Alex Rodriguez and Hanley Ramirez Top My 2009 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

With January here, that only means one thing to a lot of people—the baseball season is just around the corner.  With pitchers and catchers reporting in a month, I can already taste the mustard on my Saberett hot dog.

I participate in an offline draft every season.  If you haven't done this yet, I highly suggest it.  Get some friends, get a draft board, get some stickers and go at it.  Its the funnest event of the year.

Here are my top 20 fantasy baseball players.

1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY) 3B - Being an odd year and the fact that Alex decides to win the MVP every other season, I can't help but pick him here.  With Mark Teixeira taking some of the pressure off of A-Rod, I look for him to nab the MVP in the American League, slugging 45-50 home runs, 120-130 RBI and hitting .315-.325.  If A-Rod is going to get the Triple Crown, this is his year.

2. Hanley Ramirez (FLA) SS - The youngster with the nickname "Han-Ram" will have an amazing year, and is number one on some rankings.  He could very well be a 40-40 guy this year, having come so close last season.  I think he will hit .295 with 35-40 home runs, 85-95 RBI and steal around 35-40 bags.  He is a good guy to grab to get that nagging shortstop position out of the way.

3. Jose Reyes (NYM) SS - If you missed out on Hanley, there is still another amazing shortstop out there in Jose Reyes.  Reyes is going to steal you plenty of bags and should stay healthy this season.  It's hard to pass up someone who stole 56 bases last season.  If he gets his power numbers up, he is easily a number one guy.

4. Albert Pujols (STL) 1B -  Oh Albert, please stay healthy.  That is what you will be saying all season if you draft him.  If he does, you will be rewarded with a guy who hits well over .325 and over 35 home runs.  He is undoubtedly an amazing athlete—just make sure you are prepared if he goes down early in the season.

5. Miguel Cabrera (DET) 1B - I am surprised at the numbers Cabrera put up last season.  It is hard to pass up a guy at third base who hit nearly .300, had 37 HR, and 127 RBI last season.

6. Chase Utley (PHI) 2B - Mr. Utley is the only second baseman who will go this early, as the only one to go in the next 20 picks.  If you don't like Kinsler, Cano, Phillips, or Pedroia, then you better get Utley because it's slim pickings after that.  Utley will hit near .300 with 30 home runs and 100 RBI.

7. Matt Holliday (OAK) OF - Wow, is it going to look weird seeing Matt in an Oakland uniform?  He will have some power hitting around him with the recent signing of Jason Giambi, and should do just fine in Oakland.

8. Mark Teixeira (NYY) 1B - Big Tex was big news in New York when he signed.  The one-two punch that he and Alex will produce will be lethal.  Teixeira should handle the pressure of playing in New York just fine, and will switch-hit his way over every corner of the new Yankee Stadium.  Don't pass up on him in the late first round as he will not make it back to you.

9. David Wright (NYM) 3B - Two hitters from each New York team fill my top 10, and why shouldn't they?  David Wright does a little bit of everything for you—from a good average and decent power, to a little pinch of speed. 

10. Ryan Braun (MIL) OF - This 25-year-old kid has proved he has what it takes to play in Major League Baseball.  If you like power, this is your guy.  Braun, like Howard, will get you a lot of long balls, but will kill you in average.  Draft better hitting players to back these guys up, and you will be fine.

11. CC Sabathia (NYY) SP - I have Sabathia as my first pitcher off the board this season.  He is no stranger to pitching in the American League, but he is the main man in New York now.  Let's see if he can handle the pressure and bring another 20 game winner to the Bronx.

12. Ryan Howard (PHI) 1B - See Ryan Braun.  Howard hit four dozen home runs last season, but struck out 199 times while hitting just .251.  Ouch.  If you are a sucker for home runs, get Howard, but don't get mad on a night when he goes 0-4 with 3 K's.  Take the good with the bad.

13. Johan Santana (NYM) SP - A close race with the young phenom Tim Lincecum, Santana almost took home the Cy Young last season.  Santana should have another good year.  You get nothing but consistency with this guy—he is a safe pick.

14. Grady Sizemore (CLE) OF - If you want to draft the first guy that will ever bat at the new Yankee Stadium in the regular season, then this is your guy.  All jokes aside, Sizemore is a near 40-40 guy with a lot of upside. 

15. Jimmy Rollins (PHI) SS - With his power numbers a little down, Rollins continues to steal the show with all of his steals.  Some rankings have Rollins well out of the top 20, but I just can't agree yet.  He is a guy that has helped a lot of my fantasy teams.

16. Carlos Beltran (NYM) OF - At 32 years of age, Beltran still plays like he is 20, hitting 27 home runs with 127 RBI last season.  He also stole 25 bags to go along with his decent power numbers.

17. Tim Lincecum (SF) SP - I've had this kid on my radar for quite some time now, and knew he had good stuff.  However, I am still surprised and taken off guard because I don't think anyone, including Lincecum, knew his stuff was as good as it was last season.  At 24, he is the youngest player since Roger Clemens to win the Cy Young award.  Look for him to build off of his numbers this year, but don't expect 20 wins with the Giants offense backing him up.

18. Cole Hamels (PHI) SP - I believe that Hamels, Lincecum and Santana will all be in a close race for the Cy Young award this season.  While I like the upside of the other two pitchers, I think Hamels could have an amazing season and start right where he left off after winning the World Series MVP award.

19. Carlos Quentin (CWS) OF - Carlos Quentin, no you didn't.  Did this guy have better numbers then A-Rod last season?  Close.  Quentin his just .288 but managed to hit 36 home runs and 100 RBI.  Can he keep it up this season?  I think so.

20. Evan Longoria (TAM) 3B - I was laughed at last season when I drafted this guy, and look what he did—27 home runs, 85 RBI, all in his rookie season.  Imagine what he can do this year.  I see no sophmore slump from this kid, just another amazing season playing the hot corner for the Rays.  He is mine if I need a third baseman in the third round.