Kuzul

If you play in a standard five-by-five league (i.e., one that includes batting average), you will want to check out our standard league rankings by clicking here.  For those who utilize OBP, let’s take a look at how that changes the rankings (and it does so fairly significantly):

1. Robinson Cano – New York Yankees
2. Chase Utley – Philadelphia Phillies
3. Dustin Pedroia – Boston Red Sox
4. Dan Uggla – Atlanta Braves
5. Ian Kinsler – Texas Rangers
6. Ben Zobrist – Tampa Bay Rays
7. Rickie Weeks – Milwaukee Brewers
8. Brandon Phillips – Cincinnati Reds
9. Martin Prado – Atlanta Braves
10. Brian Roberts – Baltimore Orioles
11. Kelly Johnson – Arizona Diamondbacks
12. Aaron Hill – Toronto Blue Jays
13. Gordon Beckham – Chicago White Sox
14. Chone Figgins – Seattle Mariners
15. Tsuyoshi Nishioka – Minnesota Twins

Thoughts:

• Ben Zobrist struggled in ’10, no one is going to argue that fact, but he still managed a 14.0 percent walk rate.  That helped him post a .346 OBP despite struggling with a .273 BABIP.  Let’s not forget that he is just a year removed from a .405 OBP courtesy of a 15.2 percent walk rate and .326 BABIP.  There certainly is reason to believe that he could post a tremendous mark once again in ’11.  Couple that with 20/20 potential and there is an awful lot to like, pushing him significantly up this list.
• The player who falls the most thanks to the removal of average and addition of on-base percentage is Aaron Hill.  Even in his big, breakout 2009 campaign (.286, 36 HR, 108 RBI, 103 R), he managed just a .330 OBP thanks to a 5.7 percent walk rate.  Yes, the average is going to rebound due to his historic poor luck in ’10 (you can read more about it by clicking here), but he’s just never going to post a strong OBP (career .325 mark).
• Another loser is Brandon Phillips, who has a career walk rate of 5.9 percent and OBP of .316.  You still have to like him thanks to 20/20 potential, but there certainly are options with significantly more upside in the OBP department.  One who is close is Martin Prado, but his advantage in OBP isn’t enough considering Phillips could out produce him in HR, SB, RBI and R (depending on where he hits in the lineup).
• Tsuyoshi Nishioka posted a 12.2 percent walk rate over his last two seasons in Japan.  Granted, we really don’t know how his game is going to translate to the Major Leagues, but at that point in the draft he is well worth the risk due to his potential in OBP, R and SB.
• Who should be listed at No. 4, Dan Uggla or Ian Kinsler?  I know we all want to push Uggla up, thanks to OBP of .360, .354 and .369 the past three years but we can’t overlook Kinsler’s abilities as well.  In 2008 he actually posted an OBP of .375 and last season he was at .382.  Of course, he always struggles with injuries and his walk rate has fluctuated by a fairly large margin from year to year.  I’m going to give Uggla the nod for now, but it certainly is open for discussion.

What are your thoughts on the rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

**** Make sure to order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide, selling for just $5, by clicking here. ****

Make sure to check out our 2011 OBP rankings:

• Top 15 First Basemen

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With the Atlanta Braves’ first spring game right around the corner, the powerhouse Philadelphia Phillies are the favorites to win the National League East in 2011, but all of that can change in the blink of an eye if a few players can step it up in spring training.

Here are the 10 keys to success for the Atlanta Braves in 2011.

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There are no sure things in sports, but sometimes, you can come close.

In baseball, some players are so consistent that a look at their previous three or so years can give you a pretty good estimation of how they will perform in the coming season.

Here’s what Braves fans can reasonably expect.

Chipper Jones will get hurt; no rational human being can expect anything close to a full, healthy season from Chipper.

He hasn’t played more than 150 games since 2003, and many of the games in which he does appear are single pinch-hitting appearances or early exits after tweaking some body part. He further weakens the team with all those games where he’s too hurt to play, but not hurt enough to go on the DL.

Consider that he’s also had a steady three-year decline in slugging and he’s a $14 million dollar albatross around the Braves’ collective neck.

This leads us to our next guarantee.

Derek Lowe will eat innings and record double-digit wins. Roto players hate him, but since becoming a starter, Lowe has never failed to win in double-digits and never misses a start.

Considering the nightmarish wave of injuries that befell the Braves rotation in 2008, it’s no wonder Frank Wren was willing to overpay for this workhorse.

Dan Uggla will hit 30 homers and make 15 errors. Since Uggla joined the big leagues, he is second only to Albert Pujols in homers by National League right-handed hitters. Both his power numbers and his fielding stats have held steady over the course of his career.

Considering how hotly contested the Braves playoff series with the Giants was, despite Atlanta’s dearth of power and poor fielding in the series, I think Atlanta can stomach the occasional error from their new slugger.

Brian McCann will be Brian McCann and Martin Prado will be Martin Prado. Two models of consistency, McCann can be relied on for 20 homers, Prado will bat .300 and both will provide steady defense and a positive presence in the clubhouse.

The only question will be: Who plays left field when Prado takes over third base after Chipper’s inevitable injury?

Nate McLouth will stink.

Frank Wren has said that the Braves need McLouth to return to the form he showed in Pittsburgh, but let’s be clear about something: Nate McLouth had one terrific year in Pittsburgh in 2008, but was never that caliber of player before or since. Even at his best, he still only batted .276 with a .350 on-base percentage.

Take away his one atypical season and McLouth is a 10-homer, 12-steal guy with a .250 batting average. Hardly worth a starting spot on a championship contender.

Those are my guarantees for the season. Anyone else see any sure things for the Braves in the coming year?

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Robinson Cano posted an excellent 2010 campaign in which he was in the top three of four out of the five offensive categories, including first overall in runs batted in and batting average. 

Although Dan Uggla is fourth on our list, he has been an incredibly consistent hitter over the past four years, becoming the first second baseman in MLB history to hit 30 home runs in four straight seasons.

Look for Uggla to continue his solid play as he will be surrounded with talented hitters as the newest member of the Atlanta Braves.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka is an excellent sleeper candidate for 2011. He joined the Twins in December after playing seven years with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan’s Pacific League.

Nishioka is an excellent hitter, and could prove to be a nice late-round selection in both mixed and AL-only formats.

Visit www.kramericasports.com for complete player rankings, news and advice.

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The purpose of Value Picks is to point out some names that have not been getting the attention they deserve on draft day. The focus of this article will be finding value at a thin position, second base.

1. Dan Uggla—Currently ranked No. 34 by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Last Season’s Statistics:

Very impressive stat line for Uggla last year which left him at No. 18 in Yahoo’s 2010 rankings. In addition to his finish last year, he has now moved into the Braves lineup where he should thrive. Plan on a finish closer to last year’s 18 than the 34 Yahoo has tagged him with this season.

2. Kelly Johnson—Currently ranked No. 98 by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Last Season’s Statistics:

I think Johnson is getting a raw deal even from Yahoo. When it comes down to it, fantasy is all about offense. And the stats Johnson put up last year were very solid, especially for second base. The fact that he has his defensive liabilities, while soon to frustrate Diamondback fans on a regular basis, have not impact from a fantasy perspective as long as he keeps his job.

3. Brian Roberts—Currently ranked No. 104 by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Last Season’s Statistics:

Admittedly, those stats are probably deserving of a much lower ranking. However, Roberts was injured much of last season and only played in 59 games. Coming into this season healthy and with an upgraded lineup around him, it’s not unreasonable to expect a stat line more along the lines of his 2009 season:

Those numbers were strong enough to find him ranked as the 47th best player in Yahoo. Not bad for a player you will likely be able to grab as late as the 10th round of your draft.

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The purpose of Value Picks is to point out some names that have not been getting the attention they deserve on draft day.

The focus of this article will be finding value at a thin position, second base.

1. Dan Uggla (Atlanta Braves), currently ranked No. 34 by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Last Season’s Statistics:

Very impressive stat line for Uggla last year, which left him at No. 18 in Yahoo’s 2010 rankings. In addition to his finish last year, he has now moved into the Braves’ lineup where he should thrive.

Plan on a finish closer to last year’s No. 18 versus the No. 34 Yahoo has tagged him with this season.

2. Kelly Johnson (Arizona Diamondbacks), currently ranked No. 98 by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Last Season’s Statistics:

I think Johnson is getting a raw deal, even from Yahoo.

When it comes down to it, fantasy is all about offense, and the stats Johnson put up last year were very solid, especially for second base. The fact that he has his defensive liabilities, while soon to frustrate Diamondback fans on a regular basis, this does not have an impact from a fantasy perspective as long as he keeps his job.

3. Brian Roberts (Baltimore Orioles), currently ranked No. 104 by Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

Last Season’s Statistics:

Admittedly, those stats are probably deserving of a much lower ranking. However, Roberts was injured much of last season and only played in 59 games.

Coming into this season healthy, and with an upgraded lineup around him, it’s not unreasonable to expect a stat line more along the lines of his 2009 season:

Those numbers were strong enough to find him ranked as the 47th best player in Yahoo.

Not bad for a player you will likely be able to grab as late as the 10th round of your draft.

By Brian Holt, Sr. Writer at 4thandHome.com

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Ah, the time has come.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we now stand just weeks away from what looks to be another memorable opening day for Major League Baseball.

After a confounding postseason in which we crowned the San Fransisco Giants world champions once more, many teams find themselves in a promising situation heading into the regular season.

However, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  This is just spring training, as we all know.

So as preparation for the regular season begins to heat up, let’s take a look at each team’s status.

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The addition of Dan Uggla was the biggest move for the Atlanta Braves this offseason. Uggla has shown great power during his time in the majors, as has hit 154 homers in five seasons, which comes out to an average of 30.8 homers per year. He has also racked up 465 RBIs during his career at an average of 93 a season.

The Braves may have picked Uggla up at the height of his career, as he had his best year to date in 2010, hitting career highs in average (.287), homers(33), and RBIs (105) among others, and will be just 31 when the season starts.

Uggla may be the key to the Braves’ season, as he is hoping to provide them the power they have so desperately needed, especially from the right side. Here are 10 reasons why Uggla could go from the Braves’ MVP to the National League’s MVP.

Begin Slideshow

The Atlanta Braves organization has always been one to either stand out from the crowd and wait for someone to knock their crown off; or it’s been one to fly under the radar and not really be recognized as a playoff contender.

The Braves are going into 2011 with some great off-season moves (Dan Uggla in particular), but they’re also going into this new season with some unproven rookies.

Atlanta is essentially breaking the rules of a larger market team and sticking with what they know best: the farm system.

In 2010 the Braves went into the season with 1 primary position (Right Field) being filled by a rookie, Jason Heyward and another rookie, Johnny Venters, basically in the bullpen to provide depth. Both of these rookies excelled beyond what the organization had hoped and now they’re essential to our 2011 campaign, Venters is now an asset to our bullpen and Heyward is becoming the face of the ball club. 

2011 will look a bit different from last season with 2 key positions being filled by rookies: First Base & Closer. The Braves have seen their share of closers & first basemen but they’re hoping that these two are different from the rest.

Craig Kimbrel is expected to step right in and take over where Billy Wagner left off. As we all know the closer’s role is one of immense pressure, so there’s a question of whether or not Kimbrel can handle the pressure (without surrendering too many BBs). But as the Braves have done in the past, they’re going to hand the ball, and bat, to a rookie and let them prove themselves.

First base is a position, throughout Major League Baseball, that is being filled with the “bopper” types: Pujols, Fielder, Penã, Howard, and Gonzalez are just a few names that come to mind. The Braves have decided to let Freddie Freeman take over first base and excel, hopefully, as much as we can imagine.

The reason I say that the Braves aren’t following the trends we see around Major League Baseball is because they’re willing to completely hand over primary positions to highly touted prospects.

The trend around baseball, especially larger market teams, is to buy, sell or trade your way to the biggest names in baseball.

We’ve seen many examples during this off-season. Just think of the players that have either been involved in big trades or signed as free agents: Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Jayson Werth, Zach Greinke, Cliff Lee.

Rather than give up the farm for Adrian Gonzalez or Zach Greinke; and rather than unload the payroll on Crawford or Werth, the Braves decide to stick with young talent they’ve been grooming for years. 

Although the Braves never seem to make the “sexy” moves like a Boston or New York team, they’ve been able to solidify their lineup through cheaper trades. The trade for Dan Uggla was one that I never saw coming and especially not a move that would allow us to keep our rising stars like Martin Prado or our young talent like Beachy, Minor, Teheran and Freeman. 

But Frank Wren was able to pull it off. He snatched up a 30+ home run hitting second basemen for a utility player and lefty reliever (whom we received in a trade the previous off-season). This can all be tracked back to their ability to keep the farm system intact. Rather than having to go out and buy a first basemen, they look to Freeman. Rather than going out to buy an outfielder, they make a smooth trade for a second baseman and move Prado to left. 

I will go ahead and make the bold statement that the Braves are one of the most resourceful teams in baseball, by far.

It still amazes me how the Braves are able to rely on their farm system to get them through. Yes, it would be fantastic to have Ted Turner back to sign the paychecks but it isn’t going to happen. Right now the Braves are making their way back to the top of the NL East, and they’re bringing loads of talent with them.

I’m sure that some of you will argue that the Marlins, Rays, Jays and other teams have been doing this; but I’m mainly talking about larger market teams. To be a larger market team the Braves are being frugal and relying primarily on their farm system.

What are your thoughts?

How do you think the Braves have faired with a payroll like this?

Do you think that relying on the farm system is a great way of going about this?

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In The Fantasy Fix’s newest series, 2011 Fantasy Baseball Great Debate, our writers discuss two positional players and try to convince you which player to pick first on draft day. In this article we compare the two second basemen, Dustin Pedroia and Dan Uggla.

Why to go with Uggla:

It’s difficult to find a player at any position who has been more consistent in the power department from year to year than Dan Uggla. In five full seasons, Uggla has averaged nearly 31 HR and 93 RBI. He put up these numbers playing half of his games in front of fans dressed as empty seats and hitting in a lineup with little to no protection. In fact, Uggla was the protection for the Marlins’ star player, Hanley Ramirez.  

In addition to his impressive power numbers, Uggla managed to post career highs in batting average (.287), on-base percentage (.369) and OPS (.877). This was all accomplished while playing in 159 games last season. In fact, he’s only missed a total of 34 games in five full seasons, proving to be quite durable.  

As for Pedroia, he missed 87 games last year and another 36 in his three previous full seasons. His highest power output was in ’08 when he hit 17 HR with 83 RBI.  Furthermore, Pedroia’s averages for the previous four seasons are 13 HR and 61 RBI.  

Pedroia does hold an edge over Uggla in the stolen bases category. Of course, at 5’ 11’ and 207 lbs., Uggla certainly is no threat on the base paths, posting a high of six stolen bases back in ’06. But then again, neither are most power hitters who bat in the middle of the lineup. 

In addition, Pedroia’s career batting average sits at .305 versus Uggla’s .263. However, last season they hit .288 and .287, respectively. Uggla’s increasing walk rate and OBP over the past few seasons suggest that he should be able to maintain a higher batting average.

Also, the move to Turner Field, where Uggla owns a career .354 average and a ridiculous OPS of 1.051 can only benefit him. As will hitting in a lineup with some “real” protection (McCann, Jones, Prado, Heyward and Freeman).

In summary, among all major league second basemen, Uggla was the leader in home runs, was second to only Robinson Cano (by four) in RBI, was sixth in BA, fourth in OBP and second in SLG% as well as OPS. This performance, on top of his impressive career track record, his durability and upside potential with the move to Turner Field, makes him the clear choice over Dustin Pedroia. 

Written exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com by Rosti Satanovsky

Why to go with Pedroia

Click To Continue Reading The Debate

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