Pro
Fantasy Baseball 2007 Draft Report |
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2007
Fantasy Baseball Level B Sleepers |
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INFIELD |
| Player |
Pos |
Age |
Rate |
Rank |
| Rickie
Weeks - Brewers - Was looking
at a bid for a All-Star year before his injury batting
.279 with 8 HR's & 19 stolen bases with 359
at bats. He will be healthy and surrounded by a
good, young talented offense. |
2B |
24 |
6.5 |
93 |
| Ian
Kinsler - Rangers - He had
an up and down year as a rookie in 2006, but finished
solid with a .287average and 14 HR's, 27 doubles
and 11 SB's with 423 at bats. |
2B |
24 |
5.7 |
127 |
| Jose
Lopez - Mariners - The young
2B batted .282 with 10 HR's & 8 triples in his
first year as a starter. Faded in the second half
after hitting 9 HR's & 7 triples in the first
half. |
2B |
23 |
5.5 |
139 |
| Stephen
Drew - Diamondbacks - Was
a big-time minor league hitter and snatched the
starting job after being brought up in 2006. Finished
with a .316 average an 5 HR's, 7 triples & 13
doubles with 209 at bats. That is a 15 HR - 21 triple
- 139 double shortstop. |
SS |
24 |
5.5 |
137 |
| Chris
Burke - Astros - The 10th
overall pick in 2001 put together a pretty good
season finding playing time all over the field.
He will qualify as a 2B & OF, two very valuable
positions. He finished with a .276 average and hit
9 HR's, 23 doubles & 11 stolen bases with 366
at bats. Burke is a solid 20-20 candidate. |
2B/OF |
27 |
5.2 |
151 |
| Wilson
Betemit - Dodgers - If he
learns how to hit left-handing pitching he will
be an All-Star. Smashed 18 home runs with 373 at
bats and a .263 average in a split Brave - Dodger
2006 season. Keep an eye him in spring training,
if his is starting against & hitting lefties,
draft him. Otherwise, he is a decent prospect on
the bench. |
3B/SS |
27 |
5.1 |
167 |
| Jorge
Cantu - Devil Rays - Came
up big in 2005 when he hit .286 with 28 HR's, 117
RBI's, & 73 Runs, but bombed in 2006. He did
have a foot injury that nagged him. At 25 he can
come back to his 2005 All-Star numbers. Watch him
in spring training. |
2B |
25 |
5.1 |
162 |
| Ryan
Garko - Indians - He should
start at 1B for Cleveland. Garko had a good rookie
debut with a .292 batting average and 7 home runs
with his 185 at bats. |
1B |
26 |
5.1 |
166 |
| Josh
Bard - Padres - He will start
in 2007. Bard came on strong in 2006 batting .333
and hit 9 home runs with just 231 at bats. |
CAT |
29 |
4.6 |
* |
| Maicer
Izturis - Angels - He is not
a starter going into spring training. He played
3B, SS, & 2B in 2006 and batted .293 with 5
HR's, 3 triples, 21 doubles & 14 SB's with 352
at bats. He could play at 3B or 2B if Dallas McPherson
doesn't pan out or someone gets shifted to the DH
slot. Watch him in spring training. |
3B |
26 |
4.6 |
* |
| Esteban
German - Royals - Should start
somewhere in Kansas City and qualifies as the much
needed 2B & OF. Batted .326 with 3 HR's, 5 triples,
18 doubles & 7 stolen bases with 279 at bats. |
OF/2B/3B |
29 |
4.6 |
* |
| Josh
Barfield - Indians - Cleveland
acquired him after he batted .280 with 13 HR's &
21 stolen bases as a rookie for San Diego. The move
to a hitter-friendly park should help the young
prospect. |
2B |
24 |
4.6 |
* |
| Kelly
Johnson - Braves - Is the
top candidate to take over for Marcus Giles at 2B.
Has power. Came up in 2005 and hit 9 HR's with 290
at bats while batting .242 |
2B/OF |
25 |
4.2 |
* |
| Mike
Napoli - Angels - Will start
at catcher. Smashed 16 home runs and 42 RBI's in
just 262 at bats, although he only batted .228 and
struck out 90 times. |
CAT |
25 |
4.2 |
* |
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OUTFIELD |
| Player |
Pos |
Age |
Rate |
Rank |
| Chris
Duncan - Cardinals - Exploded
onto the scene in the second half with 19 home runs
with just 280 at bats while batting .292. He will
have to earn a starting position in the outfield
and will back up Pujols at 1B. Bottom line, he has
35 HR potential, he can bat .300 and has some speed
(3 triples & 60 runs). |
OF |
25 |
6.5 |
95 |
| Nick
Markakis - Orioles - Came
on strong in the second half, including a 3 home
run game, and batted .316 with 14 HR's. Finished
.291 with 16 HR's overall. |
OF |
23 |
5.5 |
138 |
| Andre
Ethier - Dodgers - Will be
the lone young gun in the Dodgers new veteran offense
that includes, Luis Gonzales, Jeff Kent, Rafael
Furcal, Juan Pierre & Nomar Garciaparra. Batted
.308 with 11 HR's, 7 triples, 20 doubles, 11 stolen
bases with 396 at bats. He could put together great
stats for Roto leagues. |
OF |
25 |
5.3 |
146 |
| Matt
Murton - Cubs - Came on strong
in the second half batting .319 with 9 HR's with
206 at bats. He has .300 - 30 home run potential. |
OF |
26 |
5.2 |
151 |
| Corey
Hart - Brewers - Reminiscent
of Brady Clark, but hopefully he will do better
in his second year. He batted .283 & hit 9 HR's
with 237 at bats. The Brewer offense will be good
in 2007& Hart has a good combo of speed &
power that could calculate into a very good fantasy
season. |
OF |
25 |
5.1 |
171 |
| Luke
Scott - Astros - Will have
to fight for a starting job, but if he plays like
he did last year, he will start. He batted .336
with 10 HR's with just 214 at bats. |
OF |
28 |
4.7 |
194 |
| Esteban
German - Royals - Should start
somewhere in Kansas City, but qualifies as the much
needed 2B & OF. Batted .326 with 3 HR's, 5 triples,
18 doubles & 7 stolen bases with 279 at bats. |
OF/2B/3B |
29 |
4.6 |
* |
| Brian
Anderson - White Sox - Was
handed the starting centerfield spot in Chicago.
Struggled as a rookie batting just .225 & hit
8 HR's with 365 at bats. He batted .295 with 16
HR's in AAA in 2005. Does have good speed as well. |
CF |
25 |
4.4 |
* |
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PITCHERS |
| Player |
Pos |
Age |
Rate |
Rank |
| Cole
Hamels - Phillies - He
will enter as the 5th pitcher in the Phillies
rotation, but may not end their. As a 22 year-old
rookie Hamel went an average 9-8 with a 4.09 ERA,
but posted 145 K's in 132.1 innings. Has the big
K potential that makes an All-Star fantasy pitcher. |
SP |
23 |
6.1 |
111 |
| Matt
Cain - Giants - Read above.
Very similar finishing a so-so 13-12 with a 4.15
ERA and 179 K's in 190.2 innings. Cain, a highly
touted prospect in 2006, finished very strong
at 5-1. |
SP |
22 |
6.1 |
113 |
| Chuck
James - Braves - Looked
great as a rookie going 11-4 with a 3.78 ERA and
91 K's 119 innings. The Braves are known for great
pitching coaches and James could be their newest
protégé. |
SP |
26 |
5.6 |
136 |
| Rich
Hill - Cubs - Finished just
6-7 with a 4.67 ERA in 2006, but did have 90 K's
in 99.1 innings. The Cubs have upgraded their
offense in the off season which will help all
the Cubs' pitchers and Hill could reach 15 wins. |
SP |
27 |
5.6 |
138 |
| Scott
Olsen - Marlins - The big
lefty went 12-10 with a 4.04 ERA and 166 K's in
180.2 innings as a rookie. The Marlins have a
good young team & Olsen could improve to 15
wins and see his ERA under 4.00 in 2007. |
SP |
24 |
5.0 |
174 |
| Adam
Wainwright - Cardinals - Was
a stud closer as in the playoffs for the Cardinals,
but will be a starter in 2007. |
SP/RP |
25 |
4.7 |
* |
| Clay
Hensley - Padres - Finished
11-12 with a 3.71 ERA & 122 K's in 187 innings
in 2006. Hensley had an impressive ERA of 2.66
in the second half. |
SP |
26 |
4.7 |
* |
| Chad
Billingsley - Dodgers - Went
7-4 with a 3.80 ERA &
59 K's in 90 innings as a rookie in 2006. Los
Angles seems to always be a good place for pitching. |
SP |
22 |
4.7 |
* |
| John
Maine - Mets - He pitched
well in the playoffs after posting a 6-5 mark
with a 3.60 ERA & 71 strikeouts in 90 innings
in 2006. |
SP |
25 |
4.7 |
* |
| Boof
Bonser - Twins - He was
7-6 overall with a 4.22
ERA & 84 K's in 101.1 innings as a rookie
in 2006. Posted a 3.62 ERA in the second half
of the season. |
SP |
25 |
4.5 |
* |
| Brandon
McCarthy - Rangers - The
top pitching prospect for Chicago in 2006 went
4-7 with a 4.68 ERA & 69 K's in 84.2 innings,
mostly in the bullpen. His trade to Texas probably
is bad for fantasy value, but he should be assured
a spot in the rotation in Texas. |
SP |
23 |
4.4 |
* |
| Zach
Miner- Tigers - Another
good young pitcher in Detroit. Went 7-6 with a
4.84 ERA & 59 K's in 93 innings as a rookie
in 2006. Was moved to the bullpen and will have
to fight to get a spot in the crowded Tiger rotation.
He had a streak as a starter where he went 6-0,
posting an ERA in the 2's. |
SP |
22 |
4.4 |
* |
| Anthony
Reyes - Cardinals - Was
a big prospect who didn't pan-out in 2006, but
the Cardinals believe in his abilities and he
will start in 2007. Went a lowly 5-8 with a 5.06
ERA, but does have a good K-ratio. |
SP |
26 |
4.4 |
* |
| Jon Lester
- Red Sox - The 23-year-old
lefty showed great stuff as a rookie going 7-2
with a 4.76 ERA he struck out 60 in 81.1 innings.
He should be the fifth starter in the rotation. |
SP |
24 |
4.4 |
* |
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Level
A Sleepers
Level
C Sleepers |
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