sportznut
02-11-2005, 08:28 PM
Question of the Week:
Motor City Fantasy Studs
Friday, February 11, 2005
Modified: Friday, February 11, 2005
Each week we'll discuss a hot topic in fantasy baseball. For prior questions, check our also-sees to the right.
This week's question: With Magglio Ordonez (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5889')) signing in Detroit, which Tiger will be the most valuable in fantasy for the 2005 season?
http://espn.starwave.com/i/columnists/karabell_eric_m.jpg Eric Karabell, ESPN Fantasy Games Senior Editor
The obvious answer here is Pudge Rodriguez, but I don't think too many people are aware of how good Carlos Guillen (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6105')) was in 2004. Among shortstops, only Miguel Tejada (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5888')) and Michael Young (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6613')) had more RBI than his 97. No regular at the position hit as high as .318, which he did. And Guillen, a guy Seattle couldn't find use for, missed much of September to boot and still did this offensive damage. While Pudge is certainly one of the top two or three catchers, and I won't try to say anything bad about him, Guillen could end up just as valuable as a top 10 shortstop. Nobody can argue that catching is strong in fantasy, but the second worst position is short. Let's say both Guillen and Pudge are borderline top 50 players, but Guillen gets a nod based on being so much younger. As for Ordonez, I'm skeptical he can remain healthy, but will call him Detroit's No. 3 fantasy player out of respect.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/cockcroft_tristan_m.jpg Tristan Cockcroft, ESPN Fantasy Games Contributing Writer
Magglio or no Magglio, it has to be Ivan Rodriguez (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4680')). Catcher is one of the thinnest positions in fantasy baseball, and Pudge led all backstops with a .334 batting average. He's also one of two catchers who batted at least .300 with 15 homers and 80 RBI in 2004 (Javy Lopez (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4965')) was the other). If you're worried about Comerica Park being pitcher-friendly, remember that it was the 11th-highest scoring ballpark in baseball in 2004. Pudge hit .354 with seven homers and 40 RBI there, so it's not like the ballpark hurts him. Having Magglio batting behind him is only going to help. Magglio is a more threatening slugger than Dmitri Young (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5699')) or Rondell White (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5126')), who shared the cleanup duties last year, so expect Pudge to get plenty of good pitches to hit. A .330-20-90 season isn't out of his reach.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/engel_scott_m.jpg Scott Engel, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I'm not really convinced that Ordonez can make a major impact with the Tigers, and his arrival does nothing to change my opinion that Ivan Rodriguez is the most valuable Detroit player from a fantasy perspective. He is always a consistent force at the thin catcher position, no matter who else is in the lineup with him. I'm not convinced that Ordonez will be anything near his pre-injury self, and he's a very risky fantasy choice. That said, a healthy Ordonez can only help Rodriguez see better pitches hitting ahead of him, and moving Dmitri Young behind him can only help the underrated DH. I'm looking to get good numbers out of Carlos Guillen and Young no matter if Ordonez is healthy or not. This Tigers lineup can be a very good source of fantasy production, healthy Ordonez or not.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/rounce_kevin_m.jpg Kevin Rounce, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I want to find someplace else to go. Pudge is such the obvious answer that I want to extol the virtues of Carlos Guillen, Dmitri Young or Troy Percival (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5315')). I want to call out the sleeper status of Jeremy Bonderman (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7106')). Alas, that's just not possible. Ivan Rodriguez is the main man in Detroit. He will likely be their three-hole hitter and knock in a lot of runs with good power and a high average. He does all this at a position that is generally weak in fantasy. Detroit will be a good spot to find some value in fantasy this season, but if you're looking for the sure-fire number one guy there, you look behind the plate and point to Pudge.
Conclusion: Pudge is clearly the guy here, but Detroit has some great value at other positions as well.
Motor City Fantasy Studs
Friday, February 11, 2005
Modified: Friday, February 11, 2005
Each week we'll discuss a hot topic in fantasy baseball. For prior questions, check our also-sees to the right.
This week's question: With Magglio Ordonez (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5889')) signing in Detroit, which Tiger will be the most valuable in fantasy for the 2005 season?
http://espn.starwave.com/i/columnists/karabell_eric_m.jpg Eric Karabell, ESPN Fantasy Games Senior Editor
The obvious answer here is Pudge Rodriguez, but I don't think too many people are aware of how good Carlos Guillen (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6105')) was in 2004. Among shortstops, only Miguel Tejada (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5888')) and Michael Young (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=6613')) had more RBI than his 97. No regular at the position hit as high as .318, which he did. And Guillen, a guy Seattle couldn't find use for, missed much of September to boot and still did this offensive damage. While Pudge is certainly one of the top two or three catchers, and I won't try to say anything bad about him, Guillen could end up just as valuable as a top 10 shortstop. Nobody can argue that catching is strong in fantasy, but the second worst position is short. Let's say both Guillen and Pudge are borderline top 50 players, but Guillen gets a nod based on being so much younger. As for Ordonez, I'm skeptical he can remain healthy, but will call him Detroit's No. 3 fantasy player out of respect.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/cockcroft_tristan_m.jpg Tristan Cockcroft, ESPN Fantasy Games Contributing Writer
Magglio or no Magglio, it has to be Ivan Rodriguez (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4680')). Catcher is one of the thinnest positions in fantasy baseball, and Pudge led all backstops with a .334 batting average. He's also one of two catchers who batted at least .300 with 15 homers and 80 RBI in 2004 (Javy Lopez (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=4965')) was the other). If you're worried about Comerica Park being pitcher-friendly, remember that it was the 11th-highest scoring ballpark in baseball in 2004. Pudge hit .354 with seven homers and 40 RBI there, so it's not like the ballpark hurts him. Having Magglio batting behind him is only going to help. Magglio is a more threatening slugger than Dmitri Young (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5699')) or Rondell White (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5126')), who shared the cleanup duties last year, so expect Pudge to get plenty of good pitches to hit. A .330-20-90 season isn't out of his reach.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/engel_scott_m.jpg Scott Engel, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I'm not really convinced that Ordonez can make a major impact with the Tigers, and his arrival does nothing to change my opinion that Ivan Rodriguez is the most valuable Detroit player from a fantasy perspective. He is always a consistent force at the thin catcher position, no matter who else is in the lineup with him. I'm not convinced that Ordonez will be anything near his pre-injury self, and he's a very risky fantasy choice. That said, a healthy Ordonez can only help Rodriguez see better pitches hitting ahead of him, and moving Dmitri Young behind him can only help the underrated DH. I'm looking to get good numbers out of Carlos Guillen and Young no matter if Ordonez is healthy or not. This Tigers lineup can be a very good source of fantasy production, healthy Ordonez or not.
http://espn.go.com/i/columnists/rounce_kevin_m.jpg Kevin Rounce, ESPN Fantasy Games Associate Editor
I want to find someplace else to go. Pudge is such the obvious answer that I want to extol the virtues of Carlos Guillen, Dmitri Young or Troy Percival (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=5315')). I want to call out the sleeper status of Jeremy Bonderman (http://javascript<b></b>:newWin('/cgi/flb/request.dll?PLAYERCARD&nPlayerID=7106')). Alas, that's just not possible. Ivan Rodriguez is the main man in Detroit. He will likely be their three-hole hitter and knock in a lot of runs with good power and a high average. He does all this at a position that is generally weak in fantasy. Detroit will be a good spot to find some value in fantasy this season, but if you're looking for the sure-fire number one guy there, you look behind the plate and point to Pudge.
Conclusion: Pudge is clearly the guy here, but Detroit has some great value at other positions as well.