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Fantasy Skipper: Players to target in 2009 drafts - Rays
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Well, I am back folks... sorry for the slight layoff, but I had some internet issues that have obviously been resolved. It's been a weird week anyway, working through some work complications and trying to find time to go to the library just to simply edit my fantasy football roster (yeah, I know... lame) but a guru's gotta do, what a guru's gotta do.
Shields was a model of consistency all season.
Now back to the meat-and-potatoes of this Fantasy Skipper: The Rays. I had a hard time stomaching tonight's Red Sox-Rays game -- aside from the fact that I am a BoSox fan -- because I knew very well that I was writing this article about them. I mean, I could've very well written about the ChiSox, but where's the fun in that?
The Rays are easily the most exciting story in baseball this year... and that is a perfect parlay into fantasy. I refuse to mention the obvious of B.J. Upton, Scott Kazmir, or Carlos Peña. But, I will focus on the SP that will still probably be drafted in the 10th round (or later) in James Shields and the third base phenom that is Evan Longoria.
James Shields had a great fantasy season. Don't let the win-loss column fool ya. Although his record of 14-8 is not something that is desirable (considering 45 year-old Jamie Moyer was 16-7), his IP's, K's, BB's, ERA, and WHIP have been SUPER CONSISTENT the past two years. With that being said, he lowered his HR's allowed and increased his CG's. This is his average the past two years: 215.0 IP, 2 CG, 172 K's, 38 BB's, 3.71 ERA, 1.13 WHIP. Tell me you wouldn't take that from your SP 3, 4, or 5. Those are not awesome numbers, but they are consistent... and CONSISTENCY WINS FANTASY TITLES. I can obviously see similar numbers next year, but his wins have increased each year, and the Rays are for real. I would say 16-8 with 200+ IP, 180 K's, 3.50 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP for next year. Trust me when I tell you that I am drafting him.
Longoria had fun... and so did those 'devilish' Rays.
Jumping to the offensive side of the diamond, Evan Longoria (not Tony Parker's Eva, but Evan -- how weird is that by the way??) was a fantastic 3B all season. He showed a good combo of POWER (27 HR's, 85 RBI's) and SPEED (67 runs, 7 SB). Keeping in mind that he missed roughly 30 games -- or basically four fantasy weeks -- with an injury, his stats are indicative of only 448 AB's. Put over 540 at-bats, he easily hits 32-34 HR's, 100+ RBI's, and probably 85ish runs. Couple that with a .272 AVG and batting anywhere from 3rd to 5th in a powerful Tampa Bay lineup... and you have David Wright Light. I would take those numbers any day from my third baseman. Especially adding in 31 doubles (again, more if he plays the full season) and totaling up his extra base hits... 27 dingers, 31 doubles, and 2 triples... he had 60 extra base hits. He only had 122 hits all season!! That means that HALF of his hits throughout the course of the season go for extras. That's AWESOME!! Making him super-valuable in more than the 5x5 standard leagues. He is going to be a stud player for years to come.
I will wrap up by saying that Army of Two is a sick game for PS3. I (Elliot Salem) beat it with my buddy, Jesse (Tyson Rios), last week. I don't think it's really relevant to anything at all, other than the simple fact that I wanted to gloat about it. Put it on the board... Championship!
Oh, and the Longhorns are the #1 seed in the AP and Coaches NCAA College Football polls... Sweet.
Mouth, out.
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