Michael Vick is coming off a tremendous fantasy season in 2010, but where should he be drafted in 2011, and why?

Vick is coming off a year with over 3,000 passing yards, 676 rushing yards, and 30 total touchdowns in 12 games. Despite the numbers and the “wow” factor Vick possesses, there is absolutely no way that he should be the number one overall pick in any league, not even the first quarterback drafted.

Don’t get it wrong, Vick is and should be highly ranked on everyone’s draft board, but the fact of the matter is there are more proven and durable quarterback’s in the league. In a two QB league, Vick’s value is better. Draft him as a number 1 or 2 QB and pair him with another reliable QB. If he lives up to the hype it should guarantee a trip to the playoffs. However, in a one QB league I would stay away from him, let him fall to some sucker who can’t get enough Vick; let him deal with the problems Vick will cause for his team that he has built solely around him.

Vick has the ability to make or break one’s season. Let’s go over the positives: his mobility is key and making defenders miss comes naturally to him. He’s got a cannon for an arm with a serious deep threat in DeSean Jackson down the sideline. Third, he is coming off a season where he looked phenomenal as a pocket passer, which is way different from year’s prior. However, his style of play makes him extremely vulnerable to injury and mistakes. Last year Vick had 11 fumbles in 12 games, which was near the top of the league for all quarterbacks, and sat atop the list of proven ones. He did only have six interceptions in those 12 games but I would look for that number to increase this season. Also, a final factor in this is the huge off-season the Eagles have had, whether it was the trades or free agent acquisitions, the bulls-eye on their back has become enormous, thanks to Vince Young’s “Eagles are a dream team” quote.

There’s pro’s and con’s for every quarterback in the league, but the pressure and build up to the 2011 season for the Eagles is going to be too much for Vick. There are four quarterback’s I’d take over Vick:

Aaron Rodgers – Had 28 passing TD’s with rushing 4 TD’s. Got Jermichael Finley back, has crushed it consistently for two straight years.

Drew Brees -  Always a stud in fantasy, even if you don’t like him he always puts up numbers. 33 touchdowns a year ago, had a lot of interceptions, (22) but look for that to go down.

Philip Rivers – Almost 5,000 yards passing last year with 30 TD’s, has Vincent Jackson back with Malcom Floyd and one of the best tight ends in the leagu in Antonio Gates.

Tom Brady – 36 TD’s to ONLY 4 interceptions, 3,900 yards a year ago. Brought in Ochocinco to go with Wes Welker and the tight ends.

© Corey Burns for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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What a difference a year makes. Last year Chris Johnson was the golden boy of every fantasy draft, number one on almost everyone’s board. Whoever was able to land him first was ecstatic, knowing they were going to have a guy who would score at least 15 points per game, with the potential for much more. And why wouldn’t they expect this? Johnson was coming off a season in which he broke the NFL record for all-purpose yards and recorded the 6th 2,000-yard rushing season in NFL history. But Johnson’s 2010 campaign was not quite up the incredibly high standards his fantasy owners had set after his historical 2009 campaign.

Johnson’s 2010 Season

Though he wound up with over 1300 yards and 11 touchdowns, his yards per carry went down from 5.6 to 4.3. While he had several big games, unlike the year before he also had many mediocre ones, having games of just 5 (yes that’s five yards), 39, 34, 58, 53, 59, and 66 yards. In those 7 games he recorded a grand total of two touchdowns. For a fantasy owner getting no production out of your number one overall pick in almost half of his games can be crippling to a team.

Reason for Decline

One reason for this decline in production could be a less effective team. The Titans had instability and inconsistency from the quarterback position all season. This combined with the fact that teams were now game planning solely on stopping Chris Johnson when the Titans were on offense may have caused Johnson’s decline in production.

Chris Johnson in 2011

As the 2011 season approaches Chris Johnson is currently holding out for a new contract. Once he gets what he wants he will return to a team with a new look at quarterback after the signing of veteran Matt Hasselbeck and the drafting of Jake Locker in the first round. However Locker is not NFL ready and Hasselbeck is coming off a down year, and both come to an offense that still lacks a big receiving threat.

But the big questions surrounding Johnson are: when will he get back, and how long will it take for him to get up to speed? Because of the lockout players haven’t practiced for as long and as a result we are seeing a higher prevalence of injuries. While Johnson has likely trained on his own this off-season, there is a big difference between training with and without pads and contact. So when he does come back most likely he will have a limited role on the offense to start, and could be more susceptible to injury. Once he gets over this start he will most likely play at the same level he played in 2010, some great games some not so great. Because until Tennessee upgrades its other skill positions on offense, Chris Johnson will be the number one target of every team they play.

© zach for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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In an already relatively shallow position, third basemen have really bit the injury bug lately. First, Evan Longoria fell in the first week of the season (but he has since returned). Then, it was your second-round pick, Ryan Zimmerman, who will now be out until mid-late June. More recently, David Freese (STL) and Pablo Sandoval (SF) have also found themselves on the disabled list.

So, who else is out there?

Not much. But, I’m here to help you pick up the right players.

First, here’s a list of players you should grab right away, even if you have a healthy player at the hot corner. Let’s face it, this position has been mightily unlucky this year, so your third baseman will probably go down sooner rather than later.

• Jhonny Peralta, DET (3B, SS) – .295, 4 HR, 20 RBI
• Maicer Izturis, LAA (2B, 3B, SS) – .328, 3 HR, 12 RBI
• Jed Lowrie, BOS (2B, 3B, SS) – .327, 3 HR, 16 RBI
• Alberto Callaspo, LAA (2B, 3B) – .302, 2 HR, 17 RBI

If you’re lucky enough to have Peralta, Izturis, Lowrie, and/or Callaspo available, then what are you waiting for? Go get them!

It’s likely that those players are already snatched up by now, but fear not, there may be a few other options. Here’s a list of players owned in less than 25% of Yahoo! leagues that may be worth taking a look at.

Greg Dobbs, FLA (3B)

Dobbs has been a career utility man, but in his first year in Florida, he’s been as hot as the sunshine. He’s hitting .338 with 3 HR and 12 RBI and while he’s stuck in a platoon situation of sorts, his competition (Wes Helms) is batting just .229 with 2 RBI this year.

Jack Hannahan, CLE (3B)

Known more for his slick glove, Jack Hannahan has displayed a pretty powerful stroke early on. He’s hitting .252 with 4 HR and 15 RBI while manning the hot corner for the red-hot Indians. Everything (except the Cavs) is hot right now in Cleveland, so maybe ride an OK player on a hot squad?

Danny Valencia, MIN (3B)

As hot as everything is in Cleveland, things are that ice-cold for the cellar-dwelling Minnesota Twins. Young Danny Valencia is doing all he can, though. Typically batting sixth or seventh in the order, Valencia has racked up 4 HRs and 18 RBI, and has raised his season batting average to .230 with a recent hot streak.

Other Players To Watch

There are a few veterans that have been successful in the past. They may be floating along on your waiver wire. Consider the following players (under 25% owned):

• Jorge Cantu, SD (1B, 3B) – .209, 3 HR, 13 RBI
• Kevin Kouzmanoff, OAK (3B) – .209, 3 HR, 11 RBI
• Edwin Encarnacion, TOR (3B) – .243, 0 HR, 12 doubles, 9 RBI
• Miguel Tejada, SF (3B, SS) – .222, 0 HR, 8 RBI

Also, Scott Rolen and Ty Wigginton were recently activated from the disabled list and may be available in your league. They could be worth a look as well.

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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Reigning A.L. MVP Josh Hamilton will miss the next eight weeks after suffering a broken shoulder in Tuesday afternoon’s loss to Detroit. In what is being called a controversial play, Hamilton was sent to home plate from 3rd base by his third base coach during a shallow pop up near home plate. Hamilton slid head first and fractured his upper right arm. It is a huge loss for owners who took Hamilton with a very high pick and now they see it wasted on a play that could have been avoided.

Analysis

Former Red Sox OF David Murphy looks to benefit the most from Hamilton’s injury. Murphy is batting .417 with a home run, 3 RBI, and 2 SB in 4 games. Also look for Mitch Morelandto see increased playing time as well. To fill the empty roster spot, everyone’s favorite Ranger prospect, Chris Davis, was called up from Triple-A.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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Let’s throw another elite 3B on the injury pile. The Washington Nationals have placed Ryan Zimmerman on the 15-day DL with an abdominal strain. Zimmerman suffered the injury sliding into second base in Saturday’s game against the Mets. He’s expected to miss at least three weeks, but unfortunately, it could be even longer than that. He was hitting .357 with a home run and four RBI in eight games this season.

Analysis

With Zim’ out, Alex Cora started Sunday’s finale against New York and went 0-2 before being replaced by Jerry Hairston Jr. I don’t advise picking those two up in hopes of replacing Zimmerman’s production. Instead, guys like Scott Rolen (.265/2 HR/ 10 RBI) and Alex Gordon (.357/1 HR/ 5 RBI) should still be available in many leagues.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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Analysis

Sean Rodriguez looks to get the everyday gig at 3B and he filled in for Longoria today going 1-3 with a double. Ben Zobrist as a result dropped down in the order to the 3rd spot and B.J. Upton batted leadoff.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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In 2009, utility man Jake Fox was feasting on minor league pitching. In just 49 games for the Cubs AAA affiliate, Fox hit a Ruthian .409/.495/.841 with 17 HRs and 53 RBI, and while those numbers seemed astronomical, they weren’t really an anomaly. Fox had been crushing minor league pitching since 2006, so the power is real and he belongs in the majors.

Fox, however, doesn’t have a defensive home. He’s a utility man, but that’s only because he doesn’t play any defensive position particularly well. He has dabbled around at catcher, the corner infield positions, and in the outfield, but in his three stops across the majors (Cubs, A’s, Orioles), he has never found his niche.

That’s the issue he faces with the O’s, who have permanent starters at catcher (Matt Weiters), first base (Derrek Lee), third base (Mark Reynolds), DH (Vladimir Guerrero), left field (Luke Scott) and right field (Nick Markakis). Despite his clear offensive potential, Fox needed to have a dominant spring (more on that later) just to make the team as a backup catcher. That’s where his 2011 fantasy value comes into play.

Position Versatility

Despite the fact that he broke an unwritten rule of the game that even pissed off his own manager (who we later found out is a complete buffoon), Fox made the final cut for the Orioles 25-man roster on Opening Day, as he will be the primary backup for Weiters at catcher.

As the team’s backup catcher, Fox should play behind the plate at least twice per week.

Toss in another couple opportunities to relieve any of the corner outfielders or Vlad at DH, and Fox could see 3-4 starts per week, assuming everyone is healthy. If anyone should have a really rough start or fall victim to the injury bug, the first guy off the bench should be Fox (c’mon, do you really want to see Cesar Izturis at bat??).

Not only will his position versatility help him with the O’s, but if he’s playing everyday, it will help your fantasy team, as he is eligible at C, LF/OF, and 1B in the Yahoo! fantasy game.

Spring Training Stats

First, let me get this out of the way: spring training stats typically mean nothing. Melky Cabrera led all hitters with a .468 batting average. Kila Ka’aihue led the majors with an .846 slugging percentage. Alex Gordon led with 23 RBI. Judging by those stats, the Royals are set for an AL Central title!

But, I will say counting stats do show something. Jake Fox led the majors with 10 home runs and also added seven doubles in 27 games. He compiled a .797 slugging percentage, which shows he has been driving the ball with authority. He had a helluva spring for the O’s, and without it, he would have probably been cut.

As a result, he deserves some attention on your fantasy radars. Consider adding him in deep mixed leagues and as a must-add in AL-Only leagues. I’m sure a number of the players you drafted ended up on the DL to start the year (Jake Peavy) , so why not slot them on your DL and take a flyer on Fox?

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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Within this division rests the World Series champions, Coors Field killers, ace pitching studs, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. The best team in the division isn’t even the one with the most highly regarded fantasy talent, which can only speak volumes for the division’s depth.

San Francisco Giants

The reigning world champions’ biggest strength is it’s rotation where staples like Tim Lincecum will once again be highly coveted commodities. The offense is nothing to scoff at either as a mix of the old and young look to provide some pop to your team.

Buster Posey (C)

The N.L. Rookie of the Year impressed by hitting .305 with 18 HR and 67 RBI in 108 games. Posey posted two months where he hit 7 home runs, so he definitely has that power potential. Still only 24, Posey has the chance to be fantasy’s best catcher in 2011.

Aubrey Huff (1B, LF)

Showing he still has gas left in the tank, huff put together a comeback season of .290/26/86 with 100 runs scored. His skill set was very similar to his tremendous ’08 season. While others worry about age, just use that argument against them to let Huff drop a couple extra rounds.

Other Hitters

• Pablo Sandoval (1B, 3B) -Kung Fu Panda can’t hit lefties (.227) and can’t hit on the road (.208). However, two huge months in 2010 prove he still has the skills to make it happen.
• Andres Torres (CF, RF) - Looks like a decent bet for 20-20 on paper, but he never had that power in the minors, so be careful.
• Cody Ross (CF, RF) - Will jump a few rounds thanks to huge 2010 postseason, but power is on the decline. Don’t overpay.

Tim Lincecum (SP)

It took a bad May (4.95 ERA, 23 BB in 36.1 IP) to slightly throw off an elite season. Assuming he keeps the free passes down, we will see the Cy Young version of Lincecum this season. A run at 20 wins, sub-3.00 ERA and 230+ K’s look like a certainty.

Matt Cain (SP)

Cain has become a model of consistency with his 4th straight season of 200+ IP and sub-4.00 ERA. He holds steady skills with great K/BB and BB/9 with a solid K/9 just above 7.0. There are no holes in his game and he’d can easily be the anchor of your staff.

Other Pitchers

• Jonathan Sanchez (SP) - I won’t bet on another 3.07 ERA, but I will say high 3.00 with K/9 over 9.0. Just watch out for those walks (96 last season)
• Madison Bumgarner (SP) -The kid has excellent control and induces plenty of groundballs while still growing in the strikeout department.
• Brian Wilson (RP) -Oblique strain likely to prevent him from making opening day, but when he gets back, Wilson is an elite closer with the K’s, groundballs, and K/BB worthy of the best. All hail The Beard!

San Diego Padres

Ok, so Adrian Gonzalez has left town, which means the offense is lookin’ slim this season. While it is true that you won’t be jumping through hoops for Padres hitters, you can still find great deals on pitching.

Hitters

The only guy on this team who has a legit shot at 20 HR is Ryan Ludwick, and still nobody should draft him. I know it looks like I am just half-assing this section, but seriously, here are a list of names on this offense: Will Venable, Jason Bartlett, Brad Hawpe, Cameron Maybin, Orlando Hudson, and Chase Headley. Would you seriously consider having any of those players start for your team? I didn’t think so.

Mat Latos (SP)

His first full season produced elite stuff as Latos gave owners a 2.92 ERA and 14 wins. He strikes out just over a better per inning and his GB rate was a robust 45%. While the Padres wanted to limit his IP last season, they let him off the leash for over 185. I wouldn’t dwell on the workload, this kid is for real.

Other Pitchers

• Tim Stauffer (SP, RP) - Great as reliever and starter. Ridiculous GB rate of 55% could yield incredible results.
• Heath Bell (RP) - Last two seasons: 2.32 ERA, 10.63 K/9, and 89 saves. Need I say more?

Colorado Rockies

I’ve been playing fantasy baseball since 2004 and as far as I can remember, this is the first time that two Colorado players will not only go in the first round, but in the top six.

Carlos Gonzalez (LF, CF, RF)

How legit is he? Well, we all know that the Coors Factor is a possibility. As we see, Gonzo hit .380 at home and that’s where 26 of his 33 HR came from as well. After his .336/34/117/26 season in 2010, we would be foolish to expect a carbon copy. However, like I said, he is a Coors player, so while the power will remain, I’d expect the BA to drop to the .290-.300 range, but he’s worth the money.

Troy Tulowitzki (SS)

Thanks to his SS-eligibility, Tulowitzki is making a charge for top-3 consideration. Why not? When healthy, Tulowitzki can give you .290/30/90. I will caution that 15 HR and 40 RBI from last season came in his monster September. Then again, Tulowitzki has shown he can be consistently powerful over the course of an entire season, so I wouldn’t be too worried.

Other Hitters

• Ian Stewart (2B, 3B) - You could do worse at such a shallow position. A legit shot at .250 with 25 HR.
• Seth Smith (LF) - Awful 2nd half (.192) combined with inability to hit lefties (.154) are putting the 25 HR potential in doubt.

Ubaldo Jimenez (SP)

15-1 with a 2.20 ERA before the break, Jimenez was coasting to the Cy Young. Then his weakness in the free passes department bit him. While Jimenez is god-like with his groundballs and strikeouts, the one hole in his game were the 92 walks (4.2 BB/9 in 2nd half). Still, he’s an elite anchor for your team.

Jorge De La Rosa (SP)

Think of him as a less flashy version of Jimenez. They both have great strikeouts coupled with elite GB%. The only difference is that De La Rosa is more generous with the walks. Other than that, it’s basically the same guy.

Other Pitchers

• Jhoulys Chacin (SP) - 3.28 ERA in 137.1 IP. Just like Jimenez and De La Rosa, combines the grounders and strikeouts.
• Huston Street (RP) - While ERA will be over 3.00, which is considered a tad bit high for a closer, he will still get 30 saves.

Los Angeles Dodgers

While the Dodgers have two great hitters you’ll be fighting over in drafts, their rotation seems to be flying under the radar as it has four strong starters worthy of your time.

Matt Kemp (CF, RF)

Kemp snuck his way into first rounds last year thanks to the potential for a 30-30 season. He fell short on those expectations by hitting .249 with 28 HR and 19 SB. Kemp swiped only 4 SB after the break and hit .233. Is this the real Matt Kemp? I’m not sure, but I’m not paying top dollar to find out. My personal verdict: Overrated!

Andre Ethier (LF, RF)

I say Ethier is the better power hitter than Kemp, but he just can’t hit lefties (.247 career, .233 in ’10). He was on his way to an elite season when a broken pinkie in May seemed to mess him up for the rest of the year. Power and hitting legit…except against lefties.

Other Hitters

• Rafael Furcal (SS) - Take a risk on his health, but if you do, then he will hit .290 with 30 SB.

Clayton Kershaw (SP)

Let’s make it two straight seasons of sub-3.00 ERA and 185+ K’s with Kershaw fanning 212 batters last season. Kershaw had some minor control problems to start the season, with 1/4 of his walks coming in the first month, but he settled down nicely (including cutting down his walks from ’09). Rising K’s, declining walks, and only 23 years old!

Chad Billingsley (SP)

Billingsley had a nice rebound from a disappointing ’09 campaign that saw his ERA rise over 4.00 for the first time as a starter. He produced 12 wins and a 3.57 ERA, but what is noteworthy are his increased GB% and decreased walk totals. We still have not seen his best.

Other Pitchers

• Hiroki Kuroda (SP) - Third straight sub-4.00 season and he is increasing strikeouts every year.
• Ted Lilly (SP) - Not flashy, but 3.70 ERA and 170 K are pretty much a lock at this point.

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks  for the most part are not worth your time. They do have talent spread around sparingly, but not a lot of players I would feel 100% comfortable with.

Justin Upton (RF)

At the end of the day, Upton failed to live up the hype he set in 2009. He ended up with 17 HR and 69 RBI to go with a .273 BA. A torn shoulder labrum zapped power at end of season, so if healthy there is still hope. If not, he is in danger of walking in brother B.J.’s footsteps of a one season power wonder. Wait a second…

Actually, in B.J.’s breakout 24 HR season, he hit .300 and then followed it up with a disappointing season (9 HR) where he hit .273. In 2009, Justin had his breakout power season (26 HR) where he hit .300 and then followed it up with a disappointing campaign where he hit (*CUE SCARY MUSIC*) .273! Coincidence, or genetics?

Chris B. Young (CF)

Well, things couldn’t get worse than ’09 (.212/.311/.400) and Young bettered himself all around by hitting .257 with 27 HR and 91 RBI. Young also increased his walk total to 74. If he maintains patience and keeps steadily increasing his hitting, then .270/30/90 is not out of the question.

Other Hitters

• Kelly Johnson (2B) - While I won’t call for another 26 HR, he is still good for .280/20/60 with 12-15 SB.
• Stephen Drew (SS) - Not worth reaching for, but .275/15/70 within range.

Ian Kennedy (SP)

What we have in Kennedy is a man who does not dominate one single category, but instead delivers respectable stats across the board. He finished on a high note with 1.55 ERA in 29.0 September innings. Kennedy will get you decent K numbers, but he does have a knack for the longball (26 HR allowed). Still young enough to improve and a more than respectable starter.

Other Pitchers

• Daniel Hudson (SP) -Posted 1.69 ERA after coming over from Chicago. The 45% FB rate points to rise in ERA, but very good strikeout numbers also say that he won’t implode.
• J.J. Putz (RP) - The New York experiment was a disaster and Putz rebounded with the familiar 2.83 ERA and 10.8 K/9. Will close and has the stuff.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
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Cincinnati Reds

The Red made a surprising surge in the rankings with their potent offense and steady starting pitching. One player on this team is a first rounder while other supporting cast members will be gone within the first five rounds.

Joey Votto (1B)

The reigning NL MVP had his breakout season backed up by legitimate skills that he has flashed in years past. Votto showed well rounded skills posting .324/37/114 with 16 SB, but I can’t guarantee another season of 15+ swipes. What I will tell you is that Votto’s power and hitting are getting better every season and 2011 will be at least more of the same. Lock in the same numbers, it’s almost “Vottomatic”.

Jay Bruce (CF, RF)

Here is another young hitter who is on the cusp of a breakout season. In 2010, Bruce finally solved left handers with a .277 BA against southpaws and he had a fantastic 2nd half by hitting .306/15/34 after the break. I must say though, if it doesn’t happen this season, then when will it happen?

Other Hitters

• Brandon Phillips (2B) - Speed and power in decline; 20-20 is now a reach instead of a guarantee.
• Drew Stubbs (CF) -I don’t forsee a power surge and BA improvement won’t happen given frequent strikeout totals (168 in ’10). I still like 20-30 possibility.
• Scott Rolen (3B) - I know the 20 HR and 83 RBI look like a decent option, but HUGE first half (.290/17/57) makes whole season look good.

Johnny Cueto (SP)

It wasn’t long ago when Cueto was Cincinnati’s next big thing. It looks like he turned a corner in 2010 by lowering his ERA to 3.64. He isn’t flashy with the strikeouts, but he also doesn’t surrender too many free passes and he up’d his GB rate in the 2nd half to 45%. Remember, not flashy, but dependable.

Bronson Arroyo (SP)

First and foremost, Arroyo is not a strikeout pitcher. His K/9 fell to 5.05, but his GB rate stays over 40% and his K/BB in the 2nd half of last season was a stellar 3.7. Last season marked the 6th consecutive year of 200+ IP, so the guy is a workhorse with good control.

Other Pitchers

• Mike Leake (SP) - Imploded in 2nd half, but not bad for a guy with no minor league experience.
• Travis Wood (SP) -Put up decent strikeouts (7.54 K/9) and decent ERA (3.51), but gives up too many fly balls for a guy pitching at Great American Ball Park.
• Francisco Cordero (RP) -He’s still their closer and recorded 40 saves in ’10, but K/9 is in free fall and 1.6 K/BB makes me sick. If he falls apart, then look out for Aroldis Chapman to sneak into the role.

St. Louis Cardinals

All of the focus in the fantasy community is on one man. It is the man who should be taken 1st overall in any draft, but he has a supporting cast worth considering. The biggest news in the offseason was the injury to fantasy ace pitcher Adam Wainright who will miss 2011 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Albert Pujols (1B)

THE player to have in drafts. If you have the first overall pick, you shouldn’t even be considering anyone else. Last season, Pujols set a career low in BA…hitting .312. He also failed to reach .600 SLG for only the 2nd time in his career…so he hit .596. All I have to tell you is that over his 10 seasons, Pujols is averaging 118 R/40 HR/123 RBI and is a career .331 hitter. Enough said.

Matt Holliday (LF)

For all those who though Holliday needed Coors Field to be successful, I will tell you that you are wrong. He obviously just needs any N.L. park, but that’s not the point. What we see from Holliday’s season and a half in St. Louis is great hitting and RBI opportunities (thanks Pujols). In 221 games, he’s hit .324 with 41 HR and 158 RBI, so there’s no reason why he would decline anytime soon.

Other Hitters

• Colby Rasmus (CF, RF) - Had a great 1st half with 16 HR and 42 RBI before break, but has fallen apart in 2nd half for 2nd straight season. Also has high strikeout totals that will hold him back from taking next big step.
• Lance Berkman (1B, LF) - Don’t pay for the name, he’s on his way out.

Chris Carpenter (SP)

Who else though he was finished after Tommy John surgery? 2010 marked the 2nd straight season of 190+ IP including 235 last season, so injuries don’t look to be a nagging issue. Carpenter has put up ace numbers in the past two years, so he has clearly regained the form that won him the Cy Young in ’05. Get past the injury concerns and draft with confidence.

Jaime Garcia (SP)

The rookie impressed in his first full season by posting superb 2.70 ERA in 28 starts and racking up 13 wins. His walks are a tad high (3.5/9 IP), but he’s a sinker ball pitcher who will keep the ball on the ground, so even if the ERA rises, it won’t spike through the roof.

Other Pitchers

• Kyle McClellan (SP) - With Wainwright out, McClellan was pulled from his relief role to fill the fifth spot in the rotation. He looks good this spring and combines GB% and strong K totals.
• Ryan Franklin (RP) - He isn’t dominating at the plate, but his control is spot on. As long as he maintains, then a run at 30 saves is in his future.

Milwaukee Brewers

Talk about loaded with talent. Oh, not just talent, but young talent…on both sides. The Brewers give us hard-hitting offense and some borderline elite starting pitching. The Brew Crew could make a run at an N.L. Central title, which means fantasy talent is abundant no matter where you look.

Ryan Braun (LF)

Braun’s days as a first rounder will end in 2011 if he can’t stop this freefall in the HR department. Sporting just 25 longballs in 2010, Braun reached .500 SLG thanks to 45 doubles, but that doesn’t mean he is useless. He still hit .304 and put in his 3rd straight year of 100+ RBI and 2nd straight year of 100+ runs. While huge September was encouraging (.323/6/23), the Hebrewer may be kissing his 30 HR days goodbye.

Prince Fielder (1B)

Fielder’s power is not in question, he even put up 32 HR in what is considered a bad year for him. His big hurdle is left-handed pitching. Last season, his RH/LH splits were very much black and white as he only hit .226/336/.332 against southpaws. He’s shown he can hit lefties in the past, so if he corrects that in 2011, then he will have another huge year.

Other Hitters

• Casey McGehee (2B, 3B) - Proved the haters wrong with .285/23/104 and plays some of fantasy’s shallowest positions.
• Corey Hart (RF) -Traded contact for power and it led to career high 31 HR. Hitting in front of Braun/Fielder will ensure good pitches.
• Rickie Weeks (2B) - It only took six years, but he finally played a full season, and it led to 112 R, 29 HR, and 83 RBI. Clearly he is among the best 2B, but do you really want to take the health risk?

Zack Greinke (SP)

While not as jaw-dropping as his Cy Young season in ’09, Greinke was a serviceable start last year. His ERA jumped to over 4.00 and he struck out less batters, but his skills from ’09 remained relatively the same (except for K’s). You could just call it a fluke season, but keep an eye on him. Then again, moving to the N.L. increases odds of great rebound season.

Yovani Gallardo (SP)

Gallardo is a stud pitcher even if nobody knows it. He reached 200 K’s for the first time in his career and put up 14 wins and a 3.84 ERA. Only a truly terrible August (7.75 ERA in 33.2 IP) watered down his season. My only complaint are the 75 BB. If he can get those under control, the he can join the elite.

Other Pitchers

• Shaun Marcum (SP) -Returned from Tommy John surgery and it was more of the same…but a little better. Posted best IP total and strikeouts of career to go with 3.64 ERA. Now he moves to National League, which will only help.
• Randy Wolf (SP) - Much improved 2nd half is encouraging. However, high walks (87) and declining K/9 are warning signs.
• John Axford (RP) - Combined high K’s (11.79 K/9) with 48% GB rate to produce 8-2, 2.48 ERA. Walks are still a tad bit high (4.1 BB/9 ), but he should easily be a 30 save closer this season.

Houston Astros

Houston is not the team of fantasy studs it once was as the most noteworthy name on offense is now Carlos Lee, but there are other decent options sprinkled about in both the lineup and the rotation.

Carlos Lee (LF)

Lately, Lee has been trying to eat his weight in Twinkees. Add that to his unfortunate .238 BABIP last season, and no wonder he hit .246 last year. He is still making a lot of contact and he is still hitting plenty if flyballs. A nice rebound is a sure thing, but the BA will top out around .270.

Hunter Pence (CF, RF)

Pence’s consistency is borderline scary. He’s hit exactly 25 HR for three straight seasons and has hit exactly .282 for the past two years. Pence up’d his SB total to 18, and he flashed phenomenal power numbers in the 2nd half with his FB rate spiking to 40%. If nothing else, another 25 HR are on the way, but if last year’s 2nd half is a sign of things to come, then we may see 30.

Other Hitters

• Michael Bourn (CF) - He’ll hit .260 and steal close to 50 bases. Nothing much more to say.
• Chris Johnson (3B) - .308/11/52 in 94 games, I believe in 20+ HR, but the hitting will regress once .387 BABIP goes down.

Wandy Rodriguez (SP)

A tale of two seasons as we saw Wandy post 6-11 record and 4.97 ERA before break and 5-1, 2.11 ERA in 2nd half. He did everything right after the All Star Break by increasing K total while simultaneously cutting down on walks. We know he has the stuff, so buy into 2nd half rather than first.

Brett Myers (SP)

Myers returned to glory with his 2010 season as he went at least 6.0 IP in all but one start and increased his strikeout totals and induced a ton of groundballs. If he stays healthy for another season, then we will see an encore in 2011.

Other Pitchers

• J.A. Happ (SP) - Sure he is young and has good strikeout numbers, but he walks close to 5.o batters per 9 IP. He’s close, but still not there.
• Brandon Lyon (RP) - Blew only two saves last season, but poor 1.7 K/BB is warning us to stay away.

Chicago Cubs

These aren’t your daddy’s Cubs. The biggest news in the offseason was the acquisition of former Rays Matt Garza and Carlos Pena. Other than that, this is the same team we’ve seen for the past several seasons.

Aramis Ramirez (3B)

Most people will see the overall numbers and stay away, so that is why you can get Ramirez on the cheap. Let’s not forget that he was hampered by a thumb injury for the first part of the season. The numbers don’t lie; he hit 19 HR in the 2nd half with a .293 BA. No worries here.

Carlos Pena (1B)

2010 marked the first time since ’07 that Pena failed to break 30 HR and 100 RBI. In grand fashion, he hit .196 for the season. I’ve never been a Pena fan, but call me crazy, but I think a slight (SLIGHT) resurgence in his move to the N.L. is in order. His power could even fly off the charts at Wrigley. The hitting will still be atrocious, but not sub .200.

Geovany Soto (C)

After a terrible sophomore slump, Soto didn’t return to his rookie form, but he came back with more than respectable numbers (for a catcher) by hitting .280/17/53. Shoulder problems limited playing time, but if he’s healthy, then 25 HR is on the horizon.

Other Hitters

• Alfonso Soriano (LF) - Slightly underrated. Showed good skills last season and could easily reach .275/25/90.
• Starlin Castro (SS) - Not quite there yet. Will hit .285 with 20 SB, so don’t jump the gun.

Ryan Dempster (SP)

Dempster put in his 3rd straight season of 200+ IP and delivered with his first 200+ K season since 2000. In the second half, he slightly fell off by issuing more walks, but the K-rate never faltered. Fatigue as the season goes on is still a small concern, but there’s no reason he can’t have another solid season.

Matt Garza (SP)

Garza has two straight seasons of sub-4.00 ERA, but it is an illusion. Garza’s BB/9 is near 3.0, his K/9 is eroding, his FB% is over 45, and he allowed 28 HR last season. A lot of luck has gone into his double-digit wins and decent ERA. An implosion is imminent.

Other Pitchers

• Carlos Zambrano (SP) -So many issues over the past few seasons. No way he’ll repeat last season’s 2nd half (1.58 ERA in 74.0 IP). Expect high 3.00 ERA at best.
• Carlos Marmol (RP) -The 38 saves and 2.55 ERA were great. We like the 16.0 K/9, but we don’t like the 6.0 BB/9. It’s your call.

Pittsburgh Pirates

*Sigh*, let’s get this over with. Ok, so things are looking bleek in Pittsburgh, but reasonable players are to be found. Just stay away from the rotation. If your team has Paul Maholm or Ross Ohlendorf anywhere on your staff, then I revoke your rights to play fantasy baseball.

Andrew McCutchen (CF)

The first Pirate off any draft board, McCutchen is a budding speed/power combo. While he won’t reach superstardom this season, he will have a good shot at hitting .300 with 20 HR and 30 SB.

Pedro Alvarez (3B)

Another young star in the making, Alvarez made a decent splash in his rookie season with 16 HR and 64 RBI in 95 games. While he failed to hit lefties (.228), he is still developing. Plus, strong September (.311/5/26) are a sign of good things to come.

Other Hitters

• Jose Tabata (LF, CF) -Speedy leadoff hitter will hit in the .280 range and steal 30-40 bases.
• Neil Walker (2B) - Well-rounded hitter at shallow position with chance at 25 HR.

Joel Hanrahan (RP)

The Pirates closer finished with 100 K’s in 69.2 IP and showed great improvement in his GB% and K/9. He’s never been a full time closer, which some could see as a red flag, but I think he’ll be able to lock down 30 saves.

Other Pitchers

I will not fully endorse any Pittsburgh starting pitcher. When Paul Maholm is your anchor, the you have problems.

© Pete Rampino for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Fantasy, Featured.

You may be the smartest guy in your fantasy baseball league. You took Carlos Gonzalez in the 20th round last year. You let Mark Reynolds slip by you after his 41-HR season. You passed on Adrian Beltre the year after he belted 48 HRs. You knew Dallas Braden and Mark Buehrle had nowhere to go but down after their perfect games the last couple years, so you sold high.

While you may be the most-skilled fantasy owner around, you could have one fatal flaw: a lame team name. If your team is named Jeff’s Juggernauts, The Miguel Cabreras, Red Sox Nation, Pete’s Pirates, or anything else super-lame, you need some serious help despite your otherwise flawless fantasy intuition. I’m here to be of service.

So, how does one come up with a creative team name? (If you think I missed any ideas…let me know!)

Pop-Culture References

What’s going on in the news lately? What’s trending in Twitter? Oftentimes, you can use what’s happening now in the world as your team’s name. Here are a few top stories the last couple weeks:

Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen can’t seem to stay out of the headlines lately. I guarantee this fantasy season, you’ll see teams called “Winning, Duh!” or “Tiger Blood” or “Torpedo Of Truth.”

They’re not the best team names, but they’re relevant. My solution for an even better team name? Go an extra step with Charlie Sheen. Be the “Detroit Tiger’s Blood” or hearken back to Sheen from the Major League movies. Be “The Wild Things” or simply “Rick Vaughn.”

Japan’s Earthquake & Tsunami

Probably more than 10,000 people have died, while hundreds of thousands of more have been endangered due to issues with the nuclear reactors. Stay away from this in the fantasy baseball realm unless you’re (a) heartless or (b) honoring those lost in Japan.

March Madness

Unless you’re talking about the NCAA Tournament…of BASEBALL, stay away from team names that make sense only in other sports.

Baseball History

Some of you may be baseball purists, and if so, this is probably the way to go. Baseball is America’s pasttime, and has been played at a professional level since before 1900, so there are many historical references that can be made.

Also, classic team nicknames can be acceptable…but remember: “Red Sox Nation” and “The Bronx Bombers” are very unoriginal and lame. Same for “Yankees Suck” too – that’s soooo 2003. Dig deeper.

Here’s some ideas:

• Black Sox (Refers to the 1919 White Sox who fixed the World Series)
• The Amazins (Refers to the 1969 last-to-first Mets)
• Murderer’s Row (In the 1920′s, the Yankees were dominant, but Murderer’s Row refers to the 1927 Yankees team that featured Babe Ruth and Lou Gherig. That team was so good, they went 110-44 while Ruth hit .356 with 60 HRs and 164 RBIs and Gherig won the MVP by hitting .373 with 47 HRs and 175 RBIs)
• Big Red Machine (Refers to the 1970′s Reds, not Kane)
• Bash Brothers (Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire… or Dean Portman and Fulton Reed from The Mighty Ducks, but the latter isn’t baseball related)

Movies/Television

This can be a good way to show you know your baseball history on the field and off of it. Have you seen “Rookie of the Year” or “Field of Dreams”? How about any Kevin Costner movie?

The Bad News Bears

If you haven’t seen the 2005 remake starring Billy Bob Thornton, then don’t. It was awful. If you choose to refer to the Bad News Bears, people are going to assume you’re talking about the 1976 cult classic.

Try these names:

• Bad News Bears
• Chico’s Bail Bonds (team sponsor)
• Morris Buttermaker (played by Walter Matthau)

The Simpsons

The long-time cartoon classic on Fox has made several references to baseball over the years. Are the Simpsons old and out of touch? At this point, probably. But, you may find some chumps in your league salivating over your team name.

Try these names:

• Springfield Isotopes (Homer was the mascot)
• Homer’s Wonderbat
• Homer At The Bat

Other Movies/TV Show References

There are many, many other TV shows and movies I could run through, but here are a few popular team names related to TV shows or movies:

• Gas-House Gorillas (From a Looney Tunes episode in 1946)
• Baseball Furies (The gang from the 1976 film, The Warriors)
• Durham Bulls (Actual Minor League baseball team featured in Bull Durham and The Rookie)
• The Untouchables (You may recall the baseball bat murder scene)
• Benchwarmers (This film starred Rob Schnieder, David Spade, and the guy from Napoleon Dynamite. Say no more…)
• Kenny Powers (From the HBO series Eastbound & Down)
• Angels In The Outfield (The movie is so old…these are the California Angels)
• You’re Killin’ Me Smalls! (…and many other quotable references from The Sandlot)

Click here for a complete list of baseball movies to generate ideas from.

“Clever” Puns

This may be my favorite form of fantasy team names. In basketball, I’ve used “LOL Deng” for years, obviously swapping out “Luol” for “LOL.” My other basketball team names have been “Dwight Howard The Duck” and “Kevin Lovemaker.” The same type of team-naming strategy can work in baseball, too.

You don’t have to be limited by player name puns. You can use team names (like I wrote earlier with Detroit Tiger’s Blood) or big stories in baseball (for years I have used the name “Triple HGH.” When I was younger and uncreative, I used “A-Roids.”). Just have fun with it.

Admittedly, I spotted a lot of these names on a thread on a Fangraphs forum. Some of you are very creative. Here are a few suggestions:

• Chasing Utley (like Kevin Smith’s “Chasing Amy”)
• Sell My Grill Manny (this was cute like five years ago)
• The Rio Granderson (The Rio Grande + Curtis Granderson)
• Inglorious Bastardos (Inglorious Basterds + Antonio Bastardo)
• Longoria’s Basterds (Evan Longoira + Inglorious Basterds)
• The Dark Wright (The Dark Knight + David Wright)
• The Braun Identity (Ryan Braun + The Bourne Identity)
• San Jose Cansecos (San Jose + Jose Canseco)
• With or Without Youk
• Billy Beane Is Not My Lover (Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean”)
• It Byrnes When I Peavy (Involes Eric Byrnes and Jake Peavy)
• No Smoaking (Re: Justin Smoak)
• Tulowit To Quit (Troy Tulowitzki + “Too Legit To Quit”)
• Kevin Cash Considerations
• Harangutans (Aaron Harang + Orangutans)
• Honey Nut Ichiro’s (Honey Nut Cheerios + Ichiro)
• Toronto Blu-Rays

Do you have any suggestions? Comment below!

© KC Downey for Sports of Boston, 2011. | Permalink | 2 comments
Filed under: Fantasy, Featured, Now!.