During our 2010 fantasy baseball rankings, we’ve gone over so many flippin’ players I’ve lost track. This is, I believe, the top 60 starters for 2010 fantasy baseball, but you’re best to check the title to be sure. If it is indeed the top 60 starters, then you’re in luck. Only a few more top 20 rankings posts. What is it, February? March? Why don’t I have an app for this? Or do I want a hashtag? App ‘n Hashtag would be a good name for a 50s style diner with wifi. As with the other rankings posts, tiers and my projections are mentioned. Anyway, here’s the top 60 starters for 2010 fantasy baseball:
41. Clay Buchholz – This is a continuation of the last tier on the top 40 starters for 2010 fantasy baseball post. This tier ends at Strasburg. I call this tier, “Fliers that I’m willing to give a chance.” Some might be confused by Cueto ranking before Buchholz, so let’s compare those two. As linguists intended it, we’ll go B before C. In 2009, K/9 — 6.65 vs. 6.93, BB/9 — 3.52 vs. 3.20, 25 years old vs. 23 years old, 190 2/3 career MLB innings vs. 345 1/3 IP. 2010 Projections: 14-9/3.95/1.34/155
42. Ervin Santana – Ervin’s 2009 was similar to Scott Baker’s. He came out of spring training with an arm injury, but, unlike Baker and Stella, Ervin never found his groove. This late in drafts I’m willing to overlook Ervin’s Gorilla Ponson impersonation last year. 2010 Projections: 15-8/3.75/1.28/185
43. Neftali Feliz – Already went over my Neftali fantasy. 2010 Projections: 9-6/3.30/1.26/120 in 20 starts.
44. Jorge de la Rosa – His appearance in this tier is solely because of his Ks. Don’t believe me? Throw your computer out the window, there’s no talking to you. And to think we were friends. 2010 Projections: 12-9/4.15/1.34/200
45. Brett Anderson – Brett Anderson, the future ace, is not without caveats in 2010. Innings jump was big in 2009. The reason why I’m willing to take a late flier on him instead of, say, Hanson is because Anderson will come much cheaper in drafts. Second caveat, Anderson really only had two months where he looked like an ace. Though those two months were in the 2nd half. If Hughes is in the rotation, I would switch these two. So, I would take a shot on Anderson late, but I’d also be aware of the risk. 2010 Projections: 10-11/3.70/1.27/165
46. Phil Hughes – Won’t know until spring training, but my guess is it will be Joba in the rotation and Phil Hughes as a top 20 middle reliever. Even if Hughes gets the starting spot, I could see him being limited on a strict innings count. 2010 Projections: 10-4/3.50/1.22/130 in 130 innings.
47. Joba Chamberlain – About time the Yankees take the ignition lock breathalyzer off the steering wheel and let Joba take his arm out for a drive. Or put him in middle relief. As of post time, it’s not clear yet. 2010 Projections: 9-6/3.85/1.34/160
48. Stephen Strasburg – Already went over my Strasburg fantasy. The reason why I have him after Feliz is because of the kid gloves the Nats are going to be using with him. The reason why I have him above some known commodities is because if he somehow breaks camp with the Nats, you’ve won the draft lottery. Right after the announcement, you’d be able to trade Strasburg for a tidy haul. Say, Billy Butler. Now twirl your mustache! 2010 Projections: 6-8/3.65/1.27/110
49. Edwin Jackson – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Romero. I call this tier, “Guys that I’m not drafting, but might pick up on waivers during the season if the opportunity presents itself and it probably will.” When Edwin Jackson was traded, I said I might own him in the right circumstances. I’m officially retracting that. On closer inspection, I don’t want anything to do with him outside of matchups. I was clouded by the thought of facing the Giants and Padres, but he was far too lucky last year. I don’t think Edwin will be quite the 2nd half pitcher he was last year — 5.07 ERA — but I think that’s closer than the pitcher he was in the first half — 2.52 ERA. Wouldn’t be shocked to see him have completely ownable stretches, but overall meh. 2010 Projections: 10-12/4.15/1.36/140
50. Joe Blanton – I owned Blanton for a good stretch last year. Looking at my active stats, in 81 2/3 innings, Blanton gave me 6 wins, 3.31/1.18/59. Awesome, terrific, adjective, but Blanton’s a pitcher you get off waivers. You don’t draft Joe Blanton. 2010 Projections: 14-12/4.25/1.32/140
50 1/2. Jair Jurrjens – UPDATE: Meesa tinks Jar-Jar having an MRI in the preseason is reason enough to ignore him. Then throw in potential regression and it’s not worth the ulcer. 2010 Projections: 10-9/4.35/1.22/110 in 160 innings
51. Scott Kazmir – The Angels are planning on Kazmir filling in Lackey’s spot in the rotation. Injury risk — check! Falling K-rate — check! Overrated for fantasy — we have a winner for the crapfecta! 2010 Projections: 14-9/4.30/1.38/145
52. Derek Lowe – The days of being able to own Lowe from start to finish look to be over. He’ll have matchups appeal here and there, but you don’t want to draft him. 2010 Projections: 12-11/4.15/1.35/100
53. J.A. Happ – Meh K-rate, high walk rate, bad home park, lucky BABIP, insane amount of men left on base… Mr. Caps Lock says, “HAPP WAS THE LUCKIEST PITCHER IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES LAST YEAR.” At some point it will Happen. You don’t want to be there when it does. 2010 Projections: 12-10/4.35/1.32/155
54. Rick Porcello – A below 5 K-rate and a 45 inning bump from ’08 secures his place in the Do Not Touch tier. 2010 Projections: 9-12/4.15/1.32/75
55. Daisuke Matsuzaka – I gave up on Dice-K after his unbelievable 2008. And by unbelievable I mean improbable, not superb. 2010 Projections: 10-7/4.50/1.38/150
56. Joel Pineiro – I’d recommend you hire Gary Glitter as a babysitter before advising you to draft Pineiro. 2010 Projections: 11-10/4.15/1.34/90
57. Randy Wolf – One the hardest things about doing these rankings is going over guys that treated you so well last year then having to write about how you don’t want any part of them in the new season. When Wolf was traded, I said, “In 2009, Miller Park played as a pitcher’s park, but it’s more neutral than that. It’s no Coors, but it’s also no Metco. Either way, Wolf was fortunate to have a 3.23 ERA last year and probably shouldn’t be counted on for anything below a 3.90. Ownable, just not terrific.” And that’s me quoting me! 2010 Projections: 14-12/4.05/1.20/155
58. Ricky Romero – To be totally honest, I almost put Romero in a tier with guys I would draft, but in the end, he’s not especially dominant, he’s in a tough division and he’s injury prone. In an AL-Only league, I’d draft him, but in mixed leagues, I’d stay away. 2010 Projections: 9-13/4.50/1.48/155
59. Tim Hudson – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Correia. I call this tier, “Boring, but ownable.” On one hand, Hudson’s a reliable vet with a mid-3 career ERA, while a little light on Ks. On the other hand, Hudson is returning from Tommy John surgery. That brings with it risk similar to playing with your iPasties app near Carl Monday. Face it, there’s really no sure2 thing this late. 2010 Projections: 13-5/3.55/1.32/145
60. Kevin Correia – The first HodgePadre to make the starter rankings. This goes without saying but it’s not going to be a fun year to watch the Padres. Depressing, actually. They should broadcast every game with Warren Zevon’s Keep Me In Your Heart playing in the background. 2010 Projections: 10-12/3.65/1.28/135
