With Spring just around the corner and the first regular season game
just about a month away, it’s time to begin preparing for another
fantasy baseball season. If you’re a real fantasy enthusiast, you’re
probably still involved with your basketball league(s) and are aware
that the playoffs will be well under way once the first pitch of the
season is thrown. So you’re work is cut out for you…
We always suggest entering several mock drafts in anticipation of
your real draft, if for no other reason than to familiarize yourself
with the tenor of the rooms you draft in and to see who your fellow
managers are avoiding and who they are snagging early or late in the
darfts. After all, practice makes perfect, so take advantage of the mock
drafts that are available where you regularly set up your leagues.
Even though the pre-season is about to get underway, we have done enough of these drafts to be able to offer you advice, suggestions, and options in two major categories; Who to avoid drafting and who the sleepers might be this year. This post will deal with the players we suggest you avoid drafting or at best, ‘draft with caution’.
1. Joe Mauer-C-Twins- Given that there isn’t much power at this position in general, you could do much better than Mauer’s HR track record would indicate. In his last five seasons he only has one with double-digit home runs. In his last two he has just 1 HR at Target Field. All that Mauer has to offer is a solid career BA of .323 so you need to draft carefully and determine beforehand if that’s all you want from this position.
2. Adam Dunn-DH/1B-White Sox- This 33 year old’s
best seasons might be behind him at this point of his career. That is if
you go on his last season’s numbers; 11 hrs 42 rbis and a .159 batting
average. However he is only one year removed from 38-103- .260 in his
last year as a National. You probably could do better with less risk and
more reward than Dunn (who just might be done…)
3. Chase Utley-2B-Phillies- Not totally convinced that Utley is through with his illustrious career because his main problem is not lack of talent but more of his ability to stay off the DL. In the last two seasons Utley has missed 106 games! Ouch! Over the past five seasons his batting average has plummeted starting in 2007 when he batted .332. He followed that with .292, .282, .275 and .259. In his last two seasons his home run totals are 16 and 11. Again, you can draft the 33 year old career Phillie if you’d like, but do it under advisement.
4. Bryce Harper-OF-Nationals- Cannot explain why this 19 year old who has yet to play one inning in the major leagues, is going so early in mock drafts. He admittedly talks too much, has deleted his twitter account and is a prospect; that’s all we DO know. It can’t be his .256 batting average last year in AA, nor his having to go up against Roger Bernadina for a spot in the starting lineup. Couple that with the fact that he no longer has catcher availability and clearly in a position as plentiful as OF there are better options than Harper.
5. Vernon Wells-OF-Angels- Wells who had spent 12 years
with the Toronto Blue Jays, is getting set to begin his second season
with the Angels. Hoping to erase the memory of last year’s unsightly
numbers, even Angels manager Mike Scioscia has said he might
find a place for Wells in the starting lineup. An easy statement to make
as Wells was the player with the American League’s lowest batting
average (.218) and on-base percentage (.248) last season. We recommend
thinking twice before picking this veteran up in your leagues until at
least we see signs that he is returning to his 2010 numbers he had in
his last year with the Blue Jays; 31-88-.273.
For more great Fantasy articles, visit the Fantasy Furnace!
Written by the Fantasy Furnace, Content Partner
Writer and editor at fantasyfurnace.com. Sports and fantasy sports; profiles, analysis and advice, including tips for managing winning leagues.
Follow on Twitter @fantasyfurnace
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It's that time of year again and the Furnace is here to help... Photo:bluejayhunter.com
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Even though the pre-season is about to get underway, we have done enough of these drafts to be able to offer you advice, suggestions, and options in two major categories; Who to avoid drafting and who the sleepers might be this year. This post will deal with the players we suggest you avoid drafting or at best, ‘draft with caution’.
1. Joe Mauer-C-Twins- Given that there isn’t much power at this position in general, you could do much better than Mauer’s HR track record would indicate. In his last five seasons he only has one with double-digit home runs. In his last two he has just 1 HR at Target Field. All that Mauer has to offer is a solid career BA of .323 so you need to draft carefully and determine beforehand if that’s all you want from this position.
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Lack of power makes Joe Mauer a questionable pick on draft day. Photo: sports.yahoo.com
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3. Chase Utley-2B-Phillies- Not totally convinced that Utley is through with his illustrious career because his main problem is not lack of talent but more of his ability to stay off the DL. In the last two seasons Utley has missed 106 games! Ouch! Over the past five seasons his batting average has plummeted starting in 2007 when he batted .332. He followed that with .292, .282, .275 and .259. In his last two seasons his home run totals are 16 and 11. Again, you can draft the 33 year old career Phillie if you’d like, but do it under advisement.
4. Bryce Harper-OF-Nationals- Cannot explain why this 19 year old who has yet to play one inning in the major leagues, is going so early in mock drafts. He admittedly talks too much, has deleted his twitter account and is a prospect; that’s all we DO know. It can’t be his .256 batting average last year in AA, nor his having to go up against Roger Bernadina for a spot in the starting lineup. Couple that with the fact that he no longer has catcher availability and clearly in a position as plentiful as OF there are better options than Harper.
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Nationals OF Bryce Harper's persona is more of an attraction than his credentials. Photo: sports.yahoo.com
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Watch for our sleepers and 'must drafts'...Photo fantasybaseballcrackerjacks.com
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For more great Fantasy articles, visit the Fantasy Furnace!
Written by the Fantasy Furnace, Content PartnerWriter and editor at fantasyfurnace.com. Sports and fantasy sports; profiles, analysis and advice, including tips for managing winning leagues.
Follow on Twitter @fantasyfurnace
