Panzram
03-15-2006, 10:47 PM
David Eckstein, SS, Cardinals. He had the biggest positive difference between the player analyzer rank (143) and the top 300 rankings (291). The question here is how close he can come to matching his career year of 2005. Admittedly, his current 2006 projection might be a bit optimistic; there's little drop-off from last year's numbers. Still, he again should be an underrated threat atop the Cardinals' lineup and a nice fit as a fantasy middle infielder who scores runs.
B.J. Upton, SS/3B/OF?, Tampa Bay Devil Rays: To save money, the Rays kept Upton (just turned 21) in AAA all year where he put up a solid .303/.392/.490 with 18 HR and 44 SB’s. He’s Alfonso Soriano with plate discipline making him even more valuable in leagues that count OBP. He does have issues with defense, but there’s no way the Rays can hold him back next year and hope to have ANY fans turn out for the games. The current regime (LaMar and Pinella) is on the way out, paving the way for a fresh start. Upton will be the centerpiece of that fresh start. He’s more valuable fantasy-wise as a SS, but wouldn’t you take 20+ HR’s and 40 SB’s from any position?
Ryan Zimmerman, SS/3B, Washington Nationals: Pretty impressive when you’re drafted in June of 2005 and make the majors in the same year. It’s pretty rare and most often done by polished college pitchers but not position players. I guess though when you’re on a team that is playing Cristian Guzman and Vinny Castilla on the left side of the infield, your services can be needed quicker than expected. Zimmerman was the #4 overall pick in the draft. He’s impressed in his brief time under manager Frank Robinson, going 18-44 with 8 doubles for a .409 average. Expect him to settle in at his natural position, 3B, next year. It might take him a couple years to develop, but I can foresee .280/20/80 next year. Not bad for a backup fantasy 3B.
J.J. Hardy, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: Anyone notice Hardy’s month-by-month OPS totals:? April: .462 May: .592 June: .616 July: .801 August: .680 September: .930. He’s always had the potential of hitting for a solid average and hitting 20 homeruns and appears to be coming into his own after a dreadful first half. See GM’s, it pays to stick with a young kid through the learning process. You’ll often be rewarded down the line. Hardy will be off most teams’ radars in 2005 but I’d try grabbing him as your backup and watch him develop into a .280/20/75 type guy. Now if they’d only let him run.
Khalil Greene, Padres
Why take a risk on a seemingly injury-prone infielder who plays half his games in a horrible hitter's ballpark? Several reasons: 1) Greene has still managed to hit 30 homers in two less-than-full seasons of major league action, which is a lot of pop for a power-hungry position like shortstop. 2) His injuries – a broken toe in 2005 and a broken finger in 2004 – sound more like bad luck than any indication of long-term fragility. 3) His .250 batting average in 2005 can be traced to over-aggressiveness. Khalil's patience at the dish plummeted badly from a rookie season in which he batted .273. While he may not be a .294 hitter, as his career minor league numbers indicate, he's also not a .250 hitter. 4) His power is real, and continues to improve – he has 30 doubles, 15 homers, and at least 65 RBI in two seasons that could easily be labeled as disappointing. Imagine what he can do in a non-disappointing year. All in all, if Greene can finally put it all together and stay healthy, he has the ability to put together a huge season. I'll gladly take that potential long after players like Jhonny Peralta, Carlos Guillen, and Juan Uribe, none of whom are exactly proven commodities, are off the board.
B.J. Upton, SS/3B/OF?, Tampa Bay Devil Rays: To save money, the Rays kept Upton (just turned 21) in AAA all year where he put up a solid .303/.392/.490 with 18 HR and 44 SB’s. He’s Alfonso Soriano with plate discipline making him even more valuable in leagues that count OBP. He does have issues with defense, but there’s no way the Rays can hold him back next year and hope to have ANY fans turn out for the games. The current regime (LaMar and Pinella) is on the way out, paving the way for a fresh start. Upton will be the centerpiece of that fresh start. He’s more valuable fantasy-wise as a SS, but wouldn’t you take 20+ HR’s and 40 SB’s from any position?
Ryan Zimmerman, SS/3B, Washington Nationals: Pretty impressive when you’re drafted in June of 2005 and make the majors in the same year. It’s pretty rare and most often done by polished college pitchers but not position players. I guess though when you’re on a team that is playing Cristian Guzman and Vinny Castilla on the left side of the infield, your services can be needed quicker than expected. Zimmerman was the #4 overall pick in the draft. He’s impressed in his brief time under manager Frank Robinson, going 18-44 with 8 doubles for a .409 average. Expect him to settle in at his natural position, 3B, next year. It might take him a couple years to develop, but I can foresee .280/20/80 next year. Not bad for a backup fantasy 3B.
J.J. Hardy, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: Anyone notice Hardy’s month-by-month OPS totals:? April: .462 May: .592 June: .616 July: .801 August: .680 September: .930. He’s always had the potential of hitting for a solid average and hitting 20 homeruns and appears to be coming into his own after a dreadful first half. See GM’s, it pays to stick with a young kid through the learning process. You’ll often be rewarded down the line. Hardy will be off most teams’ radars in 2005 but I’d try grabbing him as your backup and watch him develop into a .280/20/75 type guy. Now if they’d only let him run.
Khalil Greene, Padres
Why take a risk on a seemingly injury-prone infielder who plays half his games in a horrible hitter's ballpark? Several reasons: 1) Greene has still managed to hit 30 homers in two less-than-full seasons of major league action, which is a lot of pop for a power-hungry position like shortstop. 2) His injuries – a broken toe in 2005 and a broken finger in 2004 – sound more like bad luck than any indication of long-term fragility. 3) His .250 batting average in 2005 can be traced to over-aggressiveness. Khalil's patience at the dish plummeted badly from a rookie season in which he batted .273. While he may not be a .294 hitter, as his career minor league numbers indicate, he's also not a .250 hitter. 4) His power is real, and continues to improve – he has 30 doubles, 15 homers, and at least 65 RBI in two seasons that could easily be labeled as disappointing. Imagine what he can do in a non-disappointing year. All in all, if Greene can finally put it all together and stay healthy, he has the ability to put together a huge season. I'll gladly take that potential long after players like Jhonny Peralta, Carlos Guillen, and Juan Uribe, none of whom are exactly proven commodities, are off the board.