2007 AL Bullpens

The bullpens are more important than the starting rotations in 4x4 Rotisserie. Given 40% or so of the jobs will turn over, watching the back-up closers is of utmost strategic importance. Even if you punt saves on draft day, you must trawl for saves intra-season to get a handful of points.

PITCHERS		Team	W	SV	K	ERA	WHIP	K:BB
"Nathan	Joe"	MIN	7	36	95	1.580	0.790	5.94
"Putz	J.J."	SEA	4	36	104	2.298	0.919	8.00
"Ryan	B.J."	TOR	2	38	86	1.369	0.857	4.30
"Rivera	Mariano"	NYY	5	34	55	1.800	0.960	5.00
"Rodriguez	Francisco"	LAA	2	47	98	1.726	1.096	3.50
"Street	Huston"	OAK	4	37	67	3.311	1.090	5.15
"Ray	Chris"	BAL	4	33	51	2.727	1.091	1.89
"Gagne	Eric"	TEX	0	1	3	0.000	0.500	3.00
"Jenks	Bobby"	CHW	3	41	80	4.005	1.392	2.58
"Jones	Todd"	DET	2	37	28	3.938	1.266	2.55
"Borowski	Joe"	CLE	3	36	64	3.746	1.378	1.94
"Pineiro	Joel"	BOS	8	1	87	6.356	1.648	1.36
"McClung	Seth"	TB	6	6	59	6.291	1.825	0.87
"Dotel	Octavio"	KC	0	0	7	10.800	2.900	0.64
"Otsuka	Akinori"	TEX	2	32	47	2.112	1.073	4.27
"Shields	Scot"	LAA	7	2	84	2.875	1.072	3.50
"Duchscherer	Justin"	OAK	2	9	51	2.910	1.096	5.67
"MacDougal	Mike"	CHW	1	1	21	1.552	0.931	3.50
"Zumaya	Joel"	DET	6	1	97	1.944	1.176	2.31
"League	Brandon"	TOR	1	1	29	2.531	1.008	3.22
"Rincon	Juan"	MIN	3	1	65	2.906	1.345	2.71
"Timlin	Mike"	BOS	6	9	30	4.359	1.469	1.88
"Farnsworth	Kyle"	NYY	3	6	75	4.364	1.364	2.68
"Nelson	Joe"	KC	1	9	44	4.433	1.366	1.83
"Tavarez	Julian"	BOS	5	1	56	4.470	1.561	1.27
"Hernandez	Roberto"	CLE	0	2	48	3.110	1.461	1.50
"Mastny	Thomas"	CLE	0	5	14	5.510	1.531	1.75
"Reitsma	Chris"	SEA	1	8	13	8.679	1.929	1.63

The Next Jonathan Broxton?

The Dodgers have another fire-balling middle reliever named "Jonathan" in the minors who may follow Broxton this year - Jonathan Meloan. He struck out 91 across 52 minor league innings in 2006. He finshed at AA where he k'ed 23 in 10.2 IPs. More dramatically stated, that would be 23 strikeouts out of the 32 outs recorded. 72%! He is worth watching.

2007 NL-Only OF Rankings - Top Half

Carlos Lee sits atop the NL-only OF rankings thanks to his across-the-board quality performance in 2006. He ranked in at least the 86th percentile in each category amongst his OF peers. His 19 SBs ranked in the 89th! I know other fantasy experts a reporting Lee is being taken too high, but you have to wonder if they are under-estimating Lee's numbers.



FWIW, keep in mind that the 75th percentile in SBs is 10. This means the vast majority of NL outfielders did not provide SBs. If you eliminate those OF with fewer than 12 SBs, there remains just eleven players.

Rank	Player	Team	HR	RBI	AVG	SB
1	LEE CARLOS	HOU	0.300	37	116	19
2	HOLLIDAY MATT	COL	0.326	34	114	10
3	SORIANO ALFONSO	WAS	0.277	46	95	41
4	BAY JASON	PIT	0.286	35	109	11
5	BELTRAN CARLOS	NYM	0.275	41	116	18
6	BERKMAN LANCE	HOU	0.315	45	136	3
7	JONES JACQUE	CHC	0.285	27	81	9
8	CAMERON MIKE	SD	0.268	22	83	25
9	BYRNES ERIC	ARZ	0.267	26	79	25
10	HAWPE BRAD	COL	0.293	22	84	5
11	ENCARNACION JUAN	STL	0.278	19	79	6
12	KEARNS AUSTIN	WAS	0.264	24	86	9
13	JONES ANDRUW	ATL	0.262	41	129	4
14	ALOU MOISES	SF	0.301	22	74	2
15	WILSON PRESTON	STL	0.263	17	72	12
16	DUNN ADAM	CIN	0.234	40	92	7
17	DEROSA MARK	CHC	0.296	13	74	4
18	MURTON MATT	CHC	0.297	13	62	5
19	ETHIER ANDRE	LA	0.308	11	55	5
20	GILES BRIAN	SD	0.263	14	83	9
21	BONDS BARRY	SF	0.270	26	77	3
22	WILLINGHAM JOSH	FLA	0.277	26	74	2
23	CHAVEZ ENDY	NYM	0.306	4	42	12
24	NADY XAVIER	PIT	0.280	17	63	3
25	GREEN SHAWN	NYM	0.277	15	66	4
26	PIERRE JUAN	CHC	0.292	3	40	58
27	JENKINS GEOFF	MLW	0.271	17	70	4
28	ROBERTS DAVE	SD	0.293	2	44	49
29	BURKE CHRIS	HOU	0.276	9	40	11
30	ANDERSON MARLON	LA	0.297	12	38	4
31	WINN RANDY	SF	0.262	11	56	10
32	ROWAND AARON	PHI	0.262	12	47	10
33	FRANCOEUR JEFF	ATL	0.260	29	103	1
34	DIAZ MATT	ATL	0.327	7	32	5
35	EDMONDS JIM	STL	0.257	19	70	4
36	DAVANON JEFF	ARZ	0.290	5	35	10
37	FREEL RYAN	CIN	0.271	8	27	37
38	VICTORINO SHANE	PHI	0.287	6	46	4
39	SCOTT LUKE	HOU	0.336	10	37	2
40	BURRELL PAT	PHI	0.258	29	95	0
41	CHURCH RYAN	WAS	0.276	10	35	6
42	DUNCAN CHRIS	STL	0.293	22	43	0
43	HART COREY	MLW	0.283	9	33	5

2007 NL-Only Rankings - Bottom Half

As with the AL-only rankings, use these to determine which players may be undervalued on draft day. Amongst my favorites are Jeff Baker, Nook Logan, Chris Duffy and Chris Snelling.



There is no way Willy Taveras is a worse 4x4 player than Jeff Conine. But note two things. Conine produced very nicely in his utility role last season between Baltimore and Philadelphia. With Rich Aurilia gone, I expect Conine to eat those 1B Abs and get OF ones along with regular pinch-hitting when not at 1B and OF. Second, Taveras' HR and RBI are so low that they are negatives in 4x4. If his AVG slips in Colorado - possible given lack of BBs and doubles and triples, he will be officially the Adam Dunn of SBs!

Rank	Player	Team	HR	RBI	AVG	SB
44	CONINE JEFF	CIN	0.268	10	66	3
45	TAVERAS WILLY	COL	0.278	1	30	33
46	GONZALEZ LUIS	ARZ	0.271	15	73	0
47	MENCH KEVIN	MLW	0.269	13	68	1
48	FLOYD CLIFF	NYM	0.244	11	44	6
49	SPIEZIO SCOTT	STL	0.272	13	52	1
50	GRIFFEY JR. KEN	CIN	0.252	27	72	0
51	BAKER JEFF	COL	0.368	5	21	2
52	SPILBORGHS RYAN	COL	0.287	4	21	5
53	FINLEY STEVE	SF	0.246	6	40	7
54	BAUTISTA JOSE	PIT	0.235	16	51	2
55	TAGUCHI SO	STL	0.266	2	31	11
56	WILSON CRAIG	ATL	0.251	17	49	1
57	ESCOBAR ALEX	WAS	0.356	4	18	2
58	SULLIVAN CORY	COL	0.267	2	30	10
59	AMEZAGA ALFREDO	FLA	0.260	3	19	20
60	GROSS GABE	MLW	0.274	9	38	1
61	KEMP MATT	LA	0.253	7	23	6
62	BRANYAN RUSSELL	SD	0.228	18	36	2
63	DUFFY CHRIS	PIT	0.255	2	18	26
64	MCLOUTH NATE	PIT	0.233	7	16	10
65	REPKO JASON	LA	0.254	3	16	10
66	LANE JASON	HOU	0.201	15	45	1
67	ROSS CODY	FLA	0.227	13	46	1
68	CLARK BRADY	MLW	0.263	4	29	3
69	HERMIDA JEREMY	FLA	0.251	5	28	4
70	LOGAN NOOK	WAS	0.300	1	8	2
71	ABERCROMBIE REGGI	FLA	0.212	5	24	6
72	QUENTIN CARLOS	ARZ	0.253	9	32	1
73	RODRIGUEZ JOHN	STL	0.301	2	19	0
74	CRUZ JR. JOSE	LA	0.233	5	17	5
75	HAIRSTON SCOTT	ARZ	0.400	0	2	0
76	JOHNSON BEN	SD	0.250	4	12	3
77	LANGERHANS RYAN	ATL	0.241	7	28	1
78	DENORFIA CHRIS	CIN	0.283	1	7	1
79	BORCHARD JOE	FLA	0.230	10	28	0
80	LINDEN TODD	SF	0.273	2	5	1
81	GWYNN JR. TONY	MLW	0.260	0	4	3
82	SNELLING CHRIS	WAS	0.250	3	8	2
83	MILLEDGE LASTINGS	NYM	0.241	4	22	1
84	THORMAN SCOTT	ATL	0.234	5	14	1
85	YOUNG CHRIS	ARZ	0.243	2	10	2
86	ELLISON JASON	SF	0.222	2	4	2
87	SLEDGE TERRMEL	SD	0.229	2	7	0
88	BOURN MICHAEL	PHI	0.125	0	0	1

2007 AL-Only Rankings

No matter what I try, I cannot get the extreme SB players higher. Thus, you should manually adjut them to the point you like them.

Rank	Player		Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	SB
1	GUERRERO	VLADIMIR	ANA	0.329	33	116	15
2	WELLS	VERNON	TOR	0.303	32	106	17
3	CRAWFORD	CARL	TB	0.305	18	77	58
4	ABREU	BOBBY	NYY	0.297	15	107	30
5	RIOS	ALEX	TOR	0.302	17	82	15
6	SIZEMORE	GRADY	CLE	0.29	28	76	22
7	DAMON	JOHNNY	NYY	0.285	24	80	25
8	DYE	JERMAINE	CWS	0.315	44	120	7
9	HUNTER	TORII	MIN	0.278	31	98	12
10	RAMIREZ	MANNY	BOS	0.321	35	102	0
11	SUZUKI	ICHIRO	SEA	0.322	9	49	45
12	IBANEZ	RAUL	SEA	0.289	33	123	2
13	ORDONEZ	MAGGLIO	DET	0.298	24	104	1
14	RIVERA	JUAN	ANA	0.31	23	85	0
15	MATTHEWS	GARY	TEX	0.313	19	79	10
16	PATTERSON	COREY	BAL	0.276	16	53	45
17	CUDDYER	MICHAEL	MIN	0.284	24	109	6
18	FIGGINS	CHONE	ANA	0.267	9	62	52
19	DREW	J.D.	BOS	0.283	20	100	2
20	BALDELLI	ROCCO	TB	0.302	16	57	10
21	LOFTON	KENNY	TEX	0.301	3	41	32
22	SWISHER	NICK	OAK	0.254	35	95	1
23	BROWN	EMIL	KC	0.287	15	81	6
24	DEROSA	MARK	TEX	0.296	13	74	4
25	BLAKE	CASEY	CLE	0.282	19	68	6
26	ANDERSON	GARRET	ANA	0.28	17	85	1
27	MARKAKIS	NICK	BAL	0.291	16	62	2
28	JOHNSON	REED	TOR	0.319	12	49	8
29	MONROE	CRAIG	DET	0.255	28	92	2
30	CABRERA	MELKY	NYY	0.28	7	50	12
31	NORTON	GREG	TB	0.296	17	45	1
32	PAYTON	JAY	OAK	0.296	10	59	8
33	HUFF	AUBREY	BAL	0.267	21	66	0
34	GRANDERSON	CURTIS	DET	0.26	19	68	8
35	THAMES	MARCUS	DET	0.256	26	60	1
36	WILLIAMS	BERNIE	NYY	0.281	12	61	2
37	CRISP	COCO	BOS	0.264	8	36	22
38	PENA	WILY	MO	BOS	0.301	11	42	0

2007 AL OF Ranks - Bottom Half

These ranks are based solely on the player's 2006 numbers. As a result, you will see players who are very obviously under-ranked. I decided to leave them as they are because their lack of 2006 production make them "sleeper" candidates under the defition of being under-valued. Does anyone doubt Gary Sheffield will go for less than he would have had he not been injured last year?



There are many players in this list that are true sleepers under the definition of significantly out-performing anything they had produced in 2006 i.e Reggie Willits or Lew Ford.



The top half will be posted later today or first thing tomorrow morning.

Rank	Player	Pos	AVG	HR	RBI	SB
39	DEJESUS DAVID	KC	0.295	8	56	6
40	CATALANOTTO FRANK	TEX	0.3	7	56	1
41	PODSEDNIK SCOTT	CWS	0.261	3	45	40
42	DELLUCCI DAVID	CLE	0.292	13	39	1
43	BRADLEY MILTON	OAK	0.276	14	52	10
44	MATSUI HIDEKI	NYY	0.302	8	29	1
45	GIBBONS JAY	BAL	0.277	13	46	0
46	GERMAN ESTEBAN	KC	0.326	3	34	7
47	MICHAELS JASON	CLE	0.267	9	55	9
48	KOTSAY MARK	OAK	0.275	7	59	6
49	GATHRIGHT JOEY	KC	0.238	1	41	22
50	NIXON TROT	CLE	0.268	8	52	0
51	HINSKE ERIC	BOS	0.271	13	34	2
52	OZUNA PABLO	CWS	0.328	2	17	6
53	SHEFFIELD GARY	DET	0.298	6	25	5
54	YOUNG DELMON	TB	0.317	3	10	2
55	SANDERS REGGIE	KC	0.246	11	49	7
56	WILKERSON BRAD	TEX	0.222	15	44	3
57	KIELTY BOBBY	OAK	0.27	8	36	2
58	TYNER JASON	MIN	0.312	0	18	4
59	MACKOWIAK ROB	CWS	0.29	5	23	5
60	BLOOMQUIST WILLIE	SEA	0.247	1	15	16
61	STEWART SHANNON	FA	0.293	2	21	3
62	CHOO SHIN-SOO	CLE	0.28	3	22	5
63	WHITE RONDELL	MIN	0.246	7	38	1
64	GUILLEN JOSE	SEA	0.216	9	40	1
65	KUBEL JASON	MIN	0.241	8	26	2
66	ANDERSON BRIAN N.	CWS	0.225	8	33	4
67	GUZMAN FREDDY	TEX	0.286	0	0	0
68	CRUZ NELSON	TEX	0.223	6	22	1
69	FORD LEW	MIN	0.226	4	18	9
70	BYRD MARLON	TEX	0.223	5	18	3
71	REED JEREMY	SEA	0.217	6	17	2
72	WILLITS REGGIE	ANA	0.267	0	2	4
73	FIORENTINO JEFF	BAL	0.256	0	7	1
74	MURPHY DAVID	BOS	0.227	1	2	0
75	SWEENEY RYAN	CWS	0.229	0	5	0
76	JONES ADAM	SEA	0.216	1	8	3
77	HAIRSTON JERRY	TEX	0.206	0	10	5
78	ERSTAD DARIN	CWS	0.221	0	5	1
79	STERN ADAM	BOS	0.15	0	4	1

Brewers 3B

Tom Hardencourt just told Charlie Steiner on XM Radio's The Beat that the Brewers are not hearing good things about Corey Koskie. If Koskie isn't ready to go, and that is my guess, then Tony Graffanino and Craig Counsell will platoon at 3B. Counsell has the good side of that platoon and should be considered an excellent sleeper for steals. Graffanino is also a good $1 player as someone has to back-up the middle infield when Counsell starts at 3B.