.jpg&w=244&h=193&zc=1 "Star's Shares: 5/14/13")
2013 Rankings and Projections: Shortstop
I'll be over here while you're chasing the young guy
Photo: Keith Allison
The fantasy baseball community has become a dark, futuristic society. The common theme now is to shun and bury old players while boasting the unlimited futures of young players. Does it matter when the prospect has no track record of doing anything worthwhile? No. He is young. He is better. Jimmy Rollins was the best shortstop in 2012 (48th best player overall), but is drafted as the seventh best now. Two-month Troy Tulowitzki must be handled with care, Jose Reyes has his value tied up in his scar-riddled hamstrings, Hanley Ramirez disappoints with regularity (he has shoulder issues again), and no one else has the potential to take the title. So what gives? Rollins has an ADP of 102! Only Bill Gates would be proud of the diminished popularity of Jimmy. In direct response to this, I think I should become a self-appointed master/dictator and proclaim a one-prospect policy for all rosters.... while I think about that, you think about this: my 2013 shortstop rankings and projections are after the jump:
Stats: AVG, HR, Runs, RBI, SB
Troy Tulowitzki .308 — 32 — 95 — 105 — 8 (650)
Jose Reyes .292 — 14 — 100 — 60 — 40 (730)
Hanley Ramirez .294 — 21 — 85 — 85 — 20 (635)
Jimmy Rollins .262 — 18 — 100 — 65 — 30 (700)
Ben Zobrist .276 — 22 — 90 — 90 — 15 (670)
Starlin Castro .291 — 12 — 80 — 80 — 25 (645)
Ian Desmond .275 — 20 — 70 — 75 — 20 (615)
Asdrubal Cabrera .280 — 17 — 85 — 85 — 12 (660)
Elvis Andrus .280 — 4 — 90 — 60 — 30 (705)
Derek Jeter .305 — 10 — 100 — 60 — 11 (705)
Josh Rutledge .275 — 15 — 85 — 60 — 15 (620)
Martin Prado .299 — 13 — 80 — 70 — 8 (625)
J.J. Hardy .261 — 24 — 85 — 65 — 0 (660)
Alcides Escobar .278 — 6 — 80 — 50 — 30 (670)
Erick Aybar .285 — 10 — 80 — 50 — 20 (625)
Alexei Ramirez .274 — 14 — 65 — 65 — 14 (585)
Andrelton Simmons .277 — 9 — 85 — 55 — 10 (700)
Yunel Escobar .285 — 10 — 75 — 60 — 5 (600)
Jean Segura .278 — 6 — 60 — 50 — 25 (585)
Everth Cabrera .258 — 4 — 85 — 35 — 45 (660)
Marco Scutaro .281 — 8 — 85 — 65 — 7 (670)
Jhonny Peralta .269 — 13 — 65 — 75 — 1 (585)
Zack Cozart .253 — 16 — 55 — 55 — 6 (585)
Stephen Drew .270 — 14 — 70 — 65 — 4 (585)
Jed Lowrie .256 — 16 — 75 — 55 — 3 (600)
Cliff Pennington .251 — 9 — 55 — 40 — 15 (565)
Ruben Tejada .264 — 1 — 85 — 35 — 6 (685)
Everth Cabrera was bumped down because of the on-going PED investigation.
More Rankings/Projections [C, 1B, 2B, 3B, OF, SP, RP]
He did steal 26 in the minors...... BUT he was caught 18 times! That is not good, especially at AA. Bill James couldn't project his way out of a wet paper bag. It's a good thing he lends his name to a book, otherwise no one would pay attention to his extrapolations. It is possible he steals 20, but Im not projecting/paying for that. If Donny and Trey were in the same league, someone would be overpaying for him.
I know he didn't run much out of the 8 spot last year but I think 10 steals for Simmons hitting leadoff in Atlanta seems low. He's stolen 26 before in the minors and I think he could flirt with 20 if he sticks atop the lineup all year (Bill James projects 18). Freddi likes to run, and given the kid's athleticism he should be able to steal bases more effectively and I'd expect him to improve his SB % with some added experience. Add in a solid BA, a few HR's and a boatload of runs hitting in front of a formidable Atlanta lineup and he could be Derek Jeter-lite with more steals...but at a vastly reduced cost.
