2009 Sleepers

Grey

Shortstops To Target, 2009 Fantasy Baseball

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers | 28 Comments

by:

There’s no Reyes, Rollins or Hanley on this list of shortstops.  This list is guys that can be had later in your drafts if you’ve punted shortstop or still are looking for a middle infielder.  Look at this as a supplement to the top 20 shortstops of 2009 fantasy baseball list.  If you’re feeling especially industrious, click on the players name to read more about them or to see their 2009 projections.  Anyway, here’s some shortstops to target for 2009 fantasy baseball:

Ryan Theriot/Jason Bartlett – Exactly the kind of late-round shortstop you should be targeting when you’re feeling light on speed.  They’d be a nice MI complement if you had Hardy as your shortstop.  And if you get scooped on Theriot, just grab Bartlett.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Catchers To Target, 2009 Fantasy Baseball

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers | 47 Comments

by:

I’m not going to point out Brian McCann or Mauer or any other catchers you or your leaguemates will be looking at in the first 10 rounds.  Here are some catchers that I will be targeting at my 2009 fantasy drafts after the top options are gone.  I’m also not going to get into the strategy of punting catchers.  Been there, half-drunkenly wrote that.  Click on the player’s name where applicable to  read more and see their 2009 projections.  This is a supplement to the top 20 catchers of 2009 fantasy baseball.  Anyway, here’s some catchers to target for 2009 fantasy baseball:

Pablo Sandoval – I have his 2009 projections as 60/14/65/.300.  I think he can get to 17+ home runs without losing anything on the average side.  He’s not as appealing to me as a 3rd baseman or a swimsuit model.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Fred Lewis, 2009 Fantasy Sleeper

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers | 39 Comments

by:

Back in September, I said, “There’s so much to love about Fred Lewis. Let’s see… Power — check!  Speed — check!  A name that sounds like an 80′s sitcom character — check!  I’ll take Fred Lewis in the center square for the win.  Alas, Fred Lewis is about to undergo season-ending surgery on a foot bunion.  (The operating podiatrist hopes his patented Toe, Hairy and Curly procedure will one day be as recognized as Tommy John surgery.)  I still like Lewis for next year, but this is this year, fool!” And that’s me quoting me!  Let’s see why I still like Fred Lewis as a 2009 fantasy sleeper.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Ryan Zimmerman, 2009 Fantasy Sleeper

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers | 36 Comments

by:

Ryan Zimmerman went into last year with a bum wrist, which was enough for me to be down on him — Beavis, “Hehe, Grey was down on him.” — I didn’t want any part of Zimmerman.  Then when he came down with an injured shoulderitis or some shizz, I backed away slowly from him like when your friend tells you he got herpes from his cousin.  It all smelled bad like a skunk in a microwave.  There was no way I was drafting Ryan Zimmerman last year.  And my concerns were confirmed, as Zimmerman put up some yawnstipating numbers, 51/14/51/.283/1.  Those numbers look similar to the numbers Ryan Howard can put up in one month.  So why am I touting Ryan Zimmerman as a 2009 fantasy sleeper?

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Manny Parra, 2009 Fantasy Sleeper

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers | 25 Comments

by:

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.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Nelson Cruz, 2009 Fantasy Sleeper

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers | 57 Comments

by:

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?

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Fantasy Baseball Look At WAHHAW

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers, Hot Stove Rumors | 17 Comments

by:

That’s a Fantasy Baseball Look at the signings or trades of Randy Wolf, Bobby Abreu, Aaron Heilman, Rich Hill, Andruw Jones and Ty Wiggington.  And, yes, I couldn’t resist the palindrome.  I’m real late to the discussion on some of these.  Not because I didn’t hear about them, but I just didn’t feel like they warranted immediate attention.  So here’s a fantasy baseball breakdown for these offseason signings and trades:

Ty Wiggington – Last year at 2nd base he was nice to have.  At 3rd base this year, he’s okay.  I’d slot him in between 21 and 25 on the top 20 3rd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball.  I’d prefer to take a flier on someone like Gordon or Sandoval though if you’re that deep into the position.  This acquisition hurts Luke Scott’s value, but Luke Scott hurts Luke Scott’s value anyway.

Please, blog, may I have some more?
Grey

Wandy Rodriguez, 2009 Fantasy Sleeper

| 2009 Fantasy Baseball Draft, 2009 Sleepers | 56 Comments

by:

If you do like moi (That’s French.  Face it, I’m cultured like yogurt.), you’ll avoid top level starters at your 2009 fantasy baseball draft and you’ll try to find value later on.  Hey, I really like Roy Oswalt! And I like Wandy Rodriguez, what’s it to ya, random italicized voice?  Last season, Wandy Rodriguez finally put together a season that hinted at his respectable minor league numbers and suggested he might be someone to look at late.  To stick with the French theme, let’s take out a scalpel and dissect this frog.  So could Wandy Rodriguez be a 2009 fantasy sleeper?

Please, blog, may I have some more?