Saturday, February 14, 2009

The Importance of Mock Drafts

During every fantasy baseball season i have my ups and my downs. I have teams that do extremely well and teams that seem like i have to look for any angle just to make the fantasy baseball playoffs. The teams that struggle through the season are usually the teams that I drafted earlier in the year. These fantasy baseball teams are usually weak at certain positions and have little to no strategy. I sometimes feel that all of this losing could be taken care of if i had done better preparation for the fantasy baseball draft. What better way to prepare than a fantasy baseball mock draft. A fantasy baseball mock draft is like practice for the real thing. Without practice you are just going into the draft blind and will end up with many fantasy baseball team that look like MLB practice squads. There are many lessons that can be learned from a mock draft; also you can test a draft strategy to see if it works this year.

Most people skip the whole fantasy baseball mock draft practice sessions because they just don’t have time. However these are the same people that complain about losing their league. Preparation is key in order to have a chance to winning your fantasy baseball league. Fantasy baseball mock drafts are a great way to prepare for the upcoming season.

When doing a fantasy baseball mock draft remember that it is just a mock. You need to take in to account that a lot of other people are using this time to test their own draft strategies. If a strategy works during the mock draft it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will work doing the real thing. Make sure that the draft site you use for your mock drafts allows chat so as you can inquire from others why they made each pick.

Although a lot of fantasy baseball players don’t take the mock draft to seriously there is still a lot of useful information to be obtained from doing a mock draft. You can see where each player is getting taken (ADP). You can also see how late or early a player is being taken. You can use this information to find out if you can wait on a sleeper or if you will have to reach quickly in order to get a player you really like this year. Mock drafts are a great tool to learn when your fantasy baseball sleepers are being selected.

Mock drafts are a great way to fine tune your draft strategy. They are great tools in finding when each player is being taken and when you can wait to pick a sleeper candidate. The mock draft is something that is often skipped by fantasy baseball managers however it is an important step in winning your league. If you want to have an advantage over your fellow fantasy baseball drafters then a mock draft is the way to do so!

Friday, February 13, 2009

1st Base Rankings

Fantasy baseball has always viewed the 1st base position as one of power. A good portion of your home runs and RBI's will come from your fantasy baseball first baseman. In order to win your fantasy baseball league you need to do a lot of research. Research takes time, so i have taken the liberty of doing the hard part for you. Instead of just ranking the players i have decided to use a tier ranking system. This system allows you to see where the drop off between first baseman occurs and where each first baseman compares to the next. Understanding how tier systems work is a great way to help you win your fantasy baseball league.

Tier 1 has the power first baseman. However most of these guys will score you quite a few runs as well. Drafting one of these guys in the first two rounds will not be a mistake. These guys are what it could take to win the fantasy baseball season in 2009. When reading these rankings remember that i use (HR/RBI/R/AVG/SB) to predict there stats for the 2009 season.

Tier 1.

1. Albert Pujols. (40/115/105/.325/10)
Hurt, not hurt doesn't matter this guy is one of the best to ever play the game. He is a five stat contributor and can carry your team through the season. Even hurt last year he put up MVP numbers which is incredible, look for this guy to go in the top 5 picks of the draft.

2. Miguel Cabrera. (40/120/105/.295/2)
Detroit's lineup will not disappoint this year. They were expected to score 1000 runs last year; they will make up for it this year. Look for this offense to be explosive, the best in baseball.

3. Ryan Howard. (45/115/100/.270/0)
Plays in the best hitters’ park. However he was a disappointment which is why i have him at number 3 for first baseman, He will most like hit 40+ homeruns so the power will continue but look for a drop off in RBI's.

4. Mark Tiexera. (35/125/110/.305/1)
The Yankees are paying him big money to produce, and produce he will. That lineup is possibly the best EVER in baseball. Hitting is contagious and Tiexera now plays with the best of the best.


Tier 2 will be full of plenty of players. If you don’t get one of the above players don’t waste a pick reaching for someone in tier 2.

Tier 2.

5. Prince Fielder. (32/105/95/.275/2)
What a disappointment he was last year. Look for these to be more like his number in 2009. He is the best in the 2nd tier, but the rest of these guys have a great chance to outperform the prince in fantasy baseball 2009.

6. Justin Morneau. (28/130/105/.315/0)
He has the potential to hit 30 homeruns and drive in 130 RBI's. These are great numbers. He will also help your teams BA.

7. Lance Berkman. (30/100/95/.300/15)
Nobody got off to a hotter start than lance last year, but boy did he cool down after the all star break. Look for him to finish were he finished last year.

8. Kevin Youkilis. (30/105/105/.305/2)
YOOOUUUUKKKK had a great season last year. He will repeat those numbers again this year, and he has 3rd baseman eligibility. Look for this guy to be a great fantasy baseball contributor in 2009.

9. Adrian Gonzalez. (30/100/95/.280/0)
Another first baseman that is a lock for 30 HR's. Take this guy in your fantasy baseball draft and don’t look back. If you can get him in the 6th round of your fantasy baseball draft, take him.

10. Carlos Pena. (35/110/90/.260/0)
This guy is a power house, he will hurt you in average but a guy you can get in the 8th round that will get you 30+ home runs, sign me up!


Tier 3.

11. Aubrey Huff. (25/95/85/.290/2)
No one knows what he can really do. He was a highly scouted prospect just a few years ago but has been a severe disappointment to fantasy baseball owners. Draft him if you feel like taking a risk, and then keep your fingers crossed.

12. Carlos Delgado. (35/105/85/.265/0)
The Mets will be a force in the NL east, as I have said many times before hitting is contagious. Take him then pencil in 30+ HR's and 100+ RBI's

13. Derek Lee. (23/100/90/.285/5)
Anotehr risky option at first base. He will most like get injured, if he stays healthy though, look out!

14. Joey Voto. (25/95/80/.285/5)
What a rookie season for this kid. He will get you over 20 HR's everything else is up in the air though.

15. James Loney. (17/105/95/.280/5)
Try not to draft him, he should be your last resort during your fantasy baseball 2009 draft.


Drafting your fantasy baseball team is the most important part of the season. It is obviously where Fantasy seasons are won and lost. Look to get yourself one of the first baseman in the first two tiers or just toss in the towel and ask your commissioner when the next season will start.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Top 10 Fantasy Starting Pitchers 2009

Defense wins championships is one of the most famous sports quotes of all time. However once fantasy sports have come around that strategy has become less viable. Offense has been what is used to win championships. In fantasy baseball season 2009 the holds true however there are a few pitchers worth looking at in the first couple of rounds. These guys can be considered your fantasy aces. If you find it necessary to draft one of these guys then be prepared to loose some offensive production. If you play in a basic Head to Head league then drafting a stud pitcher will help you easily win your pitching stats for the week.

These ten guys are the best of the best. They are all going to be Cy young contenders and could help you win your fantasy baseball league. These pitchers will contribute with every start they make, not just by getting you a win but by lowering your overall ERA and increasing your strike out total.

In order for someone to be considered a fantasy baseball pitching stud they need to have past experience, contribute in at least four of the five main pitching categories, and not be a high risk for injury.

1. Johan Santana.
2. C.C. Sabathia
3. Cole Hammels
4. Tim Lincecum
5. Roy Halladay
6. Brandon Webb
7. Josh Becket
8. Jake Peavy
9. Cliff Lee
10. Dan Haren

These are the guys that if you want to waste an early pick on a pitcher they are almost worth it. I would however not select any of them before the 4th round. if any of the top 4 are still around then take them, however i suggest you use these picks to land your self a 5 category hitter. Offensive players play every day so they are more of a contribution to your fantasy team. Waiting until the later rounds of the draft is your best bet to winning your fantasy baseball league.

Tier Rankings for Catchers 2009

The catcher position in past seasons has been one that was just filler. For real Baseball teams the defense that a catcher provides is far more important than there offensive value. Since all we care about as fantasy baseball managers is offensive production the catcher spot has usually been a position that is drafted later in the draft. Here are my tier rankings for fantasy baseball catchers in 2009. When looking at this the player predicted stats are formatted as follows: (HR/RBI/R/AVG/SB)

The tier one of catchers is usually drafted in the 4th through 6th rounds. The fantasy managers that draft a catcher in these early rounds are usually managers that are using the position scarcity strategy. It is my suggestion however that even in using this strategy you wait till the 2nd tier of fantasy baseball catchers to begin drafting them. So with out any more of a hold up here are my Fantasy baseball tier rankings for catchers:

Tier 1.

1. Joe Mauer. (12/85/95/.330/5)
Joe lives on the base paths. He has an absolute ridiculous on base percentage. He will help your team with batting average, and score plenty of runs. If you are looking for a catcher that will play almost every day and score a lot of runs Mr. Mauer is your man!

2. Brian McCann. (20/85/60/.290/2)
Look for McCann to take a step back in production. However his numbers will still keep him in the top tier of fantasy baseball catchers. Don't forget that Brian plays for a falling team and could be traded at any time to a true competitor.

3. Russell Martin. (12/65/85/.280/20)
A catcher with 20 steal potential, that is quite un-heard of. if you are looking for a super speedy team and would like some speed at the catcher position the Russell is the catcher for you. He is the only catcher in this years draft that has 20/20 potential, however i don't see him increasing his home runs over last year.

That sums is up for tier 1 of fantasy baseball catchers. The only reason that anyone should be drafting these guys is if they are using the position scarcity fantasy baseball strategy.

Tier 2.

4. Victor Martinez. (20/100/80/.295/0)
If he is healthy this year he should hit at least 20 home runs. If you feel the big V-Mart will return back to form and can stay healthy all year then wait till the 1st tier of catcher's have been taking, wait till around the 7th round and steal him because he will be a bargain that late in the draft.

5. Geovany Soto. (20/80/70/.280/0)
After putting up insane fantasy baseball numbers last year i would expect a small sophomore slump from him. He will still be a great catcher to have on any team, however don't look for a repeat of last year.

6. Ryan Doumit. (14/70/70/.310/2)
He plays for the pirates... With no one hitting around him his RBI's could go down.

7. Chris Iannetta. (22/75/60/.265/0)
He plays in the hitter friendly park. However the Rockies offense is well, a bit rocky. they have lost Holiday, however if this guy plays in more than 100 games this year look for him to be a HR factor on your team.


Tier 3.

8. Matt Wieters. (no idea)
How can a guy that has never played in a big league game get this kind of a ranking? He deserves it. The question is no longer if he gets called up, its when. When he does make sure he is on your roster.

9. Jorge Posada. (15/80/85/.280/2)
He is getting old. However he plays for the Yankees. its pretty much a guarantee that every time he comes up to the plate there will be a man on base.

10. Bengie Molina. (18/85/45/.275/0)
His RBI totals last year were insane! look for them to drop back to earth.


Tier 4.

11. Dioner Navarro. (8/60/45/.290/2)
He plays for the Rays. They have a great offense and hitting can be contagious.

12. Mike Napoli. (20/70/50/.245/5)
Can he play an entire season? This guy can hit if the Angels will let him. He is a risk, but the reward is a catcher that could possibly hit 25+ home runs. He is in the 4th tier because of the risk factor.

13. A.J. Pierzynski. (10/55/60/.280/1)
He is getting older and plays Catcher. His numbers will drop. But he will get the job done, her certainly will not hurt you in any category.

14. Pablo Sandoval. (10/75/70/.300/0)
This guy is the next Joe Mauer in the making. He gives you average and RBI's. If he gets more playing time his numbers should reach some nice heights. He also has 1st and 3rd base eligibility.

15. Ramon Hernandez. (10/ 60/50/.265/0)
These number are terrible, look to get someone else.


With the catcher position being so weak this year it really doesn't matter who you get, just get someone that you believe will play ever day. That sums up my Tier rankings for Fantasy Catchers. Make sure to check out my other fantasy baseball tier rankings here.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Undervalued Fantasy Players 2009

Every year there are players that are drafted way after there final Fantasy value for the year. I always find myself wondering why i didn't realize these fantasy studs before the draft. However coming up with these players takes lot of time and research. So what will you find here, i have done all the hard work for you! So with out taking up to much more of your time here is a few fantasy players that will outperform there average draft position.

1. David Ortiz
Big Papi had a down year last year. He was hurt and missed a substantial amount of playing time. Everyone is all ready to doubt him because Manny is gone, however don't forget Papi is a force, look for him to bounce back this year. Papi's fantasy ADP has been around 50th. Look to get him in the 4th round if he is still around, he will not disappoint.

2. Carlos Pena
Another Slugger that is being undervalued. Pena in most mock drafts has been going 65th overall. if you can get him in the 5th round, take him. Sluggers that have the potential to score 50HR and over 100RBI should not still be on the table when the 6th round begins. If you want some serious power on your fantasy baseball team, Pena is the man.

3. Cliff Lee
This guys shows some serious potential and any pitcher with his potential should not have an average draft position of 68th over all. If you are looking for an ace that you can snag after the 6th round the Lee is your guy! He plays for a great team (hopefully) and will have a great defense behind him. Look for Cliff lee to yet again be a cy Young candidate.

That is just 3 players that i feel are being undervalued in this years Mock Drafts. Make sure to check out my post about Fantasy Busts in 2009!

3 Busts of Fantasy Baseball 2009

Every Fantasy baseball season has them, the players that are so hyped up, but don't live up to there mark. The sexy picks of the year, that just flat out flop. This year there are certainly quite a few. Here are 3 of my "favorite" Bust candidates.

1. C.C. Sabathia:
He is going before the 3rd round! This makes no sense to me. Here is a guy that has had one good year and everyone is ready to rank him right up there with Johan Santana? He won 19 games in 2007, and 17 in 2008. He know plays for the Yankees, but it back in the very competitive AL East. Sabathia is talented however should not be going before the 5th round of any draft. C.C. Sabathia will be one of the biggest busts of 2009.

Bold "bust" predictions: 13w 185K 3.85ERA 1.25WHIP


2. Ian Kinsler
Like Sabathia Kinsler is going in the 2nd round of most drafts. Sometimes even before Chase Utley. Kinsler will not finish as the top 2nd baseman in 2009. Kinsler will be a huge disappointment in 2009, and will certainly be a bust.

Bold Bust Predictions: 15HR 90R 55RBI 15SB .270avg


3. Josh Hamilton
Last year was fluke. This guy is going in the first round, you will not get first round worthy numbers from him. He will be the biggest Fantasy bust of 2009!

Bold Predictions: 25HR 95R 90RBI 8SB .285avg (these are great numbers, but not for a first round pick)


These are just 3 of the many fantasy baseball busts of 2009. Look for more to come soon! And don't forget to check out our mock draft results!

Mock Draft 2009, Round 1

Here are the results and comments about Round one of the Mock Draft 2009.



1. Frank: Albert Pujols, 1B - STL. This guy is a machine. First base is actually one of the weaker positions this year, I’ll take the best at that position, and move on

2. Jon: Hanley Ramirez, SS - FLA. The best of the best. He will hands down win me a few of the weeks match ups; don't know how i can pass him up. He is an asset to any fantasy baseball team in 2009.

3. Bells. Alex Rodriguez, 3B - NYY. Mr. Consistent. Even with the recent steroid rumors, ohh wait he admitted to it; look for this guy to put up monster numbers during the fantasy baseball 2009 season.

4. Chris. David Wright, 3B - NYM. He has yet to hit his ceiling, hoping this is his year. He puts up outrageous numbers every year, but the sky is the limit with him. Look for wright to be part of MVP talks in the NL

5. Sean. Jose Reyes, SS - NYM. Position Scarcity has been my plan this year, and i am sticking to it. You always want speed from your shortstop in fantasy baseball; this guy will give it to me.

6. Ryan. Grady Sizemore, OF - CLE. Speed, power, and RBI? What else can you ask for from your first round pick. Outfield is also a position that is scarce this year.

7. Mat. Ryan Braun, OF - MIL. I like to take chances when it comes to fantasy baseball. This guy has so much potential, and he is very young. safe picks will not win championships!

8. Greg. Miguel Cabrera, 1B/3B - DET. Detroit was terrible last year, actually that was too nice, THEY SUCKED!!! Look for them to score those 1,000 runs this year.

9. Mikey. Chase Utley, 2B - PHI. He plays for a deep position, and he might start the season hurt. However once he is on my active fantasy baseball roster this guy will tear it up!

10. Aaron. Ryan Howard, 1B - PHI. His average is horrible, but no one will get you more RBI and HR at 1B, what’s not to like?

11. David. Josh Hamilton, OF - TEX. We have seen what he can do, we have seen what all the hype is about. This guy is explosive and the Texas lineup is a force!

12. Mark. Johan Santana, SP - NYM. Defense wins Fantasy Baseball Championships. I am going to stick with that!

So the first round is up, nothing out of order so far, look for some of these mock drafters to begin reaching for breakout players in round 2 of fantasy baseball mock draft 2009.