|
|
Fantasy Season's Best & Worst Date Posted:Sep 24, 2008
 ALL BASEBALL FOOTBALL HOCKEY  Clearing The Bases: The Fantasy Season's Best & Worst By George Kurtz, The Fantasy Sports Forum.com Here is a list of the best and worst of this fantasy season. Fantasy Stud - Hitter David Wright: Can do it all. Hits for power and average, steals bases too. Josh Hamilton: Hasn’t done much in the second half, but what a first half. Remembering where you drafted him, you can’t beat that kind of production. Lance Berkman: Carried many a fantasy team till about mid-August Fantasy Stud - Pitcher CC Sabathia: Got off to a slow start but than turned it on. Since the trade to Cliff Lee: This would be assuming you drafted him from day one or picked him up early. Francisco Rodriguez: May not be the best closer in baseball, but certainly has the most saves which is all any of us fantasy players care about. Roy Halladay: Amazing his arm doesn’t fall off with all of the complete games he throws. Fantasy Surprise - Hitter Josh Hamilton: We all knew he could hit, but no one expected him to have 100 RBIs by the All Star Break. He has tailed off a bit in the second half, but his numbers are outstanding compared to the spot he was drafted in. Kevin Youkilis: Always a solid hitter, but this is the first season he has shown some power. Ian Kinsler: We knew he could hit, but not this well. Carlos Quentin: Would have been the AL MVP if he hadn't gotten hurt and missed the final month. Was leading in homers and RBI. Ryan Ludwick: Perhaps the biggest surprise, his 35 HRs and over 100 RBI made him the free agent pickup of the year, being that he was drafted in less than 1% of leagues. Fantasy Surprise - Pitcher Cliff Lee: Was he even drafted in most leagues, coming off the dreadful 2007? Going 22-4 for a team that has had trouble scoring runs for most of the season is quite an accomplishment. Ryan Dempster: Absolutely dominant at home, Dempster emerged as a big time producer in wins and Ks. We all talk about Carlos Zambrano and Rich Harden, but Dempster has been equally as valuable. Brad Lidge: We all knew he was a quality pitcher, but closing games in Fantasy Bust - Hitter Andruw Jones: 2 year, 36 million dollar contract = .158, 3, 14 enough said. Victor Martinez: Yeah I know he was hurt for most of the season, but it wasn’t like he was lighting up the scoreboard before his injury. Travis Hafner: see Victor Martinez. Fantasy Bust - Pitcher Justin Verlander: Pitched so poorly that most analysts thought he had to be injured. Jeff Francis: Just couldn’t pick up from where he left off last season. Erik Bedard: Was having a disastrous season and now there is a possibility that the Mariners will non-tender him if he will miss most of next season. Could go down as one of the worst trades ever. Fantasy Breakout Prospect Matt Kemp: Assuming Joe Torre just lets him play 150+ games next season. Justin Upton: Has really started to hit after coming back from his strained oblique, may finally reach his full potential in 2009. Nate McLouth: Showed some potential in a limited role last season, but took his game to big time level, producing 20 +HRs, almost 100 RBI and 20+ steals. Breakout Prospect for 2009 Ian Stewart: Just lost his rookies status, and has been slumping lately, but should get the full-time gig next year, and the kid can rake. Matt Wieters: Best hitting catching prospect to come out of the minors in many years. Jose Arredondo: Has pitched in the Angels bullpen all season, but if KRod leaves via free agency, he could be first in line for the closer's role. Sell High Candidate Cliff Lee: not that I think he’s going to be terrible, but if someone would give you CY Young value for him, I’d trade him in a heartbeat. Manny Ramirez: Will he perform as well once he has the contract he wants? Francisco Rodriguez: No way his numbers ever approach what they are now. Joe Mauer: Close between Pedroia, Youkilis and Morneau, but the fact that he is a catcher and doesn’t play in the best of offensive lineups gives him the edge. NL MVP Ryan Howard: All the big HRs he’s been hitting this month have led the Phillies back into the playoff hunt, which puts him slightly ahead of Albert Pujols. AL CY Young: Cliff Lee: You can make an argument for Roy Halladay, but a 22-3 record is hard to overlook NL CY Young Tim Lincecum: Playing on a medicore team and going 17 - 3, while leading the league in ERA gives him the edge over Brandon Webb. AL ROY Evan Longoria: Alexei Ramirez gave him a good run for his money, but not good enough. NL Geovany Soto: no doubt here, should get quite a few MVP votes also. World Series Prediction: Red Sox over Cubs in 7 Feel free to comment on this column or any other at GeorgeK@TheFantasySportsForum.com
Click here to
|
