Second Base Risers: Beckham, Walker, Hall
Earlier today our second base rankings were released with a bunch of familiar names in the top five or six spots, but let’s look at some guys who are poised to the climb the rankings this season…
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Position Battle: Third Base in Colorado
When you look around the league at the various 40-man rosters, it’s hard not to be impressed by the position player depth the Rockies have accumulated, especially on the infield. Troy Tulowitzki is obviously locked in at short, and Todd Helton will be given every opportunity to show that he can still be a full-time first baseman The other two positions are a little more up in the air. Second base is another conversation for another time, so let’s discuss the hot corner.
$1 Third Base Option: Albert Callaspo
When the offseason opened up, most figured that the Angels would make a hard run at Adrian Beltre to fill the void at third base left by Chone Figgins last offseason. Well, the Angels did make a run at Beltre, but it wasn’t enough to lure him to Orange County, and now Mike Scioscia’s team will begin the season with the same mess of third basemen they had last year, namely Brandon Wood and Alberto Callaspo. Wood is looking more and more like a lost cause, but Callaspo has some fantasy value as a cheap option at the hot corner.
First Basemen on the Rise: Gonzo, Dunn, Ike
We debuted our first base rankings yesterday and have been breaking down the position a bit more thoroughly since. Today we’ll take a look at three first sackers on their way up the rankings, but unfortunately it’s impossible to have Albert Pujols any higher. Contract year Pujols is an exciting proposition. Here’s three guys climbing the rankings…
2011 Player Rankings: First Basemen
The 2011 season (and fantasy drafts) are rapidly approaching, so we here at RotoGraphs put our slide rules down long enough to come up some aggregate positional rankings. Today I present to you first basemen, and I’ll be your guy at the position all season…
$1 Catchers: Thole & Salty
Erik already introduced you to a pair of $1 catcher options yesterday, but let’s take a look at two more…
Top Five Targets: Catchers
Earlier today Howard debuted our preseason catcher rankings, and three familiar names sat at or near of top. Joining them were a pair of players that started last season in the minors but excelled in (somewhat) limited big league action and grabbed a premium ranking in what is traditionally fantasy’s thinnest position.
Is Phil Coke The Next C.J. Wilson?
The Rangers made a pretty bold move last year when they moved long-time reliever and sometimes closer C.J. Wilson into the rotation, and he rewarded them with 4.4 WAR season and four pretty good playoff starts. If you’re reading this site, then you’re well aware that even an average big league starter is more valuable than a great reliever if he’s giving you 180 IP, but teams have been slow to admit this. The Tigers are going to try to replicate the Rangers’ and Wilson’s success in 2011 by turning one of their own lefty relievers into a starter, that being Phil Coke.
There are similarities (besides the obvious: being left-handed, late-20’s at the time of the switch, yadda yadda yadda) and differences between the two, so let’s explore them before figuring out if Coke is rosterable in a standard league.
Closer Updates: Feliz, Braves, Rays
With Spring Training right around the corner, we’re starting to hear some rumblings about who will and who won’t be in line for save opportunities, at least in the early part of the season. Here’s the latest…
Projections & Victor Martinez
Over the last four or five years, Joe Mauer, Brian McCann, and Victor Martinez have been the gold standard for fantasy catchers. Jorge Posada was a fine fourth wheel for a while, and now Buster Posey is forcing his way into the picture, but for the most part it’s been those three and everyone else. We have every reason to expect Mauer and McCann to continue their greatness in 2011, but what about the new Tiger V-Mart? The various projection systems aren’t bullish on him this year. Let’s round ’em up…