Kuzul

The headache was more like a jackhammer slamming around in my skull. I could barely walk, barely think, as I stumbled into Wal-Mart to find some relief. The first pain reducer I came to was Aleve. A 100-count bottle of 220 mg pain-fighting assistance.

I grabbed them, coughed up the $8.38 plus tax and popped a pill as soon as I got to the car.

My next headache came three days later, when I realized that Wal-Mart sold generic Naproxen Sodium in 100-count bottles at the same dosage for $3.30. I paid more than double what I should have.

On draft day, you don’t want to be that guy that overspent on a perceived stud when there are great values in the later rounds. Some of my personal value guys this year at second base include:

Ian Kinsler, TEX

Kinsler is currently being drafted, on average, in the fourth to fifth round. When you consider he has first-round talent, the value here is apparent.

However, the elephant in the room is his injury-riddled 2010 season, where he finished with just nine homers and 15 stolen bases in 291 at-bats.

So, taking Kinsler presents a risk. Current signs from Texas suggest Kinsler should be ready and raring to go this season. Recent news mentions that Kinsler will be batting leadoff for the Rangers this season, which is where he hit during Thursday’s intrasquad game.

On the surface, this should indicate a bounce-back season from a speed standpoint as long as Elvis Andrus stays at the No. 2 slot. It should also boost Kinsler’s runs scored.

At this point, I’d take Kinsler at the current ADP on the chance that he stays healthy for most of 2011. However, watch his stock this spring. If he shows he is on track health-wise during spring training, owners may get a little bolder on draft day and take him higher.

Aaron Hill, TOR

That pitiful .205 batting average over 528 at-bats is killing Hill’s fantasy draft stock in 2011.

That, for we sneaky ninjas, is a good thing. Even during his “off year,” he still hit 26 homers. He also had an MLB-low .196 BABIP, suggesting he was excessively unlucky during the 2010 campaign. That is something that should definitely change over time. For more on his BABIP and longer terms stats, check out my second base rankings.

The key here for Hill, and for all of us fantasy value seekers, is that he’s being drafted on average in the late, late rounds. Much later than a proven power hitter should fall. There is little doubt in my mind that he’ll be a solid value selection in 2011 drafts.

Gordon Beckham, CWS

Want a good way to find possible sleeper/value players? Look for young guys with tons of talent who’ve dealt with there share of growing pains.

Beckham is one such player. Just 24, he has plenty of major league career in front of him. This season, he’s hitting in front of both Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko. A perfect spot to be in a hitter-friendly environment.

On top of that, Ozzie Guillen recently mentioned that he wants Beckham to run more. To be a threat on the basepaths. While he has accumulated just 11 steals in two partial seasons, Beckham was pretty adept at swiping bags while in college at Georgia.

Considering Beckham is falling into the final rounds (and not even drafted in some leagues), he is so worth a flyer based on potential alone.

For more on second base rankings, check out my comments and current list. And don’t miss our solid commentary on second base ADP rankings.

My full positional rankings include: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

My other value players, sleeper picks at other positions so far: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and fantasy football advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In an attempt to satisfy a late-night sweet tooth, I hit the drive-through at Dunkin’ Donuts and ordered two Boston Creams on my way home from work the other night. When I got to the window to finalize the purchase, I was shocked by a $1.82 bill.

That was because each donut, before tax, cost 85 cents. The local supermarket, just two miles up the road, sells fresh baked donuts in their bakery for 59 cents a piece. I wanted to cry.

But then, I realized that we all can just as easily fall into that trap of overpaying for a “brand name” commodity on fantasy baseball draft day. Don’t be one of them. Let your competition take Joakim Soria and Brian Wilson too early in your draft. Then, in the final rounds, take these guys …

Craig Kimbrel, ATL. I’ve always been a sucker for a fireballer dressed in a closer’s clothing. Kimbrel racks up strikeouts like I racked up calories off those Boston Creams the other night. He fanned 40 last year, in just 20.2 innings.

He’ll start the season as the Braves’ closer after the retirement of Billy Wagner. And considering the Braves’ young-yet-potent squad, Kimbrel will find himself in a great opportunity to be the sport’s best value closer of the 2011 season.

Or something to that effect.

Chris Perez, CLE. Few doubted that Perez could save games last season; it was a matter of Kerry Wood being in that role most of the season. Once Wood was out of the picture, Perez responded with 16 saves, a 1.78 ERA and 0.86 WHIP during the second half. He isn’t going to rack up a ton of strikeouts, but he’ll save plenty of games despite being on a less-than-special team.

He won’t last as long on draft day as Kimbrel, but will still be around well after the Sorias and Wilsons are gobbled up.

Drew Storen, WAS. The most heralded rookie pitcher in Washington last season not named Strasburg, Storen has been groomed for the closer role for quite some time.

When he finally got his opportunity to close games late last season, he responded with adequate numbers (52 strikeouts in 55 innings pitched, an ERA north of 3.00), but the end result was plenty good. He saved five of seven games during the last two months of the season.

Sure, the Nationals won’t win a ton of games. Then again, neither do the Royals, and Soria still gets his opportunities. When Washington does win, the score will be close and Storen will be getting his due chance.

Matt Thornton, CWS. This pick is a little more tenuous than the others on this list. Thornton does, at the moment, have the closer gig to himself for the White Sox, according to Ozzie Guillen.

That is good, since Thornton has excelled in the bullpen of late, posting a 2.70 ERA and an 11 strikeout per nine inning mark that suggests he can keep the closer gig long-term.

It helps, too, that the White Sox are talented enough to win plenty of games, but shouldn’t be blowing out too many opponents.

The thing to watch this spring, however, is the threat of Chris Sale, who has been moved to the bullpen and could challenge for saves down the road if Thornton struggles.

These are my value closers for 2011 who are, at the moment, planned to close from day one. There are plenty of other sleeper closer options, such as Aroldis Chapman, Rafael Soriano and others who are waiting in the wings in case of injury or poor play. History suggests that plenty of these second-in-command closers will have value during the season. I’ll be writing more about these “sleepers” in the near future.

Don’t miss my 2011 closer rankings and rankings at other positions: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

Did you see the breaking news about Adam Wainwright?

We break down average draft position in the Top  10 | 20

Forget all the other draft strategy advice you’ve been reading. We’ve got you covered with this one post.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It has been a rough 2011 so far for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Contract discussions with uber-stud Albert Pujols went south pretty quickly, with negotiations now called off until after the season. The likelihood of Pujols hitting the free agency pool has greatly increased.

But perhaps the most damaging news for the Cardinals’ 2011 season (with direct effect on fantasy baseball rankings for the year) may have come today in the form of Adam Wainwright and a damaged ligament in the ace pitcher’s right elbow.

Wainwright, who has finished in the top three of the NL Cy Young award voting the past two seasons, injured a ligament in his right elbow during practice Wednesday … the same ligament that was causing some discomfort at the end of the 2010 season.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak considered it a “significant injury,” and signs are pointing more and more towards Tommy John surgery for the 29-year-old.

From a fantasy standpoint, Wainwright has emerged as an elite option at a position filled with potential upside, but also numerous red flags. His 2.42 ERA in 230 innings pitched during the 2010 campaign marked the fourth consecutive season that he trimmed his ERA. He struck out 425 batters in the past two years, winning 39 games and recording six complete games during that span.

Obviously from a redraft standpoint, if Wainwright does require Tommy John surgery, he won’t find himself anywhere near a mound in 2011. He should be removed from all redraft rankings at this point, and his status altered in keeper and dynasty leagues, accordingly.

The possible blow also cripples the chances that the Cardinals can win an increasingly competitive NL-Central, as the squad at the moment could be looking at a rotation of Chris Carpenter, Jake Westbrook, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse and P.J. Walters barring any free agent signings.

If you are drafting a fantasy squad in the coming days, be sure to watch the Wainwright situation closely. For the time being, you can definitely drop him from my recent 2011 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings short of a miracle recovery that doesn’t require surgery. For the rest of my current rankings, go here: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

While quirky advice, my Harry Stamper strategy to draft day dominance has become pretty popular.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It wasn’t that long ago, really, that we were paying homage to the home run. The American pastime had become an American afterthought after the 1994 lockout wiped out a World Series. We, as a collective fan base, were holding out for a hero to resuscitate the sport. Enter Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds … and the steroids scandal.

Nowadays, baseball no longer needs the home run as a crutch to hobble along with. The 2010 season was all about pitchers. Perfect games. No hitters. The Giants winning the World Series without an offensive player worth a box of Crackerjacks.

Fantasy baseball in 2011 will again be riding the wave of pitchers, and the following is my guide to the top 30 starting hurlers in fantasy baseball for this season:

1. Roy Halladay, PHI. There is no doubt that he deserves the top spot in all league formats here (short of AL-only, of course). His move to Philly only enhanced what was already shaping up to be a potential Hall of Fame career. Amazing at his age how the ERA consistently keeps dropping and the strikeouts keep going up. Short of some freak injury, there are few things less certain than Doc Halladay having an elite 2011 season.

2. Felix Hernandez, SEA. As many were patiently waiting for, King Felix had a career year last year for the lowly Mariners. Too bad the team couldn’t help him pad his wins totals. We all know he has the talent to keep pitching at an elite level, and while he doesn’t have the lengthy track record of a Halladay or the run support of Halladay, there is little to think he’ll regress too much in 2011.

3. Cliff Lee, PHI. Perhaps higher than some, I’m loving the change back to the NL on a team he obviously wants to play for (hence the reduced contract over what he could have received with the Yankees). He’ll be pitching from the No. 2 hole, inflating his win opportunities. Short of an injury, Lee is due for a big, big season.

4. Adam Wainwright, STL. Two seasons that are nearly mirror images of each other in terms of quiet dominance, people still aren’t totally ready to rely on Wainwright. I’m not going to blow a high pick on him when there is some solid depth at the position, but Wainwright has shown he can be counted on for an ERA in the mid-2.00s, more than 200 strikeouts and 17 or more wins.

5. Zack Greinke, MIL. To those outside of the www.chinstrapninjas.com inner circle, I preface this ranking by pointing out that I’m a Brewers fan (Yankees first, Brewers second). However, there have been ample situations where pitchers go from the AL to the NL with great results. No DH, no problem! Plus, Greinke will have the run support that he never did in Kansas City and a very good chance at playing towards a playoff berth for the first time in his career. We all saw what sort of numbers Greinke can produce when motivated (2.16 ERA, 242 strikeouts for Royals in 2009). Add in the other variables, and Greinke could be a good value come draft day.

6. Tim Lincecum, SF. Lincecum falling to sixth has more to do with the wealth of talent at the position and not as much, in my opinion at least, with the struggles he faced late last season before the playoffs began. He did right the ship in the playoffs and can be as unhittable as anyone in the game at any point. His smaller frame and some small maladies early this preseason (sore neck earlier this week keeping him out of practice) make some worried about his long-term durability. I’m more interested in his nice track record of quality production.

7. Clayton Kershaw, LAD. Again, not a matter of him being less talented, but Kershaw falls here due to quality depth at the position. And, Kershaw has a much smaller sample size to look at. The 212 strikeouts and 2.91 ERA in 2010 were impressive. Just give me another year of that production before I consider him a top 5 fantasy player at the position.

8. Justin Verlander, DET. I find it surprising how Verlander is seemingly forgotten on most expert rankings. The guy has seen a three-year drop in ERA (3.37 in 2010), a more than adequate 219 strikeouts and a second season of nearly 20 wins. The Tigers have plenty of potential to keep Verlander relevant, and while others are paying for higher priced commodities from this list, you can snag Verlander a little bit later and feel good about your situation.

9. Jon Lester, BOS. Perhaps this is my Yankee anti-Boston sentiment flaring up, but I just can’t put Lester higher on this list. His numbers are very similar to Verlander’s, except he has a little bit smaller sample size to show us. The Red Sox will win games (unfortunately) and Lester has matured into the team’s ace, and like I’ve mentioned several times already, guys on this list could easily move up if it wasn’t for such a log jam of talent near the top.

10. Ubaldo Jimenez, COL. Another young pitcher with plenty of talent, Jimenez showed plenty of flash in 2010. His 214 strikeouts and 2.88 ERA in 221 innings pitched was very commendable, and one would expect those number to improve with more work and maturity. Rumor out of Colorado suggests that Jimenez has put a lot of work into the offseason, so the momentum should continue into 2011.

11. CC Sabathia, NYY. Again, not a knock on his talent or his chances of posting a solid season. You could easily make a case for the past seven guys to be interchangeable. Sabathia has allegedly cut some weight during the offseason and is ready to pitch with a passion in 2011. Perhaps recent news is that he may opt out of his contract at season’s end in an attempt to collect a bigger pay day is playing a part in that.

12. Josh Johnson, FLA. Last season’s NL ERA leader with a sick 2.30 posted more than 185 strikeouts for the second consecutive season. Many have him higher on their respective lists, but I still can’t get over the way he struggled to consistently strike people out during his minor league days (7.41 K/9) and I wonder if he’ll regress a little. Add in the fact that he’s on a mediocre squad facing the Phillies and Braves among others, and Johnson could be a bit short of the hype this year, especially with so many other quality options at the position.

13. Cole Hamels, PHI. Three Phillies in the top 13? Yep. So much is going right for the squad, and the addition of Lee means Hamels will be pitching out of the third rotation spot, a place where he should reap plenty of wins. The stinker of a 2009 is somewhat worrisome, I suppose, but Hamels is playing for a new contract (or auditioning for a new team at the end of the season), and I can’t imagine he’ll regress too much at this point.

14. David Price, TB. Nineteen wins and 188 strikeouts while posting a 2.72 ERA shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who followed Price throughout his career. He has tons of raw talent and plays on a pretty good Rays squad. Of course, he has plenty of games against the Yankees and Red Sox to weather, but managed OK with that hurdle last year.

15. Jered Weaver, LAA. He who will get overlooked on draft day posted 233 strikeouts and a 3.01 ERA in 2010 pitching for a floundering Angels squad. While LA hasn’t done much to resurrect the team’s chances for 2011, Weaver should continue to post decent numbers in a streaky AL-West.

16. Matt Latos, SD. Another under-appreciated commodity, Latos did very well in 2010 to the tune of a 2.92 ERA, 189 strikeouts and 14 wins. His home games are played in a pitcher-friendly park. His team will struggle to give him much run support, especially with Adrian Gonzalez off in Boston.

17. Matt Cain, SF. While his ERA spiked a little in 2010 (3.14 compared to 2.89 in 2009), Cain did manage six more strikeouts. Not a guy who will win you 20 games on a team that doesn’t have much of an offense, Cain has been a pretty good source of fantasy production and can be had much cheaper than you’d think.

18. Tommy Hanson, ATL. The Braves are a team that are ready to break out this year. Veteran leadership such as Dan Uggla have been added and young players are starting to mature and show their talent. Hanson is one of the latter. In 202 innings pitched during 2010, Hanson posted 173 strikeouts and a 3.33 ERA. Those numbers will improve as Hanson continues to mature and as the Braves come together as a team.

19. Yovani Gallardo, MIL. It is hard to gauge what to expect out of Gallardo in 2011. He had streaks of brilliance in 2010, followed by mediocrity. His second consecutive 200-plus strikeout season is a major plus, and pitching out of the Brewers’ No. 2 hole should help him win a few more games. There is definite upside here.

20. Chris Carpenter, STL. There is something to be said about players that help you without putting you at major risk. Carpenter is one of those players. He consistent posts decent ERA, can strike out batters with authority when on and is good for 15-plus wins a season. Staying healthy is his X-factor, but the Cardinals have been cautious with him lately and he is playing for a new contract at season’s end.

21. Francisco Liriano, MIN. Would put him higher if it weren’t for concerns of his ERA blowing up in your face. Liriano was always a high strikeout guy, and if he can stay healthy, he should be able to whittle away at the 3.62 mark he put up in 2010.

22. Roy Oswalt, PHI. Having perhaps his best season in more than a half-decade, Oswalt posted a 2.76 ERA with 193 strikeouts in 2010 with the Phillies. Protection from a stacked squad definitely benefited Oswalt, and pitching from the Phils’ No. 4 slot will definitely help him win his fair share of games.

22. Dan Haren, LAA. Strikeouts haven’t been an issue for Haren lately. Keeping his ballooning ERA in check has been. The Angels aren’t exactly a world-beater of a team, but Haren will still provide some quality stats as long as you factor in an extra strong dose of earned runs along the way.

23. Max Scherzer, DET. Another young pitcher with plenty of upside, Scherzer improved his ERA in 2010 (3.50 still needs some work, but is better than the 4.12 in 2009) while gaining in strikeouts for the third consecutive season. The Tigers will win enough games to help Scherzer gain momentum this year and he has a bright future ahead.

24. Brett Anderson, OAK. Looking at the stats he was able to produce in between injuries in 2010, Anderson showed a lot of promise. If he can stay healthy, and if the Athletics can put him in some positions to win, he could be a nice sleeper play this year. Of course, those are some major ifs.

25. Madison Bumgarner, SF. Many rankings will overlook Bumgarner considering his stuff is so raw and we don’t have a full season to evaluate him off of yet. However, his talent is unquestioned and he should be able to build off a solid end to the 2010 season.

26. Chad Billingsley, LAD. Three years removed from a 200-plus-strikeout and 3.14 ERA, Billingsley’s stock has slipped some with an expanding ERA and diminishing strikeout total the past two seasons. At 26, he’s young enough to right the ship, however, and only signed a one-year contract, so he has plenty to play for in 2011.

27. Colby Lewis, TEX. Another under-valued pitcher, Lewis accumulated 196 strikeouts in 201 innings with a 3.72 ERA. With Cliff Lee back in Philly, Lewis becomes the defacto ace of the Texas staff (with C.J.Wilson). If he can continue to chip away at his earned run total, he could be a sneaky good play in many fantasy formats.

28. Shaun Marcum, MIL. Another pitcher who jumps from the AL (Toronto) to the NL, Marcum is starting to show up on some sleeper lists. Mine included. His overall 2010 stats aren’t awe-inspiring (3.64 ERA and 165 strikeouts in 195 innings pitched), but if you remove his stats against the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays, his averages are borderline elite. Since the NL Central is a far cry from the AL East, and because the Brewers have plenty of talent, both offensively and on the mound, Marcum could be a great asset this year out of the No. 3 rotation spot.

29. Wandy Rodriguez, HOU. His 3.60 ERA in 32 games started during 2010 wasn’t stellar, but his 178 strikeouts weren’t too shabby and he projects as the team’s ace pitcher yet again. Of course, the Astros are a far cry from what they once were during the Killer B’s era, but Wandy will still get his share of stats.

30. Gio Gonzalez, OAK. There were plenty of guys I considered for this spot. Ricky Nolasco has loads of potential, but was a total head case last year. Ricky Romero showed some signs of promise for Toronto. However, Gonzalez had the better season overall and has been consistently trending in the right direction in each stat category during his just under three seasons of action. If the A’s can produce something offensively, Gonzalez could see another stat improvement.

For more on this topic, go here.

Don’t miss my other 2011 positional rankings:  C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

And, discussion on fantasy baseball ADP’s Top 10 and Top 20.

And, our 25 players 25-and-under for your dynasty/keeper fantasy baseball team.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball or fantasy football advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It seems that everyone, at some point, references the “Good Ol’ Days.” Like how gas was 50 cents a gallon in the good old days, and how a loaf of bread was a nickel.

Of course, no one really ever points out that hourly income was a lot less in those days, too. And that proportionally, we aren’t as far off as what we make it seem in our minds.

Which is a point I try to remember when looking at the 2011 crop of fantasy outfielders. Wasn’t the position deeper in the good old days? Like always, there are a few sure-fire stud players at the position, but it always seemed that there were at least 10 or so of them. This year, there are only two or three that come with no real baggage, in my opinion, and you could find things even with them to nitpick about if you wanted.

Without further ado, here are my outfielder rankings for 2011…

1. Ryan Braun, MIL.

Many have Carlos Gonzalez here, and after his stat outburst last year, he should be considered. However, I’ll go with the guy who has been doing it longer, on a much more stacked lineup and who posted decent 2010 numbers despite several minor injuries (wrist, elbow) hampering him.

2. Carlos Gonzalez, COL.

So many people talked about how talented this kid was, but few expected him to put up the type of numbers he did last year in just his second Major League season. He was a much better player at home, but who isn’t when you play for the Rockies? I still wonder if he will experience some growing pains and I’d like a little more track record at the Major League level, but it is hard to ignore the true potential of this guy.

3. Carl Crawford, BOS.

On the right side of 30, Crawford still has at least one peak year in front of him, and his mix of steals, homers and plus-.300 batting average is hard to beat. The big question here is how the Red Sox use him. He allegedly isn’t thrilled about leading off, where he’d have the most value from a steals standpoint. Allegedly, Boston is considering batting him second behind Jacoby Ellsbury, which may eat into steals numbers. Of course, he’ll still be ahead of the heart of the Red Sox order, which will keep him a great overall option.

4. Matt Holliday, STL.

Many would argue he should be lower on the list. But why? He’s hit well over .300 the past six years in a row, saw an increase in homers and runs scored last year and ultimately has the much better and consistent track record of anyone else on this list. He’s devoted to the team, even offering recently to defer part of his salary to help the team keep Albert Pujols. The steals may have dropped off last year, but he still had more than Josh Hamilton last season, and people are appointing Hamilton a first-round guy this year. Holliday stole double-digit bases five straight seasons before 2010.

5. Matt Kemp, LAD.

We all know that Kemp had a disappointing 2010 season. That should go without saying. However, there were definite barbs between him and Joe Torre, and Torre did bounce Kemp all over the place in the lineup throughout the season. Everyone who’s worked around Kemp admit he has elite player skills. Here’s expecting Don Mattingly to step in and reform Kemp into an elite option this season.

6. Josh Hamilton, TEX.

Having last year’s MVP as my No. 6 outfielder? Blasphemy you say? Perhaps. However, Hamilton had his career year riding a Goodyear blimp-like .390 BABIP. Anyone who thinks he’ll even come close to replicating his .359 batting average from 2010 is fooling themselves. He’s proven that he can be brittle, he won’t steal more than 10 bases, his average will likely take a decent hit and I just can’t put him higher than this.

7. Shin-Soo Choo, CLE.

Many overlook Choo on draft day, which can be a bad idea. He seems to fall below more well-established names, but has strung together some consistent production at the position. He has hit .300 or better the past three consecutive seasons. His homers have increased from 14 to 20 to 22, in 2008, 2009 and 2010, respectively. His stolen bases and RBI have also seen steady increases. He’s also playing for a contract extension at the moment, and if Grady Sizemore can bounce back at least a little, it will help him get more pitches to hit.

8. Nelson Cruz, TEX.

The story of Cruz in 2010 was dictated by his health. When on the field, he raked with 22 homers, 17 stolen bases and a .318 batting average in just 399 at-bats. Imagine what he could do if he stayed healthy a full season. Just don’t draft him to play a full season and you’ll be happy with the outcome.

9. Hunter Pence, HOU.

Higher than many would suggest, Pence deserves more love. He homered 25 times the past three consecutive seasons, has seen a steady increase in stolen bases and hit exactly .282 the past two years. He will man the team’s No. 3 spot in the lineup, a position he thrived in last year for 292 at-bats. Remember, too, that Pence recorded 90-plus RBI and runs scored in 2010, and could surpass 100 in each category if the stars align this year.

10. Andrew McCutchen, PIT.

Stat-wise, McCutchen was very similar to Pence, only that he produced more on the stolen base side of things and less in the power department. He’s young (only 24), playing for a beefier contract and is very talented, all attributes that help make up for playing on a mediocre Pirates team. The emergence of young Pedro Alvarez will only help McCutchen’s overall stat line.

11. Justin Upton, ARI.

Another young uber-talented player with plenty of upside, Upton struggled last year as he played through a slightly torn labrum. He has 30-30 potential, but it will take him some time to get there. A 20-20 season (like he had in 2009) would be a good place to start.

12. Jason Heyward, ATL.

Always one with a hankering for young upside guys, I can’t put Heyward any lower than this. His rookie numbers were decent (18 homers, 11 stolen bases and a .277 batting average in 520 at-bats). They are even more impressive when remembering that he struggled with a sore thumb most of the season and was a true rookie, experiencing some expected growing pains along the way. Heyward will be better for it this season, and an improved offense around him in Atlanta will only help those numbers climb higher.

13. Jay Bruce, CIN.

A guy who I was touting loudly this time last year, Bruce didn’t match the expectations. However, he did produce well in spurts, and showed improvement as the season went on. He’ll continue to move up the rankings moving forward, just not as quickly as I envisioned last season.

14. Alex Rios, CWS.

The final stats look pretty good for Rios. He had 21 homers, 34 steals, 88 RBI, 89 runs scored and a .284 batting average along the way. That’s better than guys like McCutchen and Upton. Except that looking closer, you’ll notice his amazingly hot first half in 2010 was followed by a statistical collapse in the second half. Which player will start the season this year? That’s the big question with Rios. A drastically better offense around him makes me think we’ll see more of the former and less of the latter.

15. Andre Ethier, LAD.

Many are touting him higher than this. I can’t. His batting average hovers around .300 and he easily hit more than 20 homers this season. But he lacks in speed. Not a flashy option, he still produces enough quietly to be considered at this position.

16. Jose Bautista, TOR.

We all know about the 54 homers that seemingly came out of nowhere last season. We also should all realize he won’t repeat that output, especially since his career batting average is more Paris Hilton than John Goodman. If you know what I mean.

17. Jayson Werth, WAS.

Just like Dorothy realizing she wasn’t in Kansas any more, I expect Werth to realize that Washington is no Philadelphia when it comes to protection in the lineup. He still has 20-plus homer ability, double-digit steal potential and a batting average that will fall somewhere in the .280s. Just not ready to think that the Nationals will help his RBI or runs-scored numbers.

18. Ichiro Suzuki, SEA.

I put him here because someone will be drafting him in every league. It just won’t be me. Sure, you have to love his .300-plus batting average, and his 40-ish steals, but that is all you can expect, if even that, from a 37-year-old. What helped keep Suzuki’s value up in the past was his ability to score runs. A withering offense around him ensures that he won’t produce enough in this category to draft him where others will.

19. Mike Stanton, FLA.

Many will overlook Stanton on draft day due to his youth. Or his .259 batting average in 2010. I suggest he’ll be a sneaky-good value thanks to the number 16.3. That was his homers per at-bats last season as he whacked 22 dingers in just 259 plate appearances. To better illustrate this, consider that out of all outfielders in 2010, only Jose Bautista (10.5) and Josh Hamilton (16.2) were better than him. No one else was even close. He could be in store for a 40-homer sophomore season.

20. Colby Rasmus, STL.

A solid sophomore campaign saw definite increases in each of the five main statistical categories we care about the most in fantasy baseball. His age (24) suggests he still has time to improve. Hitting in a lineup with Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday helps, too.

21. Drew Stubbs, CIN.

Thirty stolen bases and 22 homers suggest he could be higher on this list. His 168 strikeouts in 2010 say otherwise. Still, Stubbs is a young 26, and there is time for him to improve upon his plate discipline. Just be sure to have help elsewhere on your lineup for batting average numbers.

22. Shane Victorino, PHI.

Career highs in homers (18) and RBI (69) and a solid stolen base haul (34) mask a definite drop in runs scored (84) and batting average (.259). Reports from Philly suggest that management is discouraged that Victorino is not showing enough motivation to improve himself as a hitter heading into 2011. Too bad, because he has more than enough potential and lineup protection to vault up this list.

23. Delmon Young, DET.

At age 25, Delmon is starting to tap into his potential after a season when he hit a career high 21 homers and 112 RBI while producing a respectable .298 batting average and 77 runs scored. If Young can keep himself on track, he has the potential to better these rankings yet again this season. However, in some ways, he’s pretty raw yet. Time and maturity are key for Young.

24. Chris Young, ARI.

It boggles my mind that a player with Young’s talent and a guy who can hammer out 27 homers and steal 28 bases continues to be so dismal at the plate (.257, which is actually an improvement over the previous season). Until Young starts showing more discipline, he’ll never reach his true potential as easily a top-10 fantasy outfielder.

25. Curtis Granderson, NYY.

A shell of what he was in previous seasons, Granderson struggled at times in 2010 with the Bronx Bombers. He still managed 24 homers and 12 stolen bases but finished the season with a disappointing .247 batting average. The plus here is that Granderson showed signs of improvement late last year under the tutelage of hitting coach Kevin Long. Granderson hit .262 with 10 homers, 20 runs and 26 RBI over the final 30 games and was scorching hot in the playoffs. If that trend can continue, he may be a nice middle to late-round fantasy value in the potent Yankees lineup.

26. Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS.

After basically a lost 2010, it is hard to know exactly what to expect out of Ellsbury in 2011. He has elite speed potential when atop the Boston lineup, but will he be able to stay healthy for the long haul? Will newcomer Carl Crawford eat into Ellsbury’s base-stealing numbers? Will Ellsbury remain the leadoff hitter long-term? Some things to consider and watch during spring training.

27. B.J. Upton, TB.

For the third consecutive season, Upton stole 40-plus bases in 2010. Also for the third straight year, he had a dip in batting average. Not a good trend. His 18 homers were a nice surprise, and one would think his batting average should bounce back from a career-low .237 last year—especially considering he hit .300 just a couple seasons ago. However, he’s still a big risk.

28. Corey Hart, MIL.

An injury-plagued second half sort of took some luster out of a season where Hart hit a career-high 31 homers. Still, with a decent batting average and a solid lineup around him, Hart should produce adequate numbers.

29. Nick Markakis, BAL.

He always could hit for average. The feeling last year was that he was going to add more power to his repertoire. That didn’t happen. In fantasy baseball, you can only give a player so much slack before you need to move on to the next upside guy. Markakis has the tools and the Orioles have improved during the offseason, so this is my last chance for Markakis.

30. Nick Swisher, NYY.

Considered 2010 flops Jason Bay and Grady Sizemore here. Instead, finally decided to go with a Nick Swisher who has belted 29 homers in each of the past two seasons, improved his batting average despite a track record of strikeouts and slumps and hits in a batter-friendly park with a solid lineup around him.

Don’t miss my rankings at other positions:  C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

And, a pretty cool story on the top 25 players under age 25.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and fantasy football advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It is nearly impossible to not fall in love with an under-the-radar player or two each year while preparing for a new fantasy football season.

These are guys you feel aren’t getting enough love or attention from experts who bury them in the rankings.

You’ve already met a few of the guys I put in that category personally. Aaron Hill. Adam Dunn. Dan Uggla. Time to add another to that list…Casey McGehee?

1. Evan Longoria, TB. Some make a case for David Wright here. And, if you look at their 2010 stats, they are similar. Except that Longoria’s career is on the way up, and Wright has already reached his ceiling. I also trust the lineup support in Tampa Bay over the brittle offense in New York.
2. David Wright, NYM. 1b to Longoria’s 1a. At a position that is more top heavy than many want to believe, Wright has value earlier in drafts than similar players at other positions. I still will likely be taking a value guy at 3B. Like that McGehee guy.
3. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS. A good example of how my rankings don’t necessarily match up with where you should take guys. Zimmerman doesn’t have the name value that A-Rod does, and that will show on draft day, but I have no qualms in predicting right here and now that Zimmerman will outproduce A-Rod as a fantasy option at third base this season. Zimmerman is just 26, finally starting to realize his true power potential, hits for high average and finds himself on a young but quickly improving Washington offense.
4. Alex Rodriguez, NYY. Not that I’m knocking A-Rod. Even in a “down” season, he led all third baseman last year with 125 RBI…21 more than the next guys on the list. There is no denying he’s in one of the best lineups in baseball, in one of the most hitter-friendly environments. He’s been a little more brittle of late, but still good for some nice stats, especially when considering the drop off moving down this list.
5. Casey McGehee, MIL. Not understanding how McGehee is not considered part of this next tier by many experts who do rankings. Sure, he has a shorter body of work than the Adrian Beltres and Aramis Ramirez is on this list. However, the workload he has turned in looks really, really good. His 23 homers last year and .283 average put him higher than many others on this list already. His 104 RBI in 2010 meant he matched or beat the RBI output of every other third baseman not named A-Rod. McGahee’s half-season of major league stats in 2009 were also impressive. 16 homers in just 355 at-bats. A .301 batting average. And, he still plays in a Brewers lineup filled with solid offensive options. I wouldn’t take him this high, but expect him to produce numbers to justify this ranking by the end of the season.

For the rest of my third base rankings, with analysis, check this out.

Check out all my positional rankings as they’re produced: C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS

For all your hard-hitting 2011 offseason fantasy football or 2011 preseason fantasy baseball needs, advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Once upon a time in fantasy baseball, second base was shallower than Paris Hilton at a Larry the Cable Guy event. It was as epic as Mariah Carey’s movie, “Glitter.”

Now, the position has morphed into so much more. It has drama, glitz, and glamor. It’s a regular Oscar contender. I’ll call it “The Good, The Bad and The Uggla.”

As in Dan Uggla? The guy that everyone overlooks on draft day, yet continues to put up some of the most under-appreciated stats in the sport? Yeah, that guy.

1. Robinson Cano, NYY. We’ll get to Uggla in a moment. Cano broke out in a big way last season. He had 29 homers, 109 RBI, and hit .319. He bats in one of the most feared lineups in baseball. The only thing Cano doesn’t do is steal bases. You learn fast at this position that different second basemen give you different things. First base is typically a power position, shortstop, a speed position; second base has both, and Cano’s patience at the plate is something very valuable in a league filled with guys who spend more time swinging for the fences on every pitch instead of patiently waiting for some fresh meat.

2. Chase Utley, PHI. Man, I remember when ranking this guy high at the second base position was much easier. Now, I waffled numerous time between him and any of the next several guys on the list. Utley has tons of potential. He can hit for power. He can steal bases. But he’s also had four consecutive seasons of declining batting average. His homers and steals and batting average were all similar to Brandon Phillips’ last year. Except, look closer at the numbers and realize that Utley had 200 less at-bats than Phillips. And Utley plays for a much better team. The whole Phillies offense is due to rebound.

3. Dan Uggla, ATL. Here he is. The guy who will be drafted much lower than here in most leagues, but will again produce stats that buoy him to the top of the second base pool. Few second basemen have hit 30 homers in a season or two. Uggla had his fourth-consecutive 30-plus home run season in 2010. His batting average was concerning, but he improved his plate discipline to the tune of .287 in 2010. He had 105 RBI and 100 runs scored for the Florida Marlins last year. That’s like a guy who can build a Ford Mustang at a golf cart factory. The kicker? Uggla now plays for the Atlanta Braves and their retooled offensive lineup. Don’t miss the boat.

4. Brandon Phillips, CIN. Not as high of ceiling for Phillips as there is for Ian Kinsler, who is coming next, but Philips’ consistency is definitely worth something. He hits double digit homers, has double-digit steals for the past five seasons. He has hit around .270 for quite some time now. If you can get him at the right spot in drafts this year, as others grab more flashy options, than you’ll do just fine with Phillips.

Check out the rest of my fantasy baseball 2011 early second base rankings here.

Also, be sure to catch my other early 2011 fantasy baseball rankings: C | 1B

And, our current Top 10 overall fantasy baseball players per ADP.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and football content, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Few positions in fantasy baseball can compete with the overall depth of talent you can find at first base. Sluggers. Guys who hit for average. Early-round fantasy studs that you can anchor your squad around.

My early 2011 fantasy first baseman rankings include:

1. Albert Pujols, STL

No surprise here. Pujols has been the cream of the crop for quite some time and there’s no reason to doubt he’ll continue in this role, despite the contract negotiations that seem to be going nowhere.

Despite the small dip in each of the five major fantasy statistical categories in 2010 from what he did in 2009 in spite of his 19 more at-bats.

To Pujols, this is all about as important as a pimple on a super model. A minor inconvenience, but nothing to worry about.

2. Miguel Cabrera, DET

Few things have been as consistent as Cabrera the past half-decade.

In fact, he saw an increase in homers, RBI, runs scored and batting average last year despite 63 fewer at-bats.

If only he stole some more bases, then perhaps Pujols would have some stronger competition for the top overall slot.

3. Joey Votto, CIN

The chinstrapninjas.com fantasy baseball gurus were plugging Votto hard for quite some time now. It was easy to see Votto was on the cusp of greatness.

He complied with a breakout 2010 campaign in which he produced numbers eerily similar to those of Pujols and Cabrera.

Factoring in his 16 stolen bases (four times as many as he swiped in 2009), I was tempted to push Votto ahead of Cabrera. The only reason I didn’t is because Cabrera has produced elite numbers for quite some time.

Votto needs to pad his resume a little more before I bump him up this list. However, I could see myself ranking him first overall by this time next year.

4. Ryan Howard, PHI

Here’s where the debates may begin. After the top 3, I see a significant drop to my second tier of first baseman, currently led by Howard. This group has the potential to be a first-round fantasy talent, but comes with more question marks.

For Howard, the red flags are fewer than the next three guys on this list, so he gets the nod here. His homers have seen a five-year fall-off since the 58 he smacked in 2006, but he still crushes the ball enough to keep ahead of the competition.

The Phillies lineup struggled at times last year, but the team has too many playmakers not to rebound, and Howard should reap the benefits.

5. Mark Teixeira, NYY

I’ve always been a big fan of Teixeira’s, even before he landed on my beloved Yankees. He has hit 30 or more homers seven consecutive years and counting.

He plays in one of the most feared lineups in the sport today, and that protection is hard to overlook. However, where in the world did the .256 batting average come from in 2010?

For a guy who has consistently hit right around .300 the past six years, the .256 is a big red flag. Of course, he is much too talented and protected to not bounce back in 2011.

6. Prince Fielder, MIL

Another big slugger who struggled majorly out of the gates in 2010, Fielder is about equal to Teixeira in my book, except I trust Teixeira’s lineup more.

A plus for Fielder is that he was able to turn an abysmal start to the season to a decent second half, but those who took him in the first or second round had several months of agony to endure first.

He still has ample talent and ability to be a force at the position from a statistical standpoint, and for now, I’ll consider 2010 a fluke.

7. Adam Dunn, CWS

Some will think it heresy to rank Dunn this high over younger, more athletic options. But have you looked at his numbers the past bazillion years?

No one has cranked out the homers like he has consistently the past seven years, even while playing on a woeful Washington Nationals squad with very little protection.

The one major knock on Dunn has been his abysmal batting average. And for years, the guy’s plate discipline had been nearly non-existent.

Except, look closely at 2009. he finished with a .267 batting average. He followed that up with a .260 in 2010, meaning was basically the same as Teixeira and Fielder while hitting more homers.

His signing with the White Sox will put him in a lineup with protection he hasn’t seen in years, and he has the potential to be a really solid first base option at a fraction of the cost of guys higher (and even a few lower) on this list.  

For the rest of my early 2011 fantasy baseball first baseman rankings (with full analysis), go here.

Make sure you check out my other early 2011 fantasy baseball rankings (much more to come at www.chinstrapninjas.com) … C | 1B | 2B | 3B | SS | OF | SP | RP

And don’t miss our early look at the Top 10 fantasy baseball players per current ADP.

Not ready to forget about fantasy football? Check out my debate pieces on the Top 5 quarterbacks and running backs for 2011 and beyond.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and fantasy football advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Like an active squirrel storing away acorns for winter, I was scurrying around my secluded mountainside homestead preparing for a small snow storm headed in our direction. Somewhere between refurbishing our trusty snowblower and splitting logs for our woodstove, I found myself daydreaming of spring.

Warmer weather. Green grass. Baseball. Fantasy baseball.

I realized my own internal clock was telling me something. That it was time to jump head-first into everything fantasy baseball for 2011. And since we fantasy junkies seem to crave rankings like junk food junkies savor Twinkies, my first official fantasy baseball piece of 2011 will involve rankings. My fantasy catcher rankings, to be specific.

The catcher position has typically been a shallow one to fantasy owners.

Last year, however, we were spoiled with some nice late-round sleepers and a few breakout rookies to deepen the pot. Heading into 2011, we again have a fairly top-heavy group of fantasy catchers, but more than ever, the middle and even a few late value picks are gaining ground. Yes, the fantasy catcher no longer spends all his time in the kiddie pool. Finally, the position finds itself wading into deeper waters.

1. Victor Martinez, DET. I’m sure to take some flack on this pick, but hear me out. Out of the big three fantasy catchers, V-Mart was the only one not to see a dramatic backslide in one of the major five statistical categories. Joe Mauer saw his homer total dry up from 28 in 2009 to nine in 2010. Brian McCann had his third consecutive season of more than 20 homers, but saw his batting average drop considerably for the second straight season (from .301 in 2008 to .281 in 2009 to .269 last year).

Meanwhile, Martinez registered his second consecutive season with 20 or more homers and a .300-plus batting average. The RBIs were down, but he also missed nearly 100 at-bats from the season before due to injuries. While Martinez’s move from Boston to Detroit may affect his numbers to a degree, he still has plenty of protection in the lineup and has agreed to play primarily as the team’s designated hitter this year, increasing the likelihood that he stays healthy throughout the 2011 campaign.

2. Joe Mauer, MIN. Sort of a push between him and McCann, depending on what statistical category you prefer best. I’ll take Mauer’s wicked-good batting average any day of the week. There’s a better chance that he’ll improve his longball numbers than McCann has of improving his steadily declining batting average.

Mauer’s plate discipline allows you to take a few more risks at other positions with players who struggle with batting average, but provide some nice pop.

3. Brian McCann, ATL. Seriously considered bumping McCann below Buster Posey at one point. That’s how much I worry about McCann’s batting average drop-off. Then I came to my senses…for now.

Few at the position have matched McCann’s consistency in hitting homers the past five seasons. McCann has more experience and arguably a better lineup around him. Just don’t expect yours truly to take him too early in drafts this spring.

4. Buster Posey, SF. What’s not to love about the 2010 National League rookie of the year? He hit .305 in 406 at-bats while crushing 18 homers and driving in 67 batters.

What will he do for an encore?

The only reason Posey doesn’t move up on this list is that he’s still raw. He needs to produce at an elite level for a full 162 games and anyone who doesn’t think he’ll have some growing pains in 2011 is fooling themselves. Still, he very well could produce top fantasy catcher statistics, yet will be had at a much better value than the others on this list so far.

5. Miguel Montero, ARI. After registering a .294 batting average and 16 homers in 2009, Montero’s 2010 campaign was a large disappointment. The question is whether last season’s injury-riddled year was the aberration, or was it his 2009 breakout?

Considering he came on strong late in the 2010 season, I’m expecting him to be more of a fantasy factor than others in your league likely will. I’m just not ready to pay too much on that gamble just yet.

For the rest of my early 2011 fantasy catcher rankings, go here.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and fantasy football advice, be sure to check out www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Nervous about the trade deadline in your fantasy baseball league? Don’t be. The Chinstrap Ninjas have you covered.

Be sure to start by checking out my 10 tips to pull off the perfect fantasy baseball trade deadline deal.

Then, check out the following players you should be targeting as you begin last-minute negotiations with an eye to your fantasy playoffs/championship…

First, let me be frank and point out that making deals at this point in the season can be hard. Players that have struggled throughout this much of the year aren’t as likely to magically turn it around for the final month-plus of regular season action.

For example, Matt Kemp was a first-to second-round fantasy outfielder heading into this season, but can’t get it together. He’s been in and out of the lineup working on his swing, his confidence, and his plate discipline. Sure, at this point you’ll get him cheaper than ever, but what are the odds he’ll turn it around for the stretch run?

If you can get him cheap enough, than go ahead and hope for the best. Just don’t give up too much in the process.

One category of players that offer some decent value with a chance to bring you immediate dividends are those that are coming off the DL or soon to come off the DL.

Those who took previous Chinstrap Ninjas advice and snagged Brian Roberts before he came off the DL are currently reaping the benefits. Some players who could follow suit include:

Dustin Pedroia, who is being fast-tracked back to the majors as early as this coming Tuesday, is a player I avoided in preseason drafts because I wasn’t thrilled about his ADP. However, as a player who missed a ton of time this season with a broken foot, there is little doubt that Pedroia could offer some nice value in middle-infield slots, especially in batting average.

He should produce well enough in other categories to be a worthwhile add if you can get him for the right price.

Chase Utley, just a day ago, was targeting a September return. Now, suddenly, he is in a minor league rehab stint with an outside chance at returning next week or the week after.

Of course, any time a team rushes a player back from injury, there is reason to be concerned about additional struggles or injuries. Be sure to remind your leaguemates of that as you target him cheaply in trades hoping/banking on his talent outweighing his physical woes as the Phillies battle down the stretch for the NL-East pennant.

Andrew Bailey may not see a return to the majors as quickly as Pedroia or Utley, but within the next two weeks, he could be back closing games with the Athletics. Again, you don’t want to sell the farm for him, but you should be able to snag him at a discount price.

Kyle Lohse hasn’t pitched in the bigs since May 22, but is due back to the majors this weekend after a dominating performance in the minors. He may not be a stud pitcher, but as a back-end starter, he could give you a nice boost in wins, ERA, and a few strikeouts to boot.

Other players I’m personally targeting before the fantasy trade deadline:

Jonathan Broxton lost his job as closer, temporarily, after struggles over the past month. There is little doubt that he has more than enough ability to regain the dominance he showed earlier in the season, and I’m banking that his short break from closing duties will be enough of a spark to get him there.

Strike now in a deal as owners worry about his sudden demotion.

Mark Buerhle is the fantasy baseball version of Rodney Dangerfield… he doesn’t get any respect. Sure, Buerhle isn’t going to strike out tons of batters, but he is going to help your team ERA, WHIP, and wins without giving you too many ulcers in the process.

Fantasy owners seem drawn to the flash of other pitchers and are quick to devalue Buerhle’s quiet consistency. Don’t be one of those people.

Fantasy owners rejoiced when Josh Beckett returned from the DL not too long ago. However, struggles on the mound have quieted those cheers. So much so, in some leagues, where you can get Beckett on the cheap.

Pitchers more than any other position depend on getting into a groove and riding there as long as possible. It was hard for Beckett to find that groove so far this season due to injuries and inconsistency around him. I personally think he’ll buckle down and produce some nice numbers down the stretch.

Be sure to check out the other players I’m targeting right now as fantasy leagues reach their trade deadline.

Tempted to jump ship? We have all you need to prepare for a successful fantasy football season.

For all your hard-hitting fantasy baseball and fantasy football advice, go to www.chinstrapninjas.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com