WaiverSharks 2009 Preseason
Fantasy Baseball Rankings:
Starting Pitchers #41-#60
We want to once again remind everyone – we’ve excluded the consensus TOP 25 MLB ranked Starters. Maintaining the fact that if you are not aware that the likes of a Cole Hamels , John Lackey, or even a fire balling hurler like the LA Dodgers Chad Billingsley are worthy of your Fantasy services – you need to take up macramé, or another dated hobby – like whining that you can’t listen to Howard Stern for free anymore – or trying to grab Lindsey Lohan. So 2008 guys!
It’s time to ring in the New Year with some fresh alternative ideas and suggestions!
WaiverSharks.com - as we hope you know by now – truly aims to dig deep - by examining the Deeper Sleepers and Better Keepers for your MLB 2009 Fantasy Baseball season, and beyond.
Let’s roll out our NEXT 20 Starting Pitchers ranks:
41) John Maine, Mets – Check back on health status during spring training.
42) Neftali Feliz, Rangers – Acquired along with Jarrod Saltalamacchia when the Rangers gave up Mark Teixeira – Feliz can scorch the radar gun – and projects to be the possible next Edinson Volquez.
43) Anthony Reyes, Indians – Reyes needed out of St. Louis badly – and pitched pretty nicely in the small amount of AL outings we saw him in at the end of 2008.
44) Ted Lilly, Cubs – Lilly is a solid third or fourth fantasy pitcher – who benefits from pitching on a solid hitting cubs team that can net him a fair amount of victory chances.
45) Mike Pelfrey, Mets – We’re not sure whether Mike Pelfrey has another level, but if he were not on the Mets we’d slide him down 10 to 20 spots.
46) Manny Parra, Brewers – Showed us glimpses last year – and may even further improve now that he has had a taste of the big leagues.
47) Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers – Control pitcher who pitches in a big ballpark. Just tends to be very erratic when it comes to each games strike out totals.
48) Oliver Perez, Mets – Perez is still inconsistent – but he has pitched much better then a few years back when he appeared to be uncontrollably unraveled.
49) Phil Hughes, Yankees – A short time ago Hughes was considered a TOP pitching prospect – perhaps a post hype break out would occur – but will he get the chance now that the Yankees have went out and spent a billion dollars on Burnett and Sabathia?
50) Dana Eveland, Athletics – We like this guy – He competes – and his stuff is well above average. The A’s staff could be VERY young this season.
51) Madison Bumgarner, Giants – Speaking of young, Madison Bumgarner is still a Baby – but he is a TOP pitching prospect that San Francisco could be forced to bring up if too many injuries strike next season.
52) Tom Gorzelanny, Pirates – One of our favorite Bobbleheads last season. Note the index finger poking out from his glove hand appears to be delivering a rather ominous salute to Pittsburgh’s PNC Park faithful.
You can find your own Tom Gorzelanny Bobblehead here.
53) Gil Meche, Royals – Because Meche’ employer is the Kansas City Royals he is an underrated Fantasy commodity who should garner more attention then he does.
54) Brett Anderson, Athletics – Both Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill have shots at being VERY good major league baseball pitchers. The only question that remains is – when?
55) James McDonald, Dodgers – We made mention of James McDonald back on September 13th of 2008 when we wrote a short piece featuring some up and coming Deep Sleeper pitchers heading into the 2009 season. Young McDonald - like many pitchers mentioned here could see some service if the Dodgers endure an injury bug or two from within their starting rotation.
56) Clay Buchholz, Red Sox – Was it the fact Clay Buchholz has been linked to dating Penthouse Pet Erica Ellyson or the hype for a 24 year old to live up to far too lofty expectations after pitching a no hitter in only his second game pitched in a Boston Red Sox uniform? Either way – Clay is better then what he showed in 2008.
(Wouldn’t this distract you?)
57) Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles – Guthrie has a solid repertoire – but Camden Yards is tough place for pitchers – and the Orioles offence has sputtered in recent memory – so we’ll have to temper our expectations somewhat for 2009.
58) Trevor Cahill, Athletics – One of the best young prospect arms in the game right now – which Oakland A’s young gun has the best chance to make a fantasy splash in 2009? Some would argue it is Trevor Cahill.
59) Rick Porcello, Tigers – It might take an injury for us to witness the Tigers highest ranked pitching prospect – but it is possible he will see some action in 2009.
60) Brad Penny, Red Sox? – Penny’s year in 2008 was a write-off. He is now viewed as a Sleeper for the 2009 season since he enjoyed moderate success while pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in previous seasons. Penny appears close to finalizing a one year contract with the Boston RedSox at the time we posted this update.
