Fantasy Baseball: The First Round

With publications, mock drafts and other lists being assembled this month, I thought I would (a) release my projected first round and (b) analyze the other lists first rounds.

No Pepper Games' First Round Projections:

1. Alex Rodriquez - I'm not a fan, but Pujol's AVG doesn't make up for A-Rod's SBs and RBIs.
2. Albert Pujols - Absolutely solid player. If Rolen plays all season, he'll be even better.
3. Valdimir Guerrero - Still solidly in the Top Three this year. The Angels have lost some tools, but Vlad will still produce.
4. Johan Santana - I strongly suggest building solid pitching in standard Roto leagues - this is where that list begins.
5. Mark Teixeira - Is going to be a monster for years to come.
6. Miguel Tejada - SS isn't all that deep this year, and there are no questions surrounding Tejada.
7. Manny Ramirez - Are there better numbers out there? Yup. But few of them are as consistent as Manny. Plus, the other better numbers are from firstbasemen, where there is depth-galore.
8. Derrek Lee - An admitted stretch here. But with the Cubs' offseason acquisitions, Lee is poised for another huge year.
9. David Ortiz - Absolutely sick numbers. The only thing that hurts him is his DH/Util position.
10. David Wright - 3B is another shallow position, and Wright is second only to A-Rod.
11. Bobby Abreu - His 2nd half last year worries me, but only because it makes me think of the weeping opposing teams would have been doing if he had duplicated his 1st half performance. There was a power dropoff, but his numbers were still top notch.
12. Pedro Martinez - Again, I stress the importance of consistently solid SPs in Roto. You'll see contrary advice elsewhere, but it's a proven commodity for me.


Brandon Funston's Yahoo! Sports Big Board

1. Alex Rodriquez - no difference
2. Albert Pujols - no difference
3. Vladimir Guerrero - no difference
4. Mark Teixeira - I can't argue with this, Teixeira is dominant.
5. Manny Ramirez - I mentioned this week that OF is an actually shallow position. Manny's a great pick.
6. Johan Santana - no argument
7. Derrek Lee - At least I'm not reaching as far as Brandon!
8. David Ortiz - We seem to be in general agreement.
9. Michael Young - Wha...?!? Young is a fantastic SS - but better than Tejada?! Sorry, I just don't see it.
10. Carl Crawford - And yet Juan Pierre is completely off his board. Crawford's 12-15 HRs just don't merit that gap.
11. David Wright - After Aramis Ramirez, there are just a lot of questions at 3B, Wright's in for a big year.
12. Miquel Cabrera - I don't have Cabrera much further down, but to put him this high risks having owners take him even earlier. The turmoil in Florida is going to hurt his production this year, so buyer beware.


The Sporting News Top 300

1. Alex Rodriguez
2. Albert Pujols
3. Vlad Guerrero
4. Mark Teixiera
5. Derrek Lee - Wow. Just...wow.
6. Miguel Cabrera - If this was put together before the firesale, I'd forgive it. But it wasn't.
7. Carl Crawford - Chicks dig the long ball. But his 15 long balls aren't this exciting.
8. Jason Bay - This kid is incredible, but not this high.
9. Manny Ramirez
10. Johan Santana - whoever gets Santana at #10 is getting an absolute steal.
11. Michael Young
12. Miquel Tejada - another list with Tejada behind Young. I don't get it.