Fantasy
Baseball Player Rankings & Projections
2009 Outfield Preseason Preview
Ryan Bruan
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There are several outfielders
who can finish as the #1 outfielder in 2009, but Braun's
successful sophomore season allows him to grab the preseason
#1 slot in the outfield. |
1. Ryan Braun - Brewers - 2009 Preview:
If it were not for the end season collapse of the entire Brewer
offense, including and especially Braun, we we not have such a tough
choice for who to put at the #1 slot for outfielders. But with Matt
Holliday leaving the friendly confines of Colorado and moving to
the average offense of Oakland, Grady Sizemore's low average, Josh
Hamilton's risk factor, Carlos Beltran's lack of upside, and the
question marks about Manny Ramirez's attitude, age and team, it
simply leaves Braun as the unblemished outfielder, and thus #1.
At just 25 Braun can still get better, he passed the "sophomore
slump" test with flying colors, he is still playing in a good
offense and in a good hitter's park, and 7 triples, 39 doubles and
14 stolen bases to go along with his 37 home runs makes him a good
case to be the #1 outfielder in fantasy baseball.
2008 Statistics:
.285 - 37 HR's - 106 RBI's - 92 Runs.
2009 Projection: .297
- 38 HR's - 115 RBI's - 102 Runs.
2. Grady Sizemore - Indians - 2009 Preview:
He still has all the tools for the perfect fantasy outfielder, speed,
power, youth and a proven record, but his batting average keeps
falling (.289 in '05, .290 in '06, .277 in '07 and .268 in '08)
and this simply keeps him out of the race race for the preseason
#1 ranked outfielder. The good news is Sizemore had his first 30-30
season with career highs in both home runs (33) and stolen bases
(38). He also smacked 5 triples, 39 doubles and 98 walks, though
he did strikeout 130 times. If he could become a hitter, you would
have the #1 outfielder and the best news is he is just 26 and could
possibly do that. Expect an improvement, but .300 maybe a few years
away for Sizemore.
2008 Statistics:
.268 - 33 HR's - 90 RBI's - 101 Runs.
2009 Projection: .280
- 30 HR's - 91 RBI's - 110 Runs.
3. Matt Holliday - Athletics - 2009 Preview:
Arguably the best hitter in baseball had a down year, but not that
bad and actually pretty good considering how bad most of the Rockie
team played in 2008. But now Holliday has moved on to Oakland. Yes
the fantasy desert, Oakland. While he will still hit well and come
up with nice stats, it is just enough of a blow to knock him out
of the number one slot. On the plus side Holliday did steal a career
high 28 bases. That is clearly an aberration, but a good sign that
he may be able to get 15-20 in 2009. While Braun gets the edge,
their is nothing wrong with taking Holliday ahead of him, Holliday
just has a question mark with his move to Oakland.
2008 Statistics:
.321- 25 HR's - 88 RBI's - 107 Runs.
2009 Projection: .319
- 30 HR's - 105 RBI's - 93 Runs.
4. Carlos Beltrán - Mets - 2009 Preview:
He continues to perform at the same Fantasy All Star level while
most other outfielders have fallen. Beltran is still a legitimate
30-30 threat and is nearly guaranteed over 100 RBI's and 100 runs
if he is healthy. He added 5 triples, 45 doubles and an excellent
92 walk to 96 strikeout ratio. He has no holes and is very consistent
and can be argued as the #1 outfielder.
2008 Statistics:
.284 - 27 HR's - 112 RBI's - 116 Runs.
2009 Projection: .281
- 28 HR's - 109 RBI's - 113 Runs.
5. Josh Hamilton - Rangers - 2009 Preview:
The surprise of 2008 comes into 2009 as a preseason top ten fantasy
outfielder, but naturally questions about how good he is loom overhead.
Hamilton was the first overall pick in the 1999 draft, so we know
his talent isn't a fluke, but is their still room for improvement
after 10 years? Anything is possible, but it is more likely that
Hamilton has reached his peak, even if it was his first full season
in the majors.
2008 Statistics:
.304 - 32 HR's - 130 RBI's - 98 Runs.
2009 Projection: .296
- 33 HR's - 116 RBI's - 96 Runs.
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6. B.J. Upton - Devil Rays - 2009 Preview:
The 2nd-overall-pick of the 2002 draft took a bit of a step down
in 2008 seeing both his average and home runs drop. Amazingly Upton
hit 7 home runs in the playoffs and World Series, but only hit 9
during the regular season. In 2007 he hit 23 home runs, showing
his true power potential. Even though his batting average went down
from .300 in '07 to .273 in '08 he struck out less (154 in '07 and
134 in '08) and walked more (65 in '07 and 97 in '08) which is a
sign of an improving hitter. He is a rare 20-50 candidate and at
24 he has plenty of upside.
2008 Statistics:
.273 - 9 HR's - 67 RBI's - 85 Runs.
2009 Projection: .285
- 20 HR's - 75 RBI's - 100 Runs.
7. Carlos Quentin - White Sox - 2009 Preview:
The big prospect failed in Arizona but came up huge in Chicago and
was on pace to finish as the #1 player in fantasy baseball before
a season-ending injury put an end to that. He is another one of
those risk-reward draft picks that will take a little roll of the
dice to take high. Quentin has no proven record, though his talent
is highly regarded, and his cracked bone in the wrist adds some
question about his 2009 season, although he is expected to be 100%.
He only hit 1 triple, 26 doubles and stole 7 bases, but he did have
a strong 66 walk to 80 strikeout ratio.
2008 Statistics:
.288 - 36 HR's - 100 RBI's - 96 Runs.
2009 Projection: .283
- 38 HR's - 105 RBI's - 104 Runs.
