Jose Reyes (NYM) – Tip #1, when drafting Reyes in the first round this year - be sure you are taking Jose Reyes the shortstop. - there is a catcher named Jose Reyes currently on the Cubs roster - I wouldn't want to see you get the shaft before the draft even starts. The 120 runs and 60 stolen bases alone make Reyes a first-round pick, but pushing 20 home runs with 80 RBI at just age 23 puts Reyes on the short list for #1 overall consideration. Especially encouraging was Reyes improved patience at the plate, improving from 27 to 53 walks in 2006.
Derek Jeter (NYY) - – About every year I trumphet Jeter as one of those players whose value in real life is much more valuable than in fantasy baseball. Well, Jeter wasn't exactly bad fantasy-wise last year neither. Most impressive was a stolen base improvement from 14 to 34 along with a .343 average and 214 hits. Home runs went down slightly but Jeter knocked in 97 runs, the second highest total in his career. Before his career is said and done don't be surprised if Jeter doesn't make a run at 4,000 career hits. Derek Jeter is perhaps the safest pick in fantasy baseball period.
Jimmy Rollins (PHI) – Just a few years back there wasn't an elite National League shortstops. Thanks in part to Rollins that is no longer the case, not only as he averaged 120 runs and 35 stolen bases the past three years, but last year Jimmy added home runs to the equation hitting 25 out. A 30/30 season in the works??? At age 28 he is in his prime so I wouldn't count it out.
Hanley Ramirez (FL) – Go ahead and call him a poor man's Jose Reyes if you want - then compare the stats Reyes 122 runs, Hanley 119 - Reyes 19 home runs, Hanley 17 - Reyes 64 stolen bases, Hanley 51, - Reyes .300, Hanley .292. If Hanley is a poor man's Reyes it's like trading in Boardwalk for Park Place. However Ramirez's salary is still significantly cheaper in Diamond Challenge so if you feel like you can only afford one then Hanley may be your guy.
Michael Young (TX) – A-Rod and Nomar may be out of the shortstop business these days, but players like Young have kept the position well stocked. Young's home run and stolen base totals may not be impressive, but is good for a bushelful of runs and RBI's. His .320 average over the past three years also carries extra weight considering he racks up nearly 700 AB's every year. Young is not half-bad for #5.
Miguel Tejada (BAL) – Actually, #6 is not even that bad. Tejada's days of raking 150 RBI may be over, but he's still good for being in the lineup every single day, hitting well over .300 and racking up over 200 hits. Unless his name gets dragged through the mud of the BALCO case some more I don't see a real significant drop off.
Rafael Furcal (LA) – As was the case in his Atlanta years, Furcal is good for well over 100 runs and somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-40 steals. Furcal upped his BA to .300 last year after a horrendous start and hit 12 of his 15 home runs at home.
Carlos Guillen (DET) – Anything more than 20 home runs or 20 steals out of Guillen would be gravy. That said, Carlos is good for 100 runs when healthy and has hit .318, .320, and .320 in his last three campaigns.
Bill Hall (MIL) – After 35 home run season Brewers smartly signed him to a 4 year/$24 million contract. Unlike last year, Hall starts the season only eligible at short but should also gain outfield eligibility later on. Only problem is Hall strikes out a ton which leads to prolonged slumps.
Julio Lugo (BOS) – Not a bad way to close out a top-ten, as Lugo joins a powerful lineup, is good for some stolen bases, and is also eligible at second base.
Felipe Lopez (WSH) – I found him to be a smashing dissapointment in the CDM game last year, despite the fact his stolen bases skyrocketed from 15 to 44. Lopez's power fell way down and getting dealt to DC certainly didn't help matters. When all was said and done Felipe's slugging percentage dropped from .486 to .381.
Edgar Renteria (ATL) – I have kind of given up hope on Edgar ever becoming an elite class shortstop, as he struggles just to reach 20 home runs or stolen bases. That said, Edgar has gotten 100 runs scored in each of the last two seasons.
Jhonny Peralta (CLE) – After a breakthrough season in 2005, I was totally expecting Peralta to be a top-five shortstop last year, figuring there was no way he could fail. What happened is Peralta's slugging percentage dropped from .520 to .385. And the next base Jhonny steals will be his first. You could handle that from a catcher or someone with a ton of power but not here. Peralta's still only 24, so he could bounce back - or become the next Angel Berroa.
Stephen Drew (AZ) – Made his way to the big show at mid-seaason, and hit .316 the final two months of the season. Has 20 home run potential in a plus-hitters park, you just worry about him getting hangnails like his brother.
Orlando Cabrera (ANG) – His stolen base production goes up with each passing season, but don't be surprised if last year's 27 turns out to be his peak. Also not the greatest average hitter in the world and the Angels have prospects in the farm system.
Rich Aurilia (SF) – Yes, he's eligible at short as well and offers some nice power.
Omar Vizquel (SF) – I don't know what's in the water in San Francisco, but there might not be anyone in the Giants lineup under 40 these days. What's remarkable is that Vizquel continues to hit for a solid average and gets a decent amount of steals..
Freddy Sanchez (PIT) – Another player eligible seemingly everywhere, and did drive in 85 runs last year. If you want to choose between Aurilia and Sanchez, take Aurilia.
David Eckstein (STL) – Where I find the most value for Eckstein is in MLBAM's Beat the Streak game. Eck hits leadoff, gets a lot of plate appearances, and reaches base a lot. There isn't a whole lot that he does fantasy-wise however.
Juan Uribe (CWS) – Actually talked about taking the year off after getting into a legal mess during the off-season. White Sox brass told him not to worry as long as he's healthy, focused, and IN SHAPE. Uribe is usually good for 20 HR/70 RBI, so raise him up a few spots if he looks good in the spring.
Bobby Crosby (OAK) – Hit 22 home runs a couple years back, but it has been nothing but a trainwreck with injuries ever since. A bad back Crosby tried to play through turned out in fact to be a fracture of the L-5 column. It's hoped that Crosby will be 100 percent for spring training, but you might want to check out developments in camp.
Khahil Greene (SD) – His early career is on a direct parallel path to that of Crosby's, great rookie year, about every injury imaginable since. You know you can count on 15 homers, but batting average is an issue.
Troy Tulowitzki (COL) – Rookie could be an interesting study. People are more impressed with Troy's power than his speed, add Colorado into the mix and he becomes an interesting sleeper. Think of him on the waiver wire if he gets off to a good start.
J.J. Hardy (MIL) – I'm guessing Hardy is going to be easy to overlook on draft day. Hardy had started to make nice strides at the plate before his 2006 season ended with a wrecked ankle after it ran into a textbook block of home plate by then-Phillies backup Sal Fasano. J.J. did hit five home runs in less than a quarter of a season, now lets see if he can get the average above .250
Angel Berroa (KC) – That 2003 rookie campaign seems so long ago now, even I have jumped off his bandwagon. If he regresses any more he will find himself in Omaha or even Wichita.
Nick Punto (MN) – Some stolen base ability as well as third base eligibility gives Punto a minimum amount of value in most formats.
Jack Wilson (PIT) – See Jack field, see Jack catch, see Jack throw runners out. But don't expect Jack to pile up 200 hits and a .300 batting average like a few years back. Nice defense keeps him in the lineup though.
Yuniesky Betancourt (SEA) – Had a nice BA in his first full-season in the bigs with an average that pushed .290, but is of little help in the other categories.
Adam Everett (HOU) – Another one who will stay in the lineup thanks to his glove work. Hitting above .250 is a challenge however and his stolen bases dropping from 21 to 9 was another dissapointing development.
Cesar Izturis (CHC) – Remember the 670 AB's and 25 stolen bases a few years back, that is a distant memory now. One hope is an improved Cub lineup working around him.
