Fantasy 40/40: 2010 Fantasy 40/40 All-American Team
If you could put your dream team together, any player, any position, you would put something together that looks a little like this. Standard 5×5 Rotisserie League. 14 Starting Hitters, 9 Starting Pitchers, 3 Bench Spots.
The 2010 Fantasy 40/40 All-American Team.
- C – Joe Mauer - The $186 million man will put up TOP 1B numbers playing a position that magnifies defense. His projections put him way ahead of the 2nd and 3rd ranked catcher, Brian McCann and Victor Martinez.
- 1B – Albert Pujols – The best player in baseball will threaten the Triple Crown this year and consistently finishes number one overall every year even stealing double digit bases along with his .330 BA, 42 HR, 125 RBI and 110 RUNS.
- 2B – Chase Utley – Still the best player at his position, Utley will provide excellent numbers for his fantasy owners. The cream of the crop, Utley is a solid pick for anyone choosing between picks #5 and #10 in their drafts.
- SS – Hanley Ramirez - The consensus number two behind Pujols, Hanley is a five category monster that is being taken number #1 in many keeper and dynasty drafts. Can you blame them? This 26-year-old is hitting his prime and should stay atop his position for at least another five years.
- 3B – Alex Rodriguez - AROD is primed for an MVP type season as he won his ring and was able to put all the b.s. behind him. No steriods, no divorce, no worries, no problem. Look for ridiculous numbers from a healthy Alex in 2010.
- MI – Troy Tulowitzki - Tulo gets the nod here as a SS that can put up .290-28-100-90-20. These don’t come around too often. He has supplanted J-ROLL, Jeter and Reyes as the number #2 at his position.
- CI – Prince Fielder - This house of a man starts at corner infield for his 45 HR bat and 125 RBI output. His fiery demeanor and hard-nose game also add to the overall character of the squad.
- OF – Ryan Braun – The Hebrew Hammer joins his Brew Crew teammate as a member of the Fantasy 40/40 All-American Team. His five category production helps owners in all leagues and is the reason he is the better pick over Matt Kemp. Kemp might get you 35 SB, but Braun’s .315 BA, 38 HR and 115 RBI can’t be touched.
- OF – Carl Crawford - One of our outfield burners, this one hits .300, double digit HR, approx. 60 RBI and 80 RUNS. Add that to his 50 SB and you have yourself a TOP 5 OF.
- OF – Jacoby Ellsbury – Slighted ranked lower than Crawford, Ellsbury’s average separates him from Crawford. He also doesn’t hit as many HR as his Ray counterpart, but if Jacoby adds power to his game in 2010, look out for a potential TOP 5 pick in 2011.
- OF – Matt Kemp - Another power/speed threat, Kemp will be putting up at least 20 HR and 30 SB for Joe Torre this year. He had 26/34 in ‘09 and that was done mainly from the 7th spot. The 7th spot, Joe! Really? Really? He should be batting 2nd in front of Ethier this season. Yahtzee!
- OF – Justin Upton – J UP is an emerging star and is a player I pay to watch if I can. He had a breakout year in 2009 and looks to add to it this campaign. This kid just got a fat paycheck and look for Upton to join the 30/30 club in ‘10.
- U – Evan Longoria - The MLB Cover Boy gets the nod slightly edging D Wright because of the power advantage. Longoria is healthy and will put up monster numbers. He’s 24 and should hit 35 HR, 110 RBI and 100 RUNS. This was a tough call, Wright will be 20/20 in 2010. Wow say that 3 times fast: Wright will be twenty-twenty in twenty ten.
- U – Ian Kinsler - 2009’s only 30/30 member, Kinsler should re-peat this year. If he could ever stay on the field for a full 162 games, he might even push 40/40.
- SP – Tim Lincecum – The number one ranked fantasy pitcher, Lincecum will push 20 wins and amass 250 K, give or take here and there. His lineup isn’t the greatest, so the wins might be around 16 or 18, but Timmy is still the man. TIMMY!
- SP – Roy Halladay – Arguably baseball’s best pitcher switches teams and leagues this year and looks to add a ring to his credentials. He will face the Braves, Mets, Marlins and Nats instead of the Yanks, Sox, Rays and Orioles within his own division. Enough said.
- SP – Felix Hernandez – King Felix rules the Pacific Northwest and should have another stellar season. He now has a number two in Cliff Lee to take a little pressure off him and will have the big ballpark and defense to support him.
- SP – Zack Greinke - Last year’s American League Cy Young Winner, Greinke is a stud pitching on the wrong team. He puts up great numbers but just doesn’t have the offense around him to win 20 every year.
- SP – Jon Lester – I took him over Beckett because this kid is nasty and has upside for improvement. He looks to improve on his monster year last season as Boston’s 1A will have 200 K and around 16 to 18 wins.
- SP – Adam Wainwright – Wainwright competed for the Cy Young last year and will do so again in 2010. This guy has it all and will win a lot of games with the Cards. His sub 3.00 ERA in 2009 might be difficult to repeat, but don’t be surprised if he does.
- RP – Jonathan Broxton – I think Broxton overtakes Mariano as the number #1 RP in 2010. Joe Torre likes to over work his relievers. Rivera is starting to age and Girardi has shown to use others when Rivera needs the rest. Broxton is huge, throws nasty stuff and will be a fantasy stud for owners in 2010.
- RP – Mariano Rivera – Mo still has it at age 70 and will close at least 25 for the World Champs in 2010. He might lose some saves here and there to Joba, but Rivera and his cutter are money in the bank for 30 saves.
- RP – Joakim Soria - The closer of Royals and our second Royal to make the squad. Wow, 2nd Royal… He has filthy junk, strikes people out and gets out a lot of batters. He will save almost all of K.C’s games and should be a TOP 3 RP with Nathan out and with Papelbon’s numbers going in the wrong direction.
- BN – Victor Martinez - I know, I know, there are better players out there. But, since this is a team, I took VMART because he plays C/1B. With Longoria (3B) and Kinsler (2B/MI) as other backups playing at U, VMART covers the remaining holes. He backs up Mauer at catcher while backing up Pujols at 1B and Fielder at CI. .300-30-100-100 off the bench isn’t too bad either.
- BN – Matt Holliday - Our last offensive spot goes to Holliday as our backup outfielder. He will have a full year in the more comfortable NL and a full year with Albert hitting next to him.
- BN – Dan Haren - I love Danny Haren, but don’t love his team. He is always near the top in K, ERA and WHIP, but never wins more than 15 Hopefully, that changes in 2010 and Haren can push for 20 as he waits for Brandon Webb to re-join the rotation.
- Just Missing The Cut: Teixiera, Cabrera, Howard, Youkilis, Cano, Pedroia, Jeter, Rollins, Ichiro, Lind, Sizemore, Verlander, Carpenter, Lee, Santana, Beckett, Papelbon
Any thoughts? Who should have made it? Who should NOT be on this list?
