KAC BASEBALL |
For the past several years now, the top three fantasy shortstops have been a no-brainer - Alex Rodriguez #1 with fellow American Leaguers Nomar Garciaparra and Derek Jeter battling for second. In the past two years Miguel Tejada has joined the fray as the AL's fourth elite shortstop. 2001 saw a few shortstops emerge in the National League as well. If you cant grab A-rod with the first pick, don't fret, there are many other options available these days...
Alex Rodriguez (TX/1880/$43) - You may find one or two better HR/RBI guys out there, but no one as good from a five category capacity, and besides Todd Helton, no one even close in the infield or behind the plate. A-Rod improved from .316/134/41/132/15 in 2000 to .319/133/52/135/18 last year. This year he turns 26, and he has improved protection in the Rangers lineup. Do you really want to select someone else with the first pick overall???
Derek Jeter (NYY/1580/$29) - A somewhat long cry from A-Rod, but Jerek could close the gap some in '02. Jeter's 2001 BA of .311 was a slight decline from .349 and .339 before that. Jeter also scored only 110 times last year, as opposed to 134 in '99. Derek's career high in HR's was also that year with 24. One career high Derek did set last year was steals with 27. At age 27, Jeter is entering his prime and is capable of optimal #'s of .340/130/30/100/30.
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Hopefully, he will not be "No-show" Garciaparra this time around... |
Miguel Tejada (OAK/1360/$26) - Tejada's a different animal than other members of the AL's fad four. Tejada's BA's have not been anything to write home (.251/.275/.267), and is not a stolen base threat. But he makes up for it in runs (105/107 the past two seasons), HR's (30/31) and RBI's (115/113). Don't be frustrated by his occasional slumps, for he is very streaky.
Rich Aurilia (SF/1360/$25) - Like teammate Jeff Kent the year before, Aurilia became a middle-infield monster in '01 with a .324/114/37/97 campaign. All totals were by far a career high, even with a small decline Rich should be good for .300/100/30/100.
Jimmy Rollins (PHI/940/$25) - One of baseball's leading rookies last year, Rollins surprised not only by staying in the lineup everyday, but by adding 14 HR's to go along with 46 steals, 97 runs, and a respectable .274 average. If Rollins were to move down the lineup in the future, he could be a five category force.
Juan Uribe (COL/500/$16) - Your Rockie snicky-snack at this position. Was handed the keys when incumbant Neifi Perez was traded and proceeded to go .300/32/8/53 in 72 games. Modestly multiply that by two and you have a great bargain, especially in CDM.
Orland Cabrera (MTL/930/$22) - At age 27, Cabrera has become a quiet accross the board performer, going .276/64/19/96/14 while playing in all 162 games last year. Playing for the Expos does hurt the run total.
Cristian Guzman (MN/940/$20) - Listed at age 24, Guzman is showing signs of joining the AL's upper crust at short. Last year Guzman went .302/80/10/51/25. The power numbers are capable of taking a leap that would make him a poor man's Derek Jeter.
Rafael Furcal (ATL/890/$24) - To the suprise of few, closer inspection of his birth certificate this year found Furcal to be 23 instead of 21. Went .275/39/4/30/22 in 79 games last year. Runs and steals will be his strength for the time being.
Jose Valentin (CWS/850/$13) - No one can argue the 53 bombs over the past two years (.258/74/28/68/9 in .01). The steals did go down from 19 to 9 last year. The BA is also never the greatest. Also eligible at third and the outfield.
Alex Gonzalez (CHC/810/$13) - We finally saw a good idea of what Alex could do in his last year with Toronto, going .252/79/17/76/18. The SB's were a huge suprise over previous campaigns. With the Cubs, the HR total could get over 20 with an improved BA.
Barry Larkin (CIN/920/$12) - In what amounts to typical beginning of Spring Training optimism, Larkin claims to be the healthiest he's been in years (at age 38). In 396 AB's in 2000 Larkin wnet .313/71/11/41/15. Multiply that by a time and a half and you have his top-end potential, and I mean top-end.
Julio Lugo (HOU/830/$11) - A better bet for top-end Barry Larkin numbers comes here. In 140 games Lugo went .263/93/10/37/12. In other words, a lot a runs at NO-FUND field along with occasional bombs and steals. My name is Lugo, I live on the second floor...
Tony Batisa (BAL/$15) - For more info the dude with the wierd stance go to the third base page.
Pokey Reese (PIT/$12) - Has gone from Cincy to Colorado to Boston to Pittsburgh in just one off-season. Find out more info in the second base page.
Omar Vizquel (CLE/1230/$12) - At age 35, definitely on the downside. His strength, SB's and runs, dropped from 42/112 in '99 to 13/84. No upside available here, and definitely not a consideration in CDM.
Edgar Renteria (STL/1080/$17) - Has anyone checked his birth certificate lately??? He's supposedly 26 but his stats are declining just like Vizquel's, from .275/92/11/63/37 in '99 to .260/54/10/57/17. There is still some SB/HR potential, but is still overrated in most circles.
Tony Womack (AZ/900/$17) - Womack doesn't dance quite the way he used to, so don't pay $17 dollars for the 72 SB's back in '99, or last season's playoff heroics. Tony provides zero power and 40 SB's at the maximum.
D'Angelo Jimenez (SD/400/$9) - Someone else Peter Gammons and other prospect-nicks have talked way too much about. Did go .276/45/3/33/2 in a half-season last year and is slated to play some second this year. A good fill-in only if he can he had at a dirt-cheap price.
Royce Clayton (CWS/780/$9) - Went .263/62/9/60/10 in 135 games in '01. That as good as it's going to get.
Neifi Perez (KC/820/$7) - Just a reminder, Neifi no longer plays for the Rockies - so look for nothing special in his offensive totals.