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2012 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Rankings

12 February 2012

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Not unlike Derek Jeter and A-Rod (on a smaller scale) joining forces, the Miami Marlins have two of the elite shortstops. Here are the Lester’s Legends 2012 fantasy baseball Shortstop rankings.
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1. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies: My top-ranked shortstop last year holds onto the top spot thanks to a .302-81-30-105-9 line. I’d like to see 100 runs, but given his other numbers it’s hard to complain.
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2. Hanley Ramirez, Miami Marlins: It was a lost year of sorts for Han-Ram with his meager .243-55-10-45-20 line. I expect him to bounce back, especially with Jose Reyes joining the lineup. Plus, he’s moving to third base, which enhances his value.
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3. Jose Reyes, Miami Marlins: Was he a contract year wonder? Hard to say. It’s also hard to argue with the .337-101-7-44-39 line he posted.
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4. Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs: He’s turn just 22 next month. He has already posted two .300 seasons. His run total jumped dramatically to 91 and he provided a solid amount of RBI (66) and SBs (22). He has arrived.
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5. Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians: Easily the biggest surprise of the position. He smacked 25 HRs after totaling 18 in his first 387 games. Regression is a possibility, but I wouldn’t bet against him.
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6. Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies: Can he stay healthy again? That is a concern at 33, but he was just one of two players (Cabrera) with 15+ HRs and 15+ SBs.
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7. Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers: If he could get his average close to .300 he’d likely move into the top five discussion. You know he’s going to score runs in Texas’ offense. He could easily lead the position in stolen bases.
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8. Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels: Posted a solid .279-71-10-59-30 line. Albert Pujols’ presence should help.
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9. Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox: Ramirez doesn’t dominate any category, but he typically gives you solid numbers across the board. I expect his batting average and stolen base total to increase.
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10. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees: Jeter pressed en route to 3000 hits. He killed it in the second half though posting a .327 average and a .811 OPS.
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11. J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles: Led all shortstops with 30 HRs. He combined for 50 in 2007 and 2008 so it’s not a fluke. He flopped in 2009 and 2010 and hasn’t played 130 games since 2008 so he is a slight risk.
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12. Dee Gordon, Los Angeles Dodgers: Swiped 24 bases in 56 games. He should also be in the running for most SBs at the position.
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13. Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers: Has averaged 18.3 HRs and 79.6 RBI over the past seven years.
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14. Emilio Bonifacio, Miami Marlins: Stole 40 bases last year. Has eligibility at SS, 3B, and OF. He didn’t do much besides steal though.
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15. Stephen Drew, Arizona Diamondback: He only played half a season and is recovering from an ankle surgery. Still, he has been a productive player in the past and if healthy should be again.
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16. Yunel Escobar, Toronto Blue Jays: Career .289 hitter so he’ll help in that category. He can also give you OK run, HR, and RBI numbers.
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2012 Fantasy Baseball Third Base Rankings

6 February 2012

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Prior to the Prince Fielder signing Jose Bautista was my top hot corner option. With Miguel Cabrera moving over, here are the Lester’s Legends 2012 fantasy baseball Third Base rankings. Here’s the initial list.
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1. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers: He was probably the top first baseman before the Prince Fielder signing. Now that he’s moving over to the hot corner, he easily tops this shallow position.
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2. Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays: Proved that 2010 was not a fluke with 43 home runs last year. His 3B/OF eligibility is a bonus.
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3. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays: Had a down year, but still mashed 31 HRs. His four-year average of 28.3 HRs and 100.3 RBI speaks for itself.
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4. Hanley Ramirez, Miami Marlins: He had a down year, and could struggle switching to third base, but his power/speed combo, plus SS eligibility make him an attractive option.
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5. Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers: He was limited to 124 games last year, but still managed 32 HRs and 105 RBI. Expect big things if he can stay healthy.
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6. Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals: Only played in 101 games last year, and saw his OPS did a full 100 points to .798, but he has shown that he’s a big time hitter when he can stay healthy.
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7. David Wright, New York Mets: Only played 102 games and had a career low .772 OPS. He should bounce back though as he did in 2010. His stolen bases give him a bump.
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8. Pablo Sandoval, San Francisco Giants: With a lot of third basemen missing significant time and/or experiencing a down year, it was nice to see Kung Fu Panda return to form. His .315-55-23-70-2 line in 117 games is encouraging. He hit .325 with a .963 OPS after the break.
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9. Brett Lawrie, Toronto Blue Jays: Sparkled in his 150 at bats, hitting .293 with 26 runs, nine HRs, and 25 RBI.
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10. Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox: The Greek God of Walks hit just .258 with 17 HRs. He has yet to play 150 games in a season and has missed 102 games over the past two years. When he plays he’s effective, but you’ll need a contingency plan.
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11. Michael Young, Texas Rangers: The dude doesn’t age or slow down. You’re not going to get home runs from him, but expect a .300+ average and a solid number of runs and RBI.
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12. Aramis Ramirez, Milwaukee Brewers: He moved north to Milwaukee. He was healthy last year, playing in 149 games after combining for 206 in the previous two seasons. He has good power and will give you a decent average. He’ll miss Prince, but at least Braun avoided suspension.
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13. Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees: It’s hard not to consider A-Rod a top-ten third base option, but he will turn 37 and hit just 16 home runs in 99 games. Plus, he was brutal during the postseason. Regression has clearly began.
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14. Mark Reynolds, Baltimore Orioles: The average is going to be brutal (.238 lifetime hitter), but he has averaged 38.3 HRs over the past four years. Unfortunately the stolen bases have taken a hit.
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15. Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals: He wasn’t entirely impressive, hitting .263 with a .675 OPS. He finished strong though, hittin g.352 with four HRs and 12 RBI in September.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2012 3B rankings, 2012 Third Base rankings, 3B rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, Third Base rankings |

2012 Fantasy Baseball Additional Second Base Options

1 February 2012

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Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images North America
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We already looked at the LestersLegends’ top 15 fantasy baseball second basemen for 2012, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional options if you choose to wait on filling your second base slot to address other positions. Alternatively, many leagues offer middle infield slots, which put these options on your radar.
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If you are looking for power out of the second base slot, Kelly Johnson and Aaron Hill,who were ironically swapped for each other last year can both answer the call. They aren’t without their shortcomings though.
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Johnson is my preference of the two despite hitting .222 last year. He scored 75 runs, hit 21 HRs, had 58 RBI, and stole 16 bases. In 33 games with Toronto he hit .270 with 16 runs, three HRs, nine RBI, and three stolen bases. He posted a .284-93-26-71-13 line in 2010 so a return to form in his new home isn’t out of the question.
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Hill posted a .246-61-8-61-21 line for the year. The change of scenery also served him well as he hit .315 with 23 runs, two HRs, 16 RBI, and five stolen bases in his 33 games for Arizona. He has the power, but has now combined to hit .225 the past two seasons.
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Hill’s teammate Ryan Roberts plays third base, but has second base eligibility. He posted a solid .249-86-19-65-18 line. He was up and down though and his numbers tailed off at the end of the year.
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Detroit’s Ryan Raburn gives you second base, outfield, and possibly third base eligibility. He had decent pop with 14 HRs in 387 at bats, but his .256-53-14-49-1 line doesn’t exactly jump out at you.
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Another option that was solid at times last year was Darwin Barney. He had a terrific first half hitting .306 with 40 runs in 294 at bats for the Cubs. Unfortunately he hit a wall, and hit .238 with 26 runs in 235 second half at bats. He provides little power or speed so he’s not an ideal option.
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Gordon Beckham struggled again for the White Sox posting a .230-60-10-44-5 line. He did hit 14 HRs in 378 at bats as a rookie in 2009, but has failed to meet that standard in the past two seasons.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings | Tagged: MLB, Second Base rankings |

2012 Fantasy Baseball Second Base Rankings

31 January 2012

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Robinson Cano was my top rated second baseman last year. The view hasn’t changed from the top of the Lester’s Legends 2012 fantasy baseball Second Base rankings. Here’s the initial list.
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1. Robinson Cano, New York Yankees: No way he’s moving from the top of the class after posting a .302-104-28-118-8 line. Not getting the stolen bases you need from a second basemen? Make it up elsewhere.
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2. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox: If Cano wasn’t sooo good, Pedroia could have a shot at number one. There is nothing to be ashamed of his .307-102-21-91-26 line. He was good for everything last year.
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3. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers: The ultimate Risk/Reward option. When he can stay healthy he delivers. His .255 average makes you cringe, but his 121 runs, 32 HRs, 77 RBI, and 30 SBs more than make up for it.
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4. Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds: Phillips was Dustin Pedroia lite. His .300-94-18-82-14 line is solid across the board. Nothing elite, but he doesn’t harm you anywhere.
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5. Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves: Uggla was ugly for the Braves hitting .233. He did score 88 runs, slug 36 HRs, and drive in 82 runs though. He also hit .296 with a .948 OPS after the All-Star Break. Things are going to get better.
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6. Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays: Zobrist bounced back from an ugly .238-77-10-75-24 2010 to a solid .269-99-20-91-19 2011 season. As long as he isn’t one of those players that alternates good and bad year, you should be fine.
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7. Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies: Utley is 33 and has missed 106 games in the past two seasons. His health is clearly a concern. So is the fact that his OPS has decreased every year since 2007.
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8. Rickie Weeks, Milwaukee Brewers: Losing Prince Fielder puts a damper on Milwaukee’s offense, but at least Ryan Braun avoided suspension. Weeks posted a .269-77-20-49-9 line. He’ll likely be in line to drive in more runs this year.
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9. Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners: Ackley had some high expectations and delivered for the most part. Despite a .219 September he finished with a .273-39-6-36-6 line in 90 games.
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10. Howie Kendrick, Los Angeles Angeles: His .285-86-18-63-14 was solid. Add Albert Pujols to the mix and he should be even better in 2012.
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11. Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians: Kipnis’ cup of coffee went very well as he hit .272 with 24 runs, seven HRs, 19 RBI, and five stolen bases in 136 at bats.
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12. Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates: Walker proved his .296-57-12-66-2 2010 line wasn’t a fluke by posting a .273-76-12-83-9 line last year.
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13. Jemile Weeks, Oakland A’s: Weeks is your stolen base specialist. In 97 games he swiped 22 bases in 97 games. He didn’t just steal bases though as he hit .303 with 50 runs. He’ll basically be a three category player, but there is value in that.
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14. Omar Infante, Miami Marlins: The re-made Marlins feature Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez. He had a down year by his recent standards, but should post solid numbers, especially in the batting average category.
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15. Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals: Granted his .236 average isn’t making anybody happy, but he was one of five second basemen with 20 HRs and 15 stolen bases last year.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2012 2B rankings, 2012 Second Base rankings, 2B rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, Second Base rankings |

2012 Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings

24 January 2012

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By Alex Gallardo, AP
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For the second straight year an elite first baseman switched leagues. Albert Pujols’ departure was a much bigger deal than Adrian Gonzalez’s though. Prince Fielder made it two.
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Here’s the first look at the 2012 LestersLegends First Base Rankings.
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1. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers: Cabrera is entering the 2012 season in a better place than he was last year. His personal issues did not affect his play. Adding Prince Fielder makes him even more dangerous. What sets Cabrera apart from Pujols and A-Gone is his switch to third base.
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2. Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: The move to the American League does not concern me. He can get a day off at DH from time to time. There is adjustment when switching leagues, but I think the American League pitchers are going to be the ones that need adjusting in this case.
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3. Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox were disappointing last year, but that wasn’t on A-Gone. He was right in line with Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols on most categories. He finished first in the AL in RBI and that was with Carl Crawford having a down year. I expect him to bounce back, which could help Gonzalez win the RBI title.
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4. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds: Votto took a step back last year, but who can take issue with a .309-101-29-103-8 line? You aren’t losing much if you have to “settle” for Votto.
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5. Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers: I did not see this signing coming. That makes five of the big six first basemen in the American League. It will be interesting to see if Prince or Cabrera is the primary DH. I give Votto a slight edge because of his ability to steal bases, but any of the top six first basemen are money.
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6. Mark Teixeira, New York Yankees: Tex has turned into a Ryan Howard of sorts (minus the strikeouts). You know he’s going to give you ample HRs (37.0 average since joining the Yankees) and RBI (113.7 average since joining the Yankees), but you have to deal with his falling batting average (.292 to .256 to .248). I still think he’s more likely to bounce back in taht department than not.
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7. Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers: Napoli caught fire in July last year and remained hot through the World Series. He hit .320 with 30 HRs. With 1B/C eligibility, he’s a valuable option.
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8. Michael Morse, Washington Nationals: I like Morse for his production the past 1.5 years (46 HRs since June 2010) and his positional flexibility (1B, OF).
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9. Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals: He came in with huge expectations and delivered posting a .293-66-19-78-11 line. Playing in KC could limit his run and RBI totals, but the future is bright for this guy.
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10. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves: Freeman also came in with high expectations. His .282-67-21-76-4 line did not disappoint. He could easily reach those numbers again, with a great possibility of improving.
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11. Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians: He’s young and has plenty to improve on (.239 average), but he’s got big time power (27 HRs last year) and with 1B/C eligibility he gets a boost in value.
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12. Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies: Howard will miss time with an Achilles injury, but he should still give you power when he returns. Even though he is going in the wrong direction, he is worth a look as a low-end starting first basemen or a high-end corner infield option.
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13. Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox: I’m not sure if this guy ages. He’ll turn 36 this year and you would think his decline would have begun, but he is coming off back-to-back .300+, 30+ HR, 100+ RBI seasons.
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14. Michael Young, Texas Rangers: The dude doesn’t age or slow down. You’re not going to get home runs from him, but expect a .300+ average and a solid number of runs and RBI
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15. Ike Davis, New York Mets: Davis was hitting .302 with seven HRs and 25 RBI through 36 games. The Mets have made changes to Citi Field that should make it a little more hitter-friendly.

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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 1B rankings, 2012 1B rankings, 2012 fantasy baseball rankings, 2012 First Base rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, First Base rankings, MLB |

Fantasy Baseball: 2011 N.L. Only Top 10 Closer Rankings

14 March 2011

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Here’s a look at the 2011 closer rankings.
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1. Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants: Wilson led the Majors in saves (48) last year while posting a 1.81 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 93 Ks. He also has the market cornered on cool beards and scary eyes.
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2. Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: His stats read almost identical to Wilson’s. It’s really a preference thing here. I like Wilson because his starting pitching staff is better. Plus, without Adrian Gonzalez, the Padres could struggle to give him leads to protect.
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3. Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs: With 38 saves, a ridiculous 138 Ks, a 2.55 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and a microscopic .147 BAA, Marmol is a very valuable closer.
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4. Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers: Broxton slipped big time last year picking up only 22 saves with a 4.04 ERA, a 1.48 WHIP, and a .270 BAA. His lone bright spot was the 73 Ks in 62-2/3 innings. He was electric in 2009 with 36 saves, a 2.61 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP, a .165 BAA, and 114 Ks in 76 innings, which leads me to believe he can be a top tier closer again.
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5. Francisco Rodriguez, New York Mets: I’m more worried about him mentally than physically. Despite his bizarre season he had 25 saves with a 2.20 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, a .213 BAA, and 67 Ks in 57-1/3 innings. If he can control his emotions, he’s a fine closing option once again.
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6. Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati Reds: He’ll give you a bunch of saves (39 & 40 in the past two years), but don’t expect a high strikeout total or low WHIP.
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7. Huston Street, Colorado Rockies: He can deliver when he’s healthy. He has 55 saves in the past two years for Colorado with a 3.30 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and 115 Ks in 109 innings.
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8. John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers: Axford shared closer duties with Trevor Hoffman last year and still managed 24 saves, a 2.48 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and 76 Ks in 58 innings. As the Rotoprofessor points out, he does have control issues, but there is enough upside to justify his ranking.
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9. J.J. Putz, Arizona Diamondbacks: Drafting Putz will take a little leap of faith considering he has been on three teams and compiled just 20 saves over the past three seasons, though he totaled 76 saves in 2006 & 2007 for the Mariners. You can count on a bunch of strikeouts and a potentially low WHIP.
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10. Drew Storen, Washington Nationals: Storen was groomed for this role and now it’s his time to deliver. He struggled after June, but has enough upside to gamble on in N.L. Only Leagues.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB | Tagged: 2011 closer rankings, Closer rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB |

Fantasy Baseball: 2011 A.L. Only Top 10 Closer Rankings

13 March 2011

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Here’s a look at the 2011 A.L. Only closer rankings.
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1. Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals: In the last three years Soria has 115 saves, a 1.84 ERA, and a 1.01 WHIP. He also has 210 Ks in 186 innings. Will there be enough leads to protect? That’s the big question.Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers: His stuff is filthy. He has a 0.82 WHIP and a .160 BAA in 100-1/3 innings. The Rangers are toying with the idea of using him as a starter, which would obviously change his value. That said, he’s desirable either way. If you are in a league that uses SP and RP and he’s a starter, you basically get an extra starter in your weekly lineup. If he hangs onto the closer gig, he’s the best in the American League.
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2. Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers: It’s not that I think he’s any less filthy, but it’s looking like he may give starting a go. He’s still valuable, but you would obviously lose the main category you draft a closer for.
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3. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox: Papelbon wasn’t nearly as nasty last year posting a 3.90 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and a .226 BAA. He still managed 37 saves last year. He’s averaged 37.6 saves over the past five years with 77.6 Ks, a 2.18 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP.
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4. Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: It’s not that I think Mo is slipping, but the addition of Rafael Soriano suggests that he will have a lighter load this year. Let’s face it, the Yankees season doesn’t start until the playoffs begin. If a game was on the line, Mo would be my guy. For a fantasy team, he’s just top five in A.L. Only leagues for me.
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5. Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins: We know what he was before Tommy John surgery, but how will he respond at 36? The closer gig isn’t a guarantee right away either. There are questions, but he has the goods if he’s healthy.
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6. Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers: His save total (26) wasn’t great and his ERA (3.00) wasn’t spectacular, but he had a solid 1.16 WHIP and an excellent .184 BAA. He also had 63 Ks in 63 innings. He’s a solid A.L. Only closer.
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7. Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics: Bailey is going to see Dr. James Andrews, which is usually not a good sign. He’s too big of a risk to be a #1 fantasy closer.
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8. Chris Perez, Cleveland Indians: Perez posted a 1.71 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 61 strikeout in 63 innings last year. Even if he regresses, he should be one of the top strikeout closers in the American League.
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9. Kevin Gregg, Baltimore Orioles: Mike Gonzalez is there if Gregg messes up, but he should be a good source for saves and strikeouts. He nailed down 37 wins last year for the Blue Jays.
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10. Frank Francisco, Toronto Blue Jays: There are so many question marks on the remaining closers, that it gets pretty dicey after the seventh or eighth closer has come off the board. Francisco picks up a ton of strikeouts and has shown he can post a low WHIP. He’s never topped 25 saves, but that could change this year.
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