Rather than give starter rankings in the traditional way, I thought I'd show how they went off the board in my draft yesterday. It's a 5x5 league with friends from high school and college, and we used ESPN.com this season.

But before we get to those, a question from a reader:

JTK: How do we feel about Ronny Paulino at catcher? Worth starting in a roto setting?

The 25-year-old Pirates catcher hit .310 last season with 55 RBIs in 129 games. As for '07, he's certainly capable of hitting between .290 and .300, but Paulino gives you little else. He hit six homers last season and figures to only slightly improve on that total this season. So in short, he'll give you a boost in AVG., but don't expect much elsewhere. There are probably better options available. Here are my complete catcher rankings.

Now on to the starters. Again, these are not rankings, but rather how they went off the board in my draft yesterday:

1. Johan Santana, Twins

2. Chris Carpenter, Cardinals

3. Roy Halladay, Blue Jays

4. Roy Oswalt, Astros

5. Carlos Zambrano, Cubs

6. Jake Peavy, Padres

7. Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers

8. Brandon Webb, Diamondbacks

9. Brett Myers, Phillies

10. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox

11. John Lackey, Angels

12. Ben Sheets, Brewers

13. John Smoltz, Braves

14. Aaron Harang, Reds

15. Scott Kazmir, Devil Rays

16. Felix Hernandez, Mariners

17. Dan Haren, Athletics

18. Dontrelle Willis, Marlins

19. Jason Schmidt, Dodgers

20. Cole Hamels, Phillies

21. Chris Young, Padres

22. Matt Cain, Giants

23. Erik Bedard, Orioles

24. Justin Verlander, Tigers

25. Barry Zito, Giants

26. C.C. Sabathia, Indians

27. Randy Johnson, Diamondbacks

28. Jered Weaver, Angels

29. Bronson Arroyo, Reds

30. Curt Schilling, Red Sox

31. Ervin Santana, Angels

32. Josh Beckett, Red Sox

33. Homer Bailey, Reds

34. A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays

35. Rich Hill, Cubs

36. Rich Harden, Athletics

37. Chris Capuano, Brewers

38. Dave Bush, Brewers

39. Chien Ming-Wang, Yankees

40. Roger Clemens, TBD

41. Derek Lowe, Dodgers

42. Freddy Garcia, Phillies

43. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals

44. Kenny Rogers, Tigers

45. Mike Mussina, Yankees

46. Andy Pettitte, Yankees

47. Scott Olsen, Marlins

48. Brad Penny, Dodgers

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Before we get to the closer rankings, a question from reader Nick from Boston:

I have the first pick in my keeper league. The first round is for owners to take their franchise player, unless they don't want to. My franchise player is Miguel Tejada.

However one owner had Ryan Howard and Albet Pujols last year. She can only franchise one. Should I stick with Tejada, the cream of a weak SS crop. Or should I take whichever she doesn't franchise (obviously Howard, to me).

My inclination/gut says stay with Tejada, but what do you think?

Thanks.

Nick, the smart move is to let Tejada go and pick up Howard. The power potential for the reigning National League MVP is just too strong. He hit 58 homers to go along with 149 RBIs in '06 and also hit .313. While those numbers will be difficult to duplicate this season, he still will finish among the game's elite power hitters.

Meanwhile, Tejada set a career-high with a .330 average last season and set an Orioles' franchise record with 214 hits. However he's hit just 50 homers in the last two seasons combined. You're correct that first base is deeper than shortstop, but SS still has seven or eight very good options. Tejada's certainly a top-five player at shortstop but should not be chosen ahead of Howard. Thanks for your question.

And now the closers:

1. Francisco Rodriguez, Angels - 92 saves over the past two seasons, will approach 100 strikeouts

2. Joe Nathan, Twins - 36 saves, 1.58 ERA and 95 strikeouts in '06

3. B.J. Ryan, Blue Jays - 38 saves, 1.37 ERA and 86 strikeouts in first full season with Toronto

4. Mariano Rivera, Yankees - ERA under two for four straight seasons

5. Billy Wagner, Mets - 40 saves, 94 strikeouts in first season with New York

6. Trevor Hoffman, Padres - At least 40 saves in seven of nine seasons

7. Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox - 35 saves, 0.92 ERA in first season as closer

8. Huston Street, Athletics - 60 saves over last two years for 23 year old

9. J.J. Putz, Mariners - Led all AL relievers with 104 strikeouts in '06

10. Bobby Jenks, White Sox - Converted 41 of 45 save chances last season

11. Chris Ray, Orioles - 33 saves, 2.73 ERA in first season as closer

12. Takashi Saito, Dodgers - 107 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings last season

13. Chad Cordero, Nationals - 2.10 ERA post All-Star break in '06

14. Francisco Cordero, Brewers - Converted 16 of 18 save chances with Milwaukee last season

15. Brad Lidge, Astros - 5.28 ERA in '06, but still managed 32 saves and 104 strikeouts

16. Bob Wickman, Braves - 78 saves over the past two seasons

17. Brian Fuentes, Rockies - 61 saves over the past two seasons

18. Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals - Struggled last year but still managed 32 saves; recovering from hip surgery

19. Tom Gordon, Phillies - 34 saves in first season with Philadelphia

20. Eric Gagne, Rangers - Looking to rebound from two years of injuries

21. Joel Zumaya, Tigers - Ranked ahead of Todd Jones if you believe (like me) he'll finally take over the closer role

22. Todd Jones, Tigers - Job is his to lose; 1.80 ERA post All-Star break in '06; 77 saves in past two seasons

23. Jose Valverde, Diamondbacks - Strong finish to roller coaster year in '06

24. Joe Borowski, Indians - Heads to Cleveland after saving 36 games with Florida last season

25. Jorge Julio, Marlins - Dealt to Florida to become the closer at the start of the season

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Here are the third basemen in case you missed them yesterday. And now, the designated hitters. Note: I didn't include players here if I've already ranked them at other positions (Mike Piazza, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield).

David Ortiz, Red Sox -- Big Papi set a career-high with 54 homers in '06 to go along with 137 RBIs, 115 runs scored and a .287 average. Ortiz's home run total has increased in each of the past seven seasons, and he's driven in at least 137 runs in three straight.

Travis Hafner, Indians -- An absolute fantasy beast in '06, hitting .308 with 42 homers, 117 RBIs and 100 runs. By the way, he missed 33 games.

Jim Thome, White Sox -- He was the American League's Comeback Player of the Year last season, hitting 42 homers to go along with 109 RBIs. Thome's hit at least 40 bombs in five of the last six seasons. Keep in mind that he's 36-years-old.

Frank Thomas, Blue Jays -- The Big Hurt showed he can still be productive when healthy. In Oakland last season, Thomas hit 39 homers to go along with 114 RBIs. In 2004 and 2005, he played in 108 games total.

Jonny Gomes, Devil Rays -- Plagued by shoulder problems, he hit an awful .216 last season after batting .282 in 2005. Gomes has hit at least 20 homers in the past two seasons.

Shea Hillenbrand, Angels -- Has position flexibility, but I haven't included him in any of the other rankings. Hillenbrand has the potential to hit 20 homers with 80 RBIs in his new home.

Mike Sweeney, Royals -- An injury risk at this point in his career, Sweeney has played in fewer than 110 games in three of the last four seasons. He still has shown power when healthy but is a major gamble.

Jay Gibbons, Orioles -- He doesn't want to DH, but with the addition of Jay Payton and last year's emergence of Nick Markakis, it will likely be Gibbons' only option to get at-bats. He's played in fewer than 100 games in two of the last three seasons, but could be a productive fantasy option if he stays healthy and is in the lineup.

Jose Vidro, Mariners -- He's been plagued by injuries over the last three seasons and now heads to Seattle where he won't have to play the field. Vidro can still hit for a decent average but offers little else.

Jason Botts, Rangers -- He hit .309 in Triple-A last season and showed decent power, but Botts didn't do much in 20 games after being called up. He'll likely start '07 in the minors.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

Critics say he can't perform in clutch situations. Guess what -- that doesn't matter for fantasy purposes. In a "down" year, A-Rod hit .291 with 35 homers and 121 RBIs. He also scored 113 runs and stole 15 bases. Rodriguez has hit at least 35 homers with at least 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored in nine straight seasons. Don't be shocked if he finishes '07 as the No. 1 overall fantasy player.

2. Miguel Cabrera, Marlins

The 23-year-old set career-highs with a .339 average and 50 doubles in '06. He failed to hit at least 30 homers for the first time in three seasons, but expect him to get there this year. Cabrera has averaged 114 RBIs over the last three seasons.

3. David Wright, Mets

In our last couple podcasts, Childs and I have discussed how every Mets fan has a man-crush on the team's third baseman. In his second full season, Wright hit .311 with 26 homers, 116 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. However, only six of his HRs came after the All-Star break.

4. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs

He hit .328 with 22 homers and 67 RBIs after the All-Star break last season. Ramirez signed a five-year $75 million deal in the offseason. He's a good bet to hit around .300 with 35 homers and 100 RBIs.

5. Garrett Atkins, Rockies

He followed up a solid rookie season by hitting .329 with 29 homers and 120 RBIs in '06. Atkins also had 48 doubles and scored 117 runs. Look for similar numbers this season from the 27-year-old.

6. Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals

He showed there is almost nothing he can't do as a rookie last season. Zimmerman hit .287 with 20 homers, 110 RBIs, 47 doubles and 11 stolen bases in 2006. Att 22-years-old, he looks like a sure bet to be among the best fantasy third basemen for the next decade.

7. Chipper Jones, Braves

Is he an injury risk? Sure. Jones has missed 105 games over the past two seasons. But when he's in the lineup, few third basemen are as productive. Jones hit .324 with 26 homers and 86 RBIs last season. He's hit at least 20 homers in 12 straight seasons. Don't be afraid to pick him on draft day -- just make sure you get a viable backup.

8. Troy Glaus, Blue Jays

The good news -- Glaus has hit 75 homers over the past two seasons. The bad news -- he's struck out 279 times during that span and has hit better than .258 just once in his career. His value will depend on what you need out of your third baseman.

9. Scott Rolen, Cardinals

After missing 106 games in 2005, Rolen rebounded to hit .296 with 22 homers, 95 RBIs and 48 doubles last season. Though some label Rolen as "injury-prone," he's had at least 500 at-bats in five of his last six seasons.

10. Joe Crede, White Sox

He set career-highs with 30 homers and 94 RBIs last season. Crede's .283 average was the best he's ever posted when playing a full season.

And the rest:

11. Eric Chavez, Athletics: Hit a career-low .241 in '06; expect a modest bounce-back

12. Chad Tracy, Diamondbacks:  Hit .281 with 20 homers and 81 RBIs in '06, but struck out 129 times

13. Adrian Beltre, Mariners: Capable of hitting 25 HRs and 90 RBIs, but don't expect a return to 2004 form (.334, 48 HRS, 121 RBIs)

14. Freddy Sanchez, Pirates: Hit .344 with 85 RBIs and 53 doubles last season

15. Edwin Encarnacion, Reds: 15 homers and 72 RBIs in first full season

16. Hank Blalock, Rangers: Career-lows of 16 homers and 89 RBIs in '06

17. Melvin Mora, Orioles: 16 HRs in '06, his lowest total since 2003; .274 avg. -- lowest since 2002

18. Alex Gordon, Royals: Kansas City rookie tore up Double-A last season, great potential sleeper

19. Morgan Ensberg, Astros: Hit .235 in '06; 59 homers over last two seasons

20. Mike Lowell, Red Sox: 20 HRs, 80 RBIs and 47 doubles in first season with Boston

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 8:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

1. Jose Reyes, Mets

He's stolen 124 bases over the last two seasons, but Reyes' improvement in other categories make him an elite fantasy player. He hit .300 last season with 19 homers and 122 runs. A top-five overall pick and the undisputed No. 1 shortstop.

2. Derek Jeter, Yankees

He showed no signs of slowing down at the age of 34, hitting .343 last season. Jeter also stole a career-high 34 bases drove in 97 runs (his highest total since 1999) and scored 118 times. He's good for solid production across the board.

3. Miguel Tejada, Orioles

If you're looking for speed out of your shortstop, Tejada is not the guy. However, he gets the high ranking after hitting a career-best .330 in '06 and driving in at least 100 runs for the sixth time in seven seasons. Something to keep an eye on -- Tejada hit just 24 home runs last season, his lowest total since 1999.

4. Jimmy Rollins, Phillies

He had never hit more than 14 home runs going into '06, but he went yard 25 times last season. Rollins has stolen at least 30 bases in three straight seasons. He set career-highs with 45 doubles and 127 runs scored in '06.

5. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins

The 23-year-old won the National League Rookie of the Year award after hitting .292 with 51 steals, 17 homers and 119 runs last season. The only negative? He struck out 128 times.

6. Michael Young, Rangers

Few shortstops, if any, can match his run production. Young has driven in and scored at least 90 runs in each of the last three seasons. He's also hit better than .300 in four straight. On the flip side, he failed to hit at least 20 homers for the first time in three seasons in '06.

7. Rafael Furcal, Dodgers

After getting off to a slow start in his first season in L.A., Furcal rebounded by hitting .339 with 11 homers in the second half of '06. He finished last year with a .300 average for the first time in his career, has averaged over 41 stolen bases over the past two seasons and has scored at least 100 runs every season since 2003.

8. Carlos Guillen, Tigers

Few shortstops can match his production across the board. In 2006, Guillen hit .320 with 19 homers, 85 RBIs, 100 runs and 20 stolen bases. If he can stay healthy, Guillen is likely to be available at a spot where he holds great value. Keep in mind he hasn't posted back-to-back seasons with at least 500 at-bats in his career.

9. Felipe Lopez, Nationals

He gets into the top-10 after stealing a career-high 44 bases in '06. Don't expect Lopez to put up similar power numbers to 2005 when he hit 23 homers to go along with 85 RBIs. Lopez has struck out 227 times over the last two seasons.

10. Julio Lugo, Red Sox

I mistakenly included him in the second baseman rankings even though Lugo is expected to be Boston's starting shortstop. He's stolen at least 20 bases in three straight seasons and should score a ton of runs at the top of Boston's lineup.

And the rest:

11. Edgar Renteria, Braves: .293 with 100 runs, 40 doubles, 14 homers and 70 RBIs in return to NL in '06

12. Stephen Drew, Diamondbacks: Hit .316 in 209 at-bats in first major league action

13. Orlando Cabrera, Angels: .282 with 27 SBs, 95 runs and 45 doubles in '06

14. Bobby Crosby, Athletics: Average could kill your team, but power potential is high if he stays healthy

15. Jhonny Peralta, Indians: Awful in '06 -- .257, 13 homers while striking out 152 times

16. Omar Vizquel, Giants: 24 stolen bases in each of last two seasons; hit .295 in '06

17. Khalil Greene, Padres: 15 homers in each of past three seasons

18. Jason Bartlett, Twins: Hit .309 in 99 games last season

19. Juan Uribe, White Sox: Hit .235 last season but has averaged 20 HRs since '04

20. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies: One of top rookies in the National League

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

If you missed the news, Jonathan Papelbon is headed back to the bullpen for the Red Sox. That's great news for fantasy owners. As Childs and I discussed in our two marathon podcasts this week, several closer situations around the league are utter disasters. Papelbon was unbelievable last year with 35 saves and a 0.92 ERA. Plus he has the closer mentality. Check out what he told the Boston Herald: "This is something I want to do for the rest of my career. Hopefully, what (Mariano) Rivera did for the Yankees, I can do for the Red Sox."

And now on to the second baseman rankings:

1. Chase Utley, Phillies

This is one of those positions where there's no question about who the top guy is. Utley led everyone at the position in '06 with 32 homers and 102 RBIs. Nobody in the National League scored more runs (131). Oh, and he hit .309 and had 15 stolen bases. The 28-year-old signed a seven-year, $85 million deal in the offseason.

2. Brian Roberts, Orioles

Nine of his 10 home runs came after the All-Star break last season, and Roberts led all AL second basemen with 36 steals. He'll give you solid production in several categories.

3. Robinson Cano, Yankees

The 24-year-old hit .342 in '06 with 15 homers, 78 RBIs and 41 doubles. While he looks like he can hit over .300 every year, last year's mark will be difficult to match. Can he be selected over Roberts? Sure. But the O's second baseman gets the edge here because of speed. Cano stole just five bases last year.

4. Ian Kinsler, Rangers

His ability to put up numbers across the board make Kinsler a popular sleeper pick for '07. As a rookie last season, he hit .286 with 14 homers and 11 stolen bases in 120 games. Expect big things.

5. Julio Lugo, Red Sox

Look for a big year from Lugo, who will hit at the top of Boston's lineup after signing a four-year, $36 million deal in the offseason. He's had at least 20 stolen bases in three straight seasons and hit 12 homers in 122 games in '06.

6. Dan Uggla, Marlins

One of last year's biggest surprises, the 27-year-old set a rookie record for second basemen with 27 homers to go along with 90 RBIs. Uggla also hit .282 and scored 105 runs. A repeat performance is probably too much to ask for.

7. Rickie Weeks, Brewers

He missed time last year with a wrist injury, but still managed 19 stolen bases and 73 runs in 95 games. If he stays healthy, Weeks is capable of hitting between 15-20 homers with 25 stolen bases and 100 runs scored.

8. Howie Kendrick, Angels

Look for the talented 23-year-old to put up big numbers now that he'll be in the lineup everyday. Kendrick hit .285 in 72 games with the Angels last year and is having a monster spring.

9. Josh Barfield, Indians

He hit .280 with 13 homers and 21 stolen bases as a rookie with the Padres in '06. He now moves to a more hitter-friendly park. Barfield is just 24-years-old.

10. Jeff Kent, Astros

He drove in at least 100 runs in eight of nine seasons beginning in 1997, but those days are likely over for the 39-year-old. Kent was slowed by injuries last season, but still managed to hit .292 with 14 homers and 68 RBIs in 115 games.

And the rest:

11. Brandon Phillips, Reds: 17 homers, 75 RBIs and 25 SBs in '06

12. Tadahito Iguchi, White Sox: Pretty easy to project for '07 -- .280, 16 homers, 70 RBIs, 12 SBs

13. Ray Durham, Giants: Set career-highs with 26 homers and 93 RBIs in '06, but is 35-years-old

14. Marcus Giles, Padres: Coming off down season where he hit .262 with the Braves

15. Jorge Cantu, Devil Rays: Batting average dropped to .249 last season after monster '05

16. Luis Castillo, Twins: A good bet to hit around .300 with 20 stolen bases

17. Jose Lopez, Mariners: Hit one HR post All-Star break in '06 but is only 23-years-old

18. Orlando Hudson, Diamondbacks: Hit .315 post All-Star break in '06

19. Placido Polanco, Tigers: Will get you a .300 average but nothing else

20. Jose Castillo, Pirates: 14 homers, 65 RBIs in '06

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

1. Alfonso Soriano, Cubs

Let me get this straight. The Tribune Co. can dish out $136 million to Soriano, but a certain sports producer/blogger can't get a raise so he can stop living off $1 Totino's frozen pizzas? No one said life was fair I guess. Anyway, there's nothing Soriano can't do. In '06, he became the first player in history with at least 40 homers, 40 doubles and 40 steals. And he was playing at RFK Stadium. Soriano's had at least 35 homers and 30 steals in four of the past five seasons. The best fantasy player in the world not named Albert Pujols.

2. Carl Crawford, Devil Rays

His home run totals and batting average have increased every year he's been in the league. At 25-years-old, there's no reason that trend can't continue. Crawford led the majors with 58 stolen bases in '06, while hitting .305 with 18 homers and 77 RBIs. He's averaged over 54 stolen bases over the past four seasons and look for him to eclipse 20 bombs in '07.

3. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels

His three-year averages: .327, 34 HRs, 116 RBIs. Guerrero also stole 15 bases last season. He gives you a better average and better power numbers than Crawford, but the Devil Rays' young star gets the edge because of speed.

4. Carlos Beltran, Mets

He won't hit for average (.275 last season), but Beltran's power came back in a serious way as he slammed 41 bombs in his second season with the Mets (after hitting just 16 in '06). Beltran joined Soriano as the only players in the majors with at least 40 homers and at least 15 stolen bases. Hitting in the stacked New York lineup, he also scored a career-high 127 runs.

5. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox

If ‘Manny being Manny’ means hitting .310 with 40 homers and 120 RBIs, I’m OK with it. He’s hit at least 35 homers in eight of his past nine seasons and has been a consistent fantasy star for 12 years. The only downside? In ’06, Manny had fewer than 500 at-bats (because of injury) for the first time since 2002. He turns 35 in May.

6. Grady Sizemore, Indians

In just his second full season, the 24-year-old led the majors with 92 extra-base hits, including a league-leading 53 doubles. Oh, and he led the AL with 134 runs scored, hit .290 and stole 22 bases.

7. Matt Holliday, Rockies

How much of his success is because Holliday hits in Coors Field? Depends on who you ask. But more importantly, who cares? He broke out in his third season, hitting .326 with 34 homers and 114 RBIs. Holliday also had 45 doubles, scored 119 runs and stole 10 bases.

8. Jason Bay, Pirates

He's scored over 100 runs and driven in over 100 in consecutive seasons. Bay also set a career-high with 35 bombs in '06 and stole 11 bases.

9. Carlos Lee, Astros

He signed a fat six-year, $100 million contract with the Astros in the offseason. If Lee can steal 19 bases (his total in '06), I'm convinced every major league player should be able to steal at least that many. Lee has hit at least 30 homers in four straight seasons, and his new home won't have a serious impact on his numbers.

10. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners

Batting average, steals and runs. That's what Ichiro gets you year in and year out. In '06, he hit .322 with 45 steals and 110 runs. He's in a contract year, which normally means something, but after the money dished out this past offseason, let's be honest. He could hit .198 and break both of his legs – a team will still pay him $90 million over six years.

11. Andruw Jones, Braves

He's hit at least 34 homers in six of the last seven years, and those numbers have taken a jump in the past two seasons. Jones hit 41 bombs in '06 after hitting a career-high 51 in '05. Jones had 129 RBIs last season, his best total ever.

12. Bobby Abreu, Yankees

He hit .330 after being traded to New York last season. Abreu's had at least 100 RBIs and 30 steals in three straight seasons. However, his power took a hit last year when Abreu hit just 15 homers, the lowest total of his career.

13. Vernon Wells, Blue Jays

He signed a seven-year, $126 million contract with Toronto in the offseason after batting .303 with 32 homers and 106 RBIs in '06. Wells also had a career-high 17 stolen bases last season and has exceeded 600 at-bats in four of the last five seasons.

14. Jermaine Dye, White Sox

He had a career year in '06, hitting .315 and setting highs with 44 homers and 120 RBIs. Why isn't Dye ranked higher? He's hit over 30 bombs just two other times in his career and didn't eclipse 100 RBIs from 2002-2005. Matching last year's numbers will be a difficult task.

15. Johnny Damon, Yankees

He failed to hit at least .300 for the first time in three seasons, but Damon made up for it by hitting a career-high 24 home runs. He also had 25 steals, his highest total since 2003. Atop the Yankees lineup, Damon is a lock to score at least 100 runs for the 10th straight season.

16. Juan Pierre, Dodgers

He got a five-year, $45 million deal with Los Angeles after one season with the Cubs. Pierre was very good last year, hitting .292 and stealing 58 bases. He hasn't missed a game in four seasons.

17. Hideki Matsui, Yankees

He played in only 51 games last season because of a broken wrist, but he didn't miss a game the previous three seasons. Matsui should hit around .300 with 25 homers and over 100 RBIs.

18. Adam Dunn, Reds

He'll kill you with average (.234 in '06), but there are few better sources of power (40 or more homers in three straight seasons). Dunn's value largely depends on your league's scoring. He had the lowest average of any player with at least 500 at-bats and led the league in strikeouts with an insane 194. However, Dunn is in his prime so it's fair to expect 40 homers and over 100 RBIs.

19. Torii Hunter, Twins

After a slow start in '06, Hunter rebounded with a career-best 31 homers to go along with 98 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Keep in mind he's playing for a big contract. 

20. Gary Sheffield, Tigers

He played in just 39 games last season with the Yankees because of injury and now finds himself in Detroit. Sheffield had at least 34 homers and 120 RBIs from 2003-2005. A .290 average with 30 bombs and 100 RBIs is not unrealistic -- that's assuming the 38-year-old stays healthy.

And the rest:

21. Chone Figgins, Angels -- 114 SBs over last two seasons

22. Jeff Francoeur, Braves -- 29 homers, 103 RBIs in first full season

23. Corey Patterson, Orioles -- stole career-high 45 bases in '06

24. Alex Rios, Blue Jays -- 17 HRs, 15 SBs in 128 games last year

25. Delmon Young, Devil Rays -- talent outstanding for 21-year-old

26. Michael Cuddyer -- career-highs of 24 homers and 109 RBIs in '06

27. Magglio Ordonez, Tigers -- .298 with 24 HRs and 104 RBIs last season

28. Rocco Baldelli, Devil Rays -- .302 with 16 homers in 92 games after returning from injury last season

29. Raul Ibanez, Mariners -- 33 HRs, 123 RBIs last season

30. Barry Bonds, Giants -- needs 22 HRs to break Hank Aaron's record

30a. J.D Drew, Red Sox -- health always a concern, but managed 20 HRs and 100 RBIs last season

And the best of the rest (in no particular order):

Mike Cameron, Padres-- 22 HRs, 25 SBs in '06

Dave Roberts, Giants -- 49 SBs, .293 avg. in '06

Willie Taveras, Rockies -- 67 SBs over last two seasons

Brad  Hawpe, Rockies -- 22 homers, 84 RBIs in '06

Nick Markakis, Orioles -- 14 homers post All-Star break in rookie season

Pat Burrell, Phillies -- averaging 30 homers and 106 RBIs over past two seasons

Ken Griffey Jr. -- 62 homers over past two seasons

Scott Podsednik -- 40 or more steals in four straight seasons

Coco Crisp, Red Sox -- 22 stolen bases in 105 games with Boston

Austin Kearns, Nationals -- 24 HRs, 86 RBIs in '06

Josh Willingham, Marlins -- 26 HRs, 74 RBIs in '06

Ryan Freel, Reds -- at least 36 SBs in three straight seasons

Craig Monroe, Tigers -- 28 HRs, 92 RBIs in '06

Jacque Jones, Cubs -- 23 or more homers in three straight seasons

Gary Matthews Jr., Angels -- .313 with 19 homers last season

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 9:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals

He's the No. 1 pick overall. Check out what Pujols has averaged over the last three years: .331, 45 homers, 126 RBIs, 127 runs. Ridiculous. He even won his first Gold Glove last season. Pujols set a career-high with 49 homers in '06 despite playing in a career-low 143 games because of injury. Look for him to surpass 50 bombs this season.

2. Ryan Howard, Phillies

In his first full season in the majors, the National League MVP hit .313 with 58 homers and 149 RBIs. Howard is an obvious first-round pick, and Pujols only gets the nod because he's done it longer and will post a superior average. The only thing that could slow Howard's power numbers will be who's batting behind him. The Phillies' slugger walked 108 times in '06, and pitchers will likely take their chances with No. 5 hitter Pat Burrell, who led the NL in strikeouts looking last season.

3. Mark Teixeira, Rangers

He slumped at the beginning of '06, managing just nine homers at the All-Star break. But look for Teixeira to build on his monster second half when he hit 24 homers to go along with 110 RBIs. He's averaged 38 homers over the past three seasons, and expect Teixeira to hit more than 40 in '07. He hasn't missed a game since 2004.

4. Lance Berkman, Astros

The 8-year veteran set career-highs with 45 homers and 136 RBIs in '06 at 30-years-old. He also hit .315 and missed just 10 games all season. Project him to bat around .300 with 40 homers and 120 RBIs. Not bad.

5. Justin Morneau, Twins

The American League MVP set career-highs with a .321 average, 34 homers and 130 RBIs in '06. At 26-years-old, there's no reason to believe he can't put up similar numbers this season. If you really like Morneau, take him ahead of Berkman, but not ahead of the other three guys.

6. Derrek Lee, Cubs

A broken wrist sidelined Lee from April until late June, but that shouldn't worry you for '07. Consider last season a wash. In 2005, Lee was phenomenal, hitting 46 homers to go along with 107 RBIs while hitting .335. He might not match those power numbers, but 35 homers and 100 RBIs are not out of the question. Lee is also one of the few first basemen with speed. He stole 15 bases in '05.

7. Paul Konerko, White Sox

Sometimes overlooked, few players have been as consistently productive as Konerko over the past three seasons. Since 2004, he's averaged 39 homers and 110 RBIs per season. Last year was the first in three seasons where he didn't hit at least 40 bombs, but he made up for it by posting a career-high .313 average.

8. Carlos Delgado, Mets

How does 10 straight years with at least 30 home runs sound? At 34-years-old, Delgado doesn't appear to be slowing down. He had 38 homers to go along with 114 RBIs in his first season in New York. The only downside was his average (.265), which was lower than it's been since 1997.

9. Jason Giambi, Yankees

Giambi hit .290 or better for seven straight seasons beginning in 1996. However, he hasn't hit better than .271 since 2002, and Giambi managed just a .253 average last season. Still, his power numbers get him in the top-10. Giambi has slugged at least 30 homers in his last seven full seasons. He had 37 bombs to go along with 113 RBIs in '06.

10. Prince Fielder, Brewers

In his first full major league season, Fielder hit .271 with 28 homers and 81 RBIs. At just 22-years-old, he still has alot of potential to fulfill. Expect between 30 and 35 homers from him in '07.

11. Richie Sexson, Mariners

He got off to a brutal start, but ended up with 34 homers and 107 RBIs last season. So why isn't he higher? Sexson hit just .264 and struck out 154 times. But look on the bright side. That was an improvement on his 167 Ks in 2005.

12. Nick Swisher, Athletics

He'll be eligible at first base and in the outfield once again this season. In 2006, Swisher played 90 games at first and 80 in the outfield. He hit 35 homers to go along with 95 RBIs. He's not going to give you much with average (.254 last year) and he struck out 152 times.

13. Adrian Gonzalez, Padres

The former first overall pick (2000) had impressive numbers in his first full major league season. Gonzalez hit .304 with 24 homers and 82 RBIs. He put together a strong second half, hitting .336 after the All-Star break. Expect big things from the 24-year-old.

14. Adam LaRoche, Pirates

He broke out in 2006 with 32 homers and 90 RBIs and then was dealt to Pittsburgh in the offseason. Time will tell if a new ballpark will affect LaRoche's numbers, but he should be able to come close to matching last year's production.

15. Todd Helton, Rockies

It all depends on what you're looking for out of your first baseman. If you want power, Helton is not the guy. He's hit just 35 homers total over the past two seasons. However, Helton's still hit .300 or better in nine straight seasons and is a virtual lock for around 40 doubles.

16. Lyle Overbay, Blue Jays

He had a career year in '06, setting highs in average (.312), homers (22) and RBIs (92). He also hit 46 doubles. Overbay certainly doesn't have the power potential as other guys on this list, but he's a safe option.

17. Nomar Garciaparra, Dodgers

Nomar fought back from a pair of injury-riddled seasons and hit .303 with 20 homers and 93 RBIs for Los Angeles. However, he still missed 40 games and won't put up the power numbers owners are looking for out of their first basemen.

18. Conor Jackson, Diamondbacks

A potential sleeper, Jackson hit .291 with 15 homers and 79 RBIs in his first full major league season. At 24-years-old, his power numbers should improve and he could be poised for a big year.

19. Nick Johnson, Nationals

He set career-highs in '06 with a .290 average, 23 homers, 77 RBIs, 46 doubles and 100 runs scored. Unfortunately, Johnson was involved in a serious collision with Austin Kearns in September and fractured his right femur.

20. Ryan Shealy, Royals

The Rockies sent him to Kansas City last season, where he now becomes the everyday first baseman. Shealy has had less than 300 major league at-bats, but he showed major pop in the minors, hitting 26 homers in Triple-A in 2005 and 29 bombs in Double-A in 2004. And just think if he named a son after me -- Sheil Shealy -- I think I like it.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 9:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here are the top-10 catchers.

And the rest:

11. Paul Lo Duca, Mets

You'll find him high on many 'bust' lists going into 2007 drafts. However, Lo Duca hit .318 in his first year with the Mets and exceeded 500 at-bats for the fourth time in five seasons. He also scored 80 runs. At 34-years-old, he hit .338 in the second half of '06 and has hit .280 or better in five of the last six seasons.

12. Jason Varitek, Red Sox

He was awful last year, hitting .238 with 12 homers and 55 RBIs. Varitek was banged up and played in only 103 games, his lowest total since 2001. At 34-years-old, expecting a serious bounce-back year is probably a stretch. However, if he stays healthy, Varitek's numbers have to improve from '06.

13. Bengie Molina, Giants

San Francisco signed the 32-year-old to a three-year, $16 million contract in the offseason. Molina set a career-high with 19 homers with the Blue Jays in '06 and he's hit .275 or better in four straight seasons.

14. A.J. Pierzynski, White Sox

He was productive in his second season in Chicago, hitting .295 with 15 homers, 66 RBIs and 65 runs. Pierzynski is certainly capable of hitting around .280 or .290, but he could find himself out of the lineup against lefties after the White Sox signed Toby Hall in the offseason.

15. Johnny Estrada, Brewers

He finished seventh among catchers with 71 RBIs in '06 despite having just 414 at-bats. There's plenty to like about Estrada. He's hit over .300 in two of the past three seasons, he hits from both sides of the plate and he doesn't strike out much (40 times in '06).

16. Gerald Laird, Rangers

With Rod Barajas moving on to Philadelphia, the 27-year-old Laird is a popular sleeper candidate on many draft lists. But be careful. Laird first has to prove he can stay healthy, and he didn't finish '06 strong, batting .191 with no homers or RBIs in 68 September at-bats.

17. Miguel Olivo, Marlins

He set career-highs in average (.263), homers (16) and RBIs (58) last season. However, look closer and you'll see Olivo wasn't as productive, striking out 103 times and drawing just nine walks.

18. Jason Kendall, Athletics

His durability is tremendous. Kendall has had 545 at-bats or more in seven straight seasons. To say he's not much of a power threat is being kind. Kendall has hit 13 homers in the past five seasons...total. However, he hit .295 last season and is capable of matching that in '07.

19. David Ross, Reds

He hit 21 homers in 247 at-bats last season, and Ross now gets a chance to be Cincinnati's everyday starter. So why isn't he higher in the rankings? Ross struck out 75 times in those limited at-bats and hit .203 after the All-Star break. Having never played in more than 90 games in a season, he has to prove he can be a No. 1 guy.

20. Chris Iannetta, Rockies

Colorado's 23-year-old prospect hit .260 with a couple homers and 10 RBIs in 77 major league at-bats last season. Iannetta is a popular sleeper candidate and for good reason -- he hit .351 in Triple-A last year.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Back from a week at spring training and ready to jump into rankings. We'll do most of these in two parts. Without further ado, here are the catchers:

1. Joe Mauer, Twins

He won the batting title last year, hitting at a .347 clip and signed a four-year, $33 million extension in the offseason. Mauer's got a sweet swing, tremendous sideburns and a Tom Emanski-like commercial. At 23-years-old, look for his power numbers to improve in 2007.

2. Brian McCann, Braves

He's 23-years-old and led all catchers with 24 homers in '06. McCann also showed consistency, hitting over .300 in every month. His average will probably drop from last year's mark (.333), but his power won't let you down -- McCann hit 18 homers after the All-Star break.

3. Victor Martinez, Indians

If you want a sure thing, you probably have Martinez ranked ahead of McCann, as he's been the most consistent fantasy catcher around over the past three years. Despite a drop-off in homers last season (16), Martinez set a career-high with a .316 average. He's tallied at least 520 at-bats in each of the past three seasons.

4. Jorge Posada, Yankees

At 35-years-old, he's certainly not in his prime, but Posada is still better than most. No catcher had more RBIs than Posada (93) last season and he was tied for second in the majors among catchers with 23 bombs. He'll likely slow down significantly at some point over the next three years, but I'm banking on him having at least one more productive year left.

5. Ramon Hernandez, Orioles

He set career-highs with 23 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 doubles in '06. Only Posada, Martinez and McCann drove in more runs. Hernandez also eclipsed 500 at-bats for the first time in his career. The O's attempted to address their backup catcher spot in the offseason, but Hernandez still wants to be in the lineup everyday.

6. Mike Piazza, Athletics

The veteran shifts to the American League for the first time at the age of 38. Piazza will be used primarily as a designated hitter in Oakland. He showed solid power last year, slamming 22 homers to go along with a .283 average -- and this came in tough Petco Park. Piazza hitting more than 25 homers would not be surprising.

7. Michael Barrett, Cubs

He was one of only three catchers (McCann and Martinez) to hit over .300 with at least 15 homers last season. The catch is Barrett had just 375 at-bats because of various injuries. I have him higher than most, but you can't argue with a guy who clocked A.J. Pierzynski and has hit exactly 16 homers in each of the past three seasons. He's also a free agent at the end of the season, meaning he could be playing for a big payday.

8. Kenji Johjima, Mariners

In his first year, Johjima set an American League record for hits by a rookie catcher with 147. He finished the year with a solid .291 average after batting .295 post All-Star break. Johjima also showed some pop, hitting 18 homers and 76 RBIs, while striking out just 46 times. He has the potential to be a top-five catcher.

9. Russell Martin, Dodgers

At 24-years-old, he's a pretty good sleeper candidate. In Martin's rookie year, he hit .282 with 10 homers and 65 RBIs (415 ABs). He's not expected to put up big power numbers, but Martin makes up for it with his speed as he stole 10 bases in '06.

10. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers

The 35-year-old veteran won't put up the power numbers he once did (35 homers, 113 RBIs in 1999), but the future Hall of Famer can still produce. Pudge has hit .300 or better in two of the last three seasons and has managed more than 500 at-bats in each of the last four seasons.

Click here for the rest of the catchers.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Various media outlets, including the Associated Press, are reporting that the Chicago Bears are sending Thomas Jones and a second-round pick to the New York Jets for their second-round pick.

Jones put together a second straight productive fantasy season in 2006. He rushed for 1,210 yards and six touchdowns. However, Jones' workload decreased towards the end of the season as Cedric Benson got more involved in the offense. Jones failed to have a 100-yard game after Week 11 and had 17 carries or fewer in the season's final five weeks.

Chicago's backfield has been a popular topic among fantasy circles over the past two years. After the Bears selected Benson with the fourth overall pick in the '05 draft, many believed he would immediately be the man. But Jones rushed for 1,335 yards and nine touchdowns in Benson's first NFL season, and the rookie only played in nine games because of injury.

If the trade becomes official, fantasy owners who go crazy when teams employ two-running back systems, should breathe a sigh of relief. Benson and Jones will likely both be solid fantasy options in 2007.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 8:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Childs and I started to preview the '07 season in our first fantasy baseball podcast of the year yesterday. After talking about each player, I set an over/under on a specific stat, and Childs offered his opinion on what he'd take if the bet were actually available in Vegas (which it probably is because is there anything you can't bet on in Vegas?). I thought I'd share some of those numbers here.

Daisuke Matsuzaka; over/under on wins: 16

The Japanese sensation, who put together a 250-pitch, 17-inning outing in Japan's high school baseball tournament, will try to match the hype with the Red Sox. Childs thinks Matsuzaka's ERA could be higher than people expect because he's pitching in Boston, but 14-16 wins can be achieved.

Barry Bonds; over/under on home runs: 28

San Francisco's slugger needs 22 bombs to break Hank Aaron's all-time record. Bonds hit 26 homers in 2006 while playing in 130 games so this number could be slightly high. At 42-years-old, he is always a threat to break down and miss large amounts of time.

Randy Johnson; over/under on wins: 14

Even though his tenure with the Yankees is considered a disappointment (5.00 ERA last season), the Big Unit did win 17 games in each of the past two seasons. Johnson's 43-years-old, but he's started at least 33 games in each of the past three seasons. Childs thinks 14 is a little high, considering that Johnson was dominant with Arizona in 2004 (2.60 ERA, 290 Ks, 0.90 WHIP) but still won just 16 games. He also had back surgery in the offseason (Johnson, not Childs).

Alex Rodriguez; over/under on homers: 40

In a down season, A-Rod hit .290 with 35 bombs and 121 RBIs. But is he still an elite fantasy player?  Childs and I both think he's a good bet to hit more than 40 bombs, which he's done in seven of the last nine seasons (although just once in three seasons with the Yankees).

Derrek Lee; over/under on homers: 34

After playing in only 50 games last season, can Lee return to his '05 form when he hit .335 with 46 homers and 107 RBIs? From 2001 - 2005, Lee's homer totals increased every season, but he still has only hit more than 34 bombs once in his career. I think he'll get there this season.

Gary Sheffield, over/under on homers: 31

For some of these players, it was difficult for Childs to pick over or under, meaning I did a good job setting the number. That was not the case on Sheffield. Childs is down on the 38-year-old, who was dealt from the Yankees to the Tigers in the offseason. Sheffield played in just 39 games in '06, but hit at least 34 homers in each of the three previous seasons. Needless to say, Childs likes the under on this one.

Agree or disagree? Feel free to chime in. 

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 1:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)