This week we’re starting a new weekly column that will be here every Monday afternoon, it will be all about fantasy baseball keepers. The column will then move to Friday in the offseason. Since many fantasy baseball keeper leagues don’t decide on their keepers until the start of the new season, I figured I’d go over some fantasy baseball keepers from now until next spring. These aren’t guys that are obviously keepers. You won’t find Hanley or Pujols here. These are guys that you might’ve been able to grab in deep leagues and hold onto for next year on the cheap. Who doesn’t love a bargain?! My dead grandmother loved a bargain. Her death and bargains were in no way related. Filene’s Basement was completely acquitted in that case. Though me and Grandpa we believe. We believe…
Delmon Young was overdue for a post about him. The language of his contract was a bit murky, but here’s the pertinent information, “…at no time prior to 2009 or during the 2010 baseball season will Delmon Young receive an entire post dedicated to him or a lead in a roundup or Buy/Sell, unless he actually does something. Something to be determined solely by Grey Albright. If Grey Albright relinquishes said responsibility, then the hundred monkeys that write these facacta posts shall decide in a winner-takes-all round robin Parcheesi tournament.” See, I had to write about him; last thing we want is Delmon to get all litigious on our ass.
At 24-years-old, Young somehow feels stale. Didn’t we hype him three years ago? What took him so long? When we want a breakout or a goose that lays a golden egg, we want it NOW! Delmon was the number one selection in the 2003 Draft and the Cooperstown plaque was sent out for its carving. Unfortunately, the only carving that happened was Young, who looked like a turkey. And the carving knife was major league league pitching. Young’s plate discipline is as bad as the guy who needs a crane to get out of bed. He’s always swung at everything, but now he’s making better contact and not striking out as much. His power will probably top off at 25 homers next year. Half because of him and half because of Hubert H. Homerfree Retrodome. The speed’s disappeared a bit this year, but he has 10 steal speed. His average has never been an issue and Runs/RBIs should be there. Don’t expect Delmon to go 40/15 next year and win an MVP. He’s a keeper because I’m assuming you got him very cheap since he was barely drafted, if at all, this year. He should be the real thing for a long time to come, assuming he doesn’t take a karate chop to an umpire’s carotid artery.
