2013 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Rounds 4-5

Click here if you missed Round 1
Click here if you missed Rounds 2-3

4-31 = Adrian Gonzalez, 1B-OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

ESPN Projections = .307, 24 HRs, 109 RBIs, 91 Rs, 1 SB
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 6^th Rounds
            I wish I had statistics to back up why I’m so bullish on Gonzalez this year, but I can’t help believing that starting the year away from the Red Sox will do Gonzalez wonders this season.
                    
4-32 = Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals
ESPN Projections = .266, 27 HRs, 93 RBIs, 87 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2^nd through 4^th Rounds
            Don’t lose your mind and take Harper in the first round of a redraft league. If you’re participating in the birth of a keeper league though, feel free to blow out the budget to acquire him.
                   
4-33 = Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.24 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 207 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 4^th Rounds
            Is Hamels the most underrated ace in MLB?
                     

4-34 = Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox
ESPN Projections = .294, 17 HRs, 64 RBIs, 86 Rs, 27 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 6^th Rounds
            If there were anyway someone could guaruantee that Ellsbury would be healthy for the entire 2013 season, he would be a sure fire first round pick. As it stands, he’s fantasy baseball’s version of Stephen Curry.
                    
4-35 = Cliff Lee, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
ESPN Projections = 11 Ws, 3.10 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 215 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th Round
            If you play in a league with a bunch of old farts who still think “wins” is one of the best indicators of the quality of a starting pitcher, take advantage and build your pitching staff around Lee.
                       
4-36 = Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs
ESPN Projections = .296, 13 HRs, 73 RBIs, 87 Rs, 24 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 4^th Rounds
            We might have to wait another two years, but eventually Castro is going to lay down a hammer of the gods fantasy season. Like Harper, he’s another player you need to move up your cheat sheet if you have the chance to get him in a keeper league.
                     
4-37 = Adam Jones, OF, Baltimore Orioles
ESPN Projections = .287, 29 HRs, 92 RBIs, 90 Rs, 15 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 5^th Rounds
            Jones finally broke out last season, and at only 27 years of age, appears poised to deliver another few seasons of similar productivity.
               
4-38 = Zach Greinke, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.47 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 214 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd Through 5^th Rounds
            Nerd stats continue to indicate that Greinke has the potential to deliver another year like his 2009 season with Kansas City. Having a powerhouse team around him will only help his cause.
                   
4-39 = Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds
ESPN Projections = .267, 38 HRs, 108 RBIs, 95 Rs, 9 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 6^th Rounds
            Jay Bruce is five years younger than you probably think he is. If you’re willing to throw batting average to the wayside in pursuit of the long ball, Bruce is your man.
         
4-40 = Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 2.96 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 194 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 5^th Rounds
            The backbone of the defending World Series champion’s pitching staff, Cain is the perfect example of why you should not use one of your first three picks on a starting pitcher.
         
5-41 = Billy Butler, 1B, Kansas City Royals
ESPN Projections = .320, 27 HRs, 107 RBIs, 84 Rs, 2 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th Round
            With all the preseason hype surrounding Eric Hosmer last year, it was Butler who was the breakout player of the year for the Royals. Locking up first eligibility pushed him up about three rounds on my draft board.
                       
5-42 = Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = 17 Ws, 3.23 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 194 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 6^th Rounds
            The youngest pitcher off the board so far, don’t expect Bumgarner to fade in September like he did last season.
                   
5-43 = Chase Headley, 3B, San Diego Padres
ESPN Projections = .279, 22 HRs, 90 RBIs, 83 Rs, 16 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 7^th Rounds
            Headley was a fantasy league MVP the final two months of 2012, swatting 19 home runs after August 1^st. Now that his home ball park will finally have the fences moved in, there’s a chance that Headley can match last season’s power production.
                     
5-44 = Jered Weaver, SP, Los Angeles Angels
ESPN Projections = 18 Ws, 3.19 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 181 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3^rd through 6^th Rounds
            I’m not touching Weaver with any of my fantasy teams this year, but someone will look past his declining strikeout totals of a year ago and take him based on name recognition alone.
                      
5-45 = Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland Athletics
ESPN Projections = .279, 26 HRs, 91 RBIs, 77 Rs, 18 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 4^th through 6^th Rounds
            Cespedes was one of the unsung heroes of Oakland’s improbable AL West winning run last season. It’s reasonable to think that he could make a big jump in his sophomore campaign.
                  
5-46 = Matt Holliday, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
ESPN Projections = .300, 29 HRs, 100 RBIs, 98 Rs, 4 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th Round
            He’s not exciting to draft, but of all the players who will get drafted in the fifth round, Holliday is safest bet to produce.
                     
5-47 = Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
ESPN Projections = .268, 26 HRs, 89 RBIs, 83 Rs, 12 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            Surprisingly effective last season, don’t be shocked if Goldschmidt cracks the 30-homer barrier this season.
                       
5-48 = Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Washington Nationals
ESPN Projections = .292, 26 HRs, 95 RBIs, 92 Rs, 5 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th Round
            If Zimmerman didn’t get banged up so damn much, he’d be a lock to get drafted within the first 20 picks. You better have a solid back up if Zimmerman is your first option to man the hot corner.
                      
5-49 = Yu Darvish, SP, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = 15 Ws, 3.22 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 223 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            Yu’s second half last year inspires enough confidence to think that he could make the jump to elite status in 2013. If nothing else, he’s going to strike out a bunch of guys.
     
5-50 = Craig Kimbrel, RP, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = 4 Ws, 1.99 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 120 Ks, 42 SVs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 5^th through 7^th Rounds
            Remember what I wrote before the first round about how you shouldn’t pay for saves. Kimbrel is the exception, but it’s not necessarily the saves you’re paying for. The possibility of 120 strikeouts in 65 innings is too great to ignore at this point in the draft.

             

             

Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Rounds 2-3

            If you missed Round 1, click here to get caught up.

2-13. Justin Upton, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks

            It feels like Upton has been playing for years, but he’s only 24 years old. A 30-30 season is coming soon.

2-14. Hanley Ramirez, 3B-SS, Miami Marlins

            There are tons of questions surrounding Hanley (is he fully healthy again, will he finally make peace with moving to third base), but if he’s firing on all cylinders, Ramirez could easily be the most valuable player in fantasy this season. Throw in the added third base eligibility (meaning you can plug him in at two of the weakest positions), and he’s well worth the risk at this point in the draft.

2-15. Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers

            Verlander’s 2011 performance was extraordinary, and it would be foolish for anyone to think he can duplicate it. In increase from last seasons ridiculous .236 BABIP was a certainty even before it was announced that Miguel Cabrera would spend time at third base. He will still be good, but if someone takes Halladay or Cliff Lee ahead of him in your draft, don’t snicker at him or her.

2-16. Roy Halladay, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

            Halladay’s incredible consistency has almost made him a boring player to draft. He might not be the top fantasy pitcher this season, but there isn’t anyone else who is a safer bet to finish the year in the top-5.

2-17. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox

            Fresh off a career year in home runs and steals, Pedroia is poised to have another stellar all-around campaign.

2-18. Carlos Gonzalez, LF-CF-RF, Colorado Rockies

            Don’t ever expect his 2010 numbers again, but you shouldn’t be too bummed out about 50 combined homers and steals. You do need to be prepared for a batting average that can be anywhere from .260 to .320.

2-19. Jose Reyes, SS, Miami Marlins

            If you like to gamble, you’ll bet on Reyes staying healthy for 150 games and giving you 50 steals and tons of runs hitting in front of Hanley Ramirez and Mike Stanton. If you’re conservative, you’ll stay away from him because of his injury history. He’s essentially the MLB version of Mike Vick.

2-20. Mike Stanton, RF, Miami Marlins

            I’ve done a full 180 on Stanton, which may or may not be related to the fact that I took him in the eighth round of my keeper league draft last year. He should have more than enough RBI opportunities with Reyes and Ramirez hitting in front of him.

2-21. Cliff Lee, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

            Cliff Lee attacks the strike zone in a similar manner that George W. Bush assaulted the English language. Like Halladay, another dude that’s not exciting to draft.

2-22. Ian Kinsler, 2B, Texas Rangers

            Kinsler’s BABIP last seasons suggests that his batting average is due for an increase this year. The fact that 2011 was the first season Kinsler ever dodged the DL suggests that he is due for at least one 15-day stint. Whichever of those last two sentences you feel more strongly about should determine what pick (or money in an auction) you’re willing to spend on him.

2-23. Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

            While his first two teammates who were drafted are considered boring, Hamels is the trendy choice. His excellent ERA and WHIP hasn’t translated to the win column the past two seasons, which one could argue means that he’s due for a 20 win season.      

2-24. Mark Teixeira, 1B, New York Yankees

            He won’t do you any favors in the batting average department, but 35+ homers and 110+ RBIs aren’t easy to come by in the post-steroids era.

3-25. Jered Weaver, SP, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

            Weaver delivered a career season last year, but don’t be shocked if his ERA creeps closer to 3 if his BABIP moves closer to the norm. Wins are a tough stat to predict, but with Pujols on board, they should be easier to come by for Weaver and the rest of the Angels staff.

3-26. Andrew McCutcheon, CF, Pittsburgh Pirates

            McCutcheon was terrible after the All-Star Break, which derailed a potential breakout season. If he can play an entire season with a .280+ batting average, we could be talking about one of the ten most valuable players in fantasy.

3-27. Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners

            King Felix still might be the most talented starter in MLB, but Seattle’s anemic offense severely handicaps his win potential. Unless you’re in a league that has more categories than the standard 5x5 league, you have to drop him down your rankings.

3-28. Curtis Granderson, CF, New York Yankees

            Ever since the second half of the 2010 season, Granderson has been the modern day version of Mickey Mantle. Like Teixeira, Granderson will more than likely sport a poor batting average, but walks enough to still set the table for Cano, Teixeira, and Alex Rodriguez.

3-29. C.C. Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees

            His peripheral numbers aren’t as strong as the other elite starters, but there isn’t a safer pitcher to bet on winning 20+ games than C.C. Bump him up your rankings even more if you are in a league that counts innings pitched as a stat category.

3-30. Josh Hamilton, LF-CF, Texas Rangers

            The last time I remember a player going 10 to 15 picks later than he should because of alcohol issues was Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is pretty good (incase you didn’t know), and so is Hamilton. He’s an injury risk, but I feel better taking him in the middle of the third round as opposed to the second.

3-31. Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants

            Lincecum is the NL version of Felix Hernandez, with a slightly better offense supporting him and more injury concerns.

3-32. David Wright, 3B, New York Mets

            Thanks to the devastating loss of Jose Reyes, Wright’s supporting cast is a cast of misfit toys (with the exception of Ike Davis, if he’s healthy). Wright could be top-10 player in the second half if he gets traded, so he should be a player that is on your radar all season long after the draft.

3-33. Pablo Sandoval, 1B-3B, San Francisco Giants

            No Credentials predicts that this will be the season that the 25-year old Sandoval will crack the 30-homer mark. He won’t rack up a bunch of RBIs (he doesn’t exactly have the TECMO Super Baseball versions of Barry Bonds and Matt Williams on his team), but he delivers enough in the batting average department to warrant being the third player added to a team.

3-34. Desmond Jennings, LF-CF, Tampa Bay (Devil) Rays

            This pick is way to early. I’ll acknowledge that. However, guys with the potential to steal 50 bases and hit 15 home runs don’t grow on trees. If he keeps his average above .270 (which he was well above before a disastrous September last season), he’ll be one of the top 20 players in fantasy.

3-35. Nelson Cruz, LF-RF, Texas Rangers

            One of the greatest teases in fantasy baseball. If healthy, Cruz could easily top 45 home runs. However, Cruz pulls a groin about as often as Lindsey Lohan violates her probation. I’d prefer to get him in the middle of the fourth round.

3-36. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers

            Amazingly enough, Beltre is the fifth Rangers hitter off the board (think they’ll score some runs this year?) Beltre smashed 32 homers last year in only 124 games. Forecasting 40+ dingers would be a little optimistic (his health won’t allow it), but Beltre is still one of the sexier options at third base in the majors.

No Cred At All Keeper Team Ranks

We're a little late, but here's the mid-season rankings of the order I would consider keeping the players that are currently on my keeper team if I were forced to decide today. I am able to keep five players for next season. The price of keeping player is a draft pick that corresponds to where a player was taken the year before.

Barring Injury, the Cornerstones of My Franchise

1. Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees – With the early season struggles of Hanley Ramirez, I was wishing I could go back in time and draft Cano first overall. Fortunately, I was able to put together a blockbuster trade to secure Cano on my team through 2015.

2. Michael Pineda, SP, Mariners – The only pitcher at this point that is locked in to be kept on my team. If I keep him for the full five years, he’ll only cost me a 12h round pick in 2015.

3. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins – Perhaps it’s the second hand smoke from 80-year old Jack McKeon, but Hanley has been on fire ever since the Marlins switched managers.

4. Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays – Another player that I gave up a lot to acquire mid-season, Longoria still hasn’t fully emerged from his early season slump.

     On the Bubble

5. Prince Fielder, 1B, Brewers – Fielder has been the offensive MVP of my team, but it’s 2012 and beyond that scares me. Will Fielder still be motivated after signing a $175 million contract, or will he eat 175 million Big Mac’s to celebrate his new found wealth?

      First Four Out

6. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals – He hasn’t lit the world on fire, but he’s still been the second best offensive rookie so far this season (behind Dustin Ackley, who I shipped out to acquire Cano). Fielder is without question the better player right now, but Hosmer has a very good chance to be a better player as soon as next season.

7. Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins – Plate discipline is certainly an issue, but then again, discipline is usually an issue for anyone that is 21 years old. He would probably go in the first five rounds of next years draft if I don’t protect him.

8. James Shields, SP, Rays – His insanely low price tag (I snagged him in the 25^th round) plus his ridiculous performance (nearly a strikeout per inning, six complete games) has forced me to place Shields higher on this list. The wise move for me would be to find a trade partner that would intend to keep Shields and swing him for another arm and a quality bat.

9. Tommy Hanson, SP, Braves – He has put it all together this season with a 2.73 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

      Too Expensive

10. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies – With only five players allowed to be kept, Hamels 4^th round price tag is too expensive a price to pay for a pitcher.

      Nice Guys, But Can’t Keep You

11. Matt Wieters, C, Orioles – Buster Posey’s injury is exhibit A of why you shouldn’t spend too much on a catcher. They are one nasty home plate collision away from missing a full season.

12. B.J. Upton, OF, Rays – Doesn’t hit for average, but his power and speed make him a valuable fantasy commodity.

13. Gio Gonzalez, SP, Athletics – His WHIP is a little too high for my liking (making him a candidate for potential regression), but otherwise he’s been an unsung hero for No Cred At All.

14. Adam Jones, OF, Orioles – I just traded Brandon Phillips for Jones the other day (Phillips was expendable after the acquisition of Cano). His inability to take a walk is a bit scary, but Jones is capable of delivering 10-15 home runs and 5 steals the rest of the way.

      Top Three Farm Hands Left

15. Brett Lawrie, 2B-3B, Blue Jays – Lawrie broke his hand the day before Toronto was going to call him up in June. We should see him sometime around the trade deadline.

16. Desmond Jennings, OF, Rays – Tampa held back Jennings longer than expected, and then he suffered a small fracture in one of his fingers.

17. Kyle Gibson, SP, Twins – I was hopeful that Scott Baker’s DL stint would allow the Twins to call up their top pitching prospect, but there has been no word yet of such a move.

      Un-keep-able

18. Justin Masterson, SP, Indians

19. Jose Tabata, OF, Pirates

20. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals

21. Colby Rasmus, OF, Cardinals

22. Jordan Walden, RP, Angels

23. Vernon Wells, OF, Angels

24. Chris Perez, RP, Indians

25. Kyle Farnsworth, RP, Rays

26. Jamey Carroll, 2B-3B-SS-OF, Dodgers

27. Mike Leake, SP, Reds

28. Joe Nathan, RP, Twins

29. Randy Wolf, SP, Brewers

30. Carlos Marmol, RP, Cubs

31. Ted Lilly, SP, Dodgers

Quarter Pole Keeper League Team Review

            We’ve just crossed the quarter pole of the fantasy baseball season. At this point you should be starting to get a good feel for what your team needs to compete for a championship in your league. Or, if you’re in a keeper league, you might be realizing that it’s already time to start planning for 2012 and beyond.

            In this column, I’ll review the 35 players that are on my keeper league team (you can review the draft review for the league here, if you’re struggling to fill a day that was never supposed to happen because the world was supposed to end yesterday). I’ve got five players on the disabled list right now, which gives me an extra five guys to rank. The exercise here is very simple. I’m going to rank 1-35 the order I would consider keeping a player for next season. This is the first season of the No Credentials Baseball keeper league. We are only allowed to keep five players after this first season, then 10 after 2012, and 15 for every year after that. The price for a keeping a player would be losing the draft pick that they were selected for the previous season (for example, I took Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton in the 8^th round. If I keep him for 2012, he would cost me an 8^th round pick in next years draft). The top five would be the guys I would keep if I needed to decide today.

            Before I begin, I’ll give a quick overview of my team. So far, my team is off to a 44-15-1 start (I’m leading 7-2 as of right now going into the final day of week 7), which gives me a 9.5 game lead on the second place team. There’s been a little smoke in mirrors involved, as a few of the weeks I was lucky to face a team that struggled to bat .230 for a full week. Pitching has been a strength, with late round picks Michael Pineda and James Shields providing a huge boost. I also had the foresight to load up on a bunch of minor league prospects. Eric Hosmer has already arrived and made an impact at the major league level. I should have the flexibility to consider trading virtually any player on my roster (for the right price).

            Without further ado, here’s how I’m currently ranking my team.

           

35. Brandon McCarthy, OAK, SP (30^th)

34. Maicer Izturis, LAA, 2B-3B-SS (30^th)

33. James McDonald, PIT, SP (30^th)

            All three of these guys are waiver wire plug-ins that have no chance of being kept on my team for the 2012 season.

32. Chris Perez, CLE, RP (14^th)

           

            As predicted before the season by No Credentials, Perez has been a solid source of cheap saves. He’s gotten a nice bump in the saves department thanks to Cleveland’s surprising start.

31. Ted Lilly, LAD, SP (18^th)

            Lilly has been pretty miserable so far this season. His strikeout rate is down (only 39 in 57 innings), and he’s looked very hittable. Other than Matt Thornton (who barely made it two weeks on my roster), Lilly has been my worst draft pick so far.

30. Pedro Alvarez, PIT, 3B (30^th)

            After being picked in the 12^th round, Alvarez found himself on the league’s waiver wire for the past two weeks. I scooped him up with the intentions of stashing him on my bench to see if he can turn it around. The news that he hit the DL today is a bit discouraging, but a rehab assignment in the minors might not be the worst thing for him. If he does, I’ll be able to shop a 24-year old 3^rd baseman that would only carry a 30^th round price tag for someone who might want to keep him.

29. Kyle Farnsworth, TB, RP (30^th)

            It’s fitting that the Tampa Bay Rays figured out how to make Farnsworth a usable closer. It must have something to do with Joe Maddon’s glasses.

28. Tsuyoshi Nishioka, MIN, 2B-SS (24^th)

            It’s hard to gauge what the newest Japanese import can bring to the table after Nick Swisher broke his fibula sliding into 2^nd base. He’s on track to be back in the Twins lineup within a month.

27. Brian Matusz, BAL, SP (16^th)

            A long DL stint has kept Matusz off of both of my team’s since the start of the season. He’s expected to make one or two more rehab starts before potentially rejoining the Baltimore rotation. If he finishes strong, it’s not out of the question that he could make a late push to be kept for next season.

26. Carlos Marmol, CHC, RP (7^th)

            Marmol has been awesome so far, delivering 27 strikeouts in 20 innings along with a 1.35 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. I’d have him ranked higher if I were able to keep 15 players for next season, but can’t justify using one of my five spots on a closer that was drafted in the 7^th round.

25. Derek Holland, TEX, SP (26^th)

            Holland struggled in April, but has rebounded to post a 3.38 ERA so far in May. The only issue left for him is the lack of run support he has been receiving. Eventually, he should develop into a solid 2^nd or 3^rd starter.

24. Adam Lind, TOR, 1B-OF (19^th)

            Even despite a back injury that has landed him on the DL since May 7^th, Lind is still enjoying a solid bounce back season. At age 27, he’s young enough that someone could potentially consider keeping him for the price of a 2012 19^th round pick.

23. Jordan Walden, LAA, RP (30^th)

            I scooped Walden off of waivers after Fernando Rodney finally was stripped of closing duties for the Angels. It’s been bumpy at times, but I won’t complain about 21 strikeouts in 19 innings and seven saves coming from the waiver wire.

22. Jordan Zimmerman, WAS, SP (22^nd)

            Zimmerman has been decent in his first full season after returning from Tommy John surgery. He doesn’t look like he will jump to a level where I would consider keeping him, but he should be a solid option to fill out my rotation for the year. The only concern for me going forward with him is if the Nationals decide to shut him down come September to limit his innings.

21. Dustin Ackley, SEA, OF (23^rd)

            As written here by ESPN’s David Schoenfield, Ackley should be called up from Triple-A within a week or two. He will man 2^nd Base, and has the potential to make a Dustin Pedroia like impact. If he delivers a batting average over .300 in the majors, he will be much higher on this list when I re-rank my roster in August.

20. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS, 3B (3^rd)

            When I first owned Zimmerman on a fantasy team back in 2008 he was hurt for half the season, so it’s fitting that by the time he returns in June he will have already missed six weeks in 2011. Hopefully he’s healthy when I need him in September (which is really, all that matters in a head to head fantasy league, assuming your team is slated to make the playoffs). He could still impress enough that either I may consider keeping him for 2012 or find another owner that would like to acquire him for the fantasy playoff run.

19. Jose Tabata, PIT, OF (15^th)

            Tabata was on a tear to start the year before falling into a deep funk that has dropped his average to .235 (as of today). I expect his average to settle somewhere in the .265-.270 range by seasons end. He only turns 23 this August, so he is also a trade chip that can be used.

18. Lance Berkman, STL, 1B-OF (30^th)

            Berkman’s performance so far this year makes you either think that A) maybe he got some “training” tips from Lance Armstrong, or B) it’s a lot easier to hit in a lineup that has Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday as opposed to a lineup that features a very overweight Carlos Lee. I picked Berkman up off of waivers about three weeks ago (which seems ridiculous, but this is a keeper league, so a 35-year old player isn’t that attractive to most owners), and have been enjoying the ride ever since. If he keeps this up all year (which I doubt he will), I’d have to seriously consider keeping him at the cost of a 30^th round pick next season.

17. B.J. Upton, TB, OF (9^th)

            Upton has been solid this year, and has a chance to deliver both 30 homers and 30 steals. His low batting average is the reason he’s ranked so low on this list.

16. Colby Rasmus, STL, OF (12^th)

            Rasmus hasn’t been hitting for a ton of power, but he’s been getting on base and scoring a ton of runs out of the second spot in the Cardinals lineup. The power should show up at some point, resulting in somewhere between 20-25 dingers by season’s end.

15. Desmond Jennings, TB, OF (30^th)

            Jennings is a Carl Crawford clone (not the Crawford that has played for the Red Sox so far, but the one that was awesome in Tampa Bay for several years) that will be called up from Triple-A sometime during the month of June. I picked him up on waivers very early in the season, which means he’s another prospect that I could keep for a 30^th round price tag.

14. Brett Anderson, OAK, SP (11^th)

13. Gio Gonzalez, OAK, SP (13^th)

            These are two solid young pitchers that have a very pitcher-friendly home ballpark. If Oakland could ever put some semblance of an offense together, these two guys could easily put together multiple 20-win seasons.

12. Brandon Phillips, CIN 2B (5^th)

            Phillips is well on his way to delivering 20 homers, over 100 RBIs, and over 100 runs scored for both of my fantasy teams. If Dustin Ackley produces once he is called up to the majors, I will have the option of moving either one for starting pitching or a stud third baseman.

11. Jesus Montero, NYY, C (30^th)

            The only thing keeping Montero in Triple-A right now is his inability to play defense, which is an issue when you’re a catcher. New York should seriously consider bringing him up as their full-time DH. He should be in the majors sometime by August 1^st, whether he is playing for the Yankees or another major league team.

10. Matt Wieters, BAL, C (10^th)

            Wieters has begun to show signs of reaching his potential over the past month. However, his place on this list could plummet if Jesus Montero arrives on a major league roster and performs. Even if Wieters were to do well, a productive Montero is a much more attractive option to keep for 2012 at the price of a 30^th round pick.

9. Cole Hamels, PHI, SP (4^th)

            Other than an abysmal first start of the year, Hamels has been awesome this season. The only reason he’s this low on my list is A) I have other talented players, and B) I’m not too keen about keeping a pitcher at the price of a 4^th round pick.

8. Mike Moustakas, KC, 3B (21^st)

            Moustakas struggled to start the year (which is the reason Eric Hosmer got called up to the Royals first), but he’s raised his batting average 25 points in the last two weeks. He’ll be joining Hosmer in Kansas City within the next month.

7. Tommy Hanson, ATL, SP (6^th)

            The two round discount makes Hanson a much more likely candidate to be kept than Hamels. Hanson will anchor the Braves rotation for years to come (barring injury).

6. James Shields, TB, SP (25^th)

            I thought Shields would be a great bargain buy going into the year, but never expected him to post 2.26 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in the first quarter of the season. He’s forced himself into the discussion as a possible candidate to be kept for a second season.

5. Prince Fielder, MIL, 1B (2^nd)

            Fielder would be the clear #1 if not for a player I added on waivers that we will get to later. He’s off to a great start so far in his contract year. He should expect a big payday from whichever team misses out on the Albert Pujols sweepstakes.

4. Hanley Ramirez, FLA, SS (1^st)

            Even despite Ramirez’s awful start, he would half to fall off the face of the Earth in order to be left off of my 2012 roster. He’s too talented at a position where there are not a lot of quality offensive options. He’s started to heat up during the past week (.292 batting average, pair of homers and a steal), and I’m expecting him to finish with a batting average around .280 by years end.

3. Mike Stanton, FLA, OF (8^th)

            Stanton has been the National League version of Adrian Gonzalez so far this month, smacking 8 home runs. The scariest thing about Stanton is that he doesn’t turn 22 until November.

2. Michael Pineda, SEA, SP (20^th)

            Pineda looks like a cyborg that was built for the sole purpose of throwing 97 mph fastballs for strikes. Throw in his very spacious home ball park, and you have yourself a pitcher who has a chance to be a top-5 fantasy starter for the next decade. In retrospect, it was ridiculous that I was able to nab him in the 20^th round.

1. Eric Hosmer, KC, 1B (30^th)

           

            I grabbed Hosmer off of waivers after reading that he had 1.100+ OPS at Triple-A. He’s delivered a .314 batting average so far in his first 51 at bats with Kansas City. This guy is the real deal. The scariest part of him being on my team is the price I’ll have to pay for him for the next four seasons after this. After the second year, there is a three-round tax for each extra season you keep a player (we are only allowed to have a player for five seasons in this league). Here’s the price I’ll have to pay for Hosmer through 2015.

2012 = 30^th round pick

2013 = 27^th round pick

2014 = 24^th round pick

2015 = 21^st round pick

            In other words, good times are ahead. Hosmer’s emergence gives me tons of flexibility going forward. I have the freedom to shop Prince Fielder for a top flight starting pitcher or 3^rd baseman. I could also move Hosmer for a star player that could help me for the stretch drive.            

Accounting for Wainwright and Round 5 of the Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft

            I had Adam Wainwright ranked as the 3^rd pitcher that should be taken in standard fantasy leagues this season (and had him as the 23^rd overall pick), but sadly he has to undergo Tommy John surgery and will be lost for the season. Rather than reset the entire draft from the point of where he was originally taken, I’ve instead moved starting pitchers up one slot earlier than they were originally chosen. It’s not perfect, but it still reflects the order I think starters should be chosen. Here’s the updated list of pitchers taken in the first 4 rounds.

Roy Halladay, PHI, 1-9

Felix Hernandez, SEA, 2-20

Tim Lincecum, SF, 2-23

Clayton Kershaw, LAD, 3-25

Zack Greinke, MIL, 3-30

Cliff Lee, PHI, 3-31

Jon Lester, BOS, 3-35

C.C. Sabathia, NYY, 4-37

Ubaldo Jimenez, COL, 4-40

Josh Johnson, FLA, 4-45

Justin Verlander, DET, 4-48

            Just looking at that group, wouldn’t you be happy with any of those guys as your fantasy staff ace? It probably makes sense to wait on pitching until the middle of the 4^th round. Now, on to the 5^th round…

5-49 = Ichiro, OF-RF, Mariners – Seattle’s offense was so historically terrible that Ichiro only scored 74 runs despite posting a .315 batting average. Despite that, this is a great spot to grab a career .331 hitter who should swipe at least 35 bases.

            Team 1 Roster = Albert Pujols, Dustin Pedroia, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Verlander, Ichiro

5-50 = Adrian Beltre, 3B, Rangers – Beltre is a scary dude to draft. The only time he has ever hit over .300 in his career is when he is playing for a new contract (2004 with the Dodgers and 2010 with Boston). The one major factor this time around is instead of signing with a team with a gigantic park (Seattle), he’s going to play half of his games in one of the best hitter’s parks in the majors. You probably won’t see me make this pick on draft day, but due to the position he plays (and lack of talented 3B left on the board), grabbing Beltre here is justified (just don’t grab him by the head, he’ll punch you in the face).

            Team 2 Roster = Miguel Cabrera (I’ll explain why I haven’t adjusted the draft for him later), Tim Lincecum, Jose Reyes, Brandon Phillips, Adrian Beltre

5-51 = David Price, SP, Rays – Currently in ESPN.com live drafts, Price is being chosen around the 70^th pick. I think people are very concerned about the free agent losses the Rays are going to have to deal with, as well as the overcrowded AL East. Even if the Rays are sub par, I don’t see that having a dramatic impact on Price’s stats or development. This is a guy that posted a 2.72 ERA and 1.19 WHIP while pitching a great deal of his games against the Red Sox and Yankees (for comparison’s sake, Jon Lester posted a 3.25 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP, and he went 16 picks earlier).

            Team 3 Roster = Robinson Cano, Matt Kemp, Kevin Youkilis, Jimmy Rollins, David Price

5-52 = Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers – Exhibit A of my theory that if you don’t get one of the top middle-infielders within the first 25 picks, you might want to wait until later in the draft to address the middle infield. Weeks put up 29 homers last season, but his 184 strikeouts show he is a candidate to have a miserable season (think .230 batting average with 200 Ks).

            Team 4 Roster = Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Shin Soo Choo, Josh Johnson, Rickie Weeks

5-53 = Justin Morneau, 1B, Twins – Morneau is still feeling effects from a concussion he sustained in July, but at least he is participating in Spring Training drills. This is a great spot to take a guy who put up a 1.055 OPS while healthy in 2010.

            Team 5 Roster = Hanley Ramirez, Felix Hernandez, Ian Kinsler, Jose Bautista, Justin Morneau

5-54 = Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees – Exhibit B of why you either need to take a middle infielder early or punt until the later rounds. You know runs will be there, but do you really want to use a 5^th round pick on a guy who put up a .270-10-67 line last season?

            Team 6 Roster = Evan Longoria, Ryan Howard, Zack Greinke, Justin Upton, Derek Jeter

5-55 = Jayson Werth, OF-CF-RF, Nationals – Werth is vastly overpaid in real life, but that doesn’t mean you should shun him from your fantasy team. He should form a great 1-2 punch with Ryan Zimmerman.

            Team 7 Roster = Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Jayson Werth 

5-56 = Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies – Pitched great during the second half of 2010 despite very poor run support. It’s pretty amazing that three Phillies starters went in this mock by the 56^th pick.

            Team 8 Roster = Joey Votto, Carlos Gonzalez, Matt Holliday, Dan Uggla, Cole Hamels

5-57 = Brian McCann, C, Braves – If you had to bet on one catcher to hit between 20 and 25 home runs and drive in 80+ runs, this is the guy.

            Team 9 Roster = Roy Halladay, Mark Teixeira, Andrew McCutchen, Ubaldo Jimenez, Brian McCann

5-58 = Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Cubs – Ramirez was on my fantasy team last year, and let me tell you he was terrible. However, a thumb injury was largely to blame for his struggles during the first half of the season. I fully expect Ramirez to bounce back to a line of around .290-27-105, with potential for more due to his impending free agency after the season. 

            Team 10 Roster = Carl Crawford, Prince Fielder, Joe Mauer, Jason Heyward, Aramis Ramirez

5-59 = Adam Dunn, 1B, White Sox – In the post-steroids era, guys that hit 40 home runs don’t grow on trees anymore the way they used to. This makes Dunn, who has hit between 38 and 46 home runs every season since 2004, a valuable commodity despite his very high strikeout rate.

            Team 11 Roster = Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez, Jon Lester, Buster Posey, Adam Dunn

5-60 = Carlos Santana, C, Indians – Santana was well on his way to a stellar rookie season before a devastating leg injury at Fenway park (I’d post a video link to it, but the people running Major League Baseball are stuck in 1974 and don’t see the value of letting fans view classic highlights and moments. Because you know, that might boost fan interest. Someone tell me again why Bud Selig still runs baseball?). Santana posted a remarkable .401 OBP in 46 games, with a walk to strikeout ratio of 37-29. Patience like that for a rookie is remarkable. Santana has all the tools to become the best catcher in baseball.

            Team 12 Roster = David Wright, Chase Utley, Nelson Cruz, C.C. Sabathia, Carlos Santana

            Which of these teams is off to the best start? Let me know what you think in the comments section below this article.