Fantasy Baseball Cheat Sheet

[darkside_3k]

Here's a list of players that are worth paying very close attention to this year. I am an avid fantasy baseball player on Yahoo.com and have managed many successful teams in the past. These players are listed because they are underrated from injury or lack of playing time, but none the less should be watched very closely.

Eligible Catchers
1- LeCroy (Min)- Hit better than most catchers last year in limited ABs. Is projected as the Twins' DH.
2- Joe Mauer (Min)- Has tremendous talent and was a first pick overall in 2001. Should be a productive catcher to look out for.
3- J.Phillips (NYM)- Filled in great for Piazza last year and should split time behind the plate and 1st.

Eligible 1Bs
1- D.Ortiz (Bos)- Emerged as a hitting threat after last year's break. Should get most of the playing time if not all at 1st this year. His numbers should improve.
2- M.Sweeney (KC) and Nevin (SD)- Both of these guys have bad numbers from last year due to injury. Both guys are great hitters and should put up better numbers this year. Both should be 100% with no further problems come April.
3- N.Johnson (Mon)- should hit in the middle of the lineup, meaning HRs and RBIs. Will walk to get on base, meaning better runs. Excellent plate discipline.
4- Erstad (Ana)- Will play 1B this year. Has speed and will steal bases. Should put up about 10 or so HR if healthy all year, and around 25-30 SB.
5- Teixeira (Tex)- Power and in Texas. Will hit a lot of HRs.
Notable- Konerko (ChW)

Eligible 2Bs
1- Hairston (Bal)- Was on pace for about 50+ steals before an injury ruined his season. It will either be him or Roberts at 2B this year.
2- E.Young (Tex)- should play most days for Texas. Will steal about 30 bases if he plays.
3- F.Sanchez (Pit), Weeks (Mil) and Miles (Col)- Three prospects to keep your eyes on as the season progresses.

Eligible SS
1- Matsui (NYM)- Predicted to be a 20-20 player. May be hidden due to no stats or high ranking in the MLB.
2- Cintron (Ari)- Broke out last year. Hit for power and average, and is a good bet to be a steal. Isn't going to steal many bases, but will give you good numbers at the SS/3B position.
3- Crosby (Oak)- May perform as good as K.Matsui. Takes over for the departed Tejada. Will play everyday. Was a rookie of the year in the Pacific Coast League. Probably a safe bet as a backup SS until he proves he can handle the majors.

Eligible 3Bs
1- Ensberg (Hou)- Split time with G.Blum last year. Could have easily hit 40 HR last year. Look for a breakout year as he becomes a top 3 3B. I am sold on this guy. If you can get him cheap from someone, do so. Hey, at USC he only ranked 3rd in school HRs behind Mark McGwire and Geoff Jenkins.
2- Hinske (Tor)- Guess who's back??? Yup, after a hand injury slowed his season, the 2002 rookie of the year had a poor year. But look, the guy hits for the Jays, and isn't as poor as last years numbers show. He should have a better season ahead of him. Look for about 25 HRs and 100+ RBIs, while scoring some good runs.
3- M.Cabrera (Fla)- This guy is going to hit for power. He took over for Lowell last year then he broke his hand, and put up great power numbers in the postseason. Try to get this guy for cheap, but fork over a proven player if necessary. Also has OF eligibility.

Eligible OFs
1- V.Wells (Tor)- He reported to camp beefed up and 20 pounds lighter. This could mean more steals, and more HRs. If you can get him, GET HIM. His numbers will improve from last years. Scary!
2- Klesko (SD)- Injury also limited his production, though he has been consistent the psat few years with about 95 runs, a .300 average, 30 HRs and 100 RBI. He might be ranked low, so see if you can get him from someone who doesn't realize how good he really is.
3- M.Bradley (Cle)- Like the company, he's got game. Won't hurt you in any categories, and is still getting better. He's a good bet for good numbers. Roll the dice and reap the rewards.
4- C.Patterson (ChC)- About the same as Milton Bradley, but with more game in a better lineup. Was on track for great numbers last year, but missed most of the season with an injury.
5- Kearns (Cin)- A power hitting OF who has a good chance to see some big power numbers this year. If you can get him for a good price, do so. He will get you big HR and RBI numbers if healthy.
Notables- Drew (Atl), Dunn (Cin), Burnitz (Col), Burrell (Phi)

DH Only
Phelps (Tor), Martinez (Sea)- Both these guys can hit for power. Martinez is aging, while Phelps is developing. Both are worth a decent gamble.

Starters
1- Mulder (Oak)- Is ranked low due to an injury last year at the end of the season. Was a Cy Young candidate. He will provide great ERA and WHIP, as well as 17+ wins.
2- Beckett (Fla)- This world series MVP is ranked very low. He blossomed late last year, and should continue to improve. He has always been a great pitcher, and will prove so this year.
3- Oswalt (Hou)- About the same deal as Mulder. A great pitcher with bad fortunes that will be overlooked due to ranking and stats. Will pitch great this year.
4- Santana (Min)- Pitched great as a starter last year. Get this guy if you can. He should have a breakout year as a #2 fantasy pitcher this year.
5- B.Myers (Phi), R. Harden (Oak)- Two young promising pitchers with a lot of talent and skill. Both lack experience and have had control problems, but both have a huge upside.
Notables- E.Milton (Phi), A.Eaton (SD), Redding (Hou), Lawrence (SD), Peavy (SD),

Projected closers by team
Ana- Percival
Ari- Mantei (Valverde backup)
Atl- Smoltz
Bal- Julio
Bos- Foulke
ChC- Borowski (look out for Hawkins)
ChW- Koch (look out for Marte)
Cin- Graves (look out for R.Wagner or Reitsma)
Cle- Wickman (Riske as a backup)
Col- Chacon
Det- Rodney (or a committee approach more likely)
Fla- Benitez
Hou- Dotel (Lidge as backup)
KC- MacDougal (Leskanic as a backup)
LA- Gagne
Mil- Kolb
Min- Nathan
Mon- Biddle (Look out for Ayala and C.Cordero)
NYM- Looper (Weathers as a backup)
NYY- Rivera
Oak- Rhodes
Phi- Wagner (Worrell as a backup)
Pit- Urbina if signed
SD- Hoffman (Beck as a backup)
SF- Nen (F.Rodriguez as a backup)
Sea- Guardado
StL- Isringhausen
TB- Baez (L.Carter as a backup)
Tex- F.Cordero (Zimmerman return to closer a possibility, but a longshot.)
Tor- Speier (A.Lopez as a backup)

[Erotic Joe]

How about Vidro And Vladdy? Both were injured last year and are bound to have a career year again this year.

[darkside_3k]

When you look at those two, you already know how good they are. These guys more or less are the ones that aren't big name players...yet.

[Crash_44]

Had any drafts yet, Darkside?

[darkside_3k]

Yeah, already did one in a winners league, and I have one tonight at 11:15

In case you want to see how my team fared http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/b1/44749/12

[Crash_44]

Here's the team I just drafted for a friend because he couldn't make the draft.

http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/b1/93302/8

[Crash_44]

You can go to the home page and check out the draft results to see how it went round by round.

[Erotic Joe]

Not enough Expos on these teams.

[Crash_44]

I wanted Vidro but waited a round too long.

[darkside_3k]

Vidro and Johnson are arguably the only two guys on that team worth having.

[Crash_44]

Wilkerson can make a good bench player to use as a fill-in...and let's not forget Cabrera who is very much underrated.

[Erotic Joe]

Carl Everett, despite being a headcase usually, has solid seasons, Tony Batista is another very solid season, Nick Johnson will prove how consistent a player he can be once he plays all game to his full potential, not behind Giambi.

As for the pitchers, T.J. Tucker proved hebelonged in this league, Tomy Armas will compensate for the loss of Vasquez, Livan Hernandez will do even better than last year and so will Rocky Biddle since he now has someone puching in his back for his job. Zach Day and Claudio Vargas have to set the record straight on their talent and other players like Okha, Woo, Sung and Choate are all their to turn heads.