Top twenty catchers, 1st basemen and 2nd basemen are in the books as we throw it around the horn. Today, the top 20 Shortstops for 2010 fantasy baseball get to shine. Hmm… Actually, most of these won’t shine. They’re cloudy with a chance of crapballs. As I said in the beginning of the year, the shortstops are even shallower than the 2nd basemen. This held true. A good two weeks in the major leagues and you too can make the top twenty list for shortstops! Okay, enough of the hubbub on the tomfoolery. To recap, this final ranking is from ESPN Player Rater with my comments. The Player Rater allows me to be impartial while looking at how I ranked them in the preseason. Anyway, here’s the top 20 shortstops for 2010 fantasy baseball and how they compare to where I originally ranked them:
1. Hanley Ramirez – Hanley doesn’t need to work on his swing in the offseason, he needs to go on Breakthrough with Tony Robbins or maybe a Biggest Loser spin-off show where people aren’t fat, just unmotivated. Let’s call it, Just Losers. Or get him a friggin’ motivational poster with a kitten climbing a mountain. Hanley was one of the few players in their prime that I actually lowered their power number projections and he ended up coming even below those projections. A shame isn’t it? Not a shame, a problem, Treach. Preseason Rank #1, 2010 Projections: 100/25/110/.320/25, Final Numbers: 92/21/76/76/.300/32
2. Troy Tulowitzki – See if this rings a bell for you, “Without a poor April and May, he’d be the top ranked shortstop. Yeah, he was that good.” That’s what I said after the 2009 season. This year he hit 1 homer in April and missed just about the whole month of July. If it wasn’t for an otherworldly September when he single-handedly won people H2H leagues, we’d be talking about Tulo’s busted season. Remember, he had only 12 homers going into September. That is not a good five months. Preseason Rank #2, 2010 Projections: 95/35/105/.280/12, Final Numbers: 89/27/95/.315/11
3. Jose Reyes – Not quite the bounce back I envisioned when I drafted him on all of my teams and told you to draft him, but it’s hard to fault a guy who is ranked 3rd overall and missed extended periods of time with injuries. He’s about the only Met I truly love and, at some point, the Mets will realize that Reyes is the key to their offense and that means him running like crazy. Especially in Metco. Preseason Rank #4, 2010 Projections: 105/11/55/.285/45, Final Numbers: 83/11/54/.282/30
4. Alexei Ramirez – Pretty pathetic that Alexei is ranked this high considering the year he had. They’re not middle infielders, they’re middling infielders. It’s so tough to own someone like Alexei who doesn’t ever really get hot. He just hits one homer every week and a half or so and steals a base every two weeks. That almost put me to sleep typing it out. Or am I asleep? I need to spin a top. Preseason Rank #9, 2010 Projections: 70/18/80/.280/15, Final Numbers: 83/18/70/.282/13
5. Derek Jeter – Here’s a theory. You know how once all the great filmmakers find happiness they start producing crap? Coppola’s Jack, Woody Allen’s 1990s, Oliver Stone post-Natural Born Killers… Maybe Jeter needed the motivation of not having a serious girlfriend. Once he committed to Minka he no longer cared how well he played since a long term piece of tail was in place. Or maybe it’s just age. Preseason Rank #5, 2010 Projections: 110/16/70/.315/20, Final Numbers: 111/10/67/.270/18
6. Rafael Furcal – I know it seems like I’m a total downer on all of these guys, but Furcal’s numbers are terrible for this ranking. Look at his Runs. That’s a top of the order guy? 66?! F(urcal) my life. Preseason Rank #10, 2010 Projections: 90/10/55/.275/20, Final Numbers: 66/8/43/.300/22
7. Stephen Drew – He hit 4 homers in the first 4 months. Yes, to get ranked this high all you needed was one good month. (His August: 8 homers, 19 RBIs, 25 Runs and a .310 average.) Preseason Rank #10, 2010 Projections: 85/22/75/.265/4, Final Numbers: 83/15/61/.278/10
8. Omar Infante – Went over him in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 post.
9. Elvis Andrus – I had mad love for Elvis in the preseason and it’s not going to stop going into 2011. He’s still very young and this season was a good first step. Now if he can work on his first step on steal attempts, we’ll be all set. Preseason Rank #8, 2010 Projections: 75/8/50/.270/37, Final Numbers: 88/0/35/.265/32
10. Ian Desmond – Wanna hear something scary? In my Ian Desmond sleeper post, I had Desmond down for pretty much exactly what he ended doing. His projections really aren’t far off. Yet, he was kinda unownable for long stretches of the season. Preseason Rank #21, 2010 Projections: 85/10/60/.275/20, Final Numbers: 59/10/65/.269/17
11. Mike Aviles – Went over him in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 post.
12. Marco Scutaro – Went over him in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 post.
13. Alex Gonzalez – This list pretty sums up why I punt middle infield every year. You obviously could’ve drafted 12 of these 20 shortstops at any point in a draft. And, even better, you draft one then rotate from hot middle infielder to hot middle infielder. Why do I rotate my middle infielders and ‘Set It and Forget It’ with my catchers? Will have to be an offseason post. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 74/23/88/.250/1
14. Cliff Pennington – I call this middle infielder, a Puntington. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 64/6/46/.250/29
15. Miguel Tejada – The fact that he came pretty close to matching my projections, combined with the fact I wouldn’t own him anywhere should give you an idea of the state of shortstops and the state of offense, in general. It’s like Hamsterdam without the drugs. Preseason Rank #14 for Shortstops, 2010 Projections: 70/15/85/.295/4, Final Numbers: 71/15/71/.269/2
16. Juan Uribe – Went over him in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 post.
17. Jeff Keppinger – Went over him in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2010 post.
18. Starlin Castro – If you remove his first game in the big leagues, he doesn’t make this list. All you needed was one good game to make the top 20 shortstops! Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 53/3/41/.300/10
19. Yuniesky Betancourt – Yes, it’s comical that Betancourt is listed in these rankings. Wanna stop smiling? Jimmy Rollins didn’t even make the list. (Smile again if you didn’t draft Rollins.) Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 60/16/78/.259/2
20. Ryan Theriot – I just hope if you drafted this schmohawk, you heeded the Emergency Broadcasting System’s warning and got out of The Riot in time to save your team. Preseason Rank #20, 2010 Projections: 85/3/50/.285/22, Final Numbers: 72/2/29/.270/20
It’s amazing how accurate your projections turned out! As for “Why do I rotate my middle infielders and ‘Set It and Forget It’ with my catchers?”, lemme guess: with middle infielders, you can rotate them based on need, while catchers basically suck at all categories? For example, I picked up Kelly Johnson off waivers when he got hot and I needed HRs, then dropped him for EYJ when I needed steals.
I guess there’s also the fact that catchers play fewer games in total and affect your counting numbers much less.
Anyway, can’t wait to read the post that will elaborate on that.
Anytime a list includes Keppinger, you know things are bad.
Is Alexi Ramierez a viable keeper in a 16 team 14 keeper league?
@ Grey :
if i’m not lucky enough to get a ss that can hit homers ,
then all i really care about are the sb’s .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ_yQ02xwsM
here is a keeper trade involving SS.
which side do you like?
a: Zimmerman, Alexi, Gallardo
b: Beltre, Andrus, Kershaw
Is it worth downgrading at 3B to get a better SS and SP?
Check-plus on ‘Hamsterdam’, good sir. I should really watch that series again. So, so good.
@Justin: keep A, much better side, zimmerman is a stud, beltre could fall off anytime, he’s solid just not young… gallardo and kershaw are about a wash….
@DrEasy: Yeah, that’s definitely part of it. Thanks for noticing my projections. It’s in poor form to toot my own horn, and I’d never leave my house.
@Steve: Exactly.
@big o: Great video.
@Justin: Agree with Tony.
@HOLLA(R): I think I might watch it again. Do you watch Mad Men? Totally different, but still solid.
******BTW I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING OF BASKETBALL, BUT THIS WAS STILL PRETTY AWESOME:
http://basketball.razzball.com/looking-back-at-your-1959-60-fantasy-basketball-team
Rudy Gold (March 2008): “So here is my simple MI drafting strategy for you…don’t reach! There are a few guys in the first 7 rounds that you can get at close to fair value. After that, just draft other positions until the 13th round or so and start picking up some of the Undervalued guys (or if an Overvalued guy tumbles). There is enough depth out there that you could pick up guys in the 20th round (Sanchez, Ellis, Wigginton) who’ll likely outperform several of the MIs taken in the middle rounds.” 2010 held true to form.
Full article:
http://razzball.com/performance-enhancing-drafting-strategy/
Sorry, here is the correct link:
http://razzball.com/don%E2%80%99t-meddle-with-middling-middle-infielders-in-the-middle-rounds/
@simply fred: Yeah, it’s been a definite strategy of Rudy and mine to ignore MIs recently. Not a strategy I’d set in stone like punting catchers, though.
I think between your top 20 second basemen and short stops I had at least 10 cycle through my starting line-up.
@Dom: Yeah, I might’ve owned everyone on this list’s lower half and quite a few that weren’t even listed. Hello, Eric Young Jr.!
@Grey:
Hah, when did you become such a Mad Men fan? Bandwagoner!
@Elijah: The first couple of seasons didn’t live up to the hype for me when I watched them on DVD concurrently, but I really enjoyed this season, especially the finale.
@Grey: Great job on the projections! You were scary close on a lot of them for all players. You are officially my Fantasy Baseball Bible. Eff everyone else who claims to be an “expert”. A lot of “experts” are usually 50/50 with their projections and players to pick up. Plus, they’re timing is usually late and they always focus on the obvious. I’ll repeat myself once again, you are The Man.
I hope Adam over in the Basketball side is as good as you. I’m following his draft advice pretty religiously, hopefully it works out.
@ThE sHiT: Thanks for the kind words, man! Can’t attest to how well Adam’s projections are going to pan out but his writing is damn good.
@Grey:
Other than sports its one of the only things on TV I enjoy watching. I actually had to watch the finale twice in a row: the cinematography alone is worth the price of admission.
Before next season I should go and watch the first couple seasons again as the details are starting to get hazy to the extent that when they pull in an old character like the heroin girl I couldn’t remember her significance.
@Elijah: I watched it after getting off my flight at 11PM and was exhausted so I have to watch again… I think it was brilliant though. Draper playing in the pool is worth the price of admission. Loved the direction they took him and the story.
Hi Grey, I miss the daily routine of reading your blog and then setting my lineups and winning! Now I’m trying to plan for the future. Do you think Danny Espinosa is worth keeping as an MI in a 20 team h2h. He’s one of those guys who runs hot and cold k’ing at a .300 rate. He did hit a HR around every 16 AB and projected over a full season his numbers might be 80/25/75/.215. Not bad for a random MI not looking at the avg?
@Elijah @Grey For some reason, can’t get AMC on my cable provider. Will have to wait until the DVD comes out, hopefully soon! Ditto for Breaking Bad.
@Howard: I think Espinosa’s going to be a bit of a mess next year, but I will have to look at him more in-depth. Also, it depends on who else you have, of course.
Yeah, I might rent Breaking Bad this offseason. Either that or The Shield.
Sorry to be a ‘serial poster’ . One of my most satisfying moments of last years draft was snagging Reyes at 90th pick until the oblique issues popped up later in the season. Never know if he’s going to ‘pull a Kotchman’!
@Grey Well they’re both bald!
My main shortstop is sexy Alexei. Not much to console myself with but the Sox scored in bunches last year. All it would take is for Alexei to get on base and boom Konerko would knock him in. It was feast or famine with that bunch.
@Howard: Serial posters are good, don’t apologize for that. Reyes never seemed himself this year, but he was still productive for his draft spot.
Speaking of punting catchers, I dropped McCann to pick up Bautista for next season. I don’t think he’ll hit 50 but I’d be happy with 35! He doesn’t strike me as the ‘donkey’ type but I might have to start calling him ‘El Burro’!
@Howard: Yeah, the donkey tag doesn’t quite fit him.
Hopefully Andrus can muscle out a few homers next year…..!
@fitz: The zero homes were surprising to me and I think more homers is a very real possibility. More on that:
http://razzball.com/i-cant-help-falling-in-love-with-elvis/
@Grey: As “bad” as Tulo was, he had the #2 SLG pre-ASB for 2010 (.502).
Of course, for perspective, he was sandwiched between Fabulous Furcal (.514) and A. Gonzalez (.497).
@simply fred: Yeah, that perspective adds a lot of insight.
I just bought you a Daiquiri, Grey. Thanks for all the great advice and excellent puns.
@Grey: Where should I draft Cody Ross next year?
Not a lot of defence being played this post-season. Ton of runs scored on errors – least that’s what it feels like.
@Pat: Thanks!
@Steve: Off the top of my head, Pujols, Miggy, Hanley then Cody Ross.
@Steve: I can’t believe I didn’t realize a game was on. Damn.
@Grey: Yeah, didn’t add much. Intended to reinforce the post. To add “perspective”, by my count (over 25 games played) Tulo’s #2 shortstop ranking .502 SLG would rank him #25 amongst outfielders, pre-ASB, lagging Hamilton’s .625 SLG by quite a margin.
In short, yeah, shortstops (middle infielders) not, in my opinion, worthy of high draft.
@Grey: For shame!
I’m not actually watching – just following along. Twitterland (I’m going through a phase of keeping an eye on it, if you hadn’t guessed) suggests that Utley tried to make a gutsy play and the error was a maybe bit harsh.
@simply fred: I wasn’t being sarcastic. I thought it did all a lot, reinforcing what a poor crop it is/was.
@Steve: Rollins just lined a single to right. Too little too late, J-Roll.
@Grey: ” I can’t believe I didn’t realize a game was on. Damn.”
You in the bottle again?
@Grey: Seems that in the playoffs there are about 3 guys killing it, and the rest are doing absolutely nothing.
Looking more and more like a Rangers-Giants series.
@simply fred: Worse, I was doing nothing waiting for a game that was already on.
@Steve: All pitchers + Cody Ross?
@ThE sHiT: I hope so, that would be a fun one. Next year, the Yankees will return after they sign Cliff Lee this offseason.
Looking forward to the Cody Ross 2011 Fantasy Sleeper post…
@Grey: Who is Mike Quade? (aside from new Cubbies manager)
@simply fred: @Grey: I’ve heard he’s a bit of a lone wolf…
@Steve: He did well in his fill-in stint, but not a big name. Guess the Cubs have had enough of “big names”.
@Grey: I have a feeling Lee will be a bust next year. Not sure why, but I don’t think he keeps those walks down. Unless he’s morphing into Maddux with more velo before our very eyes.
@ThE sHiT: Ha!
@simply fred: Career manager sort. In the Lasorda/Cox mold. (Or crappy player who becomes crappy manager mold.)
@ThE sHiT: The walks don’t seem fluky. Yankee Stadium will not help him though.
Lone Wolf Mike Quade?
Not my best work, but thought it might have been worth half a pun point…
@Grey: Just a gut feeling, no real data to support my statement, thats all.
Extra incentive for the Giants to make it to the series: I’m hoping I see the same smoking hot female Giant fan going through my terminal to go to a game in SF that I did last sunday. We flirted up a storm and I would quickly become a Giant fan to go out with her
@Steve: ~+1
@ThE sHiT: That’s hilarious. You dirty dog.
@Grey: Lol that’s me. A hot girl that loves baseball…priceless!
@ThE sHiT: It’s a double edged sword to me. Wouldn’t mind it, but also don’t really mind having some guy time and not have a girl trying to keep up.
@Grey: Grey, over/under inning that Yanks go to bullpen? (Obviously, I’m thinking small.)
Aw, not such a happy day:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/oct/19/happy-days-actor-tom-bosley-dies
Actually, just a chance for another crappy pun. I’m not that sad.
@simply fred: 3rd
@Steve: If there was a God, Potsie would’ve went first.
@Grey: I understand. I introduced sports to my current gf and she does a decent job keeping up. She hangs out with me and the guys sometimes but I mostly just straight out tell her that I’m going solo to a friend’s house or that they are coming over to watch the game and she doesn’t stand in the way. Gotta establish the boundaries…
@ThE sHiT: Yeah, that’s perhaps the worst scenario. A girl that doesn’t really know but talks like she does around your friends and you’re just like, “I created a monster.”
@Grey: Tough choice between him and Chachi.
@Grey: I hate being around girls OR guys who think they know what they’re talking about. But then again, my buddies and I have fun criticizing them when we get together to drink and hang out.
@Steve: How dare you! We’d never have Charles in Charge and hence Nicole Eggert.
@ThE sHiT: Yeah, that’s always fun. “Hey, girl, what do you think of the San Francisco Dodgers?” Then without waiting for an answer, “Wrong, there is no San Fran Dodgers!”
@Grey: That’s true.
A propos of Charles in Charge, here’s something scary – Willie Aames is 50!
Just Wiki’d him. Bit of a sad story, actually.
First, just want to add my congrats on your projections. I wasn’t here preseason, but look forward to that help next season.
I actually rank Tulo slightly ahead of Hanley for the season, which is amazing with only 55 RBI to go with those 12 HRs going into Sept.
Interesting to see Braves just released Melky.
Also wanted to add my vote for The Shield. I like Breaking Bad (especially season 1) but I don’t rank it in the top tier of shows like The Sopranos and The Shield.
@Grey:
Per Draper: Agreed on liking the direction they took. As with other shows in this current ‘TV Noir’ (my term) genre, writers need to remember to keep their characters sympathetic enough that the general viewer can relate to them and keep coming back for more. The shows that don’t get cancelled.
@Steve: Aames is stuck in Double-A of life.
@VinWins: Thanks on the projections! Interesting on The Shield, I’ve heard so many great things about Breaking Bad, my only hesitation is I might have to wait a while for the last season that aired, whereas with The Shield, I can just watch it through.
@Elijah: Agreed, and thank God they stopped doing that terrible noir voiceover from Draper when he was reading his journal.
@Grey: Or how about, “If the ball hits the foul pole, is it fair or foul?”
@Grey:
I also recommend Breaking Bad, though in fact that’s a show I had in mind when I mentioned characters becoming so dark it becomes hard to have anyone to pull for. I’m curious how they can rectify that next season after this one’s cliffhanger.
@ThE sHiT: Ha
@Elijah: Yeah, I’ll have to get to both, just a matter of which one’s first. Right now, it’s Breaking Bad only because it’ll be a shorter watch than The Shield.
To give popular culture a rest for a moment, is there anything to stop the Yankees, having declared Burnett as the Game 4 starter, then throw CC out there?
@Steve: Don’t think so.
@Steve: Not against rules f that’s what you mean, but CC on short rest isn’t an answer. Burnett stepping up is the only answer.
Doesn’t look good for Hunter. Normally when he starts, the Rangers are 8-0 by now.
@Grey: Yeah – the rule thing. I’m assuming that the lineup is set once you hand the card to the umpire?
@Grey:
engraved invitation sent out to adrian gonzalez :
http://www.weei.com/sports/boston/this-just-in/2146764/fenway-right-field-fences-may-be-moved
@VinWins:
I might have to check out ‘The Shield’, but in all honesty I’m burnt on the whole cop show genre. It’s been done to death, beaten like a dead horse, then paraded around like Roy Rodger’s steed on wheels.
As a side note, I was musing recently about how the 70′s and 80′s many of the quality popular dramas were about Private Investigators: individuals fighting injustice rather than governmental authority (e.g. Rockford Files, Magnum, Colombo, Barnaby Jones, Simon and Simon). The solo human hero in has been by and large supplanted by the Superhero, sign of the times I suppose.
@Steve: It is set after that, but that doesn’t happen until minutes before the game.
@big o: That’s pretty funny. I’d like to see A-Gon there, obviously.
@Grey: Yeah – that’s really what I was getting at. If you were of a mind to, you could really mess with your opponents as to who was starting etc.
@Steve: I think if he threw CC today and the Yanks lost, there would be no hope whatsoever, now if the Yanks lose at least they still have the glimmer of CC.
@Grey: First time I’ve ever seen CC described as a ‘glimmer’.
@Grey:
Yeah they had no choice but go with Burnett. And he’s been able to rise to the occasion before so it wasn’t like trying to roll the hard 6.
@Elijah: Yeah, I understand what you are saying. But I feel The Shield is like no other cop show. Obviously, can’t guarantee you’ll like it though.
Is it just me that thinks A-rod is beginning the downward trend? I’m not saying he doesn’t have another big year in him (as with Vlad G), but he’s not a guy I like much in fantasy moving forward.
Well there’s some controversty for the media to blab about.
@Elijah: Let the replay controversy begin once again…
@Steve: I avoided slimmer.
@Elijah: Yup, had to.
@Elijah: He’s on the downward trend, for sure. His Runs and RBIs (i.e. lineup) will protect him from falling off completely.
Here’s the Burnett I drafted.
@Elijah: Yeah, a little late.
Hunter will be lucky to make it thru 5 IP the way its going.
@Elijah: Yeah, another reason why Burnett may squeeze out a win here. Hunter’s not so great either.
@Grey:
Exactly.
Yanks probably won’t get a better opportunity than this.
(said Mr Obvious)
@Grey et al: Considering trading my Verlander for his Kershaw in my 12 team H2H dynasty league. Thoughts???
Hunter dodging some bullets.
@Steve:
That was Captain Obvious worthy, sir.
@Elijah: He might also have said that it was not the best time for the bottom of the order to come up.
@Steve: And that Burnett would love a double play right now.
Have to be real careful not to use the acronym there.
Young Jeter slashed it by Old Jeter, I think it woulda been an out with the shoe on the other foot.
@Steve:
I think there are 2 outs heh.
@Elijah: Actually typed it after the (ahem) DP. Got my tense wong.
@Steve:
This is a key out here.
@Bill Lumbergh: Kinda tomato-tomahto, but I would prefer Kershaw.
@Grey:
Man-crusher.
@Elijah: The team that scores the most runs usually wins.
Tex is sucking.
Out-doing myself now.
@Steve:
His defense makes the entire infield better, they need him.
@Steve: He got hurt, hamstring strain.
@Grey: That’s it. Make me feel bad.
@Steve: Ha… I was just saying because I know you’re not watching.
@Grey: Heh. Following on ESPN Gamecast. Of it’s kind, it’s actually quite cool.
Good heavens.
@Steve:
mlb.com gamecast has sound
make that mlb.com gameDAY
@Steve:
Yanks look older by the minute.
Steve Balboni hasn’t sung yet, but he’s humming do-re-mi.
Yankee pitching is HORRIBLE.
They gonna walk Murphy again?
@Steve:
Thanks again Captain.
@Elijah: There’s the Burnett that was drafted this year.
Cano is about the only guy the Yanks can rely on to do what he’s supposed to do.
@Grey:
I know him well.
@Steve:
He’s also really their only bankable young star. Even Tex is probably past his best seasons, and CC, while only 29, has already logged 700 more IP than the ‘older’ Cliff Lee.
@Steve: The Yankees are officially old again. Only took one year.
@Grey: I know how that feels. Oofa!
@Grey:
you hear a lot of managers “talking” about not saving their closer
for the 9th inning , and using them earlier , in crucial situations .
but , that’s all it is …. talk .
@Grey:
Its politically impossible, but the smart move imo would be to let Jeter walk this offseason, hall of famer or not.
Swishah has picked a very bad time to prove that his AVE wasn’t sustainable.
@Steve:
Hes a complimentary guy, it is what it is.
Yikes.
@Steve: Man, the stadium is empty. Pretty sad.
@big o: Scared of the Kazaam.
@Elijah: Would never happen.
@Steve: Bengie Molina looks like he’s wearing a giant bib.
@Grey: He’s had a heapin’ helpin’.
Remember this?
http://razzball.com/top-20-1st-basemen-2010-fantasy-baseball/#comment-261483
Not ragging on you BTW – just highlighting how limp the Yanks have been.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Matt Cain has held opposing hitters to a .195 average with runners on base over the last two regular seasons (it says here).
He can’t keep that up, can he?
@Steve: Yeah… The Yankees just need three more starters and to Tonya Harding Cliff Lee’s knees.
@Steve: re: Cain, He shouldn’t be able to, he’s been lucky for two years, that was definitely a part of it.
After looking at the SS list (especially some of the names at the end of the “top 20″), I’m thinking about keeping Alexei in an 8 team keeper league. We can keep 8 guys, and I could have Sexy for 10 bucks for next year only or for 14 bucks over each of the next 3 years.
I know he’s no superstar, but the alternatives seem to be to pay lots more (Hanley went for 47 this year) for one of the top 3 or take my chances with one of the bottom 16. Plus, Tulo, Andrus and Castro have a very good chance of being kept by other teams.
Should I keep Alexei (and find a backup to play the first 2 months of the season until he decides to hit) for a year or three, or should I toss him back in the pool?
Thanks.
@Earl Battey: I wouldn’t keep him. Someone like, say, Desmond could be just as good next year.
@Grey:
Alexei was great for me, but of course I didn’t draft him, just scooped him up after his owner died of boredom tiwards the end of May.
I’m trying to land myself a top shelf SS for next season. I’ve got several pieces to work with and I’ve got an owner willing to give me Tulo for Kemp+Hamels.
I realize that is probably overpaying, but by doing this I get a top 3 SS and keep Weaver over Hamels, which is a crap-shoot as to who’ll do better next year anyway.
Here are my projected keepers:
Arod
Howard
Cano
Kemp
Choo
Werth
Felix H.
These guys are vying for the 8th slot and are trading fodder:
Hamels
Weaver
Ichiro
Zobrist
Oswalt
Marmol
Hughes
There’s a guy in my league that owns Andrus and S. Castro. I’ve thought about going to him, but he’s a bit of a trade-nazi and doesn’t have reasonable expectations for returns on his players. I also know he’s in “love” with Elvis and that means Castro is probably my only target with him and I’m not sure I’d want to keep Castro over some of the guys on my roster…
What do you think of my Tulo deal?
What do you expect out of Castro next year?
Should I pursue Reyes? (another stingy owner has him)
Time is on my side here, but sometimes it’s nice to catch lightning in a bottle before Spring Training kicks in and owners start revaluing their players.
Thanks as always!
P.S. Can you tell I won my league (12man) this year? I’m waiting for my winnings and when they arrive Grey will have his cut!
@Elijah: Yeah, Alexei’s a good guy to get in May, but any owner worth their salt is gonna know they need to hold onto him.
@The Dude: Forget Castro, he’s not making your list of keepers. Depends what you can get Reyes for. I’d try and get Tulo for less. Zobrist and Hamels? Ichiro and Hamels? If not, I could see taking Tulo for Kemp and Hamels, it’s close enough to fair to land a top SS. Congrats on winning!
Goodness me. Signs of life in the Bronx.
@Steve: They just needed Tex out of the damn lineup.
@Grey: (And A-Rod, Jeter and Grandy.)
@Grey: Yeah. I mean, what has that bum ever done?
Swishah!
Canoe!
You’d think I’d just picked Wilson up.
@Steve: On a separate note, I like how much Andrus is running in games that matter, even if the Yanks catchers are bleh.
@Grey: That’s what we like/need to see.
Fantasy-wise of course. Don’t have much invested in this series personally.
Lilly staying with the Dodgers. No run support but at least he’s still in a pitcher’s park and division.
time to send vlad to the showers …. get him out of this cold weather .
@Steve: Lilly’s a good move for his value, I mean, it keeps his value about the same. Solid #3, moments of #2.
@big o: Ha
this line-up for the giants appears a bit lead-footed .
@big o: You’re just seeing that? Burrell looks fast on that team.
@Grey: Depends what Pat’s running after.
@Steve: Ha… So true.
“… and the Yankees beat the Rangers 7-2 Wednesday to close within 3-2 in the AL championship series.
‘We’re right where we need to be,’ Swisher said.”
Um…
@Grey: Thanks to the Phillies pitching, he’s barely had to break out of a walk tonight…
so , with buster posey at the plate ,
does bengie molina call for a pitch ‘hard and inside’
IN san francisco ?
@Steve: @big o: We have a nail biter here in SF.
About time Utley did something.
@Steve: Interesting that they’re bringing in Oswalt.
@Steve: Apparently not.
I guess Wilson can go another. Do the Phils go to Lidge here?
@Grey: That answers that.
panic city ??
@Steve: Dusty would’ve went to Harang here.
@big o: Definitely.
@Steve: I get the feeling Posey’s about to become a hero.
@Grey: Roy probably punched the bullpen coach who tried to stop him getting into the game.
@Steve: Just missed an RBI double by two feet.
@Steve: You remember all those first inning runs from Oswalt this year? They’re coming in the ninth.
@Grey: Yeah – this isn’t going to plan.
@Steve: Uribe was HBP but the ump missed it.
@Steve: That’s the game.
wow
Crikey. That’s a bit untidy by the Phillies.
give uribe a lot of credit .
high and tight oswalt ,
wasn’t giving that deep fly up ,
easily .
oh , drat !
a-gon is one of the mainstays of my keeper league .
and now this ?
(from cbs sports) :
Analysis: Gonzalez is looking at about a four-month recovery time from this surgery, which would be around the end of February. He had said his shoulder had been bothering him since early May. Gonzalez should be ready for spring training and considered a top Fantasy 1B on Drat Day. He batted .298 with 31 homers and 101 RBI for the Padres in 2010.