Today, or tonight depending upon when you are reading this, we will finish up our look at the middle infielders with a look at our top 15 shortstops.\u00c2\u00a0 There is not a lot to like here as this position has two outstanding players, then maybe three or four other players you wouldn’t mind having, then a whole bunch of question marks that could almost be put into any order you want.\u00c2\u00a0 If you’re unable to get one of the top six players, than waiting on until later in your draft is the direction you should be heading.\u00c2\u00a0 There just isn’t to many players to reach for here.<\/p>\n
1.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins:\u00c2\u00a0 Didn’t exactly go out on a limb here now did I.\u00c2\u00a0 While I do believe that HRam is the number one shortstop, I have my doubts as to whether or not he is still the second best player in fantasy.\u00c2\u00a0 Not sure what I would do with the number two pick in a fantasy draft, might just try and trade it away.\u00c2\u00a0 Ramirez is however in great shape and seems to have matured a bit as he is trying to take on more of a leadership role with Florida.<\/p>\n
2.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies:\u00c2\u00a0 Tulo is easily the second best SS in fantasy but beware, he does tend to get off to slow starts, has been injury prone in the past, and his points do tend to come in bunches which can be difficult to handle in a head to head league.\u00c2\u00a0 That being said he is just to good to pass up at a weak position, and will go in the first round of most drafts.<\/p>\n
3.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Jose Reyes, New York Mets:\u00c2\u00a0 One of the bigger gambles in fantasy.\u00c2\u00a0 When healthy he is a dynamic player who can do it all.\u00c2\u00a0 Sort of the middle infield version of the Red Sox Carl Crawford, but staying healthy has been a major problem throughout his career.\u00c2\u00a0 This is a contract year for Reyes however so he does have big time incentive to stay on the field and put up big numbers.\u00c2\u00a0 The question is will the Mets not give him the green light as much on the bases for fear of him injuring himself.<\/p>\n
4.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox:\u00c2\u00a0 Ramirez is a player who I am personally looking to grab later on in drafts.\u00c2\u00a0 I believe he will have a better season than either Rollins or Jeter, but I since most rankings have Ramirez behind those two I would rather take a chance and wait until after they are drafted before zeroing in on Ramirez.\u00c2\u00a0 Ramirez is a player who keep s getting better and better each season, and 2011 could be his breakout year.<\/p>\n
5.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies:\u00c2\u00a0 Rollins had a tough time staying healthy in 2010, playing in only 88 games.\u00c2\u00a0 His numbers suffered as he no longer looks like the five tool player he was just a few seasons ago.\u00c2\u00a0 His batting average has been in the .250 neighborhood the past two seasons, and it’s not like his power or run producing will make up for it.\u00c2\u00a0 The good news is that his speed hasn’t waned as he was on pace to steal 30+ bases if he played a full season.\u00c2\u00a0 There has also been some question as to where he will bat in the order as the Phillies lineup is in a state of flux, especially with normal third place hitter Chase Utley not being able to play yet.<\/p>\n
6.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Derek Jeter, New York Yankees: \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Jeter had the worst season of his career in 2010 and that started the whispers that it’s the beginning of the end for Jeter.\u00c2\u00a0 The Yankees and Jeter have tinkered with his swing this spring to enable him to get to the hard stuff on the inside of the plate.\u00c2\u00a0 Seems unusual for a player with Jeter’s success and service in the league to tinker with what has made him successful.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps this goes on more than we know but we’re hearing about it because it’s Jeter and he plays for the Yankees, perhaps not.\u00c2\u00a0 Either way where you select him comes down to answering one key question, do you believe Jeter just had one bad season, or do you believe 2010 was a sign of things to come.<\/p>\n
7.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers:\u00c2\u00a0 Andrus have never quite been the player many thought he would be.\u00c2\u00a0 Outside of his ability to steal 30+ bases he doesn’t have any other value on the offensive side of the ball.\u00c2\u00a0 He did not hit a HR last season, hard to do playing in Texas, and only drove in 35 runs.\u00c2\u00a0 He scored 88 runs but with his speed you would think he should cross the plate a bit more, and just doesn’t get on base enough with an OBP of .342.\u00c2\u00a0 I suppose there is some upside, but he’s not someone that should be drafted early.<\/p>\n
8.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Stephen Drew, Arizona Diamondbacks:\u00c2\u00a0 Drew seems to be a player that more is expected from.\u00c2\u00a0 He had a big season in 2008 which led many to believe that it was just the tip of the iceberg.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately that may have been his plateau as he has been unable to approach that level of power (21 HRs) since.\u00c2\u00a0 He’s still is a decent producer and does run more than in the past, just don’t think he’s about to have a career season.<\/p>\n
9.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles Dodgers:\u00c2\u00a0 For the second time in three season’s Furcal failed<\/p>\n
to play in at least 100 games.\u00c2\u00a0 Sure he produces when he’s in the lineup, but just how often that will be is a hug question mark.\u00c2\u00a0 He could be a steal late in your draft if he can stay healthy, but his recent history would seem to suggest that it would be highly unlikely that Furcal will be able to do so.<\/p>\n
10.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Starlin Castro, Chicago Cubs:\u00c2\u00a0 Castro has the makings of a star shortstop for the Cubs.\u00c2\u00a0 For fantasy purposes he may still need another season before he climbs further in the rankings.\u00c2\u00a0 Right now he doesn’t have enough power or steal enough bases to truly be an asset is shallow leagues, in deeper, dynasty, or keeper \u00c2\u00a0leagues however he could be worth drafting a little higher as his best years seem to be in the future.<\/p>\n
11.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians:\u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Cabrera had a breakout season in 2009 with 68 RBIs, 17 SBs, and a .308 AVG, but\u00c2\u00a0 a broken forearm cost him half of last season ruining what was a solid sleeper candidate at the SS position.\u00c2\u00a0 Cabrera seems to be an afterthought this season, but if you wait until late in your draft to grab a SS and need some steals, Cabrera could be your man.<\/p>\n
12.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles:\u00c2\u00a0 You could pretty much put any of these last four shortstops, and maybe a few others in any order you want.\u00c2\u00a0 Hardy has a disappointing season in 2010 as he found it hard to stay healthy and even harder to hit in Target Field.\u00c2\u00a0 One has to believe that playing in the band box that is Camden Yards might help his power numbers.<\/p>\n
13.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Yunel Escobar, Toronto Blue Jays:\u00c2\u00a0 Those who thought that a change of scenery would help Escobar, better think again.\u00c2\u00a0 Escobar was dealt out of Atlanta after a series of run in with manager Bobby Cox.\u00c2\u00a0 He was not a player favorite in the clubhouse and was traded to Toronto.\u00c2\u00a0 Toronto may be a homer heaven for right handed hitters, but Escobar certainly didn’t take advantage.\u00c2\u00a0 Perhaps he just needed time to adjust to a new team and a new league and this will be the year that he will break out.<\/p>\n
14.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Erick Aybar, Los Angeles Angels:\u00c2\u00a0 I’m just not a big fan of Aybar as he doesn’t seem to have much upside and outside of some SBs I just don’t see any upside.\u00c2\u00a0 In my mind he is nothing more than a reserve player or someone I might be looking to claim off the waiver wire.<\/p>\n
15.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Jhonny Peralta, Detroit Tigers:\u00c2\u00a0 Peralta is someone I wouldn’t mind targeting later in a draft as he has power potential and has 3B eligibility.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Not that I would want to start him at 3B, but in case of an injury it’s nice to know you have an option on your bench that wouldn’t totally kill you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today, or tonight depending upon when you are reading this, we will finish up our look at the middle infielders with a look at our top 15 shortstops.\u00c2\u00a0 There is not a lot to like here as this position has two outstanding players, then maybe three or four other players you wouldn’t mind having, then […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":785,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13522,3868,9],"tags":[2885,13574,9976,2295,13419,2197,13560,13322,52,13566,13423,13561,13563,2280,13562,5133,535,13565,717,1739,410,13564],"class_list":["post-12843","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-clearing-the-bases-fantasy","category-fantasy","category-general","tag-best-player","tag-big-numbers","tag-bunches","tag-carl-crawford","tag-clearing-the-bases","tag-colorado-rockies","tag-dynamic-player","tag-fantasy-draft","tag-florida-marlins","tag-gambles","tag-george-kurtz","tag-great-shape","tag-hram","tag-jose-reyes","tag-leadership-role","tag-middle-infield","tag-new-york-mets","tag-question-marks","tag-shortstop","tag-shortstops","tag-troy-tulowitzki","tag-tulo"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t