2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings - Shortstop

            Shortstop is an absolute minefield. When Ian Desmond delivers the best combination of durability and reliable production you know there is a problem. It’s a position where you can either swing for the fences and spend a high pick (or a bunch of auction cash) on Tulowitzki or Hanley, or punt the position and start a guy like Ben Zobrist.

Tier-1 = Do You Feel Lucky?

T.Tulowitzki, COL

            The ultimate fantasy lottery ticket, how much you value Tulowitzki ultimately depends on how much you value risk and reward. ESPN ranks him at fourteen while Yahoo ranks him at 25, giving you an idea of how much volatility there is in how people think of him. It goes without saying that he’s an injury risk, but in just over 90 games of worked he still finished in the top-100 in overall fantasy value last season. If you could somehow get 145 games out of him in roto, or have him healthy in September for head-to-head leagues, he could single handedly deliver you a title from the weakest position in fantasy sports. For that reason, we wouldn’t scoff at anyone who picked him in the top half of the second round.

Tier-2 = Relatively Reliable

H.Ramirez, BOS

I.Desmond, WAS

            This will likely be the last season Hanley Ramirez ever has shortstop eligibility, and it will be interesting to see if his move to the outfield helps him stay on the field for more games. Ian Desmond has been the most reliable power-speed combo player at shortstop for the last few years, and while we don’t like his potential to submarine your batting average, homers and steals from the shortstop position are a big deal.

Tier-3 = Run More Damnit

J.Reyes, TOR

            Another perpetually injured top-tier shortstop, Reyes could lead the league in runs scored setting the table for a powerful Blue Jays offense if he could stay on the field for 150 games. His lack of elite stolen base totals is what keeps him from Tier-2.

Tier-4 = Reliably Mediocre

A.Ramirez, CHW

E.Andrus, TEX

S.Castro, CHC

            Here are your low-end shortstop options that you actually won’t feel bad about slotting in as your starting shortstop. Hypothetically Castro has the highest ceiling, but it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see the Cubs trade him with all the infield talent they have coming up from the minors.

Tier-5 = Holy Shit Half of These Guys Will Be Starting in a 14-Team League

J.Rollins, LAD

B.Zobrist, OAK

J.Peralta, STL

X.Bogaerts, BOS

J.Baez, CHC 2B

D.Santana, MIN OF

A.Escobar, KC

            Here are your low-end shortstop options that will make you vomit in your mouth a little bit if you pencil them in as your starting short stop. We already covered Baez in our second base roundup. Danny Santana posted a completely unsustainable BABIP in 2014. Future Hall of Famer Xander Bogaerts (just kidding!) has shown a little promise in Spring Training defensively, and has the highest potential of anyone other than Baez in this group.

Tier-6 = Bench Dudes

A.Cabrera, TB 2B

E.Aybar, LAA

J.Segura, MIL

J.Hardy, BAL

E.Cabrera, BAL

J.Lowrie, HOU

            You’ll want at least one of these guys on your bench. Everth Cabrera is a sleeper for the Orioles (he put up some numbers in 2013 before getting popped for steroids use), and we also like Asdrubal Cabrera as a potential (Devil) Rays’ reclamation project.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Past Weekend (12/16-12/18)

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I participated in a 30 round fantasy basketball draft last night (in other words, a draft that was 10 or 15 rounds too long), so we’re keeping the analysis of each subject to a sentence or two (unless I decide to write longer about something, which I can do because it’s my blog, but you know that already). As always, there will be a link posted so you can read up on each headline if you missed it over the weekend.

10. Phillies Sign Jimmy Rollins For 3 Years, $33 Million

            The performance of Derek Jeter last season proves that when you have the chance to lock up an aging shortstop that’s in decline, you do it. Oh wait…

9. Routine Physical Potentially Saves Jeff Green’s Life

            This space hasn’t had a story that puts sports in perspective for a while.

8. Lions Mount Huge Comeback, Steal $35 From No Credentials Sportsbook Account

            As someone who may or may not have wagered on the Raiders money-line Sunday, I wish Suh’s suspension were three games instead of two.

7. Reds Acquire Mat Latos From San Diego

            “Experts” seem to believe San Diego won this trade (they did pick up two potential mainstays of their lineup for years to come, a future closer candidate, and a starter who is just three years removed from an All-Star Game appearance), but I love this move for both sides. The NL Central is very winnable in 2012, so kudos to the Reds for having the stones to go out and get an ace.

6. Drew Brees Goes Bonkers

            Brees’ fantasy owners must’ve felt like doing a rendition of the final stage of the Tour de France after his monster day.

5. Giants Choke at Home Against Redskins

            Combined with Tony Romo leading the Cowboys to victory Saturday night, this was a rare weekend in December for a Dallas fan to be excited.

4. Colts Win a Game For Some Reason

            Here are the updated “Suck for Luck” standings after Indianapolis inexplicably decided to win against Tennessee.

1.      Colts

            2.      Rams
            3.      Vikings

3. Chiefs End Packers Run at Perfection

            Somewhere out there, Don Shula and the rest of the surviving members of the 1972 Dolphins are very happy after Kansas City improbably knocked off Green Bay. The Packers could be in a world of trouble if Greg Jennings isn’t back for the divisional round of the playoffs.
       
2. New England Patriots Defy God, His QB, Broncos
            Don’t be surprised if Brady and/or Belichick are hit by lightning tomorrow as punishment for pounding Tim Tebow and the Broncos into oblivion.
         
1. My Son Gets His First Haircut
            Considering how he freaks out every time we try to brush his teeth, this was a huge win for the Muir household. My son’s hair looked like a cross between Gene Wilder and a used cue tip before we finally broke down and got it trimmed.

           

           

Sunday Draft (2-20-11) Round 4 of the 2011 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft

4-37 = Jon Lester, SP, Red Sox – I love Lester this year. Even if he pitches as well as he did the past two seasons, he has a chance to sneak up to 22 or 24 wins with the powerful offense he has supporting him.

           

4-38 = Buster Posey, C-1B, Giants – Posey looks like the National League version of Joe Mauer, with a little less average and a bit more power.

4-39 = Jason Heyward, OF-RF, Braves – The only thing that held Heyward back last season was a couple of pesky injuries. His excellent plate discipline gives him the chance to a top-10 player this season. You’ll probably have to snag him in the 3^rd round if you want him on your team.

4-40 = C.C. Sabathia, SP, Yankees – I can’t figure out why most fantasy prognosticators have C.C. ranked so low. The last time I checked, he still pitches for the New York Yankees. Even more important, he has the option to opt out of his contract after this season (which based on how much money Cliff Lee got paid, Sabathia better be opting out of his contract), which means he is probably pitching to earn the last big contract of his career.  

4-41 = Dan Uggla, 2B, Braves – Uggla can be frustrating at times due to his high strikeout rate, but second basemen that consistently smack over 30 homers per season don’t grow on trees.

4-42 = Victor Martinez, C-1B, Tigers – Assuming Miguel Cabrera gets the help he needs and is ready to go for opening day, Victor Martinez is the perfect compliment for him. Victor will rarely have to play catcher this season, which means you will get more at-bats out of him than your typical backstop.

4-43 = Justin Upton, OF-RF, Diamondbacks – Upton was picked anywhere from the mid-2^nd to early 3^rd-round in fantasy drafts last year, but regressed in almost every offensive category. This is a guy that if he can ever figure it out, could deliver top-10 value.

4-44 = Jose Bautista, 3B-RF, Blue Jays – Bautista came out of nowhere to hit 54 home runs last season. While no one should expect to see that again, would you complain if you got 35 homers out of a 3^rd Basemen you took towards the end of the 4^th round?

4-45 = Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Rockies – Jimenez was the best pitcher in baseball the first half of last year before sputtering down the stretch. Reports out of spring training are favorable so far, so expect Jimenez to come out of the gates strong again (and then maybe think about trading him in late June).

4-46 = Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies – I would not take Jimmy Rollins here, but in your draft someone will probably already have taken him at the end of the 3^rd round. Rollins has been in steady decline the past few seasons.

4-47 = Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds – Cincinnati had one of the most powerful offenses in the National League last season, but Phillips actually had a down year. If he bounces back in 2011, expect a career year.

4-48 = Josh Johnson, SP, Marlins – If Johnson wasn’t such an injury risk, you could make a case for him being taken in the range of Felix Hernandez and Tim Lincecum. This is the perfect spot to gamble on him.