This is not a list of bad players, but for one reason or another each player here will be drafted earlier than he should be.
Some have started to decline, others have been trumpeted as top prospects, others suffer from the winner’s curse.
When you’re preparing your 2008 fantasy team, beware of jumping the gun on these five players:
Eric Byrnes, LF, Arizona Diamondbacks .286/21HR/83RBI/103R/50SB
Who doesn’t want Eric Byrnes on their fantasy team? He hustles at all times, flips as he throws the ball in from left and even brings his dog out into McCovey Cove with him. Just don’t let his antics trick you into drafting him before the fifth or sixth round.
Even if we set aside the question of whether, at 32, he can replicate a 2007 season that saw him establish career highs in four of the five fantasy categories, we know that Byrnes’ playing style will tempt owners into picking him while more proven or promising players (like Abreu, Markakis, Rios or Hart) remain on the board.
Manny Ramirez, LF, Boston Red Sox .296/20HR/88RBI/84R/0SB
The last time that Manny had fewer HR and RBI? 1994. It’s been a great run for ManRam, but he’s no longer the first or second rounder he once was. In fact you shouldn’t pick Manny in the first 10 rounds. He’s another guy who’s a lot of fun to root for, but you need production from an early pick, and Manny—who did play in 133 games last year—can’t offer that anymore.
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He’ll be 36 years old and there’s no reason to believe he’ll top 30 HR or 100 RBI. Guys like Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter offer more upside and they can help you in more categories.
Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds .319/26HR/89RBI/87R/8SB between A+ and AAA
The 20-year-old super-prospect is, in the opinions of many, the best prospect in the game. This does not mean that he’s going to go Ryan Braun on us and take the league by storm. It is possible that, with only part of a season played above A ball, he’ll struggle.
Last year, Alex Gordon was similarly hyped, but, without experience above AA, had trouble adjusting. I’m not saying that Bruce doesn’t have .300/ 30/ 100 potential- even for 2008- but it would be foolish to expect it from him. I’d rather miss out on Bruce and have someone else overbid than invest in him as anything more than a fourth outfielder.
Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox .317/8HR/50RBI/86R/7SB
Ironic that Pedroia, a guy who’s anything but a flashy attention seeker who puts up big numbers, would end up on this list. I guess that’s what happens when you win Rookie of the year and the World Series in your first season, coming through with clutch hits throughout the playoffs.
Still, look at his numbers and compare them to other second basemen’s stats. There are at least 10 guys I’d rather have on my fantasy team (Utley, Phillips, Upton, Uggla, Roberts, Cano, Polanco, Kinsler, Weeks, Kendrick, and Kent come to mind).
Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies .291 /24HR /99RBI /104R /7SB
Tulowitzki’s a phenomenal player who’s only going to improve. Not many guys can do what he did after just 517 minor league at bats. From May 25th on, he hit .305/.367/.525 with 22 of his 24 homers.
So why is he overrated? Well, like Pedroia, he played in the World Series and was among his league’s best rookies. His defense was also sensational, as he led the league with a .987 fielding percentage and 561 assists. (Q: how many times has Omar Vizquel collected 500+ assists? A: zero).
His defense makes him incredibly valuable to Colorado, but not to you. So let someone overbid and take him in the third round while you settle for Jeter, Carlos Guillen, or Michael Young.
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7 months ago
Yikes. Don't take Manny in the first 10 rounds? And then you say Jones will help more? In case you missed it, Jones also hit less than 30 HR an less than 100 RBI.
Big difference? Jones hit .222 last year, while manny hit near .300. Manny also got on base at a MUCH higher pace last season, and will play in a right handed hitters park next year while Jones is about to move to pitcher friendly Dodger Stadium.
Also disagree on Tulo. His defense may not help, but his offense (fantasy wise) was better than Young's, and pretty equal to Jeter's. Remember, you arent discounted for playing in Coors in fantasy baseball.
7 months ago
I have to agree with Byrnes, Pedroia, and Bruce because Byrnes isnt really consistent and Pedroia may have been a one time thing and Bruce hasnt even played in the majors.
Although, I would have to disagree with Manny and Tulo.
ManRam is one of the best hitters in the game, everybody has atleast one not so good season he will have a 30 homer 115 rbi season in 2008
Tulo was a very good player last season, great defense and if defense counted in fantasy baseball then i know you wouldnt have him on there. But you said that he wasnt as good as michael young, i disagree with that. He will be one of the elite shortstops in 2008.
from 2 months ago
you were "on the money" on your prediction about Tulo. You're not too knowledgeable about sports. You should stick to taping American Idol.
7 months ago
Could we get a projection combined with ADP here?
Consistently Byrnes is undervalued as people continually are able to draft him as a 4th or 5th OFer and he consistently puts up 2nd or 3rd OF numbers.
So what are you basing these 'facts' on? Bias'?
7 months ago
Pedroia is clearly worth picking. Of the second basemen you mentioned, only Polanco, Utley, and Phillips are definitely better than Pedroia. How could you say it might be a one time thing? Boston brought him up, and he was supposed to be a .300 hitter. What happened? He hit in the .130s for the first month of the season and then hit enough over .300 last year to end up above .300. To me, that shows his ability. Playing in Boston in front of Manny and Ortiz, you can count on Pedroia for hits, average, runs scored, and even occasional homers and rbis.
Note this is coming from a Yankee fan.
I also disagree with you putting Manny and Tulo on this list, but for time's sake I will not argue my case.
7 months ago
Wow, no one ever gives respect to Byrnes. That's fine with me. Keep it up and I'll happily take Byrnes as a steal in a late round. Oh my... Your awful. Kinsler, Weeks, Kendrick, Kent. Hmm. Thanks for leaving Aaron Hill of that list; I mean a 26 year old with a .290, 90 run, 200 hit, 80 RBI year behind him is not even close to being at the level of a 'Kinsler,Weeks,Kendrick, or Kent'. And Andruw Jones will be a better producer alround than a guy who as you said had his worst season in 13 years (20 HR, 84 runs, 90 RBI, 300 average)? I would take that anomaly of a season over Jones' season last year of 26 Hr's, 83 runs, 95 Rbi's and a team-sinking-god-awful BA of .222. That .222 average would basically guarantee losing avg. every week in a fantasy league with more than 10 players.
Please keep writing stupid fantasy guides like this, in fact i want you to send them to all my friends, so I can be sure to win my league.
7 months ago
I had both Andrew Jones and Michael Young last year as high round picks. I ended up 10th our of 16 teams. Both guys were brutally inconsistent last year and at times, just plain brutal.
7 months ago
Manny has had very impressive resume's in the last several seasons
he is not overrated
7 months ago
As I said in the beginning, I think all of these guys are good players. It's not that I don't appreciate their contributions. There's no way I'd rather have Michael Young than Tulo, for example. However, guys are going to bid on these 5 guys way too early instead of waiting it out for less exciting choices who are equally productive.
The reason I bring up guys like Andruw and Young is that guys are going to underbid for their services. Would you rather buy high or buy low?
7 months ago
Yeah exactly Ben, Manny Ramirez had a bad season last year an guys (like you) will undrbid for his services... God your logic is just terrible.
7 months ago
According to ESPN.com, last season when it came to ranking left fielders, Manny was ranked 5th in AVG, 15th in HR, 8th in RBI, 5th in BB, 4 in OBP, 6th in SLG and 6th in OPS. Overrated? YES! Everyone talks about Manny like he's a G-D. Don't get me wrong, he is definitely better than most of the outfielders in MLB...however, I would much rather have Matt Holliday, Carlos Lee or Carl Crawford patrolling my left field. Especially if you have defensive stats in your league, where he is 15th is games played and 16th in PO. The only good stat he really has in fielding is that he was 3rd in F%.
I would take Manny in the second round, depending on how many people are in my league and how many OF I get. In front of Manny, I would take Matt Holliday or Carl Crawford (my teams usually lack in SB). Usually I can get power in my 3B (A-Rod last season, with the 2nd pick...somehow) and in my 1B. I would use at least one of my OF options for SB and AVG.
Oh and just so you know, this is all based (besides the stats which are from ESPN.com) on my opinion. I have never placed lower than 2nd on any of my fantasy leagues, MLB and NBA.
7 months ago
Nice research on the left fielders.
Are you sure you would pick Manny in the second round?
Here's a list of players who are expected to go in the second round this year: Carlos Lee, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, Carlos Beltran, Johan Santana, Jake Peavy, Carl Crawford, Ichiro, David Ortiz, Vladdy, Mark Teixeira etc.
Manny Ramirez, as you pointed out with the stats above, does not even approach the value of these second-round players.
7 months ago
Dude, what fuckin' publications are you reading? Jay Bruce overrated? I can't even find a publication that encourages anyone to DRAFT Jay Bruce, let alone draft him too early. How in the fuck cam someone be "overrated" when they're not even "rated" to begin with?
Go sit on a fuckin' stalagmite.
7 months ago
Fantasy baseball is for puny-cocked cunty losers
Perfect for all of you fudge-annihilators
6 months ago
Tulowitzki? He's a star...plain and simple Dude.....
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