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.

2014 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Rounds 4-5

4-31 = Adam Wainwright, SP, St. Louis Cardinals
            Wainwright might be the poster child for the modern success of Tommy John surgery.

4-32 = Jose Fernandez, SP, Miami Marlins

            Of the elite fantasy pitchers, Fernandez is the first one who’s advanced stats from 2013 says “regression”. That shouldn’t lower his stock in keeper leagues, but keep that in mind if you’re in a re-draft league.

4-33 = Justin Upton, OF, Atlanta Braves

            After a torrid first forty games of the 2013 season, Upton crashed back to Earth the rest of the way. The ceiling is still that of a player who could finish as the top overall fantasy hitter, but the odds of that happening are shrinking with each passing year.

4-34 = Jose Reyes, SS, Toronto Blue Jays

            Like the top two shortstops, Reyes also is a major injury risk, but he doesn’t have the benefit of 30+ home run potential.

4-35 = Cliff Lee, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

            He’s old and kind of boring, but there aren’t many pitchers as reliable as him in the WHIP department.

4-36 = Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners

            Hernandez is significantly more valuable in leagues that count quality starts instead of wins.

4-37 = Jean Segura, SS, Milwaukee Brewers

            Odds are 2013 will be the best season of Segura’s career, but if he can net 40 stolen bases, you’ll be happy.

4-38 = Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants

            Bumgarner has steadily improved every year in the big leagues, and he’s still only 24 years old.

4-39 = David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

            His numbers were down overall after his 2012 Cy Young winning campaign, but after returning from a DL stint last year, Price put up 2.53 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.

4-40 = Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Texas Rangers

            Choo’s new contract is ridiculous, but that shouldn’t stop you from adding him to your fantasy team. He’s one of the few reliable sources of runs MLB has to offer.

5-41 = Chris Sale, SP, Chicago White Sox

            Sale is a beacon of light on a pretty awful White Sox team.

5-42 = Alex Rios, OF, Texas Rangers

            Upon his arrival after last years trade from Chicago, Rios racked up 16 steals for Texas during the final 47 games.

5-43 = Zach Greinke, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

            As long as Greinke doesn’t plunk Carlos Quentin this year, he should be a fantasy stud.

5-44 = Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

            Hamels caught the “no-win bug” that plagued Cliff Lee in 2012. Baseball fans that grew up in the 1960s probably think he’s terrible.

5-45 = Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds

            One of the first power guys off the board that is going to kill your batting average, you’d be doing cartwheels if he can keep his average over .270.

5-46 = Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

            His hitting approach leaves him prone to bouts of severe slumps, but he’s one of the few players capable of 40 steals and 15 homers.

5-47 = Allen Craig, 1B-OF, St. Louis Cardinals

            Craig will likely spend the majority of this season in the outfield, putting an injury prone player in a position of greater risk. With that said, if he could somehow play 150 games, he could deliver top-20 overall value.

5-48 = Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers

            There’s a whiff of Roy Halladay’s decline when you look at Verlander, as he has had the largest workload of any starting pitcher since 2009.

5-49 = Buster Posey, C-1B, San Francisco Giants

            You’ll get him a few rounds later than you did last year, and that’s a good thing. Posey could easily bounce back to his 2012 production.

5-50 = Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

            A bit of a boom bust candidate, batting average will ultimately determine if Myers is a factor in deciding fantasy leagues this season. If he keeps it above .260, he’ll be relevant.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (4/12-4/14)

10. Jose Reyes Injures His Ankle
            A bunch of folks that drafted him in the third or fourth round on their fantasy team are really disappointed.

9. Carlos Quentin Drops Appeal, Dodges Trip to Los Angeles

            Shouldn’t of Quentin’s penalty forced him to play at Dodger Stadium less than a week after breaking Zack Greinke’s clavicle?

8. Kyle Busch Wins Another Nationwide Race

            It’s awesome that all of the young up-and-coming drivers get a chance to finish second to Kyle Busch every week in the Nationwide Series.

7. Michigan Point Guard Trey Burke Enters the NBA Draft
            Eventually, a NBA team could win a championship if Trey Burke was their fourth best player. I’m not sure if that’s a comment or an insult, but it’s the way it is.

6. Kevin Durant Fined $25,000 For “Menacing Gesture”

            I tried to fine my son $25K for dropping a menacing poop in his Pamper, but alas he doesn’t have any money.

5. Atlanta Braves Sweep Nationals, Improve to 11-1
            If Evan Gattis keeps hitting the crap out of baseballs, someone is going to make a movie about him in three years.

4. Kyle Busch Wins the NRA 500

            People two left or right of center were too busy arguing about the NRA to realize that a NASCAR race was actually happening.

3. Dirk Nowitzki Becomes First German to Score 25,000 Points
            Deutschland ist sehr gut.

2. Kobe Bryant Tears His Achilles, Makes a Crazy Facebook Post, and Then Tweets Photos of His Surgery

            Don’t bet against Kobe being ready for opening night next fall.

1. Adam Scott Wins The Masters

            This one was especially meaningful after Scott’s epic choke last summer in the British Open. Incredibly, he becomes the first man from Australia ever to win at Augusta.

2013 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft, Rounds 2-3

Click here if you missed Round 1

2-11 = Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
ESPN Projections = .301, 30 HRs, 102 RBIs, 92 Rs, 9 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-5 through 3-23

            Tulowitzki murdered fantasy teams last year thanks to an injury filled 2012, but when healthy, he’s the only shortstop capable of delivering top-5 overall production. If you’re able to snag him in the third round, pat yourself on the back.

      
2-12 = Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = 16 Ws, 2.71 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 233 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-15
            That 16-win projection feels low, unless the Dodgers follow the example set by the Lakers and struggle after making numerous big-time acquisitions.
    
2-13 = Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
ESPN Projections = .301, 26 HRs, 94 RBIs, 95 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-17
            Fantasy’s top rated player in 2010, Gonzalez should see an upswing in production if Troy Tulowitzki is able to stay on the field on a regular basis.
        
2-14 = Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers
ESPN Projections = 20 Ws, 2.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 240 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 2-15
            No one delivers better value combined with such a high volume of innings like Verlander. The dude is a machine.
       
2-15 = Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = .294, 34 HRs, 109 RBIs, 92 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            Longoria’s outlook is similar to Troy Tulowitzki’s, with the exception that he plays a much deeper position.
        
2-16 = Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = .313, 34 HRs, 107 RBIs, 95 Rs, 3 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-15 through 2-20
            Of all our second round position players, Beltre is the safest selection of them all. Which is funny because five years ago he was considered one of the biggest free agent busts of all time.
           
2-17 = Giancarlo Stanton, OF, Miami Marlins
ESPN Projections = .278, 42 HRs, 103 RBIs, 90 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-13 through 3-23
            Those of you in re-draft leagues better not get to excited and take Stanton towards the end of the first round. He could lead the league in homers, but he’s not going to have very many teammates to drive in this year.
        
2-18 = Buster Posey, C-1B, San Francisco Giants
ESPN Projections = .318, 24 HRs, 98 RBIs, 76 Rs, 2 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            Posey’s torrid September carried many a fantasy team to a league championship last year. If you’re a big believer in value relative to position scarcity, Posey will be high on your draft board.
     
2-19 = David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
ESPN Projections = 19 Ws, 3.17 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 213 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-17 through 3-25
            If Price weren’t stuck in the AL East, he’d be right up there in the Strasburg-Kershaw-Verlander tier.
 
2-20 = David Wright, 3B, New York Mets
ESPN Projections = .287, 27 HRs, 100 RBIs, 97 Rs, 17 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-15 through 3-23
            As far as 5-category contributors go, there isn’t a better all-around third basemen in the game than David Wright. If only the team around him didn’t suck so much.

3-21 = Justin Upton, OF, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = .281, 28 HRs, 84 RBIs, 100 Rs, 20 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-13 through 3-27
            People are way to excited about Justin getting to play everyday with his brother. If Justin returns to his 2011 form, B.J. won’t be the reason.
          
3-22 = Jose Bautista, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .268, 41 HRs, 108 RBIs, 98 Rs, 8 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            If you’re willing to gamble on a player returning from injury, Bautista is you’re man. With the improved Toronto lineup, we could be talking about 50 dingers and 130 RBIs when it’s all said and done.
           
3-23 = Josh Hamilton, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
ESPN Projections = .293, 34 HRs, 113 RBIs, 93 Rs, 7 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 1-8 through 3-23
            The way he exited Texas has put too much of a sour taste in my mouth to consider drafting him in the second round, although logically, he has an excellent chance of delivering top-10 value.
           
3-24 = Ian Kinsler, 2B, Texas Rangers
ESPN Projections = .265, 23 HRs, 68 RBIs, 103 Rs, 21 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-16 through 3-28
            Kinsler used to be one of the larger injury risks in the game, but he’s only missed 12 games the past two seasons and has compiled the most plate appearances of any player in baseball. If you think he can push his average to .280, feel free to take him in the top half of the second round.
           
3-25 = Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners
ESPN Projections = 14 Ws, 3.01 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 225 Ks
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-17 through 3-28
            If you are in a league that counts quality starts instead of wins, Hernandez deserves to be pushed up into the Strasburg-Kershaw-Verlander tier.
           
3-26 = Edwin Encarnacion, 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .283, 36 HRs, 99 RBIs, 93 Rs, 10 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 2-16 through 3-30
            Encarnacion busted out in a huge way in 2012, delivering the 12^th best fantasy campaign of any player. You get the “he’s only done it once, not sure if he can do it again” discount this year if you take him in the third.
           
3-27 = Hanley Ramirez, 3B-SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
ESPN Projections = .263, 24 HRs, 83 RBIs, 82 Rs, 26 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-21 through 3-30
            It wasn’t that long ago (two years in fact) that Hanley Ramirez was among the first three players taken in every single fantasy draft. Perhaps a full year away from the dysfunction in Miami can return Hanley to his previous form.
           
3-28 = Jose Reyes, SS, Toronto Blue Jays
ESPN Projections = .291, 10 HRs, 47 RBIs, 88 Rs, 34 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-21 through 4-34
            Joining a powerful Blue Jays lineup would seem to be fortuitous, but having to play his home games on Toronto’s artificial turf won’t be.

           

3-29 = Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Boston Red Sox

ESPN Projections = .293, 17 HRs, 70 RBIs, 92 Rs, 20 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-25 through 4-34
            A torrid second half of 2012 gives fantasy owners hope that Pedroia can return to his MVP-winning level of play. Watch where Boston sticks him in the batting order, as that will go a long way in determining his counting stats.
 
3-30 = Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves
ESPN Projections = .261, 30 HRs, 96 RBIs, 93 Rs, 22 SBs
No Credentials Appropriate Range of Taking Him = 3-25 through 4-36
            Heyward rebounded nicely after a disastrous 2011-sophomore campaign. There’s no reason the addition of the Upton brothers will not enhance Heyward’s fantasy value this year.

Click here to check out rounds 4-5
             

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.

Earnhardt Clips and Round 3 of the Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft

            I never met Dale Earnhardt, but I’m pretty sure he would call anyone that would do a fantasy baseball mock draft a word that could also be used to refer to a cat. Nevertheless, 10 years after his death, I’m listing some clips of Dale Earnhardt’s most memorable moments before the 3^rd round of my fantasy baseball mock draft. There’s a few crashes (not the one that killed him though, I didn’t feel the need to list that), a few of his most famous shortcomings at the Daytona 500, and some of his most memorable victories.

Dale Earnhardt's 1982 Pocono Flip – Dale broke his kneecap as a result of this crash with the late Tim Richmond.

The Winston 1987 - The Pass in the Grass – Bill Elliott had the much faster car, but Earnhardt refused to surrender the lead.

Final Lap of 1990 Daytona 500 – Earnhardt cuts a tire down going into turn 3 on the last lap, giving Derrick Cope one of the greatest upset wins in NASCAR history.

1993 Daytona 500 – Earnhardt gets passed by Dale Jarrett on the last lap to again be denied a Daytona 500 victory. This race is best remembered for Dale’s father Ned announcing the final lap of the race.

1995 Brickyard 400 – Earnhardt holds off Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett for his only career win at Indianapolis.

1996 Dale Earnhardt Flip at Talladega –Earnhardt refused to be loaded onto a stretcher despite a broken collarbone, sternum, and shoulder blade after this hellacious crash.

1997 Daytona 500 – In contention for the win, contact with Jeff Gordon leads to Earnhardt ending up airborne.

1998 Daytona 500 – Dale finally wins the Daytona 500.

Earnhardt Rattles Terry Labonte's Cage – Earnhardt spun out the much faster Terry Labonte with two laps to go to win the 1999 August race at Bristol. (EDITORS NOTE: Unless you really enjoy the song “Flirtin’ With Disaster”, fast forward to about the 0:45 second mark of this clip.)

Earnhardt Wins By 0.006 Seconds – Earnhardt barely held on to beat Bobby Labonte in a 2000 race at Atlanta.

18th to First – In what would be his final Winston Cup victory, Earnhardt makes an incredible charge to win the 2000 fall race at Talladega.

Now on to the 3^rd round…

3-25 = Tim Lincecum, SP, Giants – Lincecum’s stats were down last season (mostly due to a horrendous August), and he threw a ton of extra pitches during the Giants’ World Series run. I would be hesitant to use a pick this high on him, but this is probably about the spot Lincecum will go.

            Team 1 = Albert Pujols, Dustin Pedroia, Tim Lincecum

3-26 = Jose Reyes, SS, Mets – Reyes is another contract year guy that if healthy, should give you first round production. This is a reasonable spot to take a chance on him.

            Team 2 = Miguel Cabrera, Adam Wainwright, Jose Reyes

3-27 = Kevin Youkilis, 1B, Red Sox – Youkilis will gain 3^rd base eligibility between 1 and 20 games into the season (depending on your league rules). Whether he anywhere from 3^rd through 6^th in the Red Sox lineup, he’ll be a good bet to hit 25 homers with 105 RBIs.

            Team 3 = Robinson Cano, Matt Kemp, Kevin Youkilis

3-28 = Shin Soo Choo, OF-RF, Indians – A reliable source of 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. With a healthy Carlos Santana and Grady Sizemore, Choo could finally break the 100 RBI barrier.

            Team 4 = Troy Tulowitzki, Ryan Zimmerman, Shin Soo Choo

3-29 = Ian Kinsler, 2B, Rangers – Kinsler would be a perennial top-10 pick if it weren’t for the fact that he’s missed 192 games during his 5-year career. I’d be happy to grab him if he slipped into the mid-4^th, but someone will grab him this high.

            Team 5 = Hanley Ramirez, Felix Hernandez, Ian Kinsler

3-30 = Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers – This might be five picks to early, but his progression as a major league starter suggests that he could develop into a fantasy ace in 2011.

            Team 6 = Evan Longoria, Ryan Howard, Clayton Kershaw

3-31 = Zack Greinke, SP, Brewers – If you buy all of the talk that Greinke’s poor 2010 was due solely to the fact that he was bored pitching for a losing team, than you would be more than happy to add him at this point of the draft. Greinke has the ability to be the #1 pitcher in fantasy (he was for most of the first half of the 2009 season), and his switch to the National League makes him all the more tantalizing.

            Team 7 = Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Zack Greinke

3-32 = Matt Holliday, OF-LF, Cardinals – Holliday is blessed with hitting either before or after Albert Pujols (for at least one more year anyway). At his worst, he should finish the season with a .280-25-110 line, which makes him the safest pick of this round so far. He’s not a sexy pick, but he will help you win.

            Team 8 = Joey Votto, Carlos Gonzalez, Matt Holliday

3-33 = Andrew McCutchen, OF-CF, Pirates – I like McCutchen as a potential breakout candidate in 2011. He has solid plate discipline (70 walks to only 89 strikeouts), and with just a little help from his teammates, he could make a run at a .300-20-80-40-110 season in the five basic fantasy categories.

            Team 9 = Roy Halladay, Mark Teixeira, Andrew McCutchen

3-34 = Joe Mauer, C, Twins – Mauer is the safest bet in the majors to have a batting average of at least .320. If he can get his home run total closer to 20, this pick is a slam-dunk.

            Team 10 = Carl Crawford, Prince Fielder, Joe Mauer

3-35 = Cliff Lee, SP, Phillies – Going into this draft I figured Lee would be a late 2^nd round pick, but somehow it made sense for him to go right about here. I wouldn’t argue with anyone who took him as high as the 24^th pick.

            Team 11 = Ryan Braun, Alex Rodriguez, Cliff Lee

3-36 = Nelson Cruz, OF-LF-RF, Rangers – I’m a sucker for Nelson Cruz. Two years ago I traded Cole Hamels for Cruz. Last year I traded Buster Posey (and two other players, yikes!) for Cruz. This year I’ll probably just draft him in the first round so I don’t have to deal with any pesky trade negotiations.

            Team 12 = David Wright, Chase Utley, Nelson Cruz