Can we talk about the SS position right now? Seriously, it’s like 2004 travelled into the future, made like rabbits to triple itself, and then gloriously handed it’s crown to the offspring that will eventually put them all to shame. Ok, maybe not to shame…there’s no far less PED’s, but sweet mercy if this crop of shortstops ain’t something to behold. Let’s give a little rundown: Seager, Bogaerts, Correa, Lindor, Desmond, Tulowitzki, Machado, Villar, Nunez, Miller, Segura. That’s 11 guys. So, for a 12-tea standard league there’s no use in reaching big time for a SS, as I haven’t even mentioned Turner (he’ll get the eligibility next year), Swanson (still two years away from becoming the next Jeter), Semien (could be the 2017 Schoop), Ramirez in his breakout, the young’n Russell or the sneaky good Crawford. However, there’s another name vying for that 12th spot. Someone not so small (6’1″, 180 lbs) that fits the mold of one of the first four names mentioned and is blossoming into a pro hitter before our eyes. Someone worthy enough as a Creeper to get his name written in the tab of this article enough to relegate all the prior names to last name status so far. Someone named…
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- Tim Anderson, SS (11.9% owned) – Remember when coming into the season Tyler Saladino was the White Sox SS poised to break camp with the big league club? Then they signed, wait for it, Jimmy Rollins? Then they got off to a superb start, only to fizzle like a flash in the pan? Remember all that? Well, in the middle of the South Side’s mediocrity they finally figured out their SS position when they finally promoted Tim Anderson to the Sox near the beginning of June. Anderson rates as a 60 overall prospect (scale of 20-80) who will probably bring a little more glove than bat to his value. His ISO in the minors hovered between .115 and .175, nothing to write home about, but more than Andrelton Simmons. He carries an AVG of .285 coming into Week 22 with a .376 BABIP. That seems high, but is right on par with his minors trajectory (.369 the lowest in 2014 A+ ball). Last season he stole 49 bases in AAA with a .315 AVG and a .105 ISO. What does this add up to? A top ceiling of Jimmy Rollins (circa 2006), optimistic comparison of Fransisco Lindor (there he is!), and a floor of Jordy Mercer. Anderson’s legit, and he’s already proving he’s better than that floor. With 26 XBH in his first 274 MLB ABs, he’s on his way to becoming a 40 2B, 15 HR player who can top 30 SB. I’ll take some big Tim Anderson shares in 2017, but will begin amassing them now as he deserves to creep in your lineup as he’s been arguably better than any other SS the past 14 days.
Now…enough creepin’. Here are the Top 100 Hitters for Week 22!
Note: These rankings are considered ROS trade value.
RED = Falling
GREEN = Rising
BLUE = New to the 100
Dropped From Rankings: Marcell Ozuna (91), Rajai Davis (95), Martin Prado (98), Yasmany Tomas (99), Max Kepler (100)
- WE HAVE A NEW #1! Man, it’s been a long, long time since Altuve was bumped from the top spot, but Mookie’s more than deserving of the crown this week. And, if I’m betting, for the rest of the season. Why? Just in case you haven’t looked at how great his MVP-caliber season is going: .320/100/29/94/21 with more than a month left! Seriously, you’d draft that line in the 1st round, if not the top 5, to begin the year; that’s basically Mike Trout’s preseason projection. Mookie’s fully emerged this year, just in time to take the crown as the face of the Red Sox.
- As for a previous #1, maybe I should have written off Bryce Harper months ago. I mean, damn it. Of course he turns it on right in time the fantasy playoffs, but man…what a change in his game the past three weeks. But here’s the scary part I’ve yet to hear: for as ‘bad’ as Bryce was post-April and through the summer, he’s still hitting a .254/70/22/73/18 clip. That’s crazy. He could easily end with a .270/90/30/95/23 line. In a massive down year. WUT?!? Ethcu me?!? In other words, if you’re able to steal Bryce next year anywhere after the first six picks you’re robbing everyone else in your league. When you’re one of the greatest young hitters ever it doesn’t take much to turn my attention back around. And as he turns around so do my thoughts. He’s quickly climbing back. Somehow. (I’d be willing to bet all of @JB Gilpin’s money that he’s been undisclosed injured all year…)
- Not a ton of overturn this week. Some of the bottom names that are cooling come off the 100, and we fit back in some hot bats, but at this point in the season you should have a top 100 locked in. There are some off the list that could have easily crept in the bottom, but, as I say every week, once you hit the 70-75 range everything underneath is largely preference.
DROP THOSE COMMENTS! Good luck in Week 22…September call-ups and fantasy playoffs largely begin next week! Hopefully you made it in, and if so, hopefully these rankings have been and continue to be helpful as you chase your crown!
What are your thoughts on Maybin? Is it just his health that keeps him off the list or do you think his production will regress?
@WCP: I can’t rely on him. The health is just so bad, and while his numbers have been solid, there’s no strong history to make me believe his trajectory will continue to maintain that pace even IF he can stay on the field.
What would it take for Ian Desmond to lose his vicegrip on the number 12 spot? He’s got a .525 OPS over the past month and in the second half looks a lot like the player he was last year, just collecting slightly more counting stats.
@Odor’s Odor-izzi spray: Good call on his regression. I love what he’s done so far, and see their improved lineup as a potential kickstart to his production. We’ll see, though. Like Harper, I may just be one week late on moving him to his truer ranking. Let’s see how this week plays out and I’ll most likely adjust for September.
Plus Trevor Story!
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: Duda! You’re right! Forgot about him. He’s the #12 man…
I know this is a hitting column (and yes, I read (and enjoyed) it), but I have a SP question (12-team weekly 5×5 roto league) – I don’t understand SON’s value for Nolasco (yes, THAT Nolasco). Please rank:
2-start Nolasco vCIN ($14.1), @OAK ($4.7)
1-start Fulmer @KC ($3.7)
1-start Hendricks vSF ($1.6)
@Five-On-One: Haha, thanks for reading, and you can always ask for the pitching advice either here or in the Two-Start that posts every Saturday.
Nolasco gets a good ranking because his opponents are weak and his peripherals are actually quite good compared to his surface stats. I’m not opposed to throwing him for the two-start, but I can’t make myself do it over either Fulmer or Hendricks, both Cy Young candidates.
You’re still bullish on Brad Miller. He’s been ice cold for a week. You think this is just a cold stretch and he returns to form? Hard to wait on guys this time of year.
@FKA Ralph: Yes, it is hard to wait on guys. Don’t hesitate to cut him if you need to. Take the hottest bat possible. For me, I still like Miller, but I’ve been high on him all year. Drafted him in four leagues as my SS, then proceeded to drop him before the end of April. He killed me. Glad he’s fully turned around and come into form, and I believe it’s all legit. But, again, at this time of year, especially if in a H2H league and approaching the playoffs, he can be cut. Anyone south of 50-60 can be cut if you MUST.
No AJ Pollock?
@AB25: Not yet. I need to see him actually do something. I’ve messed up the bones around my elbow before and it can really sap your power. Hopefully he comes out booming in his first full week and demands a ranking, but I have to be a little cautious initially. My stock in him literally the night of his injury (finished the draft 30 minutes prior to the injury) has killed me, and really made me look forward to the return.
Debating on Franco or Hern Perez this week in UtilH2H standard categories. Hitter-tron likes Franco much more than Perez, although Perez has done much more over the past 2 weeks than Franco.
Franco 3 WAS 3 ATL
Perez 3 STL 3 @ PIT
Thoughts? Thanks.
@Yelyabd: I’d go Perez. I just don’t trust Franco, and Perez hasn’t slowed down much since he got hot over a month ago. His numbers project out to Carlos Gomez levels, and I think he has the potential to keep this up. Franco’s a poor man’s Evan Longoria, minus the MVP upside. Never been super high on him. Gimme Herrrrnan.
Just a heads-up on Anderson: those in OBP leagues need to be careful as that’s not his game. Great power/speed combo though, and he’s only 23 years old!
@Dave: Totally accurate here. 25% K rate, 2.5% BB rate. Also not the best option for points leagues. However, in OPS he’s not bad due to his ability to rack up the XBH instead of just roping singles.
And yes, just 23. I really think he finds his way safely into the middle projections I mentioned above.
Big drop for Kinsler with the week+ long cold streak.
In a Keeper you like Kinsler or DJ LeMahieu RoS and for next year?
@B the Esq.: Man…As long as LeMahieu is in Coors I may go with him. Crazy as that sounds after Kinsler’s track record and unbelievable first half. However, coming into the year I almost wrote an article on the overrated nature of Kinsler’s draft ranking. He’s getting older with, until this year, a steadily declining OPS. They’re closer than the name value suggests, and I’d prob give the slight edge to DJ.
Also, please rank for ROS:
Toescar, Saunders, Schebler, Corey Dickerson, Eaton.
Thanks.
@Five-On-One: ROS? Eaton, Saunders, Dickerson, Toescar, Scheduler.
I believe Gurriel will force his way into the top 100. Quickly. He is a bad, bad man. Don’t let his short stint in the upper minors fool you.
@Donald Trump: The Donald made his way into my rankings, mentioned a foreign player and didn’t totally bad mouth him? WHAT IS HAPPENING!?! The sky is falling! Haha, and for the record I’m not voting for Hillary, either. I’ll prob just write in Alexander Hamilton. He won the duel, right?
Yes, Gurriel was incredible in Cuba, but I’m very hesitant to put my eggs in that basket. When I see his name I also see the names of Aleander Guerrero and Hector Olivera watermarked on top of his. So sketchy projecting out numbers from the Cuban leagues to what he’ll do in his first tour in the Majors. Sure, he could be 2014 Jose Abreu…or he could be this year’s Olivera. Huge ceiling, basement floor. I shy away from those guys.