Major League Baseball's regular season is right around the corner, and the next best thing to playing the game is playing fantasy ball. If you're new to the program, you join a league (either public or one you establish with a group of friends) on any of the several major sports networks' websites (ESPN, Yahoo!, Fox, and MSN all have a fantasy sports program), draft players from the majors, and track their progress through the season. Individual stats are compiled, and they're the only thing that matters. The challenge is to sustain a team throughout an entire summer, constantly trying to better the team without being able to turn it into an All-Star team. Whoever's team boasts the best stats at the end of the season, wins. And now, I offer my usually expensive and exclusive professional advice to you, the readers of LReflection, for free. Enjoy.
The ten best picks:
10. Francisco Rodriguez (Angels)- It's tough to pick a reliever here, since they'll hardly ever tack on any wins for you. This guy is the real deal, though. A 25-year-old with a fastball that occasionally hits 98 MPH, "K-Rod" is the best reliever since Mariano Rivera appeared on the scene in 1997 and lead the Yankees to three World Series wins as closer, and the 2000 World Series MVP. Rodriguez posted a Cy Young-caliber season last year, leading the league with 47 saves and a stingy 1.73 ERA. With one of the best bullpens in the league supporting him, look for his dominance to continue.
09. Andruw Jones (Braves)- The best Brave slugger since Hank Aaron, Andruw Jones is now thirty years old and coming into his prime as a hitter, not only a Golden Glove-winning Center fielder (although that doesn't hurt). Last year he hit 41 home runs and drove in 129, good enough to crack the top five in both categories in the National League. He is in the final year of his contract now, which along with the Braves not winning the division for the first time in over a decade, which should provide a lot of motivation for his stats to get even better.
08. Jose Reyes (Mets)- Reyes is one of the most exciting players in the game, a force who lead the Mets to their first National League Championship Series in six years last year, hitting .300, stealing a league-leading 64 bases, and scoring 122 runs. He is one of the best catalysts in the league, able to make things happen with his speed and scrapiness. His play on the defensive side of the ball is exceptional as well, and at 23 years old, he will only get better (you can count on 75 steals and a Golden Glove, I'm calling it).09. Andruw Jones (Braves)- The best Brave slugger since Hank Aaron, Andruw Jones is now thirty years old and coming into his prime as a hitter, not only a Golden Glove-winning Center fielder (although that doesn't hurt). Last year he hit 41 home runs and drove in 129, good enough to crack the top five in both categories in the National League. He is in the final year of his contract now, which along with the Braves not winning the division for the first time in over a decade, which should provide a lot of motivation for his stats to get even better.
Money.07. Alfonso Soriano (Cubs)- Already on his fourth team at the ripe age of 30, Soriano recently inked a deal with Chicago for eight years, granting him $136 million. If that's not enough motivation for him to excel, I don't know what is. An amazing natural hitter, he belted 46 home runs last year, stole 41 bases, and 95 RBIs, all in the leadoff spot. Expected to hit in either the 3rd, 4th, or 5th spot in a potent Cubs line-up, look for him and teammate Derrek Lee to both hit 40 homers in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field and rake in at least 125 RBIs. Another 40-40 season isn't out of the question.
06. Joe Mauer (Twins)- Debate has raged over whether or not Joe Mauer will become the greatest catcher to ever play Major League Baseball. While time will tell on that, one thing is for sure, this guy can hit. The first catcher to ever lead the American League in hitting, 24-year-old Mauer batted .347 last year as the lead-off hitter for the division-winning Twins. Looks for things to get even better this year.
05. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees)- If you look at A-Rod's stats as if he is the highest-paid player in the Majors, his .290 batting average, 35 home runs, 121 RBIs, and 113 runs last season were disappointing. If you look at him without judgment, the guy had an incredible season last year in the face of adversity everywhere. He has stayed the course, though, and is motivated to up his game to the MVP-caliber game he played in his three years in Texas (where he averaged a .306 batting average, 52 home runs, and 132 RBIs). Hate him or not, he is still at the heart of the best lineup in baseball. Even if it may be considered a disappointment, expect 45 homers, 130 RBIs, and a .300 average.
04. Manny Ramirez (Red Sox)- Where most may go to draft David Ortiz at the first chance they get, I'd go with Ramirez. While I like Ortiz, I'm not entirely sold on him, mostly because of the injuries he suffered last year. While I'm not Manny's biggest fan, I can't deny how great, and consistent, a hitter he has proved to be. He hits for 35 home runs every year without breaking a sweat, drives in 120 runs in a full season (he still cracked 100 last year despite missing 30 games), and almost always hits over .300. He also gets on base more than Ortiz, boasts a slugging percentage nearly as good, and his play in left field is underrated.06. Joe Mauer (Twins)- Debate has raged over whether or not Joe Mauer will become the greatest catcher to ever play Major League Baseball. While time will tell on that, one thing is for sure, this guy can hit. The first catcher to ever lead the American League in hitting, 24-year-old Mauer batted .347 last year as the lead-off hitter for the division-winning Twins. Looks for things to get even better this year.
05. Alex Rodriguez (Yankees)- If you look at A-Rod's stats as if he is the highest-paid player in the Majors, his .290 batting average, 35 home runs, 121 RBIs, and 113 runs last season were disappointing. If you look at him without judgment, the guy had an incredible season last year in the face of adversity everywhere. He has stayed the course, though, and is motivated to up his game to the MVP-caliber game he played in his three years in Texas (where he averaged a .306 batting average, 52 home runs, and 132 RBIs). Hate him or not, he is still at the heart of the best lineup in baseball. Even if it may be considered a disappointment, expect 45 homers, 130 RBIs, and a .300 average.
Asshat.03. Ryan Howard (Phillies)- If you're not able to nab Albert Pujols, go with the guy who actually beat him out for the 2006 National League MVP. He lead the Bigs with 58 home runs and 149 RBIs, and still hit .313! Big guys aren't supposed to hit that well. He's also only 27 years old, and is still developing as a hitter. Howard is a diamond in the rough.
02. Johan Santana (Twins)- The best pitcher in the game right now, you'd be nuts to pass up an opportunity to grab Santana. The reigning Cy Young winner, the Twins ace lead the majors in wins (19), ERA (2.77), and strike-outs (245), and has asserted himself as the most dominant pitcher in the game, boasting three seasons with at least 16 wins, 238 strikeouts, 225 innings, and a sub-3 ERA. Look for him to eat up innings and start more games than usual due to a short-handed Minnesota pitching staff. Don't be surprised if he wins another Cy Young, either.
01. Albert Pujols (Cardinals)- The only player in the majors to land in the top five in batting average, home runs, and RBIs, Pujols solidified his place as the best hitter in the game. Still only a baby at 27 years old, Pujols is still developing as a player (I'm sensing a theme to this list--young is good), and boasts the most consistently great resume of this decade. Having hit at least forty home runs for the past four years, a winner of the MVP and Rookie of the Year trophies, and with two appearances in the World Series, Pujols has exceptional experience and credentials for a player who hasn't yet hit his prime. Is 50 home runs a possibility? Yes. 150 RBIs? With the lineup the Cardinals have, yes. A .350 batting average? You bet. He's a safe call.02. Johan Santana (Twins)- The best pitcher in the game right now, you'd be nuts to pass up an opportunity to grab Santana. The reigning Cy Young winner, the Twins ace lead the majors in wins (19), ERA (2.77), and strike-outs (245), and has asserted himself as the most dominant pitcher in the game, boasting three seasons with at least 16 wins, 238 strikeouts, 225 innings, and a sub-3 ERA. Look for him to eat up innings and start more games than usual due to a short-handed Minnesota pitching staff. Don't be surprised if he wins another Cy Young, either.
Not as much of a sped as this picture would indicate.
1 comment:
People should read this.
Post a Comment