I'm feeling conflicted about Scott Baker's value. See, while Grey is a renowned K-whore... I'm a bit of a slut for control pitchers (though Baker had a very respectable 7.4 K/9 last year).

Now, unlike certain large, fantasy baseball sites who shall remain nameless (starts w/ "roto"), I don't think that Baker is a top 10 pitcher. But, at the same time, I have a hard time being as "down" on him as the Razzball rankings are. Did I mention his BB rate last year was 2.2/9 IP? And a 3.4 K/BB?

In one league, I'm debating whether to keep Baker over guys like Chris R. Young and Brandon Morrow. Well, really only over Young - Morrow I'd likely be able to grab in the later rounds of the draft. With Young - while everyone (myself included) is always hoping that everything is going to click for him - you know what you're going to get. With Baker, I see a 27 year old control pitcher who seems to be improving.

Anyone agree? Disagree? Am I blinded by the lack of free passes? Or that, in this case, he's 3 years younger than Young?

I have....


Young -- 2009 Projections: 11-7/3.50/1.22/160
Baker -- 2009 Projections: 12-6/3.95/1.22/150
Morrow -- 2009 Projections: 8-4/3.45/1.20/120 in 20 starts.

As their projections. I like them in that order for keeper sake. They're all pretty close. There could be a case made for any of them. My case -- Morrow is too unproven, Baker's K/9 isn't as nice as Young's, Young's actually put up these stats before. Multiple times.