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. "

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.

Rank	Player	Team	AVG	HR	RBI	SB
1	REYES JOSE	NYM	0.300	19	81	64
2	RAMIREZ HANLEY	FLA	0.292	17	59	51
3	ROLLINS JIMMY	PHI	0.277	25	83	36
4	FURCAL RAFAEL	LA	0.300	15	63	37
5	LOPEZ FELIPE	WAS	0.274	11	52	44
6	HALL BILL	MLW	0.270	35	85	8
7	RENTERIA EDGAR	ATL	0.293	14	70	17
8	AURILIA RICH	SF	0.300	23	70	3
9	SANCHEZ FREDDY	PIT	0.344	6	85	3
10	DREW STEPHEN	ARZ	0.316	5	23	2
11	VIZQUEL OMAR	SF	0.295	4	58	24
12	TULOWITZKI TROY	COL	0.240	1	6	3
15	GONZALEZ ALEX	CIN	0.255	9	50	1
13	GREENE KHALIL	SD	0.245	15	55	5
14	HARDY J.J.	MLW	0.242	5	14	1
17	ECKSTEIN DAVID	STL	0.292	2	23	7
16	COUNSELL CRAIG	MLW	0.255	4	30	15
18	IZTURIS CESAR	CHC	0.245	1	18	1
19	EVERETT ADAM	HOU	0.239	6	59	9
20	CEDENO RONNY	CHC	0.245	6	41	8
21	CALLASPO ALBERTO	ARZ	0.238	0	6	0
22	BARMES CLINT	COL	0.220	7	56	5
23	MILES AARON	STL	0.263	2	30	2
24	EASLEY DAMION	NYM	0.233	9	28	1
25	CASTRO JUAN	CIN	0.251	3	28	1
26	BLUM GEOFF	SD	0.254	4	34	0

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!

Rank	Player	Team	AVG	HR	RBI	SB
1	JETER DEREK	NYY	0.343	14	97	34
2	GUILLEN CARLOS	DET	0.320	19	85	20
3	TEJADA MIGUEL	BAL	0.330	24	100	6
4	YOUNG MICHAEL	TEX	0.314	14	103	7
5	LUGO JULIO	BOS	0.278	12	37	24
6	CABRERA ORLANDO	ANA	0.282	9	72	27
7	URIBE JUAN	CWS	0.235	21	71	1
8	CROSBY BOBBY	OAK	0.229	9	40	8
9	PERALTA JHONNY	CLE	0.257	13	68	0
10	BETANCOURT YUNIES	SEA	0.289	8	47	11
11	BARTLETT JASON	MIN	0.309	2	32	10
12	PUNTO NICK	MIN	0.290	1	45	17
13	HILL AARON	TOR	0.291	6	50	5
14	BERROA ANGEL	KC	0.234	9	54	3
15	ZOBRIST BEN	TB	0.224	2	18	2
16	CLAYTON ROYCE	CIN	0.258	2	40	14
17	LUNA HECTOR	CLE	0.286	6	38	5
18	SCUTARO MARCOS	OAK	0.266	5	41	5
19	AYBAR ERICK	ANA	0.250	0	2	1
20	ARIAS JOAQUIN	TEX	0.545	0	1	0
21	GONZALEZ ALEX	KC	0.111	0	1	0
22	ADAMS RUSS	TOR	0.219	3	28	1
23	SANTIAGO RAMON	DET	0.225	0	3	2
24	MCDONALD JOHN	TOR	0.223	3	23	7
25	CORA ALEX	BOS	0.238	1	18	6
26	PEREZ NEIFI	DET	0.243	2	29	1

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. "

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.

Rank	NL-only		AVG	HR	RBI	SB
1	ATKINS GARRETT	COL	0.329	29	120	4
2	CABRERA MIGUEL	FLA	0.339	26	114	9
3	WRIGHT DAVID	NYM	0.311	26	116	20
4	RAMIREZ ARAMIS	CHC	0.291	38	119	2
5	JONES CHIPPER	ATL	0.324	26	86	6
6	ROLEN SCOTT	STL	0.296	22	95	7
7	ZIMMERMAN RYAN	WAS	0.287	20	110	11
8	AURILIA RICH	CIN	0.300	23	70	3
9	TRACY CHAD	ARZ	0.281	20	80	5
10	SANCHEZ FREDDY	PIT	0.344	6	85	3
11	DEROSA MARK	CHC	0.296	13	74	4
12	FELIZ PEDRO	SF	0.244	22	98	1
13	ENCARNACION EDWIN	CIN	0.276	15	72	6
14	HELMS WES	PHI	0.329	10	47	0
15	ENSBERG MORGAN	HOU	0.235	23	58	1
16	KOUZMANOFF KEVIN	SD	0.214	3	11	0
17	LAMB MIKE	HOU	0.307	12	45	2
18	BETEMIT WILSON	LA	0.263	18	53	3
19	BELL DAVID	MLW	0.270	10	63	3
20	SPIEZIO SCOTT	STL	0.272	13	52	1
21	WALKER TODD	SD	0.278	9	53	2
22	GRAFFANINO TONY	MLW	0.274	7	59	5
23	CIRILLO JEFF	MLW	0.319	3	23	1
24	BAUTISTA JOSE	PIT	0.235	16	51	2
25	BRANYAN RUSSELL	SD	0.228	18	36	2
26	KOSKIE COREY	MLW	0.261	12	33	1
27	AYBAR WILLY	ATL	0.280	4	30	1
28	BOONE AARON	FLA	0.251	7	46	5
29	IZTURIS CESAR	CHC	0.245	1	18	1
	ANDY LAROCHE

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.

Rank	Player	Team	AVG	HR	RBI	SB
1	RODRIGUEZ ALEX	NYY	0.29	35	121	15
2	FIGGINS CHONE	ANA	0.267	9	62	52
3	BELTRE ADRIAN	SEA	0.268	25	89	11
4	GLAUS TROY	TOR	0.252	38	104	3
5	MORA MELVIN	BAL	0.274	16	83	11
6	CREDE JOE	CWS	0.283	30	94	0
7	TEAHEN MARK	KC	0.29	18	69	10
8	INGE BRANDON	DET	0.253	27	83	7
9	LOWELL MIKE	BOS	0.284	20	80	2
10	HUFF AUBREY	BAL	0.267	21	66	0
11	BLALOCK HANK	TEX	0.266	16	89	1
12	CHAVEZ ERIC	OAK	0.241	22	72	3
13	MARTE ANDY	CLE	0.226	5	23	0
14	HILLENBRAND SHEA	ANA	0.277	21	68	1
15	WIGGINTON TY	TB	0.275	24	79	4
16	PUNTO NICK	MIN	0.29	1	45	17
17	UPTON B.J.	TB	0.246	1	10	11
18	GERMAN ESTEBAN	KC	0.326	3	34	7
19	MCPHERSON DALLAS	ANA	0.261	7	13	1
20	IZTURIS MAICER	ANA	0.293	5	44	14
21	GUZMAN JOEL	TB	0.211	0	3	0
22	FIELDS JOSH	CWS	0.15	1	2	0

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.

Rank	Name	Team
1	UTLEY CHASE	PHI
2	PHILLIPS BRANDON	CIN
3	DURHAM RAY	SF
4	UGGLA DAN	FLA
5	HUDSON ORLANDO	ARZ
6	WEEKS RICKIE	MLW
7	KENT JEFF	LA
8	BURKE CHRIS	HOU
9	SANCHEZ FREDDY	PIT
10	DEROSA MARK	CHC
11	GILES MARCUS	SD
12	CASTILLO JOSE	PIT
13	BIGGIO CRAIG	HOU
14	VALENTIN JOSE	NYM
15	MATSUI KAZ	COL
16	CARROLL JAMEY	COL
17	AMEZAGA ALFREDO	FLA
18	THERIOT RYAN	CHC
19	GRAFFANINO TONY	MLW
20	BELLIARD RONNIE	FA
21	WALKER TODD	SD
22	LORETTA MARK	HOU
23	ANDERSON MARLON	LA
25	CASTRO BERNIE	WAS
26	MILES AARON	STL
31	WOMACK TONY	WAS
32	PRADO MARTIN	ATL
34	FRANDSEN KEVIN	SF

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.

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.

Rank	AL-only	Team
1	ROBERTS BRIAN	BAL
2	CANO ROBINSON	NYY
3	IGUCHI TADAHITO	CWS
4	KINSLER IAN	TEX
5	BARFIELD JOSH	SD
6	CASTILLO LUIS	MIN
7	LOPEZ JOSE	SEA
8	LUGO JULIO	BOS
9	KENDRICK HOWIE	ANA
10	CANTU JORGE	TB
11	HILL AARON	TOR
12	WIGGINTON TY	TB
13	PUNTO NICK	MIN
14	POLANCO PLACIDO	DET
15	VIDRO JOSE	WAS
16	GRUDZIELANEK MARK	KC
17	ELLIS MARK	OAK
18	PEDROIA DUSTIN	BOS
19	GERMAN ESTEBAN	KC
20	CINTRON ALEX	CWS
21	BELLIARD RONNIE	FA
22	SCUTARO MARCOS	OAK
23	HAIRSTON JERRY	TEX
24	CASILLA ALEXI	MIN
25	ADAMS RUSS	TOR

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.

Rank	NL-only	Team
1	PUJOLS ALBERT	STL
2	HOWARD RYAN	PHI
3	BERKMAN LANCE	HOU
4	LEE DERREK	CHC
5	GONZALEZ ADRIAN	SD
6	GARCIAPARRA NOMAR	LA
7	FIELDER PRINCE	MLW
8	LAROCHE ADAM	ATL
9	HELTON TODD	COL
10	DELGADO CARLOS	NYM
11	JOHNSON NICK	WAS
12	JACOBS MIKE	FLA
13	AURILIA RICH	SF
14	JACKSON CONOR	ARZ
15	HATTEBERG SCOTT	CIN
16	HELMS WES	PHI
17	NADY XAVIER	PIT
18	LONEY JAMES	LA
19	DOUMIT RYAN	PIT
20	LAMB MIKE	HOU
21	WALKER TODD	SD
22	CONINE JEFF	CIN
23	SAENZ OLMEDO	LA
24	SWEENEY MARK	SF
25	NIEKRO LANCE	SF
26	HERNANDEZ JOSE	PHI
27	CLARK TONY	ARZ

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.

Rank	Player	Team
1	MORNEAU JUSTIN	MIN
2	KONERKO PAUL	CWS
3	TEIXEIRA MARK	TEX
4	OVERBAY LYLE	TOR
5	MARTINEZ VICTOR	CLE
6	GIAMBI JASON	NYY
7	SWISHER NICK	OAK
8	SEXSON RICHIE	SEA
9	YOUKILIS KEVIN	BOS
10	SHEALY RYAN	KC
11	KENDRICK HOWIE	ANA
12	WIGGINTON TY	TB
13	BROUSSARD BEN	SEA
14	HILLENBRAND SHEA	SF
15	NORTON GREG	TB
16	NEVIN PHIL	MIN
17	CASEY SEAN	DET
18	MILLAR KEVIN	BAL
19	JOHNSON DAN	OAK
20	SHELTON CHRIS	DET
21	GARKO RYAN	CLE
22	MORALES KENDRY	ANA
23	KOTCHMAN CASEY	ANA
24	WILSON CRAIG	NYY
25	MIENTKIEWICZ DOUG	KC
26	PHILLIPS ANDY	NYY
27	QUINLAN ROBB	ANA
28	GLOAD ROSS	CWS
29	GOMEZ CHRIS	BAL
30	PEREZ EDUARDO	SEA
31	LEE TRAVIS	TB
32	PENA CARLOS	BOS

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.

Rank	Player	Team
1	MCCANN BRIAN	ATL
2	MARTIN RUSSELL	LA
3	MOLINA BENGIE	SF
4	ESTRADA JOHNNY	MLW
5	OLIVO MIGUEL	FLA
6	BARRETT MICHAEL	CHC
7	LO DUCA PAUL	NYM
8	PAULINO RONNY	PIT
9	ROSS DAVID	CIN
10	IANNETTA CHRIS	COL
11	MONTERO MIGUEL	ARZ
12	BARD JOSH	SD
13	BARAJAS ROD	TEX
14	TORREALBA YORVIT	COL
15	LOPEZ JAVY	COL
16	VALENTIN JAVIER	CIN
17	COSTE CHRIS	PHI
18	SNYDER CHRIS	ARZ
19	FICK ROBERT	WAS
20	SCHNEIDER BRIAN	WAS
21	MOLINA YADIER	STL
22	ALFONZO ELIEZER	SF
23	MILLER DAMIAN	MLW
24	LIEBERTHAL MIKE	PHI
25	CASTRO RAMON	NYM
26	PRATT TODD	ATL
27	BOWEN ROB	SD
28	RUIZ CARLOS	PHI
29	BLANCO HENRY	CHC
30	AUSMUS BRAD	HOU
	QUINTERO HUMBERTO	HOU

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.

rank	name		team	hr	rbi	avg	sb
1	MAUER	JOE	MIN	13	84	0.347	8
2	POSADA	JORGE	NYY	23	93	0.277	3
3	RODRIGUEZ	IVAN	DET	13	69	0.300	8
4	JOHJIMA	KENJI	SEA	18	76	0.291	3
5	MARTINEZ	VICTOR	CLE	16	93	0.316	0
6	HERNANDEZ	RAMON	BAL	23	91	0.275	1
7	PIERZYNSKI	A.J.	CWS	16	64	0.295	1
8	PIAZZA	MIKE	SD	22	68	0.283	0
9	VARITEK	JASON	BOS	12	55	0.238	1
9	LAIRD	GERALD	TEX	7	22	0.296	3
11	KENDALL	JASON	OAK	1	50	0.295	11
12	NAPOLI	MIKE	ANA	16	42	0.228	2
13	ZAUN	GREGG	TOR	12	40	0.272	0
14	NAVARRO	DIONER	TB	6	28	0.254	2
15	LARUE	JASON	KC	8	21	0.194	1
17	BUCK	JOHN	KC	11	50	0.245	0
18	SHOPPACH	KELLY	CLE	3	16	0.245	0
38	MATHIS	JEFF	ANA	2	6	0.145	0
19	REDMOND	MIKE	MIN	0	23	0.341	0
21	HALL	TOBY	CWS	8	31	0.259	0
36	PHILLIPS	JASON	TOR	0	6	0.250	0
22	WILSON	VANCE	DET	5	18	0.283	0
23	MOLINA	JOSE	ANA	4	22	0.240	1
23	MIRABELLI	DOUG	BOS	6	25	0.191	0
25	HOUSE	J.R.	BAL	0	0	0.000	0
43	RIGGANS	SHAWN	TB	0	1	0.172	0
29	MELHUSE	ADAM	OAK	4	18	0.219	0