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2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit
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2011 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper Report
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Infield Bargains |
Player |
Pos |
| Matt Wieters - Baltimore
Orioles - The 2010 rookie
bust (fantasy-wise) was a victim of over hype and a bad
supporting cast. The Orioles' offense simply did not perform
to its potential and that potential was average at best.
But this is exactly why he makes an excellent sleeper
in 2011. He should tumble in this years draft in comparison
to 2010, but value actually increases coming into 2011.
First, the Orioles have made some effort to upgrade there
offense again after a failed 2010 attempt. They added
veteran's Vladimir Guerrero and Derek Lee and replaced
third basemen Ty Wigginton with the free-swinging slugger,
Mark Reynolds. In addition, second basemen Brian Roberts
looks to be healthy as well as 2009 rookie Nolan Reimold.
Reimold will battle the young Félix Pié
for the left field spot. They also added shortstop J.J.
Hardy who has been a disappointment since his 2008, 24
home run season, but he is nevertheless, a big upgrade.
If young stars Nick Markakis and Adam Jones fulfil their
potential, it will be a much improved offense
When it comes to Wieters, he still has the same potential
that he had coming into 2010. He still batted .343 and
hit 32 home runs with 578 in the minors and he still has
the ability to be a .300, 20 home-run-hitting catcher
in the big leagues. His 13 home runs with a .249 batting
average in 2010 should temper those expectations, but
a .270, 15 home run season with potential for more is
very possible. |
C |
| Gordon Beckham - Chicago
White Sox - Another player who under-performed
and should be a draft-day bargain in 2011. Beckham broke
out as a rookie in 2009 popping 14 home runs with 378
at bats, but then regressed a bit in 2010 hitting just
9 home runs with 444 at bats.
The 24-year-old has a ton of potential and plays at a
scarce position, second base. Beckham has the ability
to be a 20 home run hitter and could steal 10 bases. With
some very good hitters surrounding him in the White Sox
line-up, including new free-agent acquisition Adam Dunn,
he should reach 80-80 in runs and RBI's. |
2B |
| Pablo Sandoval - San
Francisco Giants - It seems to be the theme of
2011, failed breakouts of 2010 are in this years bargain
bin. Sandoval looked to be the next .300 , 30 home run,
100 RBI third basemen, but he ended up being a complete
bust. .268, 13 home runs and 63 RBI's wasn't even worth
a fantasy roster spot in 2010. There was no excuse for
the decline like injuries or a bad team around him, so
he deserves a serious downgrade, but don't let him fall
too far. He has made an effort with a strong off season
conditioning program and he the Giants still have a very
solid offense surrounding him so it is very likely he
will improve his lowly 2010 numbers and return a bit closer
to his 2009.
The lofty goals of .300 and 30 home runs should be put
away, but .290 and 20 home runs still make for a very
solid fantasy third basemen. |
3B |
| Howie Kendrick - Los
Angeles Angels - He is the classic bargain-basement
second basemen. He should drop pretty far in the draft
and allow you to build your team else where. With Kendrick
your not going to get a dominate second basemen, but you
will get very solid all-around stats. In 2010 he batted
a .279 with 10 home runs, 41 doubles and 14 stolen bases.
He is a lifetime .295 hitter who, in his first full season,
only struck out 94 times in 616 at bats. In 2011 Kendrick
has the potential to bat .300 and hit ten home runs and
steal ten bases. His extra base hits, runs and RBI totals
will make him a worthy fantasy starter. |
2B |
| Martín Prado - Atlanta
Braves - He will likely start in the outfield,
but will also qualify as a second basemen as well as a
third basemen. In 2010 Prado quietly broke out batting
.307 with 15 home runs, 41 doubles, 100 runs and 66 RBI's.
He is a lifetime .307 hitter with 1378 at bats, so he
is starting to prove that he is a legitimate .300 hitter.
The Braves should score plenty of runs in 2011 and Prado
will be right in the middle of it. Combine that with his
position eligibility and you have a valuable fantasy player
that you should be able to draft at a good price. |
OF/2B/3B |
| José López -
Colorado Rockies - Lopez looked
to finally become a legitimate starting fantasy second
basemen after back-to-back seasons of averaging 21 home
runs, 41 doubles, 92 RBI's and a .285 batting average.
Those are more than just legitimate starting stats for
a second basemen, they are knocking on the door of All-Star.
Then
came 2010. In fairness the entire Seattle offense was
pathetic in 2010 and but Lopez was very much part of it
batting .239 with 10 home runs.
Seattle since traded Lopez to Colorado to make room for
rookie Dustin Ackley. This couldn't be better news for
Jose Lopez, if he can win the starting job. It is likely
he will battle the young Jonathan Herrera for the second
base job. Jonathan Herrera did well late in 2010, batting.284.
He has good speed, but his power doesn't match Lopez.
If Lopez can beat him out he could be the bargain of the
draft with the potential to hit .285 with 20 to 25 home
runs and plenty of RBI's and runs in the Colorado offense.
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2B/3B |
| Mike Aviles - Kansas
City Royals - Injuries and a bad team has kept
Mike Aviles from becoming an every day fantasy starter,
but he ended 2010 as just that. He finished with a .304
batting average and had eight home runs and 14 stolen
bases with 414 at bats. Drafting a Royal always comes
with the understanding that run and RBI totals will be
less, but if Mike Aviles can stay healthy he should be
good for a .300 average, 10-15 home runs and 15 stolen
bases. He should also produce solid double and triple
numbers in addition to the possibility that he could qualify
for shortstop. |
2B |
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