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1 Fantasy Baseball MVP for 2013

Michael Dixon — February 17, 2013 — Leave a comment

Buster Posey (L) and Matt Kemp (R) will both be stalwarts in 2013, but neither will be your fantasy MVP. Photo coutresy of Flickr user Dinur Blum.

First off, it may seem like a cop-out, but the top of this year’s fantasy baseball class is completely loaded. You have a reigning Triple Crown winner in Miguel Cabrera. A scary good phenom who may have only given us a glimpse of how good he can be in Mike Trout. A small market stud without a real weakness in Andrew McCutchen. The reigning NL MVP and MLB batting champ who puts up corner infield numbers as a catcher in Buster Posey. A genuine 40-40, Triple Crown threat eager to show that he’s recovered from last seasons injuries in Matt Kemp.

Yes, the field is loaded. But while I would love to have any of those guys on my team, my fantasy MVP for 2013 is Ryan Braun. If you’ve been following the site this offseason, I doubt this comes as any big surprise, as I have said that Braun would be my No. 1 pick this year, PED concerns and all.

The reason is simple: I can’t look at Braun and say that I am worried about injuries, and his game just doesn’t have any holes. Look at his worst seasons in the standard fantasy categories.

Runs: 91 (2007), HR: 25 (2010), RBI: 97 (2007), SB: 14 (2010), AVG: .285 (2008).

This isn’t the first time I’ve given those numbers and I don’t want to plagiarize myself here but it’s worth repeating, he wasn’t even called up until late May of 2007.

If I am calling Braun the fantasy MVP, I am also saying that others won’t be. So, let’s take a look at some of the other notable options. Countdown 13 Graphic

You can predict that other elite players will be better at any given stat. For instance, you’d have to give an to Cabrera edge in each of the three Triple Crown categories, and probably runs, as well. That’s great, but the edge isn’t that great. Braun will be reasonably close to Cabrera in every one of those categories, and has stolen 30 bags in each of the last two seasons. Miggy on the other hand will get you about four. That gap overcomes the others.

Trout is probably the closest to Braun in terms of overall value, but I have two issues with him.

I have a slight fear that a sophomore slump may be coming. Now, I predict good things from Trout this year, just not as good as in 2012.
The RBI gap is too great. Even if Trout played the first month of 2012 at the same pace he maintained for the last five, he would have been well short of Braun in the RBI department. It’s not a knock on Trout in any way, he’s just a lead off man and isn’t in a position to drive in as many runs as a heart of the order guy on a good offensive team.

Kemp and McCutchen are similar in that they don’t have any discernible weaknesses, but they each do come with a bit of a risk. Kemp is coming off of an injury plagued season, is still rehabbing a shoulder injury, and as great as his 2011 season was, that year was a bit of an anomaly both in how dominant he was in every major category, including games played. With the exception of that year and the healthy parts of 2012, he’s always dragged in a few areas.

McCutchen is a rising star, but while the Pirates have improved over the last few years, they’re just not that good of a team on offense. I would expect his power numbers to take a hit in comparison to these other players, as more often than not, pitchers can get away with pitching around him. Garrett Jones and Pedro Alvarez have some pop, but they’re not particularly daunting players and they can be attacked. So while McCutchen is a fantastic talent, he just doesn’t have the help needed to be a fantasy MVP.

Posey is a fantastic talent, especially at the catcher position. But we know what happened to him in 2011. Even in less serious situations, catchers often wear down over the course of the season, as it’s just a brutal position to play. Again, I expect a good year from him, but couldn’t justify calling him a fantasy MVP.

Now, back to Braun’s positives. Actually, first, let’s look at the talent around him.

Milwaukee’s lineup is loaded, and Aramis Ramirez has been one of baseball’s most consistent hitters over the last decade. You may not realize that because apart from a few years with the Cubs, he’s generally been on small market teams, non-contenders, or both. But Ramirez is an absolute machine. So, teams will have to pitch to Braun. Around those two, you have the likes of Carlos Gomez, Norichika Aoki, Rickie Weeks, Jonathan Lucroy, and Corey Hart, who should give Braun all of the help he’ll need to keep up with his massive production. As if all of that wasn’t enough, Miller Park is a live yard, so he won’t be hurt by his surroundings at all.

Completely independent of everyone else and home park, Braun is the complete package. There isn’t one area where he doesn’t help make your team significantly better. He is close to the elite players in their dominant categories, and a lot better than them in their weaker ones. So, with him as your centerpiece, you don’t need to worry about bringing in one trick ponies like Rajai Davis, Coco Crisp, Ike Davis or Adam Dunn to round things out. He gives you a great head start in every category.

With the exception of his 113-game campaign in 2007 when he debuted on May 25, he’s never failed to play 150 games in a season. When I wrote the aforementioned piece saying that I’d take Braun first in a draft, I had a reader tell me that he thinks Braun is overdue for a 1-2 month DL stint. That may well be true, but unlike a Jacoby Ellsbury or Kevin Youkilis, that’s never been a huge concern of Braun’s. There’s no way to predict that something that’s never been a problem will all of a sudden become one. You could say it and it may even end up being true, but it’s still nothing more than a hunch.

So, not to knock any of the other great players listed here, but it’s tough to think that any will produce numbers like Braun. He has the good surroundings, plenty of help in the lineup, and the all around game that makes him an obvious fantasy MVP prediction.

Here’s our entire countdown:

13 Dollar Players Who’ll Triple Your Money
12 Bargain Bin Outfielders
11 Pitchers You Shouldn’t Touch With a 60’6″ Pole
10 Spot Starters Who’ll Jump to the Next Level
9 Guys to Give You a Complete LIneup
8 Geezers Over 35 Who Still Have Their Giddy Up
7 Sleepers
6 Hitters with Plate Skills
5 Prospects with 2013 Fantasy Baseball Value
4 Middle Infield Late Rounders
3 Triple Crown Category Winners
2 Comeback Players

3. The AL and NL triple crown category winners

Michael Dixon — February 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

Miggy may not win a Triple Crown again, but it’s hard to see him not winning at least one of the categories. Photo by Flickr user Chuck Welch.

We learned something in 2012. Despite many sabermatricians not being terribly impressed by the Triple Crown stats, they still matter in baseball. (Side Note: My computer spellchecker doesn’t recognize the word “sabermatricians”. The only suggestion it gave me was geriatricians. Take that for what it’s worth.)

Regardless of how much those stats impress you, they carry great relevance in fantasy baseball, as they make up three of the five standard categories. When you consider that these stats reflect runs and even steals sometimes, the Triple Crown matters in fantasy baseball. So, let’s take a look at the three players in the American and National Leagues that should win those categories.

Before I go on, you may feel free to disagree with me and voice those disagreements, but I know that I am intentionally not going to name a player twice here. I’m not saying that can’t happen, there are 3-4 players I could see winning a Triple Crown, but that would defeat the purpose of this list. Let’s take a look.

American League

Home Runs: Miguel Cabrera

This was really close between Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols, but Miggy gets the nod for a few reasons.

Comerica Park is better for hitters than Angel Stadium.
On the same note, the pitching in the AL Central isn’t as strong as it is in the AL West.
Both men should be protected by feared hitters, but Pujols’ protector, Josh Hamilton, is more erratic. In 2012, he hit .223 in June, .177 in July, and .245 in September/October. He’s dangerous, but I don’t think good pitchers fear him when things are going bad. That means a lot of walks and corner pitches for Albert. Prince Fielder, who bats behind Cabrera is a bit more consistent, as his worth 2012 month was .247. Sure, he’ll slump at times, but the slumps won’t be as prolonged. That will get Miggy better pitches to hit.
Pujols has been great, but he’s shown more cracks over the last few seasons than Cabrera.

Cabrera’s strength is just scary. Even in big parks, he doesn’t even need to get a great amount of the ball to hit it out, and that’s tough to pitch against. Maybe more, Countdown 13 Graphic he can hit the ball out to all fields, and you don’t see that too often in baseball, even with the great hitters.

It’s just hard to look at this season and not see Cabrera around 40 (or more) homers. In our Tigers’ preview, I predicted that Cabrera would hit 39, and think I might have shorted him a little. When you have a guy that strong, who can hit to all fields, and has a guy like Fielder protecting him, it’s hard to see anyone leaving the yard more than your reigning AL Triple Crown winner.

RBI: Albert Pujols

Hey. What do you know? Another category that came down to Pujols and Cabrera. In addition to not wanting to repeat any players, Pujols gets the honor here for a few reasons.

As good as Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter are, both missed some time last year. Hunter isn’t getting any younger, so thinking he’ll get 145 or more games is very optimistic. Meanwhile, Pujols will have the luxury of driving in Mike Trout, as well any number of good players who could be the Angels’ second hitter.
In the first season Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder were together, they went 3-4 in that order and made the World Series, with both players having great years. I think it’s safe to say that those two will stay 3-4, in that order. Now, Pujols and Hamilton are in their first season as teammates. Both have put up good numbers, but have scuffled at times in recent years and if they do, I could see Mike Scioscia shuffling those two to kick-start things. That opens the door for Pujols to have Trout, whoever the number two hitter ends up being, and Hamilton available to drive in. Even if that happens, he still gets a dangerous Mark Trumbo protecting him.

Looking at last season, Pujols drove in an impressive 105 runs. Four of those came before the beginning of May. That is not a typo. That means he drove in 101 runs from May on. Two things happened to Pujols there. One, he finally got settled in to Anaheim, and never underestimate how important it is to get comfortable in your surroundings. Two, Trout got called up at the end of April. Now, he’ll be in a comfortable situation with Mike Trout in front of him in the order all year.

That looks like about 130 RBI to me.

Average: Robinson Cano

A lot jumps out at me when trying to justify this pick. But what I really like is that a guy with the power of Robinson Cano has never had 100 strikeouts in a season. So, when he swings the bat, the ball is put in play. That, along with a good walk rate (which Cano has), is a great start to a great batting average.

Something else that’s important for someone who’s going to lead the league in hitting is that he sees good pitches to hit. This won’t be the best Yankees team to ever go through The Bronx, but you really can’t pitch around anyone, because they do have hitters up and down the order.

Taking a look at his average over the last four years, he’s always been over .300 and has hit a total of .314 in that time. Any time you can say that a .302 average drags down the production, you’re talking about a great hitter. That’s what happened to Cano in 2011. In 2012, he matured a lot, drawing more walks and bumping his average 11 points. I look for that to continue in 2013, making him very hard to beat for the American League batting title.

National League

Home Runs: Ryan Braun

If you had asked me this question last October, the answer would have been Giancarlo Stanton. The guy has averaged 31 homers a year while playing an average of 124 games. But then the Miami Marlins went ahead and decided to trade away pretty much all of the protection he had in the lineup to Toronto, and I can’t see any team giving Stanton a pitch to hit in a meaningful spot. Stanton will likely be protected by Logan Morrison and while I like LoMo, he’s A.) Not that good of a hitter and B.) Injury prone, to say the least.

Another candidate was Jay Bruce, but I don’t like his placement in the Cincinnati order, as most of the feared hitters there bat in front of him. So, again, I see him getting pitched around. This is especially true with Bruce, as he will chase bad pitches.

That leaves Ryan Braun, the NL’s reigning home run champ. The man who plays in a big time hitter’s yard, and has plenty of protection around him in a potent Milwaukee lineup. Braun has failed to hit 30 homers once in his career. Say what you want about him, but he can slug the ball out of any park in the country, and Miller Park isn’t exactly Yellowstone.

This is sort of a process of elimination pick, but it’s also out of great respect for how good Braun is. In case you were wondering, nothing that’s been revealed this offseason scares me away from Braun, either.

RBI: Matt Kemp

Matt Kemp didn’t get the nod at home runs because he doesn’t play in as good of a hitter’s park as Braun, and I also imagine that most of the feared hitters in the Los Angeles lineup will bat in front of him. That means that he might not see fat pitches to hit, but he’ll have plenty of men on base.

If Kemp hadn’t been hurt, he would have driven in about 105 runs in 2012, assuming he stayed at the same pace. He was beaten up so much in 2012 that it may be easy to forget what a tear he was on before going down, which came before Adrian Gonzalez and Hanley Ramirez got to town.

The lineup could be shuffled a few ways, but the most sense would be Ramirez second, Gonzalez third, Kemp fourth, and Andre Ethier fifth. That staggers the lefties and righties, and also puts Kemp up with men on base an awful lot. A guy as dangerous as him should go well beyond 115 RBI.

On an interesting side note, I made comment joke to Nash about Stanton: He may hit 40 homers in 2013 and drive in 50 runs. I was only half kidding. Obviously 40/50 is a gigantic stretch, but it’s hard to see him even approaching 100 RBI in that lineup unless he tops 50 homers.

Average: Andrew McCutchen

You might be wondering how I am predicting that guy who had never broken .300 before 2012 isn’t going to regress a little bit. That would be a fair question, but the answer is simple. Andrew McCutchen is really good, and we haven’t even seen the best yet.

I love Buster Posey, but it’s hard to imagine a catcher repeating as batting champion. I know that Joe Mauer did that not too long ago, but he had the luxury of the DH. Posey doesn’t have that. I am not expecting a regression season from Buster, I just don’t see him repeating as batting champ.

McCutchen is just scary. It’s unfortunate that Pittsburgh’s team doesn’t win enough to get him the spotlight he deserves, although getting the cover of MLB 13 is a nice sign that people know about him.

If you want to point out that the .327 average last year came out of nowhere, I’d like to say that it’s no more of an anomaly than the .259 average in 2011 was. Take away those two years, and we’re looking at a .286 career hitter.

Again, maybe that isn’t batting title worthy, but remember that he’s only 26. Young players often struggle with average, as they don’t really know how to rely on anything more than their talent. When you get a few years under your belt, you pick up on other things. That’s where McCutchen is.

Also, even from the right side, McCutchen will get plenty of infield singles with his speed, and that always helps. You’re not going to get a line drive every at bat.

Following up on a .327 average won’t be easy, but McCutchen is the man to do it. With that, he’ll be very hard to beat for the NL batting title.

We’re near the end of our Countdown to our February 18th Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit:

In Projections 2013 Fantasy Baseball Countdown, Albert Pujols, Andrew McCutchen, AVG, Buster Posey, countdown 2013, HR, Matt Kemp, Miguel Cabrera, RBI, Robinson Cano, Ryan Braun, Triple Crown

4 Late Round Picks to help you fill those Thin Middle Infield Positions

Clave Jones — February 14, 2013 — Leave a comment

Can Dustin Ackley put his miserable 2012 behind him? Photo courtesy of Lisa Blumenfeld.

Let’s be honest, second base and shortstop suck this year. It’s a few guys each position then…suckage. Sure, you can find a gym in later rounds if you’re looking for a particular category (Jed Lowrie and homers, for instance), but these are shallow positions. If you are in a 12+ team league who also carries a MI slot you are in a pickle.

When looking for a diamond in the rough you first have to acknowledge the rough spots. Later round guys have flaws, but let’s talk about 5 guys who should be had for cheap, but also won’t hurt you if you pencil them into your MI slot.

J Gyorko – 2B Padres
I’ve written about Jedd Gyorko before and my confidence that he’s a pure hitter just looking for some plate appearances. There’s no good reason for the Padres not to give him every chance to start the season as their second baseman, but it is certainly problematic to try and get in the head of a major league front office executive. Monitor his Spring Training and don’t be afraid to to get him on the cheap as a late round second baseman.

	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
Jedd Gyorko	69	21	82	4	0.284

D Ackley – 2B Mariners
Remember when Dustin Ackley had sky-high expectations and burst out of the gate with a walk rate of 13% against a strikeout rate of 15% that suggested he should Countdown 13 Graphic hit for a much higher average than he did? Yeah, then 2102 happened. So is he the hitter that should hit .300 with power to all fields or is he the guy who looks out of step at the plate? Regardless of the answer to that, it means he’ll be had for cheap on draft day.

	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
Dustin Ackley	80	13	58	12	0.261

J Rutledge – 2B Colorado
I have full confidence in Josh Rutledge and think he could be this year’s Jason Kipnis. Additionally, he’ll grab 2B eligibility quickly into the season. Obviously, I’m talking about players with small sample sizes and the air could leak out of the balloon quickly, but remember to find a diamond in a thin position like SS or 2B you have to be willing to accept the rough patches. Let someone else grab Kipnis and Jose Altuve – last year’s diamonds – and take a high-risk flyer on Rutledge, hoping he gives a high reward.

	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
Josh Rutledge	81	16	69	21	0.278

E Cabrera – SS Padres
Everth Cabrera will be the defensive superior in a possible Cabrera / Gyorko double-play combo, but it’s Cabrera’s speed that you want on your fantasy baseball team. Elvis Andrus, Jean Segura, and Alcides Escobar will be in the ballpark of 5 homers with 30 steals. Everth Cabrera is an egg from that same Easter basket, but he should be had rounds later in the draft. He has warts like his batting average, but he’ll be a great source of speed in a MI slot.

	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
Everth Cabrera	65	3	42	40	0.259

A Simmons – SS Braves
Atlanta is an organization that will let their young players work it out in the Bigs. It’s hard to imagine Andrelton Simmons reaching his potential this season, but his defense is so good he’ll stay in the lineup. With those plate appearances comes a ceiling that isn’t vaulted, but it does provide plenty of head room. The average will be there and while his pure speed hasn’t yet translated into steals, there is hope that they could soon.

	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
Andrelton Simmons	72	9	60	24	0.289

We continue our countdown to our February 18th Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit:

In Drafting 2013 Fantasy Baseball Countdown, 2B, Andrelton Simmons, countdown 2013, Dustin Ackley, middle infield, SS

5 Prospects that will have fantasy value as early as 2013

Clave Jones — February 13, 2013 — Leave a comment

Gyorko hit the Wacky Weenie Wednesday sign with this one. Image courtesy of Damian.

Every fantasy baseball player is itching for the next Mike Trout or Bryce Harper ever since Trout had a season in which the ROY award should’ve been renamed after him. There is no Trout or Harper this year, but there are some prospects that could provide late round value on your fantasy baseball team.

I won’t even talk about Juricson Profar. That’s too easy. You know about him and he’s long gone in Dynasty Leagues. Plus, I’ve already profiled other prospects like Adam Eaton. So here are 5 fresh names to keep on your fantasy radar (fadar?) because they could provide a little boost to your fantasy team as early as this season.

Chris Archer – SP Rays
Chris Archer is the type of pitcher I dream about, except I don’t literally dream about Chris Archer (or any other pitcher for that matter…usually). Figuratively speaking, I do dream about his 97 mph fastball and his above average slider and the day that he’ll be using those pitches to rack up strikeouts on my fantasy baseball team.

The 6’3″ Archer came to the Rays in the Matt Garza trade and the odds say that he won’t be the Rays 5th starter on Opening Day. Alex Cobb should win that job, but Archer has upside on his side and for certain will be logging major league innings in 2013.

The 24-year-old is considered a high character kid with a strong work ethic and his improving changeup gives him the upside of a #2 starter in real life, but 8+ K/9 for your fantasy team.

Oscar Taveras – OF Cardinals
Oscar Taveras is going to be a major league All-Star someday, but in 2013 he needs to have a position to play. For rookies it’s all about opportunity. While Oscar’s talent is major league ready, he’s not going to supplant anyone in St. Louis’ outfield…yet. Countdown 13 Graphic

As a 19-year-old he jumped straight to Double-A, only to pull down the MVP hardware by hitting .321 / .380 / .572 with 23 HR and 94 RBI. He’s got a violent swing, yet struck out just 10.5% of the time. That’s good folks.

His future is to be the #3 hitter in that Cardinals lineup, but that’s down the road. Right now it would take an injury for him to get at bats. Nobody wants that, but if opportunity does present itself, you need to be ready to snatch him up because he could provide immediate batting average help for your fantasy baseball team with home run help further down the line.

Bruce Rondon – RP Tigers
Bruce Rondon throws nothing but heat. Like 100+ fast heat. What the 22-year-old Venezuelan lacks is control (thank you, Janet Jackson).

His lack of control is why I almost didn’t include him in this list. But the fact of the matter is that Detroit needs him in their bullpen and they’ll give him a shot to earn the closer role. It’s raw stuff with Rondon, but stuff that could K 11+ batters per 9 in the major leagues.

I think think he’s Detroit’s closer for 2013, but keep an eye on him. For him to land that job would mean massive fantasy baseball value for you.

Jedd Gyorko – 2B Padres
I think Jedd Gyorko is the starting second baseman for the Friars in 2013. He’ll butcher the position defensively, but he’ll also flat out hit.

The 24-year-old had 30 homers in the minors last year between Double and Triple-A. He’s a short, stocky fella who will load with his short swing to hit the ball into any gap. He has a natural feel for hitting that will carry a solid average and 20+ homers.

Second base is shallow which makes Gyorko a sleeper at the position and someone who can provide your team fantasy value this season. Don’t get caught up in any hype, but do think about slyly grabbing him in the last rounds of your drafts.

Shelby Miller – SP Cardinals
The news that Chris Carpenter will miss the 2013 season further elevated the possibility that Shelby Miller is the #5 starter for the Cards.

The 6’3″ Miller didn’t have a good start to his 2012 Triple-A season, but then something clicked. His second half line was a 2.88 ERA, 0.93 WHIP with 70 strikeouts to only 7 walks. He also looked dominate in his September cup of coffee with the club.

I think he gets results this year with the Cards. He’s matured, his secondary pitches are better, and he has excellent K potential for your fantasy baseball team. Plus, Major League baseball finally needs a player named Shelby. So does your fantasy team.

We continue our countdown to our February 18th Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit:

In Player Profiles 2013 Fantasy Baseball Countdown, Cardinals, countdown 2013, Fantasy Baseball 2013, Jedd Gyorko, Oscar Taveras, prospects, rookies, Shelby Miller

6 Players Who have the Hitting Skills to Win You a Championship

Clave Jones — February 12, 2013 — Leave a comment

Austin Jackson: Age 26, 10.9% BB, 21.7% K
Photo courtesy of Lakeland.

Let’s profile 6 players who have the type of plate approach to provide you with a vote of confidence in 2013. In order to make this interesting, I thought I’d stick with the number 6. That is, here are 6 guys in their age twenty-six season.

I’ll share my bias as it will help you understand why I chose these the following parameters. I value guys with great plate discipline. I believe a guy will show a solid batting average if he knows the strike zone, makes good contact, and shows some power. I also think power develops a little earlier than the conventional wisdom of age 28. Therefore, I targeted guys who will be 26 in 2013, who walk over 8% of the time, and also strike out in less than 22% of their plate appearances.

Buster Posey C – Giants 11.3% BB / 15.7% K
It’s hard to imagine Buster Posey making a jump in 2013 because his 2012 line of 78 / 24 / 103 / .336 was so good. But Posey’s peripheral numbers suggest that you can confidently bet on a 2013 that is just as good, if not a little bit better. It’s valuable to have a little confidence that the high round draft pick you’ll have to spend on Posey, is it not? Fear not, because Posey’s approach at the plate says that you have nothing to worry about in drafting him high.

	AB	2B	3B	Runs	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
Buster Posey	541	38	1	80	25	101	1	62	82	0.318	0.387	0.530

Andrew McCutchen OF – Pirates 10.4% BB / 19.6% K
Andrew McCutchen‘s 2012 numbers were excellent, so it’d be a stretch to not prepare for some regression. But how much? He’s consistently being drafted in the first round of mock drafts, which means fantasy baseball drafters everywhere are hoping beyond hope he can repeat, and his age and plate approach says he can. His plate approach says he’s worth that first round pick.

	AB	2B	3B	Runs	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
Andrew McCutchen	600	36	6	103	27	95	24	79	117	.293	.375	.508

Austin Jackson OF – Tigers 10.9% BB / 21.7% K
Austin Jackson didn’t begin his career with the plate discipline he showed last season, but the numbers are certainly trending the right direction. He’s cut his strikeout dramatically while raising his walk totals to over 10%. Jackson had some sophomore struggles but they are long past and Countdown 13 Graphic I think going into his age-26 season we may be looking at a breakout for the young center fielder. He’s said he wants to run more and has been working on his technique. Couple that with a full season of games played and his 2013 season could be even better than his solid 2012.

	AB	2B	3B	Runs	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
Austin Jackson	582	33	7	104	16	59	20	63	141	.292	.361	.455

Desmond Jennings OF – Rays 8.2% BB / 21.3% K
Desmond Jennings just met the requirements, but I’m optimistic he can inch his walk rate up by 1% while simultaneously inching his K% down by a percent, because he’s flashed those skills before. There are some warning signs, mainly that he pops the ball up into the infield too much and those balls need to turn into line drives. It’s surprising with his speed that his batting average is as low as it is, but his young career (including the minors) as been a case study of a player everyone is just itching to see do more and do it more consistently. His age 26 season could be that year.

	AB	2B	3B	Runs	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
Desmond Jennings	550	28	7	85	14	59	35	52	106	.265	.329	.418

Jason Kipnis 2B – Indians 10.0% BB / 16.2% K
Jason Kipnis was a trendy sleeper in 2012, primarily because the second base position is devoid of fantasy baseball depth. His isolated power (ISO) is a little low for my tastes, but he has a mature approach at the plate and his age 26 season could mean a small uptick in power. 2012 wasn’t a flash in the pan.

	AB	2B	3B	Runs	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
Jason Kipnis	589	31	6	94	17	82	26	60	106	.268	.336	.428

Pablo Sandoval 3B – Giants 8.6% BB / 13.3% K
What objective value – if any – can you put on a player’s confidence, because Panda has to be riding high after both the Wold Series and Venezuelan championship MVP trophies. Panda has an aggressive hitter’s approach possible because of his freakish contact rates. His fast hands make hittable pitches out of just about anything, high fastballs, changeups low and away, you name it. Could his age 26 season be the one where he puts it all together, playing a full season? I think it might be.

	AB	2B	3B	Runs	HR	RBI	SB	BB	K	AVG	OBP	SLG
Pablo Sandoval	562	37	2	81	26	89	1	44	71	.304	.354	.495

It’s not going out on a limb to say that Buster and The Dreaded One (use that for your band name) have a great approach at the plate and are fantasy baseball superstars. So in addition to a vacation of their skills, use this as a new way to evaluate hitters, going beyond simply scanning bating average. Plate discipline and isolated power are better measures of a player’s true skill.

Let’s go a little deeper as a bonus. Several other players are entering their age- 26 season but just missed the 8% walk rate and sub-22% strikeout rate.

Josh Reddick just missed with a 22.4% K rate, but you should let him slide because of his .221 ISO. Draft him.
Cameron Maybin just missed the 8% walk rate and doesn’t flash the power, but he could be a solid post-hype draft target.
Yonder Alonso has great plate discipline, but will need to flash more power to be valuable. Same with Gerardo Parra.

Draft the above guys with confidence. Their walk rate, strikeout rate, and isolated power tell us they have the skills to win you a fantasy baseball championship.

We’re counting down you our 2013 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit, which will be available for download on February 18th. Here’s a quick review:

In Player Profiles, Projections 2013 Fantasy Baseball Countdown, Andrew McCutchen, BB%, Buster Posey, countdown 2013, Desmond Jennings, Jason Kipnis, K, Pablo Sandoval

7 Sleepers that will Impact your Fantasy Baseball Team in 2013

Will Meadows — February 11, 2013 — 1 Comment

Photo Courtesy of Flickr user slgckgc.

You can search for “sleeper picks” on the Internet and get hundreds of websites with hundreds of different reasons for why they should be chosen by you for your team.

I’m not going to waste your time with the “top twenty sleepers for 2013” or the “I’m smarter than you picks of the year.” If you want the run of the mill sleepers go out on the Internet and have a good time.

I’m going to rundown my top sleeper at each position. Keep in mind this might not be the guy who I think is going to put up the best numbers. These selections are based on value and where you can land them in your draft. On the flipside, some of these picks will put up huge numbers. Here’s looking at you, Will Middlebrooks. More about him later.

Without further adieu, let’s get started.

Catcher: Tyler Flowers – Chicago White Sox

Where’s Salvador Perez you might be wondering? He ain’t here, he’s already been taken ten rounds ahead of Tyler Flowers. With A.J. Pierzynski landing in the humid Texas heat, Flowers will take over the starring role on the South Side of Chicago.

Tyler has never received a lot of playing time in Chicago. We can’t gauge a lot from his trickle of at bats at the MLB level. Let’s take a look at his minor league numbers to gauge what we will see from 400+ at bats he will likely be receiving this year.

Year	Level	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
2008	A	413	88	18	88	8	.288
2009	AA	248	54	13	43	3	.302
2010	AAA	346	43	16	53	2	.220

We know he has some pop and he will hit for a fairly decent average. I’m not too optimistic on the amount of runs he will score hitting towards the bottom of the White Sox lineup.

With that said he will be drafted in the late teens and lower in your drafts. His stats project out to someone like a Ryan Doumit or Jesus Montero type of hitter. If he exceeds expectations you could see him compare closer to Miguel Montero.

Will’s 2013 Projection

AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
420	58	17	68	5	.275

First Base: Kendrys Morales – Seattle Mariners

I was expecting great things from the underrated Cuban slugger last year. I was vastly disappointed. As many of you remember Kendrys is the guy who broke his leg in 2010 celebrating a walk off grand slam. He was a huge injury sleeper last year who quickly rose up draft boards going on to have a good season but not a great one.

He has a change of scenery with the trade sending him to Seattle. You can pencil him in for the Mariners starting DH/1B position this year. If he has a great year like he is capable of you can expect 25+ home runs with an average around .290. If he doesn’t adjust to the new surroundings he will probably have something similar to the year he had last year which was decent but nothing to write home about.

Year	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
2012	484	61	22	73	0	.273

Now, in 2009 Kendrys Morales had a monster year.

Year	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
2009	566	86	34	108	3	.306

Fantasy owners can hope he has something similar in 2013. I don’t think he will reach those 2009 heights playing in the Pacific Northwest because of the erratic lineup playing around him. He could still rack up big numbers that would make any owner very happy.

He is often overlooked in drafts because he is not a marquee name. Now, he will be playing on the cellar dweller Mariners without the spotlight of Los Angeles shining on him. The potential to have a huge power season could happen in Seattle with the fences being moved in at Safeco Field this year. Seattle will no longer be a pitcher’s park. He will turn 30 years old this season and he is playing on a one-year contract. A healthy Morales in a contract year spells good things to come for the upcoming season.

Will’s 2013 Projection

AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
514	73	27	86	1	.290

Second Base: Jedd Gyorko – Padres

If you have never heard of Jedd Gyorko then you should read on, while writing his name down in huge block letters to be tucked away for your draft.

There are some if’s to the next selection. If Jedd Gyorko lives up to his enormous potential this choice will be head and shoulders above all of the others. If he wins the Padres second base job he could have a huge offensive year.

Jedd Gyorko put up Robinson Cano like numbers in the minors. There is one caveat to his huge hitting numbers. He has been playing in the Pacific Coast League for the majority of last season. A league where many hitters become vastly overrated the minute they face major league pitching. I don’t think his numbers are inflated from the PCL because of what he did in the California and Texas league in 2011.

Year	Level	AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
2011	A-AA	576	119	25	114	12	.333
2012	AA-AAA	499	80	30	100	5	.311

As it stands right now Mr. Gyorko will audition for the second base job for the San Diego Padres as spring training begins. He played the majority of his games at third base in the minors. The Padres are trying to convert him to second base, which will cause some growing pains as the season goes on. As we all know things can change quickly in spring training so keep an eye on him to see how much playing time he is receiving. Countdown 13 Graphic

My projections are very conservative. I wanted to give him projections of 20+ homers and him hitting around .300. I believe he makes the opening day roster and his bat will find a way into the lineup. If he starts at second base he will be one of the top contenders for Rookie of the Year and a future fantasy superstar. His bat is major league ready but we will have to see if he can handle second base duties.

Regardless, you will be able to get him cheap and get some good production in a full-time or part-time capacity. He has the upside of an offensive monster at a scarce position. He should not be ignored in your draft.

Will’s 2013 Projections

AB	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
400	55	17	65	2	.292

In Player Profiles, Projections 2013 Fantasy Baseball Countdown, countdown 2013, draft kit, Salvador Perez, sleepers, Will Middlebrooks

8 Geezers over 35 who still have their Giddy Up

Michael Dixon — February 8, 2013 — Leave a comment

Both Jeter and A-Rod dealt with injuries this offseason. Only one will bounce back strong in 2013.
Photo by Keith Allison

Mike Trout and Bryce Harper led a rookie class in 2012 that could seriously go down as one of the best of all-time. It just seemed like everywhere you turned, someone barely old enough to drive a car was leading his team to a win. Throw them into an under-30 group of players that already included studs like Buster Posey, Andrew McCutchen, Ryan Braun, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and many, many others, and the future of baseball, both real and fantasy, appears to be in phenomenal shape.

But there’s plenty of room in baseball for an old dog, and that’s what we’re going to take a look at here. When we first decided to make this one of our countdown topics, two of the first names that jumped into my head were David Ortiz and Carlos Beltran. The problem is that I don’t trust that either will play more than 120 games in any given season. Alfonso Soriano was also one of the last men out. While I love his power numbers, remember that his 2012 batting average was as high as it was in any year since 2008. He came in at .262. Also, like Ortiz and Beltran, injuries are a concern.

Before I go on, the cutoff for qualifying on this list is that the player must turn 35 by June 30, 2013, or halfway through the season. So, the age you see listed will be how old he will be on that day. Get it? Got it? Good! Let’s get to it!

1. Roy Halladay (36) — Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

The injury bug hit Doc in 2012, but he pitched healthy enough for me to believe that he still has quite a bit left in the tank. There’s a lot about Roy Halladay that I like, but if I had to pick one thing that makes him stand out, it’s this. He doesn’t walk anybody. Heck, as bad as 2012 was, his WHIP was still a respectable 1.22.

Doc led his league in strikeout-to-walk ratio every year from 2008-2011, and had the best BB:9 split between 2009-2011. Even from a pitcher in his mid-30′s, it’s going to take more than one up-and-down, injury plagued year to give up on him. Given the extraordinary shape that Halladay keeps himself in, there’s no reason to believe that he won’t bounce back in 2013, when health won’t be a concern.

2. Paul Konerko (37) — First Baseman, Chicago White Sox

Injuries were a slight concern for Paul Konerko in 2012. Still, for a few reasons, I am not terribly concerned.

He doesn’t play a particularly grueling position.
In the American League, Konerko can always be moved to DH, where he’s played 35 or more games in each of the last two seasons.
Konerko has played in 144 or more games in each of the last four seasons.

While we’re on that subject, let’s take a look at what he’s done since 2009.

75 runs, 31 homers, 95 RBI, all while hitting .297 over those seasons. I don’t see anything that tells me that he can’t come right around all of those numbers again in 2012.

In Player Profiles countdown 2013, derek jeter, Roy Halladay

9 Guys That Will Give you a Complete Lineup

Nash — February 7, 2013 — 1 Comment

You want Robinson Cano? He’ll cost you a first round pick.

As we continue our countdown to our 2013 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit, I researched 9 guys who will provide you a competitive, well-rounded fantasy baseball starting roster, plus pitchers and bench you finish off your team.

I wrote a post like this last year and apparently I did well enough to be handed it again this year. Last year was my rookie year, I was relatively unknown and expectations were low. Now, just like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Wilin Rosario, and Yoenis Cespedes, I face higher expectations in my sophomore year. People know me more, so they can attack my weaknesses and avoid my strengths.

The key to creating a lineup is balance, you need a good mixture of power and speed production, old and young, sleepers and solid players and don’t go too heavy on one or two teams. If you were to load up on a bunch of young guns, you may be fine with the guys listed above, BUT if even half of those guys hit Sophomore slumps, you will be dead in the water. So again I say, draft for balance. Countdown 13 Graphic

Just to be clear, this is the best team that I would draft based on realistic projections (10 team). It would be nice, but you’d have a hard time fielding a team with Ryan Braun, Mike Trout, and Miguel Cabrera.

Listed below is my lineup, along with what round I would take them in:

Position	Player	Round
C	Carlos Santana	8
1B	Eric Hosmer	10
2B	Robinson Cano	1
SS	Jose Reyes	3
3B	David Wright	2
LF	Yoenis Cespedes	6
CF	Jacoby Ellsbury	5
RF	Hunter Pence	9
UT	Mark Trumbo	11
Bench (1B)	Anthony Rizzo	15
Bench (2B, SS)	Danny Espinosa	16
Bench (OF)	Torii Hunter	20

Now for the pitchers:

Position	Player	Round
SP	Jered Weaver	4
SP	Madison Bumgarner	7
SP	Brett Anderson	14
RP	Sergio Romo	12
RP	Joe Nathan	13
Bench (SP)	Wade Miley	17
Bench (SP)	Edwin Jackson	18
Bench (SP)	Jarrod Parker	19

I might be a little heavy on California Bay Area guys, so sue me. The teams are good, they are all legit options, and don’t act like you fans of poor teams like the Royals, Astros and Twins don’t make fan boy picks, too!

Nevertheless, I have tried to draft a team on balance and I believe this team is a contender. You have a solid group of bankable guys at your core with Cano, Wright and Reyes. You have some young studs like Cespedes and Trumbo, and a couple real nice picks on bounce-back guys such as Hosmer and Ellsbury. The offensive bench is a little deeper than I would draft, but that was for you guys trying to field more active hitters than just the nine spots we typically go with. Lastly, know many of you have extra CI and MI positions to worry about, so the bench is also for you guys.

Also I like this pitching staff very much. It may not look as nice on draft day when you see other squads with Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw as their aces, but I assure you, Weaver and Bumgarner will be as terrific 1-2 starting pitching punch as anyone else in your league has! The real coup in this lineup is Rizzo on the bench, I have noted previously in our team by team projections that I am all in on Rizzo. He would make Hosmer expendable on this team, so you find the KC fan in your league, trade him Hosmer for another pitcher or something.

What is also important is that in the early rounds you should not reach, just take the guys who will be available and are towards the top of the list, they are all bankable so do not out-think yourself.

Past the tenth round is where you should reach, fill in for roster need, or take a chance on a breakout guy. It is important that you get the guys that you want because otherwise you will end up like the aforementioned KC fan impulsively trading for their favorite player midseason (I promise last joke about KC Royals fans).

All in all, it is smart to map out your picks before the draft, it can be as simple as writing your favorite players on a napkin, or it can be printed out sheets with tiers of players by position. However you choose to do it, just make sure to go into your draft prepared!

This is number 9, so here’s what you may have missed as we count down to our 2013 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit:

13 Dollar Players
12 Bargain Bin Outfielders
11 Pitchers You Shouldn’t Touch with a 60’6″ Pole
10 Spot Starters Ready to Jump to the Next Level

In Drafting countdown 2013, David Wright, Eric Hosmer, Robinson Cano

10 Spot Start Pitchers Ready for Jump to Next Level

Michael Dixon — February 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

Niese straddles being a spot starter and taking the next step forward. Photo courtesy of flickr.

This isn’t the first or last time you’ll hear this from me, but drafting the game’s elite pitchers early in a fantasy baseball draft is a real risk. They only play once every five games, so even a true ace like Justin Verlander has his effectiveness limited.

Therefore, I rely a lot on guys for spot starts, or spurts. All of these players spent a lot of 2012 on the fantasy baseball waiver wire and naturally, were available for streaming, or for a more protracted period of time during hot streaks. I’m looking for that to change in 2013, and for the better. I’m expecting these pitchers to make a transition from temporary fantasy fix, to long term fixtures for your fantasy baseball team in 2013. Let’s take a look.

Homer Bailey – Cincinnati Reds

What? A pitcher named Homer? How could this be?

Sorry, I know that that joke has been told a lot since Homer Bailey came into the league in 2007, but I just wanted to try it out to see if there was some prize for being the millionth person to tell the joke. Turns out there’s not, so now let’s get down to business.

Of all of Bailey’s stats, the one that really jumps out at me is his K:BB ratio (this won’t be the last time you hear that). When you pitch at the Great American Ballpark, you have to be ready to allow some home runs. But if those home runs come with nobody on base, they don’t hurt you that much. That’s how Bailey ranked in the top (or bottom) 20 in home runs allowed in 2012, but still finished the season with a nice 3.68 ERA.

The other part of that ratio are the strikeouts, and 168 in 208 innings will give you a nice start towards being competitive in strikeouts. Put all of this in with being a part of a good team that wins a lot of games, and it’s hard to see Bailey being a drain in any fantasy category.

Bailey has been around for a long time, so it’s hard to remember that he’ll only be 27 in May. Look for a good 2013 campaign from the Cincinnati right-hander.

Wade Davis – Kansas City Royals

Being up front here, the biggest reservation I have including Wade Davis on this list is that he had by far his best year as a professional in 2012, only as a reliever. The Royals do have some pitching depth, so it’s not inconceivable that he’ll end up in the bullpen in 2013. But I included him here for a few reasons.

As of this moment, he’s in the Kansas City starting rotation, at least according to their website’s depth chart.
If by chance he does get bumped to the bullpen and comes anywhere close to his 2012 output, you have a very valuable fantasy player, even from the bullpen.

Now, Davis’ BB:9 ratio in 2012 didn’t really stand out against the rest of his career, but his strikeout ratio was phenomenal. Some of this comes from pitching out of the bullpen, but that’s also attributed to learning how to make hitter’s bats miss the ball. Davis was never a bat starter, but it was easy to get moved to the bullpen in the Tampa rotation. Now, he’s not in that spot anymore and used a year in the bullpen to better himself. Davis’ 2013 outlook is very bright.

Scott Diamond – Minnesota Twins

Clave doesn’t think the Twins pitching staff is a real Major League rotation. I can’t say that I completely disagree, but I am willing to call Scott Diamond the exception to that.

In a lot of ways, Diamond’s 2012 was the polar opposite of what Wade Davis did. Davis walked a lot of guys, but figured out how to strike hitters out, coming in at over 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Diamond doesn’t really strike anyone out, but he doesn’t walk anyone either. As a matter of fact, he led the league in walks per nine innings in 2012, and did so over 173 innings. Countdown 13 Graphic

Now, I won’t tell you that Minnesota has an explosive offense, but they’re not bad either. In 2012, they supported Diamond well enough for him to win 12 games with a 3.54 ERA. Diamond doesn’t walk anyone and has the stuff to allow soft contact, so that kind of ERA should be replicated. If that happens, look for similar wins in 2013 from the man who should be the No. 1 starter in Minnesota.

Jason Hammel – Baltimore Orioles

Before I get into Jason Hammel specifically, I’d like to suggest that think about coupling Hammel and Diamond together on your fantasy team. They achieve similar ERA and WHIP totals, but do so in very different ways. Look at what they would have brought your team in 2012.

	IP	H	BB	ER	W-L	K	ERA	WHIP
Diamond/Hammel	291	288	73	113	20-15	203	3.49	1.24

Now that that’s out of the way, Hammel really showed how good he could be when pitching away from Coors Field. That’s not to say that Camden Yards is a pitcher’s palace, but it is against Coors Field.

He does walk a lot of guys, but makes up for it but striking out nearly a hitter an inning. He gets into jams, but knows how to get out of them as well. Again, the home runs aren’t what makes Coors Field tough. It’s the simplicity of getting other hits, along with the homers. In 2012, fewer “other” hits dropped in against Hammel, which dropped his ERA down to a respectable level. Again, homers aren’t the problem. Homers with men on base are.

In our American League East previews, we predicted the Orioles to finish in third place, beating the Yankees. That got a little bit of backlash, but let me clarify a few things. One, we expect the Orioles and Yankees to battle for third place. Two, we expect both teams to be above .500. What that means is that Hammel should get some good run support. If he stays healthy and gets between 170-200 innings, look for a solid year.

Hisashi Iwakuma – Seattle Mariners

First, let’s take a look at the total numbers that Hisashi Iwakuma put up in 2012.

125.1 innings pitched, 9 wins, two saves, 101 strikeouts, 3.16 ERA, 1.28 WHIP.

Pretty good, but it gets better. You probably noticed two saves in that stat-line. From April-June, Iwakuma was a reliever. When July began, he began his time as a starter for the Mariners. Look at what he did acting solely as a starter.

95 innings pitched, 8 wins, 78 strikeouts, 2.65 ERA, 1.23 WHIP.

No saves, unfortunately, but that’s about half a season as a starter. Multiply that by two and your looking at a very strong fantasy pitcher. When the month of July began, Iwakuma had a season 4.75 ERA, and needed a pretty good June to get to that mark. Again, he finished the year with a 3.16 ERA. He is much better as a starting pitcher and as I detailed in my Mariners preview, I am expecting good things from him this year.

In Player Profiles, Rankings 2013 Fantasy Baseball Countdown, countdown 2013, Jonathon Niese, Mike Minor, pitchers, pitching, Scott Diamond

11 Pitchers You Shouldn’t Touch with a 60’6 Pole

Michael Dixon — February 5, 2013 — 2 Comments

Zito is just one big name pitcher who doesn’t belong on your fantasy team.
Photo courtesy of Flickr user Scott Ableman.

I’m not going to waste anyone’s time by listing a group of bad pitchers that nobody has on their fantasy team anyway. We all know that they have no value.

No, instead we’re going to be taking a look at guys who were owned in a lot of leagues throughout 2012. Maybe it was because of a big name, a great season that stands out as more of an fluke than anything, not realizing how long it’s been since the pitcher was really good, or anything else.

We can’t do anything about 2012 now, but we can use it as a learning experience. Don’t let these guys on your fantasy team in 2013 and if you’re really competitive, don’t let your league rivals see this list.

Trevor Cahill – Arizona Diamondbacks

The problem with Trevor Cahill is quite simple, and it’s the problem with a lot of pitchers like him. Ground ball pitchers don’t strike a lot of guys out, but also walk a lot of hitters, as they rely on late movement and deception. A hitter with a good eye can draw a walk with relative ease.

But again, they don’t strike out a lot of guys, meaning they pitch to contact and in turn, allow a lot of hits. A lot of hits and a lot of walks. Hello, ugly WHIP, and Cahill’s career WHIP is 1.31. Now, Cahill can keep his ERA at a decent level, as he induces a lot of double plays.

That’s just the life of a sinker-baller. You can think of Cahill as a current version of what Derek Lowe was in his prime. On a good team, he should bring a fair amount of wins, his ERA will be good, but not great, but that WHIP will kill you. And if you’re in a head-to-head league, be aware that sinker-ballers have a few starts a year where they pitch to contact and those grounders find holes, leading to a very ugly line.

But even in a roto league, the only thing that I can confidently say about Cahill is that he’ll win between 13-16 games. I doubt his ERA breaks 3.70, and his WHIP will be around 1.30. Throw that in with an average strikeout rate, and you’re looking at a pitcher who won’t help your fantasy roster that much.

Tommy Hanson – Los Angeles Angels

If it was only a matter of looking at the career numbers of Tommy Hanson, I give him a pass for a bad 2012 season. But there’s one thing that I can’t look past.

The Braves have one of the best bullpens in baseball, especially at the back part of it, with Craig Kimbrel as the anchor. Yet they were willing to part with Hanson for Jordan Walden, who is a very inconsistent back half of the bullpen guy. Why did the Braves make that trade?

Now, I buy money (what would you use to pay for money, anyway?) as the reason. I could buy their starting pitching depth as the reason. But if Hanson was a guy who belonged on your fantasy team, that would mean that the team who traded him felt that he was worth more than a up-and-down player at a position they don’t need any help in.

I’m guessing that the Braves looked at him and his injuries and realized that Walden was the best anyone would give up. It probably boils down to injury concerns, as Hanson has only topped 200 innings once and outside of that season, has never been at 175.

With Hanson on your team, you’re dealing with a guy who will miss too much time. Stay away.

Edwin Jackson – Chicago Cubs

I know that Edwin Jackson brings some good. He’s demonstrated no-hit stuff in the past and can strike hitters out at a solid clip, although he doesn’t strike out nearly enough batters for everything else he does. The problem is that he’ll turn 30 years old in September and still pitches like Ricky Vaughn and Nuke LaLoosh rolled into one.

He has a career ERA of 4.40 with a WHIP of 1.438. In 2012, he had a 1.218 WHIP, which is nowhere near good enough to be a career low. Unfortunately, that is his career best.

The other issue I see comes with his surroundings. Wrigley Field is a better hitter’s park than Nationals Park, and the majority of his road games will take place at hitter’s parks, which wasn’t the case in the National League East.

On the same token, the Cubs look to be one of the worst teams in the league this, while 2012 the Nationals had the best record in the game. The Nationals had one of the best bullpens in the league, while the Cubs will likely have one of the worst in the game, again. Despite great surroundings in 2012, he only won 10 games. If he does that in 2013 with the Cubs, he’ll have done a good job. Let someone else deal with the drawbacks.

Ubaldo Jimenez – Cleveland Indians

Clave summed up Ubaldo Jimenez perfectly in his Indians Preview.

Don’t draft Ubaldo Jimenez based upon one half of 2010. The time you spent reading this sentence was already more time than you should’ve spent considering him.

I am going to tweak that a little bit. While the second half of 2010 wasn’t very good for Jimenez, it wasn’t bad. But take a look at what he’s done since the beginning of the 2011 season.

365 innings pitched, 19-30 W-L record, 323 strikeouts, 5.03 ERA, 1.504 WHIP.

It wasn’t even a Coors Field problem, as his numbers didn’t get any better after being traded to the Indians. Countdown 13 Graphic

The one thing about Jimenez that draws you in are the strikeouts, but even that rate has steadily decreased since 2011. With the Rockies in 2011, he struck out 8.6 hitters per nine. That number dropped to 8.5 in Cleveland that season. Not a huge drop and easily explainable when you factor in the DH. But in 2012, that number dropped to 7.3, which is way too much of a drop and way too low for someone known for striking guys out.

Clave compared Jimenez to Francisco Liriano (another must avoid pitcher), and the comparison is apt. They are both tempting because of the strikeouts, but will ultimately kill your fantasy team. Stay away.

In Rankings 2013 Fantasy Baseball Countdown, Anibal Sanchez, Barry Zito, countdown 2013, draft kit, Edwin Jackson, pitchers, pitching