Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Josh Johnson

Josh Johnson is a $15-$20 starting pitcher in 4x4 following last year's performance, but he has a new injury. This has caution flags waiving everywhere. To think I was close to dealing Freddie Sanchez for him until the other team got cold feet!




MiamiHerald.com | 01/30/2007 | Pitchers Sanchez, Johnson slowed by sore arms: "Johnson, who went 12-7 last year in his rookie season, has shut down his throwing program after experiencing pain in his lower biceps, near his right elbow. But the Marlins didn't think it serious enough to order an MRI, and he is optimistic he will be able to resume throwing in the not-too-distant future.

''I might be a little behind. We'll see,'' Johnson said. ``It depends on how fast this goes away. They [the training staff] say it's tough to tell.''

Johnson said he doesn't think the injury, which he first felt about a week ago, is related to the strained right forearm he sustained after returning from a lengthy rain delay against the Mets on Sept. 12. "

Monday, January 29, 2007

2007 NL SS Rankings

There is excellent depth in the National league at the SS position. Any of the top 5 would satisfy a team's SB need. Bill Hall provides a HR level one would expect from a $30 OF. With that glamor, the next five or six will fall by the wayside. Those after that are likely to be quality value picks in the sub-$10 range.































RankPlayerTeamAVGHRRBISB
1REYES JOSENYM0.300198164
2RAMIREZ HANLEYFLA0.292175951
3ROLLINS JIMMYPHI0.277258336
4FURCAL RAFAELLA0.300156337
5LOPEZ FELIPEWAS0.274115244
6HALL BILLMLW0.27035858
7RENTERIA EDGARATL0.293147017
8AURILIA RICHSF0.30023703
9SANCHEZ FREDDYPIT0.3446853
10DREW STEPHENARZ0.3165232
11VIZQUEL OMARSF0.29545824
12TULOWITZKI TROYCOL0.240163
15GONZALEZ ALEXCIN0.2559501
13GREENE KHALILSD0.24515555
14HARDY J.J.MLW0.2425141
17ECKSTEIN DAVIDSTL0.2922237
16COUNSELL CRAIGMLW0.25543015
18IZTURIS CESARCHC0.2451181
19EVERETT ADAMHOU0.2396599
20CEDENO RONNYCHC0.2456418
21CALLASPO ALBERTOARZ0.238060
22BARMES CLINTCOL0.2207565
23MILES AARONSTL0.2632302
24EASLEY DAMIONNYM0.2339281
25CASTRO JUANCIN0.2513281
26BLUM GEOFFSD0.2544340

Saturday, January 27, 2007

2007 AL SS Rankings

The AL SS ranks do not provide a whole lot of depth. After Orlando Cabrera, there are flawed players - Juan Uribe low AVG, Bobby Crosby's lack of health - and ones who just don't provide much i.e. Aaron Hill. And I know some would throw Cabrera into the flawed bunch, too - one category (SB) and a ton of propsects behind him (Erick Aybar, Brandon Wood and Sean Rodriguez.)

The sleepers in this group are Jason Bartlett, who should be able to get upwards of 20 SBs with a 5-10 HRs, a sort of Nick Punto with "pop", and Ben Zobrist, who could do the same. But sleepers who aspire to .300/5/50/20? Proof of a lack of depth!































RankPlayerTeamAVGHRRBISB
1JETER DEREKNYY0.343149734
2GUILLEN CARLOSDET0.320198520
3TEJADA MIGUELBAL0.330241006
4YOUNG MICHAELTEX0.314141037
5LUGO JULIOBOS0.278123724
6CABRERA ORLANDOANA0.28297227
7URIBE JUANCWS0.23521711
8CROSBY BOBBYOAK0.2299408
9PERALTA JHONNYCLE0.25713680
10BETANCOURT YUNIESSEA0.28984711
11BARTLETT JASONMIN0.30923210
12PUNTO NICKMIN0.29014517
13HILL AARONTOR0.2916505
14BERROA ANGELKC0.2349543
15ZOBRIST BENTB0.2242182
16CLAYTON ROYCECIN0.25824014
17LUNA HECTORCLE0.2866385
18SCUTARO MARCOSOAK0.2665415
19AYBAR ERICKANA0.250021
20ARIAS JOAQUINTEX0.545010
21GONZALEZ ALEXKC0.111010
22ADAMS RUSSTOR0.2193281
23SANTIAGO RAMONDET0.225032
24MCDONALD JOHNTOR0.2233237
25CORA ALEXBOS0.2381186
26PEREZ NEIFIDET0.2432291

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Alex Gordon Projection

This is excerpted from Tristan Cockcroft's fantasy baseball chat this morning.


ESPN.com: SPORTSNATION:
"What numbers do you see for Alex Gordon? Seems like a sure fire stud.


Tristan H. Cockcroft: Again, exercise caution. Gordon's indeed a surefire stud, but as with all rookies, he's risky. I think the third base job will be his to lose this spring, and if he can get in 150 games, Gordon should be expected to manage around a .280 batting average, 25 homers, 80 RBI. But as I said, be careful, because hype can be a bad thing for fantasy sometimes. "

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

2007 NL 3B Rankings

The 3B pool in the NL is a deep one. The top ones will not hurt in AVG and provide solid 20/80 power. I am very comfortable ignoring this position and gambling on any of Kevin Kouzmanoff, Wilson Betemit, Andy LaRoche (if he is draftable), Wes Helms and even Tony Graffanino.


































RankNL-onlyAVGHRRBISB
1ATKINS GARRETTCOL0.329291204
2CABRERA MIGUELFLA0.339261149
3WRIGHT DAVIDNYM0.3112611620
4RAMIREZ ARAMISCHC0.291381192
5JONES CHIPPERATL0.32426866
6ROLEN SCOTTSTL0.29622957
7ZIMMERMAN RYANWAS0.2872011011
8AURILIA RICHCIN0.30023703
9TRACY CHADARZ0.28120805
10SANCHEZ FREDDYPIT0.3446853
11DEROSA MARKCHC0.29613744
12FELIZ PEDROSF0.24422981
13ENCARNACION EDWINCIN0.27615726
14HELMS WESPHI0.32910470
15ENSBERG MORGANHOU0.23523581
16KOUZMANOFF KEVINSD0.2143110
17LAMB MIKEHOU0.30712452
18BETEMIT WILSONLA0.26318533
19BELL DAVIDMLW0.27010633
20SPIEZIO SCOTTSTL0.27213521
21WALKER TODDSD0.2789532
22GRAFFANINO TONYMLW0.2747595
23CIRILLO JEFFMLW0.3193231
24BAUTISTA JOSEPIT0.23516512
25BRANYAN RUSSELLSD0.22818362
26KOSKIE COREYMLW0.26112331
27AYBAR WILLYATL0.2804301
28BOONE AARONFLA0.2517465
29IZTURIS CESARCHC0.2451181
ANDY LAROCHE

Saturday, January 20, 2007

2007 AL 3B Rankings

The Al has a generally weak class of 3B. ARod is elite, but, after him, there isn't a solid across-the-categories player to be had. The rankings reflect this. Mariners 3B Adrian Beltre could fit the bill if he continues to steal bases and doesn't start off so poorly that his value is only in SBs! The big question in this group if whether or not Royals 3B continues to produce like he did post-recall. If he does, then he will be a lock for the #2 overall 3B. At the end of this list is a sleeper in Devil Rays 3B Joel Guzman. If he makes the team, he is a great player to get for a $1 at the end of the draft.


























RankPlayerTeamAVGHRRBISB
1RODRIGUEZ ALEXNYY0.293512115
2FIGGINS CHONEANA0.26796252
3BELTRE ADRIANSEA0.268258911
4GLAUS TROYTOR0.252381043
5MORA MELVINBAL0.274168311
6CREDE JOECWS0.28330940
7TEAHEN MARKKC0.29186910
8INGE BRANDONDET0.25327837
9LOWELL MIKEBOS0.28420802
10HUFF AUBREYBAL0.26721660
11BLALOCK HANKTEX0.26616891
12CHAVEZ ERICOAK0.24122723
13MARTE ANDYCLE0.2265230
14HILLENBRAND SHEAANA0.27721681
15WIGGINTON TYTB0.27524794
16PUNTO NICKMIN0.2914517
17UPTON B.J.TB0.24611011
18GERMAN ESTEBANKC0.3263347
19MCPHERSON DALLASANA0.2617131
20IZTURIS MAICERANA0.29354414
21GUZMAN JOELTB0.211030
22FIELDS JOSHCWS0.15120

Thursday, January 18, 2007

2007 NL 2B Rankings

Chase Utley has become an elite level player. The fact he plays 2B guarantees he is a first round/$30+ player for the foreseeable future. Keep an eye on Florida's Alfredo Almezaga. He stole 20 last season and should get 300 ABs this year. Ryan Theriot is also going to be a good source of double digit steals for little to no draft dollars i.e picked-up post-draft from the pool. Pineilla likes to run.

































RankNameTeam
1UTLEY CHASEPHI
2PHILLIPS BRANDONCIN
3DURHAM RAYSF
4UGGLA DANFLA
5HUDSON ORLANDOARZ
6WEEKS RICKIEMLW
7KENT JEFFLA
8BURKE CHRISHOU
9SANCHEZ FREDDYPIT
10DEROSA MARKCHC
11GILES MARCUSSD
12CASTILLO JOSEPIT
13BIGGIO CRAIGHOU
14VALENTIN JOSENYM
15MATSUI KAZCOL
16CARROLL JAMEYCOL
17AMEZAGA ALFREDOFLA
18THERIOT RYANCHC
19GRAFFANINO TONYMLW
20BELLIARD RONNIEFA
21WALKER TODDSD
22LORETTA MARKHOU
23ANDERSON MARLONLA
25CASTRO BERNIEWAS
26MILES AARONSTL
31WOMACK TONYWAS
32PRADO MARTINATL
34FRANDSEN KEVINSF

Scott Thorman

Yesterday's trade of 1B Adam LaRoche to the Pirates opens up the first base job in Atlanta for Scott Thorman. He wasn't ranked in my NL 1B ones. I'd place him at #18 right behind Xavier Nady. LaRoche's value remains unchanged.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

2007 AL 2B Rankings

Interestingly, Ian Kinsler ranked quite highly. I expect him to run a little more with new manager Ron Washington at the helm so a 20/20 season is not out of the realm of reasonability. I was also surprised to see Julio Lugo rank so low. If he can get his RBIs up, he should be a Top 5 2B.






























RankAL-onlyTeam
1ROBERTS BRIANBAL
2CANO ROBINSONNYY
3IGUCHI TADAHITOCWS
4KINSLER IANTEX
5BARFIELD JOSHSD
6CASTILLO LUISMIN
7LOPEZ JOSESEA
8LUGO JULIOBOS
9KENDRICK HOWIEANA
10CANTU JORGETB
11HILL AARONTOR
12WIGGINTON TYTB
13PUNTO NICKMIN
14POLANCO PLACIDODET
15VIDRO JOSEWAS
16GRUDZIELANEK MARKKC
17ELLIS MARKOAK
18PEDROIA DUSTINBOS
19GERMAN ESTEBANKC
20CINTRON ALEXCWS
21BELLIARD RONNIEFA
22SCUTARO MARCOSOAK
23HAIRSTON JERRYTEX
24CASILLA ALEXIMIN
25ADAMS RUSSTOR

Monday, January 15, 2007

2007 NL 1B Rankings

Lots of depth in NL 1B. As far down as Xavier Nady and Wes Helms provides good production. Watch Nick Johnson's recovery fro his broken leg. If he isn't going to be ready until mid-season, downgrade him slightly. However, be pepared to grab him on the cheap as he should be a good mid-season addition.
































RankNL-onlyTeam
1PUJOLS ALBERTSTL
2HOWARD RYANPHI
3BERKMAN LANCEHOU
4LEE DERREKCHC
5GONZALEZ ADRIANSD
6GARCIAPARRA NOMARLA
7FIELDER PRINCEMLW
8LAROCHE ADAMATL
9HELTON TODDCOL
10DELGADO CARLOSNYM
11JOHNSON NICKWAS
12JACOBS MIKEFLA
13AURILIA RICHSF
14JACKSON CONORARZ
15HATTEBERG SCOTTCIN
16HELMS WESPHI
17NADY XAVIERPIT
18LONEY JAMESLA
19DOUMIT RYANPIT
20LAMB MIKEHOU
21WALKER TODDSD
22CONINE JEFFCIN
23SAENZ OLMEDOLA
24SWEENEY MARKSF
25NIEKRO LANCESF
26HERNANDEZ JOSEPHI
27CLARK TONYARZ

Saturday, January 13, 2007

2007 AL 1B Rankings

There isn't too much surprise here. I re-checked Mark Teixeira with a hypothetical 40 HRs to make-up for his slow start, btu that did not change his #3 ranking. More surprising was the fact his finished with 33 dongs.

If the Devil Rays do not do anything about 1B, I love Ty Wigginton as an under $10 sleeper. Throw-in 3B- and 2B-eligibility, and you have an excellent utlity player.



































RankPlayerTeam
1MORNEAU JUSTINMIN
2KONERKO PAULCWS
3TEIXEIRA MARKTEX
4OVERBAY LYLETOR
5MARTINEZ VICTORCLE
6GIAMBI JASONNYY
7SWISHER NICKOAK
8SEXSON RICHIESEA
9YOUKILIS KEVINBOS
10SHEALY RYANKC
11KENDRICK HOWIEANA
12WIGGINTON TYTB
13BROUSSARD BENSEA
14HILLENBRAND SHEASF
15NORTON GREGTB
16NEVIN PHILMIN
17CASEY SEANDET
18MILLAR KEVINBAL
19JOHNSON DANOAK
20SHELTON CHRISDET
21GARKO RYANCLE
22MORALES KENDRYANA
23KOTCHMAN CASEYANA
24WILSON CRAIGNYY
25MIENTKIEWICZ DOUGKC
26PHILLIPS ANDYNYY
27QUINLAN ROBBANA
28GLOAD ROSSCWS
29GOMEZ CHRISBAL
30PEREZ EDUARDOSEA
31LEE TRAVISTB
32PENA CARLOSBOS

Thursday, January 11, 2007

2007 NL Catcher Ratings

The list of NL catchers is topped by the Braves' Brian McCann. He leads a group of very young backstops. 2nd-year man Russell Martin comes in second thanks to his 10 SBs and good, not outstanding, AVG/HR/RBI. Look for Josh Bard to surprise - if he can maintain last year's new-found plate discipline! Chris Coste and Robert Fick are two catcher-eligibles who should hit better than some of their peers and should be looked at as excellent $1 2nd catchers on traditional Rotisserie teams.

































RankPlayerTeam
1MCCANN BRIANATL
2MARTIN RUSSELLLA
3MOLINA BENGIESF
4ESTRADA JOHNNYMLW
5OLIVO MIGUELFLA
6BARRETT MICHAELCHC
7LO DUCA PAULNYM
8PAULINO RONNYPIT
9ROSS DAVIDCIN
10IANNETTA CHRISCOL
11MONTERO MIGUELARZ
12BARD JOSHSD
13BARAJAS RODTEX
14TORREALBA YORVITCOL
15LOPEZ JAVYCOL
16VALENTIN JAVIERCIN
17COSTE CHRISPHI
18SNYDER CHRISARZ
19FICK ROBERTWAS
20SCHNEIDER BRIANWAS
21MOLINA YADIERSTL
22ALFONZO ELIEZERSF
23MILLER DAMIANMLW
24LIEBERTHAL MIKEPHI
25CASTRO RAMONNYM
26PRATT TODDATL
27BOWEN ROBSD
28RUIZ CARLOSPHI
29BLANCO HENRYCHC
30AUSMUS BRADHOU
QUINTERO HUMBERTOHOU

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

2007 AL Catcher Rankings

Thanks to his eight stolen bases, Twins MVP candidate Joe Mauer takes the top spot. Interstingly, there is a lot of depth in the AL as the top nine backstops all had double digit HRs with Mike napoli and Gregg Zaun also reaching that goal.





























rankname teamhrrbiavgsb
1MAUER JOEMIN13840.3478
2POSADA JORGENYY23930.2773
3RODRIGUEZ IVANDET13690.3008
4JOHJIMA KENJISEA18760.2913
5MARTINEZ VICTORCLE16930.3160
6HERNANDEZ RAMONBAL23910.2751
7PIERZYNSKI A.J.CWS16640.2951
8PIAZZA MIKESD22680.2830
9VARITEK JASONBOS12550.2381
9LAIRD GERALDTEX7220.2963
11KENDALL JASONOAK1500.29511
12NAPOLI MIKEANA16420.2282
13ZAUN GREGGTOR12400.2720
14NAVARRO DIONERTB6280.2542
15LARUE JASONKC8210.1941
17BUCK JOHNKC11500.2450
18SHOPPACH KELLYCLE3160.2450
38MATHIS JEFFANA260.1450
19REDMOND MIKEMIN0230.3410
21HALL TOBYCWS8310.2590
36PHILLIPS JASONTOR060.2500
22WILSON VANCEDET5180.2830
23MOLINA JOSEANA4220.2401
23MIRABELLI DOUGBOS6250.1910
25HOUSE J.R.BAL000.0000
43RIGGANS SHAWNTB010.1720
29MELHUSE ADAMOAK4180.2190