Many things have changed since November when we kicked off the 2010 fantasy baseball sleeper posts. For one, the date. For two, some of these guys are no longer that sleepery. For three, hut-hut-hike! As long as you don’t reach too far, sleepers can make all the difference on your team. You’re not grabbing a sleeper in the first round. You’re not like, “Hey, Drunky Cabrera, you walk that line, I’m going with Garrett Jones.” You should have a solid foundation in the first eight to ten rounds, then mix some sleepers in after that. If you click on the names for these players, there’s entire posts about them with their 2010 projections. Anyway, here’s some sleepers for 2010 fantasy baseball:
Alcides Escobar – Forty steals from Alcides wouldn’t be surprising. He’s especially nice if Web Gems is a category in your league.
Colby Rasmus – In front of Pujols and Holliday might hinder Rasmus’ running game, but he should still be good for 15-20 homers and 10 to 15 steals.
Ian Stewart – Who is this Ian Stewart you talk of? I have never heard of him. Okay, no fooling, but the other night I had a dream that Ian Stewart had a complete collapse and was benched for Mora. Granted, the girl from Seymore Butts and Thomas Jefferson were also in the dream and I was smoking opium… Nevertheless! Stewart’s really not far away from sleeper sell material if you need to draft him in the top 100. 12th round or higher? Much better. (Side note, I was at a sushi restaurant the other day — Grey loves sushi as much as he loves referring to himself in third person. Was sitting at the sushi bar when a smoking hot girl sits down next me. It was the girl from Seymore Butts. I didn’t recognize her. You can giggle and say I’m lying. You’d be surprised how unrecognizable a porn star is in clothes. It’s like putting glasses on Clark Kent. So we start talking and she reveals who she is and asks me if I’d like a few free DVDs. She has them in her car, which is parked in the back. I agree; you would’ve too. Don’t judge. She gives me 5 DVDs. For those who aren’t hip to porn DVDs. Their covers are graphic. As we said goodbye, I realized I was parked in the front of the restaurant at a meter. Yes, I had to walk back through the restaurant to get to my car. I could’ve stuck the DVDs under my shirt, but I manned up, and walked very quickly. Still, everyone saw what I was carrying. The sushi chefs’ smiles were priceless. A group of women dining there looked at me like I was everything wrong with men. Finally, I get outside. Only to find a female meter maid giving me a ticket. I put the DVDs behind my back and rush up to her. Please, I tell her, I’m leaving right now. It’s already started. Buh-buh-but! Just then, a group of teenagers approach from behind me and start screaming, “Check out his videos! He’s a pervert!” Yeah, I took the parking ticket.)
Brandon Wood – The time appears now, unless Scioscia thinks the time is not now and he goes with The Figgy Duets (Maicer and Aybar). If Wood penetrates the lineup (sticking with today’s post theme), he could be Ian Stewart 10 rounds later.
Jay Bruce – If Bruce does what he’s capable of, he will be overrated in 2011.
Dexter Fowler – Sorry, even sometimes I admire my own work and the post title under Fowler’s name is classic. And I don’t even get Showtime! Fowler is in the unenviable position of a crowded outfield. If he stumbles out of the gate, I could see his time being reduced.
Carlos Gonzalez – I’ve been meaning to write an entire post on this, but Spring Training’s falling through the hourglass, so this post will have to do. CarGo has to deal with a crowded outfield too. Somehow CarGo’s risen way up draft sheets while Fowler’s stayed pretty reasonable. A 10/30 season from Fowler seems as likely as a 20/20 season from CarGo. No reason CarGo should be priced that much higher. I have CarGo about 20 places higher in my rankings. Yet, I hear people returning from a draft where Fowler isn’t drafted at all and CarGo is going in the first 100 picks. Huh?
Chris Davis – I’m a sucker for low average, high power, some speed guys. It’s the new three outcome player.
Julio Borbon – Yeah, the Rockies and the Rangers have some upside candidates.
Nolan Reimold – Heal, Achilles’ heel. Please.
Garrett Jones – Everyone seems to think Garrett Jones can’t build on his 2009. And I’m kinda in that group. But still, the Pirates will play him and he’s not exactly being drafted that high.
David Price – I gotta be honest, I’ve seen Price in drafts and I’ve had a hard time pulling the trigger. I just picture myself curled up in a ball crying while watching him pitch against the Yankees or Red Sox.
Jonathan Sanchez – I’ve had no problem drafting this doode.
Carlos Quentin – If he can stay healthy, he’ll be overrated next year. *fingers crossed*
Denard Span – Yeah, he’s pretty yawnstipating, but there’s a place for that on some teams. (Damn, that was the worst sales pitch since David Price’s blurb.)
Geovany Soto – When he showed up camp forty pounds lighter, Soto said, “I used to be a little sluggish — like ‘I want to take a nap.’ Now I feel great and I just want to put myself in the best position to help the club.” Sounds like a line from an afterschool special about how marijuana is a gateway drug.
Elvis Andrus – I’ve almost convinced myself that Andrus is going to be as valuable this year as Jose Reyes circa 2008. Almost. Like in a game of horseshoes. A game of horseshoes!
