I don’t like to pay for speed when it comes so cheap. It could be Bonifacio or Crisp, Gardner, Maybin, Revere, Pagan, Bourgeois and countless others.

I also don’t think that it has to be all or nothing with Granderson. That’s a false argument, of course all things in between are still possible. Probable even. I like him. I think he will be a top 25 player, but if I’m going OF in the first round, I’m probably looking elsewhere.

I’m with you on Cano and Kemp over Longo. And Longo being fine protection wise. His problem wasn’t not seeing strikes, it was hitting strikes right into gloves. He shouldn’t be so unlucky next year. Good talk.

I’m not worried about lineup protection though — think Longo will do just fine and could chip in a few steals. However he does have some risk associated with him, which knocks him down a peg.

Ellsbury third in runs (oddly behind Grandy/Kinsler), 14th in HRs, 10th in RBIs, 9th in SBs (behind Kemp then some relatively crappy players -sorry ichiro-); 9th in average.

Find another player that can do that. Even if the HRs dial back to the 20 range (and he’s always had decent pop), it’ll just increase his SBs. His HR/FB rate wasnt ridiculous by any stretch….

Bottom line – if you want speed and dont want to hang onto guys like Emilio Bonifacio, Ellsbury will get you everything.

Either you buy into Grandy’s revamped swing or you dont. if you dont, not sure why you’d draft him in the 5th. if you do, you have to expect similar numbers, which puts him in conversation for the top 15 or so players. Not saying, i’d take him there as there is some risk, but you shouldnt be shocked if he’s a top 5 offensive producer.

I need to choose 5 Keepers from the following:

Joey Votto
Troy Tulowitzki
Rickie Weeks
Ryan Zimmerman
Desmond Jennings
Brent Gardner
Zack Greinke
Yovanni Gallardo
Craig Kimbrel
Jose Valverde
Heath Bell

Leaning towards Votto, Tulo, Zimm, Weeks, Greinke – What do you think?

Only once in a full year did Ellsbury go 8 hrs/50 SBs. He did 9 HRs/70 SBs two years ago….

Even including his 2010 (18 games) he has averaged 12 HRs and 42 SBs. He’ll be way better than that. I’ll take Ellsbury very early next year (or hope he falls late in the first).

CarGo’s in the mix – but his H/R splits are a little annoying…agreed that CC will rebound.

the rest i can’t really argue with….. crawford will rebound too, he’s going to be a value once again next year….

if ells goes back to 8hrs and 50sbs is he a first rounder? or is he raja davis?

Ohh — I love Ellsbury (had him #2 overall going into 2010, whoops). Anyway, think he has a dynamic skillset. Cano still dominates a relatively shallow position (although nowhere near as shallow as 3b it appears).

Yeah Tulo is scary — typically starts slow (which can put you in a hole) and has injury concerns.

I think a top 5 is near impossible — a top 10 might be hard (in no particular order):

Pujols/Miggy/AGON/ELLS/Kemp/Bautista/Cano/JUpton/Braun/Gradnerson/Votto/Fielder/etc.

Thanks for weighing in, Lance

I think it’s certainly plausible. Longoria was ranked at 15 by ESPN – not saying they are gospel but i know a lot of drafters that just print out their lists and go from there. In most competitive leagues, he’ll probably go higher, but would you take him over Fielder? Ellsbury? Votto? Halladay? Cano? Verlander? Upton? Kemp? I’d take him over the pitchers and probably Fielder/Votto but others might not

Right the Cards are no easy out – i do think the Brewers are better – but going up 2-1 was huge for the Cards — both teams are very good. I just like the balance of the Rangers and think (if they beat the Tigers) they can shut down the national league, especially the Brewers.

I do kinda agree on the rangers beating the brew crew, they’re tough with all those leftys and we all know they can hit. HA and this is IF the brewers can get by the cardssss

I still think you only need one ace, really and Cliff Lee will fit that bill nicely — pair his price tag with the savings on the other players and you can get a lot of well priced starters to fill the gaps, but you know your league better and can exploit their tendencies. i just think it’s easier to replace the pitching than the hitting.

Thanks Chris – this series was written before the season ended….but you are a regular Biff Tannen!

With you on Young (until that uncle comment – lolzzzz) – but really i think it was a health issue for him. Give him an off-season to recover and 30-30 with a decent (.250) average is certainly plausible. If things are good, i’m going to be all in on Young again.

Avila is worriesome given how Leyland has rode him down the stretch. Still worth the money, but I’d try to trade him.

Ackley, Asdrubal, Ellsbury and Justin Upton are in.

I’d keep Staufer/Kuroda/Norris as they would go for me. I feel like you can replace the pitching, but i’d take Lee over Sabathia and save the money,.

So basically, Asdrubal/Ellsbury/Upton/Ackley/Kuroda/Norris and Stauffer or Lee would be my choices.

Does that help, JT?

Agree completely on Longoria — it’ll be interesting if people back of him — if they do i’m scooping him up in the mid second round.

I agree — 3b (especially with the decline of AROD and the WTF of Wright) is in a free fall.

I love Youk, but those injuries (and his seeming inability to stay healthy playing 3b are incredibly worriesome). I’ve always liked Wright (where can you get that power/speed combo in a 3b), but he hasnt put it together in awhile and seems prone to bouts of swinging and missing which will kil some teams weak-to-weak.

It might just be one of those positions where you need to kind of wait and recognize that everyone is going to be scrambling.

i dont understand swing mechanics so its hard to trust what Joey bats has done, but I did take him most everywhere and dude can flat out get on base, which will help across the board.

Agree completely – there are a lot of people in the mix for top 10/12, b ut Bautista’s power (especially with Howard/Tex declining a bit and obviously Dunn) is hard to replace.

Ryan Zimmerman will be interesting – I have no clue where he’ll go. At a certain point we need to factor in missing time, but he might get one more pass next year. he is totally capable of being in the top 3 at the position.

Congrats on Uggla – that’s the reason i held him all year (was also lucky to have Zobrist/Lawrie to fill in at 2b) and it certainly paid off down the stretch.

I like your prediction, but i got the Rangers taking this one. Their left-handed starters could really neutralize Fielder

Stauffer really tanked down the stretch, but he might have been injured or worn out before they shut him down. Ended up with a mediocre K rate.

Hart is probably #8.

Re: keepers, one guys has already said he plans on keeping Halladay at (::gulp::) $52. I don’t know about F-Her ($42), The Freak ($42), and Cain ($18). I figure Kershaw ($31), Verlander ($29), Price ($27), Haren ($24), Weaver ($23), Hamels ($22), Romero ($13), Beckett ($8), Chris Perez ($7), Fister ($5), Kennedy ($7), and Shields ($3!) will be kept.

With QS and Ks, along the the H2H format, relievers are almost worthless (including closers).

I forgot to mention Carpenter at $16, but I think he’s just too expensive, right?

Which Upton is that? I would assume Justin…

I agree with your 7 though. Don’t love the price on Sabathia, but I assume almost all of the big guns will be gone after keepers, and you probably need a couple yourself. If you do think there’ll be a decent amount of “ace” pitchers available at re-draft though, I’d consider Stauffer @ $1 or Hart @ $12.

Hmmm…I tend to agree. In fact, I will bet you $100 he will end the season with 197 strikeouts.

Chris Young was sort of a wash for me. I mean, dude gave me a 20/20+ season, but his average was a knife in the face. Conversely, Michael Young had a glorious average, but 11 home runs is about as exciting as having your uncle touch your penis.

Avila, $5
Trumbo, $5
Ackley, $5
Asdrubal, $2
Ellsbury, $34
Upton, $33
Hart, $12

Sabathia, $35
Cliff Lee, $32
Stauffer, $1
Kuroda, $2 (if he stays in USA)
Norris, $2

I’m thinking (in order of preference):
Lee
Ellsbury
Cabrera
Upton
Avila
Sabathia
Trumbo

Advice?