Checking updates in class for day games. Rushing home from work to check how your squad performed, only to find out they went 4 for 32. I am here to help.
Take ‘Em Early:
Miguel Cabrera has to be the number one pick. Firstly, the man has shedded 25 pounds this offseason and is in the finest shape of his life. Secondly, Prince Fielder will be fortifying the on-deck circle when Cabrera digs in the box.
No human pitcher will choose to walk Cabrera and watch Fielder send a ball 450 ft. into the right field upper deck. Expect Cabrera to go for 40 bombs combined with a .300 average.
Joey Votto has been rock solid and underrated for the Reds, averaging over 30 homers a season over the past three years. Get him in the latter of the first round for guaranteed power.
Evan Longoria is going to be an MVP candidate on the predicted division winning Tampa Bay Rays.
Last season, he missed a month and still slugged 31 homers. Longoria will hit over .270 and with 35 jacks for Tampa Bay.
Carlos Gonzalez is poised for a heroic year. Too bad Colorado will have a hard time being relevant because of their pitching. Regardless, this dude is going to kill it this year in all offensive categories.
Cole Hamels has his contract year as he is endeavoring to compete for the top of that Phillies rotation. I predict he wins close to 20 games and makes a trip to the bank come next winter.
Adam Wainwright is one year removed from CY Young Award numbers. He is healthy and equipped to recapture form as a top ten pitcher. The St. Louis lineup is underrated as well; he’ll get the wins.
Take ‘Em Late:
Delmon Young will be on my fantasy baseball team, one way or another this year. In that lineup crowded with sluggers, he will join in on the hit parties taking place.
Additionally, it’s a contract year for the 26 year old.
Ivan Nova won a quiet 17 games last year. If you can grab this cat towards the end of the draft, do it. I promise the Yankees will score runs in support of him.
Austin Jackson will score a mass amount of runs and steal bases for you as well. This year he will manage to draw some walks and cut down on strikeouts to be an asset for your squad.
Brennan Boesch must be losing sleep over the amount of eagerness he has. The Tigers will have him slotted in front of Cabrera and Fielder.
I would love to get my hands on this dude come the end of the draft.
Trevor Cahill is facing weak NL West offenses. He is a year removed from being an 18 game winner. Oh yeah, and Cahill is only 24 years old.
Jason Kubel will be part of that Arizona offense. I have faith Kubel will be driving in guys, as he is positioned in the middle of their lineup.
Try to Avoid:
Any player on the Houston Astros.
Any player on the Athletics not named Jemile Weeks or Brandon McCarthy.
Matt Kemp is obviously a top pick in your fantasy baseball draft. However, if you are looking for equal production that you received last year, it seems doubtful.One, there are limited bats around him.Two, he just got his big contract. I would pick a more annually consistent guy if I had one of the first couple picks.
Ryan Braun has an immense amount of pressure this year.
He must come out and hit 30 plus bombs in order to unshackle himself from the steroid suspicion. This will be tough without Mr. Fielder looming next in the order.
Hiroki Kuroda has been successful in an offensively depleted division in years past. He now steps into the role of facing offensively driven lineups with the Red Sox, Rays and Jays. Here’s the ball, good luck.
Yu Darvish has some freakish stuff. But it scares me how guys in Japan pitch every six days. The adjustment to five takes a toll.
Other Japanese guys like Daisuke Matsuzaka have had trouble staying healthy because of it.
I think he can be dominant early, but it will wear off towards the second half. It is a high risk, high reward pick. If he is around later on, grab him..
Tim Shanahan can be reached at tshanahan@spartans.ut.edu.