Fantasy Baseball Preview 1998 – Part 2(of 3)

This is part 2 of a 3 part series that goes through, position by position, the best players in fantasy baseball. In addition, I throw in a sleeper or two at each position, as well as my prediction of who will be big time disappointments this season.

Shortstop:

The Best of the Best:

    1. Alex Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners: (.300 , 23 HR, 84 RBI) These stats were a far cry from the previous year’s, in which he hit .358 with 36 dingers and 123 RBIs. This brings up the question: Will the real Alex Rodriguez please stand up? I’m thinking its somewhere in between these two years statistically. Which makes him simply the best offensive threat at his position today. Had 29 steals last year, which was double his 1996 theft total, which shows his baserunning maturity.
    2. Nomar Garciaparra, Boston Red Sox: (.306, 30 HR, 98 RBI) Better numbers than Alex last year, but until he puts up similar numbers this year, the number one nod will go to Alex Rodriguez. These two players are almost identical offensively. A major threat at the plate, and a threat on the basepaths as well, with 22 steals last season. Will he do it again this year, especially after signing a fat 7 million dollar contract per year in the offseason? Most likely.
    3. Barry Larkin, Cinncinnati Reds: (.317, 4 HR, 20 RBI) Injuries plagued Larkin the past season, as he only saw 220 at bats. He still had 14 steals, which means he’s still got the wheels after 12 seasons. Lucky is the team who swiped Larkin at a bargain price this year. Year before last he put up numbers comparable to Rodriguez and Garciaparra. Only question is does he stay healthy?

Surprise Player of the Year:

Kevin Elster, Pittsburgh Pirates: Saw only 138 at bats last year thanks to injury, but he’s completely healthy now, and back in Texas, where he had his breakout(or was it a career?) year in which he hit 24 home runs and drove in 99. Watch his numbers jump back to close to those levels. 20 homers and 90 RBIs are attainable in Arlington Park in that climate.

Crash and Burn Player of 1998:

Jeff Blauser, Chicago Cubs: Had a career year last year(.308, 17, 70) with an Atlanta lineup that was loaded. The one plus for him is hitting in Wrigley Field for half of your games. Many experts feel Blauser in Wrigley can hit 20, drive in 80, and maintain .300. The one disadvantage is the fact that his last two seasons he hit .245 and .211 respectively, and hit a combined 22 Home runs, and 68 RBIs…. Watch his batting average drop 50 points this year, keep the home run total, and maybe get close to that RBI total.

 

Third Baseman:

The Best of the Best:

    1. Vinny Castilla, Colorado Rockies:(.303, 40 HR, 113 RBI). Scored 94 runs last year as well. Hits for average, hits for power, hits in Coors Field. What more needs to be said?
    1. Ken Caminiti, San Diego Padres : (.290, 26 HR, 90 RBI). Coming after a year in which he belted 40 dingers, and drove in 130 runs, this past year was a disappointment. But fear not, fantasy leaguers. He missed 25 games last year due to injury. A healthy Caminiti puts up at least that average, 30-35 homers, and drives in 105. Yes, 105 Padres will actually get on base this year. Although it'll be Tony Gwynn 100 of those times…;-)
    2. Matt Williams, Arizona Diamondbacks: (.263, 32 HR, 105 RBI). I know all the Chipper Jones fans are gonna whine, but he just missed the list. Matt is going to go nuts in that tiny ball park in the dry desert heat in Arizona. Can you say launching pad, boys and girls?

Surprise Player of the Year:

Cal Ripken, Jr.: (.270, 17 HR, 84 RBI) . Not bad numbers, but the old horse has one more good year left in him. Baltimore's offense is potent, he has no pressure to produce like he had to in the past. I predict he hits the 25 HR and 100 RBI plateau one more time, hitting the ol' .300 once more, for old time's sake.

Crash and Burn Player of the Year:

Bobby Bonilla, Florida Marlins: Hit .297 with 17 HR and 96 RBIs last year, but that was in a deep lineup, which no longer exists. It's just him and fellow disappointer last year Gary Sheffield. Bottom line is Bonilla is old, and will wither under the pressure of having to be a top producer, just like he did when he was with my beloved New York Mets a few years ago.

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Starting Pitchers:

The Starting Rotation of 1998:

    1. Roger Clemens, Toronto Blue Jays: ( 21-7, 2.05 ERA, 292 K): Has four wicked pitches, a fastball, curve, slider, and an offspeed pitch. Its no wonder he’s as dominating now as he was 10 years ago, when he relied on his heater.
    2. Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves: (19-4, 2.20 ERA, 177 K): When he retires, they are going to rename the Cy Young award the Greg Maddux award. Seldom overpowering, simply paints the plate as well as Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa.
    3. Randy Johnson, Seattle Mariners (20-4, 2.28 ERA, 291K): Simply the most intimidating pitcher in the game today. All guts, all heat. Imagine a guy about 7 and a half feet tall(from standing on the mound) throwing 98 mph fastballs by your ears…
    4. Pedro Martinez, Boston Red Sox (17-8, 1.90 ERA, 305K): incredible variety of pitches, much like Clemens. Addition of a circle change-up has made him lethal.

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    5. Curt Schilling, Philadelphia Phillies (17-11, 2.97 ERA, 317K): career year? His best strikeout total before this year was a little under 200…will be interesting to see. He deserves a purple heart for playing on the team he is..and still doing as well as he did…

 

Surprise Pitchers of the Year:

    1. Hideki Irabu, New York Yankees(stats too awful to publish): He wasn’t called the Japanese Nolan Ryan for nothing. Now that he has spring training behind him, his only enemy is himself. If he can control his temper, and keep himself mentally straight, he’ll win 18 and strike out 250.
    2. Juan Guzman, Toronto Blue Jays(3-6,4.95 ERA, 52K): Injured the entire year, he’s now a healthy pitcher with a 94 mph fastball, a splitter, and a hard biting slider. He wins 15 this year, and racks up 200 strikeouts.
    3. Rick Reed, New York Mets ( 13-9, 2.89 ERA, 113K): Reed will be a surprise fantasy player this year, just because no one thinks he can do what he did last year again. He can, he has control that rivals Maddux, although not quite the arsenal. Seldom beats himself. Look for 15 wins, sub 3.00 ERA again, with modest strikeouts.

Crash and Burn Pitchers of 1998:

    1. Wilson Alvarez, Tampa Bay Devil Rays(13-11, 3.48 ERA, 179K): He’s not a number 1 starter, but he is now, on the expansion Devil Rays. His ERA is gonna go up a run, and he’ll be lucky to have a .500 record this year.
    2. Brad Radke, Minnesota Twins (20-10, 3.87 ERA, 174K): Lived a charmed life last year after years of being famous for giving up the most home runs per year of any pitcher. Minnesota is even worse this year. Watch Radke fade to mediocrity this year.
    3. Hideo Nomo, Los Angeles Dodgers (14-12, 4.25 ERA, 233K): That ERA is no accident. Still a two pitch pitcher, his stats have digressed on a yearly basis. This trend will continue…

 

This concludes part 2 of my Fantasy Baseball 1998 preview. Part 3, outfielders, and relief pitchers…will be coming soon!

 

 

 

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