Before anyone accuses me of forgetting to replace the title of this post, slow your roll. That is the title. You don’t like it? Guess who doesn’t care. Yours truly. Sorry, but it’s true. I can only try so hard and this is me trying. So the 2016 MLB First-Year Player draft was last night. Once again, guess who doesn’t care. Once again, yours truly. Oh wait, I just thought of a better title. How about this one. What The Puk. Those were the words muttered by Harold Reynolds in reaction to A.J. Puk sliding to the sixth pick. I’ve got another. How about He’s a Moniak, Moniak on the floor? Ok, I’m done.
With the 2016 MLB All-Star game about a month away, voting is in full effect. I just voted and here is for whom I voted. I have no idea if that last sentence even resembles proper grammar, nor do I give a hoot.
Catcher, Wilson Ramos – He might have less total points than both Buster Posey and Jonathan Lucroy, but that’s only because he’s had only 181 plate appearances. Posey has had 212 and Lucroy 227. Ramos is sporting a points per plate appearance (PPPA) of 0.74, beating out both Posey (0.63) and Lucroy (0.63). When on the field he has been the best catcher in points leagues this season. I’m still taking Posey rest of season however given his pattern of consistency and success.
1B, Anthony Rizzo – Preseason I would have penciled in Paul Goldschmidt here. Good thing I would have used a pencil because I’d be erasing right now. White out looks so unprofessional. Anthony Rizzo leads all 1B in points (198) and PPPA (0.776). I’m still taking Goldschmidt rest of season, but if I had to go with Rizzo I would not be disappointed. Mark Trumbo leads all 1B-eligible players with 20 home runs.
2B, Jose Altuve – This is the best hitter in points leagues this season. Probably Roto leagues too, I’m just too lazy to confirm. With 241 points and a 0.863 PPPA, Altuve is nothing short of a stud. Pun intended. I think. He’s on pace to hit nearly 30 home runs (not likely) and steal over 40 bases (more likely). There’s nothing not to like about this guy. My only question is whether he is taller than Tyrion Lanister.
3B, Nolan Arenado – I think playing half his games at Coors Field helps give him the slight edge over the other top 3B, but I’m not going to count that against him. After all, he has 10 home runs at home and 8 on the road. Let’s face it, Arenado is really good. His PPPA (0.869) is actually a few hundredths of a point better than Altuve!
SS, Manny Machado – The fact that Machado is SS eligible is going to make him one of the most valuable players in fantasy baseball. For me, this is going to make him a top five pick next year, pushing Carlos Correa from the top player discussion. I’m thinking Kershaw, Machado, Trout, Harper then Sale. Arenado might have the slight edge on him so far this season with respect to production, but I’m taking Machado. The fact that he went after Yordano makes him even more desirable.
CI, Daniel Murphy – Murphy has 193 points. That’s as many as Machado and one less than Rizzo. Only eight players have more. He’s eligible at 1B, 2B and 3B. So yeah, he’s pretty damn valuable. Because of that, I’m taking him over Rizzo. Position eligibility is a very underrated factor in fantasy baseball.
MI, Robinson Cano – Robbie Cano has set out to show that last season was a fluke and he’s succeeding. BIG time. Right now he is one of the best players in fantasy baseball and is on pace for the best season of his career.I sure am glad I own him. He’s no Altuve, but then again, who is.
OF, Mookie Betts – Was anyone else betting on this guy to be the top OF coming into the season. We all saw top ten material, but not top one. Well he currently is in the top five for points among all hitters. That stretch of two games with five home runs certainly didn’t hurt his cause. I’m still taking Trout and Harper over Betts, but I’d love to see Mookie on my roster when I look at my team page.
OF, Mike Trout – No surprise here. It’s amazing how a guy can be doing so well, yet you don’t hear all that much about him. I guess that’s what happens when there are such high expectations for a player on a regular basis. I think he passes Betts for the top OF before the season is over. Actually, I’m betting on it.
OF, Ben Zobrist – I had to go with Zobrist over both Harper and Polanco. They were close, but Zobrist has been better. Truthfully he’s been great. With just under 200 points his PPPA (0.808) is better than every outfielder not named Ben Zobrist. And if your 2B happens to get injured Zobrist can fill in there where he is currently in the top five.
DH, David Ortiz – I debated whether or not to include a DH considering the All-Star game is in an NL park, but knew that I had to include Ortiz in the discussion. I talked about him last week when I reminded you that I told everyone to draft him. You can read that here. The only more productive player right now than Ortiz is Altuve, and Ortiz’s PPPA of 0.977 is the best in points leagues.
SP, Clayton Kershaw – He’s the best pitcher in baseball. Fake baseball and real baseball. I consider Kershaw the best player in points leagues. Unless you have some wacky scoring system that heavily favors hitters.
Honorable Mention
Buster Posey, Paul Goldschmidt, Josh Donaldson, Xander Bogaerts, Bryce Harper, Gregory Polanco and Ian Kinsler.
