WAIVERSHARKS.COM
100 Starting Pitchers to watch for in 2009
It’s often been said that the key component for a Major League Baseball franchise to win a World Series championship is good solid Starting Pitching.
Is that the case in Fantasy Baseball?
Sort of…but NOT REALLY!
Incredible value can be had from later round Sleeper Starting Pitchers. Only CLOSERS - who tend to experience more CHANGES then a group of chameleon’s below Las Vegas ’ Freemont Street - are a more volatile fantasy group.
IN FACT: We cannot justify selecting the majority of 2009 Starting Pitchers during the first FIVE rounds of ANY Mixed league fantasy baseball draft!
WaiverSharks' suggested strategy is simple -
Try to land ONE pitching stud, and by stud – he doesn’t even have to be in the TOP 10! You do NOT have to come out of the draft gates with guns a blazing for the likes of Johan Santana, Jake Peavy, or C.C. Sabathia to roster an impressive staff!
This has never been more true than in the 2009 Fantasy Baseball season!
Once you have grabbed your one STUD PITCHER - move away from STARTERS until the early middle, then come back again to them in the late rounds. Seriously! Loading up on too many highly regarded/ranked starting pitchers could prove to be a devastating tactic. Many relevant Fantasy pitchers won’t even be drafted…
We guarantee your waiver wire will contain over 30 starters who will not be drafted - who will provide you with enough pitching firepower to win your league's title in 2009.
Having said this – we are going to SKIP over the usual pitcher suspects who will come popping off Draft boards in 2009. And instead list what we feel are the TOP 100 Starting Pitchers you need to DRAFT, or put on your fantasy radars for 2009.
If you don’t know STUDS like Tim Lincecum, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels are good by now – you need to go visit MMPOPG or Mahjong – because you should not be playing Fantasy Baseball.
So who else “could” THRIVE in ’09? Is there an Edinson Volquez in this bunch?
Who will break out - and who will break down?
Be sure to BOOKMARK us as we examine Deeper and Deeper Sleepers throughout the entire month of December and into the Happy New Year!
SIDENOTE: While reading over our suggestions, you will notice our affection for players who manage to get plenty of strike outs – we feel this is absolutely “key” when hunting for fantasy starting pitching!
Preseason Fantasy Baseball Rankings:
100 STARTERS TO WATCH FOR IN 2009
Here are our (#1 to #20) Starters to watch for in 2009:
1) Rich Harden, Cubs – “I'm sorry, Dick? Excuse me, Rich? Will milk be made available to us?” British Columbia native Rich Harden was only three years old when Judd Nelson muttered those famous words in the John Hughes classic “The Breakfast Club.” Despite his rash of injuries while pitching for the A’s – Harden just turned the MAGIC age of 27 last month.
2) Yovani Gallardo, Brewers – 2008 was lost for Gallardo – we bet it’s found in 2009.
3) Joba Chamberlain, Yankees – Learning to be a pitcher instead of just a hurler takes some time - and patience – but Chamberlain has all the makings of a Fantasy STUD!
4) Justin Verlander, Tigers – What the heck happened in 2008? Verlander’s sophomore slump leaves no where’s to go but up for the hard throwing Tiger.
5) Matt Cain, Giants – Lincecum may be the Jack Morris of the Giants, but Cain should be the Dan Petry. Ode to the 1984 Tigers! Cain is able – but consistency must prevail.
6) Matt Garza, Rays – We love this guys tenacity. The World Series further enhanced his bravado!
7) Brandon Morrow, Mariners – We are not sold on the Mariners – but we are sold on the laser throwing Morrow. Please don’t waste him as your closer Marinerds!
8) Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers – A Star is Born? The Dodgers south paw’s 2008 reminded us of Cole Hamels first year in the bigs – not great – but you can see greatness in the making.
9) Max Scherzer, Diamondbacks – Will be the #1 pitcher in the major leagues this year, of all pitchers with two different colored eyes. Could Strike out a TON of batters in a season once he’s established himself in the D-backs rotation
10) Jair Jurrjens, Braves – The Tigers lost a gem when they “borrowed” Edgar Renteria from the NL for one stinking year. An improved Braves pitching rotation should allow Jurrjens some friendlier pitching match-ups in the coming 2009 season.
11) Ricky Nolasco, Marlins – This kid presumably fell from the sky in 2008 – but he knows how to pitch.
12) Johnny Cueto, Reds – See “Joba Chamberlain" at #3.
13) Tommy Hanson, Braves – The 6’6” Hanson has caught WaiverSharks eye – and his recent performance in the Arizona Fall league should have caught yours!
14) Aaron Harang, Reds – Had an awful 2008. He’s a much better pitcher then last years numbers – so steal him.
15) Chris R. Young, Padres – Picked a fight with Derrek Lee in 2007, then a line drive in 2008. We think if he developed one more pitch he could dominate. Young will have to step it up with Jake Peavy possibly leaving San Diego though.
16) David Price, Rays – He looked as if he could step in and throw 6 to 9 innings of shut out ball when he pitched during the World Series – Thus far, we like what we’ve seen behind curtain number one of “The Price is Right.”
17) Josh Johnson, Marlins – Came back last season from Tommy John – and looked impressive, even appeared to GAIN some velocity in his return.
18) Javier Vasquez, Braves – The move to the National League’s Atlanta Braves should even help to further Javier’s renaissance.
19) Adam Wainwright, Cardinals – Potential ace of the Cardinals staff remains some what under rated - and will slip further down in drafts then he should.
20) Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies – If he can learn to control his base on balls the ceiling is off the charts for the hard throwing Rockies hurler.
