SP Rankings

Great pitching wins championships. Like defense in football, pitching is the back bone behind any good major league baseball team. Pitching is also key to winning championships in fantasy. Starting pitchers don’t play as often as positional players, but they’re just as important. One bad start can ruin your chances for that week (for H2H only). Here’s a list of the top 20 SPs from this point forward. Enjoy!

1. Tim Lincecum – Some people were skeptical about Lincecum entering this season, but boy were they wrong. He’s found a way to outdo himself from last year and pitch even better. Yes, he is the strikeout king, and yes his ERA will probably never go over 3, but he’s also improved his command and limited the walks. This kid just keeps getting better and has officially overtaken Johan as the best fantasy starting pitcher. Can anyone say back to back Cy Youngs? Just think how many wins he could get if he pitched for a contender.

2. Johan Santana – What is there to say about Johan? He’s been an elite SP for 8 years now and refuses to stop. He’s had a few rough starts recently, but you know he’ll right the ship and continue to dominate. Just not as much as Timmy.

3. Roy Halladay – Yet another guy who has been at the top of the pitching class for many years. Halladay is a winning machine and will still have a great shot at 20 despite missing a couple of starts while on the DL. The only disadvantage he has is that he doesn’t strike guys out as much as Johan or Lincecum. In leagues that count CG/SO and innings he could make a case for the number one spot.

4. Dan Haren – Yes, I know he’s not the best 2nd half pitcher, but I think things will be different this year. Haren is extremely solid in all categories, just don’t expect him to win any more then 15 games thanks to the team hitting behind him. I’d also like to point out that he currently sports a WHIP of 0.81. That’s borderline impossible and goes to show how few chances teams have to score against him.

5. Zack Greinke – This definitely has turned into Greinke’s breakout season following multiple seasons as a major disappointment. His ERA is still below 2 and he is still turning in quality start after quality start. Greinke has pitched more humanly lately, but he should still be considered a top 5 SP on a BAD team.

6. Félix Hernández – King Felix is officially here to stay. He’s had a bad reputation in past years of being a very inconsistant, streaky pitcher that could absolutely dominate hitters and then flop in his next outing, but what do you expect from an extremely young pitcher? This season there’s been a lot more dominating and a lot less flopping, maybe Burnett should ask Felix what his secret is? And don’t forget, he’s still only 22 years old and is probably the 2nd most valuable pitcher in dynasties outside of Lincecum.

7. Yovani Gallardo – Coming off a lost season in ’08, Gallardo entered this season as an extremely hyped youngster that was going to be counted on heavily by his Milwaukee team. Just think, where would the Brewers be without Gallardo starting every 5th day? Gallardo can not only overpower opposing hitters, but is also known for his offspeed pitches as well. I’d feel comfortable having him as my staff ace during the stretch run.

8. CC Sabathia – It could be argued that CC hasn’t lived up to the expectations surrounding him after he signed that monster contract. Who wouldn’t expect a Cy Young season after the way he pitched down the stretch for the Brewers? The more experienced fantasy owner should have expected this however. Moving from the NL to the AL is definitely tough on pitchers. Especially when you have to play in the new Yankee Stadium which has become more of a ”Bomb Shelter” then a baseball stadium. CC will still win a ton of games and post a respectable WHIP. The ERA should go no higher then 3.5 as well. The main drop this year has been with the strikeouts which I expect to increase as the season wears on.

9. Chad Billingsley – Of all the pitchers in the top 10 I think Billingsley is the most over-rated. He’s struggled lately and has started to lose command of the strike zone, walking 9 batters in his last two contests. His WHIP is always around 1.3 and a lot of the time I wonder how his ERA hasn’t taken a hit as well. He’s known for stranding a lot of baserunners, but it’s possible that his luck could take a turn for the worst in the 2nd half. “Bills” is coming off a career high in innings and his arm could be fatiguing. I’d advise a sell high on him before it’s too late. On a more positive note, he does pitch for the best team in baseball and is a lock for around 200 ks.

10. Josh Johnson – Injuries plagued Johnson early in his career and prevented him from being the elite pitcher he was talked up as, but he’s finally at 100% and pitching like it. I wouldn’t blame anyone for being scared away from him due to his past and a scare earlier this season, but I think he’ll hold up just fine. Johnson should be considered a top 10 pitcher from now till September. Just make sure you have other dependable arms to back him up in case he re-injures himself.

11. Javier Vázquez – Considered by many to be a mediocre pitcher in years past, Vazquez has really taken that extra step in ’09. The move from the AL to the NL certainly hasn’t hurt his cause. Vazquez can blow up here and there, but the strikeouts will always be there. I expect a final line of around 12-14 wins and around 240 strikeouts with a 3.25 ERA and 1.15 WHIP to boot. Try and take advantage of his shaky reputation and get him if you can. You won’t regret it.

12. Justin Verlander – Verlander was one of, if not, the biggest disappointment for me in ’08. I was really expecting big thing not only from him, but the entire Detroit team. I kept faith in him start after start, but he did nothing but let me down. Entering draft day this year I made it a point to stay away from him, but after he got his first couple of bad starts out of the way he proceeded to put together 8 quality starts which included 3 straight games of at least 11 strikeouts. Verlander is currently tied with Lincecum for 2nd in the league in strikeouts, only one behind Javier Vazquez, but I don’t think it will last. He should still get 200 no problem, but don’t expect him to win the strikeout race. As long as he keeps his composure he should be a very reliable pitcher down the stretch.

13. Cole Hamels – Cole entered this season as a top 5 SP and has disappointed those of us who drafted him with high expectations. He began the year struggling with arm issues, but it appears that he’s at least close to healthy again. I would advise you all to buy low on him while you still can. He will most certainly regain his elite status come the All-Star Break.

14. Josh Beckett – Boston’s ace has been the best pitcher in baseball this past month and hasn’t walked a batter in his last 3 starts. He’s only given up 15 runs in the last two months spanning over 10 starts with only one loss during that time. It looks like he’s regained the form that led Boston to a World Series title in ’07. There’s little doubt that when he can locate his curveball he can be one of the game’s best.

15. Chris Carpenter – The oft-injured starter has pitched extremely well in the limited time he’s seen action thus far. He’s a huge injury risk, but has top 10 upside if he can stay healthy. Just take him with a grain of salt.

16. Matt Cain – When I say Matt Cain what is the first thing that comes to mind? Most of us would say his lack of run support and/or his low win total. Surprisingly enough, Cain currently has the second most wins in baseball with 9. Not only has he gotten more run support, but he’s also pitched better, currently boasting a nifty 2.57 ERA. The walks can be a problem and the wins will not come in bunches like they have thus far, but Cain is still a top 20 SP.

17. John Lackey – Lackey has shown signs of life in his last three starts. He’s pitched 22 innings while giving up only 7 runs. It appears that he’s nearing full strength and regaining that old form that made him a dependable arm in the past. If you can get him fairly cheap, I would do so ASAP.

18. James Shields – Shields won’t dazzle you with his statistics, but he’s known for his calm demeanor and excellent command. The strikeouts will come as well, along with the wins, just don’t think of him as a pitcher that will carry you like some of the guys listed above him.

19. Edwin Jackson – One of the bigger surprises this season, Jackson has put together a strong campaign. Detroit certainly knew what they were doing when they acquired him. I don’t think his ERA will remain sub 3, but it shouldn’t go much higher. A few rough outings should be expected as he continues to mature as a pitcher.

20. Jered Weaver – I contemplated putting Jon Lester or Cliff Lee here, but settled with Weaver. After losing his close friend, Nick Adenhart, early in the season, Weaver has looked like a man on a mission. He’s a lot like Jackson in that I don’t see him maintaining these kind of numbers, but he’s a solid arm to have at the top/middle of your rotation.

SS Rankings

Hanley hasn't lost his touch.

Shortstops are a tough group. It is one of the weaker positions, and once you get past the top few, it’s a sharp dropoff. In any league you may be in, you want to strike while the irons hot on this position. The last thing you want is to get stuck with an underacheiver at this position.

1. Hanley Ramirez-Even with slow start, still the best player not named Pujols.

2. Jose Reyes-Not playing like it, but great multi-category guy.

3. Jimmy Rollins-Former MVP showing signs of breaking his slump.

4. Derek Jeter-With his lineup and park, Captain looking at 20/20 .310.

5. Michael Young-One last season of SS eligibility may be his best in years.

6. Jason Bartlett-Breakout season proving Tampa got the best of Delmon deal.

7. Miguel Tejada-Power not what it used to be but still a solid bat.

8. Asdrubal Cabrera-High average, decent speed, will produce runs.

9. J.J. Hardy-.321 in May makes up for horrid April. Power will show up.

10. Marco Scutaro-Journeyman eligible at 3 IF positions.

11. Ben Zobrist-Gained 2B eligibility recently, one of best bargains.

12. Rafael Furcal-Speedster sitting at .608 OPS. Won’t get it done.

13. Troy Tulowitzki-Getting further away from his phenomenal 2007 season.

14. Stephen Drew-Injury will stop him from repeat of last year’s numbers.

15. Alexei Ramirez-Showing signs of breaking slump. Triple eligibility is nice.

16. Yunel Escobar-Nothing great, but steady in several categories.

17. Jhonny Peralta-Lost his power stroke from last 2 seasons. .669 OPS.

18. Ryan Theriot-A little power, a little speed, worth it in deep leagues.

19. Elvis Andrus-Batting over .300 in May after hitting .250 in April.

20. Felipe Lopez-Plays almost any position, good to have on your bench.

3B Rankings

A-Rod is on top of the game again.

We are going to do this in a little different format from here on. We are still going to rank the players at each position for the rest of the year, but we are going to have more players ranked and less of a write up for each player. 3B is a tough position. There are a lot of big name players at the top of the list. If you own any one of the top 4 guys you are doing well at that position. After a week delay, here are your 3B.

1. Alex Rodriguez-Power is there, everything else will come soon enough.

2. Miguel Cabrera-OPS over 1.000. Could hit .340 with 40 HR’s.

3. David Wright-Power numbers not there yet, but be patient.

4. Evan Longoria-Numbers falling a bit from fast start, but still easily #4.

5. Kevin Youkilis-Numbers should improve with Papi out of 3 hole.

6. Aramis Ramirez-Should be back around the All Star Break.

7. Ryan Zimmerman-Looking at career high offensive numbers.

8. Michael Young-Dual positions and hitting like the Michael Young of old.

9. Mike Lowell-Hip questions behind him, .302 AVG, .846 OPS.

10. Chipper Jones-Getting older but still a world class hitter.

11. Brandon Inge-Triple eligibility and power resurgence.

12. Chone Figgins-Best speed option available at the hot corner.

13. Aubrey Huff-Oppurtunities abound in such a stacked lineup.

14. Mark Reynolds-13 HR and 10 SB through early part of season.

15. Casey Blake-On pace for .300 AVG and 30 HR’s.

16. Chris Davis-77 K’s in 165 AB’s. Power numbers not worth the headache.

17. Jorge Cantu-Could top last year’s 29 HR and 95 RBI.

18. Mark Derosa-Multiple positions help, trade rumors hurt.

19. Marco Scutaro-6 straight multi-hit games, but little power and speed.

20. Russell Branyan-Won’t sustain career high AVG, but power is legit.

2B Rankings

Chase Utley. All-World 2B.

Finding ten valuable 2B is not an easy job. We had too many 1B too list, and with 2B there simply is not enough. The first 5-6 are pretty much a lock. You can argue their spot, but you can’t argue the validity of them being on the list. After that it’s kind of a crapshoot. With that disclaimer in mind, here are the top ten 2B for the remainder of the fantasy season. Feel free to let us know if you don’t like anything.

1. Chase Utley- If you don’t agree with this pick, then don’t think about booing Mr. Utley. Just leave a comment. When it comes to one of the weaker positions in fantasy baseball you want all the production you can receive. Utley doesn’t disappoint either. In 2007 and 2008, Utley made a strong case for a possible MVP award. In 2008, Utley hit 33 HR with 104 RBI and batted with a .292 AVG. So far this year Utley has played strong an up to the number one ranking even with off season hip surgery. His stats so far, 129 AB, 11 HR, 30 RBI, with a .296 AVG and a 1.029 OPS. And yes the Phillies are still the World F*cking Champions!

2. Ian Kinsler- Despite never playing in more than 120 games, Ian Kinsler makes it to #2 on our list. Kinsler is hitting .295 on the season and has hit nine less HR than last season already (11.) He’s also gone 10/11 on stolen base attempts. Kinsler is a safe bet to finish the season at 20/20, but 25/25 is certainly plausible. Kinsler’s BABIP is a wee bit lower than the norm and his LD% is also a bit down so expect a slight correction. All in all, if you drafted Ian Kinsler, enjoy his fairly consistent stats as he could very well be a solid five-category producer.

3. Robinson Cano-In 2006, when Cano hit .342 and came within a few points of winning a batting title, Yankee fans were drooling over the future prospects. Here was a 23 year old kid who had it all and played a key position. It is now 2009, and the real Robinson Cano has finally shown back up. He is hitting at a .317 clip, and has 8 HR’s in only 167 AB’s thus far. That puts him at a pace of around 30 for the season. He is still only 26, and a line of .320/28/90 is definitely within reach. I have said since 2006 that a batting title is in his future, and I’ll stand by that.

4. Brandon Phillips- It’s getting hot,hot,hot as we kick it off at number four with Brandon Phillips. Phillips has been unstoppable in the month of May. He has hit 5 of his 7 home runs in this month so far and I don’t see him stopping anytime soon. Phillips has raised his average to .275 and this in part to hitting safely in every game this month except one! Brandon Phillips is a solid contributor to the Reds lineup that also includes up and coming superstars, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. After all is said and done, Brandon Phillips deserves this spot on the Top 10 second baseman rankings.

5. Dustin Pedroia- The undeserving (staff opinion minus Flynn) 2008 MVP makes his way into the top five of this list. It’s a tough decision between Pedroia and Roberts, but we’ll take Pedroia’s superior lineup and better average. Pedroia is walking at a higher clip than in previous seasons and striking out a little less. His BABIP is about .020 above his normal, but I don’t expect much of a regression. One could see a finishing line of 15 HR, 70-80 RBI, 110 Runs, 15 SBs and a .310 average.

6. Brian Roberts-Roberts is having a little bit of a resurgence this season. He already has 6 HR and 10 RBI’s while batting .289, just above his career average. His power surge is hopefully attributed to Adam Jones putting up great numbers batting behind him, and not the artificial help he has used in the past. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Roberts should put up 15-20 HR, score 100-110 runs and steal close to 40 bases. Anyone who can give you that production is great for fantasy purposes, and at one of the weaker positions it’s a huge plus.

7. Aaron Hill-As of todays numbers, the #1 2B in fantasy baseball is not named Utley or Kinsler, it is Aaron Hill. He is off to a phenomenal start batting .344 with 11 HR and 35 RBI. His career numbers say that he can’t keep up his current pace, and I don’t know anyone except Flynn that expects him to. He should, however, be good for 25 HR, 85 RBI and a batting average in the .290-.300 range. This guy had a breakout season in 2007 and if not for an injury last year, could be among the top 5 2B in the game.

8. Dan Uggla-Uggla is one of the bigger disappointments up to this point in the season. In fact, the only reason he makes the top 10 is because he has shown signs of life in the last week. Uggla’s BABIP is 75 points lower then his career average at this point, so it is safe to say he has been very unlucky. He should progress more towards the norm as the season moves along. If he doesn’t, it will be an ugly season for Uggla owners.

9. Orlando Hudson-Two words for why Orlando Hudson makes this list. Manny Ramirez. In any other lineup, he won’t give you more then 10 HR’s, he won’t hit higher then .310, and he won’t steal more then 10 bags. But hitting in the Dodgers lineup changes that. Manny is only out til July, and that still gives Hudson plenty of games to capitalize on the big man’s presence. Manny makes everyone in that lineup a little bit better, and Hudson is no different. I’d look for a .320 average this year, a career high in OBP and a little bit more pop then usual.

10. Asdrubal Cabrera-Cabrera has been somewhat of a surprise this season. He only makes the list because of the dismal showings of Mike Aviles and Alexei Ramirez. Asdrubal is hitting at .311 but only 1 HR. He won’t give you much pop, maybe 5-8 HR and 60-70 RBI. But he will score runs (could even end up around 100 this year),  and he should stick around the .300 mark while swiping 15 or so bases. Not exactly what you want in a fantasy league, but if you built up the rest of your offense, he is just what you need to plug into a weak position.

1B Rankings

Coming up with the top ten 1B in fantasy baseball is a daunting task. It seems fairly simple. The first 8-9 are just a matter of putting them in the right order. Finding the last guy is very difficult. There are at least 3-4 deserving players that could fill out this list. The following is what we came up with after much debate, some screaming, and I think Flynn even cried a little bit. There will no doubt be people that disagree, and feel free to let us know. After all, as Hubert Humphrey once said, “Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent and debate.”

1. Albert Pujols-Should anyone be surprised at this one? He’s the unanimous choice at #1 and has been ever since he entered the league almost ten years ago. The guy gets it done and is the best fantasy baseball player alive right now. He’ll put up elite numbers in all categories with his only “weakness” being steals. The shoulder problems are a distant memory to boot.

2. Miguel Cabrera-How old is this guy, 30? Seems like Miggy has been in the league for ages now, but he’s only 26 years old and has never stopped hitting since he came up. It took him a little while to get used to the move to the AL last season, but after the break he finished with a line of 21 HR, 70 RBI, 42 R and a slash line of .302/.350/601 equaling a .951 OPS. So far this season he’s been very productive hitting 8 HR, 32 RBI, 27 R with a line of .381/.448/.599. He’s walking at about the norm for him (Last season he was a bit less patient) and is striking out far less than the normal. He’s also got a higher GB% and is still successful. Miggy’s BABIP is running slightly higher than normal for him, so look for a bit of a regression on the slash line, but still expect him to hit over 30 HR and have a very good chance of winning the AL MVP and leading in RBIs, while possibly even competing for a batting title. I’d say if there was any one player outside of Pujols and Hanley Ramirez that will absolutely live up to his first round pick, it’s Miggy. Is it just me or do all of this guy’s player photos look like his head is not fitting to his body size? Whatever, he’s still a fantasy monster.

3. Mark Teixeira-When the Yankees paid 180 million clams for Mark Teixeira, they were hoping for an impact bat to slot in the 3 hole ahead of Alex Rodriguez. Through the end of April they were disappointed to say the least. He was hitting a dismal .200 with only 3 HR’s and 10 RBI. What a difference a month makes. So far in May, Teixeira has 8 HR’s and 22 RBI while raising his average up to .250. I can’t say if it is the warm weather, getting acclimated to the Big Apple or A-Rod returning to the lineup, but something has lit a fire under Teix. Championships aren’t won in April, real or fantasy, and that is why Teixeira comes in at #3 in a tough group.

4. Ryan Howard-Ryan Howard is a big bat, no doubt about it. You know you are going to get 40-50 HR’s, and you know you are going to get 120-150 RBI’s. In fantasy these are numbers basically unmatched by anyone. The problem with Howard is that’s where his fantasy value ends. He won’t hit higher then .270 in a good year, his 250+ pound frame won’t steal any bases and he isn’t even a lock for 100 runs scored. Howard will help you in crunch time though. His biggest HR and RBI numbers in his career are in September. If there is any time you need your biggest power bat to come through, it’s playoff time.

5. Justin Morneau-I argued for Morneau at four, but my attempts came up empty. Morneau has started the season on fire. He’s hitting for average, driving in runs, scoring runs, and hitting the long ball at an extremely good clip. This season is shaping up to be a repeat performance of his 2006 season. In the two seasons since, Morneau had a hard time putting together elite average/power numbers hitting only .271 in 07 and only 23 HRs in 08. Don’t forget the man hitting in front of Morneau as well. Joe Mauer and Morneau, otherwise known as the “M&Ms”, form arguably the most potent 3/4 combo in baseball and this only bodes well for Morneau and his numbers as spring turns to summer. I will, however, point out that Morneau is playing over his head power wise. His nearly 20% HR/FB ratio is bound to decrease but he’s still good for 36-38 HRs. This guy is a BEAST.

6. Prince Fielder- This was a tough one for us for about 2.4 seconds. You’ve got Adrian Gonzalez who is hitting the shit out of the ball and you’ve got Prince Fielder who is putting up solid RBI numbers with a little less power than Yo Adrian! After a bit of research, Prince’s supporting cast and division play a big role in his being #6. He’s hit 9 dingers, 39 RBI, 22 R and .270. One could project a line of .270-.280 with 37-40 HR, 70-90 R and anywhere from 125-145 RBI. Prince’s BABIP is a wee bit higher than he’s used to and his GB% is also down a bit, so a regression is certainly possible but don’t expect him to decline too much. Either way, he produces fairly consistent number throughout the season and should be a safe bet from here on out.

7. Adrian Gonzalez – Otherwise known as “Gonzo”, Adrian has gotten off to a shmokin’ start. Some might say that it would be impossible for a player hitting in Petco Park to lead the league in HRs, but Gonzo has made his way to the top of that list, currently tied with Raul Ibanez. Petco is Shitco for hitters afterall! Unfortunately, Adrian is in one of the worst situations in baseball. He has absolutely no help in that lineup and has to deal with numerous pitches outside the zone. Why face Gonzo when you can just walk him and pitch to the likes of Kevin Kouzmanoff or Chase Headley? One thing one must note before jumping the gun and trading for him is that his HR/FB currently stands at a mind-boggling 33.3%. Just to give you some perspective, his career average sits somewhere between 15 and 20%. He’s also hit nine more HRs on the road then at home. Yes, he’s a great source for the longball, but just don’t expect him to continue at this pace. He’ll still be good for 120 RBIs and an average in the .275-.285 range. I’d almost suggest a sell high for him.

8. Kevin Youkilis-Despite the fact that Youkilis shows psychopathic tendencies when he makes an out, he has proven himself one of the steadiest hitters in baseball the last two years. His OBP, SLG% and BABIP are at unsustainable levels. He is reaching base over 50% of the time, but with the lack of a solid bat hitting ahead of him, he isn’t driving in runs at the same pace as last year. Youk should still hit 25 HR and drive in close to 100. If David Ortiz comes out of his slump, or the Sox move a better hitter into the 3 spot, then his RBI numbers could approach last year’s 115.

9. Lance Berkman-Despite having a massive, manly jaw, Lance Berkman has performed rather shit-tastically. He’s hitting a measley .233 but still has some decent power, having poked 8 knocks on the season. Yeah, he’s not driving in many runs and hasn’t stolen any bases (last year was a fluke) or scored much for that matter. You’ve gotta figure that hitting in the sketchy Houston lineup will hurt his RBI and run numbers, but he should hit around 30 HR. He’s got a super low BABIP (roughly .100 away from his career norm) and in order to finish with a line closer to his average, he’s going to put up some pretty fancy numbers in due time. For the month of May, Berkman’s hitting .327 with 3 HR, 12 RBI and a .995 OPS. Look for him to keep this streak up, just don’t expect RBI numbers around his norm.

10. Adam Dunn-Sure, he’s not the sexiest name out there, and yes, he and Ryan Zimmerman are the only good hitters in our nation’s capital, but Mr. Dunn gets it, well, DUNN year after year. Yes, he strikes out more then anyone outside of Ryan Howard, but that means nothing in fantasy and he still remains a guaranteed 40/100 every year. The average won’t be great, but he draws A LOT of walks. For leagues with OPS or OBP, his value is even better.

Catcher Rankings

Catchers, eh? Most of them aren’t very good for fantasy purposes and the ones that are, aren’t really worth their draft positions. One reason I tend to wait until the later rounds of my drafts to grab a catcher is that they do not play as many games as most players drafted around them. I have a hard enough time kneeling down to tie my shoes and these guys are out there all season long, 9 innings a game and then some. You’ve got to expect a little time off and nobody wants to carry two catchers unless they’re dumb or have to.  Here is the list of our top ten catcher from here on out. (Note: This list will be updated as the season progresses and our other writer actually shows up to his fake job.)

1. Victor Martinez- Who would have thought Victor would be hitting .400 in May? I for one tried to avoid him at all costs after last year’s horrible numbers. I thought he was done, and was willing to tell anyone who would listen. V-Mart is looking at a career year if he can keep hitting. Nobody expects him to hit .400/.476/.625 for the entire season, but a line of .320/.400/.525 is definitely within reach. Not too bad for a guy who was generally drafted 5th or lower among catchers this year.

2. Joe Mauer- I’ve explained my recent love for this big guy and it still stands. If you wanna know specifics, do me a favor and either 1. Remember or 2. Go read what I posted about Mauer yesterday. K, thnx. Oh yeah, his sideburns are bad ass.

3. Brian McCann- An early season injury has caused McCann’s fantasy numbers to look more like Brain Giles and less like the all-star that he is. If you look a little deeper though, you’ll see that his OBP is above his career average and his BABIP is right where it should be. This tells me that McCann is just a hair away from putting it all together. By season’s end he will be worthy of the 4th round pick that most of you used on him.

4. Brandon Inge- The surprise of the season at the catcher position (besides Iannetta royally crapping the bed) had put up a silly line of 11 dingers, .285/.388/.577 with 29 RBI and 28 runs. Inge says he feels most comfortable playing 3B, which is where he is now and it seems like he may have been right. For such a little guy, he sure can rake. You remember back in 2006 when he hit 27 HR but hit a bit over David Ortiz’s listed weight (Yeah, I call BS.) I sure could see Inge hitting 20+ HR. Especially since he’s nine away already.

5. Jorge Posada- Posada is injured right now, but should be back in the next week sometime. Before he went down he was hitting the ball with authority. His SLG% is the highest it has been in his entire career, and his OBP is a little above average. With the new Yankee Stadium playing like a little league field on steroids, I would put Posada at 23/85/.270. With numbers like that and an ADP in the 11th-13th round range, this is one of the better bargains out there.

6. Russell Martin- This is one guy I avoided at every draft I participated in. I just never bought into it. On the season, he’s got a higher BABIP than average, slightly higher BB rate, higher k rate. He’s hit a total of zero home runs and has an OPS lower than .700 and that is just stinky-poo. The only reason we rank him here is because of speed upside and the fact that he has multi-position eligibility.

7. Chris Iannetta- After becoming one of my worst fantasy enemies after his horrendous start to the season, Ianetta slowly started bringing his numbers back up to where we’d expected them when we drafted him. He’s got a lower BABIP of .246 meaning he’s been a bit unlucky thus far. Ianetta’s line drive rate is down about 5% from his career average and his fly ball rate is up about 14%. Ianetta is clearly hoping the mile high air in Colorado will carry more of those fly balls just a little bit further.

8. Mike Napoli- Mike Napoli is getting his first shot at being the #1 catcher for Mike Scioscia and is making the most of it. He had 20 HR in 227 AB’s in 2008 and has 6 this year in about half the AB’s. His OBP is much higher than his career average and his BABIP is almost 50 points higher then normal. What does this all mean? A .313 batting average is unsustainable but his power numbers should hold steady. He should end the season between 25-30 HR’s and around a .270-.280 average. Good enough for #8 on the list.

9. Geovany Soto- Soto has been sidelined for a bit this season with a sore right shoulder, only collecting 99 Abs so far. In those 99 at bats, he’s hit one homer, 10 RBI, .202 with a .585 OPS. After looking at his BABIP, you’d notice it was down about .080 from last season, which says he’s also been pretty unlucky. His line drive and fly ball rate have both dropped a small amount while his ground ball rate has risen, which can be explained by the sore shoulder. Good ol’ Lou Piniella and his old fartish ways.

10. Bengie Molina- Bengie is the best hitter of the fabulous Molina brothers, and is good for close to 20 HR and 80 RBI every season. This season he already has 8 long balls which would suggest a monster power season from him. Molina has an issue though. Come the dead of summer he generally starts to fade away as his career average in May is .315, in June .273 and in July a sickly .243. He does usually pick it back up for the stretch run however, hitting .277 in both August and September and putting up his best career HR totals in those months. So, when it’s mid July and Bengie is in a horrific slump, do yourself a favor and stick with him. You’ll be happy you did.

SHAZAM!