| In every fantasy baseball league, | | | | at a middle-schoolish 69. |
| there's always one guy who makes a | | | | Fantasy Baseball Dugout sees Kennedy as |
| surprise pick or two during the draft. | | | | the # 5 starter in the Yankees rotation |
| He's usually the guy who's done his | | | | in a crowded pitching corpse that |
| homework on Fantasy Baseball Sleeper | | | | includes Wang, Petitte, Chamberlain, |
| Prospects. He's the guy who reads | | | | Hughes, and Mussina. Kennedy should win |
| Fantasy Baseball Dugout. | | | | at least 12 games in 2008. |
| Fantasy Baseball Dugout is proud to | | | | # 5 -- Evan Longoria, third baseman, |
| present its 2008 Fantasy Baseball | | | | Tampa Bay Devil Rays |
| Sleeper Prospects. The criteria for | | | | Another name you've heard of, but more |
| qualifying as a sleeper prospect is that | | | | likely because of its similarity to many |
| the player was not a regular for the | | | | men's fantasy, and I'm not talking |
| 2007 season and that the season was his | | | | baseball at all here. Longoria was the |
| first in The Show. Most fantasy baseball | | | | third overall pick by the Devil Rays in |
| sleeper players were September call-ups | | | | 2006 out of a stellar All-American |
| to The Bigs, but some you probably would | | | | career with the Long Beach State |
| not have heard of unless you were an | | | | Dirtbags. |
| avid minor league fan. | | | | Longoria, who played shortstop in |
| #1 -- Joba Chamberlain, Starting | | | | college, is seen more as a third baseman |
| Pitcher, New York Yankees. | | | | in the Bigs. His lack of speed projects |
| Once a hefty 272 pound pitcher at D-II | | | | him better at the hot corner where he |
| Nebraska-Kearney, Chamberlain lost | | | | has soft hands and good body control |
| weight and was simply dominating at | | | | that will likely push Akinori Otsuka |
| every professional level in 2007. He's | | | | over to second. |
| an interesting guy--a Native American | | | | Longoria will get plenty of playing time |
| member of the Winnebago tribe. | | | | for the Devil Rays and is the favorite |
| A hamstring injury hampered Chamberlain | | | | to be the AL Rookie of the Year in 2008. |
| and he did not make his pro debut until | | | | Longoria is a .300+ guy with 30+ |
| May. He then made it all look easy. | | | | homers, even in his rookie campaign. |
| Chamberlain started at Hi-A Tampa where | | | | Last year, Longoria played at AA |
| he went 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA and 51 | | | | Montgomery and AAA Durham in one of the |
| strikeouts in 40 innings while holding | | | | best farm systems in the MLB. He hit 26 |
| hitters to a microscopic .181 average. | | | | homers while knocking in 97 RBI. |
| He was promoted to AA Trenton where he | | | | Longoria also belted 29 doubles. |
| went 4-2 in seven starts with a 3.35 ERA | | | | The knock on Longoria is that he can |
| and a massive 66 K's in 40 IP's. After | | | | sometimes be too aggressive at the |
| three appearances at AAA Scranton/Wilkes | | | | plate, sometimes chasing bad pitches. |
| Barre where he fanned 18 in 8 innings, | | | | This led to 110 strikeouts last season. |
| Chamberlain was promoted to the Yanks. | | | | # 6 -- Brandon Wood, SS/3B, Los Angeles |
| You would think that Chamberlain's | | | | Angels |
| meteoric rise would have been too much | | | | In 2005, Wood broke into the pro ranks |
| to put up similar numbers with the Bronx | | | | with 43 home runs for High A Rancho |
| Bombers. Nothing could have been further | | | | Cucomonga. His season with the Quakes |
| from the truth. Chamberlain worked out | | | | pinned Wood as a superstar, but his |
| of the bullpen and appeared in 19 games. | | | | stats since, while good, have been a bit |
| In 24 IP's, he fanned 34 while walking | | | | more pedestrian. He hit 23 homers and |
| just 6 and giving up 12 hits. Opponents | | | | .272 BA at AAA Salt Lake last year. |
| were nearly invisible against | | | | Wood has power, but also strikes out a |
| Chamberlain at the plate with a .145 BA. | | | | lot. He fanned 120 times at Salt Lake |
| Chamberlain's ERA in the bigs: 0.38. | | | | last year before getting 33 AB's with |
| Chamberlain has the makings of a closer | | | | the Angels. Critics site that Wood |
| or a #1 starter. Manager Joe Girardi is | | | | often tries to pull the ball too much |
| going to be hard pressed to not move him | | | | which makes him susceptible to outside |
| quickly into that #1 starter role in | | | | pitches. |
| 2008. Watch his status closely during | | | | The Angels still have Aybar, Figgins, |
| Grapefruit League games. You could end | | | | and Izturis in the mix at shortstop, but |
| up with a mid-round steal in | | | | none of these guys have the pop that |
| Chamberlain. | | | | Wood has. Expect Wood to be the Angels |
| Fantasy Baseball Dugout considers | | | | third baseman this season. |
| Chamberlain to be a top 20 pick among | | | | # 7 -- Adam Miller, Starting Pitcher, |
| all pitchers in the 2008 fantasy | | | | Cleveland Indians |
| baseball draft. He will win at least 15 | | | | Miller has been dominant in the minor |
| games in pinstripes and will be a | | | | leagues, but has been injury prone so be |
| dominant strikeout machine with enormous | | | | sure to check his status before drafting |
| upside potential in future years. | | | | him in March. He only pitched 65 |
| # 2 -- Clay Bucholz, Starting Pitcher, | | | | innings last year at AAA Buffalo where |
| Boston Red Sox | | | | he went 5-4, 4.82. |
| Bucholz is the best home grown pitcher | | | | When he's healthy, Miller can be lights |
| from the Sox farm system since Roger | | | | out. He has hit 97 on the gun, although |
| Clemens. This guy is certainly no | | | | not as of late. Still, his slider is |
| surprise given the fact that he tossed a | | | | very impressive and clearly his best |
| no-no in just his second major league | | | | pitch. Miller has been more effective |
| start last season against the Orioles. | | | | as he's matured as a pitcher and not |
| He likely would have made the Red Sox | | | | tried to blow his heater by everyone. |
| post-season roster had Boston not shut | | | | We see Miller as an eventual starter, |
| him down with a tired arm. | | | | but he'll probably start 2008 in the |
| Bucholz was simply dominant in the | | | | Tribe's bullpen or will battle the more |
| minors last year and is another | | | | experienced Aaron Laffey for the #5 |
| strikeout machine for leagues who take | | | | starting job behind Sabathia, Carmona, |
| whiffs into account. Bucholz averaged | | | | Westbrook, and BallparkBob lookalike |
| 12.3 strikeouts per 9 IP last year in | | | | Paul Byrd. We're thinking Laffey will |
| the minors with AA Portland and AAA | | | | earn the # 5 spot just to add a second |
| Pawtucket. | | | | southpaw to the Indians' rotation. |
| All this despite the fact that Bucholz | | | | # 8 -- Daric Barton, first baseman, |
| was not a full time pitcher until 2005 | | | | Oakland A's |
| when he was picked in the first round | | | | Barton was acquired from the Cardinals |
| supplemental draft by the Sox. Several | | | | in 2004 in the Mark Mulder deal. After |
| teams stayed away from Bucholz because | | | | moving from catcher to first base, |
| of an April 2004 theft arrest. | | | | Barton had a streaky year in 2007 for |
| The right hander tops out at 95 MPH with | | | | AAA Sacramento where he hit .293 with 9 |
| his fastball and has a 12-6 curve to go | | | | HR's and 38 doubles. |
| along with an effective change. Most | | | | He has no wheels and is not a power |
| scouts would like to see him rely on | | | | hitter despite weighing 205. Recently, |
| his fastball more and it remains to be | | | | he's been getting more loft on his |
| seen if he can hold up for an entire | | | | stroke, but he's basically a line drive |
| season as he pitched a career high 149 | | | | hitter of the Kevin Youklis mode. |
| IP's last year and was gassed at the end | | | | A left-handed hitter, Barton will likely |
| of the season. | | | | be the A's starting first baseman this |
| Fantasy Baseball Dugout projects Bucholz | | | | year unless Dan Johnson can beat him out |
| as the # 4 starter this year for Boston | | | | which appears to be unlikely. He's |
| behind Beckett, Matsuzaka, and Lester. | | | | strong and hits the ball extremely hard |
| He'll get his chances to impress and | | | | so if Barton can pick up more of a |
| will probably be the Sox # 2 man by next | | | | homerun stroke, he could change his game |
| season. | | | | and be a 20+ homerun hitter. |
| # 3 -- Jacoby Ellsbury, Outfielder, | | | | # 9 -- Luke Hochevar, Starting Pitcher, |
| Boston Red Sox | | | | Kansas City Royals |
| Ellsbury is another guy who is already | | | | I know, picking a pitcher on the Royals |
| well known, yet still qualifies as a | | | | is crazy, but this one is worth a look. |
| rookie. Ellsbury relieved a slumping | | | | Hochevar was the number one overall pick |
| Coco Crisp in the World Series last year | | | | in the 2006 draft. His stats last year |
| and hit a sizzling .438 in the Fall | | | | were, quite frankly, not impressive |
| Classic. This was after hitting .361 | | | | either--4.69 at AA Wichita and 5.12 at |
| in September while playing for the | | | | AAA Omaha. |
| injured Manny Ramirez. Not to mention, | | | | But, that's why we call them sleepers. |
| a Pawtucket record of a 25-game hitting | | | | Hochevar, 24, hits 95 with his fastball |
| streak. | | | | and has a late-breaking curve that can |
| Ellsbury hit .353 last year in just 116 | | | | be devastating. He needs to work on his |
| AB's. He won't hit for much power, but | | | | control and how well he does with his |
| is a force at the top of the lineup for | | | | control will determine if he makes the |
| a Red Sox team that will score a lot of | | | | big club in April. |
| runs. And, Ellsbury will help your all | | | | Expect Hochevar to battle Kyle Davies |
| important stolen base totals. He swiped | | | | for a spot in the Royals' rotation |
| 9 in the Bigs last year and a total of | | | | behind Meche, Bannister, Greinke, and De |
| 50 overall with his three clubs. | | | | La Rosa. Based on his less than |
| The ceiling is high for Ellsbury, but | | | | impressive minor league stats, you'll be |
| there's no guarantee he will be with the | | | | able to pick up Hochevar in the late |
| club when the Sox break camp. While it | | | | rounds and he could prove to be worth |
| is rumored that Boston is trying to move | | | | the gamble in large leagues. |
| Crisp, Ellsbury may have to wait for a | | | | # 10 -- Jeff Clement, catcher, Seattle |
| mid-season call up to break the starting | | | | Mariners |
| lineup if the Red Sox can't move Crisp. | | | | Clement can flat out rake. But, there's |
| # 4 -- Ian Kennedy, Starting Pitcher, | | | | just one problem, the Mariners don't |
| New York Yankees | | | | have an opening behind the plate with |
| Kennedy is another Yankee who benefited | | | | Kenji Johjima there. |
| from exposure in a September call up. | | | | Clement broke Drew Henson's national |
| He started three games and had a | | | | high school record with 75 career |
| sparkling 1.89 ERA while holding | | | | homeruns out of Iowa. Clement went on |
| opponents to a .191 BA. | | | | to play college ball at Southern Cal |
| Kennedy rose through the Yank's farm | | | | spurning the Twins offer in the 2002 |
| system like a torpedo last year moving | | | | draft. |
| from Hi A Tampa to AA Trenton to AAA | | | | The left handed hitting Clement stroked |
| Scranton/Wilkes Barre, before joining | | | | 20 dingers last year at AAA Tacoma with |
| the pinstripers in September. His | | | | a .275 BA. He was streaky last year at |
| combined record was 13-3 with 178 | | | | Tacoma and his stats suffered from |
| strikeouts in 166 IP. | | | | playing at cavernous Cheney Park in the |
| Kennedy's best pitch is his changeup | | | | Pacific Coast League. Clement slugged |
| which has a nice run to it. He can hit | | | | over 100 points higher while playing on |
| 92 MPH, but is often criticized for a | | | | the road. |
| too slow curveball which can bottom out | | | | |