In 2009, the ESPN fantasy baseball rankings were found inside Matthew Berry’s boob-shaped ice cubes and were later thawed out. These rankings were then transcribed by an intern who had nothing for breakfast but a Bloody Mary that was heavy on the Tabasco. Anyway, let’s look at a few choice selections in the top 30 in the ESPN fantasy baseball rankings:
15.
Please, blog, may I have some more?Here we are at the last of the 2009 fantasy baseball rankings before we get to the top 300 for 2009 fantasy baseball. Some of these top 80 outfielders are really only worth owning in deep leagues or NL- or AL-Only leagues. But in those leagues, they could make a big difference and could become fantasy relevant in more shallow leagues. I probably won’t have a lot of these guys on any of my 12 team league teams, because I like to shore up OF earlier than these guys would be drafted, but that’s not to say I have no love for them. Oh, I do. Anyway, here’s the top 80 outfielders for 2009 fantasy baseball:
61.
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There is a fundamental divide amongst fantasy baseball drafters: those who hate drafting pitchers in the first 8 rounds and those who don’t.
I am the latter. I’m not saying I prefer to draft pitching over hitting. Much like Billy Beane at the Winter Meetings and Billy Bean at a Winter Sale, I’m always looking for a good deal. If people want to overvalue hitters and undervalue pitchers, I’ll draft some pitchers.
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Today we are going to examine the most important fantasy baseball-related decision you will make all year: Choosing a team name.
Now, some of you will read this and say, “Dude, I’ve been calling my team the Jim Rice-A-Ronis since ’82 and I ain’t gonna change that now.” To which I say, “Godspeed, sir!
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My 2008 preseason pick to win the NL Rookie of the Year award was Manny Parra. Aren’t you glad you’re listening to me for fantasy baseball advice? In Rudy’s top 20 risky pitchers post, he didn’t label Manny Parra an injury risk for 2009. He said, “Throws five pitches (Fastball, Curveball, Changeup, Split-Finger, and Slider) all for balls (4.07 BB/9 IP). Big spike in MLB pitch count (2,403) but only 323 if you factor in Minors. 20% breaking ball rate is fair. Feel like his bigger issue will be throwing strikes in 2009 vs.
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In our 2009 fantasy baseball rankings, we’ve gone to the top 60 starters and top 60 outfielders thus far. But since it’s advisable by me and everyone else that has every wielded a fantasy baseball quill to draft pitching late, I figured I needed to give you twenty or so more to bring the tally to the top 80. There will be a top 80 outfielder post too. Christmas came late, ya’ll! In mixed leagues, if I’m drafting this late and I have a choice between an NL pitcher and an AL pitcher, I’d prefer to go for the NL pitcher. They pitch to other pitchers and mostly weaker offenses. That is a post in itself. Also, a lot of these pitchers (and others which will be highlighted during the season) will be smart pickups for some match-ups but aren’t worth starting every game unless they get on a roll. Anyway, here’s the top 80 starters for 2009 fantasy baseball:
61.
Please, blog, may I have some more?
In the 2009 fantasy baseball rankings, we already went over 2009′s top 40 outfielders. But like Jacques Cousteau once may have said to his underachieving son, “That’s not deep enough.” There’s more outfielders to draft than there’s members of the Wu-Tang Clan, so we take it to the top 60 outfielders for 2009 fantasy baseball. If you think there’s no value to be found this deep in the position, ask someone who owned Nate McLouth, Jacoby Ellsbury or Milton Bradley last year. Anyway, here’s the top 60 outfielders for 2009 fantasy baseball:
41.
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In 2009, penciled in behind Josh Hamilton in the cleanup spot for the Rangers is Nelson Cruz. He has 30 homer pop and could steal ten bases with Ron Kovic pinch running. Where’s the lose? Why is he a fantasy sleeper and not simply being drafted like the Minotaur he is? Wait a second, Grey, are you going to burst my freakin’ bubble on Nelson Cruz?
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At the age of 29 in the year two-zero-zero-six, Travis Hafner went 100/42/117/.308. MVP numbers, for sure. If you were sitting behind Hafner at a movie, you didn’t even mind that his head was blocking half the screen because the numbers were that good. You briefly considered amending the North Dakota Wikipedia page to add Hafner above Maris. You even tried entering Pronk into the baby name discussion with your wife. So what happened? Is Travis Hafner even worth considering in 2009 for fantasy?
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The Nats hope that Adam Dunn can teach youngsters like Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge the patience not to swing at every pitch or innocent bystander. Dunn will pick his teeth with the Washington Monument and quench his thirst with its reflecting pool. Adam Dunn is not going to lose any fantasy value in Washington with the Nationals. Adam Dunn could play in Petco and hit 40 home runs and strikeout 160 times. Okay, he may hit 40 home runs and only drive in 50 RBIs. I keed. In the top 40 outfielders for 2009 fantasy baseball, I put Adam Dunn’s projections at 80/40/85/.245/5. Those still seem about right. Adam Dunn is predictable and for that, we like him. The average is a drain. But, again, you know that going in. Unlike the Diamondbacks last year, you don’t want to put Dunn on a team with Krispie Young.
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