Panzram
09-24-2002, 04:09 AM
Catcher: Toby Hall, Tampa Bay. The Devil Rays finally appear to understand they need this youngster to play regularly, and he should be given the full-time job in 2003. Hall is a well-schooled hitter, and the breakout performance many expected for him this season should happen just a year late.
First base: Hee Seop Choi, Chicago Cubs. He'll get every chance to win the starting job next spring, particularly if the Cubs follow through on their plan not to re-sign Fred McGriff. Choi might endure his share of struggles in his rookie year, but he's a talented enough hitter to give you a respectable average and perhaps 20 to 25 home runs.
Second base: Sean Burroughs, San Diego. We thought about tabbing Orlando Hudson, but Burroughs is much more of a polished hitter and has far more upside. Burroughs might shift back to third base in 2003 if rumors that Phil Nevin will move to left field come to fruition, but the kid will probably still qualify at second in most Fantasy leagues. He's arguably the best keeper-league pick of anyone on our list.
Third base: Hank Blalock, Texas. We still like his upside and still don't believe Herbert Perry can keep up his hot hitting forever. With a fresh slate next spring and all the pressure off, Blalock should finally flourish, pushing Perry out of the picture by midseason at latest.
Shortstop: Omar Infante, Detroit. There are precious few quality young shortstops on the horizon for 2003, so we had to go with Infante, possibly the only rookie who will garner a starting job come next Opening Day. In his favor are his speed and low strikeout rate, two things that make him a potential late-round selection in AL-only leagues. For the most part, however, try to stick with the proven commodities here.
Outfield: Marlon Byrd, Philadelphia. You don't find players with his kind of potential in all five major Fantasy categories every day. Even if Byrd struggles in his rookie season, the worst we expect from him is something along the lines of Corey Patterson's totals this year.
Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota. The Twins need to clear their right-field job for this youngster, whose bat is nearly ready for the majors. Cuddyer might eventually become the best Twins outfielder in a few years, but for now, expect him to follow a similar rookie path to fellow brethren Jacque Jones and Torii Hunter. A .280 average and 20 homers isn't unrealistic.
Joe Borchard, Chicago White Sox Sure, he'll strike out a ton, but the White Sox will want some lumber in their lineup next year, especially if they let Frank Thomas out of his contract. Borchard has 30-homer power and should be an immediate impact player in homers and RBI, but don't expect much in the batting average category.
Designated hitter: Nick Johnson, N.Y. Yankees. Many people forgot about him after his inconsistent, injury-plagued rookie year. But Johnson will be back and should benefit from a year of major-league experience. He's a disciplined hitter who should hit for a high average and decent RBI production. And don't worry --the home runs will come.
Starting pitcher: Kurt Ainsworth, San Francisco. He has pitched remarkably well at Triple-A Fresno the past two years considering that team plays in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Ainsworth carries a high strikeout rate and should push someone out of the Giants' rotation next spring. He might be a real surprise on a team that will give him decent run support.
Casey Fossum, Boston. We have always liked his potential, but the Red Sox never gave him a chance to start until late this season. Fossum will almost certainly win a rotation spot next spring, and the Red Sox should give him enough run support to help him toward a major breakout year.
Brett Myers, Philadelphia. Arguably the Phillies' best pitching prospect in years, he might become their staff ace much in the mold of Curt Schilling several seasons back. Myers also gets to play in a generally weak division, and he has already proved he can pitch at the big-league level. He's nearly as talented as Mark Prior --an obvious keeper, which is why he didn't make our list --but will come far cheaper.
Jake Peavy, San Diego. We liken him to Prior and Myers, but Peavy is No. 3 of that list mainly because he plays for a bad team. However, the Padres have shown in the past they are great at developing control artists, and Peavy is a lot more talented than fellow rotation mate Brian Lawrence. He'll get his chance to prove it in 2003.
Dewon Brazelton, Tampa Bay. This former No. 1 draft pick should enter spring training with a rotation spot his to lose. Brazelton might endure his share of struggles, but there are quite a few poor American League teams you'll be able to use him against. He'll be a great matchup pitcher at the very least but has rookie of the year potential.
Closer: Franklyn German, Detroit. He's one of our favorite sleeper picks to close for the Tigers next season. German has already established that his stuff is major-league ready, and we think he might blow away the competition next spring. In a best-case scenario, think 2003's version of Eric Gagne.
-KoZ
First base: Hee Seop Choi, Chicago Cubs. He'll get every chance to win the starting job next spring, particularly if the Cubs follow through on their plan not to re-sign Fred McGriff. Choi might endure his share of struggles in his rookie year, but he's a talented enough hitter to give you a respectable average and perhaps 20 to 25 home runs.
Second base: Sean Burroughs, San Diego. We thought about tabbing Orlando Hudson, but Burroughs is much more of a polished hitter and has far more upside. Burroughs might shift back to third base in 2003 if rumors that Phil Nevin will move to left field come to fruition, but the kid will probably still qualify at second in most Fantasy leagues. He's arguably the best keeper-league pick of anyone on our list.
Third base: Hank Blalock, Texas. We still like his upside and still don't believe Herbert Perry can keep up his hot hitting forever. With a fresh slate next spring and all the pressure off, Blalock should finally flourish, pushing Perry out of the picture by midseason at latest.
Shortstop: Omar Infante, Detroit. There are precious few quality young shortstops on the horizon for 2003, so we had to go with Infante, possibly the only rookie who will garner a starting job come next Opening Day. In his favor are his speed and low strikeout rate, two things that make him a potential late-round selection in AL-only leagues. For the most part, however, try to stick with the proven commodities here.
Outfield: Marlon Byrd, Philadelphia. You don't find players with his kind of potential in all five major Fantasy categories every day. Even if Byrd struggles in his rookie season, the worst we expect from him is something along the lines of Corey Patterson's totals this year.
Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota. The Twins need to clear their right-field job for this youngster, whose bat is nearly ready for the majors. Cuddyer might eventually become the best Twins outfielder in a few years, but for now, expect him to follow a similar rookie path to fellow brethren Jacque Jones and Torii Hunter. A .280 average and 20 homers isn't unrealistic.
Joe Borchard, Chicago White Sox Sure, he'll strike out a ton, but the White Sox will want some lumber in their lineup next year, especially if they let Frank Thomas out of his contract. Borchard has 30-homer power and should be an immediate impact player in homers and RBI, but don't expect much in the batting average category.
Designated hitter: Nick Johnson, N.Y. Yankees. Many people forgot about him after his inconsistent, injury-plagued rookie year. But Johnson will be back and should benefit from a year of major-league experience. He's a disciplined hitter who should hit for a high average and decent RBI production. And don't worry --the home runs will come.
Starting pitcher: Kurt Ainsworth, San Francisco. He has pitched remarkably well at Triple-A Fresno the past two years considering that team plays in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Ainsworth carries a high strikeout rate and should push someone out of the Giants' rotation next spring. He might be a real surprise on a team that will give him decent run support.
Casey Fossum, Boston. We have always liked his potential, but the Red Sox never gave him a chance to start until late this season. Fossum will almost certainly win a rotation spot next spring, and the Red Sox should give him enough run support to help him toward a major breakout year.
Brett Myers, Philadelphia. Arguably the Phillies' best pitching prospect in years, he might become their staff ace much in the mold of Curt Schilling several seasons back. Myers also gets to play in a generally weak division, and he has already proved he can pitch at the big-league level. He's nearly as talented as Mark Prior --an obvious keeper, which is why he didn't make our list --but will come far cheaper.
Jake Peavy, San Diego. We liken him to Prior and Myers, but Peavy is No. 3 of that list mainly because he plays for a bad team. However, the Padres have shown in the past they are great at developing control artists, and Peavy is a lot more talented than fellow rotation mate Brian Lawrence. He'll get his chance to prove it in 2003.
Dewon Brazelton, Tampa Bay. This former No. 1 draft pick should enter spring training with a rotation spot his to lose. Brazelton might endure his share of struggles, but there are quite a few poor American League teams you'll be able to use him against. He'll be a great matchup pitcher at the very least but has rookie of the year potential.
Closer: Franklyn German, Detroit. He's one of our favorite sleeper picks to close for the Tigers next season. German has already established that his stuff is major-league ready, and we think he might blow away the competition next spring. In a best-case scenario, think 2003's version of Eric Gagne.
-KoZ