Gone over the catchers, 1st basemen, 2nd basemen, shortstops and 3rd basemen. Guess what’s next! The title might have gave it away. With the top 20 outfielders a pattern emerges. Steroids can be tested for, but Red Bull can’t. It was the summer of speed and somewhere Ron LeFlore smiles. Since outfield is a deep position, I think I’m going to turn this one to 40. Those will be here on Thursday. Anyway, here’s the top 20 outfielders for 2009 fantasy baseball and how they compare to where I originally ranked them:
1. Carl Crawford – For four years, Crawford was featured prominently in the top of the preseason rankings for outfielders, and, in 2009, he finally fulfilled that promise by ranking first overall at the end of the season. Wouldn’t you know it, last year was not one of those top preseason ranking years. After an abysmal 2008, Crawford’s stock did a Triple Lindy coming into 2009. Then he exploded for 21 steals in May and he looked like he might surpass Lou Brock’s career total by August. Unfortunately, he slowed down in the 2nd half. Let’s hope it wasn’t his knee shouting expletives at the artificial turf. Preseason Rank #10, 2009 Projections: 85/15/80/.300/45, Final Numbers: 96/15/68/.305/60
2. Jacoby Ellsbury – Hamilton-Burrishly, Ellsbury and Crawford dueled during the regular season to see who would steal more bases, Ellsbury won the battle, but Crawford the war. On a sidenote, not such a great sign that the top two outfielders gave a majority of value with the steal. Where’s the 40 homer outfielders? There were none. Not even Adam Dunn. That’s something that will need to be addressed in its own post during the offseason. Seems like something for December Grey. Preseason Rank #16, 2009 Projections: 110/10/60/.285/40, Final Numbers: 94/8/60/.301/70
3. Ryan Braun – I said this the other day when talking about Evan Longoria, but it applies here, as well. Braun may not have been a disappointment per se, but eff “per se” in its Frenchy-sounding goolie. I wanted 40 homers from Braun! Preseason Rank #2, 2009 Projections: 100/40/110/.280/15, Final Numbers: 113/32/114/.320/20
4. Matt Kemp – Here’s what I said last January, “I not only bought into the Matt Kemp hype, I rolled it up in decorative sugar and began to sell it at a local bake sale. You want someone in the fourth round in 2009 that could be a first or second rounder in 2010? Matt Kemp’s your man, man. He’s the future, kids.” And that’s me quoting me! And me was right. Next year, I’m taking Kemp in the 1st round and I’m going to like it. Preseason Rank #11, 2009 Projections: 95/24/80/.295/30, Final Numbers: 97/26/101/.297/34
5. Ichiro Suzuki – The average is great, the steals are okay, the homers are bleh. Another Ichiro year. Preseason Rank #12, 2009 Projections: 110/7/50/.315/35, Final Numbers: 88/11/46/.352/26
6. Matt Holliday – Did it help his RBIs to bat behind Pujols? Probably. Maybe a few more homers than if he stayed with the A’s? Yup, but as you see from my preseason projections he was pretty much in line with what I thought he’d do. He was scorching hot when he went from the A’s to the Cards. I believe that he would’ve been hot in the 2nd half no matter where he played. Next year when people are saying he’ll return to 30 homers, I’m going to say again he’s a 25 home run hitter. Unless he signs with the Rockies or the Yankees. Preseason Rank #5, 2009 Projections: 90/22/105/.310/12, Final Numbers: 94/24/109/.313/14
7. Bobby Abreu – Who would’ve put three Angels in the top 20 in the beginning of the year? Gene Autry’s Ghost, perhaps. But not many people. I thought Abreu would steal a bit more on the Angels, but I thought the years of 30 steals were long gone. Preseason Rank #25, 2009 Projections: 110/17/100/.300/20, Final Numbers: 96/15/103/.293/30
8. Michael Bourn – Speed is definitely in a renaissance. It’s like the go-go 80s with Rock Raines sniffing coke off of the dashboard of Keith Hernandez’s El Dorado. All we need now is for Okrent to send out the standings in the mail. Makes you wonder if speed would’ve ever left the scene if it wasn’t for steroids. Preseason Rank #66, 2009 Projections: 70/4/30/.240/40, Final Numbers: 97/3/35/.285/61
9. Adam Lind – I’ve already talked a bit about my thoughts on Lind for 2010. Right now, we’re talking about 2009, ya’ll. He’ll be the magical 27 years old in 2010. Shoot, we’re talking about 2009. Um, he had a good year. Yeah, that’s the ticket. (There will be more to come!) Preseason Rank #61, 2009 Projections: 65/22/85/.275/3, Final Numbers: 93/35/114/.305/1
10. Jayson Werth – Hopefully you didn’t abandon ship when he got off to a rocky April start (2 homers, 10 RBIs). After that, Werth ended up having a very consistent season, hitting at least 6 homers every month. Then he chucked in 5 steals in four games of October because he obviously owned himself in a H2H league. Preseason Rank #41, 2009 Projections: 95/17/70/.270/17, Final Numbers: 98/36/99/.268/20
11. Jason Bay – Now for the inconsistent Jason. He hit 19 of his homers in two months of the season (May and August). In July, he hit 1 homer and drove in only 5 runs. On the bright side, he must’ve realized he was starring in a donkey show with him being the donkey because he contributed 6 steals in July. Preseason Rank #17, 2009 Projections: 100/32/110/.280/10, Final Numbers: 103/36/119/.267/13
12. Justin Upton – I see your love for B.J. and I raise you a 20/20/.300 season. Preseason Rank #48, 2009 Projections: 70/20/70/.260/7, Final Numbers: 84/26/86/.300/20
13. Kendry Morales – Went over him in the top 20 1st basemen post. Final Numbers:
14. Ben Zobrist – Went over him in the top 20 2nd basemen post. Final Numbers:
15. Shin-Soo Choo – I wonder if there’s a fantasy baseball blogger in Korea writing Torii Hunter is the American Shin-Soo Choo. Things that make you say hmm… Preseason Rank #51, 2009 Projections: 70/16/70/.280/11, Final Numbers: 87/20/86/.300/21
16. Denard Span – Did I underestimate Denard Dawg’s relevance in the beginning of the season? I don’t think so, since my projections were pretty spot-on. So why did I rank him 53rd? Because I didn’t realize how few homers would come out of the outfield in 2009. You could’ve found 27 guys who contributed 20 steals, but how many guys hit 30 homers? 11 guys. To be continued… Preseason Rank #53, 2009 Projections: 90/8/60/.285/20, Final Numbers: 97/8/68/.311/23
17. Torii Hunter – On July 3rd, I told you to sell Hunter when he was at 17/13. In the last three months, he went 5/5. Cust kayin’. Preseason Rank #30, 2009 Projections: 85/24/85/.275/17, Final Numbers: 74/22/90/.299/18
18. Nyjer Morgan – Let’s reenact the day Nyjer was traded from the Pirates. “Nyjer, you’ve been traded.” A five minute dance, followed by ten minutes of celebratory hoots and hollers as he lets everyone know how glad he is to be out of the Pirates organization. “Nyjer, you’re going to the Nats.” Nyjer cries. Then he devotes himself to proving the Pirates wrong as he hits .351 with the Nats and steals 24 bases in 49 games. Preseason Unranked, Final Numbers: 74/3/39/.307/42
19. Johnny Damon – The Yankees figured out a way to reverse the effects of all of their aging players. Have them play in a Little League field. Preseason Rank #26, 2009 Projections: 105/15/70/.285/20, Final Numbers: 107/24/82/.282/12
20. Shane Victorino – Wait, Denard Dawg was supposed to be emulating Victorino. Teacher, student… Not student, teacher. Not student, teacher! Victorino’s season worries me a bit because he did much better last year in 50 less at-bats. In 620 ABs in 2009, his stats should look better. I’ve already had my love of Sparkakis desecrated this year. Not you too, Victorino… Please. Preseason Rank #15, 2009 Projections: 100/15/60/.285/35, Final Numbers: 102/10/62/.292/25
