FREE Fantasy Baseball Guide
Follow FantasyPros911 Here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Other Articles You Might Like
11 Feb 2009 |
|
| The single most important factor to your upcoming fantasy season is not how many home runs or steals your players get. It is not about figuring out who has the best draft position or even what the ADP is. The key to picking a successful outfield for your fantasy team is playing time. We spend all this time evaluating player potential but it really doesn’t matter how great a player can be if he doesn’t get on the field to show it. One reason for this “Roaming the Outfield” coulumn every week is thatt playing time is one of the most important but often overlooked aspects of fantasy baseball. We want to keep our site readers informed of what was happening with the position that takes up at least a third of your batting category players. Here are my takes on playing time affecting a few outfielders you may or may not be targeting in you upcoming drafts. Four from the top rounds: Alfonso Soriano played in 135 games in 2007 and 109 in 2008. He always seems to be banged up. It makes me wonder, do the kids in Chicago now copy that little limp hop step he does in the outfield these days? He won’t last the full season. Josh Hamilton played in only 90 games when he broke through in Cincinnati in 2007, but he actually played in 156 games for Texas last year. Josh recently commented in an interview on MLB.com by Chuck Morgan “You know, my body held up a lot better than I thought it would. I found out this year that 162 games was a grind. I can say now that I've been through it, experienced it. Now I can know what everyone else is talking about.” At first glance I was worried about him due to the off-field problems and injury problems while in Cincinnati but now am really thinking Hamilton gets it and will do all he can to stay healthy. Buy him with confidence on his playing time and ability to play a full season without a fall off in the second half.  Carlos Quentin fractured his wrist at the end of the year. He still hasn’t played a full major league season. Even though they say he is healthy now, do we really know he can make it through a full major league season? Approach with caution. Carl Crawford played 151 games in 2006, 143 in 2007 and only 109 last year. He is a speed guy who plays great, aggressive defense. Can make it through a full season? I think not. And now four from the sleeper rounds: Elijah Dukes may have the potential to go 30/30 but the Nationals are loaded with outfielders. Nationals' management recently announced that Dukes will be competing for the centerfield job against Lastings Milledge. He is not penciled in to play right field as all the preseason guides expected. Pay attention in the spring but my money is on Milledge getting the playing time not Dukes, who may be relegated to fourth outfielder status. Juan Rivera missed much 2006 with a broken leg after he had 23 HR, 85 RBI, and batted .310 in 2006. Last year he split most of his time in left field with Garret Anderson who is now gone. Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia recently said, "We know what Juan Rivera is capable of doing. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can give us this year." The team intends to play him on a regular basis - somewhere. He should be a starter so grab him late. He is a great sleeper pick in the Tony Cincotta mold. Ryan Spilborghs has all the tools to be a breakout out candidate. Mike Podhorzer's projections ave him at .292 12 HR 65 RBI 70 R and 10 SB. Willy Taveras has left for Cincinnati so that should let Ryan get many more at bats to make these projections come true. Sign up for the premium site so you can listen to Lenny Melnick as he goes “Around the Horn” in his daily podcasts to see if he is still starting as the spring progresses. As of right now I think Spilborghs will play everyday and we are seeing him go late in many drafts accordingly. Delmon Young is one of four quality young outfielders in Minnesota. He is the only one that has a track record of durability, playing all 162 games in 2007. At only 23 he still has more upside then the other three combined. The Twins management knows this and he will play. Anyone out there you think is getting drafted that won’t be starting? Or maybe everyone else is saying the guy is an injury waiting to happen but you disagree? Use the comments below to make yourself heard. Trackback(0)
Comments (5)
  written by kevinorris, February 19, 2009
I don't think Rivera has much value in mixed leagues, because of the crowded outfield. They also have Reggie Willits who should make the Opening Day roster.
As for Dunn, he will be playing first base so it will have more impact on Nick Johnson who could be traded after publicly announcing his desire to play every day rather than come off the bench.
written by Chad Burke, February 19, 2009
Do you still consider Rivera a decent sleeper since they signed Abreu? With Hunter, Vlad, Abreu, Matthews there it seems like he isn't as much of a sure thing to get lots of at bats.
Also, how does the Dunn signing affect all of the Nationals guys like Dukes, Milledge, Kearns,etc.?
written by SeanAgranov, February 11, 2009
I heard the show and myself have been torn on this as well. I did do a mock earlier this year where i tried to wait on outfielders and of course that was the one where most of the guys I valued most as good sleeper picks got picked earlier than expected. so basically I think it can be done but its very risky. I think you are better off getting a few of the upper tier outfielders and then mixing in some sleeper outfielders to help your team near the end.
written by kevinorris, February 11, 2009
Rhett mentioned yesterday on FP911 Live that he is going to try doing a mock draft where he doesn't take an outfielder until some time around round 15. Considering there is lots of overlooked talent like Shin-Soo Choo (wow that's a goofy name). I'm interested to see what you have to say about that.
Write comment
Tags: Alfonso Soriano Josh Hamilton Carlos Quentin Carl Crawford Elijah Dukes Lastings Milledge Juan Rivera Garret Anderson Mike Scioscia Ryan Spilborghs Willy Taveras Delmon Young Fantasy Baseball Starter projected stats Around the horn roaming the outfield ADP outfield
|
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
More articles :
Dunn won't affect Dukes or Milledge since they are slotted to compete for CF.