American League Outfielders: Updated Rankings
Two weeks into June, it’s about time to update our rankings for American League outfielders. Again. Also in this installment? An apology to Melky Cabrera.
Archive for Stock Watch
Anthony Rizzo: Mining the Minors
As Tom Petty once sang: the waiting sucks. (I may be paraphrasing.) So while anticipation is brimming over a prospect who will make his major league debut later today, alas, there was ungood news about another elite ‘spect who was also ready to help fantasy owners, until as Phil Collins once sang, something happened on the way to the big leagues. (Paraphrasing again.) Plus? A whopping kit and a heaping caboodle of other callups.
Second Basemen: June Rankings
Tier 1A
Robinson Cano
Tier 1B
Rickie Weeks
I still have Cano as the top ranked 2B based on his previous seasons and overall health. Weeks is producing a bit more in 2011 compared to Cano, but as long as they are this close, I will put Cano first.
Tier 2
Ben Zobrist
Ryan Roberts
Ian Kinsler
Kelly Johnson
This Tier’s rankings, and the rest that follow, are very fluid based on the needs of your team. If your team needs a few more SB, but can afford to take a hit in AVG, you may look at Kinsler -or- you could be looking for a more rounded producer like Roberts.
Also, I am putting players with multiple position eligibilities higher in the different tiers. With all the trips players have made to the DL this season, it is nice to have the extra flexibility to move players around.
Kelly Johnson was let go by many teams because of his early season struggles. It looks like he has forgotten the early struggles and is back near the top the 2B rankings.
Tier 3
Dustin Pedroia
Martin Prado
Brandon Phillips
Neil Walker
Danny Espinosa
This Tier was tough for me to rank. Pedroria could have easily been moved to Tier 2 (based on previous good results) with Espinosa being moved down a Tier (based on little previous production). As a whole, an owner really can’t go wrong with any of these players.
Tier 4
Michael Young
Placido Polanco
Howie Kendrick
These 3 are similar in that they hit for AVG, have few HR and SB and are qualified at several positions. This would be a nice group of players to have on your bench in shallow leagues. They can fill in when other players on your team are not playing for any reason.
Tier 5
Chase Utley
Darwin Barney
Mike Aviles
Allen Craig
Adam Kennedy
Maicer Izturis
Michael Cuddyer
Brett Lawrie
Daniel Murphy
Gordon Beckham
Eric Young (Jonathan Herrera)
Currently there is a large drop off from Tier 4 to 5, but some names do stick out.
Utley has just gotten back from the DL with subpar results. As his production increases, he will quickly move up.
Cuddyer (0.264 AVG/7 HR/3 SB) is having a similar year to Neil Walker (0.265 AVG/8 HR/2 SB) in non team related stats. Cuddyer only has a total of 40 Runs + RBIs, while Walker has almost twice that number (73). If the Twins offense gets clicking Cuddyer has a great chance to improve.
Colorado is back with Eric Young at 2B. He will be a great source for SB, if he keeps his job. I believe he shouldn’t of lost it to begin with and his replacement, Herrera, shouldn’t have lost it this time.
Tier 6
Jed Lowrie
Aaron Hill
Alberto Callaspo
Ryan Theriot
Orlando Cabrera
Jamey Carroll
Justin Turner
Freddy Sanchez
Ty Wigginton
I expect to find most of these players to be owned but on the bench. It is tough to tell how players are being used with all the multiple position eligibilities I am actually looking at what the availability level is for certain positions in different sized leagues for my Saturday article.
Tier DL
Brian Roberts
Tsuyoshi Nishioka
Frustration Tier
Dan Uggla
Ryan Raburn
Chone Figgins
These 3 are completely under producing and driving their owners crazy this season. I am not sure I would actually trade for any of them, but would see if they become available on the waiver wire for a chance they break out. With these three, the only way is up.
Lance Lynn and Mike Carp: Mining the Minors
In this installment: Kyle McClellan‘s temporary rotation replacement and Jack Cust’s potential DH intruder.
Jordan Lyles, Brandon Belt and Tyler Colvin: Mining the Minors
This week’s edition covers one top prospect making his MLB debut and a pair of recalls who didn’t fare so well earlier this season. Plus? The usual batch of players who only apply to really deep leagues. In fantasy, no transaction is too small.
Juan Nicasio and Andrew Oliver: Mining the Minors
This column has a rather wide range when it comes to fantasy impact. It’s a nature-of-the-beast thing, trying to predict when minor leaguers are going to get their shot. And so there have been players highlighted in this space who have soon thereafter become relevant (Chris Davis) or even useful (Jerry Sands) to fantasy owners. And there have also been those mentioned — many more, in fact — who remain in Triple-A (Charlie Blackmon) or downright useless (Mark Rogers). This time, however, expect a 2-for-2 performance. At least in terms of how soon this pair of prospects will be reaching the majors.
Domonic Brown, Mike Minor, Rubby De La Rosa: Mining the Minors
As May comes to an end, so mitigates some of the financial incentive for teams to keep their prospects in the minor leagues (i.e. Super Two status), which means youngins should start popping up all over big-league rosters once the calendar hits June. Get ready to get busy, my little waiver wire watchers.
Todd Frazier and Dayan Viciedo: Mining the Minors
After focusing on pitchers for the past couple Mining the Minors Fridays, let’s switch gears and check out two hitters who could soon be making their way to a major-league ballpark near you.
Danny Duffy, Andy Dirks, Eric Thames: Mining the Minors
Last Thursday, there was a lot to get to, what with plenty of minor-league players — and even some really big-name prospects — making their MLB debuts. Just because there may not be an Eric Hosmer or Julio Teheran to introduce to owners this time, does that mean recent recalls should be altogether ignored? Disregard at your own risk, fellow fantasy fiends.
