Fantasy Baseball Analysis Draft: Round 2

February 27, 2009 @ 01:00:01

By KFFL Staff

Rnd: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
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1) Josh Hamilton, outfielder, Texas Rangers

Team: Scott Engel, RotoExperts | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: While there is the slight risk for a drop-off from a career year, Hamilton has the skills to excel again. He puts my team in a nice position of power production early on, plus a pretty good batting average pick is necessary after taking Howard.

Others considered: Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder was the top player on my board overall, but I wanted a bit better in terms of average. That almost made me take Boston Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis for his averge and third base eligibility, but it was too early.

Standards set: We at RotoExperts/Diamond Draft project Hamilton to hit 34 home runs with 115 RBIs, and I believe it is very possible he can finish near .300 again.

2) Prince Fielder, first baseman, Milwaukee Brewers

Team: Tim Heaney, KFFL.com | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: My plan worked - Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins is now paired with a bopper. Fielder's 40-homer upside is exactly what I craved, and his average certainly won't hurt as much as Howard's. He was the surest source of power available, and though it may be a bit soon in ADP terms, it's times like these when you ignore those trends.

Others considered: Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, New York Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Lee

Standards set: 35-40 HR, .280 BA, 110 RBI

3) Matt Holliday, outfielder, Oakland Athletics

Team: Pasko Varnica, CREATiVESPORTS | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: Holliday is overall the eighth pick on CREATiVESPORTS' Zengine projections. This was overall pick No. 15; hence, I feel lucky to get him. Nevertheless, I have a few lingering questions: Will Holliday's performance be affected by his move to the AL and away from the thin air of Coors Field? Will he try his best because by August he may be playing for a different team?

Others considered: Free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez was considered, but I stayed away from him because he was unsigned as of the time of the pick.

Standards set: A bit less than 30 home runs, 100-plus RBIs and a .300-plus batting average.

4) Ian Kinsler, second baseman, Texas Rangers

Team: Steve Gardner, USA Today | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: An elite performer at a middle infield spot is a must. After deciding to take New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira over Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Rollins, I went with the top second baseman on my board. He's fully recovered from hernia surgery and was on his way to a 30-homer, 30-steal season before he got hurt.

Others considered: None

Standards set: .300, 25-30 HR, 80-90 RBI, 35 SB

5) Carlos Beltran, outfielder, New York Mets

Team: Nicholas Minnix, KFFL.com | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: In my mind, Beltran is safer (and better) than others who often go before him. He's a four-category contributor, and his average is solid. He had surgery last offseason, which prefaced his slow start. That second half (.307-12-46 with 10 steals) shows what he's capable of, though.

Others considered: None

Standards set: .280 BA, 110 R, 30 HR, 90-110 RBI (if he spends some time in the No. 2 spot, this fluctuates), 20-25 SB

6) Chase Utley, second baseman, Philadelphia Phillies

Team: Derek Carty/Victor Wang, The Hardball Times | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: We were thrilled to get Utley here. After making our first pick, we each made a list of guys who we wanted with our second pick, and Utley was at the top of both. We think he's a terrific value here and wouldn't have even been a bad choice with our first pick.

Others considered: None

Standards set: .300, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 110 R, 10 SB

7) B.J. Upton, outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays

Team: Todd Farino, Fantasy Baseball Search | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: Last year, torn labrum and all, Upton matured in front of a national audience as he hit home run after home run in the playoffs. Even though shoulder surgery in the offseason, I feel that Upton will have a career year in what is still a young career at that. Upton brings to the table speed and power with the possibility of a solid average. However, if he bats leadoff his RBIs will suffer.

Other considered: Houston Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau

Standards set: 23 HR, 80 RBI, 104 R, .285 BA, 40 SB

8) Lance Berkman, first baseman, Houston Astros

Team: Ryan Lester, Lester's Legends | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: I know I already have an elite first basemen in the St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols, but Berkman was too good to pass up here, especially in a league that has a corner infielder slot. I like that he contributes in average, runs, home runs and RBIs. He even stole 18 bases last year, though I don't see him coming near that number. Since 2001 he's averaged 101 runs, 37 doubles, 33 homers, 110 RBIs and hit .303.

Others considered: Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Lee

Standards set: .310, 110 R, 35 HR, 110 RBI, 9 SB

9) Brandon Phillips, second baseman, Cincinnati Reds

Team: Paul Greco, FantasyPros911.com | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: If I have a man crush on any one player this year, it's Phillips. I have him ranked as the No. 1 second baseman. Manager Dusty Baker has placed him in the cleanup spot, which means a minium of 25 home runs, 90 RBIs and 85 runs scored. Those are awesome numbers out of your second baseman. Oh yeah, he'll steal you close to 30 bases too.

Others considered: Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano

Standards set: Phillips should hit around .285, hit anywhere between 25 and 32 home runs, drive in 90-105 RBIs and steal 20-30 bases.

10) Tim Lincecum, starting pitcher, San Francisco Giants

Team: Joe Hamrahi, Baseball Prospectus | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: I love this kid. Lincecum is only 24 years old and has only 57 major league starts, but he already has won the Cy Young Award and is one of the league's most dominant pitchers. His control can be a little risky when evaluating his WHIP, but there's just too much to like about the big heart and arm in this Washington state native.

Others considered: Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia. I was concerned about the position scarcity at second base, so I looked long and hard at Pedroia. But in the end, I worried that Pedroia might have peaked in 2008 while Lincecum could really have some dynamite years ahead.

Standards set: I'd say 215 innings, 1.05 WHIP, 2.75 ERA and 275 strikeouts seem doable.

11) Dustin Pedroia, second baseman, Boston Red Sox

Team: Ray Flowers, Baseball Guys | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: You can't go wrong with strength up the middle, and I now have, arguably, the top second baseman and shortstop. Others may not see it that way, which is fine, but I could be looking at 1,300 at-bats of a .300-plus average from this duo, and that is pretty impressive.

Others considered: Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, Houston Astros outfielder Carlos Lee and Tampa Bays outfielder Carl Crawford. Since there are only two selections before my next pick, at least one of the three will certainly fall back to me.

Standards set: .320-15-80-110-10

12) Brian Roberts, second baseman, Baltimore Orioles

Team: Jock Thompson, Baseball HQ | Roster | Discuss Pick!

Reason: With two consecutive picks and again a long wait before my fourth, I'm still looking for elite and stable performance at scarce positions. After the Texas Rangers' Ian Kinsler, Roberts was the second baseman I wanted as Round 2 began; I was happy to see him fall, as I viewed the other elite second basemen as less predictable due to injuries or track record. Primary value is stolen bases and batting average in 600-plus at-bats.

Others considered: None

Standards set: .290 BA, 100-plus runs, 40 SB, 10 HR, 50-plus RBI

Rnd: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
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