Fantasy Baseball 2008: Shortstops

Fantasy Baseball Radio Recap (Episode Five): Shortstops

Listen to the Original Episode

There seems to be a divide among fantasy baseball analysts when it comes to declaring the top shortstop in 2008.

I look at it this way—when someone asks me whom I like more, Hayden Panettiere or Rachel McAdams, I respond by saying, “That’s like asking me to pick between David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez!”

Based on last year’s performances, Alex Rodriguez is clearly better, but there’s nothing too shabby about David Ortiz, either. Perhaps I’d be better off substituting Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes instead of A-Rod and Big Papi in that debate, but that’s what the shortstop story comes down to this year—two very good players.

However, Hanley’s performance last year established one unheralded aspect of his repertoire—a limitless ceiling.

In his best year in the minors, he hit eight home runs through 422 at-bats, but in his first year with the Marlins, he shocked everyone by hitting 17.

There was a long line of skeptics saying that was a fluke and he likely wouldn’t reach that mark again. Yet last year, he mashed 29 home runs while stealing 51 bases for the second consecutive season and totaling 81 RBI from the leadoff spot.

So what’s Hanley going to do next year? 35 home runs? 40? If—make that when—he drops lower in the lineup, is he going to rake in even more RBI while still stealing bases?

This is what I mean by his limitless ceiling and why I argue that he has the clear-cut edge over Jose Reyes as the number one shortstop in 2008 fantasy drafts.

It comes as no surprise that he’s being drafted second overall in many expert drafts.

If you’ve got a chance to take Hanley in the first round and Alex Rodriguez is already taken, don’t think twice. No one really knows what Hanley will do next year, but we all say that he likely won’t disappoint.

Now what if Hanley and Reyes have both been taken?

Well, add Jimmy Rollins to the mix, as he swings it as well as those two and puts up stellar numbers in all categories.

Unfortunately, after those three, the wow-effect of shortstops disappears.

The second tier of elite shortstops includes Troy Tulowitzki and Derek Jeter, with Tulowitzki having much more upside between the two. Jeter’s power numbers have declined the last four years, and though he still is a solid fantasy contributor, his price likely exceeds his value in most drafts.

Expect big years from Carlos Guillen and Miguel Tejada in 2008.

Guillen has an All-Star lineup around him and should rake in triple digits in runs and home runs while posting 20-25 home runs and a solid batting average.

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