Fantasy All-Star team

Coach · September 21, 2004

The regular season is winding down which means that the fantasy playoffs are as well. The Yahoo leagues are in the championship round. It's a good time to look back and select the best possible fantasy team from this year. In fantasy, defense means nothing and a run scored in a blowout means as much as one scored in a tight game.

C - Pudge Rodriguez. A lofty .336 is great to have at the weak catcher position.

1B - Albert Pujols. Other firstbasemen hit over .300, others had 40 homers, but none had 120+ runs. No contest.

2B - Mike Young. The Rangers had the top 2 eligible 2B this year, but Young gets the nod due to consistency.

SS - Alex Rodriguez. Still eligible at SS & still the best. His numbers may not be as great at 1st glance-but 26 steals is gravy.

3B - Adrian Beltre. What a year, .339, 45 homers. Talent finally came through in time to cash in.

OF - Barry Bonds. 40+ homers, .370 average, 120 runs, amazing.

OF - Carlos Beltran. 2 homers and 3 steals from exclusive 40-40 club.

OF - Vladimir Guerrero. 114 RBI, .320+ average, 30+ homers, 15 steals, another ho-hum year from Vlad.

Utility - Melvin Mora. Eligible at OF and 3B, he had a great year. 100+ runs, 100+ RBI, 26 homers, a handful of steals, and a gaudy .343 average.

SP - Johan Santana. Will have 20 wins, 260 Ks, 2.60 ERA, and under 1 WHIP. What else could you want?

SP - Curt Schilling. Others may have had better numbers...except in wins. And nobody was more consistent.

RP - Armando Benitez. 44 saves, 1.10 ERA, .78 WHIP, proved he still has it and is top tier.

RP - Joe Nathan. 43 saves, 1.61 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, whoever took a chance on him reaped many benefits.

P - Brad Lidge. Started the year as a setup man, providing plenty of Ks and a low ERA. Then became closer and provided 25 saves. In all, 2.08 ERA, and .98 WHIP, and an amazing 140 Ks, which is incredible for a reliever. If your league kept a K/9Inning stat, he was MVP caliber.

Who did I leave off? Randy Johnson? Scott Rolen? Eric Gagne? Who would you replace given this season's performance?

Edited September 21, 2004 by Coach

Coach · September 22, 2004

Looking at the list, it reinforces the strategy I have been using the last couple of years...draft the stud hitters first and be patient in drafting pitching. I have been pretty succesful using that, and this list is an example why. All the hitters (with the possible exception of Young and Beltre though both were accepted as great talents) were expected to put up big numbers. It's hard to get a guy like that after the third round. However, look at the pitchers. Only Schilling is an annual high draft pick. Nathan and Benitez could be had in the later rounds with Santana, and Lidge went largely undrafted.

Edited September 22, 2004 by Coach