1. Ian Kinsler-Despite hitting .263, Kinsler did manage to go 30/30 with 101 runs. If you want him, you'll probably have to draft him in the second round.

2. Nelson Cruz- Cruz broke out in 2009 after a pretty successful minor league career. There's no doubt Cruz has monster power and potential, but whether or not he can consistently hit for average is another thing. If you draft Cruz this year, chances are you're getting a 30/20 guy with .270 batting average. I'll take it.

3. Josh Hamilton- 2008's feel good story turned in a fairly miserable, injury plagued season in 2009. Hamilton saw his HR/FB% drop by nearly 10% from career norms and should he bring those numbers back to normal, we could see a 25 home run season from him. Bill James has him at 75/23/91 11 and .293. All of those numbers should certainly be within reach with a healthy season.

4. Neftali Feliz- Armed with an electric upper-nineties fastball and a changeup in the high 80's and even low 90s, Felix was used last year as a reliever for Texas in the latter part of the season. In his tenure in the bigs, Felix totalled a 1.74 ERA with a K/9 of 11.32 and BB/9 of 2.32.Feliz averaged about .22 HR/9 in the minor leagues, so Texas may not be much of a factor for Feliz. At this point, whether Feliz is working out of the bullpen being groomed as a closer or into the starting rotation, it's a pretty safe bet that he'll be a useful option on most fantasy teams.

5. Julio Borbon- Armed with fairly poor plate patience, Borbon may never be a legitimate leadoff hitter type of player. But, he does have a good ability to hit for average and has blistering speed. If you draft Borbon, you could be getting 40-plus stolen bases, 90 runs and a .300 average.

Sleeper Alert. Vladimir Guerrero- Vlad has been overlooked in most league and probably for good reason. A move to Texas in that ballpark could boost Guerrero into being a bargain come draft day. If you nab him late and he hits well, you've gotten a good deal. But if the move to such a hitter friendly park and lineup doesn't help, have no concern cutting bait.

1. Felix Hernandez- As the 2009 Cy Young runner up, Felix Hernandez posted career highs nearly across the board. Toss in a top ten GB% (53.4), elite defense backing him, top 10 FB velocity on average (94.1 MPH) with an increased K/9 and decreased BB/9 and you have a legitimate #1 starter. It's only a plus that he's only 23 years old. A slight regression is possible in 2010, but he'll still be an excellent number one.

2. Cliff Lee- What's not to love about a pitcher who will  likely put up a BB/9 of under 2 and give you over 200 innings. In 2009, Lee had a slightly elevated BABIP, which would indicate his higher than normal whip. But Lee also had an FIP of 3.11, when he had an ERA of 3.11. I'm not sure Lee will strike out enough guys to be a number one starter, but he should have a fairly decent ERA is he keeps his peripherals in order.

3. Ichiro- Nearly a lock to hit .310, Ichiro brings the ability to be a consistent producer in stolen bases and is nearly a lock to score at least 90 runs. Due to a .384 BABIP (.357 career) I wouldn't expect another .350 season in 2010, but .320 seems fairly reasonable.

4. David Aardsma- Aardsma took over the closer role in 2009 after Brandon Morrow walked the world. Graham over at Lookout Landing doesn't necessarily see a large regression from Aardsma in 2010. Aardsma finished the year with a 25% GB rate but in a spacious Safeco Field, that may not matter. If you're looking to hold out on saves until the later rounds, Aardsma could be of great value.

5. Chone Figgins- In 2009, Chone Figgins had a career year for the Los Angeles Angels, scoring 114 runs while hitting nearly .300 (.298.) Figgins is definitely moving to a less potent offense and if you're drafting him in hopes that he will repeat, I'd stay away.

Sleeper alert. Adam Moore- Moore is a favorite of the front office in Seattle and will likely have an opportunity to grab the starting catcher role in Spring Training. In 2007 in Single A, Moore hit 22 home runs with 102 RBI, while hitting .307. Moore's got a power rating of 74 by TheBaseballCube.com and if given the starting job, could provide a decent waiver wire pickup. 

I move on to one of the divisions I expect to be most competitive in 2010. The American League West.

1. Andrew Bailey- Bailey will probably be the top Athletic drafted in 2010 and he should be the safest bet to produce. The 2009 AL rookie of the year winner put up superb numbers closing for the A's. I don't think Bailey will put up another sub 2.00 ERA season due to an extremely low BABIP in 2009, but Bailey's got the peripherals and mid-nineties fastball to be a successful closer.

2. Brett Anderson- Like Bailey, Anderson had a breakout season in his rookie year in Oakland. Anderson is only 22 years old and boasted a minor league K/BB of 9.7/1.9  and  7.7/2.3 in the major leagues. While he may not become the pitcher he can be in 2010, he should be relatively useful as a mid-back end starter for you.

3. Ben Sheets- Sheets could very easily vault his way to the top of this list if he can return to form after missing the 2009 season recovering from elbow surgery. While he probably won't get a ton of run support, pitching the majority of his games in Oakland will only help matters. If Sheets is still there late in your drafts, I would have no issue taking him as a late round, risk/reward guy. You've gotta love a career BB/9 under 2.

4. Rajai Davis- Another player who could have had a few votes for H2H MVP late in 2009, Rajai Davis ended the season with a whopping 41 stolen bases in 125 games. He's currently listed as the starting left fielder and with a full season, Davis could become the next Jacoby Ellsbury.

5. Kurt Suzuki- Who wouldn't like a catcher to drive in nearly 90 RBIs with double digit home runs that won't kill you with his batting average. Suzuki won't put up a fancy OPS, won't steal bases and won't hit for power, but he also won't hit .250 or play only 110 games. He's the perfect candidate if you want to skip catching all together and just get  a warm body in there.

Sleeper alert. Chris Carter- The Athletics' top prospect (According to BA) should have a shot in Spring Training in 2010 and very well could make the club. Over the last three years, Carter's hit 24,39 and 28 home runs in t he Athletics' farm system and once he's established himself, should be a dangerous middle of the order bat with first round upside.

1. Zack Greinke- Need I explain this at all? Greinke put up a season we haven't seen in years and probably won't see for years to come (unless he does it again.) I don't see Greinke repeating the same type of season, but I definitiely can see another SP1 type of year from him.

2. Joakim Soria- Remember everything I said about Bobby Jenks? People liking saves? Well, that still applies, but Soria will also give you excellent strikeout totals and should keep his ERA at a very manageable level (2.50-3.00.) He may not get you the save totals the other elite level guys will, but he should put up the same type of peripheral stats.

3. Billy Butler- Butler took one big step orward in 2009, hitting 21 home runs while driving in over 90 runs and hitting above .300. Butler's BABIP was a bit high when compared to his career numbers, so .300 shouldn't necessarily be expected, but I wouldn't count on it being under .290. Not only did Butler see his power numbers nearly double, he produced over twice as many doubles as his previous season. Granted it was in almost 200 more at bats. Butler should be a near lock to give you nearly 20 home runs, 80+ RBI and hit around .300.

4. Alex Gordon- How many years will we have to wait for that breakout season? Gordon's got tons of ability and upside (The baseball cube give him an 82 for power, 50 contact and 79 patience) and after several years of waiting, we could see that breakout season come in 2010.

5. Gil Meche- This might be my least favorite #5 I've written about. He's not going to blow anyone away with his K numbers and he probably won't put up an ERA under 4. He will, however, be a body to use that can get an occasional win. I honestly don't want to put anyone else from that team on here.

Sleeper alert. Kila Ka'aihue- The soon to be 26 year old posesses excellent ability to get on base and solid power ability. In 2008 between AA, AAA and the MLB, Kila mashed 38 home runs and OPS'd over 1.00 in both AA and AAA. If he were to be called up to play first base in 2010, we could see some waiver wire power suddenly appear.

1. Grady Sizemore- Sizemore missed a good chunk of time in 2009 due to elbow surgery and when he wasn't missing time, he was playing with a sore elbow. Sizemore should start spring training healthy after elbow and lower abdomen surgery and should come at a good value in the third rounds. Draft him and don't be surprised to see another 30/30 year out of him.

2. Shin Soo-Choo- One of my favorite sleepers pre-2009, Choo erupted onto the scene, going 20/20 with a .300 average tossed in there. If he continues to improve, we could see better RBI totals and having a healthy Sizemore sure doesn't hurt. P.S. I'd like to know who thought differently of scrapping his player photo on SBnation.

3. Asdrubal Cabrera- He may not do anything extraordinarily well, but he should be a good bet to finish the season with double digit steals, near .300 with 90+ run upside. If I were a betting man, I would take the under on the runs, but look how well that worked out for my Colts pick.The dual eligibility at SS and 2B makes him worth owning as a bench option at least.

4. Matt LaPorta- Coming into 2009, LaPorta was one of the players who probably didn't live up to his ADP. He might struggle to hit for a decent average in 2010, but LaPorta could put up 18+ home runs and middle of the order type of runs and RBI numbers. Just remember that this is the Indians middle of the order.

5. Kerry Wood- I don't really have much to say about Wood here. He's probably a good bet to land you 25+ saves and at least a K per inning. Whether he gives you 60 innings or 20 innings is big question. On the bright side, for where he'll be drafted, he's not going to ruin your season if he stinks.

Sleeper alert. Chris Perez- Brought over in the Mark DeRosa trade, Perez will likely take over  8th inning duties and should provide you with you sufficient strikeout totals. Perez's value lies mainly in Kerry Wood's future, however. Wood is a free agent at season's end and if the Indians feel like they've fallen out of contention enough, Wood could be on the move, thus opening a spot for Chris Perez to take the job.

1. Gordon Beckham- This is me going out on a limb. Gordon Beckham will have eligibility at a thin 3B and eventually a thin 2B as he should be the starting second baseman. Bill James loves Beckham this year and has his at 21 HR with over 90 RBI and runs, double digit stolen bases and .288 average. I think he's shooting for the moon, but still think Beckham has the upside to top this list (as a second baseman.)

2. Jake Peavy- I have one reason for not putting Peavy at the top. He hasn't proven to be healthy in the past few years, missing time with injuries in both seasons. Many people believe Peavy will regress in the American League. With Peavy's K numbers and upside, I think he'll be a viable option in the mid-later rounds of drafts.

3. Carlos Quentin- Was 2008 a fluke? Or was 2009 just riddled with too many injuries? How many at bats will we see from Quentin in 2010? If we are going to see near 500, I think he could return to close to his 2008 form and end with similar numbers. I can see Quentin hitting 25 home runs and .270. Kind of underwhelming for an outfielder.

4. John Danks- After an excellent 2008 season, Danks took a step back in 2009, seeing his K/9 drop and BB/9 rise. If Danks can bring his K numbers up, I could see a sub 4 ERA season with over 150 strikeouts. Not a whole lot else, however.

5. Bobby Jenks- I've made it pretty clear that I'm not a fan of Jenks, but people love saves. Sure, he probably won't give you an ERA under 3.00 and will never see his K/9 numbers as high as he used to, but he will probably get you 30+ saves and extra late, you take what you can get.

Sleeper alert. Tyler Flowers- When you think of a catcher, what comes to mind? 5'9, 200? Or 6'4, 245? Tyler Flowers has the build and tools to be a legitimate power threat from one of the thinnest positions in the game. On Thebaseballcube.com's 1-100 scale, Flowers rates a 90 for power, 42 for contact and am 86 for patience. So basically, a power hitting catcher. Flowers very well could see time this year in Chicago.

Now, I move on to the losers of one of the best games I've seen in my lifetime. 2009 game 163, the Detroit Tigers.

1. Miguel Cabrera- Miggy's recent stay in alcohol rehabilitation has really got me concerned about taking him in the first round. You'll likely have to draft Cabrera with a top ten pick. Chances are pretty decent that Teixeira and Ryan Howard will both be available after that and if you're drafting Cabrera, you're hoping for a bounce back year from 2009 where he drove in quite a bit fewer runs. 

2. Justin Verlander- The 26-year old Verlander had easily his best season in 2009 and I wouldn't be shocked to see him put up equal numbers for 2010. He had a fairly unexplainable dip in performance in 2008 and early 2009, but I don't think that will be a huge factor again this year. Verlander posted career highs in K/9 and a career low in BB.9 while keeping his whip at 1.18. I wouldn't expect a season from Verlander where he posts a K/9 over 10 again and I wouldn't expect an ERA below 3.00, but I do think Verlander can be an excellent choice.

3. Jose Valverde- While I'm personally not a fan of the signing for Detroit, I do think Valverde can be a successful fantasy closer. He'll likely be drafted in a the late rounds and has the ability to post 40+ saves in one season with a low 3.00 ERA and at least a K per inning. While he could be a front line closer, he could also get hurt pretty easily as he is turning 32 in March and struggled to stay healthy in 2009.

4. Max Scherzer- One of my favorite young pitchers in the game right now is Max Scherzer. Scherzer endured his first full season as a starter in 2009 and posted a respectable 4.12 ERA and a 9.19 K/9. While he is still an injury concern and may be throughout his career, Scherzer has the tools to be a great sleeper pick this year.

5. Rick Porcello- Ranking number 6 in the league in GB%, Porcello has the ability and makeup to be a Roy Halladay type of pitcher and he's only 20-years old. I don't think Porcello will bring much to the table regarding Ks, but he could be able to keep his ERA at a manageable level and not kill you in the process.

Sleeper Alert. Austin Jackson- I was trying to avoid using Jackson as my sleeper due to him being overrated by New York media as is, but the Tigers don't have much in the way of talent worthy gracing this list. There's a very good chance Jackson will start in center field for the Tigers at some point this season and could put up a .280 season with 15-20 stolen bases.

Now we move on to the AL Central Champs, the Minnesota Twins.

Joe Mauer- My vote for 2009 Fantasy MVP basically missed the first month of the season and still managed to hit 28 home runs. Mauer has the body to be a big time power hitter in the majors, but the jump in power numbers was definitely not expected to happen so soon. While I don't think Mauer breaks 22 home runs in 2010, I still think he can give you 15-20 and about 95/95 runs/RBI with the ability to hit .330+. If you're drafting Mauer, you're probably going to have to spend a first or second rounder on him, but he could definitely be worth it. Personally, I'm not going anywhere near Mauer at his ADP, but he can easily be worth the gamble.

Justin Morneau- Justin Morneau was on his way to having one of the better power seasons in his career when he was sidelined with a stress fracture in his back. Offseason surgery one his wrist went successful and Morneau seems to be on track to return and be ready by spring training. In any case, his value is at the lowest come draft day and if you can get him at around 50th overall, you're getting excellent value.

Joe Nathan- Not much to say about Nathan. He's consistently near the top of the pack yearly in saves and sports a high 1.00-mid 2.00 ERA with at least 75 K's. Money in the bank.

Denard Span- In his first full season in the majors, Span cemented himself as one of the premier lead-off men in the game. Span will likely score 95+ runs and hit above .300 with 20 or more stolen bases in 2010. If you're in OBP leagues, Span should definitely be a guy you want to target, as he could break .400 during any given year.

Scott Baker- Scott Baker has always been one of my favorite pitchers. When you draft Baker, you'll be happy knowing you're getting a guy who doesn't walk more than 2.05 batter per game (on average) and will probably keep his WHIP in the low 1.10's. He's surely not going to keep the ball on the ground (33.7% career GB%) and he will probably give up more than 1 HR per game, but he will likely give you an ERA in the high three's and be a solid starter.

Sleeper Alert. Kevin Slowey- Slowey missed three months due to surgery on his wrist in 2009. As I said with Baker, Slowey won't put the ball on the ground very much and will probably allow at least 1 HR/G. But, as with Baker, Slowey will keep his walks low and by "low" I mean under 2 BB/9. He won't strike out a ton, but with such elite control and where he'll be drafted, he's definitely worth the pick.

Surprisingly, the team that finished last place in it's division has more valuable fantasy options than the team ahead of it.

1. Nick Markakis- Over the last three years, Markakis' stolen base totals have been cut nearly in half each year. He's probably not going to hit many more than 20 home runs in 2010, but he should score and drive in more than 90 runs and could even reach 100 for each.

2. Brian Roberts- Not only is Brian Roberts one of the more efficient speed guys in the game, he plays a premium position. Roberts has been very consistent over the last three years, scoring over 100 runs and stealing at least 30 bases. One thing to look out for with Roberts is his declining speed. Since 2008, Roberts has stolen 10 less bases each year, ending at 30 last season.

3. Matt Wieters- Wieters was among the top catchers drafted in 2009 and struggled mightily at times after his call-up. This year, he should start the season out in the Bigs and will probably not be worthy of being one of the top catchers drafted, but at the same time, probably won't be among the top catchers drafted. Bill James is a bit more optimistic on him than I would be (75 R, 20 HR, 90 RBI, .311 are James' projections) but I still think he'll be a useful catcher in 2010.

4. Adam Jones- Adam Jones' breakout season was hindered in early September by an ankle injury. In 472 at bats, Jones was able to double his home run total from the previous year, while hitting for a higher average. Given a full season in the majors, Jones can put up a 20/10 season while hitting for a fairly decent average.

5. Miguel Tejada- The Baltimore Orioles recently signed Miguel Tejada to a one-year, six million dollar deal with the idea of playing him as their third baseman. If that is the case, Tejada should gain eligibility at third shortly after the season begins, but still can have value in the late rounds as a shortstop. While he's not going to hit 30+ home runs anymore, Tejada can at least be consistent. It's worth noting that Tejada's been on a two-year skid with his BB% and his BABIP was a bit high last season. In any case, Tejada should be a safe bet to not kill you at shortstop in 2010.

Sleeper alert. Josh Bell- After being traded in the George Sherrill trade, Bell was instantly made into the Orioles third baseman of the future. With the acquisition of Garrett Atkins and Miguel Tejada, Bell's arrival might have to wait until September. But if you're looking for a corner infielder in keeper or dynasty leagues, Bell could be a very valuable player down the line. The Baseball Cube has his power at 78 (out of 100) and his patience at 71. The one knock on Bell could be his ability to hit for average (29 on the same scale.)

The Toronto Blue Jays would have looked a lot better with Roy Halladay topping this list, but the December trade with Philly, squashed that idea.

1. Adam Lind- After being pretty highly touted in previous years, Adam Lind finally made his presence known by becoming a four category player in only his first full season. I'm not completely confident Lind will put up an OPS above .900 in 2010, but I do think he will be the main RBI guy in the Blue Jays lineup.

2. Aaron Hill- After a decent 2007 season, Hill played all of 55 games in 2008. He was probably not drafted in any leagues (maybe deep AL-only leagues) and ended up the season being one of the more valuable players in the game. Hill doesn't have great plate patience (career .337 OBP) and probably won't hit 36 home runs again in his career, but he can still be a viable fantasy option at a position where there aren't many consistent guys.

3. Vernon Wells- It's pretty bad when your third best player  (fantasy wise) is Vernon Wells. I would really like to have Travis Snider in this spot, but since he hasn't show much at the major league level, I have to go with Wells. Wells won't do anything above-average, but he could make for a decent bench option/fill in player.

4. Jason Frasor-If he's given the closer job, Frasor could be a very good late round gem in your fantasy drafts in 2010. Not much else to say about him.

5. Travis Snider- I decided I wasn't going to leave him off the list entirely. He's got upside to be on the top of this list and near the top of all outfielders in fantasy baseball, but he hasn't had enough time in the majors to show what he can do. Bill James is projecting a line of 82/26/90 with an average of .275. If Snider can put up numbers like that, he'll probably move up to number two on this list. If you're in the latter rounds of your draft and are looking for a high upside pick, he's an excellent choice.

Sleeper Alert. Brett Wallace- In two levels and two different teams, Wallace had a combined total of 20 home runs. Wallace will probably be given an extended shot during spring training and may very well end up the opening day first baseman in Toronto. If that's the case, he could be worth a flier in late rounds in hopes he can hit at the ML level.

As I continue with the top five players for each AL team, I arrive at the Tampa Bay Rays.

1. Evan Longoria- Most likely being drafted near teh second round, Longoria is a pretty good bet to hit 30 home runs, score 100 runs, drive in 100 plus RBIs, hit around .275 and tossing in a handful or two of stolen bases. Bill James Has Longoria projected to go 106/37/120/9 and .287.

2. Carl Crawford- After an injury ridden 2008 season, Crawford rebounded back to his normal form, with his value lying in his speed and ability to score runs. He probably won't ever hit 20 home run in a season, but he should hit about 15 and score around 95 runs.

3. Ben Zobrist- 2009 was probably a career year for Zobrist, but he should be the everyday second baseman. Call me slightly pessimistic when it comes to Zobrist's 2010 season, but I think he could hit about 20 home runs and put up a decent OPS. For a second baseman, I'll take that any day.

3. B.J. Upton-  I was tempted to bump Upton over Zobrist but the position scarcity at 2B steered me away. I'm not the biggest Upton supporter (Unless we're talking Justin Upton)  but I think his ability to steal 40+ bases comes at a good value around 50 overall.

4. Carlos Pena- I'll probably be blasted for this, but I'm a big fan of Pena. He'll be drafted around 100 overall and comes with 100 runs, 100+ RBI and anywhere from 35-40 home runs. In 2009, Pena's BABIP was .040 points lower than his career numbers so an improvement on his batting average is in the cards. In a healthy season, Pena could very well end the season being above average in three categories and see a batting average around .240.

5.  Rafael Soriano- I could have put James Shields or Jason Bartlett here, but I think Soriano may provide the best value at his draft position. The Rays lacked a real closer in 2009 and Soriano took the closer job and ran with it. With a career ERA of 2.92 and a K/9 of 9.87, Soriano possesses the ability and skills to become an elite closer. If you're drafting him, you'll likely be getting him after all of the elite options have left the board and he has the ability to match the stats of those elite options, but be more powerful. Drafting Soriano does come with risk due to his durability over the course of his career.

Sleeper alert- Desmond Jennings. Jennings has elite speed and a career .391 OBP in the minors. If Jennings were to come up and play right field or if Upton or Crawford were to be traded, he could put up Carl Crawford-like numbers.

As we continue evaluating the top 5 players for each team, we arrive at the Boston Red Sox.

1. Jacoby Ellsbury- I'm going against my personal beliefs here and going with Ellsbury as the top Red Sox player in 2010. Ellsbury's speed can vault him above the rest to one of the most valuable players in fantasy baseball. Ellsbury improved to a .301 batting average and improved his OPS by .041 points. If Ellsbury were to continue to develop, he could steal 70 bases again and be the same player he was in 2009.

2. Dustin Pedroia- This one is basically due to position scarcity. Pedroia will score around 110 runs and hit .300. Other than that, he won't excel in any other stat. Sure, he'll steal 15-20 bases, but he doesn't excel in any other stats. If you want a safe bet at 2B, Pedroia is probably one of the best options not to kill your team.

3. Kevin Youkilis-  If you believe in paying a hefty price for a large amount of steals, Ellsbury is your man. Personally, I like guys who contribute in many categories as opposed to excelling in one category. While Ellsbury will steal at least 50 bases, hit .300 and could score 100 runs, Youk can hit 30+ HR, score 100 runs with 100+ RBI and a near .300+ average. Not only that, but Youkilis will be drafted several rounds later than Ellsbury (2nd or 3rd.)

4. Victor Martinez- As I mentioned about Pedroia, position scarcity plays a part in Victor Martinez being the number four option. Even with an abysmal 2008 season, Martinez has a career OPS of .837. Playing a full season in Boston will probably bump Martinez's totals to 20 HR, 80, runs, 100 RBI and .300 average. Those stats from a catcher are very attractive around the number 50 overall.

5. Jon Lester- After putting up a career high 9.96 K/9 and a 3.41, Lester will be drafted higher than Josh Beckett and John Lackey. Bill James seems to think Lester will regress to a 3.84 ERA and see his BB/9 increase from 2.82 and 2.83 in 2009 to 3.50 in 2010. James also thinks Lester's ERA will be very close to 4.00. While I'm not the expert James is, I don't think Lester's BB/9 increases that much. I can see his K/9 dropping but I still don't think it'll be enough to drop Lester below Beckett.

Sleeper alert: Adrian Beltre. Beltre apparently hates Safeco field and it's unfavorable left field bleachers. What's the first stadium that pops into your head as a righty favorable park? Fenway? Beltre will likely be coming at a discount because of his injury plagued season in 2009. If you're heading into the later rounds and you see Beltre there, I'd absolutely snag him. He has the ability to hit 25 home runs and in a lineup like that, he may have the ability to drive in 100 runs and score 85-90.

I don't think we've ever clarified what sites the majority of the FakeTeams readers play fantasy sports on. Some sites have different settings than others so knowing what sites you guys use will be beneficial to us and you. Please answer the poll and if you play for a site that isn't listed, feel free to comment afterwards and let us know.

Thanks everyone.

Over at Mock Draft Central, Ray and I completed a mixed league, 5x5 mock draft.  I had the seventh pick in the 12-team draft.

R1- Prince Fielder.

R2- Grady Sizemore.

R3- Justin Upton

R4- Cliff Lee

R5- Lance Berkman

R6- B.J. Upton

R7- Tommy Hanson

R8- Chone Figgins

R9- Stephen Drew

R10- Heath Bell

The rest after the jump...

Continue reading this post »

Today we cover the Top 5 New York Yankees that you need to know for draft day 2010. The World Series winners probably have the most productive fantasy options out of the entire MLB and today, I'll be basically pointing out the obvious. Ya gotta start somewhere though. 

1. Alex Rodriguez- My early pick for 2010 AL MVP missed  the first month of the season recovering from surgery on a torn labrum in his hip. A-Rod returned with a bang, hitting a home run on the first pitch of the season. Rodriguez finally ended the season with 30 home runs and a slash line of .286/.402/.532. Rodriguez clearly has the ability to return to 40+ home run seasons and I think he very well could break that mark in 2010.

2. Mark Teixeira- A strong candidate to beat out Rodriguez in the MVP voting could be the teammate across the diamond. Mark Teixeira has been one of the most consistent players in fantasy baseball over the last six years and is nearly a lock for 35 HR, 100 runs, 100 RBI and a batting average hovering around .290-.300.

3. CC Sabathia- I struggled with this for a bit but ultimately decided I'd take the consistency/upside route over position scarcity route. Sabathia signed a mega deal with the Yankees before the 2009 offseason and was expected to carry the Yankees through the regular season and into the playoffs, which he did. Many drafted Sabathia near the upper echelon of pitchers in hopes that a move to the high octane Yankees offense would boost his win totals, which it did. If you're drafting Sabathia, you're likely to get 18-23 wins with an ERA hovering in the low 3's and near 200 K's.

4. Derek Jeter- I will go on record as saying I will never draft Derek Jeter. Not because I'm jealous of his future marriage to "actress" Minka Kelly, but simply because I don't feel like drafting him when guys like Grady Sizemore and Adrian Gonzalez are being drafted. While he's no lock to repeat his 2009 numbers, he can be counted on to score 100 runs and hit over .300. If you're looking for a consistent shortstop in 2010, Jeter ranks as one of the best. But I don't blame you if you don't think using a third round pick is too pricey.

5. Mariano Rivera- This was another tough one because I don't usually care to draft the elite level closers. It's hard (nearly impossible) to find anything negative about Rivera. I could have gone with Curtis Granderson here in hopes of a 30/20 season, but Rivera being one of (if not) the best closer in the game bumps him above Granderson. If I were a betting man, I'd take the over on 38 saves for Rivera in 2010 with an ERA in the low 2's and likely as many strikeouts as innings pitched.

Sleeper Alert- Phil Hughes. Now, I'm not sure of the Yankee's plans for Hughes or Joba, but personally, I think they'd be most valuable if they flip-flopped roles. Hughes domination showed that he has what it takes to get Major League hitters out while keeping his peripherals looking decent. CHONE and Bill James have Hughes at around 120 innings for 2010, so my guess is that they see him as a reliever and a spot start for the club. If Hughes starts, he could be the best #5 pitcher in the game. He could also get bombed in a few starts and be relegated to bullpen duties. I would like to point out that Hughes could be on an innings limit like Joba was, so if he does in fact start, I would not hesitate to sell him off for a player that can provide value until the end of your fantasy baseball season.

Continuing my last post...

Jeremy Hellickson. Tampa Bay- If you're looking for a true strikeout pitcher, Hellickson is your guy. Over the course of his career, the 22-year old has averaged a K/9 of 9.71 which would rank seventh in the majors in 2009. Not only does he have excellent strike out numbers, but he has posted a BB/9 in the low 2's for his minor league career. If I were to guess, I'd think Hellickson gets a shot at starting in Spring Training and ultimately makes the club at some point in 2010.

Zach Stewart. Toronto- The Blue Jays' top pitching prospect not only sports a sinker that can touch 95 on he radar, he possesses an excellent ability to keep the ball in the ballpark. Stewart has a career HR/9 of .19 and a GB% of 52.4 and if you compare that to the top guys in the majors in 2009, he would rank 9th, ahead of guys like Roy Halladay, Jon Lester and Tim Lincecum. Since Stewart is new to the Blue Jays organization, it's not quite known what his role will be on the team. He could be a top of the rotation starter or an elite relief option. Keep an eye on this one.

Christian Friedrich. Colorado- Not many pitchers possess the ability to strike out 11 batters per nine innings while keeping the walks in check. Christian Friedrich has that ability. Over the course of 179.1 career innings, Friedrich has posted 234 Ks while walking 60 batters. At the young age of 22, Friedrich will probably start the season out in AA but could move to AAA and possibly get a shot at the majors in 2011. Just keep in mind that he'll be pitching in Coors.

Before I start, I'd like to share a link with you guys. I know there are people who would like to see deeper stats for minor league players. Well, thanks to a friend of mine, I discovered this gem....Enjoy!

Now for the real point of this post.

If you're like me, you like to play all kinds of fantasy baseball, but your favorite is a long-term dynasty. I know this probably won't appeal to a lot of readers but with offline drafts and rookie drafts likely approaching, I figured I'd give you guys a little bit of info on some of the elite arms in the minors. This will probably not be in any particular order as I wrote down a bunch of names as I thought of them last night.

Madison Bumgarner. San Francisco Giants- I'll start this out with a guy most of you will probably know. The 2007 10th overall pick made his major league debut in 2009 and ended the season with only 10 major league innings pitched. While ten innings isn't usually a good way to judge a player, Bumgarner flashed what has made him such a highly touted prospect. Bumgarner struck out ten batters and walked only three batters in those ten innings. I know, super small sample size, but for a guy who's been praised for his excellent control, he really did exactly what you'd hope from a 20-year old starting pitcher debuting in the Major Leagues. Bumgarner will likely not start the year out in the Majors, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him up at some point again in 2010 once he gets more work on his secondary pitches. He's definitely someone to keep an eye on for the future. At some point, Bumgarner could become a TOR starter capable of putting up a low 1.00 WHIP with a good number of K's.

Martin Perez. Texas Rangers- Perez isn't going to be one to blow hitters away but has excellent movement on his low-90's fastball and has been compared to a cross of Johan Santana and Greg Maddux. In 2009, Perez pitched 93.2 innings in A-ball, posting a 2.31 ERA and a 105/33 K/BB rating. Ranked 86th in the 2009 Baseball America top 100, Perez is likely to be moved up in 2010 and could see the majors within the next few years, depending on his ability to pitch in AAA. If there's one type of pitcher you want in Arlington, it's a guy who can keep the ball on the ground like Perez.

Julio Teheran. Atlanta Braves- With Tommy Hanson moving to the majors in 2009, Teheran will likely take over as the Braves' top pitching prospect. Teheran will probably hit a consistent 92-93 on the radar gun and if he can build onto his 150 lb frame, one could envision him hitting mid-upper 90's on the radar gun. If you're looking for a guy who will make it to the majors in the next two years, you may want to pass over Teheran. But if you have the patience and ability to wait on him, it could pay off for you very well. While he still needs work on his changeup and curveballs, it's a good sign that he's got three pitches and is only 18 years old, hitting low to mid nineties on the gun.

Kyle Drabek. Toronto Blue Jays- Recently traded to the Blue Jays as one of the main pieces of the Roy Halladay trade, Drabek should come into the system and be neck and neck with Zach Stewart as the Blue Jays top pitching prospect. While Drabek doesn't possess excellent K/BB numbers, he did show progression with his K/9 in 2009. He hovers around 45% for a career GB% and keeps the ball in the park (has given up only 10 home runs in 197 minor league innings. Drabek is still a few years from becoming a full time starter in the Majors and his 2008 Tommy John surgery doesn't help matters. Drabek has the stuff and ability to be a decent 2nd or 3rd starter in the majors, so if you are drafting minor leaguers and want a pitcher upside to be a low WHIP guy, Drabek is your man.

Brian Matusz. Baltimore Orioles- The Orioles 22-year old pitching prospect dominated every level he's pitched in and in a recent stint in the Majors, Matusz went 5-2 with an ERA of 4.63. As I said with Drabek, Matusz has a tendency to keep the ball on the ground, posting a 48% GB% in his 113 career minor league innings. Not only does Matusz keep the ball down, he has the ability to throw four pitches for strike and post superb K/BB numbers (120/32 K/BB in 113 minor league innings.) If you were to draw a comparison for Matusz, Cole Hamels is one of the guys who comes to mind. Matusz will probably get a shot in Spring Training and could very well win a spot on the ML roster in 2010. If not, I don't expect him to be down for much longer as he's already established his dominance in throughout the Orioles minor league system.

That's going to be all for this post, but there will be plenty more where that came from as we prepare to begin offline drafts and rookie drafts.

We all know those guys who will give you one game with 9 or 10 K's and no earned runs, only to get shelled the following start. A big reason for this is a high BB/9. While it's nice to have high K guys, it can be frustrating. If I could tell the future, I could predict which guys will lower their BB rates, but since I can't, I will warn/enlighten you. 

Jorge de la Rosa- De la Rosa had a fairly good year for pitching a large portion of his starts in Coors field. In 2009, he put up his highest K/9 of his career but at the same time, had a BB/9 of over 4. While his ERA was a decent 4.38 (decent for a Coors pitcher) his FIP suggested he was better than that with an FIP of 3.91.Control has always been an issue for de la Rosa but if he could ever get that in check, he could become a very valuable fantasy option. At this point, de la Rosa is very inconsistent and with an elevated BB/9, he'll continue to be such. Keep an eye on him and use him as a matchup play in 2010.

Clayton Kershaw- Months after celebrating his 21st birthday, Clayton Kershaw posted a stellar 2.79 ERA in 171 innings in 2009. While his FIP suggested he was slightly worse than his ERA showed, Kershaw posted a swinging strike rate of 9.7% (which ranked 27th in the league in 2009.) Kershaw may be the one pitcher who can deal with his high walk rate when he has one of the best curveballs in baseball and is only 21 years old.

Jonathan Sanchez- Among one of the nastier pitchers in the game, Sanchez, posted the tenth best swinging strike percentage, among the likes of Felix Hernandez, Johan Santana and Tim Lincecum. While he can be one of the more frustrating players in baseball, he's shown that he can literally be unhittable. Every season Sanchez has pitched, he's posted an FIP that was significantly lower than his actual ERA.

A.J. Burnett- While Kershaw will likely be drafted early because of upside alone, Burnett will probably be drafted much, much sooner than he should be. If you're drafting Burnett, you're likely chasing wins and we know that when you chase wins, you disregard other things and are limited in other categories. Why not draft the better pitcher, who will be a safe bet and can get you occasional wins? A.J. Burnett pitched over 200 innings for the Yankees in 2009 and only won 13 games. While he did strike out 8.48 batters per nine innings, he also walked over 4 batters a game and allowed over 1 HR per game. When A.J. Burnett is being drafted at around 130 overall, you could look down the line just a little bit more and see a guy like Wandy Rodriguez, who  will strike out about 8 batters per nine innings and keep his walks in check and probably in the mid 2's.

We've seen a lot of trade rumors and trade analysis as of late and there really hasn't been any mention of the many teams with closer situations. We will check back in after a few months and see if anything has changed, but this is how things are looking as of now.

AL East

• Yankees- I think we all know this answer. Mo' should be one of the top closers in the game again. One day, he may fall apart, but for a player of his caliber, he may retire before than happens. Next in line: Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Mark Melancon.
• Red Sox- Jonathan Papelbon. In 2009, Papelbon posted a 1.85 ERA, which would lead you to believe he had a successful season. If you look at the peripheral stats, you'd see that Papelbon had an FIP of 3.05 and while he kept his K/9 above 10, he posted a BB/9 over 3 for the first time since his rookie season where he threw only 34 big league innings. I wouldn't be surprised to see Papelbon traded with the closer in waiting in Daniel Bard likely getting more work in the later innings. Next in line: Daniel Bard, Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen.
• Orioles- Mike Gonzalez. The Orioles signed Gonzalez to be their closer and I can't really see anyone challenging him for the job this year. Next in line: Jim Johnson, Kam Mikolio.
• Blue Jays- Jason Frasor. While there is nothing concrete in Toronto, I think Frasor will be the guy in 2010. Frasor saved 11 games in 2009 and ended the season with an FIP of 2.99 and a K/BB of 3.50. I think if the season were to begin today, Frasor would be the man, but he could lose it fairly easily. Next in line: Scott Downs, Jeremy Accardo.
• Rays- Rafael Soriano. The Rays either didn't seem confident or have other plans for J.P Howell in 2010. After trading prospect Jesse Chavez to Atlanta, the Rays are set at closer with Soriano. If he were to get hurt (which he does somewhat often) I would think Wheeler is the next on the list with Howell being the late inning lefty. Next in line: Dan Wheeler, J.P. Howell and Grant Balfour.

AL Central

• Twins- Joe Nathan. See Mariano Rivera. Next in line: Jon Rauch, Pat Neshek, Matt Guerrier, Jose Mijares.
• Tigers- Joel Zumaya. Currently the Tigers depth chart lists Zumaya as the closer. He's always been thought of as the closer of the future, but the Tigers have never really given him an extended look due to durability concerns. If made a closer, Zumaya could be a top level closer but he'll have to get his walks under control for that to happen. Next in line: Ryan Perry, Daniel Schlereth, Casey Fien, Phil Coke.
• White Sox- Bobby Jenks. As we speak, Jenks seems to be the closer and is listed as such on the depth chart. Matt Thornton is the better pitcher, but experience could be key here. I still think Thornton ends up with the job at some point. Next in line: Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz.
• Indians- Kerry Wood. Wood struggled in and there are a few more guys in waiting that could make this one of the more interesting (aka: avoidable) closer situations in 2010. Next in line: Chris Perez, Rafael Perez.
• Royals- Joakim Soria. One of the more talented relievers in the game. He was hampered by injuries a bit in 2009 and still saved 30 games with a 2.21 ERA. I don't see him going anywhere. Next in line: Juan Cruz, Kyle Farnsworth.

AL West

• Angels- Brian Fuentes. Didn't have the greatest season, but the Angels paid him to close, so I don't see him doing anything else. Next in line: Fernando Rodney, Kevin Jepsen.
• Rangers- Frank Francisco. Francisco spent time on and off the DL in 2009 and the Rangers bolstered their bullpen by adding Chris Ray and Darren Oliver, making the closer role available to C.J. Wilson, Chris Ray, Francisco or fireballer Neftali Feliz. If the Rangers decide not to prepare Feliz to start, he could very easily become an elite closer. Next in line: Chris Ray, C.J. Wilson, Neftali Feliz.
• Mariners- David Aardsma. The Mariners seem to be pushing for a playoff berth in 2010 by trading away Brandon Morrow for Brandon League and prospect Johermyn Chavez. League brings a big time GB% (which fits in with Seattle's league leading defense.) While I do think Aardsma will be the closer and will be successful, I wouldn't totally rule out a trade of one of the young, power arms in Seattle's pen. Next in line: Mark Lowe, Brandon League, Shawn Kelley, Joshua Fields.
• Athletics- Andrew Bailey. The reigning AL Rookie of the Year is likely to be the closer for the A's in 2010, but that's what we thought about Brad Zeigler in 2009. I still see Bailey as the closer, however. Next in line: Brad Ziegler, Joey Devine, Michael Wuertz, John Meloan.

When you head into your draft in 2010, I ask that you keep Javier Vazquez in the back of your mind. In 2009, Vazquez put up numbers worthy of being the NL's number two pitcher according to Keith Law.

Vazquez has been bounced all over the MLB, going from the NL to AL five times in his twelve year career. In all but four seasons in his career, Vazquez has had an FIP under 4 as well.

Much of Vazquez's success lies in his ability to maintain a high K/9 and keep his walks low. While I don't expect Vazquez to keep his K/9 at his career high of 9.77, or keep his BB/9 at it's second lowest total in his career, I do think Vazquez can put up good numbers in the national league. There really are no largely apparent signals that Vazquez will regress. His GB% was roughly 2% lower than his career average and his FB% was down about 5% while his HR/FB remained relatively neutral.

If Vazquez were again moved back to the AL, you could expect the normal increase in ERA, but if you're drafting Vazquez hoping for 200 innings, 200 Ks, an ERA around 3-3.50 and a WHIP hovering in the 1.10-1.30 range, you will not be disappointed.

If I were drafting today, I would happily take Vazquez over Chris Carpenter, Jon Lester, Matt Cain and I'd strongly consider taking him over Adam Wainwright (who's FIP had him pegged as an inferior pitcher to Vazquez.)

Sorry for the delay guys, I've been swamped and Ray's been pluggin' along with rumors during the Winter Meetings.

Ian Kinsler. 2B, Texas.

My love for power/speed guys is not something I will hide. In his first season playing in more than 130 games, Ian Kinsler posted a 31/31 HR/SB line, while hitting only .253. Kinsler had a bit of an unlucky season with a BABIP of .245 when his career is .293, so one can expect an improvement with his batting average in 2010. The fact that Kinsler's average was pretty bad makes him an undervalued player coming into the 2010 season.

In 2009, Kinsler was probably draft near the back end of the second round and that was coming off an injury plagued season where he hit .319. If Kinsler does in fact improve his BABIP, he could be a steal at the end of the second round, when you'll be getting someone like Carl Crawford who does not have the power or 5 category ability that Kinsler does. Not that Crawford is overrated, I'm just saying, I'd like getting a guy who can nearly produce in five categories at a premium position over a pure speed outfielder.  .

According to sources, the Seattle Mariners and Chone Figgins are near an agreement on a contract. The exact terms are not entirely known, but it's been speculated that the deal could be worth 4 years, $36 million dollars (with Jayson Stark mentioning a vesting option for 2014.)

Signing Figgins would arguably give the Mariners the best 1-2 in baseball. Whether or not there is someone hitting behind them is yet to be determined. The Mariners have been linked to many different hitters including Jason Bay, Nick Johnson and Curtis Granderson, but Figgins marks the team's first major free agent signing.

According to Fangraphs.com, in 2009, Figgins was the 11th most valuable player in the major leagues. With career highs in runs and walks,  Figgins proved to be one of the best leadoff hitters in baseball. Figgins average of .298 was a bit inflated due to his higher than average BABIP, but a regression to .280-.290 is likely and shouldn't hurt his overall value too much. Figgins move from one of the most aggressive baserunning teams in the league could effect his runs scored and stolen bases, however.

I still think Figgins will put up great speed and leadoff numbers, but do not think he'll score as many runs or hit for as high of an average. If he falls to you at later rounds, don't be afraid to grab him. Just don't be surprised if he doesn't match his numbers from 2009.

Grady Sizemore. CF, Cleveland.

It's my turn to go with a local, hometown favorite. In an injury shortened season, Sizemore put up 18 home runs 73 runs, 64 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 436 at  bats. Sizemore underwent arthroscopic surgery on his elbow and hernia surgery in September of 2009 and should be 100% by the start of the season.

Sizemore was drafted in the first round in 2009 after going 33/38 in 2008. While he's not going to be a .300 hitter anytime soon, Sizemore could improve across the board fairly easily as he approaches his prime years. Bill James is projecting Sizemore to hit 25 home runs, 101 runs, 78 RBI while stealing 21 bases and hitting .272. I know I mentioned Bill James projecting players a bit optimistically at times, but I personally think this projection is a bit low. If Sizemore is actually 100% at the season start, there's no reason to believe he won't be closer to 30/30 than 25/21.

While I could have picked Carl Crawford or Matt Holliday, I think Sizemore has the ability to be a four category hitter, while Crawford will be a three category guy and Holliday is still without a team. If he were to play for a team where he'd be protected in the lineup and in a park suited for his attributes (Boston) I could see taking Holliday here.

Evan Longoria. 3B, Tampa Bay

At only 24 years old, Longoria has two years of major league time and already has hit a combined 60 home runs and 167 runs, 198 RBI.

Longoria made steps to better himself in 2009 by posting a BB% of 11% which is an increase from 9.3% in 2008 and a drop in K% from 27.2% in 2008 to 24% in 2009. If Longoria were to improve even more in 2010, you could see a bump in runs, RBI, home runs and average as well as OPS. Longoria's a bigger guy and doesn't have the speed to become a five category producer, but he does have one thing others his age don't....Consistency.

Bill James has Longoria projected to put up a slash line of .287/.370/.548 and an OPS over .900. He's also penciling Longoria in for 37 home runs, 106 runs, 120 RBI and 9 home runs. While James tends to project younger players (2009 projected Ryan Braun to hit 44 home runs: actually hit 32.) a bit optimistically, I think 37 home runs are definitely within reach for Longoria and think you should draft him and be happy with 30-40 home runs and over 100 runs and RBIs. If you are in keeper or dynasty leagues, Longoria is arguably the top 3B in the league and could easily be bumped into the first round next year. Now if only fantasy baseball incorporated UZR and other defensive metrics.

Hopefully you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  After the annual Turkey Bowl No Pad Tackle Football Game, I'm having a hard time moving around this morning, so I will sit here, eat my leftovers and talk a little fantasy baseball.

Miguel Cabrera. 1B, DET.

Usually, I like to wait on my first basemen until the later rounds where I can draft guys like Joey Votto, Kevin Youkilis and Adrian Gonzalez but when Miguel Cabrera falls to the second rounds, you almost have to bite. I really don't think Cabrera falls to the second round in drafts next year.

When drafting in the first round, I like to concentrate on consistency picks as opposed to upside picks. Over the last six years, Cabrera has failed to hit over 30 home runs just once. He's also had over 100 RBI in every season he's played a full season (discounting his rookie year where he had 314 ABs.)

With the mention of Cabrera being brought up in trade talks and the Tigers looking to shed some salary, one must consider the ramifications of a trade. If you're in AL-only leagues, you may want to keep in mind that Cabrera could me moved back to the NL. He could also be traded somewhere like Boston, where he'd be hitting in the heart of a much better lineup.

There isn't much to say that most of you don't already know when it comes to Cabrera, so I'll just leave it at that.

Tim Lincecum. SP, SF.

Yeah, that's right. First pitcher off the board. If you're drafting hitters based on 5x5 categories, chances are you are in a league that counts 5x5 for pitching also. I think it's fairly clear that Lincecum is the best pitcher in the game right now and he should dominate at least three categories and put up a decent win total as well. I am among the few who don't draft a pitcher based on previous win totals and I don't put a ton of thought into supporting cast. Here are a few reasons....

-K/9: While his K/9 dropped off slightly, 10.42 led the major leagues for starters and is nothing to scoff at.

-GB% increase from 43.8 in 2008 to 47.5 in 2009.

-BB/9 drop from 3.33 in 2008 to 2.72 in 2009.

Since Lincecum has pitched in the Majors for two full years and a partial year in 2007, one can see improvement but I wouldn't get overly excited. If there is one pitcher in the major leagues right now that can strike out 300 batters in a season, it's Lincecum. For that, I will happily draft him in the beginning of the second round. If only the Giants would acquire a bat or six, Lincecum could win more than 15 games.

Joe Mauer. C, Min

It seemed like in all of the playoff/championship matchups I was in this year, Mauer seemed to be on the opposing team. Usually drafted in the top three for catchers, Mauer had a breakout season at the plate, hitting over twice as many home runs as any season in his career while putting up an OPS over 1.000 and a career high .365 average.Mauer did have a BABIP of .377 when he's been a career .349 guy, so you can expect the average to drop a bit in 2009, but is .330 really that bad?

I'm not necessarily sure I'll be drafting Mauer in the first round since I usually like to draft a catcher later on and just leave them for the entire season, but I do think people will be all over Mauer in the first round and number nine overall could even be a little low.

Personally, if he were to make it  to me in the second round, I'd probably take a chance on him. If he truly has proven he can be a 25-30 home run guy, I will have absolutely no problems drafting him early, but I would like to see at least one other season before I can really believe.

David Wright. 3B, NYM.

In 2009, David Wright was likely a top 5 pick and top 3 in most leagues. Wright experienced a tremendous power outage in 2009, hitting a total of ten home runs (5/5 home/away.) Wright still managed to be valuable to those who drafted him by putting up solid numbers across the board in all of the other categories that mattered in standard 5x5 leagues. On the surface, one would think Citi Field has become an extreme pitchers park, but in actuality, it ranks 12th in the MLB in HR park factors, ahead of notable hitter's parks such as Citizen's Bank park and Chase Field.

According to an ESPN article from the beginning of July, Wright had been robbed of six home runs in the new park. To top it all off, Wright saw a large increase in K% (20.1% career, 26.2% 2009) and a drop to his career low OPS of .837. The non-sabermetric part of me thinks the high K% could be due to the pressure of being the main run producer and an overall drop in team performance. 

I do think Wright will slightly rebound in 2010 and hit around 20 home runs, while putting up similar stats across the board. It's hard to argue drafting a player who will put up great stats in four categories with the upside to hit for power (in a rather scarce position.)

I'm sticking with my love of players at shallow positions and since Ray robbed me of my guy, I'm picking...

Chase Utley. 2B, PHI.

Last year, if you drafted Utley, you probably had him at a pretty good discount because of his hip surgery. In 2010, Utley will likely be drafted near the top five in standard mixed league drafts not only because he plays a premium position, but he hits like a first rounder as well. One would suspect that a decline in stats across the board could be at hand in 2009 due to the hip surgery but that was not the case at all. Utley stole a career high bases with 23 and hit two less home runs than his career high with 31.

Looking a bit deeper, you'll see that Utley's BABIP was almost .20 points lower than his career mark, which can give some explanation to the .282 average when Utley's a career .295 hitter. When drafting in the first round, you're likely looking for consistency and Utley will give you exactly that. Bill James has him projected at 30 home runs, over 100 runs and RBI's and 17 stolen bases, while hitting .295. A line like that is perfectly attainable and knowing you're getting a top hitter at a premium position should keep you from developing an ulcer (until you draft your first starting pitcher, most likely.)

For the third pick, I'm going with Albert Pujols. FINALLY!

My reasoning...He's awesome.

(Sorry, I mailed that one in. Ray, if you'd have picked him, you could have too. There's just not much for me to say that people didn't know by now. )