Fantasy Baseball: Sleepers with Upside -Players
By Matthew
Twas chatting with Nick, an old High School friend and a genuine good guy, and the subject moved from Hockey to Fantasy Drafts and 'Sleepers' - those tasty multi-tool morsels who have a chance to outperform their current assessments. You know, Pitchers with low WHIP and ERA and high W and K or Hitters who can get you serious RBI, with AVG and, as Tevye's Daughter says 'if he SB's, I wouldn't holler!' (the whole family were serious fantasy players, back before the pogrom...).
Since my current interest in Hockey is limited to my New York Islanders holding onto their tenuous grasp on LAST place, so they can grab the new 'savior' Jon Tavares, in the next draft I won't screw up a good spring by lingering on Ice. Naturally, the Islanders season long dominance in the NHL's WORST category has come undone with an unexpected late-season surge as their kids seem to finally be coming around - note to Islander kids, SAVE THAT FOR 2009/10 and lose your way to a talented teammate!
Sorry, Guru is a multi-topic sort...
Back to the matter at hand...I've composed a small list of players who I think qualify as 'Sleepers', the list includes those who are overlooked for their level, which means you have young lesser knowns and well known veterans who may be overlooked for circumstances that are unlikely to prevail in this season. Position Players today, Pitchers on Monday.
1B
Chris Davis, Texas Rangers
This kid turns 23 on Monday (3/17) and is an ideal sort for your 1B needs. He is a young power hitter in a HR hitting Ballpark who has 1 season under his MLB belt. His slugging (.549) in some 300 at-bats of debut hints at serious things to come statistically and that is reinforced by seeing him hit live, the ball absolutely EXPLODES off of his bat. A good one, probably for a long time...and never again this available.
2B
Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays
Here's a young player who put together two solid seasons in the Middle Infield, before getting hurt last year in a washout. The cobwebs have cleared (Concussion) and Hill is a late-round steal who will get you middle-infield numbers comparable to top-tier sorts.
Joe Inglett, Toronto Blue Jays
Not often you'll see two teammates competing for the same position make a list like this, but in this case, Inglett is another Blue Jay Middle Infielder with serious upside and limited profile. I suspect that Hill may be moved to another position, or take over SS (being nursemaided by Utility type, Marco Scutaro) - I expect both of them to get 500 At-Bats (Cito Gaston understands Offensive talent as well as anyone in the game).
You can also make a case for other BlueJays as Sleepers.
OF, Alex Rios, is a HUGE talent who dipped badly last year, should rebound under the radar.
OF, Adam Lind, is a natural .300 hitter who only lacks experience, if he gets hot early - grab him!
OF, Travis Snyder, has similar upside potential to Chris Davis, could blow up with power numbers OR blow up at the buffet table (5'10", 245!).
SS
Alexei Ramirez ,Chicago White Sox
Another gut who could be facing his last moments as a 'Sleeper', he had comparable power numbers to AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, playing the same 2B and now shifts to SS with the departure of SS Orlando Cabrera. Very few Middle Infielders break 20 HR as Rookies and he has the speed to match that with 20 SB's in 2009. Doesn't strike out much and runs well, which bodes well for AVG and his Manager was the master of crafty in HIS days as a Chisox SS, meaning he should improve dramatically with experience.
3B
Kevin Kouzmanoff, San Diego Padres
Not nearly as strong an endorsement for KK of the SDP's, but he is only entering his 3rd MLB year and has already demonstrated 25/100 sort of power. Needs to cut down the Strikeouts to help with the AVG and walk more to help with the power, but the tools are there and the hype isn't. He belongs.
OF
Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
Here is another 23 year old, who might have more raw ability than anyone else on this list and as much as almost anyone in the game. He's THAT good. You won't be able to benefit from his spectacular Defense in Fantasy Ball, but if you get caught watching an Oriole game and listening to the oohs and ahhs over C Matt Weiters, check out this guy. On offense, he has freakish power and speed and is just learning to hit...he will be overmatched by top notch pitchers who can get to the holes in his evolving swing, but will hit enough mistakes and mediocrities to make your investment (minimal), well worth it.
Carlos Gomez, Minnesota Twins
Ummm...as good as Jones is, Gomez is bigger, stronger, faster and has more holes in his swing! He is a 6'4" man-child with a penchant for childishness, but is coming off a 33 SB campaign when his AAA skills were exploited by AL pitchers. They better enjoy that memory. He is filling in that big body and looking like a Young A-Rod physically, could hit 20HR and steal 50SB if he can stay focused and cut down on Strikeouts. Outstanding bargain.
Eijah Dukes. Washington Nationals
Yet another drool-worthy kid with sick skills. He can flat-out PLAY, and unlike the first two guys - he knows the game, understands the strike-zone and has no holes. ON the field. Off the field, he has had a hard time remaining a free man and there is the possibility you could have him on your team, see him put up All-Star numbers for awhile and then ...poof...10-15 years in the pen. If he can shed the nonsense and stay on the field, he is on his way to perennial All-Star.
