NL SP Fallers: Hudson & Oswalt
This morning we look at two young risers, now let’s look at two old fallers…
Author Archive
NL SP Risers: Young Gun Edition
As we done with all the other positions so far, let’s take a look at some NL starters poised to climb up the rankings this season. In this case, you’re getting a pair of youngsters…
NL Outfield Position Battle: The Nationals
Heading into the 2011 season, there’s only sure thing about the Nationals’ outfield situation: Jayson Werth is going to play everyday. I don’t know where, he’s been playing right for the last few years but there have been some rumblings that they may use him in center, but I don’t really care. I’m interested in the team’s other two outfield spots, and how it might effect my fantasy team.
$1 Outfield Option: Matt Joyce
The Rays lost a lot of firepower this offseason in the form of Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena, though they replaced some of that production with Manny Ramirez and Johnny Damon. Not all of it though, and one player expected to help pick up the slack is outfielder Matt Joyce, acquired from the Tigers for Edwin Jackson once upon a time. He put together a .361 wOBA in limited playing time last season and is a sneaky good late-round fantasy option.
Outfielder Risers: Gardner & Snider
Let’s take a look at a pair of 20-something AL East outfielders with a chance to move up the rankings this summer…
2011 Closer Fallers: K-Rod, Papelbon, Lidge
As we’ve done with all the other positions so far, let’s take a look at some closers who’ve moved more down than up the rankings over the last year…
2011 Player Rankings: Relievers
As we continue to march along in our positional rankings, today we’re going to look at the guys coming out of the bullpen. These rankings are based on standard 5×5 scoring, so it’s geared towards closers (and saves). I’ll be keeping track of closers and middle relievers separately during the season for everyone in holds leagues. The man who threw the last pitch of the 2010 season leads us off…
Shortstop Position Battle: Scutaro vs. Lowrie
For a team with a payroll as large as, and a roster with as many star caliber players as the Red Sox have, you wouldn’t expect them to have many position battles, if any. Their shortstop position isn’t exactly a true battle in the sense that Marco Scutaro and Jed Lowrie are in direct competition for the job this spring, but with two qualified candidates, it’s no guarantee either player will hold down the job for the entire season. What does that mean for your fantasy team?
Shortstop Fallers: Jeter, Furcal, Renteria
Earlier today we released our shortstop rankings, and I was stunned to see how shallow the position is when putting my personal rankings together. Oh sure, there’s the two big guys right at the top, but it starts to thin out rather quickly after that. Let’s look at a trio of familiar names more likely to fall down the rankings that climb up them this summer…
The New Guy: Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Not happy with the free agent options, the Twins went abroad to solve their middle infield woes, winning the bidding for and signing 26-year-old Tsuyoshi Nishioka. He’s coming off a huge year with the Chiba Lotte Marines, hitting .346/.423/.482 with 11 HR and 22 SB (but 11 CS). He’s hit at least .300 in three of the last four years, double-digit homers in each of the last three years, and 20+ steals in four of the last five years. That’s all well and good, but it tells us nothing about how he’ll perform with the Twins in 2011 or, more importantly, his fantasy value.