Feb
12
2009
2009 Fantasy Outfield Rankings: Top Ten
Posted by: Knox Bardeen in Draft Lists, Fantasy Baseball, tags: Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Lee, Carlos Quentin, Grady Sizemore, Jason Bay, Josh Hamilton, Manny Ramirez, Matt Holliday, Ryan BraunIt’s time to begin the ranking of outfielders for the 2009 season. Today, let’s look at the top ten.
- Grady Sizemore | Cleveland Indians - Dude became a 30/30 guy last season after three seasons of posting 20/20 numbers. And get this, he’s only 26-years old. Triple digit runs scored and the possibility of approaching triple digit RBI make it easy to forget that Sizemore doesn’t have the best batting average.
- Ryan Braun | Milwaukee Brewers - Anyone who passed on Braun before the ‘08 season worried about a sophomore slump came away disappointed. He scored more runs, hit more home runs and increased his RBI output. Even without third base eligibilty any more, he’s still one of the picks of the litter.
- Carlos Beltran | New York Mets - At 31-years old people keep telling me that Delgado’s value should plummet soon. It hasn’t happened. He’s a 20/20 guy with triple digit RBI and run totals and nothing less should be expected in ‘09.
- Josh Hamilton | Texas Rangers - Maybe in the ‘09 All-Star game Hamilton won’t use up all his second half home runs in the derby. Just about 2/3 of his homers came in the first half in ‘08. He posted triple digit RBI and almost hit triple digits in runs scored. His nine stolen bases are gravy. More power could show up in ‘09.
- Manny Ramirez | Free Agent - What Manny did in the seconld half was sick last year. He can’t keep that pace up for an entire season, but a batting average above .300 with 25+ home runs and triple digit RBI and run totals should be the new definition of “Manny being Manny”.
- Carlos Lee | Houston Astros - Lee lost close to 200 at-bats due to a shattered pinky in ‘08. He still hit 28 home runs and drove in 100. With the pinky healed expect Lee to easily lock down a line something like .300/30/100/100/10.
- Alfonso Soriano | Chicago Cubs - Unfortunately, Soriano has been trending negatively in his playing time due to injuries. If he can solve that problem in ‘09 he could get back to his studly 30/30 like numbers.
- Jason Bay | Boston Red Sox - Bay’s 2008 performance went a long way in showing us that his poor showing in 2007 was an outlier. Give him a full season hitting in that stacked Red Sox lineup and you’ll see better things in ‘09 then you saw in ‘08.
- Matt Holliday | Oakland Athletics - The new team name on his uniform is the reason why Holliday is in the bottom half of this top ten list and not near the top. The move to Oakland isn’t going to turn him into a Louse, but his offensive output can’t match his days in Colorado, can it?
- Carlos Quentin | Chicago White Sox - A wrist injury kept Quentin from reaching 40 home runs last season. In 480 at-bats he still drove in 100 and scored 96 runs. In ‘09 watch for Quentin to finish the breakout he started in 2008.
Entries (RSS)
February 12th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Holliday should be #3 on this list. Hammy is gonna be that first rounder that shouldn’t be there and Holliday is gonna be that guy people are passing on becasue they’re scared and he’s gonna put up first round numbers again. Ranking him behind soriano and bay???? Soriano will be injured for 20+ games and Bay is good, but he’s not the SB threat he use to be, and talk of his knees bothering him?
Give me Holliday in that second round…. COORS field or not!
February 12th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Thanks for the comment Tony. I have struggled with Holliday’s projection every day since his trade to Oakland. Some days I’m as high on him as you are, and some days (like today) I am not so high on him.
You could be very right about Soriano, but I’m pretty sure that Bay will outperform Holliday. Also, you didn’t really say so, but you hinted towards me thinking that Hamilton is a first rounder. I don’t think he is at all. In fact, only Braun and Sizemore deserve to be 1st round fantasy picks. Hamilton, Beltran and even Holliday are too risky to be picked that early.
I always enjoy your feedback. Keep it coming!!!
February 14th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Josh Hamilton should be #1. This guy puts up over 100 RBI’s and will have 45+ homers this year
February 14th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
By saying he “puts up over 100″ RBI makes it sound like he’s done it multiple times. He’s only done it once. He’s only had one great year. I’d like to see if he has the ability to repeat (much less add 25% to his HR total) his ‘08 performance before we go placing him up at #1.
February 16th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
haha yeah “he puts up” as in ONCE….. no track record, for all we know he goes back to heroin half way thru the year.
His second half was either a worn down version or who he will be. Its still a solid ball player just not what his first half impression left us with.
March 13th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I think you’re wrong about Holliday. He was one of my favorite players in the bigs when he was with the Rockies (family’s from Denver). Just curious…where do most of you guys have your drafts? Everyone just do it online? I’ve been in a keeper league for like 5-6 yrs with a couple buddies and we actually have our draft @ a local bar near our homes…which I feel might put us in the minority. Reason I ask is that I was surprised to see that CBSSports.com has a contest going on to win a draft party. You’re supposed to tell them your “best” Fantasy Baseball story and you can win some big trip to South Florida, etc. Anyway, here’s the link if anyone’s interested: http://www.cbssports.com/contests/trivia/5637