CBRACKE
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The time has come for an update to the player rankings. My goal is to provide an update once a month that takes into consideration the latest happenings and weighs them against the projected end of the season performance.
NOTES FROM THE UPDATE:
FIRST BASE:
It pains me to return Albert Pujols to his rightful spot atop the first base rankings because it means I have to eat a large plate full of crow. He still has an elbow injury, but because he’s raking at the plate and his elbow hasn’t blown out, all is peachy. I still am skeptical and think it’s entirely possible that he plummets from his perch by midseason. The group we should keep the closest eye on is from James Loney down to Ryan Garko, because while many of these players have already had strong starts to their seasons, any of them are capable of a hot stretch at the plate at any moment.
SECOND BASE:
I would totally love to get Howie Kendrick closer to the top of these rankings and his start to the season would’ve justified it if not for his recent rash of injuries. Aaron Hill is the real deal and while my Bold Predictions post here predicted he would lead all second basemen in homers and while his power hasn’t materialized to that extent yet, only two starting second basemen have a better average through 16 games.
SHORTSTOP:
Last year it was Jimmy Rollins who enjoyed a breakout season and while the season is certainly still young, I believe this year it’s Raffy Furcal.
THIRD BASE:
Despite the quadriceps injury, I can’t justify moving A-Rod down. I fully expect Evan Longoria to climb these rankings more by the end of the season and I’m giddy over the fact I have him secured for many more years in one of my keeper leagues for a much cheaper price than the Rays had to pay. I omitted Mark Reynolds from my preseason rankings…Ooops! Joe Crede made the preseason cheatsheet, but he may have climbed the rankings farther than any other batter in these rankings.
OUTFIELD:
Still think B.J. Upton isn’t capable of a repeat performance? Jays outfielder Vernon Wells has an early beat on the Comeback Player of the Year award, trailing only Angels hurler Ervin Santana in that department. Every draft I’m in I see Jermaine Dye slide and not get the credit he deserves. What’s not to like about his .344 average, 12 runs, and eight RBI? B.J better watch his back, because his brother is raking at a rate he could only dream about when he was 20 years old.
DESIGNATED HITTERS:
Frank “Big Hurt” Thomas has to fall in the rankings until we figure out who he signs with.
STARTING PITCHERS:
Call it a leap of faith keeping Scott Kazmir at the 8 spot in the rankings. I thought I ranked Johnny Cueto high enough, but he has simply exceeded EVERYONE but his own expectations. I may have moved Ervin Santana up too high, but after his impressive eight innings of three-hit, zero walk, eight K ball against the Mariners, it’s tough not to do so. On the flipside, it’s tough not to slide C.C. S-sucky-A down to 40 among starters. It’s a tough call, but I firmly believe he could be hiding an injury or at least feeling the effects of excessive innings over the last couple seasons. How long will the Yankees deal with subpar performances from Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy before they push Joba Chamberlain into the rotation? Drum roll please….the two starting pitchers I’d rather leave off the list entirely, but struggle to rank are Ben Sheets and Rich Harden. May they stay far, fary away from all of my fantasy rosters. Some very interesting young pitchers I’m closely monitoring the performance of these days are: Scott Olsen-Mariners, Jonathan Sanchez-Giants, Dana Eveland-Athletics, and Nick Blackburn-Twins.
RELIEF PITCHERS:
I’m still hoping Kerry Wood and Brandon Lyon lose their closer jobs, hence the presence of Carlos Marmol and the ever so slight miss of Tony Pena in the rankings. I think Manny Acosta should be owned in EVERY league by now because Rafael Soriano continues to experience soreness in his elbow and has dating back to spring training. It seems like the kind of malady that will effect him all season, which could mean plenty of save opportunities for Acosta.
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