Fantasy Baseball Advice

Diamond Doings: The Signed
Comment
February 7
SportsGrumblings.com
 
"OF All-Star outfielder Jason Bay, the man who replaced Manny Ramirez in Boston, was demanding a price much too steep, so the Red Sox settled on a two year contract with journeyman Mike Cameron, who'll strike out around 150 times a year. However, Cameron has some pop and should generate more interest in fantasy now that he is out of Milwaukee and with a definite contender. Bay is headed to New York on a four year deal worth around 66 million. Bay is a pull hitter so he'll fair well in Citi Field as there is no green monster, only a gigantic apple. Matt Holliday re-signs with the Cardinals; last season Holliday hit 313 with 24 home-runs and 109 RBI's. Last month he signed a 7 year deal worth ..."
30 Teams in 30 Days: Chicago Cubs
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February 7
Fantasy Baseball Cafe
 columnist Andre Walker
"For the Chicago Cubs, 2009 was a season that started with Great Expectations but soon fell into Hard Times (everyone loves a great Dickens joke, right?). Coming off a 97-64 2008 season that was good for the third-best record in the league, most everyone had the Cubs winning the division by a wide margin. Unfortunately, a slew of injuries and busts followed the Cubs to a disappointing 83-78 record in '09. The biggest move the team has made so far in the offseason is not player-related; it's actually the finalization of the team's sale to Incapital CEO Tom Ricketts. Upon completing the sale in late October, Ricketts made the mystifying statement that he expected a playoff appearance in 2010, ..."
Fallen stars: Downgrade on draft day
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February 7
Foxsports.com
 
"Some fantasy players are just money in the bank. Every year, as draft day approaches, you know they'll be first or second-round picks. Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez, Miguel Cabrera, Ryan Howard … you know who they are. Unfortunately, everyone reaches the end of the road sometime. Below are nine players who've been among the top fantasy studs at their respective positions in recent years, but have dropped off at least a notch or two since. If your fellow owners are blinded by the past glory of any of these guys, consider their wasted draft picks to be your good fortune. (Note: All 2009 ADPs are from Mock Draft Central.) Johan Santana, SP, New York Mets (2009 ADP: 13, first at position) ..."
2010 Draft Prep: Scoring system changes explained
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February 7
CBSSports.com
 
"People fear change -- we learned that the hard way a year ago -- but we have a hunch CBSSports.com's Fantasy Baseball single game players are going to welcome this one: We made some slight tweaks to the standard scoring system after 2009's dramatic ones that served as culture shock. We will remind you, though, most of the feedback from the end of last season was positive. The changes had to be made, we said, and the public wound up realizing it for themselves. So, we didn't revert back to our past long-standing model, but we feel we have made some improvements this year. You will notice by the data visualization below, we kept the overall integrity of the points distribution. We ..."
2010 Draft Prep: Head-to-Head draft strategies
Comment
February 7
CBSSports.com
 
"These strategies apply specifically to Head-to-Head leagues. For Rotisserie strategies or auction strategies, check out the guides specific to those formats. Until you've played Head-to-Head Fantasy Baseball, you don't know the meaning of the word defeat. You haven't experienced it enough in Rotisserie play -- only at the end of the season, assuming you didn't come away with the victory. Everything that happened before then was just progress, an open invitation to tinker and experiment knowing you'd have time to right any wrongs before the endgame. Head-to-Head is a different animal. It gives you constant checkpoints -- seasons within a season -- that don't allow for as much wiggle room. ..."
Is Crawford overvalued?
Comment
February 6
Foxsports.com
 columnist Eric Stashin
"How high do you value Carl Crawford? Enough to draft him in the top 15? Top 10? Top eight? Personally, I don't think he belongs in the first round of a standard 12-team league, yet he's gone as high as fourth in fantasy drafts, according to Mock Draft Central (where he has an ADP of 15th). Let's split the difference, for arguments sake, and discuss the possibility of him going eighth in fantasy drafts. That would likely put him ahead of a few of the first baseman (some combination of Mark Teixeira, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard) and an outfielder such as Ryan Braun or Matt Kemp. First, let's look at his statistics from last season: 606 At-bats .305 Batting Average (185 ..."
2010 Draft Prep: Head-to-Head draft strategies
Comment
February 6
CBSSports.com
 columnist Scott White
"These strategies apply specifically to Head-to-Head leagues. For Rotisserie strategies or auction strategies, check out the guides specific to those formats. Until you've played Head-to-Head Fantasy Baseball, you don't know the meaning of the word defeat. You haven't experienced it enough in Rotisserie play -- only at the end of the season, assuming you didn't come away with the victory. Everything that happened before then was just progress, an open invitation to tinker and experiment knowing you'd have time to right any wrongs before the endgame. Head-to-Head is a different animal. It gives you constant checkpoints -- seasons within a season -- that don't allow for as much wiggle room. ..."
Verlander, Gregg, and Hudson
Comment
February 6
Rotoworld.com
 columnist Aaron Gleeman
"Breaking down three of the week's more interesting bits of news from a fantasy point of view ... Verlander signs five-year, $80 million extension After letting Felix Hernandez set the market last month with his five-year, $78 million extension with the Mariners, Justin Verlander inked a five-year, $80 million deal with the Tigers this week. Both pitchers would have been eligible for free agency after 2011, so their service time was essentially the same, which makes Verlander getting slightly more money over the same number of seasons interesting. Hernandez is three years younger than Verlander, finished one spot higher in the Cy Young balloting last season, and has a lower career ERA with ..."
Analysis: Sheets signs with A's
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February 6
Foxsports.com
 columnist Gerrit Ritt
"So, Ben Sheets is now an Oakland A, huh? Interesting. I say that only because he's become synonymous with Milwaukee, playing for them for all of his eight years in the league. That's rare these days, so even though they're one of my Cubbies' biggest rivals, it's a shame to see him go. However, there are definitely worse places to be for a pitcher than the Bay Area. As is the case with San Francisco also, Oakland's ballpark is one in which pitchers love to play in. The outfield's a vast wasteland where long fly balls go to die, most often in their speedy outfielders' mitts. But that's not the only reason I like Ben's chances of coming back strong this year. There are several other reasons ..."
Hudson, Cabrera find new homes
Comment
February 5
ESPN.com
 
"While the Minnesota Twins have hardly seemed troubled this winter by their defensive inadequacies in the outfield, it's clear that's their focus on improvement is in the infield. After ranking 17th in terms of fewest errors (31) and 20th in double plays turned (180) in 2009, they added J.J. Hardy, one of the better defensive shortstops in the game, in a November trade. Late Thursday night, they completed their new double-play duo, signing Orlando Hudson to a one-year, $5-million contract, according to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney. With Hudson and Hardy now on board, Nick Punto can feel free to shift into a third-base battle with Brendan Harris, or, depending upon the team's plans for ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: San Francisco Giants
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February 4
CBSSports.com
 
"For the first time since Barry Bonds left town, the Giants had their eyes on a playoff spot last year, giving the Rockies a fight to the finish. But even though they came up short, their up-and-coming talent assures they won't go away any time soon. It begins with their pitching staff -- one dominant enough to overcome an offense that ranked last in the NL in on-base percentage and 15th in slugging. Led by two aces coming off their 25th birthdays in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, the starting rotation only figures to get better if prospect Madison Bumgarner catches on right away and project Jonathan O. Sanchez lives up to his potential. Suddenly, free-agent bust Barry Zito is little more than ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Seattle Mariners
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February 3
CBSSports.com
 
"The Mariners didn't even try to disguise their change in philosophy this offseason. By signing Chone Figgins and trading for Cliff Lee, they punted on power, instead aiming to win through pitching, speed and defense. It's an old-school approach and one they began last year with the offseason acquisition of Franklin Gutierrez and the midseason acquisition of Jack Wilson. It worked to some effect then, allowing them to bounce back from a 101-loss season with a winning record. And now with reigning Cy Young runner-up Felix Hernandez locked up long term and former Cy Young winner Lee leading the charge with him, why not take the philosophy one step further? Perhaps no player fits this new ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Boston Red Sox
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February 3
CBSSports.com
 
"When you are an annual contender, change doesn't tend to come in one fell swoop, but the Red Sox made one big addition to their rotation and a number of less-publicized adds to their lineup. It should all add up to a stronger pitching staff -- if that was possible -- and a deeper lineup. There are Fantasy options galore here. The Red Sox didn't get Roy Halladay to front their rotation, but the did add the next-best thing this winter by signing John Lackey from the Angels. It strengthens their position in the AL East and wild-card races, not to mention taking a chunk out of the team they always seem to be matched up against in the postseason (Anaheim). Their lineup additions weren't as ..."
Fantasy Baseball Profile: Will Geovany Soto Rebound?
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February 2
Lester's Legends
 
"Geovany Soto was a draft day darling last year. What's not to love about a player who tore up the Pacific Coast League in 2007 to the tune of .353, 26 HRs, and 109 RBIs in 385 ABs? Especially when he hit .389 with 12 runs, 3 HRs, and 8 RBIs upon being called up. Then in his first full year with the Cubs he takes home Rookie of the Year honors by hitting .285 with 23 HRs and 86 RBIs. After posting a .218, 11 HR, 47 RBI line in 2009, Soto's draft stock took a major hit, and that's just where I want him. He struggled last year, but is an amazing talent. There aren't many catchers that have the potential for as many HRs and RBIs as Soto. Injuries contributed to his struggles, but his weight ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Tampa Bay Rays
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February 2
CBSSports.com
 
"There has been a lot to like about the Rays system top to bottom the past few years and it shouldn't stop. It promises to get exponentially better. They boast a strong young rotation that could match up with anyone in baseball and have a bunch of hitters that still haven't reached their physical peak. The addition of anticipated closer Rafael Soriano shouldn't go unnoticed either. If pitching wins, particularly young pitching, the Rays are going to be a lot closer to their 2008 pennant-winning form than their disappointing 2009. David Price is still very wet behind the ears as a pro, much less as a major leaguer and Fantasy gem. Wade Davis could be a favorite for AL Rookie of the Year, ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Houston Astros
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February 2
CBSSports.com
 
"Not only did the Astros post a losing record last year, but their fifth-place finish was their worst since 1991, when they played in the NL West and had a rookie named Jeff Bagwell starting at first base. The performance left them reeling for answers. They fired manager Cecil Cooper and replaced him with Brad Mills. They also returned to a defense-first mentality at shortstop, allowing Miguel Tejada to walk and handing the starting job over to rookie Tommy Manzella, whose primary contribution in Fantasy will be his impact on the pitching staff. Unfortunately, the rest of the personnel remains more or less the same. The Astros brought in Matt Lindstrom and Brandon Lyon to compete for the ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Texas Rangers
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February 2
CBSSports.com
 
"The Rangers are building something now, and we figure it could stick this time around because it is backed by improved pitching. They still are more about run producers for us in Fantasy, but the offense makes them a potential contender and their pitchers potential winners for Fantasy owners. You have to love the addition of Vladimir Guerrero to this lineup, especially since he has such great numbers in Texas -- even if much of that was feasting on bad pitchers. Guerrero is too old for us to consider a breakout or sleeper, but he will be among the undervalued Rangers in the non-pitcher category. Josh Hamilton is a rebound candidate, while Ian Kinsler is still not at his peak. Also, Elvis ..."
2010 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft, No. 1
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January 31
ESPN.com
 columnist AJ Mass
"The four most beautiful words in the English language, to me, used to be "pitchers and catchers report." However, since having the privilege of joining the ESPN.com Fantasy staff, that has changed. Now, the baseball season doesn't begin when the players start to gather in Florida and Arizona, but rather when all of us gather in beautiful Bristol, Conn., for our annual rankings meetings. The multiday affair ends with what I now consider to be the four most beautiful words in the English language, "It's time to draft." Here are the ground rules for this mock draft. We're using rosters from a standard ESPN league, meaning a 10-team mixed league with a 25-man roster featuring the following ..."
Diamond Doings
Comment
January 31
SportsGrumblings.com
 
"John Lackey, who went 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA in 27 games last season, has signed a five year deal with Boston worth 82.5 million to be precise. Something keeps telling me that his fantasy value will increase far beyond what it's worth, but at least I won't be drafting him earlier than the 4th round or so. The veteran knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield, has signed a deal that will extend his tenure in Boston for two more seasons. The 65 MPH knuckleball is still awkward enough to fool batters, but Wakefield may now be used as a situational long reliever because the young Clay Bucholtz will most likely be entering the 5th slot in Boston's rotation. This off season has also come with a wealth of ..."
Quick Fantasy Baseball Sleeper
Comment
January 31
Lester's Legends
 
"Fantasy Pros 911 is doing a series on Facebook where they ask question on their discussion board. Then they invite group members to weigh in. The question at hand is "who will be the biggest sleeper and bust in 2010?? Here are my responses.Sleeper: Gordon Beckham. He had a solid showing as a Rookie, and should build on it. Moving to 2B will help once he gets position eligibility. Having the additional 3B flexibility is a plus.Bust: Carlos Beltran. I don't like when a player has surgery that surprises the team he's playing for. I also don't like when a player is slated to miss at least a month of the year when the season starts."
Veterans Sheets, Thome still have value
Comment
January 30
ESPN.com
 columnist Tristan H. Cockcroft
"Only six free agents this winter have signed contracts with an average annual value of $10 million or more. One of them didn't even appear in a game in 2009. Congratulations, Ben Sheets. You might be the luckiest member of this free-agent class. Not that Sheets isn't worthy, as reports during his Jan. 19 throwing session for potential suitors were positive, noting he repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun, only a couple of ticks behind his pre-surgery velocity. He apparently sold the Oakland Athletics on his skills being every bit what they were before February 2009 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow, or at least close enough to be worth a one-year, $10 million ..."
Sleepers to watch
Comment
January 30
Foxsports.com
 
"The term "sleeper" has to be the most overused word in fantasy baseball. Everyone has a list of them and they all seem to have it mean something different. I'm no different in this regard. There are certain players owners need to look at in 2010 that may slip through the cracks. In putting these down, my goal isn't to repeat names found on common lists. Those players are no longer sleepers. While my binky might be Nolan Reimold, he's fast appearing on more and more lists. Razzball.com's called him out along with Julio Borbon and several others. Kevin Kouzmanoff, Jay Bruce and Brett Anderson are already making the rounds as well. Not one of these players will be discussed in the space ..."
Analysis: Sheets signs with A's
Comment
January 30
Foxsports.com
 columnist Gerrit Ritt
"So, Ben Sheets is now an Oakland A, huh? Interesting. I say that only because he's become synonymous with Milwaukee, playing for them for all of his eight years in the league. That's rare these days, so even though they're one of my Cubbies' biggest rivals, it's a shame to see him go. However, there are definitely worse places to be for a pitcher than the Bay Area. As is the case with San Francisco also, Oakland's ballpark is one in which pitchers love to play in. The outfield's a vast wasteland where long fly balls go to die, most often in their speedy outfielders' mitts. But that's not the only reason I like Ben's chances of coming back strong this year. There are several other reasons ..."
Liriano Dominates the DWL
Comment
January 30
Rotoworld.com
 columnist Aaron Gleeman
"Earlier this month Ron Gardenhire passed along a report he received from the Dominican Republic saying that Francisco Liriano was "throwing the living fire out of the ball" with his fastball around 92-94 miles per hour and a "filthy" slider. Two winters ago Gardenhire passed along similar reports of Liriano "letting it fly" at 93-96 miles per hour "free and easy" while coming back from Tommy John surgery, yet he arrived at spring training throwing in the high-80s and was basically a mess. So there were good reasons to be skeptical about third-hand reports of Liriano's velocity in winter ball this time around, particularly after he went 5-13 with a 5.80 ERA in 136.2 innings last season. ..."
Veterans Sheets, Thome still have value
Comment
January 29
ESPN.com
 columnist Tristan H. Cockcroft
"Only six free agents this winter have signed contracts with an average annual value of $10 million or more. One of them didn't even appear in a game in 2009. Congratulations, Ben Sheets. You might be the luckiest member of this free-agent class. Not that Sheets isn't worthy, as reports during his Jan. 19 throwing session for potential suitors were positive, noting he repeatedly hit 92 mph on the radar gun, only a couple of ticks behind his pre-surgery velocity. He apparently sold the Oakland Athletics on his skills being every bit what they were before February 2009 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon in his pitching elbow, or at least close enough to be worth a one-year, $10 million ..."
Fantasy Baseball Profile: Adam Jones
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January 29
Lester's Legends
 
"Adam Jones had it going on last year. He was hitting .303 with 55 runs, 12 HRs, 47 RBIs, and 6 SBs before the All-Star Break. He started off red hot hitting .344 with 40 runs, 11 HRs, and 36 RBIs in the season's first two months. Jones struggled in June hitting a dismal .229 with 10 runs, 1 HR, and 8 RBIs, but rebounded with a .270, 15 run, 5 HR, 15 RBI July. He sunk to .211 in August, but managed 18 runs and 11 RBIs. Then Jones shut it down in September with an ankle injury. Talk about a tale of two seasons. When you look at the aggregate you see a player who improved dramatically in 2009. 2008: 477 ABs, .270, 61 runs, 9 HRs, 57 RBIs, 10 SBs, .711 OPS 2009: 473 ABs, .277, 83 runs, 19 ..."
Diamond Doings: Jan. 29, 2010
Comment
January 29
SportsGrumblings.com
 
"John Lackey, who went 11-8 with a 3.83 ERA in 27 games last season, has signed a five year deal with Boston worth 82.5 million to be precise. Something keeps telling me that his fantasy value will increase far beyond what it's worth, but at least I won't be drafting him earlier than the 4th round or so. The veteran knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield, has signed a deal that will extend his tenure in Boston for two more seasons. The 65 MPH knuckleball is still awkward enough to fool batters, but Wakefield may now be used as a situational long reliever because the young Clay Bucholtz will most likely be entering the 5th slot in Boston's rotation. This off season has also come with a wealth of ..."
Five late-round power options
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January 27
Foxsports.com
 
"Power is something that every fantasy owner seeks. No matter how much you think you have, you just always seem to want more. Not only are the players on this list available after the 18th round, I am projecting all of them to hit at least 24 home runs in 2010. Let's take a look: Travis Snider - Toronto Blue Jays The power is not the question. He hit 23 home runs between Triple-A and the Major Leagues in 2009 in just 416 AB. He posted a HR/FB of 13.6 percent at the Major League level last year, similar to his 13.3 percent mark in 2008 (in 73 AB). The biggest question surrounding him is his ability to make consistent contact. He struck out 26.9 percent of the time at Triple-A, which ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Toronto Blue Jays
Comment
January 27
CBSSports.com
 
"The Blue Jays gave it their best shot -- were fringe contenders for the better part of a decade, actually -- but in the end, they just couldn't compete with the big boys in New York and Boston. Coming off their second straight fourth-place finish and their first losing season since 2005, they had to face reality, replacing longtime general manager J.P. Ricciardi with Alex Anthopoulos and beginning the dreaded rebuilding process. Fortunately, they did a good job of it, putting together a minor-league system overloaded with prospects -- none better than Brett Wallace and Kyle Drabek, the two main prizes in the Roy Halladay hullabaloo. Both appear capable of contributing right away, with ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Atlanta Braves
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January 27
CBSSports.com
 
"For the first time since 2005, the Braves had a realistic shot at making the playoffs last year. They figured to contend this year even if they just stood pat. Well, they didn't stand pat -- for better or worse. General manager Frank Wren insists he improved the team even though he traded away ace Javier Vazquez and added little more than career disappointment Melky Cabrera and aging slugger Troy Glaus, who might not be such a slugger anymore following shoulder surgery. Wren also revamped the bullpen, but Billy Wagner's age, not to mention his still-recent return from Tommy John surgery, makes him a bigger risk than the departed Rafael Soriano. Takashi Saito takes over as setup man, but ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Atlanta Braves
Comment
January 27
CBSSports.com
 columnist Scott White
"For the first time since 2005, the Braves had a realistic shot at making the playoffs last year. They figured to contend this year even if they just stood pat. Well, they didn't stand pat -- for better or worse. General manager Frank Wren insists he improved the team even though he traded away ace Javier Vazquez and added little more than career disappointment Melky Cabrera and aging slugger Troy Glaus, who might not be such a slugger anymore following shoulder surgery. Wren also revamped the bullpen, but Billy Wagner's age, not to mention his still-recent return from Tommy John surgery, makes him a bigger risk than the departed Rafael Soriano. Takashi Saito takes over as setup man, but ..."
WHIP – The Forgotten Stat
Comment
January 27
FantasyBaseball.com
 
"It's the baseball stat that is not talked about when people talk about pitchers, yet it is part of a basic 5×5 fantasy baseball league. The basic definition of WHIP is a ratio of [(walks + hits) / innings pitched]. It is used to determine the effectiveness the pitcher has in keeping the bases empty each inning. WHIP is probably the most mainstream sabermetric stat used today, next to OPS. The best WHIP of any pitcher in the modern era is held by Pedro Martinez in 2000, who posted a .7373 WHIP. For a fantasy player, a WHIP under 1.30 is good average to try to obtain, while the best pitchers can maintain a WHIP around 1.00. The advantage of using WHIP over ERA is that it takes into ..."
Targeting 2B sleepers
Comment
January 26
Foxsports.com
 
"Typically thinner than a sheet of commercial toilet paper in a public restroom, the second base talent pool suddenly has gone all three-ply Quilted Northern Ultra Plush on us. Sure, Chase Utley's a statistical beast. Yes, we all know Ian Kinsler's coming off a 30/30 (HR/SB) season. You can have them both. While you're picking your elite trophy player, I'll be snagging a catcher, enduring some eye-rolls from the fantasy veterans in the room, and then I'll take one of many sleeper second basemen in a later round. And I'd be willing to bet a roll of Charmin Ultra Soft that you'll be scratching your head on championship day wondering what went wrong. It will be, because I drafted one of these ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Pittsburgh Pirates
Comment
January 26
CBSSports.com
 
"The Pirates are perpetually rebuilding and annually the only sixth-place team in baseball. They are equally an afterthought in Fantasy, but you should weed through the trash to find some late-round treasures this spring. We try our best to do so here. Breakout: Andrew McCutchen, PIT When writing this Pirates team outlook, we originally thought about making McCutchen a bust instead of a breakout. You have to be touted to even be considered a candidate to be either, so we tried to knock the highest-ranked Pirate in our Top 300. McCutchen checked in at No. 160. We concluded the sophomore McCutchen is just too talented to not outperform his draft position and continue to get better -- even ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Philadelphia Phillies
Comment
January 26
CBSSports.com
 
"The Phillies remain one of the most popular places for Fantasy owners to find their superstars and we don't see that stopping this year. It is likely to get better all around before it gets worse, in fact. The addition of Roy Halladay should make him perhaps the No. 2 overall Fantasy starting pitcher behind Tim Lincecum, while the sluggers still have that great home hitter's park to pound out huge numbers. Amid all this story of success and wonder, though, you might have a hard time getting your hands on these guys. Breakout: None Here is the thing in Fantasy about a veteran team that is an annual contender: They have a lot of guys highly sought on Draft Day. They also have a lot of ..."
Fantasy Baseball 101: How to play roto
Comment
January 26
Foxsports.com
 columnist Mike Harmon
"Turn your attention to the baseball playing field and your next fantasy challenge. The classic "rotisserie-style" baseball game requires time, patience and an attention to detail. OK, a little luck doesn't hurt, but we'll address that later. Let's begin with a quick introduction to this type of scoring. If you've lived and breathed head-to-head scoring in the fantasy realm, it may take a minute. Rotisserie Scoring: A Beginner's Tale The administration of points and the constantly adjusting standings page in leagues using "rotisserie" scoring vexes all fantasy novices. A common question that I've heard over the years is "how do I lose points? Two days ago, I had 80 points. Now I only have ..."
Fantasy baseball 101: How to play head-to-head
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January 26
Foxsports.com
 
"Welcome to the world of fantasy baseball. Don't think you have the time? Don't have the patience for a classic rotisserie game? Don't know how you'll get the same trash-talking dynamic? Don't worry. I've got your solution. I'll be your "emotional rescue." Let's bring things back it back to familiar terms. Head-to-Head Scoring: Creating the Bridge Head-to-Head scoring entered fantasy baseball as a means to carry over the excitement of fantasy football competitions to "America's pastime." Teams are matched up against one another for an entire week of games. However, instead of adding the accrued statistics and ranking everything as you would in a standard rotisserie league, each individual ..."
Fantasy Baseball: 2010 Top 15 Closer Rankings
Comment
January 26
Lester's Legends
 
"Here's an early look at Closer Rankings. 1. Jonathon Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers While I would feel more comfortable handing the ball to Mariano Rivera to close out a game, Broxton is the better fantasy closer because of his high strikeout total. 2. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees How long can he stay at this elite level? Until he falters, I can't bet against him. 3. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox He's averaged 37.8 saves with a 1.74 ERA over the past four years without much deviation from the mean. 4. Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins The thing that scares me with Nathan is his ERA jumped 1.20 points when moving outside. That could present an issue at Target Field. Of course, his outside ..."
Pineiro, Dotel, Tejada join new teams
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January 25
ESPN.com
 columnist Tristan H. Cockcroft
"Dave Duncan's teachings have spawned more than a handful of unexpectedly good seasons from his pitching pupils. Now we'll see whether one of his most impressive students can carry those lessons to the other league. Joel Pineiro, rescued off the scrap heap in July 2007 and restored to 15-win, 3.49-ERA form this past season, signed a two-year, $16-million contact with the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. He joins a lengthy list of former Duncan reclamation projects who later bolted for bigger contracts elsewhere: Kent Bottenfield, Braden Looper, Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver (2006 postseason!), Woody Williams ... Here's the problem: Each one of those five pitchers, in his first season with his new ..."
Fantasy Baseball: 2010 Top 25 Starting Pitcher Rankings
Comment
January 25
Lester's Legends
 
"1. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants The most dominant pitcher in baseball. 2. Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals He's basically 1-A. Imagine what he and Lincecum would do with more run support. 3. C.C. Sabathia, New York Yankees Proved his worth in New York, and should challenge for most wins in 2010. 4. Johan Santana, New York Mets He usually starts off a little slow, but nobody pitches like he does down the stretch. 5. Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners Hopefully his new contract won't go to his head. 6. Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies He wish to play for a contender was granted. His win total should increase. Not having to face designated hitters will likely offset any bump ..."
Draft Only If You Dare...
Comment
January 24
Rotoworld.com
 columnist Drew Silva
"Some fantasy owners like to work up lengthy draft day manifestos and never-ending lists of so-called "sleepers." Color me unimpressed. These lists and pre-conceived strategies are worthless once an owner discovers his or her draft slot and picks begin falling off the board. It's better to enter drafts with a cool head and a willingness to take chances, as corny as that may sound. There are some risks, however, that should not be taken. Below I'll run you through some of the players I have flagged for the 2010 season -- players I won't be targeting (well, for the most part). [Average Draft Positions -- ADP -- were taken from Mock Draft Central] Questions, comments, beef? Hit me up on ..."
Tejada Is Back In Baltimore
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January 24
FantasyBaseball.com
 
"Miguel Tejada finally found a home for the 2010 season by signing a one-year deal with Baltimore. He posted a terrific offensive season for a SS in 2009 but a probable position switch to 3B and his age combined to depress the market for his services. Let's take a look at how Tejada and other Baltimore players are affected by this deal. Miguel Tejada – There is no reason to expect Tejada's production to fall off significantly in 2010. Baltimore's home park is a good one for hitters and Tejada is still talented enough to be productive at age 36. He can hit roughly 15 home runs, steal a few bases and provide a helpful batting average. He is also very durable – exceeding 600 at-bats in ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: L.A. Angels of Anaheim
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January 24
CBSSports.com
 
"The Angels won their division for the fifth time in six years last year, but if they hope to continue the trend this year, they'll have to do so without the ace pitcher and cleanup hitter who have carried them throughout their run. John Lackey and Vladimir Guerrero both departed via free agency, joined by leadoff man Chone Figgins, to give the Angels one of their biggest roster turnovers since they became an AL powerhouse. Fortunately, they've developed enough talent over the years to make a seamless transition from the old to the new -- from Lackey to Jered Weaver and from Guerrero to Kendry Morales. Both Weaver and Morales have already broken out as high-end Fantasy options and still ..."
Is Miguel Cabrera still an elite hitter?
Comment
January 24
USA Today
 
"In the wake of the revelation that he spent the last three months in an alcoholism treatment program, Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera now says he feels like "a new man." Cabrera's much-publicized meltdown at the end of last season could have cost the Tigers the AL Central title. In fantasy drafts so far, Cabrera is a late first-round, early second-round pick ... but does this revelation change your opinion of him? With the depth at first base and the importance of getting elite production out of those first few picks, some drafters may now have reservations about taking Cabrera that high. Don't let him go past the 15th pick in mixed leagues. Without Pujols, Fielder and Howard in ..."
Fantasy Baseball Rankings
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January 24
Lester's Legends
 
"Here's an early look at Designated Hitter Rankings. 1. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox His average went to hell, but Big Papi slugged 27 HRs with 78 RBIs from June through October (363 ABs). 2. Jason Kubel, Minnesota Twins Kubel has really developed into a solid deep threat. His average jumped up last year as well. Time will tell how the move to the new ballpark will affect him, but I'm banking on another solid season from him. 3. Vladimir Guerrero, Texas Rangers He should be very produtive in his new home. 4. Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays Lind had a breakout season last year, but I expect his numbers to decline. 5. Hideki Matsui, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim He's not playing in as cushy a ..."
Value of Damon, Sheets tied to their destinations
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January 23
ESPN.com
 columnist Eric Karabell
"Kudos to Octavio Dotel! The 36-year-old relief pitcher took his dormant fantasy baseball value and became quite relevant Thursday, signing a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Was this a big-money deal? Not really. Does he have a chance for the playoffs? Um, no. But Dotel wanted the opportunity to be a closer, and in Pittsburgh, he'll get it. I respect that. Look at the bullpens of the other 29 major league baseball teams, and you can see how he wouldn't get that chance. Of course, our fine game, fantasy baseball, had no bearing on Dotel's choice -- let's not be naive -- but now the guy certainly matters again. In terms of fantasy baseball, he really didn't matter with the ..."
Rounding third: Deep sleepers
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January 22
Foxsports.com
 
"What Can Go Right? Rajai Davis, Jonathan Sanchez and Jorge De La Rosa helped win a lot of leagues last year with their strong second half performances. After the All-Star break, Davis hit .325, stole 30 bases and scored 46 runs in 71 games. In that same span, Sanchez posted a 3.83 ERA, won five games and struck out 98 in 84 2/3 innings. De La Rosa played a huge role in the Rockies' second half surge, turning in a 3.46 ERA, 10 wins and 94 strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings. These three players heretofore had failed to put it all together, despite showing glimpses here and there of their high-upside talent. All three had historically struggled to cement full-time roles with their team(s), thanks ..."
Top 25 rookies to watch
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January 22
Foxsports.com
 columnist John Halpin
"Normally I cover eight to 10 players in my articles around here, but I just couldn't control myself with the rookies. Instead of highlighting the best of the best, below are 25 rookies that have a chance to make a fantasy impact this season. The key phrase is "this season." The players are listed in order of their expected 2010 contribution, and that's it. For example, Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings might have as high a fantasy ceiling as anyone here, but since he'll probably start the season in Triple A, I won't rank him ahead of Scott Sizemore, who is expected to be the Opening Day second baseman for the Tigers. Make sense? Then let's get going. If you think I missed someone, let me know ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: San Diego Padres
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January 22
CBSSports.com
 columnist Eric Mack
"The Padres held on to Adrian Gonzalez this winter when most figured he would follow former ace Jake Peavy out the door for a rebuilding club. After all, with Peavy and Gonzalez, the Padres would still be picked to finish last in the NL West in all likelihood. But, be careful writing the non-Gonzalez Padres off in Fantasy leagues. The rest of your league is almost certain to do it for you. That will make for some great sleepers and late-round values for yourself. Remember what closer Heath Bell did for Fantasy owners last year? There are some diamonds in the rough here ready to surprise the Fantasy masses. Breakout: Kyle Blanks, OF There was a very, very big reason the Padres were even ..."
2010 Fantasy outlooks: Baltimore Orioles
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January 22
CBSSports.com
 
"Sometimes the best acquisitions and trades are the ones you don't make. And other times teams can improve significantly by just flipping the calendar. The Orioles are that team this spring. President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail is building a sleeping giant with all the potentially elite pitching prospects he has been hording in recent years. If they can stay healthy and reach their potential, the Orioles will not only have enough talent to stock one of the surprising young rotations in baseball, but they will have organizational depth and great trade bait, too. After all, young pitching is what everyone wants. The Orioles have it on the come in bunches. Oh, not to mention some ..."