Auction Draft Results

Nothing like a good auction draft to get you wishing the season started tomorrow. I joined one of the Fantasy Man's auction leagues this year and we had our auction last night (it's a 12 team, 23 man roster, $260 salary, standard roto). I wanted to share with you some of the results of it because it was a very fun, interesting, yet exhausting draft. Big names went quick and there were a couple of steals early. For the most part, the early portion of the draft saw some big time money spending. Some people ran out of funds way too early and their roster suffered for it. As a result of the big spending early, there were some real steals late. I didn't keep track of what every owner paid for every player but I kept track of what I paid for my guys and I'd like to show you my roster and give you a few thoughts about it.

C- Geovany Soto -$4
C- Yorvit Torrealba -$1
1B- Paul Konerko -$12
2B- Chase Utley -$38
SS- Khalil Greene -$6
3B- Aramis Ramirez -$22
OF- Vladimir Guerrero -$34
OF- Carlos Beltran -$32
OF- Magglio Ordonez -$26
OF- Pat Burrell -$8
OF- Kosuke Fukudome -$5
CI- Akinori Iwamura -$1
MI- Placido Polanco -$2
U- Jim Thome -$6

P- Yvoni Gallardo -$14
P- Joe Nathan -$16
P- Eric Gagne -$7
P- Brad Penny -$7
P- Ben Sheets -$8
P- Tim Hudson -$7
P- Barry Zito -$2
P- Bob Howry -$1
P- Tony A. Pena -$1

One of the owners in the league, Keith McArthur, took every team's projected stats (according to CBS Sportsline) and said if every player was to reach their projected stats that my team would win. Now I'm not writing this to brag about how good my draft was. In fact, I know I could have done better. I definitely overpaid for Gallardo. He was thrown out there early and I didn't intend to get him. I was trying to jack the price up since people were spending big and got stuck with him. That's ok though, I think he'll have a very good year. I probably should have gone without one of my power hitters and gotten a good pitcher instead. I was trying to jack the price up on Utley too and kind of got stuck with him but he's one of my favorite players and I don't mind him on my team at all. Those are mistakes that are easy to learn from and will make you a better fantasy player for having made them.

Obviously my favorite part of my team is my offense. With the heavy hitters that I got I should dominate the HR and RBI departments and be among the league leaders in R. I could have used another speed guy also. I really set out to get Brandon Phillips instead of Utley which would have helped. Aramis Ramirez for $22 was one of the top steals of the draft. I also love getting a possible 30+ HR from Jim Thome as my last player picked for $6. The thing that really helped my team was getting Brad Penny and Tim Hudson for $7 and Ben Sheets for $8. If they can have years like they had last season I should be alright. I took Howry and Pena for a buck assuming they will take over the closer's role for their teams. I know Pinella is leaning towards Howry and Pena is just a better pitcher than Brandon Lyons.

So as you can see I went for offense early and big and pitching late at steal prices. Got saves cheap and a few 15 game winners and my sleepers to surround my heavy hitters. There were other teams that did very well for themselves too for sure. The Fantasy Man may have gotten two of the biggest steals of the draft when he got A-Rod for $44 and Ryan Howard for $39. It was a fun draft and should be a fun league. I hope this little bit of auction insight can help get ready for your auctions. Good luck guys.

Taking the Next Step

I was one of the fantasy players last year that bought into the "Alex Gordon is the next George Brett" hype. I picked him higher than I should have just because I wanted him on my team. I never dropped him either even though he had a wretched first half. His second half was very good though it wasn't worthy of a starting spot on my team. By drafting Gordon and hanging onto him during a rough year, I did myself a favor. Having him on my squad meant that I was going to pay very close attention to him all year. I'm glad I did too because for the most part I really liked what I saw. The first half of the season he was swinging at everything. I mean EVERYTHING. Pitches in the dirt, a foot outside, up in his face, he was hacking at them. He was taking huge swings too, trying to park the ball every time up. He basically tried to do way too much instead of playing his game. His game is quick hard swings, drive the ball in the gaps and use his speed on the base paths. His numbers last year were very disappointing but they don't tell the whole story. He finished 2007 with a .246 BA 15 HR and 60 RBI with 14 SB which is all together not that bad of a rookie season. We expect these phenoms to come in and produce right away but Gordon's rookie year was typical of most players' first years. Looking to 2008 and beyond for Gordon, I really like the possibilities. He just turned 24 and now he's got a full season in the bigs under his belt. While the Royals are still a bad team, they're no longer a laughing stock and should be somewhat competitive this year. Gordon is going to lead the way for them. He is without a doubt the best player on the team and that too can put pressure on someone. He has good veterans around him though to help take some of that pressure off of him. Gordon is worth serious consideration for all fantasy owners. He is eligible at both 1B and 3B. He goes in about the 13th-15th rounds of mock drafts and his auction value right now is right around $8-$10. That is money well spent for the stats he should produce in '08. I'm not saying he's going to win the Triple Crown this year and I'm not saying he's the next George Brett. What I'm saying is that 2008 will be a much better season for Gordon and he will continue to get better every season. I'm also saying that for is value he's going to be very hard to pass up this year. I'm really looking forward to watching him progress this year. '08 Prediction: .280 BA 24 HR 85 RBI 25 SB.

My All-Sleeper Team

I was going to wait a few weeks to do this but I know a lot of people have their drafts coming up soon and I wanted to get this out there for you guys to consider. Now some people consider sleepers as just rookies but sleepers are any player that you think will have a good season that most people don't think will. I save my keepers for the last 5 or so rounds and they will allow you to stock up on the big boys early and help you manage your late rounds better than the other guys. Good sleepers make for a solid draft from top to bottom and can be used as trade bait during the season if you got the guys you wanted early. So here we go, my All-Sleeper Team:

C- Kurt Suzuki -A guy you can get in the las round if you're in a 1 C league. Showed good pop late in the season last year.

1B- Joey Votto -Has gone undrafted in many drafts and is a potential NL ROY candidate. Shows good power from left side of the plate. Could give you 20 HR this year.

2B-Mark Ellis -Last year hit 19 HR and drove in 76 at a shallow 2B position. Would welcome a backup 2B that can do that again this year.

SS- Felipe Lopez -Should bounce back this season and put up better numbers in an improved lineup. Could steal 30 bases this year.

3B- Kevin Kouzmanoff -Showed off his potential last year after a slow start. Really like him moving forward. Could have 20/100 season.

OF- Kosuke Fukudome -MVP in Japan in 2006, has speed and power. Will start out hitting 3rd for the Cubs. Could score a lot of runs. Possible .300/20/90/20 season.

OF- Lastings Milledge -Will finally play everyday and could put up .280/20/80/25 season. Not bad in the last couple of rounds in the draft.

OF- Justin Upton -If he's anything like B.J. I'll take him. 2007 Minor League MVP should play everyday for the D-Backs this year.

SP- Dustin McGowan -Had 12 wins as a rookie with an ERA just above 4.00. Also K'd 144 in 169 innings. I'll take that potential in round 19 or 20.

RP- Bob Howry -Everyone expects Marmol to be the closer for the Cubs but Pinella has been hinting at Howry as the guy to start the season. He would rather have a veteran for the role.

What do you guys think? Always know your short list of sleepers and always have them in mind the last few rounds of the drat. They can turn your draft from a pretty good one to the best in the league. As always, email me with any questions or comments.

Proceed With Extreme Caution!

Rickie Weeks screams potential. He has the potential to be one of, if not the best second basemen in the league. I'm here to tell you that it probably won't happen. He has been injured in every season since he's been in the majors. Who else do we know like that? Rich Harden, Mark Prior just to name a couple. How did they end up? His and their potentials are sometimes very, very hard to pass on. Especially in a weak 2B position. Let me tell you guys something about Rickie Weeks, pass on him. Do yourself a favor. I've been seeing Rickie Weeks go consistently in the 8th round of mock drafts. Like I said, the position is weak but that's no reason for you to waste a very good pick in the 8th round on someone who will most likely be injured this season. I would rather get a 2B who I know is going to play a full season in the last round rather than pick Weeks in the 8th. I've seen him go as high as the 6th round, it's just ridiculous. Let me share something with you guys. 2007=409 ABs, 2006=359 ABs, 2005=360 ABs. What is something like that going to do for your team? His high BA for a season is .278. In the other two seasons he hit .234 and .238. He has pretty good HR potential but his swing has as many holes as a golf course. His real value comes in the SB department. Last year in only 409 AB and only a .234 BA he managed to steal 25 bases. This is how I look at Weeks this year, as an expensive source for steals. His career high in RBI is 42. Come on people don't let the hype and sexy suck you in! I'll take at shot at Rickie Weeks...in the 17th round, maybe not even that early! Don't waste a pick on him people, you are going to regret it.

A Quick Note

Sorry I haven't posted anything in the last few days but I've been working a lot of hours this week and just haven't had the time or the energy. I'll try to make up for it this week.

I received this in an email from Michael Hayes from http://ballhype.com/ and I thought you guys might be interested in it.

I'm working on this for CBSSports.com, they're offering commissioners who sign up their league through this link a $50 rebate on their league registration:
CBSSports.com Commissioner Rebate Program
Additionally, for each person you refer who signs up as a commissioner you receive an additional $50.

Thought this was a great deal for anybody that has not registered their leagues yet.

2008 Outfielder Rankings

Picking the right outfield in fantasy baseball is critical to success. If you have a sub-par outfield you will have trouble keeping up with other owners who have the big guns. I'm not saying that you necessarily need an all power hitter outfield at all. In fact I like to get my SB from my outfielders. However, you do have to have depth in your outfield. There is not a tremendous amount of quality fantasy outfielders out there, especially for 12+ team leagues or leagues with more than three starting outfielders. For those people it's going to be important to get at least two top 25 outfielders on your squad. About three or four years ago the depth of outfielders was significantly better than the last couple of years. However, there are still very good outfielders near the top and some quality ones you can get late in the draft or for very cheap in an auction. Let's break them down a little.

Top 40 Outfielders

1. Matt Holliday- COL -In the last two years Holliday has solidified his position as the best OF in the game. He hits for AVG, HR and RBI and will even swipe a few bases. He may not hit .340 again this year but will definitely be a mid to late first round pick. '08 Prediction: .330 BA 35 HR 130 RBI 10 SB.
2. Vladimir Guerrero- LAA -Still a dominant power hitter and intimidator. He'll get a little more protection this year with the addition of Torii Hunter to the lineup. The Angels should be a little better scoring runs this year. '08 Prediction: .325 BA 28 HR 125 RBI 10 SB.
3. Alfonso Soriano- CHC -He was hampered with a quad injury for the last half of the season and it may still be an issue. Keep an eye on the situation in Spring Training. If healthy he could reclaim his position as the top OF. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 38 HR 90 RBI 30 SB.

4. Carlos Beltran- NYM -It seems like he has quietly putting up big numbers the last two years. These are numbers that he should put up every year and can even improve on. He's is the cornerstone of the Mets offense and no question a no. 1 OF. '08 Prediction: .280 BA 35 HR 125 RBI 25 SB.

5. Grady Sizemore- CLE -He's one of the best OF in the game and I don't even think he's reached his potential yet. I believe he can be a 30/30 guy in the next couple of years. Look for him to go in the late second-early third round. '08 Prediciton: .285 BA 28 HR 90 RBI 30 SB.
6. Carl Crawford- TB -Didn't put up the HR numbers last year that we would like to see from him but the RBI were still there. He will no doubt lead the AL in SB again this year. Look for him to add a few more HR to last years total. Make sure if you have Crawford to get more of a power hitter as your no. 2 OF. '08 Prediction: .310 BA 15 HR 80 RBI 50 SB.
7. Magglio Ordonez- DET -He had just a ridiculous year last year. Can he hit .360 again? Probably not but he can hit .330-.340 easy. Having a guy like Mags can allow you to go after a guy like Adam Dunn as your no. 2 outfielder. May even see a few more RBI from him this year with the additions that Detroit has made. '08 Prediction: .335 BA 30 HR 140 RBI.
8. Ichiro Suzuki- SEA -Dependable, reliable, you know what you're going to get every year. That is what makes him the no.8 OF. I definitely think he can hit .350 again this year and the Mariners should be contenders as well. '08 Prediction: .350 BA 10 HR 70 RBI 40 SB.
9. Carlos Lee- HOU -A powerhouse clutch hitter who can change the game with one swing. He's worthy of being your no. 1 OF and can even surpass his numbers from last year. Like Ichiro, you know what you're going to get from him every year. '08 Prediciton: .300 BA 35 HR 125 RBI 10 SB.
10. Lance Berkman- HOU -His 1B eligiblity makes him top 10. Oh yeah so does five years of 30+ HR. Berkman will continue to be the heart of the Houston lineup and continue to rake the ball. He got off to a very slow start last year which is uncommon for him. With a fast start this year his numbers should be even better than last year. '08 Prediciton: .285 BA 38 HR 115 RBI.
11. B.J. Upton- TB -He's 2B eligible still this year which increase his value. A value that is quickly rising to the top of fantasy baseball. He really suprised us all in his first full year last year at how quickly he lived up to his potential. Scary thing is that he is going to get better. '08 Prediction: .308 AVG 28 HR 100 RBI 30 SB.
12. Manny Ramirez- BOS -He can easily regain his status as a top 5 OF this season. He is in a contract year and has a lot to prove. Last season was a disappointment but this season is a fresh start for him. Look for big numbers this year. You can also get Manny in the early-mid fourth round and better use your third round pick. '08 Prediction: .310 BA 35 HR 120 RBI.
13. Curtis Granderson- DET -I think he shocked most people with his production last year. Many people were wondering if he could be a .300 hitter and put up power numbers like he did. It's his swing and not his strength that allows him to do it. Another guy in that Detroit lineup that could see an improvement in numbers. '08 Prediciton: .300 BA 25 HR 75 RBI 30 SB.
14. Adam Dunn- CIN - The only OF besides possibly Manny that can hit 40 HR. He's a BA killer put owners will sacrifice it for the HR and RBI. He's hit exactly 40 HR the last three seasons. How's that for consistent. More of the same this year. '08 Prediction: .250 BA 40 HR 110 RBI 8 SB.
15. Nick Markakis- BAL -The single shining star on the O's roster showed last season what people in Baltimore expected. He is able to put up good numbers despite the fact that their lineup is one of, if not the worst in baseball. Somebody give this guy a raise. '08 Prediction: .300 BA 25 HR 95 RBI 15 SB.
16. Alex Rios- TOR -Great looking young OF with potential for improvement. Toronto should have a pretty good lineup again this year and Rios is the centerpiece. Owners worry about his health and with good reason. If he can stay healthy for a full season the numbers could be ridiculous. '08 Prediction: .300 BA 25 HR 100 RBI 15 SB.
17. Eric Byrnes- ARI -He's one of my favorite players in baseball. He's constant %110 wreckless action and I love it. Showed some good pop last year to go along with his speed. His former employers are regreting ever letting him get away. '08 Prediciton: .285 BA 24 HR 85 RBI 45 SB.
18. Torii Hunter- LAA - I think the move to Anaheim will be beneficial for Hunter. The natural surface will prolong his playing days and productivity. I think he'll have fun roaming CF for the Angels and he will definitely love hitting behind Vlad. He is also playing for a manager that loves the SB. '08 Prediction: .280 BA 28 HR 100 RBI 20 SB.
19. Hunter Pence- HOU -I loved what I saw out of him last year. He will be a .300+ hitter most of his career and give you a little pop and speed as well. Keep an eye on Houston in Spring Training to see where he will hit in the order which could change his potential numbers. '08 Prediciton: .320 BA 22 HR 80 RBI 20 SB.
20. Nick Swisher- OAK -Last year was a let down for fantasy owners compared to the year before. Expectations are rising for him again because of the new ballpark and better hitting lineup. Will play CF for the White Sox but he is still eligible at 1B in most leagues. '08 Prediction: .270 BA 30 HR 100 RBI.
21. Vernon Wells- TOR -Nagging injuries prevented him from having another solid fantasy year last year. He got off to such a bad start that he could not climb out of the hole he dug for himself. He also had a lot of pressure to produce after signing the huge contract. Look for him to get back to the old Vernon Wells. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 28 HR 95 RBI 12 SB.
22. Brad Hawpe- COL -He's no joke, the guy can rake. He still has his doubters which is astonishing to me. Could pass the 3o HR mark this year and will get you 100+ RBI once again. Huge value which you can get in the 8th round or so. '08 Prediction: .300 BA 30 HR 110 RBI.
23. Hideki Matsui- NYY - As consistent as it gets when it comes to OF production. He gets a little bit lost in the shuffle with all the big names on his team but he is my favorite Yankee. He's getting up there in age but the guy is in tremendous shape and is built like a rock. Rock solid OF. '08 Prediction: .300 BA 25 HR 100 RBI.
24. Chris B. Young- ARI -He was highly touted coming out of the minors but he basically came out of nowhere and hit 30 HR last year as a rookie. He needs to be a more conistent hitter which will come in time. Solid no. 2 fantasy OF who will only get better. '08 Prediction: .270 BA 26 HR 75 RBI 30 SB.
25. Corey Hart- MIL- I would still like to see another season off good numbers under his belt before I jump at him but I think the potential is there for him to put up numbers like he did last year on a consistent basis. We'll see if he can match last years production this year. Can't go wrong with him as a no. 2 OF. '08 Prediction: .300 BA 22 HR 80 RBI 25 SB.
26. Bobby Abreu- NYY -Be careful with Abreu because not only are his HR numbers declining but so are his SB numbers. He'll still hit .290 or .300 and get 100 RBI. However, he's not the one time 5 tool hitter he once was and never will be again. '08 Prediction: .295 BA 15 HR 100 RBI 20 SB.
27. Jason Bay- PIT -Very disappointing '07 season for Bay but that was an abberation. We were all hoping the Pirates would deal him to a contending team but no such luck. I think he'll get back to 30 HR this year and re-establish himself as one of the games best power hitting OFs. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 30 HR 100 RBI 10 SB.
28. Jeff Francouer- ATL -His HR production dropped a little last year but he raised his BA almost 50 points. I think he will sit somewhere in the middle of those two categories. He's still very young and his power is tremendous. If he can't make consistent contact he could be a .300/30 guy. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 25 HR 100 RBI.
29. Shane Victorino- PHI -He's really a fun guy to watch play. He combines a little bit of power and a little bit of speed. Philly wasn't the same team without him in the lineup. He's got a full season under his belt and with 100 more ABs this year his numbers should show significant improvement. '08 Prediction: .290 BA 18 HR 70 RBI 30 SB.
30. Delmon Young- MIN -I thought he would have more HR than he did last year. It was a full season for him but it was also his first. He's got a great manager this year in Ron Gardenhire that always gets the most out of his players. Look for improvement in every category this year from Young. '08 Prediction: .300 BA 18 HR 100 RBI 15 SB.
31. Andruw Jones- LAD -He's been a .260ish hitter most of his career but I never thought he would hit .222 in a season. I don't expect he will again. He has the potential to move up much higher on this list but needs to prove he can make consistent contact. With that being said, I think he'll hit much better in LA with a fresh start. '08 Prediction: .265 BA 34 HR 100 RBI.
32. Juan Pierre- LAD -He's a consistent slow starter and usually ends up one of the top 3 hitters of the second half. Draft him but make sure you have a good backup to play in his place at the start of the season when he slumps. Will of course be one of the league leaders in SB. '08 Prediction: .290 BA 4 HR 45 RBI 65 SB.
33. Jeremy Hermida- FLA -He finally started to show some of his potential last season and lived up the hype a little bit. I think he can only get better from now on and he will be depended upon this year to be the team's power supply. I think he'll live up to the role. '08 Prediction: .290 BA 26 HR 95 RBI.
34. Matt Kemp- LAD -Wow. That's what I say when I watch this guy. Tremendous talent and could turn into one of the best players in the game. His developement was slowed by the Dodgers continued used of old has beens playing in front of him. He's earned his starter's role now and should continue his improvement. '08 Prediciton: .320 BA 23 HR 90 RBI 18 SB.
35. Jermaine Dye- CHW -His BA dropped significantly last year as did most of the other White Sox players' BA. Not this year. The Sox are primed and ready to go with a much improved offense that will rely on J.D. to put up the numbers that he is capable of. I love getting a guy with 28 HR in the 12th round. '08 Prediction: .275 BA 28 HR 100 RBI.
36. Ken Griffey- CIN -He holds us hostage with the constant threat of injury but when healthy he can still produce with the best of them. He's going to like playing for Dusty Baker and he still loves hitting in that ballpark. He's still got at least one more 30 HR season in him. '08 Prediction: .275 BA 30 HR 90 RBI.
37. Willy Taveras- COL -You'll get next to nothing from him in the HR and RBI department but that is to be expected with this guy. What you will get is an above average hitter with above average speed that can be a late round pickup that can help you considerably. '08 Prediciton: .320 BA 3 HR 40 RBI 40 SB.
38. Raul Ibanez- SEA -Always underrated and a consistent producer. Seattle has a chance to do big things this year and if they are going to they are going to need his usual production. Pretty consistent and not much of an injury risk. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 24 HR 105 RBI.
39. Aaron Rowand- SF -It's going to be tough for him to match his '07 numbers this year moving from a hitter friendly park in Phily to a pitcher friendly one in San Fran. However I still think he's a .300 hitter but he won't have the power numbers he did last year. '08 Prediction: .310 BA 20 HR 85 RBI 15 SB.
40. Kosuke Fukudome- CHC -The big Japanese free agent signee this year comes in with a lot of hype and a lot of haters. He competed with Matsui as the best power hitter in Japan before Matsui came over. A lot of "experts" don't believe he can live up to the hype. I think he can to a certain extent. Better than most people think. '08 Prediction: .300 BA 20 HR 90 RBI 10 SB.

Honorable Mentions

--Pat Burrell- PHI -Consistent 30/100 guy just misses the top 40. '08 Prediction: .265 BA 28 HR 95 RBI.
--Michael Cuddyer- MIN -Big let down last year, look for a bounce back season. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 22 HR 90 RBI.
--Johnny Damon- NYY -Another player who disappointed last year. He was hurt but the injuries are starting to linger with him. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 16 HR 80 RBI 25 SB.
--Josh Hamilton- CIN -Started off last year white hot then tapered off even after regaining his health. Big question mark but huge upside. '08 Prediction: .290 BA 23 HR 80 RBI.
--Josh Willingham- FLA -A bit of a disappoinment last year but the potential for big things is there. '08 Prediciton: .275 BA 25 HR 85 RBI.
--Justin Upton- ARI -2007 Minor League MVP will get the starting RF job for the D-Backs this year. Possible ROY that you can get in rounds 20 and on. '08 Prediction: .280 BA 18 HR 80 RBI 20 SB.
--Jacoby Ellsbury- BOS -Great contact hitter with big time speed. Very overrated in mock drafts so far. Don't over-value a two category guy. '08 Prediction: .320 BA 10 HR 60 RBI 30 SB.
--Josh Fields- CHW -Really not an OF but is eligible there. Has 30 HR potential and will likely be the starting 3B once Joe Crede is traded. '08 Prediction: .260 BA 25 HR 80 RBI.
--Michael Bourn- HOU -Will likely be the Astros lead off man and has 4o SB potential. '08 Prediction: .275 BA 5 HR 45 RBI 35 SB.
--Corey Patterson- BAL -Used basically for SB and has gone undrafted in many drafts so far. '08 Prediction: .265 BA 12 HR 55 RBI 35 SB.
--Adam Jones- BAL -One of the best young prospects in the game. Would have liked to see him stay in Seattle but that's baseball. '08 Prediction: .280 BA 18 HR 80 RBI 20 SB.
--Lastings Milledge- WAS -Potential to be a 5 tool hitter but needs a full season under his belt. Will finally get it this year. '08 Prediction: .285 BA 18 HR 80 RBI 25 SB.
--Moises Alou- NYM -At 40+ years old he is still one of the best pure hitters in baseball. Can boost your BA in a pinch. '08 Prediction: .320 BA 18 HR 75 RBI.
--Wily Mo Pena- WAS -Has 30 HR potential and will get another starting gig in D.C.. I think he can put up good power numbers. '08 Prediction: .270 BA 25 HR 80 RBI.

Wow, that is a long and tedious production. I didn't break down the players as much as I would like to but I will be doing pieces on some of these individuals throughout spring training. If you have any questions about any of these guys or about some that I did not list, feel free to email me anytime. mailto:cmulligan@behindtheplatefantasy.com Check back soon for the Starting Pitcher rankings.

Some Draft Day Strategy and Mock Draft Talk

You never want to base your entire draft on one specific style or strategy. For one, you never know how the draft will go or what the other owners are going to do. A player may fall into your lap that you never thought you would be able to get and by picking that player it throws your entire gameplan offcourse. You have to be able to adapt to the way the other owners are drafting. If it's you and your buddies sitting around one night and drafting it helps to know what players they like and want to get their hands on. This way you can plan around the other owners' strategies. While I never go into the draft with a certain strategy etched in stone, it's good to know whereabout the players are going in the draft. This is why mock drafting is essential to a good draft day. By knowing where certain players are going you can have a visual or mental outline of where you can get a certain player and what you can do before and after you get to that spot. The best way to have a good draft is through preparation.

I've been mock drafting for about three weeks now and I'd like to share with you guys some of the trends that I've been seeing and let you know the availabilty of certain positions. Personally I like to use my first four picks to get the four best hitters that I can get. It doesn't really matter to me what position they play. Obviously I'm not going to take two third basemen with my first four picks but I want to solidify my offense. The more you play fantasy baseball the more you realize that your hitting is what carries you throughout the season. Pitchers get injured and tend to be more inconsistent than hitters. Now having said all of that, if Johan Santana is still out there when it comes back to me with the 15th pick I'm going to take him. It may change the way I wanted to do things but I'm not going to sacrifice having the best pitcher in the game and getting him in the second round for my loosely defined strategy. After the heavy hitters with picks 1-4 there are still fantasy aces out there like John Lackey, Dan Haren, Carlos Zambrano and Cole Hamels that you can pick up to be your top SP. In round five is where the top closers like Jonathan Papelbon, K-Rod and J.J. Putz start to get taken.

Ok so say I've got my big four hitters and I got my ace in the fifth round, there are still a couple of quality SS and good OF out there. Also still a lot of very good starting pitchers out there. Rounds 6-8 may be your last chance at getting one of the top 1B although you can get guys like Nick Swisher or Adrian Gonzalez rounds 9-11. You still can get an ace in rounds 6-8 as well. I've seen Zambrano go in round 6 and Hamels and Harang in round 7. In rounds 9-11 the rest of the top 10 SS will be taken. It is in these rounds where you can get your #2 and 3 starters and your top closer if you haven't gotten one yet. Guys like Fausto Carmona, Felix Hernandez, Roy Halladay and Javier Vazquez are going in these rounds. This is where you can get your top closer as well. Guys like Jose Valverde, Bobby Jenks, Trevor Hoffman and Billy Wagner have been consistently take in rounds 9-11.

Alright, I got my top 4 hitters in rounds 1-4 and I got my ace in round 5. Rounds 6-8 I got 2 hitters and another top 20 pitcher. In rounds 9-11 I got another hitter, another top 20-30 pitcher and my closer. I've got 7 hitters 3 SP and my closer. I'm in pretty good shape. Rounds 12-15 is where you can stack up on your SP. Guys like Rich Hill, Ted Lilly, Tim Lincecum, John Maine and A.J. Burnett are going in these rounds. These are also rounds where you can get your 2B, SS or closer if you haven't already.

The next couple of rounds you will probably be filling holes and getting your starting lineup completed. In rounds 16 and beyond you want to get the best player out there or the guy who you think can help your team the most. These rounds can also be used to get players that you can use in trades during the season. Don't take these late rounds lightly. These rounds can turn your draft from pretty good into the best in the league. Never waste a pick. Make the most out of every single one. You never know what you can find in these late rounds. It could be the guy that breaks out and puts your team over the top. Check out my late round steals for guys you can get in these late rounds who I think could help you a great deal.

Finally, the last thing...have fun! There more fun you have at your draft and the less nervous you are the more you will enjoy it and the better off your team will be.

Rotation Breakdown: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have an awesome 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation in Cole Hamels and Brett Myers. After that...yuck. It's a good thing the Phillies can put up runs with anybody because after Hamels and Myers they are in trouble. They managed to win the NL East without Myers in the rotation but I don't think it can be done again. The Mets and the Braves both have deeper rotations. It's a good thing for the Phillies that they have the Marlins and the Nationals in their division. Let's break this rotation down.

1. Cole Hamels- He's one of the top 10-12 fantasy pitchers and a possible Cy Young candidate this year. He's an intimidating pitcher and comes equipped with a wicked changeup. He is nearly impossible for lefties to hit and if the Phillies want to win the division again, they need Hamels to carry them. He's had a little bit of back and arm problems but they haven't slowed him down.

2. Brett Myers- After starting last year in the rotation the Phils moved him to the closer role. He had shoulder problems last year that hampered his season. The Phils are really depending on him to be a cornerstone in the rotation. Aquiring Brad Lidge made his return to the rotation possible. He has the potentential to be a top 20-25 fantasy pitcher and has the ability (if he can stay healthy) to record 200 Ks.

3. Jamie Moyer- Really amazing he's still around. Basically as he does when he goes out to the mound these days is serve up meatball and watch hitters eat them. He'll rough his way through another season which will probably be his last. Gotta give it to the guy for sticking around this long although he hasn't been a fantasy worthy pitcher in years.

4. Kyle Kendrick- In his rookie year he posted some pretty good numbers without very good stuff: 10 W, 3.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP but only 49 K in 120 IP. He's worth owning in deeper mixed leagues and in NL only leagues. Just make sure you get someone to compensate for the missing Ks. Hopefully he can build on his rookie year in his sophomore year.

5. The fifth spot is a bit of a question mark. It will probably be Adam Eaton to start the season if he doesn't blow it in Spring Training. Look for a rookie to beat him out for the job in S.T. or at some point early in the season once Eaton starts getting rocked. Eaton had a promising start to his career in San Diego but his skills have steadily declined since then.

Carlos Carrasco is one of the best young minor league pitchers and will get a close look in S.T. for the no. 5 spot in the rotation. Keep an eye on the situation because he might be worth a late round pick or an early waiver wire pickup. The Phils recently signed Kris Benson to a minor league deal. If he can prove that he's healthy he could be in the running for the fifth spot in the rotation as well. He would probably only be considered in NL only leagues or very deep mixed leagues.

Keep checking back for more starting rotation breakdowns leading up to opening day.

The Mystery Man

People all around fantasy baseball all have their own opinions about Kosuke Fukudome and what his impact will be this season. The fact is that nobody really knows. All we know of him is what we briefly saw of him in the World Baseball Classic two years ago. Since nobody knows much about him, I thought I would give you some backround on him and talk some about his impact for the '08 fantasy season.

Fukudome will turn 31 in April and spent nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons. He started out as a shortstop then played a little third base before he moved to right field where he won four Gold Gloves. In 2002, he robbed Hideki Matsui of the Triple Crown in Japan by hitting .343. 2006 was his best season in which he hit .351 with 31 HR and 104 RBI in 130 games. He was awarded the MVP for his 2006 performance. He was injured for part of the 2007 season and only played in 81 games. His lifetime BA in Japan is .305. Every season in which he stayed healthy and played the entire year he averaged a little over 25 HR, 84 RBI and a .323 BA. He will now be going up against the best pitchers in the world. Can he put up numbers like this? The Cubs are certainly counting on him to. He will be a very important part of the Cubs lineup this year. He will likely hit no. 2 or 6 in the lineup. In either spot in that lineup he should put up pretty good numbers if he can hold up his end of the bargain.

I like Fukudome this year for where he is going in drafts. He is really getting passed by in most of the mock drafts I've been in this year. Don't jump too early on him. You can probably get him in the 15th or 16th rounds which is a good spot for him. I'd say a good auction price for him is about $14. A lot of people out there are expecting him to be a flop. I don't think he will. He may not put up numbers like he did in Japan in his first season in the bigs but I think he will put up numbers similar to your average no. 3 outfielder. People are calling him a mix between Matsui and Ichiro. I think Keith Law had it right when he compared him to Bobby Abreu. Fukudome walks as much as he hits. In Japan he had an OBP of .400 five times. In his MVP year in 2006 he had an OBP of .438 and his OPS was 1.091. Pretty impressive. So like I said, I like Fukudome this year as a third or fourth OF/U/DH, especially for where he is going. We'll see how he does in Spring Training and adjust or value some then. I can't wait to see this guy hit.

Draft Day Steals #2

Here come some more guys that I believe are steals for where they have been going in mock drafts so far. Many people say that the late rounds are just for filling spots in your roster. I never waste a pick in my drafts. With every pick in the late rounds I'm trying to find guys that have slipped and their value is greater than what round they are taken in. I'm also looking for guys that are not on other people's radars that can help my team or be used as trade bait. With that being said, he are a few guys that you can get late in the draft that can help your club. Last time I broke them down by position, this time I'm just going to throw them out there.

Kurt Suzuki-C-OAK- I liked what I saw out of this guy late last season. He ended up with a .248 BA 7 HR and 39 RBI in only 213 AB last year. I'm not sure if he'll ever hit for average but not many catchers do. In leagues with only one catcher he has gone undrafted. He can get you numbers similar to the average catcher with the last pick of the draft. '08 Prediction: .265 BA 14 HR 70 RBI.

Kevin Kouzmanoff-3B-SD- He finished last season they way he was supposed to have played all season. This year in a deep crop of 3B he is a nice little sleeper to keep in mind. He could be a starter, solid backup or CI on any team. He could also be used in a trade if someone in your league has a starter go down. '08 Prediction: .290 BA 24 HR 90 RBI.

Lastings Milledge-OF-WAS- If you read my article on him then you know I think highly of him. He won't produce with the top level OFs but he can be a good no. 4 OF on your team or a solid Utility man. Look for him in rounds 19 and on. The Nats are counting on him to put up some good numbers and I think he can. '08 Prediction: .280 BA 17 HR 80 RBI 25 SB.

Tony Pena-RP-ARI- He's most likely to get the closer job now that Jose Valverde is with Houston. Pena ranked as one of the top setup men in baseball last year and should continue to put up those type of numbers as the closer. Best part is you can get him late. He has been going from anywhere between the 16-20 rounds. '08 Prediction: 2.55 ERA 35 S 1.15 WHIP.

Mark Buehrle-SP-CHW- The Sox just could not get a win for this guy last year. He hasn't gotten many Ks in the last couple of years but I think he'll produce a little better this year. He's always had a good WHIP. The White Sox are much improved and they will rely on him for a good number of wins. Best part about Buehrle is you can get the former ace in the last couple of rounds. '08 Prediction: 15 W 3.70 ERA 130 K 1.24 WHIP.

Keep checking back in the coming days for more late rounds steals.

Joba's Value as a Potential Starter

The news came out yesterday that Joba Chamberlain will start the year in the bullpen but will be moved to the starting rotation at some point in the season. The Yankees want Joba to strengthen his arm before he makes the move. This news changes Joba's value considerably in all formats. A lot of rotisserie owners like having the top middle relievers on their squads becuase they lower the team ERA and WHIP and get the occasional save. I personally was not one of those people who owned middle relievers. I wanted guys who got me wins, strikeouts and saves every time they pitched. These days I do like owning one of the top middle relievers on my team. They are worth a late round pickup in all leagues. Make sure you get one of the best though, a second rate reliever will do nothing for you. Joba is just about the best setup man you can get. When he is called on, he dominates. The news of him becoming a starter changes things. He's going to be overrated now and I suspect he'll be going way to early in drafts. Stop and think about it for a second. For the time being, he is still a middle reliever. Middle relievers should never be taken before the 15th round. The next thing you have to understand is that the move to from the bullpen to the rotation is rarely a smooth transition. Francisco Liriano was able to do it with ease two years ago but he was an exception to the rule. What I'm telling you here today is, yes Joba becomes more valuable but don't overestimate that value. He will continue to be worth owning in rotisserie leagues but he now becomes worth owning in CBS Sportsline H2H leagues as well. In CBS H2H leagues, middle relievers have no business being on your squad. Joba will now be worth owning for you. In a CBS H2H draft, I would wait until at least round 15 or 16 to draft him because until he becomes a starter, he will most likely be on your bench.

The other aspect of this news is what is going to happen to the Yankees rotation once Joba becomes a starter. Chien Ming Wang's position as their ace is locked. What is going to be the reprecussions of Andy Pettitte's admittance to using HGH? Will he be suspended by the league or by the Yankees? What effect will his testimony against Roger Clemens have on his psyche and his desire to continue playing? Does Phil Hughes now become trade bait once again? Will Mike Mussina be able to be an effective pitcher at the major league level? Will Ian Kennedy get moved to the bullpen or will he get traded? These are very difficult questions for the Yankees and fantasy owners to answer. My guess is that when Joba gets moved up, Kennedy will go to the bullpen. However, Mussina starts off the season as he pitched last year, Kennedy moves back into the rotation. So Joba will take Kennedy's spot or Mussina depending on how both men pitch the first half of the season.

2008 Third Base Rankings

The 3B position is deep as usual this year. In some cases you could even wait until the last round to get your 3B. I wouldn't advise you to do that but it is conceivable. Typically you want a heavy hitting power guy as your third baseman. The top 5 or 6 guys will be a significant cut above the rest in the power department. As I said before, you can get a good 3B late in the draft but the guys you get there would be better suited to be your CI or backups than your starter. Personally, I like getting a top 5 3B. They top guys can give you a considerable advanatge than the others can in your BA, HR and RBI categories. For CBS Sportsline H2H players, you really want a HR hitter at 3B that can bring you 30-40 points a week. Having said all of that, if you miss on your top 5 3B there are good quality third basemen that you can get in the middle rounds like Adrian Beltre, Mike Lowell and Alex Gordon. Obviously the top 5 guys are going to be gone within the first 2 or 3 rounds. However, the gap between the top 5 3B and the rest in more considerable than the top 5 at other positions and the rest that follow. 3B is my favorite position in fantasy and I believe a good 3B will help you on your way to a championship. Now, let's break 'em down.

Top 15 Third Basemen

1. Alex Rodriguez- NYY -Obviously. The best fantasy player in the game. If you don't take A-Rod with the #1 pick in the draft then you f'd up pretty bad. Even if you hate him (as I do) you can't pass him up. He fills every category which is hard to get. Even if he doesn't put up numbers like last year, he is still worthy of the #1 pick. No brainer. '08 Prediction: 130 R .300 BA 45 HR 130 RBI 20 SB.

2. David Wright- NYM -He's one of my favorite players in the game. He's a 24 year old phenom who can do it all. His potential seems limitless. He's another guy that just fills categories to the brim. He's a top 5 overall pick so most people won't have a chance at him. If you get him, you won't be sorry. '08 Prediction: 120 R .300 BA 30 HR 115 RBI 25 SB.

3. Ryan Braun- MIL -Very simple why I have him ahead of Miggy. In 450 AB last year he hit 34 HR drove in 97 and stole 15. Add another 150-200 AB and imagine the possibilites. He is also about 50 lbs. lighter than Cabrera which help in durability. He is my new favorite fantasy player having picked him up last year the day the Brewers called him up and he lead me to a championship. Can't lose drafting him. '08 Prediction: 120 R .320 BA 45 HR 120 RBI 20 SB.

4. Miguel Cabrera- DET -Your prototypical power hitter. He can mash the ball with what seems as an effortless swing. He's moving from a big ball park to another big ball park so power numbers won't be effected by the move. He may get off to slow start due to acclamating to AL pitchers but numbers should be above average. He also gets to hit in the middle of the best lineup in baseball. '08 Prediction: 110 R .315 BA 40 HR 120 RBI.

5. Garrett Atkins- COL -The most unheralded of the top 5 3B, he has put up back to back monster seasons. He is a big part of a very formidable Rockies lineup and in a hitter friendly park. He could be a cornerstone of your lineup for years in keeper leagues. He's another guy that you can't lose if you pick him. '08 Prediction: 100 R .315 BA 25 HR 110 RBI.

6. Aramis Ramirez- CHC -He had a little bit of a down year in the power department last season. That won't happen again this season. He could easily put up numbers as good as Cabrera and better than Atkins. Where you can get him in the draft is hard to say. He can go as early as 3rd round and as late as 6th round. By the way, I think he can hit .300 again this year too. '08 Prediciton: 115 R .300 BA 35 HR 120 RBI.

7. Chone Figgins- LAA -If you like SB he is your man. I personally prefer my 3B to hit for power but you can get an edge on SB if you take Figgins as your starter at third. You will be the only one who is getting those kind of SB numbers from that position. Also check his eligibility at other positions. His value is higher than most people suspect. He has even suprised me. '08 Prediciton: 95 R .315 BA 7 HR 55 RBI 55 SB.

8. Chipper Jones- ATL -If he could stay healthy like he did for the most part last year you could see similar numbers. Downside is he rarely stays healthy these days. He's one of the greatest hitting 3B of all time and still one of the best today. If you take him make sure you've got a good backup plan or you'll be struggling trying to find a 3B on the waiver wire. '08 Prediction: 90 R .315 BA 27 HR 95 RBI.

9. Mike Lowell- BOS -Solid, reliable, consistent. All of the above. Having regained his status as a quality fantasy player, Lowell has mashed the ball. He's a guy you can get in rounds 10-12 and get you numbers comparable to guys like Zimmerman and Jones who are gone by the 6th round. '08 Prediction: 95 R .320 BA 20 HR 100 RBI.

10. Ryan Zimmerman- WAS -He is one of the best young 3B in the game and has the potential to be a .300/30/100 guy. This is part of the reason that he is overrated. He is one of the biggest question marks in fantasy baseball. For that reason, I'm going to stay away from him this year. I like his potential but I want him to prove to me that he is healthy and ready to hit like he can. '08 Prediction: 90 R .275 BA 24 HR 90 RBI.

11. Alex Gordon- KC -He is the ray of hope for the Royals and for fantasy owners who miss out on the top 10 guys. His hype last season was enormous enough that nobody could have lived up to it. With a full year under his belt expect him to get closer to his potential. He's also a good 3B that you can get right around the same time as Lowell. He's also 1B eligible. '08 Prediction: 90 R .280 BA 24 HR 85 RBI 20 SB.

12. Adrian Beltre- SEA -Not one of my favorite fantasy players but can get you respectable stats from the 3B position. He's a ridiculously streaky hitter but when he is hot it's hard to get a ball past him. Like Gordon he can get you a few SB from 3B as well. Will never come close to his monster year but decent numbers. '08 Prediction: 90 R .270 BA 25 HR 95 RBI 15 SB.

13. Josh Fields- CHW -Not the most content player in the majors, he hates being in the spotlight but he'll deal with it and fantasy owners will too. He's got 30 HR potential but I feel he'll never get his BA in the .280s. I'll take 25 HR this late in the draft though and so should you. '08 Prediction: 80 R .270 BA 25 HR 85 RBI.

14. Edwin Encarnacion- CIN -He's been a fantasy sleep for the past two years and for the previous one and a half years he was asleep at the plate. He busted out in the second half last year and finally put up numbers that owners had been waiting for. I expect him to continue to build on his good second half from last year. '08 Prediction: 85 R .280 BA 22 HR 90 RBI.

15. Kevin Kouzmanoff- SD -Here is my sleeper of the year, and he shouldn't even be a sleeper but I guess he is. Horrible first half of last year, amazing second half. Will play more like he did in the second half. Don't forget he was a blue chip prospect in the minors. He's finally playing like one. '08 Prediction: 85 R .290 BA 24 HR 90 RBI.

Honorable Mentions

--Mark Reynolds- ARI -In his rookie year he hit .279 with 17 HR in 366 AB. He'll start from the get go this season and his numbers project pretty good in a full season. '08 Prediction: .285 22 HR 80 RBI.

--Troy Glaus- STL -If he can stay healthy for once, he could hit 35 HR. My guess is he won't. I would stay away from him. He's worth taking a chance on as a backup late in the draft. If he has a good start he could be used as trade bait. '08 Prediction: .270 AVG 24 HR 75 RBI.

--Hank Blalock- TEX -I'm staying away from this guy too. I know he was hurt most of the season but even when he played he showed a considerable drop in power. He had a pretty serious injury, let's wait and see how he recovers. '08 Prediction: .290 AVG 15 HR 75 RBI.

--Joe Crede- CHW -I know he's coming off of back surgery but I like Crede this year. Unlike Blalock, Crede was on the rise before his injury showing good power numbers. Not sure where he'll fit in Chicago this year but if he doesn't get traded, my feeling is he'll start at 3B. Wait and see what happens with that but if when he plays, he'll put up good numbers. '08 Prediction: .280 25 HR 85 RBI.

--Scott Rolen- TOR -He's risky just like Glaus and Blalock but I like his upside more. First off, Rolen is plain and simple a better hitter than either guy and has a shorter track record of injuries. I also like him in the Toronto lineup but the artificial surface won't help his body. Decent season for him though. '08 Prediction: .295 AVG 20 HR 85 RBI.

--Casey Blake- CLE -Blake is rarely owned in mixed leagues but serves as a servicable backup when needed. He likes getting off to a hot start too. He could help you early in the season or in a pinch. '08 Prediction: .275 AVG 18 HR 75 RBI.

--Evan Longoria- TB -Rookies are always tricky. Lots of hype surrounding this kid. Lots of hype surrounded Alex Gordon last year too. I'm not saying he won't be a good player but maybe not this year. Maybe worth a pick in keeper leagues. If he goes undrafted keep and eye on his progress. '08 Prediction: .280 15 HR 65 RBI.

--Eric Chavez- OAK -Well its obvious that he'll be injured at some point in the season. I stay away from him altogether. Can serve as a backup if your starter goes down with an injury but thats about all I'd use him for. Some poor schmuck will draft him. '08 Prediction: .260 AVG 17 HR 70 RBI.

--Akinori Iwamura- TB -He'll move to 2B this year but will still be eligible at 3B. A lot of people don't like him much and consider him an AL only option but I think he has potential. The Rays should have a decent lineup this year and he can score some runs and steal a few bases for you. He's one of my little sleepers this year. '08 Prediction: 100 R .295 BA 12 HR 60 RBI 25 SB.

--Ty Wigginton- HOU -You know what you'll get from him. Dependable backup or good CI or MI. Hits in a good Houston lineup in a small park. '08 Prediction: .280 AVG 22 HR 75 RBI.

So 3B is deep as usual. Lots of good players you can get late. The things is, all or most of these guys will go in the draft so you should get a backup too. Some of these backups can be used as Utility/DH hitters too and help you out. Really if you don't get one of the top 8 or so guys you're going to be a few steps behind the guys who did. Check back for the OF rankings and some other stuff I have in store. Good luck.

Pitchers Changing Leagues and Teams

The most exciting part of the fantasy offseason for me is to see where the big time pitchers will go. A pitcher that has changed teams or jumped to another league can completely change his value. I doubt that many of you were glued to ESPN when Carlos Silva signed with the Mariners. But if you're like me, you couldn't wait to hear the analysis of Johan Santana moving the the NL and the NY Mets. A move to a new team or league can change a pitchers career forever and change the fantasy owner's view of him. I always love seeing a pitcher move from the AL to the NL. NL pitchers tend to have lower ERAs and don't have to deal with DHs and fearsome AL lineups. The NL has more pitcher friendly parks as well such as in San Diego, San Fran, LA, Atlanta and Florida. The teams he now faces in the new league either have only faced him once or twice or haven't faced him at all which usually gives the pitcher an advantage. Not every case works out this way, i.e. Barry Zito last year. Zito is an exception to the rule though as most times it works out for the pitcher. A pitcher moving to a new team changes their value as well. I love seeing a talented pitcher on a bad team move to a contender. They are usually more motivated playing for a winning team than a losing one. I'm going to break down for you the big time pitchers that have moved around in the offseason and discuss how their moves have changed their fantasy value.


Johan Santana- NYM -As if the best pitcher in the game's value couldn't get any higher, he moves to the NL's most talented team. He will definitely get more win this season with the Mets lineup backing him. The NL East is a tough division though. There are a lot of good hitters in the East but they will have a tougher time adjusting to Johan than he will to them. The move to the NL will lower his ERA. I think he can get it down into the 2's. Strikeouts will go up as well. Santana changes from a late first round pick into a no. 5 overall or higher pick.


Dan Haren- ARI -I love this move for Haren. He goes from a losing team to a team that was in the NL Championship Series last year. The DBacks have a talented young squad and are the favorites in the West this year. Adding Haren strengthens this club even more. Haren will probably see a drop in ERA as well and an increase in wins and strikeouts. I think he is one of the best young pitchers in the game and worthy of a 4th round pick. He's got filthy stuff and its going to take a while for the NL to adjust to him.

Eric Bedard- SEA -I love this move for the Mariners. I'm just a little upset that my Cubs didn't try to get their hands on this guy. He is one of the most dominating lefthanded pitchers in the game. He's a top 5 fantasy pitcher and will be the ace on the Seattle staff with a young stud in Felix Hernandez right behind him in the rotation. I think this move makes the Mariners the favorite in the AL West. The thing that this move changes for Bedard is his number of wins. He could possibly win 20 this year while leading the M's to the playoffs. Strikeouts and ERA will stay the same but more wins add value to an already stellar fantasy pitcher.

Just a quick little post today. Sorry for not posting the last couple days and the small one today but I've been in the process of moving this weekend and it has been crazy to say the least. I'll make up for it tomorrow with at least two posts. Take it easy guys.

Future Star or Bust?

The potential is enormous. But can he ever live up to it? People are starting to have serious doubts about whether or not Lastings Milledge will become the star that he was once thought to become. For a long time he was the Mets' untouchable prospect. Every team in the league wanted him. The Mets could have just about any player they wanted if they would have included him in a deal. But they refused to budge. Now they've given him up for next to nothing to one of the worst teams in the league. The reason is that Milledge was becoming somewhat of a cancer in the clubhouse. He irritated management and his teammates and got himself a flight to D.C. for it. He's cocky and arrogant but I'm here to tell you that all the makings for a superstar are there. Keep in mind that he's only 22 years old people. He's made mistakes and probably made a few enemies because of them. If he can tone his behavior down, he can be a fantasy owner's wet dream. He's a five tool player. He has .300/30/100/30 potential. This is the year that fantasy owners have been waiting for, a chance to see him in his first full season in the majors. Let me tell you, I cannot wait to see him play. The Mets didn't really have a spot for him in their outfield. He's a centerfielder and they've got some guy named Beltran roaming around out there. But now he'll get his shot with the Nationals. I like some of the moves the Nationals have made. They picked themselves up a couple of good young players in Milledge and Wily Mo Pena in the offseason. I think they can make a very good 1-2 punch. I know RFK is a big stadium, but I don't think it will effect either of them too much. It's hard to say where he'll hit in the lineup right now. We'll probably have to wait until the middle of spring training to find that out. So here is my advice to fantasy owners. Draft him. You'll probably be able to get him in the last two or three rounds and he will cost next to nothing in auction leagues. If you're still sketchy about him and he goes undrafted, keep a close eye on him because I have a feeling the other owners will be quick to pick him up. We probably won't see monster numbers from him this year but I believe that he will be able to help your squad. I give him three years to prove himself and if he doesn't he will officially become a bust. I don't think we'll have to consider that though. I expect big things from him in the future and I don't think he'll let us down. He just sounds like a ballplayer...Lastings Milledge.

'08 Prediction: .280 BA 17 HR 80 RBI 25 SB

2008 Shortstop Rankings

This is a position that I believe can make or break your team. If you have a solid shortstop it can go a long way. If halfway through the season you are looking for a shortstop on the waiver wire, you probably are in trouble. It seems like the big time power hitting shortstops are all but gone and the speedsters are back. There are are a couple guys who can hit for power and a couple that can do both. From the rest you want a good BA, a few HR and some good SB numbers. I personally like having that power hitting shortstop. I like to get HR and RBI from a position where most other teams aren't. The top 10 or 12 shortstops have been taken in drafts all before the 12th round. So if you want a good one, you gotta act quickly or be left behind. However, if you don't get one of the top 10 or 12 there are a few guys out there who can help you at SS. Having said all that, let's get into it.


Top 15 Shortstops


1. Hanley Ramirez- FLA -This guy would be an MVP candidate if he didn't play for the Marlins. He's the quintessential 5 tool player. He's going to be a great one for a long time to come. Last year he put up ridiculous numbers and I expect his numbers to be very similar this year, if not a little better. You can't lose taking him as your SS. '08 numbers for Ramirez: 120 R .330 BA 32 HR 92 RBI 50 SB.
2. Jose Reyes- NYM -Doesn't miss being the top SS by much. All around great player and arguably the most exciting player in the game. He'll give you some of everything. He is a category filler. If he can stay healthy for a full season, he'll have his best one this year. Look for numbers like these from Reyes: 125 R .285 BA 17 HR 85 RBI 85 SB.
3. Jimmy Rollins- PHI -The guy is consistent. Look at his last three seasons and the numbers are basically the same with last season being his best. While I don't think he will be able to match the power numbers he put up last year, he will still be a 1st-2nd round pick. Look for another category filling season for Rollins: 120 R .290 BA 28 HR 90 RBI 40 SB.
4. Troy Tulowitzki- COL -He is one of the best young all around players in the league. He hits in an awesome lineup in a hitters park. He'll have no problem driving in 100 runs with guys like Holliday, Helton and Hawpe hitting around him. I compare him to a young Cal Ripken. Potential '08 numbers for him: 110 R .298 BA 30 HR 115 RBI 10 SB.
5. Derek Jeter- NYY -Can you believe this will be Jeter's 13th season in the Bigs? Unreal. He's still putting up the numbers people. The Yankees captain had a very good season last year and no doubt he'll have another one this year. One of the most dependable fantasy players out there. 08' prediction: 115 R .330 BA 15 HR 80 RBI 20 SB.
6. Michael Young- TEX -He had a little bit of a down year last season but none the yet a solid one. He will do wonders for you BA and drive in a good amount of runs for a shortstop. I expect a full bounce back season for Young. Although the Rangers lost Teixeira, they still have a solid lineup for him to hit in. '08 prediction: 100 R .320 BA 17 HR 95 RBI 10 SB
7. Carlos Guillen- DET -He's still eligible at SS in most leagues and his 1B eligibility increases his value some. A lot of people criticize him for whatever reasons but I think he is an above average hitter. Plus he is a key part of the best lineup in baseball. Detroit is going to score a massive amount of runs this year and Guillen will only benefit. '08 prediction: 90 R .310 BA 23 HR 110 RBI 12 SB.
8. Miguel Tejada- HOU -I've always stayed away from Tejada and especially the last few years. He is constantly overrated and never lives up to expectations. He's off the juice now and he'll never hit 30 HR again. Plus, he is being investegated on perjury charges and who knows what will happen with that. He can still put up respectable numbers this year in a good Astros lineup and a hitters park. These are potential numbers barring any kind of suspension: 90 R .300 BA 20 HR 90 RBI.
9. Edgar Renteria- DET -Here is another guy who does not get the respect he deserves. After horrible couple of years in Boston he dominated NL pitching with the Cards. He's back in the AL and in the best lineup in baseball. He one of my favorite players and as reliable as they come. Look for numbers close to: 100 R .335 BA 14 HR 85 RBI 12 SB.
10. Rafael Furcal- LAD -I think this guy is on the decline big time. Just a couple of years ago he was top 5 SS, now he barely cracks the top 10. He had a horrible year for the Dodgers last year after signing a huge deal. I think he gets a little more comfortable in LA this season but he won't put up numbers like he did in '06. My prediction for Furcal this season: 95 R .280 BA 10 HR 55 RBI 30 SB.
11. Orlando Cabrera- CHW -Here is another guy who people hate on for no particular reason. I love the way he plays although his play isn't always conducive to great fantasy numbers. Nonetheless, he'll have pretty good numbers. He'll probably hit leadoff in a potent White Sox lineup. Plus Ozzie likes his leadoff man to run. '08 prediction for Cabrera: 100 R .290 BA 12 HR 75 RBI 30 SB.
12. J.J. Hardy- MIL -He got off to an MVP start to '07 then slowly faded off. However, it was his first full season in the majors. Going into his second season he should be much more consistent. I like his potential and he fits in nicely in a very good Brewers lineup. He could be your starter at SS as a late round steal. Huge upside. Similar numbers to last season but more consistent: 90 R .280 BA 24 HR 85 RBI.
13. Khalil Greene- SD -Let's just say he likes to swing for the fences. Awesome power for a skinny SS but a BA that will drive you nuts. He gets more value for CBS H2H owners than rotisserie owners. He could be your starting SS option. He has gone all over the place in mock drafts so it's hard to predict what round he will go in. '08 numbers: 90 R . 255 BA 28 HR 95 RBI.
14. Jhonny Peralta- CLE -Has become a solid fantasy player on a very good Indians team. He had a good bounce back season last year from '06. Probably a backup on your team or MI. He'll probably never be a 30 HR guy like people thought a few years ago but solid numbers for him: 90 R .275 BA 23 HR 85 RBI.
15. Felipe Lopez- WAS -In a shallow position, Lopez could be a solid player this year. Last year was a bad one for him. He is a much better player than that. Washington has improved its lineup some and Lopez should hit near the top of it. Look for numbers close to but not matching his '05 season. Potential numbers: 85 R .275 15 HR 65 RBI 30 SB.


Honorable Mentions

--Stephen Drew- ARI -Everyone is hyping up this guy to be a big time fantasy sleeper. Doesn't that mean he's no longer a sleeper? I don't think he is going to live up to the hype at all. I still think he'll be a could player but can't live up to high expectations. '08 prediction: 75 R .280 BA 15 HR 65 RBI 10 SB.
--Julio Lugo- BOS -He's not as bad of a player as he showed last year. Normally dependable and will get you some steals and drive in a few runs in that Boston lineup. '08 prediction: 85 R .275 8 HR 75 RBI 35 SB.
--Ryan Theriot- CHC -Not the flashiest player but he is a grinder. Very streaky hitter but has .300 potential. Won't give you any homers but will help with stolen bases. '08 prediction: 80 R .280 BA 5 HR 60 RBI 30 SB.

Thats it for SS. Told you not a whole lot to choose from. Check back later in the week for 3B rankings.

As Reliable As They Come

When it comes to starting pitchers there aren't many guys that you can depend on more than Aaron Harang. He has had back to back quality seasons for the lowly Cincinatti Reds in a hitter friendly park. He has posted 16 wins in each of his last two seasons. Last years numbers look like this for Harang: 16-6, 3.73 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 218 K. He managed to post these outstanding numbers on an annually crappy team. However, Harang often goes much later in drafts than he should be going. Harang is a top 10 pitcher. Yet he continuously goes behind guys that he should not like Smoltz, Dice-K, etc. This is why I think Harang is a steal in most drafts. You are getting better production from Harang than the guys that other people were taking ahead of him. You may be able to take a big hitter in the 5th or 6th round and wait to get Harang in the 7th or 8th round. Maybe. You don't want to wait too long on Harang because there are smart players out there who will snatch him up in the 6th round and you'll be left out. The guy is money in the bank as far as I'm concerned. If you can get Harang in the 8th round (and this will most likely only happen in 10 team leagues) then you can also draft an ace like Bedard, Zambrano or Hamels ahead of him and then have another ace in Harang as your no. 2 starter. Cincinatti has imroved some in the offseason. They lose a big bat in Josh Hamilton but will get another one in rookie 1B Joey Votto. They also added some stability to the closer role by aquiring Francisco Cordero. Who the closer is on your pitcher's team is always an important factor in picking your pitchers and should not be overlooked. For CBS Sportsline H2H players, last year he scored the 7th highest amount of points for a starting pitcher. That is better than guys such as John Lackey, Carlos Zambrano, Dan Haren, Scott Kazmir, Eric Bedard, Dice-K and Roy Halladay. Plus he only had 6 losses which every CBS player knows a loss = -5 points. So this season shapes up to be another very good one for the underrated Harang. Look for even a little better numbers than his past two seasons: 18 W, 3.64 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 225 K.

Draft Day Steals #1

Everyone loves that 17th or 20th round pick that turns into a genius pick. Well I'm going to give you a few guys that are going in the later rounds of drafts. This is for Mixed Leagues only. I'm actually about to do my first NL only mock draft tonight so after a few drafts of NL only and AL only I'll give you some late round picks for those too. Now the idea here is to wait until the later rounds to fill a need on your roster or add a solid bench player who can contribute for you. By waiting until late to draft these guys, you can load up on a certain category or position in the eary and middle rounds. These are just a few of my late round steals. Check back for more to come.

Catcher: Bengie Molina- SF -I have Molina ranked as my no. 7 catcher. I have been getting Molina 20th round or later. He will get you the same numbers as my no. 6 cathcer, Kenji Johjima. Johjima has been going in the 11-16 rounds. Thing is, Molina will get you the same numbers as Johjima is not better. Steal.

First Base: Joey Votto- CIN -The Reds big young first baseman is a potential ROY candidate and could hit you 25 HR this year. He hasn't been drafted in at least 50% of the drafts that I've done. He could make a very good backup or U/DH man.

Second Base: Aaron Hill- TOR -Here is a guy who can get you .280 BA 15 HR and 75 RBI and you can get him much later than Orlando Hudson who will get about the same numbers.

Shortstop: Orlando Cabrera- CHW -He hasn't gone any earlier than the 12th round that I've seen yet and he's a solid all around offensive player: .305 BA 10 HR 70 RBI 30 SB.

Third Base: Alex Gordon- KC -People are really down on him after one year. He had a horrible first half and a very good second half. Potential for .280 BA 25 HR and 85 RBI. He's been going anywhere after the 15th round.

Outfield: Jeremy Hermida- FLA -A lot of experts have him ranked in the high to mid 30's on their overall OFs but he has been going very late in drafts. He has potential to hit 30 HR this year. He is a steal in the late rounds so far.

Starting Pitcher: Ted Lilly- CHC -What more does he have to do to make people realize he's a good pitcher? Last year: 15-8 3.82 ERA 174K 1.14 WHIP. Another season like that again this year and you can get him anytime after the 14th round.

Relief Pitcher: Kevin Gregg- FLA -One of the last closers to go everytime. 30+ saves in the 18th round. I'll take it.

Like I said, I'll be giving you some more draft day steals in the coming weeks. Keep checking back.