Fantasy Baseball Rankings

Top Third Basemen 2012

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:51:04 +0000

1. Jose Bautista – Even if he drops off from his 2011 production, there’s a good chance he still matches Longo’s production.

2. Evan Longoria – Don’t worry about him at all. His disappointments were due to luck, and his achievements were due to skill.

3. David Wright – As long as he keeps running, he’s worthy of this spot. The day he stops, he will be cast into “middledom”

4. Adrian Beltre – The power production will be there. Hopefully he can stay on the field, he has averaged less than 130 games played the last three seasons.

5. Ryan Zimmerman – At this point there are no “safe” plays. Everyone from here down has a major question. The only question with Zimm is whether he can stay on the field.

6. Brett Lawrie – 20/20 would seem aggressive, but a lot of experts are using that as the baseline. I think he’s the most interesting guy in the draft. (cop-out).

7. Alex Rodriguez – I’m definitely targeting A-Rod at the right price. I think he’ll be healthy enough and get some DH time now that Montero is gone. And he has something to prove.

8. Pablo Sandoval – I like Pablo if he can give me 500+ at bats. I expect a .300 average, 25 HR and 90 RBI. Not too shabby.

9. Kevin Youkilis – I think the chance to return to 2009 form is still there (.305, 27 HR, 94 RBI), while his baseline is in the .270, 20 HR, 80 RBI range. I think he could turn out to be a great pick.

10. Michael Young – Every year there are non-believers, and every year MY proves them wrong. You can bank on him challenging .300 every year, while putting up some gaudy production numbers. Also take note that his K% in 2011 was the best of his career (11.3% v. 14.3% career).

11. Aramis Ramirez – The home/road splits were slanted in 2011. Expect a regression from last year, and make sure you have a formidable backup when injury occurs.

12. Mark Reynolds – I think he’s a great value if your team is built properly. He’ll stay on the field and help you in some important categories (has averaged 150+ games the last four seasons).

13. David Freese – Here is the antithesis of Reynolds. Won’t hit for a ton of power, won’t stay on the field, but will hit for average. By this stage, 3B is slim pickins.

14. Ryan Roberts – If he hits 8th all season I’m not as hopeful. His 2B eligibility is alluring, as is the power/speed combo. But beware, he’s no spring chicken.

15. Chase Headley – Not a big fan of Chase. I don’t expect more than .270, 15 HR, 15 SB, but be prepared to expect less.

VETERAN SLEEPER

Ty Wigginton

For a guy who can play all over the field, being with a geriatric club should find you a ton of playing time. It’s not hard to peg Wiggy for 450 AB. I expect him to be Moose (see below) with a little less in the Run and RBI categories, but a bit more in respect to AVG.

PROSPECT RISER

Mike Moustakas

The reason “Moose” is not in our top 15 is because his power did not show in 360 AB last year with the big club (.104 ISO). He’s only 23, but I expect Headley-esque production without the swipes for 2012. You can argue drafting him before Freese (injury) or Headley (upside), but I wouldn’t reach much further.

Top First Basemen 2012

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:19:30 +0000

1. Miguel Cabrera – With the chance of 3B eligibility looming, Miggy’s got to be the hands down favorite.

2. Albert Pujols – New digs, but same old Albert. Angels are prime to win and Albert is their horse.

3. Adrian Gonzalez – Last year is a good indicator of what we can expect from A-Gonz going forward.

4. Joey Votto – Gearing for possible free agency, Votto is still just entering his prime. Potential to be #1 first baseman.

5. Prince Fielder – Now that he’s in Detroit, he has his big daddy’s shoes to fill. I doubt he’ll disappoint.

6. Mark Teixeira – Through 2009 his career BABIP was over .300. The last two seasons has been barely over .250. Don’t forget about Tex, he’s underhyped this season, and the power is still there.

7. Eric Hosmer – The trend is now to take Hosmer over Konerko, and it may be the smart play. He should contribute mightily in all five categories.

8. Paul Konerko – He had his lowest K% since 2003. It could be another 30-100 year for PK, but be mindful that he’ll turn 36 come spring training.

9. Mike Morse – The guy was 29 last year and never sniffed a similar output before in his career. I might be happier with another player at this position, and try to snag a Freeman later on.

10. Freddie Freeman – I think you can bank on 20 HR, 80 RBI and a .280 Avg. I also think he can do much more.

11. Lance Berkman – Berkman could be a 7-8 value, but then again, he could be off the list by year’s end. You want to be mindful of injury history, but he should be a more than solid play in your lineup – either at 1B or OF.

12. Mark Trumbo – Don’t sleep on Trumbo. He had a massive power year at the age of 25. If he gains 3B eligibility, you’re well into the money.

13. Ryan Howard -RyHo could be the best pick in your draft if he can be his old self before June. If you handcuff Wigginton later in the draft, you capture a lot of position eligibility that can be helpful later in the season.

14. Paul Goldschmidt – If the 24 year-old can reel his K% into the low 20s, he has a shot to be top-10. The power is for real (.224 ISO), but unfortunately, so is the contact rate (70%).

15. Ike Davis – He could mimic Freddie Freeman in terms of output. If he can bounce-back he should have a nice season, although he could probably do more in another ballpark… and on another team…

VETERAN SLEEPER

Adam Dunn

Hit the canned laughter button… now. Look, how can I guy who averages 40 HR and 100 RBI just fall off the planet? His lowest ISO prior to 2011 – which was .118 – was .249 in 2003. Are you telling me all these skills are gone? I can’t (I won’t!) believe it. Grab Dunn late in your draft, stash him away, and laugh all the way to the money.

PROSPECT RISER

Bryan Lahair

Ok, he’s not really a veteran, and he’s not really a prospect. He’s 29 years old with 219 MLB at bats, and he just came off a huge season in AAA (38 HR, 109 RBI, .331 AVG). I’m definitely looking to roster this guy late in deep leagues, while monitoring him on the waiver-wire in 12-teams-or-less-leagues.

2012 Top 100 Players – Mixed

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:17:26 +0000

The offseason has officially begun, and we have a lot of catching up to do. Today we will start with our Top 100 list. From there we will provide our top 15 positional rankings. These next posts will concentrate on 2012 standard leagues (no keeper or dynasty considerations). Let’s begin:

FIRST Round

1. Miguel Cabrera, 1B DET

2. Matt Kemp, OF LA

3. Albert Pujols, 1B ANA

4. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF BOS

5. Jose Bautista, OF TOR

6. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B BOS

7. Justin Upton, OF ARI

8. Troy Tulowitzki, SS COL

9. Joey Votto, 1B CIN

10. Robinson Cano, 2B NYY

11. Evan Longoria, 3B TB

12. Carlos Gonzalez, OF COL

I don’t love this round. This is one of those few years I really want to be at the top of the draft. Miggy or Kemp seems to be the consensus favorites, while a lot of people are wary of Albert in the Top 3. It’s acknowledged that he is #3, but people want to avoid him. While I hear the arguments, I’d much rather Albert at #3, than Jacoby at #4 or Bautista at 35 or A-Gonz at #6. I think Albert will be fine this year and could easily be the #1 player. Ellsbury could also be the #1 player, but his injury history keeps him out of the top 3. Bautista is still a good value b/c of his 3B eligibility, but I would have him out of the top 10 if he didn’t carry that designation. I’m a little bit lower on Tulo due to a little more depth at SS this year.

The Sacrifice – Jose Bautista

I guess I need one more season to be a true believer. You lock 3B and/or OF up, but if he only hits 30-35 bombs, you will be wishing you had taken Gonzalez, Upton or Tulo.

The Steal – Evan Longoria

This kid is still young. I expect him to bounce-back and be the best 3B by the end of the season. At the end of the first round, I’m thinking he could deliver top 5 value.

SECOND Round

13. Prince Fielder, 1B DET

14. Justin Verlander, SP DET

15. Curtis Granderson, OF NYY

16. Dustin Pedroia, 2B BOS

17. Clayton Kershaw, SP LA

18. Jose Reyes, SS MIA

19. Hanley Ramirez, SS MIA

20. Roy Halladay, SP PHI

21. Andrew McCutchen, OF PIT

22. Mike Stanton, OF MIA

23. Cliff Lee, SP PHI

24. Tim Lincecum, SP SF

I like the 2nd round much better than the 1st in terms of risk management. You should be able to escape this round with an assured value. Every player on this list should produce nicely. You can argue that Halladay is a little older, or Verlander will regress, or Reyes is injury prone and Stanton is still young, but those arguments can’t dissuade me much. Hanley could be troublesome in that we don’t know how he will react to the position change and the slight to his ego. I think Stanton could take it to another level and provide upwards of late first round value.

The Sacrifice – Justin Verlander

It’s rare that the #1 pitcher from the year prior follows through and repeats such an incredible year. Position players have much less variance. I’m not picking Verlander if I have an early 2nd round pick, so I guess I’m not getting him.

The Steal – Hanley Ramirez

I almost went with Reyes, b/c his value could be 1st round by year’s end. However, Hanley produces in all categories, and will have amazing position flexibility. As far as the draft goes, it allows me to keep more options open in case a value SS or 3B falls to me later in the draft. And don’t forget, Hanley was a #2 pick not too long ago.

THIRD Round

25. Ian Kinsler, 2B TEX

26. Felix Hernandez, SP SEA

27. Josh Hamilton, OF TEX

28. CC Sabathia, SP NYY

29. Mark Teixeira, 1B NYY

30. Cole Hamels, SP PHI

31. Jered Weaver, SP ANA

32. Matt Holliday, OF STL

33. Adrian Beltre, 3B TEX

34. David Price, SP TB

35. David Wright, 3B NYM

36. Carlos Santana, C CLE

The third round provides a nice balance of talent. The first round is all hitters, while the second round brought in a group of elite arms. In this round you can still expect to find an upper-tier SP, as well as a bat. Felix Hernandez or David Price could bring substantial value as they seem to have the most remaining untapped potential. I’m usually reluctant to take a catcher in the first three rounds, but Santana’s presence is due more to the dearth of impact bats.

The Sacrifice – David Wright

I’m not putting David here as a knock, but I think his days of climbing the charts are over. I don’t know how much added value is here. You might be in just as good of shape if you want for Youk, A-Ram or Sandoval.

The Steal – Jered Weaver

Weaver is a proven #1. His awesome now has added the best bat in the game. Not only do I expect his Ks and peripherals to be off the charts, but now his win opportunities should increase markedly as well.

FOURTH Round

37. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B WAS

38. Jay Bruce, OF CIN

39. Dan Haren, SP ANA

40. Elvis Andrus, SS TEX

41. Buster Posey, C SF

42. Hunter Pence, OF PHI

43. Paul Konerko, 1B CHW

44. Yovani Gallardo, SP MIL

45. Starlin Castro, SS CHC

46. Brian McCann, C ATL

47. Jon Lester, SP BOS

48. Nelson Cruz, OF TEX

I’m liking Zimmerman to have a good year. I’m fine plucking him after someone drafts Wright. I also am high on Bruce as someone who can have a monster year. I’m aggressive with Posey’s ranking because I believe his bat is just that good. There will also be two solid SS options that are important if you aren’t high on Rollins or A-Cab (which I’m not). It may be the time to take Andrus or Castro (now aren’t you glad you took Hanley in the 2nd?)

The Sacrifice – Buster Posey

I don’t blame anyone for taking a pass here on Posey. This is the value I project him to be (actually, I think he will be 3rd round value but nobody will draft him that high). He probably can’t go much higher up in value. If he doesn’t pickup where he left-off before his injury, then this pick could be bad.

The Steal - Yovani Gallardo

This guy has the stuff to be an elite pitcher. The question remains if he will make that next jump. He still is very young, but quite experienced. He had a really nice 2011 and I think he can do better in ’12.

FIFTH Round

49. Ryan Braun, OF MIL

50. Zack Greinke, SP MIL

51. Mike Napoli, C TEX

52. Michael Bourn, OF ATL

53. Eric Hosmer, 1B KC

54. Desmond Jennings, OF TB

55. Matt Cain, SP SF

56. Dan Uggla, 2B ATL

57. Brett Lawrie, 3B TOR

58. Carl Crawford, OF BOS

59. Shin-Soo Choo, OF CLE

60. Craig Kimbrel, RP ATL

If you are that guy who grabs the first closer, than this might have to be your round b/c Kimbrel will certainly be selected at some point in the sixth round. I think it’s ill-advised, but what do I know. As you can tell, there are two big surprises: Braun and Crawford. Braun is here for understandable reasons, but I will forewarn that he will likely go much earlier. If you’re in an H2H league, consider him in the 3rd round. Crawford is just scary and a wrist injury is the last thing you want wrong with a hitter you spent a 3rd or 4th round pick on. If he drops into the fifth or later, he’s certainly worth a flier. At this point though, I’m hopping on the Lawrie wagon.

The Sacrifice – Desmond Jennings

I know everyone and his mom loves this guy, but don’t forget his injury history. I’d like to see him cycle through another 162-game season in full health before committing to him with a fifth round pick. I’d rather take Bourn before (or after) him and feel safe.

The Steal – Shin-Soo Choo

Look, neither Lawrie, Jennings or Hosmer can be a steal. In fact, these are likely slight reaches. Choo has all around talent and is that player that can contribute wherever you need it. Cleveland’s lineup could be solid, and Choo will be in the middle of it.

SIXTH Round

61. Alex Gordon, OF KC

62. Alex Rodriguez, 3B NYY

63. Ian Kennedy, SP ARI

64. Brandon Phillips, 2B CIN

65. Matt Latos, SP CIN

66. Shane Victorino, OF PHI

67. James Shields, SP TB

68. Michael Young, DH TEX

69. Aramis Ramirez, 3B MIL

70. Rickie Weeks, 2B MIL

71. Adam Jones, OF BAL

72. B.J. Upton, OF TB

By round six we are coming onto players with limited upside. Yes, Latos or Adam Jones could offer more than expected. A-Ram could stay healthy for 150 games. Upton could finally become an elite outfielder (about as much chance as Juan Pierre has). So with that said, I believe this is a point where you start filling needs and adjusting your strategy depending on your first five picks. I think all 12 of these picks are somewhat interchangeable.

The Sacrifice – Brandon Phillips

Honestly, I’d rather wait for Weeks, Utley, Zobrist or Kendrick. I think last year was the best we can hope for. He should be productive, but I think the scarcity of upper-level SPs and 3B will get me leaning away from him.

The Steal – Ian Kennedy

Nobody can argue with Kennedy’s performance last year. The D-backs are certainly contenders and Kennedy could improve on his 2011. I like him as the best pitcher in this round because he has the upside of Latos and the polish of Shields.

SEVENTH Round

73. Drew Stubbs, OF CIN

74. Stephen Strasburg, SP WAS

75. Dan Hudson, SP ARI

76. Chase Utley, 2B PHI

77. Pablo Sandoval, 3B SF

78. Ben Zobrist, 2B TB

79. Drew Storen, RP WAS

80. Madison Bumgarner, SP SF

81. Jimmy Rollins, SS PHI

82. Joe Mauer, C MIN

83. Ricky Romero, SP TOR

84. Kevin Youkilis, 3B BOS

Ahh, the Strasburg round (not to be confused with the Harper round). A lot of people probably put Strasburg into the 6th but I can’t go there. Zimmermann hurt last year by getting shut-down in August, and the same will likely happen with Strasburg. If you are in an H2H, you probably want to take Hudson, and possibly even Romero ahead of St. Steven. I keep Mauer pretty low here compared to other rankings, which indicates how much closer he is to 2010 production than 2009.

The Sacrifice – Chase Utley

Yes, I’d rather have him later than Phillips earlier, but the injuries are scary. If he can play 140 games, I’m all-in. If not, it could be a long season trying to fill your 2B slot.

The Steal – Kevin Youkilis

If this guy is healthy, you better believe he is going to rake. This is a guy who could provide 3rd round value. Filling the hot-corner need, I love Youk in the 7th.

EIGHTH Round

85. Corey Hart, OF MIL

86. Michael Pineda, SP NYY

87. Asdrubal Cabrera, SS CLE

88. Jayson Werth, OF WAS

89. John Axford, RP MIL

90. Michael Cuddyer, OF COL

91. C.J. Wilson, SP ANA

92. Mike Morse, 1B WAS

93. Matt Wieters, C BAL

94. Cameron Maybin, OF SD

95. Jordan Zimmermann, SP WAS

96. Ichiro Suzuki, OF SEA

There is a good amount of OF talent in this round and the next one or two. You certainly want to be adding to that position around this time if you weren’t able to load-up early. You certainly don’t want to be looking for OFs later in the teen rounds. Also note that Corey Hart may be getting some work at 1B in Spring Training. That could be nice for eligibility purposes. Morse also has the dual-eligibility. I’m aggressive with Wieters because I believe he made a big stride in 2011, and I think he can make another one this year.

The Sacrifice – Michael Pineda

Some love him, some not so much. I think he is a great talent with a ways to go. I think he’ll be fine long-term, but everyone should be expecting that adjustments need to be made. He had a tougher 2nd-half than 1st last season, and without a developed changeup, he might have a tough time against lefties in Yankee stadium.

The Steal – Jordan Zimmermann

I put him higher than most people did and I still think he could jump up the ranks substantially. With the innings cap removed and a full-year post-TJ surgery under his belt, I think this guy is ready to compete. He has the stuff, the build and the makeup, and his offense is getting better day-by-day. Next year we could easily be talking about him as a 5th or 6th round pick.

THE Remainder

97. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF STL

98. Jonathan Papelbon, RP PHI

99. Mariano Rivera, RP NYY

100. Yu Darvish, SP TEX

I don’t know if Darvish is really #100, but he’s got to be close. He’s on a great team, has great stuff and is as confident as anyone else out there on the bump. I think his swagger, stature and repertoire means a lot even though he hasn’t faced a MLB hitter yet.

THE Misses

Bret Gardner – If he’s not at the top of the lineup, I’m not paying. I don’t see great average or counting production beyond SBs. I just think Coco Crisp much later, or Michael Bourn much earlier is the smarter play.

Josh Beckett – This guy’s skills diminished in 2011, yet he got lucky. Do not expect that to continue unless he decided to get in shape for the 2012 season. Time will tell, but I was trying to sell high in the 2nd-half of last year, so I’m certainly not buying at cost in 2012.

Tommy Hanson – Nobody likes his mechanics. He was shaky last year and could still have lingering injury issues. Unlike Beckett, there is some upside here, but it’s too risky for a top-100 pick. There are some other talented Braves pitchers you can pickup much later – I suggest doing that.

Top Third Base Keepers: 2012-2016

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:31:16 +0000

We know who is good now, but how do we gauge players over the long-term? Who really is the best player, or actually, value over the next five seasons? We hope to add some insight with our new rankings. We will start by rating them position, and then overall.

Evan Longoria
Hanley Ramirez
David Wright
Ryan Zimmerman
Adrian Beltre
Brett Lawrie
Alex Rodriguez
Kevin Youkilis
Pablo Sandoval
David Freese
Aramis Ramirez
Mike Moustakas
Pedro Alvarez
Anthony Rendon
Chase Headley
Brent Morel
Lonnie Chisenhall
Ryan Roberts
Nolan Arenado
Josh Bell

Honarable Mentions: Ian Stewart, Juan Francisco, Casey McGehee

Longo is situated at #1, and I doubt there would be much dispute at the end of the 2011 season. But now things have changed, and Jose Reyes is in Miami. This means Hanley Ramirez will be eligible at 3B sometime in the 2nd week of the season. The fact that he will be SS/3B makes him very valuable in 2012. But I think Longo offers the safer bet, while there is still some upside to be realized. In fact, Hanley may offer less upside if you believe he’s already had his best statistical year. I would be more inclined to bet that Longo beats his best year before Hanley does, but neither are near a decline.

I may get a lot of flack for #3 as everybody and their mothers have it out for David Wright. The problem is, he is young, safe, and looks like he will stick at 3B. Zimmerman and Beltre are both close in comparison, but Wright could be traded in a season or two, no matter what the Mets are saying. This could put his value back on the map if he finds himself in a potent lineup. Talent-wise, I like Zimmerman over Wright but his injury history disturbs me. He also looks like he will be a Nat for the foreseeable future – for better or for worse. Beltre is the near-future gamble, and his defense is top-notch. Being in Texas is also hard to ignore and really see the gap between #3 and #5 to be negligible.

Lawrie has the most upside in this list and it would cause one great heartache if he were to pass on Lawrie for A-Rod or Youk. Lawrie has the entire package, and his potential floor should still be valuable. I won’t push Sandoval ahead of the vets even though he has been successful before. His long-term position might not be 3B, while A-Rod and Youk have no place to go as 1B is locked-up long-term for both empires. Panda is still young and should be a long-term top 10 talent. Freese rounds up the top 10 for his youth and past success.

A-Ram looked good in 2011, but has a building injury history working against him as well as his age. You gotta like him in 2012, but don’t expect any monster years beyond then. Moustakas could be top 10 by next year, as well as Alvarez. Moustakas has proven more at the Major Leage level, but you still can’t write-off Pedro’s potential. There’s very little upside left after him who have high-level pro experience. That’s why I’m looking at Rendon at #14. In six months Rendon may be over on the Second Basemen list, but for now we’ll keep him at 3B, since that was his college position. Anybody without any pro experience is risky to put this high, but the scouts love him, and the upside is there – but beware of the injury history. Headley comes in at #15 as he has had Major League success and should look to continue it for the Padres. If he gets moved to a hitter-friendly park, you could see his stock go up.

The last tier feature four unproven players, and one veteran. Morel should be in the meat of the Sox lineup and can prove he can make a top 10 case. The fact is, he hasn’t been stellar at any level, and I don’t see his ranking moving much either way by the end of the year. At #17 is Chisenhall who should receive a lot of playing time. I like his opportunity prospectus and should find himself in a competitive lineup in 2012. Roberts is in at #18 with his power/speed combo. His BA will never be great, and could reach dismal if he gets off track a bit. He also will be hitting low in the lineup and is no longer a spring chicken. Consider his upside to not be much more than what he brought in 2011. I love Arenado at #19 as a young stud who has a great approach at the plate. By next year he could jump anywhere from 5 to 10 spots. There’s no assurance he will remain at 3B for the next five years, but the Rockies have nobody there since shipping Ian Stewart off to Wrigley. Rounding out the rankings is Josh Bell, a once highly-coveted prospect. He will be given every opportunity to succeed in Baltimore. There is upside there, but up til now, he has yet to show he can hang in the bigs.

Top Second Base Keepers: 2012-2016

admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:31:57 +0000

Dustin Pedroia
Robinson Cano
Rickie Weeks
Ian Kinsler
Chase Utley
Dustin Ackley
Brandon Phillips
Kelly Johnson
Danny Espinosa
Neil Walker
Dan Uggla
Howie Kendrick
Ben Zobrist
Jason Kipnis
Jemile Weeks
Eric Young, Jr.
Ryan Raburn
Scott Sizemore
Jean Segura
Jose Altuve

Honorable Mentions: Aaron Hill, Darwin Barney, Sean Rodriguez, Gordon Beckham, Chris Getz, Skip Schumaker

Despite all the rumblings over the past few years about second base being a shallow position, I tend to disagree. This list shows a pretty formidable top 10. Any whom I would be happy to have. First off, and possibly a little controversial, I have Pedroia. I am not a Yankee hater, but Pedroia can be a 5-category player when he’s healthy. He plays great at Fenway (who doesn’t) and is in a stupidly potent lineup for years to come. Having Jacoby lead-off certainly helps. Cano is a close second, and the tiebreaker was mostly based upon speed. Weeks is a 4-category star. He won’t hurt you in BA, so as long as he’s healthy, you will have production for years to come at the keystone.

Kinsler’s injury history is troublesome, but he always seems to bounce back. He’s still a 5-category stud across the board, is under 30, and should be secure in Texas. Utley could be the #1 2b right now, but I have some reservations – mostly injury history. When he’s in the lineup he’s a 4 1/2 category star.

I quickly jump to Ackley at #6. Just b/c he’s in the top 10 doesn’t mean it’s a weak position. He’s just that good. Of course there’s risk involved, so if you’re looking to play it safe, I think you’re fine signing Phillips or Johnson at #7 and #8 respectively. Espinosa has shown great power in his first full year, but needs to work on his approach still. If SS ever opens up for him, he’d be that much more valuable. And rounding out the top 10 is the young and seemingly consistent Neil Walker.

The bottom-half begins with Dan Uggla. I think he will bounce-back next year and possibly land in the top 10, but you have to worry about his future position a little. Again, if you’re risk averse, then I would be fine with a Kendrick or a Zobrist. Kipnis at 14 could be a steal if it’s possible to lock him up long-term. Ideally, you can lock him up and have him ready behind a solid veteran.

EY Jr. is interesting b/c he’s got tons of speed. So he could help the right team, in the right situation. Weeks, Sizemore and Segura are all still green, but have more upside than a Hill or Schumaker at this point. Raburn needs to turn it around fast, but he still has the opportunity to turn it around with Sizemore in Oakland.

Martin Prado and Ryan Roberts were not considered as they have not seen much 2b this year, and may not for the near future.

Top First Base Keepers: 2012-2016

admin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:42:45 +0000

Adrian Gonzalez
Miguel Cabrera
Joey Votto
Albert Pujols
Mark Teixeira
Billy Butler
Ryan Howard
Prince Fielder
Eric Hosmer
Adam Lind
Freddie Freeman
Kendry Morales
Gaby Sanchez
Justin Morneau
Michael Morse
Brett Wallace
Justin Smoak
Anthony Rizzo
Mark Trumbo
Brandon Belt

Honorable Mentions: Matt LaPorta, Yonder Alonso, Paul Goldschmidt, Ike Davis, Mitch Moreland, Chris Davis.

The first four names shouldn’t surprise anyone. Some may disagree on the order, but I think that all hinges on Pujols. I think it’s fair to say between the other three that the best investment is in the order of Gonzalez – Cabrera – Votto. But where does Pujols fit within those three? Gonzalez has a long-term deal in Boston. He couldn’t have been put in a better park and is showing what he can do outside of San Diego. Cabrera is arguably the best pure hitter in the bunch. Along with his youth, he could be #1. Attitude, ballpark and team bring him down a notch. But I still think he’s the better pick over Albert. I don’t see Votto putting up Pujolsian numbers for a five-year stretch (certainly one or two years within are possible), but do I see Albert continuing his run for another 3-4 years at least? With Votto in the Cincy bandbox, with a young talented lineup around him, I think the safe bet is with him.

At present day, Prince would be my #5, but I just can’t get comfortable for 5 years at his body weight. Tex has the long-term deal in NY, and like A-Gonz, this provides a boost in value. Butler is still young and should have nice young lineup around him for years to come. With his youth, I have no trouble taking him over some of the better present-day bats. Howard slots in at #7 because , unlike Fielder, he has lost weight and has a long-term deal in Philly. Fielder may be better for the next year or two, but if I’m making a long-term investment, I would err on the side of going with Howard.

Hosmer, at #9, is the first true prospect to hit this list, and it’s mighty impressive that he fits into the top 10. This guy had a great minor league career and is holding his own at the ripe age of 21. After missing out on the proven studs, I would rather take Hosmer long-term, than any other veteran firstbasemen. Adam Lind is exhibiting great power potential, and this guy could easy jump a few slots by next year. However, we have seen his bad side, so even though he’s having a great 2011, we can’t ignore that he had a disappointing 2010.

Freeman heads up the bottom half of the list. He’s got massive power potential, and I love the organization. I think he has a good chance of developing into a top 5 first-baseman within five years. Morales is a proven talent, that’s why he’s so high for an injured player. Sanchez is showing he can play and slots in at #13. Morneau’s injury history is troublesome, but he’s still young enough to sign long-term for a reasonable price.

From #15 on we see only unknowns and capped upside. Wallace, Smoak and Rizzo are still young with a good amount of potential. What bothers me is Smoak has exhibited a ton of power and should be in Seattle for most of the next five years. Rizzo has tremendous power upside, but might be a 25-HR guy in a 35-HR body as long as he stays in San Diego. Morse, Trumbo and Belt have limited upside for me, but should be solid – especially if you need a safety net for Morales, Morneau or Fielder.

UPDATE: Kevin Youkilis was not included because he will likely lose 1b eligibility for the next few years.

Fantasy Baseball Rankings – MLB Lineups – July 27, 2011

Dip — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:02:18 +0000

Giants v. Phils – Rowand CF, Rontenot SS, Sandoval 3B, Huff 1B, Keppinger 2B, Ross LF, Schierholtz RF, Whiteside C, Cain P

Braves lineup – 1. Meals CF, 2. Meals LF, 3. Meals 1B, 4. Meals 2B, 5. Meals C, 6. Meals RF, 7. Meals 3B, 8. Meals SS,

Dodgers lineup – Gwynn 7, Furcal 6, Ethier 9, Kemp 8, Miles 5, Loney 3, Barajas 2, Carroll 4, Kuroda 1

Pirates lineup – Paul 7, Jones 9, Walker 4, McCutchen 8, Alvarez 5, Pearce 3, Wood 6, Fryer 2, Maholm 1

Douchebags (Diamondbacks) lineup – Bloomquist SS Johnson 2B Upton RF Young CF Montero C Nady 1B Ransom 3B Cowgill LF Kennedy P

Phillies lineup – Rollins SS, Martinez 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Victorino CF, Ibanez LF, Brown RF, Ruiz C, Hamels P

Cardinals lineup – Descalso 5, Theriot 6, Pujols 3, Holliday 7, Jay 8, Molina 2, Skip S. 9, Punto 4, Carpenter 1

Marlins lineup – Bonifacio 5, Infante 4, Dobbs 3, Ramirez 6, Morrison 7, Stanton 9, Cameron 8, Buck 2, Vazquez 1

Nationals lineup – Hairston 7, Cora 6, Zimmerman 5, Morse 3, Nix 9, Espinosa 4, Ankiel 8, Flores 2, Hernandez 1.

Cubs lineup - RF Fukudome, SS Castro, 3B Ramy, 1B Pena, CF Byrd, C Soto, LF DeWitt, 2B Barney, P Zambrano

Mets lineup – Reyes, Harris, Murphy, Wright, Pagan, Bay, Duda, Paulino, Pelfrey

Braves lineup – McLouth 8 Prado 7 Freeman 3 Uggla 4 Ross 2 Ramirez 9 Lugo 5 Gonzalez 6 Jurrjens 1

Brewers lineup – Hart RF, Morgan CF, Braun LF, Fielder 1B, Weeks 2B, McGehee 3B, Betancourt SS, Lucroy C, Greinke P

Red Sox lineup – Ellsbury CF Pedroia 2B Gonzalez 1B Youkilis 3B Ortiz DH Salty C Scutaro SS McDonald RF Navarro LF

Royals lineup – Gordon 7, Melky 8, Butler DH, Hosmer 3, Frenchy 9, Moose 5, Pena 2 Getz 4, Escobar 6, Chen vs Lackey

Yankees lineup – Gardner 7 Jeter 6 Granderson 8 Teixeira DH Cano 4 Swisher 9 Martin 2 Posada 3 Nunez 5 Hughes RHP

Mariners lineup – chiro, Ryan, Ackley, Smoak, Kennedy, Carp, Guti, Cust, Bard

Rangers lineup – Kinsler 2B, Andrus SS, Hamilton LF, Young 3B, Cruz RF, Napoli 1B, Moreland DH, Torrealba C, Chavez CF

Twins lineup – Revere CF, Casilla 2B, Mauer C, Cuddyer 1B, Kubel RF, Thome DH, Valencia 3B, Young LF, Nishioka SS

Reds lineup – Stubbs CF Cairo 3B Votto 1B Phillips 2B Bruce RF Heisey LF Hanigan C Janish SS Arroyo P

Astros lineup – Bourn CF, Altuve 2B, Bourgeois RF, Lee LF, Johnson 3B, Wallace 1B, Barmes SS, Corporan C, Norris P

Rays lineup – Jennings cf, Damon dh, Zobrist 2b, Longoria 3b, Kotchman 1b, Joyce rf, Shoppach c, Fuld lf, Rodriguez ss, Shields p

Athletics lineup – Weeks 2B Crisp CF Matsui DH Willingham LF Jackson 1B Sweeney RF Pennington SS Sizemore 3B Powell C

Indians lineup – Carrera CF, Brantley LF, A. Cabrera SS, Hafner DH, Santana C, Chisenhall 3B, LaPorta 1B, Kipnis 2B, Kearns RF, Huff P

MLB Fantasy Lineups – July 26, 2011

Dip — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:50:50 +0000

Pirates v. Braves – Paul 7, Jones 9, Walker 4, McCutchen 8, Alvarez 5, Overbay 3, Cedeno 6, McKenry 2, Karstens 1

Astros v. Cardinals – Bourn CF, Altuve 2B, Pence RF, Lee LF, Wallace 1B, Johnson 3B, Barmes SS, Quintero C, Myers P.

I’m surprised MLB still allows the Astros to play games.

Rangers v. Twins – Kinsler 2B, Andrus SS, Hamilton LF, Young DH, Cruz RF, Moreland 1B,Torrealba C,Davis 3B,Chavez CF,Wilson P

Brewers v. Scrubs – RF Hart, CF Morgan, LF Braun, 1B Fielder, 2B Weeks, 3B McGehee, SS Betancourt, C Lucroy, LHP Narveson

I don’t like the Cubs very much.

Red Sox v. Royals – McDonald CF, Scutaro SS, Gonzalez 1B, Pedroia 2B, Ortiz DH, Crawford LF, Varitek C, Navarrro

Phillies – Rollins SS, Martinez 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Victorino CF, Ibanez LF, Mayberry RF, Schneider C, Worley P

Padres v. D’Bags – Maybin CF, Bartlett SS, Headley 3B, Ludwick LF, Guzman 1B, Denorfia RF, Hudson 2B, Johnson C, Moseley P

Marlins .v Nats – Bonifacio 5, Infante 4, Dobbs 3, Ramirez 6, Morrison 7, Stanton 9, Cameron 8, Buck 2, Nolasco 1

Nats v. Marlins – Bernadina CF, Espinosa 2B, Zimmerman 3B, Morse 1B, Werth RF, Nix LF, Ramos C, Desmond SS, Zimmermann P

Giants v. Swils – Torres CF, Keppinger 2B, Sandoval 3B, Huff 1B, Schierholtz RF, Ross LF, Fontenot SS, Whiteside C

Lincecum scratched.

Angels v. Indians – Aybar SS, Hunter RF, Abreu DH, Wells LF, Callaspo 3B, Kendrick 2B, Trumbo 1B, Bourjos CF, Mathis C, Weaver P

Indians v. Angels – Carrera CF, Brantley LF, A. Cabrera SS, Hafner DH, Santana C, O. Cabrera 2B, Chisenhall 3B, LaPorta 1B and Buck RF

Orioles v. Jays - Hardy SS, Markakis RF, Jones CF, Vlad DH, Wieters C, Lee 1B, Reynolds 3B Reimold LF, Andino 2B, Arrieta P

Jays v. O’s – Escobar SS, Thames RF, Bautista 3B, Lind 1B, Encarnacion DH, Snider CF, Hill 3B, Patterson LF, Molina C,

Ugh, what a horrible game.

Tigers v. White Sox – Jackson 8, Boesch 7, Ordonez 9, Cabrera 3, Martinez dh, Peralta 6, Guillen 4, Betemit 5, Avila 2

White Sox v. Tigers – Pierre LF, Ramirez SS, Konerko 1B, Dunn DH, Quentin RF, Pierzynski C, Rios CF, Teahan 3B, Morel 2B, (Peavy P)

Mets v. Reds- Reyes-SS, Turner-2B, Beltran-RF, Wright-3B, Murphy-1B, Bay-LF, Paulino-C, Pridie-CF, Niese-LHP

Reds v. Mets – Stubbs CF, Renteria SS, Votto B, Phillips 2B, Bruce RF, Heisey LF, Cairo 3B, Hernandez C, Cueto P

Yankees v. M’s – Gardner LF, Jeter SS, Granderson CF, Teixeira 1B, Cano 2B, Swisher RF, Posada DH, Chavez 3B, Cervelli C, Sabathia P

Mariners v. Yankees – Cust DH, Kennedy 3B, Ackley 2B, Bard C, Carp LF, Smoak 1B, Ryan SS, Gutierrez CF, Suzuki RF

That is some real sh1t.

July 25, 2011 MLB Lineups

Dip — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:09:31 +0000

Here are today’s MLB lineups. Sorry they are not in alphabetical order. Just hit control-F and search the page for your team. These are from Twitter. The team whose lineup is being posted is listed first.

Padres v. Phillies – Denorfia 8, Bartlett 6, Headley 5, Ludwick 9, Blanks 7, Guzman 3, Hudson 4, Johnson 2, Harang 1

Phillies v. Padres – Rollins SS, Martinez 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Victorino CF, Ibanez LF, Brown RF, Ruiz C, Lee P

July 24, 2011 MLB Lineups

Dip — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 14:56:48 +0000

Orioles v. Angels – Hardy SS, Markakis RF, Jones CF, Reynolds 3B, Wieters C, Lee 1B, Reimold LF, Bell DH, Andino 2B

Red Sox v. Mariners – Ellsbury CF, Pedroia 2B, Gonzalez 1B, Youkilis 3B, Ortiz DH, Crawford LF, Reddick RF, Salty C, Scutaro SS, Wakefield P

Mariners at RedSox: Ichiro RF, Ryan SS, Ackley 2B, Olivo C, Smoak 1B, Carp LF, Gutierrez CF, Cust DH, Figgins 3B, Pineda P.

Yankees v. A’s – Jeter DH, Granderson CF, Teixeira 1B, Cano 2B, Swisher RF, Martin C, Jones LF, Nunez SS, Laird 3B, (Colon P)

Mets v. Marlins – Reyes SS, Turner 2B, Beltran RF, Wright 3B, Murphy 1B, Pagan CF, Bay LF, Thole C, Gee P

Indians v. White Sox – Carrera CF, Brantley LF, A. Cabrera SS, Hafner DH, Santana C, O. Cabrera 2B, Chisenhall 3B, Laporta

Phillies v. Padres – Rollins SS, Martinez 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Victorino CF, Ibanez LF, Brown RF, Ruiz C, Halladay P

Bonifacio 3B, Infante 2B, Sanchez 1B, Ramirez SS, Morrison LF, Stanton RF, Petersen CF, Hayes C, Sanchez P

Cubs v. Astros – Fukudome RF, Castro SS, Ramirez 3B, Peña 1B, Byrd CF, Soto C, Soriano LF, Barney 2B, Garza P

Pirates v. Cards – d’arnaud 5 Diaz 7 walker 4 McCutchen 8 Overbay 3 Jones 9 Cedeno 6 Fryer 2 Morton 1

A’s v. Yankees – Weeks 2b, Crisp cf, Matsui dh, Willingham lf, DeJesus rf, Jackson 1b, Suzuki c, Pennington ss, Sogard 3b

Cardinals v. Pirates – Theriot SS, Jay LF, Pujols 1B, Berkman RF, Rasmus CF, Schumaker 2B, Laird C, Descalso 3B, Lohse P

Padres v. Phillies – Maybin CF, Venable RF, Headley 3B, Ludwick LF, Blanks 1B, Forsythe 2B, Phillips C, Gonzalez SS, Stauffer P

Royals v. Rays – Gordon LF, Cabrera CF, Butler DH, Hosmer 1B, Maier RF, Aviles SS, Moustakas 3B, Treanor C, Getz 2B,

Angles v. Orioles – SS M Izturis, RF T Hunter, DH B Abreu, LF V Wells, 3B A Callaspo, 2B H Kendrick, 1B M Trumbo, CF M Trout, C B Wilson

Rays v. Royals – Jennings CF, Damon DH, Zobrist 2B, Longoria 3B, Joyce RF, Kotchman 1B, Chirinos C, Fuld LF, Rodriguez S

Astros v. Cubs – Bourn CF, Barmes SS, Pence RF, Lee LF, Johnson 3B, Wallace 1B, Downs 2B, Quintero C, Lyles P