Fantasy Baseball Rankings | LestersLegends.com

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: Defininitely 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. 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 Additional Third Base Options

7 February 2012

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We already looked at the LestersLegends’ top 15 fantasy baseball third basemen for 2012, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional options if you choose to wait on filling your third base slot to address other positions. Alternatively, many leagues offer corner infield slots, which put these options on your radar.
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David Freese was a monster during the postseason for the Cardinals, setting the record with 21 RBI. He wasn’t too shabby during the regular season either, posting a .297-41-10-55-1 line in 333 at bats. He’ll need to step up his game with Albert Pujols moving on.
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Atlanta’s Chipper Jones just keeps going. He will turn 40 in April, but is still productive. In 126 games Jones posted a solid .275-56-18-70-2 line. You have to be prepared that Chipper will miss some time, but he could give you some pop from the hot corner slot.
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Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion will be used primarily at designated hitter, but will also get some time at both corner infield positions. He too can provide home runs, though he doesn’t tend to drive many runs in. He hit .272 last year, but regression in that category is likely for the career .260 hitter.
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Ty Wiggington will get his work at first base for the Phillies early on until Ryan Howard returns from injury. He will likely see time at third base and in the outfield as well. He doesn’t do much for average, but he should be able to provide some HRs and RBI.
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Minnesota’s Danny Valencia regressed from his 85-game debut in 2010 to post a .246-63-15-72-2 line. There is definite room for improvement, he’ll just need to work on his consistency.
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Pittsburgh’s Casey McGahee was acquired after Aramis Ramirez signed with Milwaukee. He will compete for time with Pedro Alvarez. Both struggled last year, and despite a horrific .191 average and .561 OPS, it is Alvarez’s job to lose. At 25, Alvarez is worth the risk. McGahee isn’t worth drafting unless he somehow wins a starting job.
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| Posted by LestersLegends | Categories: fantasy baseball, MLB | Tagged: 2012 3B rankings, 2012 Third Base rankings, 3B rankings, fantasy baseball, fantasy baseball rankings, MLB, Third Base rankings |

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, but he’ll miss Prince and Braun during his 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 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 and potentially Ryan Braun for fifty games puts a damper on Milwaukee’s offense. 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 Additional First Base Options

25 January 2012

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We already looked at the LestersLegends’ top 15 fantasy baseball first basemen for 2012, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t additional options if you choose to wait on filling your first base slot to address shallower positions. Alternatively, many leagues offer corner infield slots, which put these options on your radar.
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Miami’s Gaby Sanchez had nearly identical 2009 and 2010 seasons. Both years he had 572 at bats, scored 72 runs, and hit 19 HRs. His hit totals were within four of each other (156, 152), his RBI were within seven (85, 78), and his average within 7 points (.273, .266). While those certainly aren’t elite numbers, a .270-72-19-80-4 line isn’t the worst you can do, especially if it means you have an distinct advantage elsewhere.
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Toronto’s Adam Lind didn’t return to his ridiculous .305-93-35-114-1 line that he posted in 2009, but his 2011 line of .251-56-26-87-1 was a solid enough improvement over 2010 (.237-57-23-72-0). He’s basically a two-category player (HR, RBI), which is fine if you can address the other categories elsewhere.
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Minnesota’s Justin Morneau is a risk/reward option. When he’s on, he is as good as almost any first basemen in the league. He’s dealt with concussions and other injuries that have limited him to just 150 games combined over the past two years. Concussions are serious business, but he claims to feel much better than at this time last year. Have a backup plan if you roll with the former MVP.
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Carlos Pena returned to Tampa Bay. You know the deal with Pena. He’ll give you power, but you’ll have to live with his miserable batting average. His high water mark over the past three years is .227, which makes it a little tougher to swallow the 31.7 HRs and 88 RBI he averaged. He hit just .133 against lefties last year, and the Rays will likely sit him in those situations this year. That means his power numbers can take a hit, but he won’t be as damaging in the batting average department.
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It took an smoking second half (.320 average, .914 OPS) for James Loney to recover from his feeble first half (.268, .653) to at least allow him to finish with a solid .288 batting average and mediocre .755 OPS. He’s never been a power threat, but he averaged 89.3 RBI from 2008-2010. That number dropped to 65 last year. I’d only consider Loney a late round option at best.
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Todd Helton isn’t the player he once was, and you have to worry that his back will give him fits at some point given his age (38), but he still hit .302 last year with a .850 OPS.
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Seattle’s Justin Smoak did not impress last year hitting .234 with a .719 OPS and 15 HRs in 427 ABs. He did start the year strong hitting .284 with four HRs and 17 RBI in April. He’s a player to take a flier on late to see if he finally lives up to his potential.
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Billy Butler played 11 games at first base last year. If he has (or gains) first base eligibility in your league, he’s definitely a player to plug in that slot. He’ll be drafted regardless, but has more value if he’s not just listed as a DH/Utility.
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