Now I’m a Believer…

by mrCane

Some players we draft in the first round and get 4th round production from them. Others we draft in the 10th round and get 5th round production from them. Below are a few players that have impressed me based on when they were drafted and the impressive production we have received.

I think number one on this list is Ryan Ludwick..Coming into the season I wasn’t a believer. My feeling was something around 25hr and 85rbi would be a good year. Right now Ludwick is 3rd in the majors in RBI with 5hr and an OPS north of 1.000, last year was obviously not a fluke. Fantasy Advice: Keep Ludwick and ride the wave. Chances are most people won’t give you fair market value. Another option is to go out and get him. If you can convince another owner he is only a 25hr guy, take him off that owners hand and watch the 35hr leave the yard this summer.

Kevin Youkilis, a member of my beloved Red Sox is making me realize that he might just be a guy who can top 30hr and 120rbi. I always felt he was more of a 20hr hitter, but it looks to me like he is upper echelon at this point. I think by years end he will out perform all first basemen not named Pujols or Cabrera. His 3rd or 4th round draft position will be a steal at this point. He has guys on base he will be driving in, and with Drew, Bay and Lowell hitting behind him he will score plenty of runs. Fantasy Advice: Look for a year of 110RS 120RBI 32HR and .308BA….he is elite.

Bobby Abreau is a stealing machine. I’ve seen reports of many who think he’ll wind up with 25 stolen bases, something I completely disagree with. Abreau plays for a team now (LAA) notorious for running. He is a efficient base stealer and this will be taken advantage of by the Angels. I’m looking more for 32 stolen bases this season. Fantasy Advice: Expect .300BA 100RS 100RBI 30SB and 15HR which will make Abreau a top outfielder.

Nyjer Morgan is another bonafide base stealer. He is very one dimensional which limits his value but hitting leadoff will provide ample opportunities to score runs. I project upwards of 40 stolen bases for the speedy outfielder making him useful in all roto leagues. Fantasy Advice: Most owners picked Morgan up off waivers. Check your ww to see if he is still available.

Wieters being sent down…

by mrCane

According to CBSsportsline.com Matt Wieters is being reassigned Sunday to Triple A.  This doesn’t come as a shock to fantasy owners.  People have been drafting Wieters in spite of the fact that the catcher would possible miss the first couple months of the season.

Fantasy Advice:  Depending on the type of league your in, Wieters should be taking as a top 10 fantasy option.  Keeper leagues he is an absolute must.  Leagues with deep benches that would allow you to wait on him he is a great option as well.  He could make an Evan Longoria type impact at the catcher position by the end of the year.

AL at a Glance

by mrCane

Mike Jacobs (KC 1B) hit his league leading 6th homerun of the spring.  In addition he is tied with Josh Hamilton for the league lead in RBI with 17 while batting a robust .327.  Fantasy Advice:  Draft Jacobs late in drafts for his 30hr power potential.

Wilson Betemit and Josh Fields (CHW 3B), this is a situation worth monitoring because the winner is likely the starter for the Chi Sox.  Both guys are having great springs batting .341 and .413 respectively.  Betemit is actually only a year older than Fields at 27 years of age and has 6 hr this spring, twice as many as Fields.  Fantasy Advice:  It does seem Fields has the job but warrants a roster spot more in AL only leagues at this point.  Monitor both individuals progress!

A couple young guys to keep an eye on are Billy Butler (.348 3hr), Adam Jones (.341 7sb) and Nelson Cruz (5hr .906SLG).  All three are big time prospects who’s time may have arrived.  I could see Butler pulling off a .300 85 20 90, Jones a .290 90 18 90 25 and Cruz .270 90 25 90 10 season this year.  Fantasy Advice:  Look for these guys late in drafts for cheap but productive alternatives to their older counterparts.  All of them should be taken in 12 team roto mixed leagues.

Coco Crisp (KC cf) and Alexi Casilla (MIN 2B) are a couple of guys flying under the radar.  Coco is having a great spring with 2hr 2sb .417 which are reminiscent of his Cleveland days (20/20 type player).  He is guaranteed a starting gig in KC.  Casilla offers decent SB potential toward the end of all drafts.  He is a good hitter, who will hit toward the top of the Minnesota lineup, score runs and swipe about 20.  Fantasy Advice:  Both have larger mixed league potential.

What do Francisco Liriano and Zach Grienke have in common?  They both have 19K through 21 IP this spring.  The difference is Liriano has an era about 6 runs lower than Grienke.  Grienke has been getting pounded, but don’t get scared away.  Fantasy Advice:  Take Liriano as 1 or 1A type guy and Grienke as a solid number 3 who has the potential to pitch like a #2.

A couple young guys to keep an eye on, none who have starting jobs as of right now are Clay Buchholz (BOS sp), Trevor Cahill (OAK sp) and Brett Anderson (OAK sp).  They have era’s of 0.46, 3.94 and 2.25 respectively.  Buchholz is the better strike out guy with 15 in 19IP but all could be very useful by years end.  Fantasy Advice:  Get these guys in keeper leagues and monitor their progress for this year, they could all make an impact.

John Lackey (ANA sp) has some discomfort in his elbow recently.  This is a wait and see because Lackey insists he is ok, nothing like the injury last year.  Fantasy Advice:  If guys like Shields, Beckett, King Felix, Liriano or Chad Billingsley are on the board I would take them before Lackey.  Let someone else deal with the injury, you can have a perfectly healthy pitcher with the same numbers.

Manny signs.

By notebookguy

It’s over, finally.  Manny Ramirez agrees to a 2 years 45 million dollar deal with an opt out clause after the 1st year.  5 mill huh, Manny?  5 mill to sully your name and put a huge blemish on your Hall of  Fame career?  Thought it’d be worth more than that.  For those who don’t know what I’m talking about Manny Ramirez faked injuries, beat up elderly men, and layed down on his team in Boston to force his way to free agency because he didn’t want the Red Sox to pick up the two, 20 million dollar options at the end of his massive 8 year 160 million dollar contract that would’ve brought the total length and worth to 10 years and 200 million dollars.  So instead of honoring his contract and possibly having 1 or both of his options picked up by the team, options that HE and his agent at the time, Jeff Moorad, insisted be put into the deal to bring the total value to 200 mill, he quit on his team and was traded to LA who agreed to not pick up his options.  So 2 years and 45 mill is what Manny gets, he would have got 2 years and 40 mill if he just stayed and played hard in Boston.  Though he gained that 5 million dollars, he did irreparable damage to his reputation and cost himself millions he could’ve made coming back to Boston being a beloved figure endorsing products and doing appearances being a Red Sox legend.  In my opinion quitting on your team is the ultimate sin, a player cannot be trusted after that.

FANTASY BASEBALL ADVICE:  The opt out clause in the deal is a nice carrot for Manny since he can go back on the market for a possible big pay day if he has a big year.  I would wait till the 3rd round to take Manny Ramirez but you will probably have to jump for him in the 2nd round.

Who’s Playing in the WBC?

By tallkid1

The WBC is now scheduled to take place every four years and it’s good to know what notable fantasy players will be taking.  Here’s a quick list:

USA:

• B. McCann
• C. Iannetta
• D. Jeter
• C. Jones
• D. Pedroia
• J. Rollins
• D. Wright
• K. Youkilis
• R. Braun
• A. Dunn
• C. Granderson
• S. Victorino
• T. Lilly
• R. Oswalt
• J. Peavy
• J. Guthrie
• B. Fuentes
• J. Broxton
• (G. Sizemore withdrew)

Canada

• J. Morneau
• J. Votto
• J. Bay

Dominican Republic

• A. Beltre
• R. Cano
• H. Ramirez
• D. Ortiz
• A. Rodriguez
• M. Tejada
• J. Reyes
• J. Guillen
• N. Cruz
• W. Tavares
• J. Cueto
• E. Volquez
• U. Jiminez

Japan

• D. Matzuzaka
• Ichiro
• K. Johjima

Mexico

• Ol. Perez
• J. Soria
• J. Cantu
• A. Gonzalez

Puerto Rico

• J. Sanchez
• J. Vazquez
• G. Soto
• M. Aviles
• F. Lopez
• C. Beltran
• A. Rios

Venezuela

• A. Galarraga
• F. Hernandez
• F. Rodriguez
• R. Hernandez
• M. Ramirez
• M. Cabrera
• C. Guillen
• J. Lopez
• M. Mora
• B. Abreu
• M. Ordonez

Panama

• C. Lee
• M. Corpas

FANTASY BASEBALL ADVICE:  Don’t worry too much about the WBC, they only play a 8 games max over a 17 day period so the workload isn’t too much different than spring training – though the competition levels will be much higher.  The biggest concern is with starting pitchers but keep in mind they will be on strict pitch counts through all rounds of the tournament.  If it comes down to a scenario where you’re picking between Jake Peavy, Cole Hamels and Dan Haren then the extra work Peavy will get in the WBC (mixed in with his injury history) might help you lean toward the other guys but it shouldn’t be too much of a factor in your drafting strategy.

Welcome!

Welcome to our new blog. We’re a group of guys (two Red Sox fans, a Mets fan and a Phillies fan) who have been in fantasy baseball leagues together for the past fifteen years and decided to start sharing our (brilliant) thoughts. In this blog you’ll find advice, news and analysis on everything fantasy baseball.  This blog is really for everyone – those fantasy baseball beginners who just started out and need help, those who have been in fantasy baseball but don’t follow it every day and even the hardcore fantasy guys who are looking for a good discussion. Whoever you are, we hope you enjoy…