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MyKFFL

Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Up

March 20, 2009 @ 01:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Bryce McRae

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Down

KFFL's Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report gives fantasy baseball players the scoop on any happenings that have significantly affected KFFL's fantasy baseball rankings and projections.

Finally, one of the most decorated crouch artists of all time has a home. Does it matter? Not nearly as much as the increased optimism surrounding some of fantasy baseball's more intriguing hurlers, including a former Cy Young Award winner along with, perhaps, one or two in the making. Just don't forget that pitchers aren't as dependable as hitters.

Catchers

Ivan Rodriguez, Houston Astros

Pudge finally signed somewhere. He also gets his wish: He'll have more than enough opportunity to be a five-games-a-week backstop. Minute Maid Park boosts home runs for right-handed hitters, so Pudge is not a bad option as a low-end No. 2 in deep mixed formats. The power is in serious decline, though, and you can't expect anything close to a repeat in the steals.

First basemen

Mike Jacobs, Kansas City Royals

Jacobs is having a great spring, and he simply deserves more credit for the raw power he brings to KC. There was some concern about the other first basemen the Monarchs have in tow, but Jacobs should be a pretty regular participant. Bump him up and take the streaky slugger as a low-end corner man in mixed leagues.

Second basemen

Mike Fontenot, Chicago Cubs

The mighty mite is leading the competition for the starting second base job. Aaron Miles offers the Cubbies little upside, and Fontenot has stood out thus far. He doesn't have much of a track record, but it appears as if he'll join LSU double-play partner Ryan Theriot in the starting lineup on at least a semi-regular basis. He's a low-end MI in deep mixed leagues.

Skip Schumaker, St. Louis Cardinals

The transition to second was rocky at first, but he's only improving. The Cards seem intent on making this work; it gives them more roster flexibility and depth. St. Louis' leadoff hitter should earn eligibility at a scarcer position before too long, bumping up his value a couple of rounds (or, too "quite draftable") in deep mixed formats.

Clint Barmes, Colorado Rockies

The diminutive infielder is asserting himself as the Rox's second sacker. It helps that infielder Jeff Baker (elbow) hasn't played much. Barmes is a safer bet in NL formats anyway, and he offers more stability to NL players and could be an occasional mixed league pickup.

Third basemen

Bill Hall, Milwaukee Brewers

Hall returned a little earlier than expected from his slightly torn calf muscle. He'll be ready for Opening Day, so he simply earned the most minor of boosts, back to near his original projection.

Shortstops

Jed Lowrie, Boston Red Sox

Shortstop Julio Lugo (knee) will miss three to four weeks, putting him out past Opening Day and making Lowrie the starter by default. Lowrie has been a hit machine this spring. He appears to be over last season's wrist issues, but, despite the upside, you can't necessarily peg him for double-digit homers. Besides, Lugo will warrant PT at some point, until he's dealt or hurt again.

Outfielders

Corey Hart, Milwaukee Brewers

KFFL has been a little more skeptical of Hart than other prognosticators, but it's hard to ignore his outstanding spring. He's still a little overvalued, but he's very intriguing as a No. 3 outfielder if he slips a round or so past his average draft position.

Adam L. Jones, Baltimore Orioles

First, a review of Jones' numbers were in order. Second, he has been so active on the basepaths that we had to take note. He proclaimed a desire to run more this season, and we're starting to believe him. In mixed leagues, this is one solid No. 5 outfielder with upside.

Mark Teahen, Kansas City Royals

He flashed double-digit home run power last season, and he has been impressive at the plate this spring. The experiment with a move to second appears toast, but he'll be a super-utility type and garner at-bats somehow. He's still nothing more than a fifth outfielder in AL-only formats, though.

Brian Anderson, Chicago White Sox

Anderson has had a solid spring and made himself a candidate to lead off in a lineup spot platoon with third baseman Josh Fields. Anderson is still nothing more than an AL-only flier as a fifth outfielder, though.

Dewayne Wise, Chicago White Sox

Wise enters our rankings because he has pushed his way into the mix for center-field time, partly because Jerry Owens has been pretty unimpressive in camp. Wise is a career part-timer, just like his brethren, so ignore him except in AL setups.

Starting pitchers

Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners

Is this the year he puts it all together? He has been pitching with reckless abandon and emotion in the World Baseball Classic. We've seen hot starts from this uber-talent before, and then he begins to unravel a bit. Don't put too much stock into it, but he's becoming a more attractive option than some of his counterparts in his tier.

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

The velocity appears to be back - if it was gone at all. There was reason to believe that a turnaround was imminent, but spring's action has offered promising signs. He earns only the smallest of bumps, though.

Josh M. Johnson, Florida Marlins

The young fireballer continues to dazzle in ST, but it's his evident improvement in his control - demonstrated last season and now seemingly more real - that makes a breakout seem likely. He's still a risk given his injury history but a good gamble as a low-end No. 3 or high-end No. 4.

Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals

This spring, Carp has shown nothing but good signs that he's healthy. Well, the dominance isn't back, but we may never see that again. The superb command is there, though, so move him up your draft board - he's fun to gamble on as a No. 5 or No. 6 starter.

Manny Parra, Milwaukee Brewers

Parra showed remarkable development last season, so much so that KFFL projects him for more solid growth. After a review, it was easy to see that such growth would likely lead to a couple more W's, especially given that Milwaukee's 'pen should be a little more stable this year.

Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals

Scoreless innings galore! He has been thoroughly dominant this spring, and the polished righty would be pitching in a great home park. Keep these things in mind, though: (1) He's still not assured of a rotation spot; (2) He has never pitched above the Double-A level; (3) He'll be a rookie, which comes with many ups and downs. He's worth a flier in deep mixed leagues, though.

Micah Owings, Cincinnati Reds

The righty is bent on proving that his blazing start to 2008 wasn't a fluke. He leads the duel for the fifth starter's role; it's really only he and Homer Bailey competing, and the latter may be slated for the bullpen. Owings receives only the slightest bump, but he's worth speculating on in very deep mixed leagues and NL setups.

Relief pitchers

Kevin Gregg, Chicago Cubs

Manager Lou Piniella won't exclude Gregg from the conversation regarding save chances, making this veteran right-hander a nice final-round flier in mixed leagues. The right-hander has been dominant in spring action, so he could move up a bit more by the time the season starts.

Manny Corpas, Colorado Rockies

On Friday, March 20, the right-hander was touched for his first run of the spring. Observers quietly consider him the leader in the battle for the closer's job entering the season. Reliever Huston Street has been impressive after a rough start to his spring. Corpas' skills seem more suited to Coors Field, though, and he signed a multi-year before last season. He's a better long-term pick than Street, who could be dealt again by the deadline.

Jason Motte, St. Louis Cardinals

Motte has been dominant in Spring Training, although no one will go so far as to acknowledge it. Fantasy owners have to consider Motte the favorite to close in St. Louie - for now. Keep in mind how volatile this situation is and will likely be all season. Bump Motte up your boards as an excellent flier for your low-end No. 3 or high-end No. 4 reliever, though. Fellow righty Chris Perez (shoulder) should be back on the mound soon; he's not out of it yet.

Jason Isringhausen, Tampa Bay Rays

Manager Joe Maddon has included Izzy in the discussion of men who could step in if closer Troy Percival (back) isn't ready for Opening Day. Percy is edging closer, but don't overlook Isringhausen as a waiver wire pickup in mixed leagues or a cheap option in AL setups.

Also see: Fantasy Baseball Rankings Report - Down