Fantasy
Baseball Player Rankings & Projections
2010 Outfield Preseason Preview
Ryan Braun
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He is a sure-thing fantasy-stud
who still has some upside. That is a dangerous combination
which gives Braun an argument to be picked number one overall
in your fantasy baseball draft. |
1. Ryan Braun - Brewers - 2010 Preview:
Another excellent year for fantasy-stud Ryan Braun. He is not quite
the all-around athletic-type like Carl Crawford or Matt Kemp, yet
statistically he is. He slammed 34 home runs, six triples, 39 doubles
and stole 20 bases in 2009. His stolen base numbers are not a fluke
either. He stole 15 as a rookie and 14 in 2008, so 15-20 can be
expected. But Braun is all about the power numbers. His 32 homers
were actually his lowest total and percentage, but his 114 RBI's
were his most. He has the ability to reach the 40 home run mark
and it may just be a matter of Braun putting all his abilities together
to get there. In 2009 he seemed to become a better hitter than slugger.
His terrible walk-to-strikeout-ratio is still bad, but improved
to 57 walks and 121 strikeouts. His improved discipline has helped
his batting average, but it hurt his power numbers, but at age 26,
Braun may see his power and discipline come together for one great
season.
2009 Statistics:
.320 - 32 HR's - 114 RBI's - 113 Runs
2010 Projection: .309
- 35 HR's - 116 RBI's - 110 Runs
2. Matt Kemp - Dodgers - 2010 Preview:
He ended up being one of the best all-around players in fantasy
baseball in 2009. He was just under many magic marks like the 30-30
club (He hit 26 home runs and stole 34 bases) and he batted just
under .300 (.297) and finished just under the century-mark with
97 runs. He did hit the century-mark for RBI's at 101. When you
are that close in so many categories, it is likely that you are
indeed a fantasy-stud. Kemp is just 25, so he still has room to
improve, but his improvement will likely be equally tied to his
teams offensive performance, namely Manny Ramirez. Ramirez played
well when he was healthy, but missed a big chunk of the season.
Kemp needs his protection to get the pitches necessary to hit .300,
score 100 runs and to have a chance at 30 home runs.
2009 Statistics:
.297 - 26 HR's - 101 RBI's - 97 Runs
2010 Projection: .300
- 24 HR's - 95 RBI's - 101 Runs
3. Carl Crawford - Rays - 2010 Preview:
You know exactly what you are going to get with Crawford and that
is stolen bases. He has averaged 50 stolen bases (including 60 in
'09) per year and if you draft Crawford you are sure to compete
for number one in stolen bases in 5X5 Roto Leagues. Winning stolen
bases is just as valuable as winning home runs, it' just not as
sexy. But stolen bases alone will not make Crawford a top-ten overall
player, his batting average .305 and solid power numbers (15 home
runs in 2009) will however. In points leagues in which triples have
good value, Crawford is one of the best. He only had eight in 2009,
which is solid, but he hit an average of 13 triples a season in
the six previous seasons including 19 triples in 2006. Finally,
the Rays have a very good, young offense and that should help Crawford
top the 100 run mark in 2010.
2009 Statistics:
.305 - 15 HR's - 68 RBI's - 96 Runs
2010 Projection: .307
- 16 HR's - 70 RBI's - 106 Runs
4. Grady Sizemore - Indians - 2010 Preview:
The 2008 30-30 club member was argued by most as the top overall
player in last year's draft, but much to the dismay of fantasy owners,
he was a bum. Yes he was injured and that likely took its toll on
his stats until he was finally put on the DL, but still, he huge
disappointment. Fantasy owners should put that season aside and
feel free to draft him with confidence in 2010. His ranking is definitely
a notch lower than last preseason, but don't expect the same disaster
in 2010. The Indians are putting together a pretty solid lineup
that will depend on some youngsters like Matt La Porta, Asdrubal
Cabrera, Luis Valbuena and Jhonny Peralta coming through. If they
do, Sizemore could return to the top outfield slot, but Sizemore
will have to prove himself again.
2009 Statistics:
.248 - 18 HR's - 64 RBI's - 73 Runs
2010 Projection: .279
- 29 HR's - 89 RBI's - 102 Runs
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5. Matt Holliday - Cardinals - 2010 Preview:
As most thought would be the case, his play in Oakland was sub par,
but his move to St. Louis was like going back to Colorado for Holliday.
He batted .353 with 13 home runs and 55 RBI's with just 235 at bats
after his trade to the Cardinals. It is hard to look at Holliday's
past seasons in Colorado and project what he will do in 2010 in
St. Louis, after all he is a career .353 hitter at home and has
hit 100 of his 152 home runs at home (including Oakland and St.
Louis). Maybe he is just better at home, after all he batted .326
with 16 home runs at home in 2009. The bottom line is Holliday is
an excellent hitter and is good for a .300 average and 20 plus home
runs where ever he plays. He also has decent speed and is usually
good for around 15 stolen bases (he stole a career high 28 in 2008).
2009 Statistics:
.313- 24 HR's - 109 RBI's - 94 Runs
2010 Projection: .322
- 25 HR's - 111 RBI's - 100 Runs
6. Curtis Granderson - Yankees - 2010 Preview:
One of the last things you want to see happen as a fantasy owner
is to have a great player leave a good offense, unless by chance
he is going to the mighty New York Yankees. Curtis Granderson's
stock shot through the roof when just that happened. The lefty will
love Yankee Stadium, a stadium that seems as if it was built just
for him. Doubt a so-so 2009, Granderson still had a career-high
30 home runs and stole 20 bases. Those power numbers could increase
with the short left field fence (318 feet) and he should also see
increases in RBI's and runs.
2009 Statistics:
.249 - 30 HR's - 71 RBI's - 91 Runs
2010 Projection: .278
- 33 HR's - 86 RBI's - 111 Runs
7. Jacoby Ellsbury - Red Sox - 2010 Preview:
Similar to Carl Crawford, if you are drafting Ellsbury, you are
probably going to win your stolen base category. He stole an incredible
70 bases in 2009 after stealing 50 as a rookie in 2008. Batting
atop the Red Sox lineup is a great place to be, though you would
expect more than the 94 runs he scored in'09. Ellsbury is improving
as a hitter, and you love to see that, especially when the hitter
can steal bases. His batting average improved 21 points in 2009
and his walk-to-strikeout ratio improved from a 41-80 ratio in '08
to a 49-74 ratio in '09. You are unlikely to see an increase in
his power, but around ten homers is solid when you are getting that
speed.
2009 Statistics:
.302 - 8 HR's - 60 RBI's - 94 Runs
2010 Projection: .305
- 10 HR's - 63 RBI's - 107 Runs
