned for him in 2007. It wasn’t a terrible season overall, particularly in the RBI and SB categories, but he could do a whole lot better. There’s hope for 2008; Lugo hit .280 after the All-Star break and if he can just get on base more often, the runs will come pouring in that potent Red Sox lineup.
2007: .238 AVG, 12 HR, 60 RBI, 60 R, 9 SB
Comment: Drew entered the 2007 season as one of the bigger sleeper picks in fantasy drafts. However, there were plenty of disappointed owners when Drew went through a rough first full season. He finished the year on a great note, however, hitting .387 in seven post-season games with two home runs, four RBI, six runs and one stolen base. It’s possible he was putting too much pressure on himself to perform well last season, meaning he could break out in 2008.
2007: .326 AVG, 5 HR, 28 RBI, 54 R, 5 SB
Comment: Escobar was great for the Braves in 94 games last season. Escobar was so good that when Edgar Renteria was placed on the DL, they shipped the All-Star shortstop to Detroit and entrusted Escobar with everyday shortstop duties. He hit over .300 every month he played last year, displaying impressive consistency for a 24-year-old rookie.
2007: .266 AVG, 3 HR, 45 RBI, 80 R, 28 SB
Comment: Theriot really stumbled towards the end of the 2007 regular season, batting .202 with just eight runs in September. He definitely has 30-plus steal potential and if he bats near the top of the order (as he was doing in 2007), 100 runs is a real possibility. Just don’t expect too much help with the power numbers.
2007: .245 AVG, 9 HR, 50 RBI, 70 R, 24 SB
Comment: Lopez’s numbers dropped across the board in 2007 with a .245 average being the most alarming aspect of his descent. He needs to be more efficient at the plate. If he improves, the Nationals lineup is strong enough for him to score 90-plus runs with plenty of stolen bases (he stole 44 in 2006).
2007: .309 AVG, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 58 R, 10 SB
Comment: Injuries, again, slowed him down in 2007, but Eckstein should have more value with a one-year deal in Toronto in a pretty-good offense. Expect double-digit steals and perhaps 90 or more runs.
Pittsburgh Pirates
2007: .296 AVG, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 67 R, 2 SB
Comment: Wilson enjoyed a decent-enough season last year, but he really turned it on late in the year. He yielded a white-hot bat in Aug. and Sept. (.410 AVG, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 26 R and 2 SB in 42 games), being a batting average savior of sorts for fantasy teams during the stretch run. His name is always mentioned in trade rumors, and with top prospect Brian Bixler behind him, Wilson may finally be moved. A trade would of course be a boon to his fantasy value — virtually every major league offense is better than Pittsburgh’s.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment: The Pirates’ shortstop of the future is probably not going to usurp Jack Wilson. Still, his presence gives Pittsburgh the freedom to ship out Wilson if they feel it necessary. Bixler would become the everyday shortstop, instantly making him a fantasy pickup.
Chicago White Sox
Comment: Fresh off a productive 2007, Cabrera should continue to be a reliable option for fantasy owners.
San Francisco Giants
Comment: There’s nothing wrong with his glove, but he played terrible during winter league and he’ll be 41 in April. This should at least be his last year as a starter.
TROY TULOWITZKI
Colorado Rockies
Comment: Tulowitzki and the Rockies agreed to terms on a six-year, $30 million extension.
Third Basemen
March 15, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Three third basemen (Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera and David Wright) dominated fantasy baseball in 2007. But while those big names get all the love, there were plenty of other great producers at the position (After all, the third-base pool did feature an NL Rookie of the Year and a World Series MVP). It will be interesting to see what 2008 holds in store. So with that in mind, Update! presents the top twenty third basemen:
2007: .314 AVG, 54 HR, 156 RBI, 143 R, 24 SB
Comment: It’s difficult to imagine A-Rod actually repeating his astounding success from last season, but there’s no doubt that he will perform like a fantasy first-rounder. He inked a massive 10-year, $275 million contract after a tumultuous offseason. With Joe Girardi now managing the team, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he runs the Yankees like a National League team, meaning Rodriguez should top 20-plus stolen bases again in 2008.
2007: .320 AVG, 34 HR, 119 RBI, 91 R, 2 SB
Comment: No longer toiling away in the anemic Florida Marlins offense, Cabrera will get his just reward batting in, arguably, the best lineup in baseball. Now, it’s not as if his numbers suffered terribly last season, but Cabrera’s elite talent can now be put to greater use. He should easily top his career-high 112 runs with protection in the lineup and his HR and RBI totals could see significant increase as well.
2007: .325 AVG, 30 HR, 107 RBI, 113 R, 34 SB
Comment: Wright had solid totals across the board last season, but fantasy owners get most excited when eyeballing those stolen base numbers. Wright managed 14 more swiped bags in 2007 than 2006, and with the way the Mets value their base running, those numbers should see a rise. One negative to be mindful of is the Mets offense, which actually appears to be bit worse heading into 2008 with defensive minded back-stop Brian Schneider replacing Paul Lo Duca and a likely platoon situation in right field bwteen Ryan Church, Endy Chavez and Carlos Gomez. Despite all this, the 25-year old Wright continues to make giant strides.
2007: .324 AVG, 34 HR, 97 RBI, 91 R, 15 SB
Comment: Braun is an appropriate last name for the powerful 24-year old. The NL Rookie of the Year only played 113 games last season, but you wouldn’t guess it looking at his numbers. There may be some out there who worry about a sophomore slump, but he’s the real deal. His defense is suspect at best, but in fantasy baseball who really cares?
2007: .310 AVG, 26 HR, 101 RBI, 72 R, 0 SB
Comment: Ramirez failed to top 30 HR for the first time in four years, but considering he missed 30 games, he still ended up with a favorable stat-line. The arrival of Kosuke Fukudome should provide either solid protection or more RBI opportunities, depending on how the Cubs set their lineup. Ramirez isn’t an old horse or anything (he’s turning 30 in June) so fantasy owners shouldn’t expect any type of decline.
2007: .301 AVG, 25 HR, 111 RBI, 83 R, 3 SB
Comment: His overall 2007 numbers don’t tell the whole story — Atkins labored through the first-half of the season, hitting .259 in 84 games. After the All Star break, he flashed his stuff (.349 AVG, 12 HR, 58 RBI, 40 R and 0 SB in 73 games). One has to assume that he was pressing early last season trying to build on his 2006 performance, meaning he could really put his skills on display in 2008.
2007: .337 AVG, 29 HR, 102 RBI, 108 R, 5 SB
Comment: Jones played in 134 games last season, his most since 2004. Some of you may be wondering what is going to keep him from injury-risk headache in 2008? The answer, friends, is his 2009 option. Chipper needs at least 450 plate appearances for his 2009 option to be vested, meaning he’ll have to play at least 100 or so games this season. He’s already said he wants to play past 2009, so he’ll be motivated to show the Braves that they should give his 35-year-old body (will be 36 in April) a contract extension.
2007: .266 AVG, 24 HR, 91 RBI, 99 R, 4 SB
Comment: Zimmerman’s 2007 numbers aren’t ugly or anything, but for someone as talented as him, they are a bit disappointing. There’s reason to hope in 2008, however. The Nationals have made a number of moves to add offense, acquiring Elijah Dukes, Lastings Milledge and Paul Lo Duca to their lineup. With another year of experience under his belt and an improved offense (at least on paper), expect Zimmerman to surpass 100 runs and RBI while raising his batting average significantly.
2007: .330 AVG, 3 HR, 58 RBI, 81 R, 41 SB
Comment: Figgins labored through the first two months of the season, hitting .160 with 1 HR, 6 RBI, 11 R and 5 SB in 26 games. From June on, however, Figgins was an animal (.380 AVG, 2 HR, 52 RBI, 70 R and 36 SB in 89 games). Had he not stunk so bad to start the season, Figgins probably would’ve enjoyed the best year of his career. He fits in perfectly with manager Mike Scioscia’s offense and if he hits the ground running in 2008, the speedy Figgins should be a great fantasy player.
2007: .324 AVG, 24 HR, 120 RBI, 79 R, 3 SB
Comment: Lowell did the right thing by staying in Boston: Fenway Park has been a boon to his fantasy value. Lowell hit at an astounding .373 clip with 14 HR, 73 RBI, 53 R and 3 SB in 77 games at home last season. On the road, however, it was a different story. Lowell had a .273 AVG, 7 HR, 47 RBI, 26 R and 0 SB in 77 games. Had he signed with a different team, he probably wouldn’t even be on this list. But just because he re-upped with Boston does not mean he will necessarily duplicate 2007’s great stats. While all signs seem to point to another productive year with the Red Sox offense, it may be prudent to expect him to top last year’s numbers.
2007: .247 AVG, 15 HR, 60 RBI, 60 R, 14 SB
Comment: Okay, the .247 average certainly has to improve, but he will be 24 in Feb. and should have his first-year jitters behind. Gordon has elite potential. Unfortunately, he’s really going to have to prove himself early in 2008. New manager Trey Hillman is leaning towards batting Gordon seventh in the Royals lineup, meaning if Gordon wants to move up in the batting order, he’s going to have to give Kansas City a reason.
2007: .276 AVG, 26 HR, 99 RBI, 87 R, 14 SB
Comment: Last season’s 14 swiped bags were the most Beltre’s recorded since reaching 18 in 1999. Plus, he’s made it two consecutive seasons topping double-digit steals — a fantasy X-factor. Losing Jose Guillen’s big bat puts a slight damper on things, but Beltre has been good for 20-plus HRs and at least 80 RBI since 2003. Why would he stop producing now?
2007: .244 AVG, 23 HR, 67 RBI, 54 R, 1 SB
Comment: His overall season numbers may look just average, but Fields’ power was on full display in the second-half, when the rookie swatted 18 HR. His batting average may hover around the .250 range, but he has 30-plus HR power. The White Sox offense, who were third to last in runs scored (693) and last in team batting average (.246) last season, are going to be better with the additions of Orlando Cabrera and Carlos Quentin. The only thing that may be standing in Fields’ way is Joe Crede (who many expect to be traded before the season starts).
2007: .262 AVG, 20 HR, 62 RBI, 60 R, 0 SB
Comment: Fantasy owners might be feeling hesitant in wanting any part of Troy Glaus (you know, the whole performance enhancement and injury thing). But there’s no reason Glaus can’t have another productive season if he stays healthy. He had 75 homeruns in the previous two seasons before 2007 and could exceed his draft day value by the end of 2008 with the Cardinals.
2007: .293 AVG, 10 HR, 33 RBI, 32 R, 4 SB
Comment: When you realize that he played in just 58 games last year, his numbers look mighty fine. He’s expected to be fully healthy for this season and the two-time All-Star is still just 27 years old. Don’t worry. There’s plenty left in the tank. Don’t forget that Blalock had 86 HR between 2003 and 2005, and with the Rangers offense looking better than it did last season, Blalock could re-establish himself as a worthy fantasy third baseman.
2007: .265 AVG, 8 HR, 58 RBI, 55 R, 5 SB
Comment: Following a nice 2006 season — one that saw him total 24 HR, 95 RBI and 94 runs — Rolen really stumbled in 2007. There’s reason for optimism though. The trade to Toronto will be a fresh start for the five-time All Star, who has had his share of differences with Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa. Rolen missed 50 games last year, but if he can stay healthy, he should be more productive this season than in 2007.
2007: .289 AVG, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 66 R, 8 SB
Comment: Encarnacion had plenty of up and downs in 2007, with the lowest point of the year being his demotion to the minors in May. But he finished the season strongly, hitting nine HR and 35 RBI in the last two months of the season while batting a healthy .320. As long as the Reds keep him in the everyday spot at third, the 25-year old should be a productive fantasy option. Of course, they’ve removed him from the role before, so he may always be one bad week away from a benching.
2007: .285 AVG, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 82 R, 12 SB
Comment: The Rays decided in early Dec. to use Iwamura as their starting second baseman, but fantasy owners will have the flexibility to use him at the third base position. In April, before succumbing to a strained oblique, Iwamura was terrific for Tampa Bay, hitting .339 with 15 runs in 18 games. If he’s healthy all season, he should be a solid asset for batting average and run totals, while chipping in some stolen bases too.
2007: .270 AVG, 18 HR, 78 RBI, 81 R, 4 SB
Comment: While Blake is usually on-and-off the waiver wire in fantasy leagues year-to-year, he’s had at least 17 HR since 2003 and has topped 80 runs three times during that span. He’s definitely a streaky hitter and has hot and cold spells throughout the season, but he could finish 2008 with some pretty good numbers in Cleveland’s lineup.
San Diego Padres
2007: .275 AVG, 18 HR, 74 RBI, 57 R, 1 SB
Comment: Kouzmanoff was a popular sleeper pick heading into 2007 fantasy drafts, but he started the season off incredibly poorly in 2008, hitting a ghastly .113 in April. As the season wore on, Kouzmanoff improved noticeably, putting a cap on his 2007 season with a .371 batting average in Sept. At age 26, this may truly be his break out season.
Tampa Bay Rays
Comment: In Sept., manager Joe Maddon stated that there was a 50-50 chance Longoria would start the season as the starting third baseman. You’ve got to love those odds, he’s too talented to sit all year.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Comment: He’s just too fragile at this stage of his career to rely on and might not play everyday by the end of 2008.
Cleveland Indians
Comment: He’s hit 28 HR and 88 RBI with Cleveland before, so in a contract-year, he could turn it up.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ
New York Yankees
Comment: This was a no-brainer. A-Rod hit a major-pay day with the 10-year, $272 million contract. He can make up to $305 million with incentives.
Starting Pitchers
March 13, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
Generally, you don’t want to spend too high a draft pick on starting pitchers; the position comes with it share of injuries and up-and-down years. The past couple of season’s fantasy owners have looked at starting pitching as Johan Santana and then everyone else. Santana still heads the league at the position heading into 2008, but the disparity between the elite pitchers and, say, Scott Kazmir is slowly shrinking. Erik Bedard, Jake Peavy and Josh Beckett are all worthy of early-round picks with little-to-no risk. It’s possible that during this season Santana may be passed as the class of the starting pitching position by more than one player. That’s how good starting pitching looks for 2008. For your drafts, Update! presents the 2008 starting pitching ranks:
2007 Stats: 15-13, 219 IP, 3.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 235 SO
Comment: Santana had an ERA above 3.00 and a WHIP above 1.00 for the first time since 2003. But that’s just nit-picking, he’s still the best pitcher to take following an “off-year.” He’s as reliable as they come and now that he’s on the Mets, it’s scary to think how great his numbers could be. The NL Cy Young feels like it’s his to lose.
2007 Stats: 13-5, 182 IP, 3.16 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 221 SO
Comment: Had he been healthy all year, Bedard had a legit shot at the AL Cy Young award. Bedard averaged a staggering 10.93 strikeouts per nine-innings in 2007 while sporting a tidy ERA and WHIP. Don’t be worried about the strained oblique that forced the Orioles to shut him down late last season, Bedard is going to be at full health heading into 2008 and his value gets a boost now that he’s throwing for Seattle.
2007 Stats: 19-6, 223.1 IP, 2.54 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 240 SO
Comment: Peavy proved he’s back after a terrific 2007 by leading MLB in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts. The Padres appear serious about trying to win a World Series, as the additions of Tadahito Iguchi and Jim Edmonds suggest. If that’s the case, Peavy could notch 20 wins for the first time in his career. Petco Park is the most favorable pitcher’s park in baseball, so Peavy should turn in another successful season.
2007 Stats: 20-7, 200.2 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.14 ERA, 194 SO
Comment: The only 20-game winner in 2007 has a great shot at repeating his success from last season with the Red Sox offense behind him. Last season’s numbers were the best of his career and at age 27 (28 in May), he could turn in an even better campaign in 2008. There really is no hole in his fantasy game and Beckett should be productive again this season.
2007 Stats: 18-10, 236.1 IP, 3.01 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 194 SO
Comment: Webb put together another gem of a season in 2007. He has gotten better in each of his last four years while pitching over 200 innings in each season since 2004. He missed out on the 200-strikeout benchmark by four strikeout’s last year, but he’s proving to be one of the trustworthiest aces in fantasy. The Diamondbacks are now a competitive team and 20 wins is a strong possibility.
2007 Stats: 19-7, 241 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 209 SO
Comment: There’s a minor red-flag here considering how poor his postseason was (1-2 with 15 ER in 15.1 IP). Perhaps he was too worn out from pitching an MLB leading 241 innings; it was only second time he’s pitching over 200 innings in his career. Hopefully it doesn’t affect him heading into 2008. That being said, the beefy southpaw is entering a walk-year, so barring injury or fatigue, he should be in for another huge season.
2007 Stats: 15-5, 183.1 IP, 3.39 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 177 SO
Comment: Considering he pitches half his games at the bandbox that is Citizens’ Bank Park, Hamels’ 2007 numbers look superb. His strikeout potential is intriguing and the best is yet to come — he just turned 24. The Phillies offense is good enough to boost his win count and it would not be a shock if he finished a top five pitcher.
2007 Stats: 18-6, 201.2 IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 183 SO
Comment: While his ERA remained about the same in 2007 as it was in 2006 (3.63 in 2006), Verlander improved in every aspect of his game, garnering one more win and 59 more strikeouts. If not for a couple of hiccups in July and Aug., Verlander’s numbers would have been even better. Expect an uptick in strikeouts, a lower ERA and perhaps 20 wins with an improved Tigers team.
2007 Stats: 19-9, 224 IP, 3.01 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 179 SO
Comment: Lackey enjoyed the best season of his career in 2007, and the signing of Torii Hunter vastly improves the Angels defense behind him. Hunter’s bat in the lineup will also lead to more run support. Expect big things from Lackey in 2008.
2007 Stats: 10-8, 165.2 IP, 3.75 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 176 SO
Comment: This is not some horrible typo; A.J. Burnett is going to be a fantastic pitcher this season. Before your heads explode, chew on this: Burnett is in a potential walk year thanks to his opt-out option after 2008 (and may be dealt mid-season to a contender) and he was absolute money in the second-half of 2007 (to the tune of a 3.01 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 102 SO in 84.2 innings). He knows that if he dominates this season, he’ll be in for a huge payday come this winter. Count on a great season from the hard-throwing right-hander this year.
2007 Stats: 18-13, 216.1 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 177 SO
Comment: Zambrano suffered through an up-and-down season last year, but he’s going to be just 27-years old come June and now that this whole contract fiasco is behind him, he should be more focused on just baseball in 2008. Consider Big Z a terrific bounce-back candidate this season with the competitive Cubs.
2007 Stats: 13-9, 206.2 IP, 3.48 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 239 SO
Comment: If not for his team and the division he plays in, Kazmir might be a few spots higher on this list. Some say he regressed in 2007, but he just started off poorly. His second half stats were very impressive: 8 W, 2.39 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 124 SO in 94.1 innings. His strikeouts totals alone could buoy a fantasy pitching roster.
2007 Stats: 14-7, 212 IP, 3.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 154 SO
Comment: Oswalt had his second worst ERA of his career in 2007 when he sported a (gasp!) 3.18 average. Seriously, if this is as low as it gets for one of baseball’s most consistent performers, then no one should have any qualms about drafting Oswalt in 2008. It would be nice, however, if he could improve on his 154 strikeouts from 2007.
2007 Stats: 9-8, 173 IP, 3.12 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 167 SO
Comment: Yes, he was horrible after returning from a back injury, but he still finished with a crisp ERA and WHIP while striking out batters at a higher-than-expected rate. If he plays all season like he did before the injury, he could easily be a top 10 pitcher by the end of 2008.
2007 Season: 14-8, 205.2 IP, 3.11 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 197 SO
Comment: He’s turning 41 in May, but until he proves that he is running out of gas, you can’t avoid Smoltz on draft day. Smoltz actually owned a better ERA and WHIP in 2007 than he did in 2006. He’ll be counted on to front the Braves pitching staff as Atlanta tries to re-establish themselves in the NL East.
2007 Stats: 15-12, 204.2 IP, 4.40 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 201 SO
Comment: Okay, so Dice-K didn’t exactly blow the competition away during his inaugural MLB season with Boston. But the 201 strikeouts last year are encouraging as is his presence on the win-friendly Red Sox. He had his share of dominant performances in 2007, but the switch to North American ball certainly affected his performance. He should definitely improve in 2008.
2007 Stats: 7-5, 146.1 IP, 4.00 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 150 SO
Comment: If GM Brian Sabean had really went out and traded Lincecum earlier in the off-season as was rumored, every Giant fan alive would probably call for his head. Lincecum is a rare-talent with amazing strikeout ability. He went through a few expected rough patches in his rookie season, but he struck out over a batter-per-inning in 2007 and is capable of being a dominant pitcher in the National League. The guy can flat out pitch. He just needs to work on his control a bit. And while Giants are not a good team to rack up wins, Lincecum has the tools be a top-10 pitcher if everything falls into place.
2007 Stats: 19-8, 215 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 137 SO
Comment: There’s a reason to worry only because another young Indians pitcher named Jeremy Sowers also had a ridiculous second-half in 2006, only to endure a horrendous 2007. Carmona seems like he has too much poise to suffer the same fate, but teams are now on notice about his stuff, so expect adjustments to be made by opposing hitters. He has the talent and run support to improve on his 2007 stats, but it won’t be easy.
2007 Stats: 16-7, 225.1 IP, 3.71 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 139 SO
Comment: Halladay does not necessarily look like an elite has-been, but he was much more of a marginal pitcher in 2007 than in seasons past. He’ll never be a big help to your strikeout numbers, but if he comes back strong in 2008, Halladay will be a major factor in the WHIP and ERA categories.
2007 Stats: 15-9, 222.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 192 SO
Comment: Haren was in a weird spot last year; he had a Jekyll and Hyde type 2007 by having an ERA well under 3.00 in each month of April, May and June before having an ERA of over 4.00 during the months of July, August and September. He looked like a dominant ace half the year before turning into a so-so pitcher. With Arizona, Haren slots in nicely as a great No. 2 behind team ace Brandon Webb. A move to the NL could help his numbers spike upward.
2007 Stats: 14-7, 190.1 IP, 3.92 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 165 SO
Comment: King Felix disappointed, again, when he failed to put together the elite, top-five type starter numbers everyone projected him to have from day one. But whether or not he busts out in 2008, you can at least count on solid strikeout numbers and 14-17 wins. His upside obviously makes him a candidate for huge rewards, but temper your expectations.
2007 Stats: 16-6, 231.2 IP, 3.73 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 218 SO
Comment: He’s still pretty underrated despite posting back-to-back 200-plus strikeouts and 16 win seasons. Whether it is lack of name recognition or the fact that he plays for the lowly Reds, Harang seems to be an afterthought. He is the unquestioned ace of this pitching staff and has established himself as a reliable starting pitching option.
2007 Stats: 12-5, 147 IP, 3.31 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 141 SO
Comment: Ex-Dodgers manager Grady Little foolishly used Billingsley out of the bullpen to start the 2007 season. He performed admirably in the role, but when he got his shot in the rotation, he showed he deserved to be in the starting staff. A future fantasy force, Billingsley could make the leap sooner than anticipated if everything falls into place in 2008.
2007 Stats: 15-8, 216.2 IP, 3.74 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 213 SO
Comment: A top-10 in the pitcher in the American League in strikeouts, WHIP, innings pitched and strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.26). He’ll be counted on to anchor the White Sox pitching staff in 2008 with Jon Garland gone to Los Angeles and Jose Contreras’ rapidly fading game. Vazquez is turning 32 in July, but he could build on his strong 2007 as long as the White Sox don’t play as horribly as they did last season.
2007 Stats: 19-7, 199.1 IP, 3.70 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 104 SO
Comment: This talented sinker-ball pitcher has won 38 games over the past two seasons, but while he is of big help in the win department, his strikeout numbers leave something to be desired. There’s a good reason to be excited about 2008 — he’s supposed to be working on a change-up this off-season and if he comes armed with a good one, it’ll make his sinker-ball that much more devastating and likely result in more whiffed batters.
2007 Stats: 15-10, 177 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 174 SO
Comment: Perez looked both brilliant and awful in 2007, depending on which starts you watched. Perez will be 27 in July and is set to be a free agent following this season. If the Mets don’t step-up and offer him a contract, lots of teams will be showing interest in Perez if he puts together a great 2008.
2007 Stats: 16-10, 224.1 IP, 3.33 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 132 SO
Comment: Strikeouts continue to be a weakness in his fantasy game, but Hudson turned in a productive season in 2007. He’s now made it back-to-back seasons with 200-plus innings pitched, which is encouraging for his health. The Braves appear to have a weaker offense heading into 2008 without Edgar Renteria and Andruw Jones, so that might affect his win totals. But Hudson should be a solid pitching option for fantasy rosters this year.
2007 Stats: 11-8, 195 IP, 3.92 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 183 SO
Comment: Hill started off the season in dominant fashion, with a 3-1 record and 1.77 ERA in the first month of the season. He slowed down considerably after that with an ERA over 3.95 in every month after April. If he can cut down on the implosions and 27 HR allowed, he could be a great No. 2 fantasy starting pitching option.
2007 Stats: 7-16, 200 IP, 3.65 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 163 SO
Comment: The Giants offense isn’t going to offer much in terms of run support, but Cain’s ERA and WHIP should continue to improve. The 23-year old pitcher still has come inconsistencies to work through (his 2007 month-to-month ERA jumps up and down from bad to great), but he could really break out in 2008. It’s a shame he could have a hard time reaching double-digit wins with San Francisco.
2007 Stats: 12-8, 215 IP, 3.85 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 184 SO
Comment: Shields broke out in 2007, showing the world that the Tampa Bay Rays had pitching talent beyond Scott Kazmir. His 184 strikeouts were great, but his WHIP last season is the real cause for excitement as he was third in the category amongst all American League starting pitchers. Expect an even better 2008.
2007 Stats: Out All Season
Comment: He had Tommy John Surgery in Nov. of 2006, effectively killing his chances of playing in 2007. But all indications point to Liriano being back at full strength by the end of spring training. Remember, before succumbing to elbow troubles, Liriano was the best pitcher in all of baseball (pitching even better than teammate Johan Santana). While one would normally advise against going after someone who has been out of game action roughly a year-and-a-half, Liriano’s talent is just too incredible to pass up on come draft day. He could pay major dividends to fantasy owners willing to take a chance on him.
2007 Stats: 16-4, 208 IP, 3.03 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 135 SO
Comment: Brad Penny finally didn’t choke completely after the All-Star Break in 2007. Okay, so a 3.84 ERA in the second-half isn’t spellbinding, but considering he had ERA’s of 6.25 and 4.48 in the second-halves of the 2006 and 2005 seasons, it is a big step forward for Penny. Still, it might not be a bad idea to trade him after the first-half comes to a close in 2008.
2007 Stats: 15-10, 191 IP, 3.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 180 SO
Comment: Maine’s slim 2.71 ERA in the first-half made it seem as if Maine was on the fast track to superstardom. But a 5.53 ERA after the All Star break derailed what could’ve been a special season. Take him as a starting pitcher to round out your fantasy rotation with the potential to pitch like a No. 2.
2007 Stats: 9-5, 110.1 IP, 3.67 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 101 SO
Comment: Gallardo’s mid-season call-up came with its share of fanfare, but his talent was worth the hype. This season, he’ll be leaned on more in the rotation and if his tremendous Sept. last season is any indication (1.36 ERA with 31 SO), he’ll deliver in 2008. He may be turning 22 in Feb., but that does not give you a reason to shy away from him.
2007 Season: 14-12, 202 IP, 3.70 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 136 SO
Comment: Wainwright allowed an appalling 35 earned runs in 56.1 innings during the first two months of the season. But after that rough patch, Wainwright looked terrific, failing to post an ERA higher than 3.70 in any month after May and finishing with a 2.17 ERA in the second-half of 2007. If he starts off hot in 2008, watch out.
2007 Stats: 5-3, 72.2 IP, 4.46 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 58 SO
Comment: Hughes’ regular season numbers are okay, but anyone who saw his performance in the post-season (1-0, 5.2 IP, 1.59 ERA, 0.53 WHIP, 6 SO) saw a potential star-in-the-making. Hughes flashed a developing change-up in the ALDS and has been working on it this off-season. If he has one in his repertoire for 2008, his impressive fastball and devastating curve ball will become more deadly.
2007 Stats: 3-1, 28 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 32 SO
Comment: Pedro has pitched just 160.2 innings in the last two seasons combined, but the Mets are hoping they get something out of Pedro, who is in the final year of a four-year pact, in 2008. When he’s playing, he’s still capable of being a top-of-the-line NL pitcher. He should be healthy heading into Spring Training, but then again, this is Pedro Martinez we’re talking about. A DL-stint is just a sore toe away.
2007 Stats: 18-7, 195.2 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 160 SO
Comment: Serviceable numbers from the veteran who now has back-to-back 30 start seasons with an ERA under 3.65. Escobar isn’t going to dominate the fantasy world in 2008, but with the Angels, he should once again be a solid player in your fantasy rotation.
2007 Stats: 9-12, 208 IP, 3.76 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 177 SO
Comment: Snell continued his development in 2007, improving in walks, WHIP, ERA, strikeouts and HR allowed from his 2006 totals. Unfortunately, his stats would have been better overall had he not had struggled in the second half (2-7 with a 4.83 ERA). Considering he owned a 2.93 ERA in the first-half of 2007, Snell may become one of the more effective pitchers in 2008 if he stays consistent all season.
2007 Stats: 10-9, 201 IP, 3.63 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 115 SO
Comment: Buehrle pitched to the tune of a 3.03 ERA in the first-half of 2007 before twirling a 4.43 ERA after the All Star break. His off-season workout program (which he planned on starting two months earlier than in 2007) is credited with helping Buehrle bounce back after a sub-par 2006 and if he builds more strength for 2008, perhaps it will help him stay strong all throughout the season.
2007 Stats: 12-10, 169.2 IP, 4.08 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 144 SO
Comment: McGowan was an after-thought to fantasy owners heading into last season but after an impressive second-half of 2007 (7-6, 3.67 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 87 SO), he revealed some potential. McGowan’s turning 26 in March and at the very least he should improve on his numbers from last year.
2007 Stats: 13-7, 161 IP, 3.91 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 115 SO
Comment: Weaver failed to follow-up his impressive rookie season with a strong showing in 2007. He wasn’t awful, just disappointing. That 1.39 WHIP last year was especially disconcerting considering he had a 1.03 WHIP in 2006. But since he’s 25, it may have just been a letdown season. Hopefully he settles in comfortably in 2008.
2007 Stats: 12-14, 199.1 IP, 3.88 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 147 SO
Comment: Ever since signing with Los Angeles before the 2005 season, Lowe has had an ERA under 4.00. That kind of consistency makes him an ideal No. 4 or No. 5 fantasy starter. One who can help you in every category. He’s turning 35 in June, but unless he falls apart in 2008, expect another useful season.
2007 Stats: 4-3, 56.7 IP, 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 72 SO
Comment: Johnson looked like he might be headed to a career renaissance in 2007 before succumbing to a herniated disc that required surgery. This season, the Big Unit looks to help stabilize a burgeoning Arizona team. If healthy, he has a shot of making a fantasy impact. Of course, health at this stage of his career is a big “if.”
2007 Stats:15-9, 215.1 IP, 4.05 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 141 SO
Comment: Pettitte will be counted on to anchor the Yankees young pitching staff in 2008 while also trying to lead them to the post-season. His value to the Yankees is incredible, but to fantasy owners, Pettitte is less important. He’s a nice source of wins, but his ERA and WHIP are going to be modest at best. Just keep these things in mind when drafting your fantasy starting pitching staff.
2007 Stats: 9-13, 216 IP, 3.67 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 156 SO
Comment: This 29-year old enjoyed the best season of his career in 2007. He had 23 quality starts (out of 34) last year. Meche closed out Sept. especially well with a 2.67 ERA. He will be counted on to be the Royals ace again in 2008 and there’s no reason to think Meche can’t turn in another quality season.
2007 Stats: 17-9, 215.1 IP, 4.22 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 165 SO
Comment: Lot’s of folks are wooed by Jeff Francis and the way he led the Rockies pitching staff late in the regular season and through the playoffs, but don’t expect magic numbers from Colorado’s ace. While the 165 strikeouts in 2007 marked a career-high, he has a 1.43 WHIP in four years of big league service. He’d make an alright No. 4 or No. 5 fantasy pitcher due to the wins potential, but don’t reach any higher than that with Francis.
2007 Stats: 11-9, 174.1 IP, 5.01 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 145 SO
Comment: The Tigers offense is loaded for 2008, and Bonderman should be the beneficiary of many wins this season. Lot of people seem disappointed that he has never had a really great fantasy season. Bonderman has never even put up a season ERA lower than 4.00 or a WHIP lower than 1.30. People need to keep in mind that he’s only 25 and has been undergoing a conditioning program to strengthen his right elbow. He usually falls apart at some point in the year, wearing down noticeably. But if Bonderman can put those troubles behind him and play consistent baseball all season, he could take off.
2007 Stats: 14-10, 230 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 140 SO
Comment: Blanton’s overall 2007 season is good enough to be drafted in all fantasy formats, but his first-half totals last year (8-5, 3.28 ERA, 1.09 ERA, 85 SO) make Blanton an interesting option. At 27-years old, a breakout is possible. He might get dealt by the A’s as GM Billy Beane seems intent on re-building, if he gets moved to a National League team, it could really give his numbers a boost.
2007 Stats: 10-15, 205.1 IP, 5.17 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 146 SO
Comment: Detroit is committed to Willis, but while the lure of pitching for a team with a loaded offense is tempting to fantasy owners, the D-Train has a lot of things going against him. Outside of his spectacular 2005, Willis has never had a great season. In four of his five years of big-league experience, he has owned a WHIP no lower than 1.28. He’ll no longer have the luxury of facing pitchers now that he’s in the American League, so expect a high ERA and plenty of hiccups for Willis.
2007 Stats: 15-8, 207 IP, 3.83 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 174 SO
Comment: Who knew how great a signing Ted Lilly would turn out to be for Chicago? He was a reliable option last season and the left-hander could total an additional win or two in 2008. The Cubs are looking good heading into this season and Lilly could turn in another solid effort.
2007 Stats: 11-13, 196.2 IP, 4.53 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 131 SO
Comment: Zito seemed like a big waste of money in the first season of a $126 million contract with the Giants. Don’t give up on him just yet, however. He still has a devastating curve-ball and pitched with a 3.33 ERA in the final two months of the season. Considering how late you can nab him, Zito could be an excellent value pick.
2007 Stats: 5-7, 68.7 IP, 4.33 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 83 SO
Comment: Myers had 21 saves last season after being converted from starter to reliever in 2007. He moved back to the rotation the moment the Phillies acquired Brad Lidge to be their closer. Myers was admittedly upset about being moved back to the rotation, saying he felt he had finally found himself as a pitcher. While he would be more valuable to fantasy owners as a closer, Myers should not be ignored as a starter. He’s only had one good season in his career as a starting pitcher, but he’s got the talent to do it again.
2007 Stats: 4-4, 82 IP, 4.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 68 SO
Comment: He ended up with bland overall season numbers. But Jimenez displayed some incredible stuff towards the end of last season and in the postseason. The Rockies are looking like a legitimate contending team, so Jimenez could catch fire in 2008.
2007 Season: 8-8, 152.2 IP, 4.30 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 106 SO
Comment: D-backs manager Bob Melvin stated in early December that Owings could see time at first base in 2008. The impressive athlete can certainly hit (.333 AVG in 2007) and his bat may have actually showed up his arm in his rookie season. Owings’ 3.72 ERA and 1.06 WHIP during the second-half of last year show that he can pitch and with the competitive Arizona Diamondbacks, he could breakout.
2007 Stats: 12-5, 141.1 IP, 3.82 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 106 SO
Comment: Has put up a respectable ERA the past two seasons, but Sheets injury-woes are just too much to deal with. He hasn’t pitched 200 innings since 2003 and his strikeouts-per-inning fell dramatically in 2007. Simply put, you can’t really count on Sheets to be healthy for more than 150 innings and his stats the last couple of years don’t justify wasting a roster spot on him if he gets hurt.
2007 Stats: 3-4, 63 IP, 4.43 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 36 SO
Comment: With Detroit, Rogers could definitely win 20 games if he’s healthy for a full year. Prior to the 2007 season, Rogers had back-to-back years of a sub-4.00 ERA and if he can put together a season like that again, the 43-year old veteran should enjoy a fine 2008.
2007 Stats: : 2-0, 24 IP, 0.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 34 SO
Comment: Whether Chamberlain pitches in the rotation or bullpen in 2008 is still up for debate. There have been several reports about where the Yankees will put Joba this season, making it tough for fantasy owners to decide on when to draft him. He has more value as a starter, but could provide better stats in the bullpen. Whatever role he plays, he’s certainly worth taking a chance on, but he would obviously be a tantalizing option as a starting pitcher.
2007 Stats: 14-10, 201.2 IP, 3.88 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 135 SO
Comment: Suffered through a rough second-half with a 5.01 ERA and just 5 wins after sporting a 3.10 ERA with 10 wins before the All-Star break. For anyone to notch 14 wins with the lowly Pirates is impressive enough, that mark will be hard to repeat in 2008, but Gorzelanny could be a very competent pitcher this season.
2007 Stats: 9-5, 147.2 IP, 3.72 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 128 SO
Comment: When El Duque was healthy last year, he was effective for the Mets and fantasy owners alike. While we really have no idea what his real age is, it’s plain to see that Hernandez’s body is fragile. He’ll probably be useful for fantasy owners when healthy enough to play, but be aware of the frustration involved.
2007 Stats: 7-7, 122 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 106 SO
Comment: Greinke was being shuffled in and out of the starting rotation last season and finished with a modest overall season line. But when he was put back in the starter’s role in August, he enjoyed a sub-3.00 ERA for the rest of the season. If the Royals keep him on the starter’s staff next season, Greinke could be a useful fantasy option.
2007 Stats: 7-5, 175.1 IP, 3.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 123 SO
Comment: Guthrie enjoyed some success in the first full-season of his professional major-league career. The Orioles fired pitching coach Leo Mazzone following the 2007 season so his numbers may suffer. Guthrie, who’ll be 29 in April, is also going to have a worse offense providing run support so he has an uphill battle heading into 2008.
2007 Stats: 12-9, 165 IP, 3.87 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 77 SO
Comment: Stumbled in September last year with a 7.30 ERA, but he still finished with a strong rookie season. If Bannister can build on his impressive 2007, he could be a nice player. He barely strikes anyone out though and wins will be hard to come by with the Royals, so keep your expectations in check.
2007 Stats: 9-8, 151 IP, 3.87 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 101 SO
Comment: Three times in the last five years Curt Schilling has failed to reach double-digit wins. He was injury-prone those seasons and that risk is obviously there in 2008 at age 41. With major shoulder problems being reported and Clay Buchholz waiting in the wings, the Red Sox have options when it comes to starting pitching. If Schilling is nursing an injury or two, Boston can afford to give him the time off to heal up. 200 innings would be a treat, but it’s probably not going to happen.
2007 Stats: 1-2, 25.2 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 27 SO
Comment: Over the past two seasons Harden has only managed to throw for 72.1 innings. It makes sense for the Athletics to use him out of the bullpen as he has managed to pitch over 130 innings once in his five-year career. But considering that the A’s are short on starting pitchers that does not seem likely. Harden has ace ability, but he is a huge injury risk.
2007 Stats: : 5-5, 64 IP, 5.63 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 56 SO
Comment: Andrew Miller was had in the Miguel Cabrera trade and he’ll be plugged right into the starting rotation for Florida in 2008. Miller has nice strikeout potential and while he’s likely to go through some growing pains, he could turn in a great first season (think Josh Johnson or Anibal Sanchez in 2006).
2007 Stats: 10-13, 208.1 IP, 4.23 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 98 SO
Comment: Outside of his 2005 breakout season, Garland has never really enjoyed a full year of success in the majors. While he should certainly improve on his 10 wins from 2007, fantasy owners should not expect him to all of a sudden become a great pitcher again just because he’s on a better team.
2007 Stats: 4-0, 63 IP, 4.57 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 50 SO
Comment: Posted a tidy 1.93 ERA during the 2007 post-season en route to a World Series championship. He should put up respectable numbers and good win totals with the Red Sox. But don’t get too swayed by his playoff performance, he’s not as talented as a lot of young pitchers out there and doesn’t figure to turn in a big-time season in 2008.
2007 Stats: 13-12, 192.2 IP, 4.25 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 144 SO
Comment: Davis earned double-digit wins for the fourth straight season in 2007, but fell just under eight innings short of reaching 200 innings for the first time since 2004. The 32-year old is not going to have a monster season or anything, but with a strong Diamondbacks squad, he should be good enough to round out a starting rotation.
2007 Stats: 14-11, 198 IP, 4.14 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 104 SO
Comment: Maddux notched at least 13 wins for the twentieth straight year, illustrating how remarkably reliable he has been in his brilliant career. He led all of baseball in walks per nine innings (1.14) while earning his 17th Gold Glove. Maddux turns 42 in April, but he is still capable of putting up useful stats.
2007 Stats: 5-7, 83 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 67 SO
Comment: Garza flashed his top-prospect potential in 2007 with a pretty strong campaign. Although the 1.54 WHIP is way higher than one would like, he definitely showed something last year. Now with Tampa Bay, Garza will be thrust into the starting rotation right from the get-go and while he is still very young and thus capable of turning in a poor 2008, he’s got the stuff to succeed in his first full-season.
2007 Stats: 10-4, 121 IP, 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 49 SO
Comment: Kendrick was a nice surprise for the Phillies last season. A June call-up, he helped stabilize a Philadelphia rotation ran-sacked by injuries. An encouraging stat for Kendrick is that he was actually better at home in tiny Citizens’ Bank Park (3.76). He’s entrenched in the Phillies rotation now and could build on a strong rookie season.
2007 Stats: 5-12, 150 IP, 5.10 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 132 SO
Comment: Pretty-good bounce back candidate for 2008 after a rough 2007. The funny thing about last season is that he looked terrific at the start of the year. In his first seven games, Capuano put together a 5-0 record with a 2.31 ERA. Obviously things went way far south from then on, but fantasy owners willing to take a chance on Capuano in 2008 may be rewarded handsomely.
2007 Stats: 10-15, 176.2 IP, 5.81 ERA, 1.76 WHIP, 133 SO
Comment: Olsen’s hot-head antics continued in 2007 and it took a toll on his game last season. Olsen has the ability to put up nice numbers and is reportedly thrilled about being the de-facto ace now that Dontrelle Willis is out of Florida. He’s a bit of a head case, but Olsen has plus-stuff. Let’s call him a sanity-risk.
2007 Season: 4-2, 45.1 IP, 5.76 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 28 SO
Comment: Struggled in 2007 as he got his first taste of major-league play. Bailey displayed that at his age (22 in May) he may not be ready to be a fantasy force this season. He’ll be given every opportunity to make the starting rotation out of Spring Training so he warrants at least a late-round pick based on talent alone. Fantasy owners could be in for a rough ride in 2008, however, as Bailey is bound to take some lumps in the home-run launch pad of the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
2007 Stats: 3-1, 22.2 IP, 1.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 22 SO
Comment: With Curt Schilling’s health a giant question mark, Buchholz could get the call to step into the rotation in 2008. He twirled a no-hitter in September and looked good in his short time in the majors in 2007. If he gets his shot and dominates, the Red Sox will be hard-pressed to move him out of the rotation.
2007 Stats: 12-6, 159 IP, 4.13 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 122 SO
Comment: The 26-year old Marcum stepped up with a solid 2007 season and is an interesting player to watch in 2008. Marcum pitched very well in the first-half of last year (3.62 ERA) before struggling after the All-Star break. If he can maintain his arm strength all season and improve his numbers at home (5.66 ERA at Toronto Sky Dome in ‘07), he could become a nice fantasy option.
2007 Stats: 13-8, 200.1 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 89 SO
Comment: He was sickening in the home stretch of the 2007 season (6.10 ERA in September) and Tom Glavine is going to be 42 in March. While Glavine will probably be more comfortable pitching for Atlanta once again rather than the Mets, no one should be resting their hopes on him returning to the player of yester-year.
2007 Stats: 4-5, 97.1 IP, 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 65 SO
Comment: Hill underwent surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in Oct. and will be ready to play come spring training. He showed that he can compete at the major-league level last season but Hill remains an injury-risk. If he somehow stayed healthy all season, he could be a hot fantasy commodity. Playing for the Nats means the wins won’t come easy, but Hill has the goods to help fantasy teams.
2007 Stats: Out All Injury
Comment: Prior signed a one-year, $1 million contract with San Diego this season and he’ll be trying to showcase that he can still be an effective pitcher in the big-leagues in 2008. He can make $4.5 million in incentives if he remains healthy and in Petco Park, Prior could put up great numbers if he stays on the field.
2007 Stats: 11-10, 161.1 IP, 4.24 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 116 SO
Comment: James served up a whopping 32 HR last season during a disappointing year. He was dealing with shoulder issues, however, so James is not someone to discard so quickly from your memory bank. The 26-year-old should still own a rotation spot come Spring and based on his talent, he makes an enticing starting pitching option.
2007 Stats: 6-13, 139 IP, 5.50 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 109 SO
Comment: You may look at his 2007 ERA and scoff “Danks, but no Danks,” but the soon to be 23-year old should definitely improve on last season. The White Sox offense is going to be better this year so if Danks is healthy, double-digit wins should be a breeze. The talented left-hander is an intriguing player heading into 2008.
2007 Stats: 14-8, 156 IP, 3.92 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 87 SO
Comment: Lowry may not be at 100% by the time Spring Training gets underway, but he was making strides before elbow woes put his 2007 season on the shelf. His WHIP is too high for comfort right now while his strikeout totals are too low, but Lowry could be a decent gamble for fantasy owners in 2008.
2007 Stats: 5-10, 101.2 IP, 4.87 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 59 SO
Comment: McCarthy was a popular sleeper pick heading into 2007 but injuries, poor run support and inconsistent play hampered his talents last year. He’s going to be 25 in July and is still capable of breaking out, it’s just going to be difficult to do so unless the Rangers offense helps get him some wins.
2007 Stats: 8-7, 166 IP, 4.12 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 61 SO
Comment: The Rockies love Aaron Cook so much, they decided to give him an extension before the season began. The sinker-ball pitcher is fragile, but if he could just stay healthy, he could become a reliable fantasy option with the NL Champion Rockies. Being a ground-ball pitcher in Coors Field is nice and Cook should win dougle-digit games with little difficulty in 2008.
2007 Stats: 15-8, 192.1 IP, 4.59 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 88 SO
Comment: Outside of July, opposing hitters batted at least .290 against Byrd in every month of the 2007 regular season. Despite that damning stat, he still manages to string together a couple of hot runs that help tilt the stats more in his favor. It’ll be too much to ask him to bring his ERA under 4.00, but with the potent Indians, Byrd should be worth owning, at least when he’s on one of his streaks.
2007 Stats: 3-1, 30.2 IP, 4.70 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 13 SO
Comment: Very raw talent has a decent shot at cracking the starting rotation. With John Smoltz, Tim Hudson and Tom Glavine, the Braves have three of their starters lined up. Chuck James figures to pitch fourth in the rotation but if Mike Hampton is not healthy enough to pitch (he hasn’t thrown in a major-league game since 2005), the last spot is up for grabs. Jurrjens is just 22 but while he’s bound to have some bumps in the road, he could breakout in 2008.
2007 Stats: 7-14, 150 IP, 5.76 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 126 SO
Comment: The Ervin Santana bandwagon has had a decent following the past couple of years heading into fantasy drafts, but the guy had one lousy win and 8.38 ERA on the road in 2007. Do not reach high at all for Santana, in fact, you should just wait until the later rounds before thinking about snagging him. It’s hard to imagine him being so bad on the road but yet so great at home for the rest of his career, if the Angels can get him to move past that hump, he could be a valuable player.
2007 Stats: 2-0, 30.3 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, 22 SO
Comment: Still not quite sure how Loewen managed to have a good ERA with such an atrocious WHIP. Perhaps if he played a couple more games, the ERA would have creeped north, but elbow issues put Loewen’s 2007 season to bed early. Leo Mazzone is gone from Baltimore, but Loewen still has the tools to be a great pitcher. He could far exceed his draft-day value in 2008.
2007 Stats: 6-6, 115.1 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 86 SO
Comment: Despite a 1-5 record, Bergmann looked terrific in the first-half of the season, sporting a 3.45 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. His second-half wasn’t great as he was coming back from the DL, but the 26-year-old should still have a rotation spot in 2008. If he can stay healthy all season, Bergmann could be a solid fantasy pitcher.
2007 Stats: 17-12, 189 IP, 4.76 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 110 SO
Comment: Tim Wakefield is turning 42 in August, but it’s not like he needs to worry about losing any zip on a knuckle-ball. All indications are Wakefield is no longer being bothered by the shoulder problems that prevented him from playing in the World Series or ALDS. He still has some injury-risk assigned to him because of his age, but with the Red Sox offense supporting him, Wakefield should put up reasonable numbers again in 2008.
2007 Stats: 6-8, 99.1 IP, 6.34 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 76 SO
Comment: Colon’s Cy Young days are behind him, but don’t avoid him completely. The rotund pitcher has made just 28 starts in the last two years combined, but while he may be turning 35 in May, Colon might still have some gas left in his tank. Arm troubles have wreaked havoc on his last couple of seasons, which explains why teams haven’t exactly been leaping out of their chairs for him. But if he lands in a favorable situation this year, he could have a mini-renassaince (that’s probably the first time the words “mini” and “Bartolo Colon” have had anything to do with another).
2007 Stats: 2-14, 107.1 IP, 6.04 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 74 SO
Comment: The 26-year old Reyes was bombed last season, looking like a pitcher lost on the mound in 2007. Things turned really ugly in September, when Reyes registered a grotesque 12.15 ERA. Yet even though he had an atrocious campaign in ‘07, he’s still a pitcher to consider. There were rumors that he was going to be shipped out of St. Louis due to his &mdash how do we put this &mdash difference of opinions with management. A trade to another team could be a boon to his fantasy value.
2007 Stats: 2-1, 34 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 29 SO
Comment: He showed flashes of greatness last season and since Volquez is turning 25 in July, a breakout campaign is n
Outfielders
March 12, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
The outfield has always been deep in talent. And considering that most fantasy leagues play at least three outfielders everyday, it’s important to draft a strong outfield. Ending up with one elite outfielder and two so-so guys could bring your whole team down. Also, make sure you address all needs with your outfield. Don’t neglect any categories that count in your fantasy leagues. Balance, my friends, is the key to a strong fantasy outfield. With that in mind, Update! presents the top sixty outfielders:
2007: .340 AVG, 36 HR, 137 RBI, 120 R, 11 SB
Comment: Some wondered how Holliday would improve on his fabulous 2006 season, but he came through with a huge 2007. Holliday carried the Rockies for most of the season before the offense really started to click. Now that their lineup is loaded, he should continue to make strides as one of the league’s best sluggers.
2007: .363 AVG, 28 HR, 139 RBI, 117 R, 4 SB
Comment: Had Alex Rodriguez not been around, Ordonez would have been the hands-down AL MVP. 2007 was by far the best season of his career, and while it is prudent to expect a repeat of those numbers, Ordonez (with the addition of Edgar Renteria and Miguel Cabrera) will now be batting in the most prolific lineup that he has ever been a part of.
2007: .277 AVG, 24 HR, 78 RBI, 118 R, 33 SB
Comment: His stolen bases rose from 22 in 2006, but other than that, he actually regressed in his overall production (particularly in runs scored, as he tallied 134 runs in 2006). That being said, he’ll be 25 entering the season and is still talented enough to hit 30 HR, drive in 100 RBI, score over 120 runs and swipe 30-plus bases in any given year.
2007: .302 AVG, 23 HR, 74 RBI, 122 R, 26 SB
Comment: Granderson busted out in a big way in 2007. His numbers should spike upward thanks to the Tigers revamped mega-offense. Hitting at the top of that lineup, Granderson could easily become a top five outfielder in fantasy this season as long as his power numbers and steals continue to improve. Draft him without any reservations.
2007: .315 AVG, 11 HR, 80 RBI, 93 R, 50 SB
Comment: Crawford is one of those players that everyone expects to have a monster, full-potential tapping season year-in and year-out. While he didn’t boast the best numbers in all of baseball in 2007, he did set a career-high in batting average and tied for the American League lead in steals. The 11 HR were a bit of a disappointment, but had he not strained his groin in Sept., he likely would have set a career-high in RBI (he had 80 through 143 games). Bottom line, Crawford is one of the most talented all-around athletes in all of baseball and in any given season could have that big-time year.
2007: .276 AVG, 33 HR, 112 RBI, 93 R, 23 SB
Comment: Beltran is a gifted ball player, no doubt about it. But he is a maddening fantasy commodity, hitting under .240 during the months of May, June and July with just 13 HR, 39 RBI and 38 R. In April, Aug. and Sept., however, Beltran hit .298 with 20 HR, 73 RBI and 55 R. He’s a feast-or-famine type of player whose streakiness can either carry or burden fantasy teams. He’ll likely end up with numbers you’ll be happy with at the end of the season, but the nagging injuries and inconsistent play will take a toll on your sanity throughout 2008.
2007: .324 AVG, 27 HR, 125 RBI, 89 R, 2 SB
Comment: Guerrero’s leg problems have illustrated that he is no longer the five-tool fantasy player of his Montreal Expos days. Add in his slowly declining power numbers and you have a minor cause for concern. Still, Vlad is a consistent performer that will hit well over .300 and has averaged over 118 RBIs in his four-year stint with the Angels. He should certainly drive in plenty of runs this year with the addition of Torii Hunter.
2007: .303 AVG, 32 HR, 119 RBI, 93 R, 10 SB
Comment: Lee proved he was worth the money in the first season of his mega-contract with Houston. He’s turning 32 in June, but with Kaz Matsui and Miguel Tejada now in the fold and the continued development of Hunter Pence, Lee’s numbers could be even better in 2008.
2007: .299 AVG, 33 HR, 70 RBI, 97 R, 19 SB
Comment: Soriano had a monster September (.320 AVG, 14 HR, 27 RBI, 22 R, 1 SB) but he sunk to a career-low in RBI during the 2007 season. Since the Cubs are leaning towards using him as the leadoff hitter again in 2008, another low RBI campaign is likely. The fact that he stole just 19 bases in 2007 is also troubling. Soriano could prove us all wrong and come back in 2008 with another 40 / 40 effort, but the key for him is to avoid the prolonged slumps that killed his fantasy value last season.
2007: .300 AVG, 24 HR, 82 RBI, 86 R, 22 SB
Comment: Considering that the Rays were unsure if he would stay on the Major League roster too long after Opening Day, Upton was one of the biggest breakout surprises in 2007. He’s a five-tool gem who should only get better this season, with a .300 AVG, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 100 R and 30 SB line within reach if he stays healthy.
2007: .283 AVG, 15 HR, 101 RBI, 123 R, 25 SB
Comment: While fantasy owners were hoping for more than just 15 HR in 2007, Abreu filled up the rest of his stat-line nicely. With A-Rod back in New York, Abreu’s runs totals should remain amongst the MLB leaders. If he can just pick-up the slack on the road (.241 AVG, 6 HR, 47 RBI, 56 R, 9 SB in 79 games away from Yankee Stadium), he could definitely turn in a superb year.
2007: .297 AVG, 24 HR, 85 RBI, 114 R, 17 SB
Comment: Rios enjoyed a productive 2007. He’ll be 27 entering this season, so his stats should continue to improve. As long as he stays away from the Home Run Derby (he had just seven HR post-All Star Break after hitting 17 HR with 53 RBI in the first-half), he could definitely make the jump to the next level.
2007: .300 AVG, 23 HR, 112 RBI, 97 R, 18 SB
Comment: Markakis’ development as a player has been fun to watch and fantasy owners certainly reaped the benefits in 2007. It’s a shame that the Orioles are going to field a worse lineup in 2008, something that hampers Markakis’ fantasy potential. Still, his HR and stolen base numbers should rise this year.
2007: .351 AVG, 6 HR, 68 RBI, 111 R, 37 SB
Comment: Last season, in the steals, runs and batting average categories, Suzuki was among the best in baseball. The HR and RBI numbers are a different story. But you already knew that. He’s a wonderful athlete and if your team can take on the fact that he will essentially hurt you in two categories while helping you excel in three others, draft him with confidence. Just make sure you balance out the rest of your offense.
2007: .287 AVG, 28 HR, 107 RBI, 92 R, 18 SB
Comment: Hunter set career-highs in RBI and runs last season with Minnesota. Some of that you can attribute to his walk-year status in Minnesota, but with Los Angeles, Hunter should play with a renewed passion. He’s now with a perennial contender, one that’s aggressive on the base paths, which will translate into more swiped bags. He’ll also be hitting in front of Vladimir Guerrero, which could lead to a new career-high in runs scored this season.
2007: .264 AVG, 40 HR, 106 RBI, 101 R, 9 SB
Comment: He has four straight seasons with at least 40 HR and if last year’s .264 AVG is any indication, he’ll no longer be a major detriment to your team’s batting average (just a minor nuisance). He’ll be entering the season at 28-years old and the best may be yet to come from Dunn, who could be in walk-year status if the Reds don’t offer him a contract extension before Opening Day.
2007: .296 AVG, 20 HR, 88 RBI, 84 R, 0 SB
Comment: Manny had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2007. He’s turning 36 in May and nagging injuries are starting to pop up more and more with each passing year. Still, he is a fearless, natural hitter that remains capable of putting up big numbers, as evidenced by his terrific performance during last year’s post-season.
2007: .285 AVG, 25 HR, 103 RBI, 100 R, 4 SB
Comment: Despite dealing with injury, Matsui finished the 2007 season with numbers any fantasy owner will take. He’s turning 34 in June, but with that lineup, Matsui should be able to once again produce 100-plus runs, 100-plus RBI and 20-30 HR. The one issue here is playing time. The Yankees currently have a crowded outfield and with Jason Giambi expected to take DH at-bats, it is hard to speculate how big a role New York wants Matsui to play. The good news, though, is that he underwent knee surgery in Nov. and is expected to be 100 percent by spring training. With a clean bill of health, Matsui should be a reliable fantasy performer, assuming he plays a big part in the Yankees offense.
2007: .222, 24 HR, 94 RBI, 83 R, 5 SB
Comment: Jones endured a horrendous 2007. The walk-year status must have messed with his psyche; he was clearly pressing all season. He will get a fresh start with L.A., and fantasy owners might be able to get him at a draft day bargain. While it may be hard to shake his disastrous season from your mind, remember that he still ended up with numbers that most MLB players would happily take (minus the batting average). He is still a slugger capable of 45-plus HR and 120-plus RBI.
2007: .245 AVG, 16 HR, 80 RBI, 85 RBI, 10 SB
Comment: Wells is progressing steadily after shoulder surgery, but he won’t have to do much to improve upon his 2007 numbers. Wells has great ability, but this season’s success will be dependent on how successful his return from injury is. If his power is even remotely sapped, his fantasy value would quickly diminish.
2007: .286 AVG, 21 HR, 83 RBI, 103 R, 50 SB
Comment: He’ll be counted on to lead the young Diamondbacks squad once again in 2008, a role he flourished in last season. In 2007, Byrnes doubled his previous career-high stolen base count of 25. As long as he can continue to steal bags at that rate, Byrnes should slot in as a solid No. 2 or terrific No. 3 outfield option.
2007: .291 AVG, 29 HR, 116 RBI, 80 R, 0 SB
Comment: Hawpe proved a valuable power-hitting fantasy outfielder in 2007. He was also consistent, hitting at least four homers in every month except April and 20-plus RBI in all but two months of 2007. Hawpe turns 29 in June and with a potent Rockies lineup, he should once again be a good source of power for fantasy owners in 2008.
2007: .295 AVG, 24 HR, 81 RBI, 86 R, 23 SB
Comment: Once the Milwaukee Brewers gave Corey Hart the reins to the starting right fielder’s job, he never looked back. His numbers should look even better in 2008, as he will begins the season in the starting lineup. The Brewers have a burgeoning young offense, with power bats like Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder hitting behind him, Hart could top 100 runs while providing another five-category season.
2007: .293 AVG, 19 HR, 105 RBI, 84 R, 5 SB
Comment: Francoeur delighted fantasy owners by raising his average 33 points from 2007, but the 19 HR were a little disappointing. He still has 25-30 HR power and could best his career-high mark of 105 RBI last season with a strong 2008. Francoeur’s aggressive plate presence might force his batting average south, but if he picks up the power numbers, consider it an even split.
2007:.288 AVG, 13 HR, 93 RBI, 65 R, 10 SB
Comment: The Twins obtained the long-term power bat they crave in Young. Don’t let the 13 HR throw you off, he can smack 20-plus dingers this season and projects as a 30 HR-type career wise. The 22-year-old could top 100 RBI in his second full season and is a five-tool threat in 2008.
2007: .322 AVG, 17 HR, 69 RBI, 57 R, 11 SB
Comment: Pence arrived in a big way in 2007, providing a nice boost to Houston’s lineup while garnering praise from the fantasy community for his five-category game. He played in just 108 games last season and with Houston’s improved offense, it will be interesting to see how Pence performs in his sophomore campaign.
2007: .293 AVG, 0 HR, 41 RBI, 96 R, 64 SB
Comment: Pierre topped 60 SB for just the second time in his career last season. His 12 career-HR prove that he wont be useful in the power departments, but he’s clearly an elite speed guy. With Andruw Jones now in the lineup, Pierre should top 100 runs for the fourth time in his career.
2007: .292 AVG, 19 HR, 47 RBI, 52 R, 3 SB
Comment: Injuries ruined what could have been a Rookie of the Year type season. Despite playing in just 90 games, Hamilton still put together a pretty decent 2007. Now with the Rangers, Hamilton is gifted enough to make an impact in fantasy leagues if healthy.
2007: .237 AVG, 32 AVG, 68 RBI, 85 R, 27 SB
Comment: Any fantasy owner out there is going to sign up for 32 HR and 27 SB from an outfielder any day of the week. Young’s average should definitely improve in 2008 and he could turn in a stud season. There is some sophomore slump risk, but Young has tremendous potential.
2007: .270 AVG, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 93 R, 27 SB
Comment: Damon’s 2007 batting average was the worst it’s been since 2001 and his HR, RBI and runs all were down from 2006. Damon did hit .305 during the final two months of the season though, and he can still swipe 30 bases, score 100-110 runs and hit 15-20 HR as part of that potent Yankee lineup.
2007: .256 AVG, 30 HR, 97 RBI, 77 R, 0 SB
Comment: Burrell had an incredible run in the second-half of 2007 (.295 AVG, 19 HR, 60 RBI, 45 R). He’s entering a walk-year in 2008 and has topped 25 HR five times and 100 RBI four times in his eight-year career. Since he’ll be batting in a great lineup with Philadelphia, expect Burrell to be solid option yet again this season.
2007: .353 AVG, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 20 R, 9 SB
Comment: Ellsbury swung a hot bat in the World Series (.438 AVG) and his speed is intriguing. Assuming he replaces Coco Crisp as the starting centerfielder, Ellsbury could be an immediate fantasy star in his first full season. He’s not going to smash 20 HR or anything, but his production should be great in a potent Red Sox lineup.
2007: Japanese League
Comment: Fukudome comes over to the United States as one of the latest big-name Japanese imports to hit MLB. Fukudome should be of big help to the Cubs’ offense as he had registered three straight seasons of an OBP higher .430 or higher. Fantasy owners wondering how his game will translate to American ball should expect a batting average in the .280-290 range, 15-20 HR and 90-100 runs and RBI (depending on where he bats in the lineup). He should do just fine in 2008.
2007: .247 AVG, 21 HR, 84 RBI, 78 R, 4 SB
Comment: After back-to-back 30-plus HR and 100-plus RBI seasons, Bay stumbled his way through 2007. Following the 2005 season, Bay appeared on the verge of joining the fantasy elite. But his stolen bases and batting average have dropped dramatically the past couple of years while the rest of his game went really flat in 2007. He still could come back strong in 2008 and return to at least being a 30 HR / 100 RBI guy, but tread with caution here.
2007: .277 AVG, 30 HR, 93 RBI, 78 R, 6 SB
Comment: Griffey played in over 140 games for the first time since 2000 in 2007. The team has a club option on his contract for 2009 at $16.5 million. It’s doubtful that they’ll pay him that much, so Griffey might be cut loose and could need a strong season to earn a multi-year deal. At age 38 though, it’s tough to project more than 30 HR, 90-95 RBI and 80-85 R if he actually stays healthy for most of the year.
2007: .290 AVG, 23 HR, 99 RBI, 84 R, 5 SB
Comment: Guillen has 20-plus HR in three of his last four seasons (the odd year saw him play just 69 games due to injury) and he will be counted on to provide a stable bat for a Royals team chock-full of youngsters. He’s turning 32 in May, but should still have another productive season or two still left in him.
2007: .254 AVG, 28 HR, 78 RBI, 68 R, 2 SB
Comment: Those of you hoping for Dye to return to his 2006 form with 44 HR and 120 RBI should drop that thought now. He’s 34-years-old and shouldn’t be your No. 1 outfielder, but Dye has to at least be better than what he served up in 2007. He hit 75 HR in the previous two seasons with Chicago and is capable of another 30-plus HR / 100-plus RBI year. Just be prepared for modest run totals and a batting average in the .265-.275 range.
2007: .291 AVG, 21 HR, 105 RBI, 80 R, 0 SB
Comment: Ibanez waited until his mid-30’s before becoming fantasy relevant. He enters 2008 in the final year of a contract extension signed in 2006, so his walk-year status is encouraging. But while he remains a respectable outfielder, his age (36 in June) is a concern.
2007: .262 AVG, 22 HR, 78 RBI, 84 R, 3 SB
Comment: The fantasy world assumed Nick Swisher got a huge boost to his value when the Athletics shipped him to Chicago. You’d figure that with a better lineup and a favorable hitter’s park, Swisher could touch 30 HR easily. Not so fast. It seems the White Sox made this move in order to give them options in the outfield. Playing time, apparently, is going to be dictated by performance for Swisher, Jerry Owens and Carlos Quentin in the center and left field positions. That means he may not necessarily be playing everyday, especially if he slumps. He’s still worth drafting, but just be aware of the situation.
2007: .296 AVG, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 54 R, 3 SB
Comment: Hermida looked tremendous after the All Star break in 2007, hitting .340 and getting better each month. He’s always had borderline elite talent and 2008 may be the season that he finally puts it all together. Do not draft Hermida as a No. 2 outfielder due to his age (24) and the injury-risk involved, but be aware that he could develop into a great No. 2 by the time the season closes.
2007: .281 AVG, 12 HR, 46 RBI, 78 R, 37 SB
Comment: The Flying Hawaiian stole 37 bags in 2007 — an amazing feat when one considers that he previously had 11 career swiped bags in 210 games. He’s fortunate to have his home games played in such a great hitter’s park, otherwise double-digit HR totals would be a stretch in 2008.
2007: .260 AVG, 7 HR, 58 RBI, 101 R, 10 SB
Comment: DeJesus put the fantasy world on notice by scoring over 100 runs for the hapless Royals. That offense should continue to get better and DeJesus could reach better numbers in 2008. He has consistency problems though: last year he had an effective first-half (.285 AVG, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 66 R, 4 SB) before coming apart in the second-half (.223 AVG, 2 HR, 25 RBI, 35 R, 6 SB). If he can maintain steady all season, he could be a fantasy surprise.
2007: .270 AVG, 11 HR, 64 RBI, 84 R, 2 SB
Comment: During the regular season, Drew made the Red Sox look like chumps for investing in him. But he sure delivered in the playoffs, finding the offensive touch that had eluded him all season. In Boston’s lineup, Drew could put up great numbers in 2008, so fantasy owners should just hope that he carries the good vibes into this season. Of course, with his injury-riddled past, he could just as easily miss half the year.
2007: .320 AVG, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 64 R, 33 SB
Comment: Taveras played in just 97 games last season, but when he was healthy, he was a terrific fantasy option. He played in 149 and 152 games in 2006 and 2005, respectively, so he’s shown an ability to stay on the field previous to last season. If Taveras can stay on the field in 2008, consider him a great source of runs and steals.
2007:.242 AVG, 21 HR, 78 RBI, 88 R, 18 SB
Comment: When Cameron signed a one-year deal to play for Milwaukee, his fantasy stock shot up big time — and not just because of the great lineup he’s hitting in. He carries a .343 batting average at Miller Park, and despite the fact that he’s 35-years old, Cameron is talented enough to deliver a very good season.
2007: .265 AVG, 21 HR, 89 RBI, 75 R, 8 SB
Comment: Willingham swatted 20-plus HR for the second straight season. But while he improved on his RBI, runs and stolen bases from 2006, his batting average dropped 12 points. He turns 29 in Feb. so this isn’t some young prospect we are talking about. That being said, even though Willingham is never going to be an elite outfielder, he’s still capable of providing overall numbers for fantasy teams.
2007: .276 AVG, 16 HR, 81 RBI, 87 R, 5 SB
Comment: After a great 2006 season, Cuddyer’s numbers suffered in 2007. Fact is, outside of his 24 HR in 2006, Cuddyer never touched 20 HR. His career batting average is .270 and fantasy owners should count out a return to his 2006 form.
2007: .246 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 16 R, 2 SB
Comment: Adam Jones is now an everyday player for the Orioles in their outfield. He’s turning 23 in Aug., so you have to expect some bumps in the road. But he has 20 HR potential heading into 2008 and if he can hit for average, Jones could be a great contributor.
2007: .272 AVG, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 27 R, 3 SB
Comment: Milledge’s value saw a nice bump when the New York Mets shipped him over to Washington in a trade. He’s the obvious choice to start in centerfield for the Nationals and will have every opportunity to succeed. Since he’s still young (23 in April) it wouldn’t be prudent to expect Milledge to be an instant star, but he has the potential to be a solid fantasy player.
2007: .221 AVG, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 17 R, 2 SB
Comment: Upton is still a raw talent, but his upside is sky-high. He had some obvious struggles after his call-up in Aug., but he hit .357 in the post-season and should easily improve on the .221 batting average from his rookie campaign. Many people doubted his brother B.J. prior to last season and he proved them wrong. Perhaps Justin can make a similar impact in 2008.
2007: .273 AVG, 8 HR, 73 RBI, 66 R, 13 SB
Comment: If Cabrera were not playing for the Yankees, his fantasy value would plunge. But since he’s currently penciled in as New York’s starting centerfielder, Cabrera could turn in a productive season. He was on a tear in June and July and is a double-digit steals and HR threat for 2008.
2007: .309 AVG, 27 HR, 89 RBI, 105 R, 6 SB
Comment: Rowand enjoyed career-high marks in HR, RBI and runs in 2007. However, it’s important to note that other than last season, he’s hit more than 20 HR and scored 90-plus runs just once. His walk-year status and Philly’s small ballpark contributed to most of his stats, so don’t expect a repeat of 2007’s success.
2007: .306 AVG, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 37 R, 5 SB
Comment: The Texas Rangers signed Bradley to a contract for the 2008 season at $5 million and that may be a bargain if Bradley can just stay healthy. He hasn’t topped 100 games played since 2004, but he was brilliant for the Padres in 2007 and could be great for Texas. A one-year deal should motivate him to play well enough to earn a multi-year contract after this season.
2007: .259 AVG, 21 HR, 70 RBI, 51 R, 2 SB
Comment: Hit .271 with 20 HR against right-handers last season while batting a mere .213 with just one HR against lefties. In 2006, he hit .170 against left-handers for the season, so 2007 was no aberration. If Duncan could just handle southpaws better, he would become much more valuable.
2007: .143 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 8 R, 5 SB
Comment: Maybin will be 21 in April, and while it is unknown if the Marlins will start him on their major league roster in 2008, Maybin presents phenomenal talent. He’s got speed and power and could be an instant 20 / 20 threat if playing everyday. Track his progress in Spring Training and if it sounds like the Marlins are leaning towards starting him, target him as an outfielder with tremendous upside.
2007: .254 AVG, 14 HR, 63 RBI, 59 R, 4 SB
Comment: Hall was awful in 2007. Coming off such a strong 2006, one that saw him smack 35 HR, last season was especially terrible. The Brewers offense looks pretty good with the likes of Prince Fielder, Corey Hart and Ryan Braun in the lineup and despite his struggles, Hall still spent most of his time hitting fourth or fifth in the order. He’s a guy with bust potential, but he may turn out to be worth the risk.
2007 Stats: .269 AVG, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 65 R, 37 SB
Comment: Patterson comes with some obvious risk, as the teams that most needed to address their centerfield needs have already done so. He’s stolen 82 bases in the past two years and in the right situation with the right team, Patterson could score 100-plus runs and swipe 40-50 bags. The thing is, who knows if he’ll even be given a starter’s role in 2008.
2007: .276 AVG, 28 HR, 66 RBI, 75 R, 5 SB
Comment: Bonds’ legal troubles, coupled with the fact that he’s turning 44 in July, make him a huge risk. However, if Bonds were to land with an American League team and serve as a full-time DH, he could have an easier job maintaining his health. Question is, are any MLB teams out there actually willing to take a gamble on Bonds. If fantasy owners are willing to roll the dice, they should not waste a high draft pick on him.
2007: .215 AVG, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 26 R, 8 SB
Comment: Pie played in just 87 games last season, but he didn’t really have the instant fantasy impact some folks were hoping for. He’s turning 23 in Feb. and it appears as if the Cubs are entrusting him with the everyday gig in centerfield for now. However, if he plays like he did last season, don’t expect manager Lou Pinella to blindly stick with him. Pie’s got to prove that he deserves to be a starter. He’s got potential for 20-plus steals and was a top-prospect, but nothing is guaranteed for him in 2008.
Chicago White Sox
2007: .214 AVG, 5 HR, 31 RBI, 29 R, 2 SB
Comment: Quentin is coming back from off-season shoulder surgery and dealt with injuries in his first season in the majors last year. His status for opening day is still a bit hazy and the White Sox are deep enough in the outfield now that they can afford to ease the 25-year old back into playing time. Quentin is going to have to show that he deserves to be in the starting lineup, but his defense and bat should make him a regular starting outfielder when he is finally at full health.
Cincinnati Reds
Comment: Baseball America’s 2007 Minor League Player of the Year, Bruce has boatloads of talent and will be a star in this league for years to come. He probably won’t be on the opening day roster, but is a candidate for a mid-season call-up.
Philadelphia Phillies
Comment: The Natural Met Killer is going to be a free agent following this season. He’s always capable of 30 HR and 100 RBI. Maybe he bumps it up a bit in 2008?
Free Agent
Comment: Gonzo ain’t what he used to be and would probably serve as a back-up outfielder wherever he lands.
TORII HUNTER
Los Angeles Angels
Comment: The Angels locked up Hunter to a five-year $90 million deal. He’s a great fit due to his speed, defense and bat.
Catchers
March 12, 2008
By: Chris Starbonell
Update! Writer
It’s always tough to draft a catcher. Traditionally, if you don’t land the position’s one or two elite options you’ll have to settle for second-rate production from your fantasy catcher. While a great disparity still exists between the cream of the backstop crop and the second-tier of fantasy catchers, 2008 presents a unique situation in which many young and talented catchers appear poised for breakouts seasons. It should be an interesting year for the position. Update! presents the top twenty catchers:
2007: .293 AVG, 19 HR, 87 RBI, 87 R, 21 SB
Comment: Martin enjoyed a remarkable breakout 2007. You aren’t going to find another backstop in baseball that can swipe bags like rate Martin. But stolen bases aside, the development of younger players like James Loney and Matt Kemp, coupled with the addition of Andruw Jones’ bat, translates into a better lineup that should allow Martin to pump up his stats across the board in 2008.
2007: .301 AVG, 25 HR, 114 RBI, 78 R, 0 SB
Comment: Martinez scored his best offensive season in 2007. If Travis Hafner bounces back this year, Martinez could clear 120 RBI. But keep an eye on his playing time; he played just 26 games as a catcher last season and if he were to play behind the plate less this year, he won’t have to deal with the normal wear-and-tear playing a full season as the starting catcher entails.
2007: .338 AVG, 20 HR, 90 RBI, 91 R, 2 SB
Comment: In each of the last two seasons, Posada has topped 20 HR and 90 RBI. He probably won’t match last season’s stout batting average, but Posada is a player you can count on to play over 140 games year-to-year. 2007 showed us that he’s still a big part of New York’s offense, and we all know how well the Yankees can score runs.
2007: .270 AVG, 18 HR, 92 RBI, 51 R, 0 SB
Comment: McCann’s batting average dropped 63 points from 2006 to 2007, but he topped 90 RBI for the second straight season. McCann is capable of swatting 20-25 HR and plating 95-105 runners in 2008. His ankle should be fine heading into this season, so a fully healthy McCann should be a productive fantasy option.
2007:.293 AVG, 7 HR, 60 RBI, 62 R, 7 SB
Comment: Mauer didn’t have an awful 2007, just one that didn’t rank among the elite catchers. Owners looking for an excuse could say Mauer battled leg injuries all season, but he’s really only had one great season. Fantasy owners shouldn’t assume that he’s guaranteed to have a better 2008. Mauer’s still a talented hitter, yet outside of the batting average department, it is tough to rely on him providing top stats across the board.
2007: .224 AVG, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 48 R, 6 SB
Comment: Laird didn’t have the breakout many were hoping for last season. But he’s going to be the Rangers starting catcher — unless he’s traded before the season starts. Laird still has the potential to be a fantasy star, so he should not be ignored on draft day just because of a letdown 2007. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be waiting in the wings as his back up, but Laird has some leash, so one has to hope that the added pressure of possibly losing playing time will push him to perform his best.
2007: .281 AVG, 11 HR, 63 RBI, 50 R, 2 SB
Comment: Pudge has had double-digit HR totals every season since 1993 and is a career-.303 hitter. He’s also 36-years-old, and when you reach that age as a catcher the wheels can fall off at anytime. Don’t expect that to happen this year though. Rodriguez is in a walk-year and will have to prove to the market that he is still capable of being a productive everyday player. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s batting in the most high-powered offense in baseball.
2007: .276 AVG, 19 HR, 81 RBI, 38 R, 0 SB
Comment: Molina scored a scant 38 runs last season, but he was solid in the HR and RBI categories. Simply put, due to the Giants anemic offense, he is relied upon to provide pop. Molina is turning 34 in July, but in a thin catcher pool with only so many useful fantasy options, he’s still one of the better players to own. With Aaron Rowand now on board, it will hopefully produce more RBI opportunities.
2007: .287 AVG, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 52 R, 0 SB
Comment: Johjima played nicked-up almost all year but still finished with a pretty productive campaign. He’s been a solid enough fantasy catcher since his first MLB season in 2006, but he could have his best year yet in 2008. The Mariners have been improving the past two seasons, becoming the seventh highest run scoring team in the American League in 2007. Johjima is also in a walk-year and will want to put up some great numbers to ensure a nice payday in the off-season.
2007: .389 AVG, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 12 R, 0 SB
Comment: Soto is a lock to be the team’s starting catcher and the 2007 Pacific Coast League MVP could hit the ground running. He played in just 18 games for the Cubs last season, but still looked pretty good. He’s going to be part of a good lineup and manager Lou Piniella likes the soon to be 25-year-old a lot, meaning Soto should have a good run at the everyday job even if he struggles early.
2007: .255 AVG, 17 HR, 68 RBI, 57 R, 1 SB
Comment: He’s not as good as he once was for fantasy purposes, but Jason Varitek still has value. Sure the 2007 batting average could be better, but he’s going to drive in at least 65 runs simply because the people batting ahead of him are great at getting on base. The Red Sox are trying to sign him to a contract extension past 2008 before the season starts, but if they can’t, Varitek will be in a walk-year.
2007: .258 AVG, 9 HR, 62 RBI, 40 R, 1 SB
Comment: Injuries forced Hernandez to miss 56 games last year, but he wasn’t exactly killing the ball when he was healthy. While his overall season numbers were pretty weak, he had a superb Sept., hitting .324 with three HR, 14 RBI and 10 runs. Hernandez’s name has been brought up in trade rumors and a move to a team with a better lineup will have a positive effect on his numbers. Just keep in mind that while he can help you out in the HR and RBI categories, he’ll be 32 in May and may be on a decline.
2007: .249 AVG, 7 HR, 39 RBI, 27 R, 0 SB
Comment: Suzuki’s locked up the starting job in Oakland and the 24-year old could make a big splash on fantasy rosters as well this season. In 213 at-bats in 2007, Suzuki did pretty well, and while he did sport a lame .249 AVG, 13 of his 53 hits were for doubles; some of his struggles at the plate can be attributed to his major-league inexperience, so with a year under his belt Suzuki could be a nice player in 2008.
2007: .263 AVG, 14 HR, 50 RBI, 54 R, 1 SB
Comment: He made it five straight seasons with double-digit home runs in 2007, but his RBI, runs and batting average were all down from 2006. Part of that is due to the inefficient White Sox offense, but it is also possible that Pierzynski may be getting much worse. He could come back strong in 2008, but he might continue to decline.
2007: .263 AVG, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 56 R, 2 SB
Comment: Paulino was incredible during Spring Training of 2007. So much so that he became a popular sleeper pick among catchers entering last season. But after hitting just .216 in April and .234 in the first-half of the year, folks began to wonder if his pre-season performance was just a tease. Paulino, however, started heating up after the All-Star break, hitting .296 with six HR, 31 RBI, 31 R and one SB. He’s turning 27 in April and could turn in a great season if he stays consistent.
2007: .375 AVG, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 0 SB
Comment: The talented prospect will at least share time with Brad Ausmus behind the plate. He’s got the skills to make a big impact in his first full-season in the majors and if he earns the everyday gig out of Spring Training, watch out for the soon-to-be 24-year-old.
2007: .222 AVG, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 41 R, 0 SB
Comment: No one’s sure why ex-manager Buddy Bell gave back-up Jason LaRue so much playing time last year when it was pretty clear that the Royals could’ve used Buck’s bat. The team also had Buck hitting late in the lineup, resulting in fewer RBI opportunities. It’s not going to help matters that the team now has Miguel Olivo backing him up, which could mean even fewer at-bats in 2008. Buck is going to be 28 in July. If he receives the majority of the at-bats and raises his batting average, he could be a great fantasy catcher. Because of his situation, however, he might not even sniff 350 at-bats.
2007: .227 AVG, 9 HR, 44 RBI, 46 R, 3 SB
Comment: Endured an ugly first-half in 2007 (.177, one HR, 13 RBI, 16 R, one SB) but after the All-Star break, Navarro improved his batting average month-to-month until he finished with a .306 average in Sept. Remember, he’s still young (turns 24 in February), so he still has potential.
2007: .275 AVG, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 30 R, 1 SB
Comment: Molina was noticeably better in the second-half (.281 AVG, five HR, 25 RBI), but that doesn’t excuse his weak 2007. He still has yet to reach double-digit HR totals in his four years of big league experience, but at age 25, Molina still has the ability to be a good fantasy option.
Washington Nationals
2007: .272 AVG, 9 HR, 54 RBI, 46 R, 2 SB
Comment: Even though he declined a bit in 2007, he’s still capable of being a steady producer at the catcher position. He comes to a Nationals team that was horrible on the offensive end last season, but should be better in 2008 with the acquisitions of Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes. Lo Duca probably won’t touch 10 HR, but an improvement in the batting average department is to be expected for the career-.288 hitter.
Seattle Mariners
Comment: Clement isn’t your typical back-up catcher (as evident by his two HR in 16 major league at-bats last season). Of course, he’ll need Johjima to endure an injury or get traded.
Washington Nationals
Comment: Is being counted on to groom Jesus Flores in 2008, but after this season, he’ll be 36 in April and it’s hard to see another team commit to Lo Duca in 2009 beyond a back-up capacity.
Seattle Mariners
Comment: How do you say, “big pay day” in Japanese? Johjima has been a solid offensive catcher in his two years with the Mariners, but he could really bring it this season.
JORGE POSADA
New York Yankees
Comment: Signed a four-year, $52.4 million contract to stay with the Yankees. Posada will be 40 when the deal expires.
Centers
October 26, 2007
By: Drew Schustek
Update! Writer
The era of the slow-footed, poster-board center is dead. The NBA has moved away from the traditional inside-out, defensive minded slog-fests that plagued the early nineties and re-established itself as a fluid game, powered by high-octane offenses. A quick glance at the run-and-gun Phoenix Suns or Toronto Raptors proves these suspicions. But does that mean the center has gone the way of the dinosour? In fantasy ball, more and more combo power forward/centers are finding their way into lineups. And this is by no means a bad thing. Big guys are stepping out and draining the three, handing the ball off ably and spreading the floor — in short, they’ve become one of the most versatile positions in the league. Owning a top-flight center can put you over the edge in multiple categories and help you win your league. To help you maximize the most out of the position UPDATE! presents its Top 20 centers of 2007:
Orlando Magic
Comment: Howard is developing into one of the best players in the NBA and is a force to be reckoned with. One of the most ferocious rebounders in the game, Howard scares opponent’s silly. His 60.3 FG% was second in the league among centers, doubling the average points per game average of the leader, Tyson Chandler. Throw in a block or two, and he’s the clear cut No. 2, but beware: his FT% is worth gagging over so draft accordingly and pick up a player or two to even out his disability to make free throws.
Houston Rockets
Comment: Yao at two? You’re damn right; Let me explain. Howard put up near identical (if not better) stats than Yao last season, playing in all 82 games while Yao has suited up for just 105 games over the last two seasons. Yao is an unbelievable center, who if healthy would probably be the best in the NBA, but because of his health and the emergence of Howard, he’s going to have to sit at No. 2 until he proves he can stay healthy.
Phoenix Suns
Comment: When Shaq says you’re scary, you know you’ve made it. Amare missed the entire 2005 season due to knee surgery but returned in full force last season, playing all 82 games. Stoudemire is the most athletic center in the NBA and fits in perfectly with the high tempo-fast breaking Suns. He recently had knee surgery to clean some kinks out but says he feels absolutely fine and there’s no reason to not believe him. Owners can expect mind boggling numbers including one of the best field goal percentages in the league, 20-plus points, 10-plus rebounds, a block and a steal.
Memphis Grizzlies
Comment: Turns out they’re sticking with Pau at center this season. Gasol owns a game that matches his hair and beard. He’s a hard working big man and will give owners a solid 20 points and nine rebounds as well as several assists a game. He can block shots and be a valuable asset to any team.
Indiana Pacers
Comment: Health is still an issue, but O’Neal contributed great numbers last season. He is another sure thing for 20 points and 10 rebounds with a swat that could block a missile. He has fragile legs which could lead to an injury, but the real issue dogging O’Neal is the trade rumors swirling about. Don’t worry too much; the boy from the bayou will be alright in the end.
Utah Jazz
Comment: Okur is a rising star who saw a bit of a fall off in rebounds last season but still posted a solid year, finishing off with 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists a game. What makes Okur valuable is his ability to give you almost two three pointers a game — unheard of from a center. His solid health and consistent game play give Okur the edge over most big men in the league and should put up a monster season on the Jazz.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Comment: The only good thing that came out of the Minnesota-Boston blockbuster deal was sending this kid away from the Knicks. Jefferson is a beast on the boards and a pretty good offensive force as well. Expect 20 points and 10 rebounds with some nice percentages.
Denver Nuggets
Comment: Why is last season’s leading shotblocker so low you may ask? Camby will put up monster stats (10-plus rebounds with two blocks a game), but he has never played more than 70 games in one season. His health is a major issue, making him a high risk-reward player. If he’s healthy, or you’re willing to hedge your bets, Camby is a Top 5 center, but don’t expect it. Enjoy your time with Camby while it lasts.
New Orleans Hornets
Comment: Chandler is a beast on the boards and will give you great FG percentage along with two blocks a game. He’s entering his prime years of his career and you should take full advantage of this rising talent. Like most big men, beware of his FT% and low assist numbers.
Detroit Pistons
Comment: Wallace is a great basketball player who contributes to every fantasy team he’s on. He should give you 14 points and seven rebounds this season as well as a block, a three pointer and a steal per game which is pretty elite company. He shed 25 pounds during the off-season and looks determined for some more hardware.
Chicago Bulls
Comment: Talk about underrated fantasy players; Wallace fills the box score night after night giving owners blocks, steals, assists, and of course rebounds on a consistent basis. Although his offensive numbers lack, his defense will give you big numbers when you need them. He’s a ferocious and fiery basketball player that gives his all and his stats will reflect that.
Portland Trailblazers
Comment: Aldridge posted solid rookie numbers in limited time. He will be a vital component of this team in 2007, especially considering Oden’s season ending surgery. Aldridge could very well have a monster season and has tremendous upside. 17 points and 10 rebounds is not out of the question.
Philadelphia 76ers
Comment: One of the game’s best shot blockers, Dalembert makes hopeful scorers look silly when they try to drive in on his turf. He’s a great rebounder as well and should give owners a solid 10 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks a game with some percentages that might just help your team.
Golden State Warriors
Comment: Finally, Harrington might have found a team that he could blossom on. He’s a tremendous talent and could be put to good use on the faux-Suns — the Warriors. Expect a solid 16 points and seven rebounds along with three assists and a three pointer a game. But if you are looking for a high percentage shooter, stay away.
Golden State Warriors
Comment: Out of nowhere, everyone started talking about some Pokemon sounding guy in the NBA; That was Biedrins, who came out thin air last year and helped propel the Warriors into the playoffs. Biedrins can block a shot, and will give owners good rebounding numbers with a nice FG% , but will deplete your FT%, so draft accordingly
Cleveland Cavaliers
Comment: Owners saw good numbers two seasons ago and wonder where they went; they were probably stolen by Lebron. Big Z still has game and Coach Mike Brown wants to give him more playing time which should make him a safe bet to draft in your later rounds.
Milwaukee Bucks
Comment: This is the year he’s gonna break out. Bogut recently hurt his wrist but the severity of the injury has been downplayed and should be up and running within the first week of the season. Bogut has a world of talent and is a great rebounder that will give owners a nice FG% but like most centers, a bad FT%. Expect 15 points with 10 rebounds and three assists.
Los Angeles Clippers
Comment: Kaman went on an absolute tear two seasons ago, but last season didn’t perform quite as well as most expected. Kaman has talent and will be called upon as the No. 1 big man on the Clippers now that Brand is out until mid-February. He is still young; and a return to his 05-06 breakout season isn’t out of the question.
Los Angeles Lakers
Comment: Don’t doubt how tough he is; remember when he fought Shaq? All the hype is for a reason; Bynum will be called upon as one of the leaders of this Lakers team and will get a ton of playing time. With his talent, 15 and nine is a strong possibility in the coming months, but given his age and inexperience, stay away until late.
Seattle Supersonics
Comment: Wilcox showed signs of greatness and has gone overlooked in every draft. Snag him when you get the chance and the reward will be worth it. Wilcox fits in perfectly with the new and much improved fast breaking Supersonics.
Shooting Guards
October 20, 2007
By: Drew Schustek
Update! Writer
Who else talks smack like Kobe Bryant? And who else could drain crazy fade-aways like Vince Carter? Certainly no other position is as exciting to watch as shooting guards. And in fantasy basketball it’s just as fun to watch them fill up the box-score. A Top 5 shooting guard could do it all and might just put you on top of the standings. So without further ado, UPDATE! presents its Top 20 shooting guards of 2007:
Los Angeles Lakers
Comment: No argument can be made to justify a lower spot for Bryant. Easily the best scorer in basketball today (33.5 points per game the last two seasons), Bryant will give owners mind-boggling scoring with decent percentages. But is that all he can do? NO! Kobe consistently averages about six rebounds and five assists a game! Add in that delicious steal and it’s a no brainer. And those 50 point per game weeks are also a ton of fun that will leave you smiling uncontrollably. Don’t worry about the trade demands, don’t worry about a thing. Just draft and enjoy.
Miami Heat
Comment: Don’t worry about his surgery; Wade is among the best players in the league with a heart comparable to Willis Reed. Wade will put up 28 points with five boards and eight assists again no question and with good percentages to boot. Go ahead, ask if he can get you a steal. He’ll get you two. His point guard eligibility brings Wade into elite groups of players that don’t come around very often. The only thing Wade lacks is the ability to shoot the three, but he’s so good that it really doesn’t matter. Turnovers are plentiful and he will start the season on the injured list but dont fret; draft Wade if you have the chance.
Denver Nuggets
Comment: Allen proved he could play last season with Carmelo Anthony. He kept up his usual high scoring ways while gratifying owners with a healthy load of assists and steals. With a full season together expect Iverson to be at the hight of his game; the Nuggets are viable contenders in the West and he will be the team’s true catalyst.
Boston Celtics
Comment: That triangle in Boston is just outright scary. A versatile shooting guard, Allen has a great shot and an overall game that is near perfect for the Celtics new team. Garnett will be double teamed on a nightly basis as well as Pierce. Who will be their go-to guy? Allen, who should give owners 25-plus points along with four boards, four assists and a steal per game. His free throw percentage is extremely high and he doesn’t turn the ball over too often as well. Although he is 32 and his health is not exactly amazing, he will be an incredible fantasy performer.
New Jersey Nets
Comment: Carter could be the best player in all of basketball if he really tried. His bad field goal percentage comes from silly shot selection; he takes shots from anywhere, including half court just for fun, but in reality he’s good enough to take whatever shots he wants. Carter is a lock for 23-plus points, five rebounds and five assists per game with a steal as well. If only fantasy sports gave points for style.
Houston Rockets
Comment: T-Mac is one of the best shooters in the league and one of the most fun to watch. He has a certain flow to his game that’s liquid and smooth — rewarding owners with nice, beefy stats. His proneness to injury (only 196 games played last three seasons) is a factor to consider, but McGrady always delivers when he’s on the court. 25 points, five boards and six assists with a steal is just another day at work for McGrady, but look out for his weak percentages.
Atlanta Hawks
Comment: I think Phoenix might be missing him a tad bit. Johnson averaged 25 points, four rebounds and four assists but only played 57 games due to an injury. Johnson is not injury prone and played 82 games in each of his last four seasons, so don’t worry. Atlanta is an up and coming team and Johnson is ready for another monster year.
Sacramento Kings
Comment: Say hello to the future, folks. Martin is a rising superstar and is here to stay. In only his third year, Martin averaged 21 points, four rebounds and two assists per game. Martin owners: expect much, much more. He has the skill set to score 25-26 points per game and should see his assist numbers go up with a determined and capable Kings team. Forget Akon and DJ Khaled; this kid is takin’ over.
Milwaukee Bucks
Comment: This lefty can score. Redd, along with his awkward (but pinpoint accurate) shot gives fantasy owners a nice scorer (27 points a game) who doesn’t do much of anything else. Redd is always a threat to lead the league in scoring and should be among the league leaders.
Portland Trailblazers
Comment: Roy, last season’s rookie of the year, will be the No. 1 go-to guy for the Trailblazers and should see his numbers soar. In limited time, Roy scored 17 per game with four rebounds and four assists. Add in more playing time and added responsibility and that translates into 20, five and six. Don’t be surprised if he reps the Western Conference in the All Star game, folks.
Charlotte Bobcats
Comment: Athletic and versatile, Richardson now sees himself on a new team: The Bobcats. Immediately, he has become the No. 1 scoring option. With a talented supporting cast featuring Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton, he just might see better days in Charlotte then he did in Oakland. He’s a lock for 20 points, five rebounds and five assists a game.
Memphis Grizzlies
Comment: Miller was an absolute force last year, scoring almost 20 a game while hitting three treys every time he stepped on the hardwood. He also gave owners a decent five rebounds and four assists. But his real value lies in his marksmanship. He was three (how ironic) three pointers away from tying the league leaders, Raja Bell and Gilbert Arenas, and should be among the top five again on a woesfully outclassed Memphis squad.
Dallas Mavericks
Comment: The Jet will be playing the two guard this year and shouldn’t see much of a drop off in terms of stats. He produced a nicely last season with 17 points, three rebounds and five assists, along with two three pointers and a steal per game. Terry is a safe bet and one of the most under rated players in the game today.
Golden State Warriors
Comment: In limted time, Ellis flaunted his stuff and showed everyone in the rookie-sophomore challenge game that he is the most athletic shooting guard in the league. A rising star, Ellis finds himself now starting for the Warriors. Owners should expect 18 points, five rebounds and five assists a game, as well as bragging rights for how many times he will show up on Sport Center for his outrageous dunks.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Comment: Davis showed he had skills a couple of seasons back on Boston when he went on a tear, outshining Paul Pierce. He is now on the suddenly lackluster Timberwolves and should put up similar stats as last season: 17 points, four rebounds and five assists a game. Look for the same numbers and same crazy facial hair.
Chicago Bulls
Comment: The over-hyped and overrated Gordon does nothing but score. With rumors of a trade to the Lakers for Kobe, Gordon might have other things on his mind than the basket. Don’t be the sucker that takes him too early; save Gordon for late.
Detroit Pistons
Comment: Hamilton is a good scorer who doesn’t do much of anything else. His name is much bigger than his game and is a nice piece of trade bait for the newbie’s in your fantasy league. A utility man at best, Hamilton doesn’t offer a box filling stat line and should be drafted in the very late rounds.
San Antonio Spurs
Comment: Manu is a decent shooting guard with range. He’s no all star, but he’ll get you 16 points, four rebounds and four assists in limited playing time. Don’t question Pop on why he plays so little time, considering they did win the championship last season.
Phoenix Suns
Comment: He did lead the league in three’s last year with Gilbert Arenas, but he doesn’t do much of anything else. Bell is a solid player and would play best in a utility role; take Bell in the late rounds. If you can snag him late, he’s a nice piece of trade bait for those in your league who have no three point shooters.
Los Angeles Clippers
Comment: A lot of potential here, but Maggette gets injured way too much to warrant a higher spot. Expect 16 points, five and two or three assists if healthy, but beware — in all likelihood Maggette will get injured.
Houston Rockets
Comment: Head will lead the league in threes one day. One of the most dangerous and underrated shooters in the league, Head should be getting more touches, as Yao and T-Mac get double teamed.
Memphis Grizzlies
Comment: Conley is extremely determined to prove to everyone he was not just Greg Oden’s sidekick. He looks fantastic in the preseason and seems ready to do some damage.
Denver Nuggets
Comment: Boy, does this kid have game. An unbelievable shooter, Smith should see a lot of the ball when Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson are double teamed. Smith might just average 18 points with four or five assists in an increased role on the Nuggets.
Milwaukee Bucks
Comment: Out of nowhere, Bell showed signs of greatness last season, going on sporadic 20-plus point sprees. Could this be the year he shows us he’s for real?
Sacramento Kings
Comment: Salmons has the skills to be a great player, but is always stuck on a team where he is unable to grow. Now on the Kings, this could be his year. In very limited time, Salmons had nine points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. This could be his breakout season.
New York Knicks
Comment: Crawford might be the most mediocre player in the NBA. Don’t be the fool in your draft who thinks just because he’s shown signs of greatness he will be great. Please; stay away from Crawford and his sub-40 percent field goal mark.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Comment: Just don’t do it, people. Not only does he kill the chemistry of the entire team, Hughes will never repeat his 2004-2005 breakout season numbers. Like Crawford, a 40 percent field goal clip won’t get you far in the NBA.
New Orleans Hornets
Comment: His career is just about done . Peja has played in just over 37 games per season since the 2004-2005 season. It isn’t worth having him rot on your bench all season just to have him come back and get you excited; then get hurt again.
Miami Heat
Comment: Word has it, the Heat don’t feel comfortable with Cook and could be sending him down to the developmental leagues. Stay away from this rookie for now.
Philadelphia 76ers
Comment: Korver’s an above average shooter, but that’s about it. Some swear he’s the next coming of Mark Price, but that day is a long way off. Korver is an over-hyped bust to say the least; maybe his, long hair is covering his eyes.
Point Guards
October 16, 2007
By: Drew Schustek
Update! Writer
The point guard is the team leader. He calls the plays, dictates the tempo of the game, sets up his teamates and, when needed, drills the open shot. And in fantasy ball they’re no different. Owning a guy like Steve Nash virtually ensures you own the assists category every week, and the position is usually a valuable source of steals. One or two top flight point guards could mean the difference between a first place finish and a third. So pay attention. UPDATE! presents its Top 20 point guards of 2007:
Phoenix Suns
Comment: Forget about Gilbert Arenas for now. Steve Nash is the undisputed No. 1 point guard in the NBA. He may not score 30 points a game, but what other point guard will shoot over 50 percent from the field and net you over 10 assists a game? And in league’s that don’t consider turnovers, you can even bump him up a few spots on your draft cheat sheet.
Washington Wizards
Comment: Arenas might be one of the best pure scorers in the NBA. Nobody can get to the hoop and finish a play just like him. That being said, he only averaged six assists last season and shot a paltry 41.8 percent from the field — numbers that won’t likely see much increase.
New Jersey Nets
Comment: At 33, Jason Kidd had the best season of his career in 2007. While he’ll never come close to Oscar Robertson workman-like tripe-double routine, in the modern era of basketball there’s no one better at filling a box score than Kidd. His low shooting percentage and slowly dropping point totals are the only thing keeping him from the top spot on this list.
Utah Jazz
Comment: Williams emerged as a legitimate playmaker last season alongside Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur. While some will argue Chris Paul is a better value, Williams has a better supporting cast, passes with more efficiency and shoots for a higher percentage than Paul, even if he doesn’t give you as many rebounds or points. More importantly however, Williams has no ceiling. He made a gigantic leap forward in just his second year; there’s no telling how good he’ll be in his third.
New Orleans Hornets
Comment: Paul’s breakout rookie campaign earned him comparisons to Jason Kidd. And a quick look at his numbers would confirm this accurate comparison. But unlike Kidd, Paul has nobody else to help him carry the load — Peja Stojakovic has been an injured shadow of his former sharp shooting self and Tyson Chandler is hardly a scoring machine. Defenses will clamp down on Paul and try to stymie his production; fortunately, he’s too good for it too make much difference.
Golden State Warriors
Comment: Injuries have derailed Davis’ past five seasons in the NBA. But when he’s healthy, he’s hard to beat. Finally injury free, Davis will exploit coach Don Nelson’s offense and could have a career year. The Warriors are a young and exciting team, and the addition of Al Harrington only makes them better. Look for good things from Davis this season.
Detroit Pistons
Comment: Billups has been the model of consistency with the Pistons. Why expect anything different from his this season? Under Flip Saunders the Pistons have been more offensively proficient, and Billups has benefited the most in the form of points and assists. While he won’t wow you in any particular category, he’s the type of box score stud every owner wants on his team.
Philadelphia 76ers
Comment: Miller often goes as the unsung man as far as fantasy point guards go. But he quietly produces across the board (with the exception of three’s) and is one of just a handful of point guards that could average over eight assists per game. On a team like the woeful 76ers, there has to be at least some concern. But the pros out weigh the cons when it comes to Miller. He’s a steal.
Toronto Raptors
Comment: At just 24, Ford has a pretty high ceiling for improvement. And playing in the Phoenix Suns-lite offense of the East, he’s in as good a spot as any. He’s got plenty of talent surrounding him in Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh, and the Raptors look to be a sleeper team in the East. The only concern is that the surprising play of Jose Calderon could cut into his minutes.
Chicago Bulls
Comment: Hinrich averaged nearly 45 percent from the field and 42 from behind the arc last season (both career highs). There is an amazing amount of potential here, but it might not come fully realized in Chicago. With the emergence Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng along with Ben Gordon, there might not be enough balls to go around. Still, Hinrich is a safe choice at the point guard position.
Milwaukee Bucks
Comment: Williams emerged as a true sharp shooter last season in Milwaukee. The Bucks just aren’t good enough to compete in a strengthening Eastern Conference however. Plus, he’s been injury prone over his short career. Look for similar numbers from Williams this season.
Charlotte Bobcats
Comment: In his second season on the court Felton developed into a legitimate scoring threat. Now with a healthy Emeka Okafor and Jason Richardson in the mix, Felton should raise his shooting percentages. Losing Sean May hurts, but not enough to deter you from taking this stud point guard.
San Antonio Spurs
Comment: As good as Parker is on the court, he doesn’t make the best fantasy point guard. He doesn’t shoot three pointers, can’t rebound and doesn’t rack up the assists. What gets him on this list are his high field goal percentages (52%), nearly 19 points a game and the steal he averages.
New York Knicks
Comment: Forget his last two seasons in New York. Playing on a reloaded roster, he’ll be looking to prove he’s a top tier point guard in the NBA. He’s still one of the strongest point guards in the game and has the opportunity to pile up the assists tossing the ball to Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry.
Sacramento Kings
Comment: Mike Bibby has always been one of the premier scoring point guards in the League. But on a Kings team loaded with big passers (think Brad Miller or Vlade Divac) he has never put together a passing game reminiscent of, say, John Stockton. The Kings have done little to rectify their sluggish play during the off-season, so expect Bibby to carry the load offensively while remaining a bit of a sore in other categories.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Comment: Foye showed a lot of promise last season as a rookie. He’ll get plenty of court time now that Kevin Garnett’s gone. This team is slated to finish at the bottom of the West, but at least Foye will get the minutes and touches to make him a viable fantasy option. The only thing that hurts is his percentages, which will likely stay below the 40 percent mark.
Boston Celtics
Comment: Rondo showed some real promise in his rookie season. And while he certainly won’t be an offensive mainstay playing along side Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, his game should improve sufficiently to make him a fantasy option with considerable upside. The Celtics lack true depth, and Rondo might be their only true point guard. If he plays well, he could be a huge source of assists.
Orlando Magic
Comment: Orlando landed an instant offense score when it snatched up Rashard Lewis during the off-season. Nelson could be the one to quietly benefit the most from his inclusion in a young and front-loaded roster. His numbers were down last season, but with a new offensive toy to play with he should see an obvious increase in assists and percentages.
Dallas Mavericks
Comment: Harris has the immediate advantage of playing for one of the most balanced offensive teams in the NBA. The flipside is that he’ll be fighting for minutes. Coach Avery Johnson has already said that he will downscale guard Jason Terry’s role this season, and if Harris steps up he could find himself on the court come crunch time.
Indiana Pacers
Comment: While he has shown flashes of talent, Tinsley has spent far too much time on the disabled list to have a powerful impact on the Pacers. Last season he played 72 games, his most since the 2002-2003 season. But the Pacers just aren’t that good, and Tinsley will have a hard time finding the playmakers to drive up his assist totals. And his 38.9 field goal percentage from last season is an unappealing eyesore.
Portland Trailblazers
Comment: Losing Greg Oden hurts big time. But will it hurt Jarret Jack’s game? He made huge strides in his second season and will be Portland’s point guard of the future. The Trailblazers have loads of frontcourt talent — even without Oden — and Brandon Roy is a good enough shooter to spread the floor. Jack will have plenty of places to put the ball, and a breakout season could very well be in order.
Toronto Raptors
Comment: Calderon shot over 50 percent from the floor and averaged five assists a game in just 21 minutes last season. He will be hard pressed to find minutes with T.J. Ford playing in front of him, but Calderon might the best point guard the Raptors have. Should injury befall Ford, Calderon’s numbers will skyrocket.
Chicago Bulls
Comment: Duhon saw some reduction in minutes last season. But at just 25, Duhon has yet to enter the prime of his career. Expect him to regain those minutes this season and post decent numbers across the board as backup point guard. He has shown himself to be a great playmaker in limited minutes on the court. This season he could take the next step forward.
Denver Nuggets
Comment: You know what you’re getting with this journeyman point guard. Now with the Nuggets, who lack depth at the position, Atkins will find himself with a good amount of minutes, especially given his reputation as a lock-down defender. Over five assists a game would not be unlikely from Atkins this season.
Seattle Supersonics
Comment: West will be the point guard of the future for the Sonics. Earl Watson is too small and Luke Ridnour will be wearing a facemask the first month of the season with a broken nose. Look for career highs across the board from as he teams up with Kevin Durant in the North West.
Los Angeles Clippers
Comment: Livingston is forever being touted as a future Hall of Famer, with uncanny playmaking ability and the height and speed to dominate other defenders. But we’ll never find out because he is perennially injured. Still recovering from a gruesome knee surgery, he will open the season on the injured list. Don’t expect him to eat up court time upon his return.
Los Angeles Clippers
Comment: Although this roving point guard was once a solid fantasy option for owners in need of assists and steals, his value has dropped tremendously playing with the Clippers. He will be stuck behind Sam Cassell on the depth chart and could have trouble producing in limited minutes. And Elton Brand’s season ending injury limits the Clippers offensive production from the get-go.
Houston Rockets
Comment: After averaging 20 points and nearly six assists for the Raptors in 2005, James was gigantic disappointment with Houston last season. His numbers dropped across the board and there’s nothing to indicate that they’ll rebound. There’s an influx of new point guards on their way, including Steve Francis, and it’s hard to envision James greatly eclipsing last season’s numbers.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Comment: Telfair wasn’t any good in Portland or Boston, and he certainly won’t be much better in Minnesota’s lackluster lineup. Telfair has been a universal bust; his lack of size and inability to develop a consistent jumper have turned him into a poor man’s version of Stephon Marbury.
Seattle Supersonics
Comment: Forget about breaking his nose in preseason. Ridnour faces too much competition for owners to depend on steady minutes. Earl Watson and standout Delonte West will take away too many minutes for Ridnour to be depended on. Don’t expect much out of him this season — even on a severely undermanned Seattle team.
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