[stevenash]

TOP 20 FANTASY PLAYERS 1/15/2015

1. Mike Trout, OF, Angels

2. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates

3. Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Marlins

4. Carlos Gomez, OF, Brewers

5. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Diamondbacks

6. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers

7. Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays

8. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers

9. Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Blue Jays

10. Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox

11. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers

12. Felix Hernandez, SP, Mariners

13. Robinson Cano, 2B, Mariners

14. Anthony Rendon, 2B/3B, Nationals

15. Adam Jones, OF, Orioles

16. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies

17. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Cubs

18. Victor Martinez, 1B, Tigers

19. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Yankees

20. Michael Brantley, OF, Indians

[daneblazer]

Power is at a premium. Bump up abreu, goldy, jones e3. Bump down Kershaw, Gomez, Felix

[mpaschal34]

Is this the year Tulo stays healthy? If not, can he really be top 20?

[BigSpoon]

Is this the year Tulo stays healthy? If not, can he really be top 20?

Would not count on him playing 140 games that's for sure.

[Otters27]

hopefully he can stay healthy. He will move on to a new team. Wouldn't be surprised to see him get traded mid year

[Auto Donk]

altuve..... that midget is a numbers producer

[stevenash]

altuve..... that midget is a numbers producer

This, love the kids game.

Also, you have to have swipes, you can not cash in a 5 X 5 league finishing last or dead last in stolen bases.
And SB's are at a premium, that's why Trout/'Cutch/Goldy/Gomez must be in top 5, they can steal bases.
Yes, Goldy steals bases, in his first 3 full seasons he has 42 SB's, average of 14 per season.

[daneblazer]

You can find sb later in the draft. You can also even pick them up off the wire at times. Not many power guys are like that.

wouldnt criticize anyone taking Gomez/Kershaw in the 1st, but not the way I'll go. So many pitchers now. What we know has shifted. Use to be high 3/low 4 era wasn't bad...now it kinda sucks.

[Carseller4]

I was hoping Rizzo was on this list!

Can't wait for the 2015 Chicago Cubs!

[yisman]

Beltre and McCutchen too high, IMO .

[stevenash]

You can find sb later in the draft. You can also even pick them up off the wire at times. Not many power guys are like that.

wouldnt criticize anyone taking Gomez/Kershaw in the 1st, but not the way I'll go. So many pitchers now. What we know has shifted. Use to be high 3/low 4 era wasn't bad...now it kinda sucks.

Been involved in some sort of fantasy baseball since I was in school. that's a ton of years.
My philosophy has been that if I am assigned a middle round pick, say 5 through 9, I'll draft the best available position players in each of the first four rounds, unless a King or a Kershaw falls in my lap in a round 3 or 4.
Then I go SP SP SP in rounds 5 though 7, best available 3 starters to form my 'core' rotation, round 8 I'll evaluate what is left.
Last season I got Garrett Richards, in round 8, Kluber in round 6 or 7...........
You are right, you'd be surprised what kind of pitching is available in the middle rounds.

Regarding SB's, I used to think like that too, but you really can't get a 30 stolen base guy late in the draft or on the waiver wire.
There are not too many of them.

I persoanlly will never, (except for Pedro that one year like 12 years ago) select a SP in round 1.
Why? My first round pick needs to play in 150 games, not 34 games.
So, in round 1, I am going for the best player on the board that can hit for power and steal a base.
Trout and 'Cutch are the elite at doing both. Then Goldy and Gomez.
Hate that 12 pick in the first round, yeah you get 12 and 13 picks, then you sit on your ass and watch all the best players fly off the board until the end of the third (what's that? 36th pick?)

Free lesson to all of you.
Pay attention.

"Fantasy baseball seasons are never won in the first round, but many a fantasy baseball season is lost in round 1"

[daneblazer]

I've been playing since I was in high school...which was a long time ago. My first league was done through the mail.

I don't remember a year like last season where the power was completely sapped. I love Golfschmidt. Would probably draft him 2nd overall. I'd consider taking Bautista over Gomez though. Maybe even one of those 1b. I'm not going to criticize anyone for taking him after the first 3 though.

I do think you need a top sp to win. You can't go in with a bunch of 3's in your rotation and win pitching categories this year unless you hit waiver gold on a kluber again... And who knows if that'll happen.

[Wrigley]

Is this the year Tulo stays healthy? If not, can he really be top 20?

If he stays healthy but I have my doubts

[stevenash]

I've been playing since I was in high school...which was a long time ago. My first league was done through the mail.

I don't remember a year like last season where the power was completely sapped. I love Golfschmidt. Would probably draft him 2nd overall. I'd consider taking Bautista over Gomez though. Maybe even one of those 1b. I'm not going to criticize anyone for taking him after the first 3 though.

I do think you need a top sp to win. You can't go in with a bunch of 3's in your rotation and win pitching categories this year unless you hit waiver gold on a kluber again... And who knows if that'll happen.

Yeah, if I have the #1 or the #2 this year, I'll take either Trout or McCutchen, then with pick 23 and 25 for instance I might go King or Kershaw (or maybe even both) but an elite SP and an elite position player.

I'll make a top 100 or even top 300 list when I have the spare time, feel free to adjust and tweak it along the way.
There are like 10 or 12 fantasy writers that I pay attention to, and tweak them to what I think it should be.

One more thing. Can't express this enough, mock draft, mock draft, mock draft.
Do 100 minimum mock drafts, from different selection orders.
You win the money by preparing for a live draft, do as many mocks as possible, I am talking about mock drafts with other SERIOUS players.

[Otters27]

If he stays healthy but I have my doubts

Both Tulo and Cargo need to stay healthy. Look for Nolan Aranado and Charlie blackmon to be a sleeper as well for the Rockies

[stevenash]

^
Not sleepers anymore to the regular players.

[BarkingToad]

I think Kolten Wong will have a big year.

[stevenash]

I think Kolten Wong will have a big year.

11/50 .260
22 swipes

Not a big year, but a productive year, can help any team out.

[daneblazer]

Still hammering away at my projections.

will post some sleepers and busts at some point.

Dont overlook middle relievers this year. Matching a wade Davis or Boxberger up with a Henderson Alvarez will give you good ratios and help with alverez's lack of strikeouts.

[koz-man]

One more thing. Can't express this enough, mock draft, mock draft, mock draft.
Do 100 minimum mock drafts, from different selection orders.
You win the money by preparing for a live draft, do as many mocks as possible, I am talking about mock drafts with other SERIOUS players.

I can't agree more.

Excellent Advice. Unless your in a league vs me.

[broadway6]

I doubt i would waste a first round pick on Joey Bats (probably why I never win fantasy baseball)