Shortstop has become a very difficult position to fill. It offers very little power, made evident by the fact that only four shortstops hit 20 or more home runs last year. If you’re looking for steals, however, this is where you find ‘em. Twenty five shortstops racked up double-digit totals last season, including seven who stole 20-plus.
There’s a steep drop off after Ramirez and Tulowitzki, although Reyes could re-join the elite ranks given a full season in the lineup. Derek Jeter should bounce-back from a career-worst season, while rising stars such as Ian Desmond and Starlin Castro bring hope to fantasy managers in the later rounds...
Over the past few weeks, we’ve announced the top 70 players on our 2011 big board. Click on each player’s name for a more in-depth analysis, including 2011 projections!
With three full major league seasons under his belt, fantasy managers now know what to expect from White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez. His three-year averages (see below) are nearly identical to his 2010 totals. The 29-year-old Cuba native has a well-rounded game, and doesn’t hurt you in any category.
In projecting Ramirez for 2011, his spot in the potent White Sox lineup is a deciding factor. He hit second more than any other spot last season, but performed best in the eight hole, batting .296 with seven HRs and six steals in 162 at-bats...
In 2008, Jay Bruce ranked among the top prospects in baseball. In fact, Baseball America claimed “every one of (his) tools is better than average”. Our friends at BA rated his power as high as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale, acknowledged his ability to hit for average, and even proclaimed Bruce capable of stealing 15 to 20 bases a season.
Two years later, Bruce appears primed for stardom, though most fantasy managers don’t realize it.
Wednesday’s post covered this year’s All-Surprise Team. Today, we’re going to visit the opposite side of the ranks as I present the 2009 All-Bust Team.
While compiling this list, I did my best to exclude players who spent a significant amount of time on the disabled list, as I feel it’s unfair to hang the “bust” label on players due to injury....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
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