When I went over the top 20 2nd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball, I mentioned that it was really shallow, but actually a bit deeper than the list of the top 20 shortstops for 2009 fantasy baseball. Well, proof is in the pudding, so here’s the pudding. We’ve already gone over quite a few top 20 lists already and they can be found in the 2009 fantasy baseball rankings. Also, here’s a list of every player who has multiple position eligibility and our 2009 fantasy baseball player rater. Anyway, here’s the top 20 shortstops for 2009 fantasy baseball:
1. Hanley Ramirez – Already covered him in our top 10 for 2009 fantasy baseball post.
2. Jose Reyes – Already covered him in our top 10 for 2009 fantasy baseball post.
3. Jimmy Rollins – Already covered him in our top 20 for 2009 fantasy baseball post.
4. Alexei Ramirez – This is the next tier and it goes down to Furcal. I call this tier, “Really? These are the top shortstops?” Alexei may not be eligible in all leagues because of less than 20 games at shortstop. Either way, I already covered him in our top 20 2nd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball.
4 1/2. Stephen Drew – Okay, when you see Stephen Drew at number four and a half overall for shortstops, you’re asking yourself if this is a vote for Drew or an indictment of the 2009 shortstops. That’s a fair question and I’m glad you posed it. What do you think? A bit of both? Wow, we are totally in sync. Okay, what did I eat for lunch? Nope, chicken burrito. In 2009, Drew takes a step forward. 2009 Projections: 85/24/80/.280/7
5. J.J. Hardy – Personally, I’d like to see Alcides Escobar get called up and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens by the trade deadline in July with Hardy going to a contender. Maybe to the Dodgers to replace an injured Furcal. 2009 Projections: 85/25/80/.275/3
6. Jhonny Peralta – This Silent H comes in at sixth with the other Silent H coming at 18th. The scary thing is there’s been years where they’ve flip-flopped in the rankings. Peralta doesn’t come without some risk. Be forewarned, fantasy baseballers! 2009 Projections: 85/25/90/.270/3
7. Troy Tulowitzki – Let’s put Tulo’s 2008 season into a strait jacket and then submerge it into Houdini’s Milk Can. 2009 Projections: 65/20/85/.285/5
8. Derek Jeter – After you choose Jeter in your 2009 draft, make sure you tell your wife so she can pat you on the head. 2009 Projections: 110/12/70/.305/12
9. Rafael Furcal – I already went over Furcal for 2009 when he returned to the Braves for a minute (not an Urbandictionary “minute,” which is actually a long time.) He’s going to be a steal for his draft position or he’s going to go kaboom like peanuts in abnormal lemonade. 2009 Projections: 95/15/65/.285/35 or 25/6/40/.390/7 and a seat next to Nomar on the DL.
10. Michael Young – Here’s a new tier that goes from Young to Renteria. I call this tier, “Boring.” I say boring because their best years are behind them and, for a few of them, their best years weren’t even that good. As for Michael Young, when I say empty, you say average. “Empty…” “Average…” I will say this in Young’s defense. Look at his projections compared to Jeter. Not that different, huh? 2009 Projections: 100/10/85/.310/10
11. Miguel Tejada – I want a new drug. One that won’t spill… One that won’t let me hit .280 with 13 home runs and 66 RBIs… Or that comes in a pill… 2009 Projections: 90/15/75/.285/7
12. Orlando Cabrera – Him and Renteria have similar power, speed, average and they want to kill each other. 2009 Projections: 90/7/65/.280/20
13. Edgar Renteria – Two enemies forever entwined in the 2009 fantasy baseball rankings. 2009 Projections: 80/9/70/.285/12
14. Yunel Escobar – This next tier is called, “What do you get when you mix nothing with the slightest bit of upside?” This tier goes from here to the end of the list. If you’re digging through the middle infielder bin at Filene’s Basement, you’re much better taking one of these schmohawks than one in the last tier. These guys may not outperform them, but at least there’s a chance. 2009 Projections: 90/13/65/.300/3
15. Mike Aviles – Already covered him in our top 20 2nd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball.
16. Ryan Theriot – The Riot is actually not a bad late draft sleeper. It’s nice to get 25 steals out of your MI spot and The Riot can potentially give you that. 2009 Projections: 90/2/40/.295/25
17. Yuniesky Betancourt – How does an outside chance at a 10/10 season sound to you? Yawnstipating? Yeah, me too. 2009 Projections: 65/10/65/.280/10
18. Khalil Greene – This H is silent, but deadly to your average. 2009 Projections: 65/20/80/.235/5
19. Emmanuel Burriss/Asdrubal Cabrera – Already covered them in our top 20 2nd basemen for 2009 fantasy baseball.
20. Clint Barmes – Honestly, I could’ve put about ten different names here and they would have all been as uninspiring. 2009 Projections: 75/12/55/.270/12 (<–real optimistic)
After the top 20 shortstops for 2009 fantasy baseball, there’s a lot of names but two stand out:
Elvis Andrus – Some would even call him a 2009 fantasy baseball sleeper. Hey, wait a sec, I called him that! If the Rangers get Vizquel, it hurts Andrus’s value, but, as I already said, Andrus probably wouldn’t be up for opening day anyway. 2009 Projections: 55/3/35/.250/20 in 50 games.
Jed Lowrie – “Hey, what’s that you just put into your back pocket?” “Jed Lowrie.” “Why?” “I want an outside chance at a 10/5 season.” Long pause. “Oh.” 2009 Projections: 75/10/80/.260/5
