The Son of Zim’s First Round
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My consensus top 12 has been carefully cultivated and conceived taking into account all different formats and styles, both points and roto, keeper and non-keeper leagues alike. Many will argue, some will scoff and others will agree. Value is relative, but for what it’s worth I am the reigning Geek League Champ so I must be able to differentiate my posterior from my elbow. So without further adieu my top 12 overall.
Albert Pujols - Icon SMI
1) Albert Pujols 1B STL
37 HR, 130 RBI, 1.013 OPS. He is the best player in the game and is my most likely to play 160 games and carry a team. His downside in shallow leagues is the fact first base is loaded with plenty of power hitters that rival his HR and RBI totals. In points leagues, the fact he walks more than he strikes out is a huge bonus and rarely seen in today’s game.
2) Hanley Ramirez SS FLA
I took Hanley #1 overall last year for the very reason I just listed, position scarcity. There is only one 30/30 shortstop.
3) Alex Rodriguez 3B NYY
Third base is weak and A-Rod should be relaxed and ready to begin his record breaking pursuit in little Yankee Stadium.
4) Chase Utley 2B PHI
Utley this high might surprise some folks, but he is in a class by himself as far as offensive second basemen and doesn’t have the warts of Ian Kinsler’s injuries or Aaron Hill’s “one year wonder” status. He averages somewhere around 30/100 with 40 doubles over the last few years.
5) Ryan Braun OF MIL
The #1 outfielder and a perennial MVP candidate. The best is yet to come.
6) Joe Mauer C MIN
Again, for his position anyone that can reach 200 hits in just 140 games is a player I want. His power has finally developed and he is the clear #1 catcher. Owning Mauer is also a huge advantage in leagues that require two catchers.
7) Miguel Cabrera 1B DET
Pujols Jr. is a great consolation prize in any draft if you miss out on the original. He is as steady as they come averaging 30/100 for his career. He should be refocused and ready for a big 2010 season.
8) Evan Longoria 3B TB
Still just 24 years old, Longoria is a true slugging third basemen capable of more power than David Wright and fewer strikeouts than Mark Reynolds. He is an outstanding keeper league franchise player.
9) Mark Tiexiera 1B NYY
30+100+. Great team. Great park. Great glove. I can’t find the negative except for the slow starts and I am willing to look past that for those numbers.
10) Tim Lincecum SP SF
Back to back Cy Young awards. There is nothing else to say. He is the man. Lincecum is the only pitcher I feel can break 250K’s 18 wins and a sub 3 ERA.
11) Ryan Howard 1B PHI
He needs to continue to hit 45 dingers and drive in 120 plus runs to stay here because his strikeouts are still a huge negative in points leagues, but his overall power production makes him impossible to ignore. Not my favorite choice, but I have to give him his due.
12) Troy Tulowitzki SS COL
I am going to put my money where my mouth is and say Tulo is ready to become an elite first round talent. He could match Hanley Ramirez everywhere but steals and gives you great value at a weak position. 2010 is officially “Tulo Time”.
So who missed the list? Matt Kemp, Matt Holliday and Justin Upton are all tremendous talents but they are still outfielders and you can find 80-90% of their production from players like Nick Markakis, Bobby Abreu and Jayson Werth without spending your first round pick. Jose Reyes and David Wright need to prove themselves and are no longer sure things which knocked them out of the first round. If Ian Kinsler raises his BA and stays healthy, he will make the jump to round one for sure. Ryan Zimmerman is right there waiting to explode while Adrian Gonzalez’s surroundings diminish his value. If and when he is dealt, watch out!
Let the debate begin…
PS A reader mentioned Prince Fielder as being missed on my list. Prince is a great offensive player, but his weight and his “tude” concern me longterm. For one year I like Fielder but longterm I would be concerned. Still a very honorable mention.
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You gave an ADP of tulo 17 a thumbs down. and now you say a first round pick is worthy? :confused:
Wrong guy. I (Double Down) gave Tulo a thumbs down and I stand by my theory that his steals will decrease and thus make his ADP too high. I stand by my assessment with all due respect to Zim. We have 12 Geeks that write and each has their own opinions.
Not to harp on the Tulo point, but for 2009 when he stole 20 bases he was ranked 24th on a player rater that evaluates 5×5 stats. Now if I believe his steals will drop to the 10-12 range why would I think his regression in that area should improve his ADP? Strictly math. I expect him to hit 30 HR and be close to 100 RBI, but that does not translate to elite Top 20 unless the steals remain. I love Tulo just not in the top 20 picks. I think Sean is missing the point that I am not bashing Tulo, just where you pick him in terms of what his value will be. If you get him at the 35th pick it is a lot safer than the 17th.
Markakis will give you 80% of the production of the other OF you mentioned? His steals are gone, and I think just about everyone agrees that they are not coming back. That’s not 80% of the production.
Did Prince Fielder get caught using steroids or something? He’s a safer pick than Howard (albeit only because of age), and I don’t get why’s that he didn’t make it at least into the honorable mention list.
I have given up any hope of drafting Tulo this year. Yahoo’s ranking of him is outrageous!! I’m not spending my 7th pick on him this year.
I like it.
I agree with Ichiro. I have Fielder above Cab, Tex, and Howard.