As a late follow-up to our previous list of top National League hitters, here’s another arbitrary list of hitters, this time from the American League. Some nice surprises dot the rankings, including Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Jose Bautista and Chicago White Sox outfielder Alex Rios, both of whom are having surprising career seasons.

Check out who else made the cut. Read more »

The new generation of third basemen is making its mark on baseball, with possibly more young superstars than any other position in the game. Evan Longoria and David Wright are perennial All-Stars, and youngsters Gordon Beckham (who will play second base this season for the White Sox), Mark Reynolds and Ryan Zimmerman are well on their way.

The top 10 at the position is pretty sound, but anything after that and you’re wishing on a star with nearly no breakout prospects. Read more »

Little was made of Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds this winter. He came off a season in which he hit just .239 and struck out 204 times and entered a situation where playing time was no guarantee in the Arizona infield. Too many variables and not enough certainty justified fantasy owners who passed him over, on average, 200-plus times in preseason drafts.

But, what Reynolds has done is helped turn the third base position in fantasy on its ear. He has led a new wave of young talent at the hot corner while familiar names Alex Rodriguez and David Wright, for their own reasons, have drifted back to the pack. The power structure and dynamic at the position have changed as names like Reynolds, Evan Longoria, Pablo Sandoval and Ryan Zimmerman have made it one of the most talent-rich in the game. Read more »

Let’s be honest, a list of MVP candidates in fantasy baseball makes as little sense as a list of MVP candidates in real baseball. The Major League Baseball season is all of two weeks old, which leaves, for most teams, about 150 games left to play. There’s a huge chunk of season remaining, but it’s always fun finding excuses to talk about who’s playing the best baseball right now.

Fantasy heart throb Ian Kinsler certainly qualifies, especially after finding the national spotlight with his historic 6-for-6 day last week. Zack Greinke has done the same with a 34-inning scoreless streak, and Heath Bell has been among the most surprising players in the league with a hefty seven saves. All three rank among our top 10 candidates for MVP honors. Read more »

Evan Longoria hit two homers in a 5-4 loss at Baltimore Friday night, his third and fourth in the last three days. With the multi-homer game, Longoria moved into the major league lead with four long balls and knocked in his sixth, seventh and eighth runs of the season.

We like Longoria this season. A lot, in fact. So, his quick start doesn’t come as a huge surprise. He’s a mega-talented player with a solid head on his shoulders and a prime place in a quality Tampa Bay Rays’ lineup. Read more »

So, we just missed the start of the season, but our first player rankings of the year still carry the same value, which is, uh, not much. That’s no knock on our opinions, just our own stance on rankings, in general. They’re fun to scan, but the at the end of the day, how exactly can they be applied to real life?

Well, we can answer that question. Scan these rankings, see who’s where, but pay closer attention to the one-line notes next to each player. They are much more telling than the rankings themselves because they do offer some kind of insight into a player’s past, present and/or future. They also serve as explanation to why players are listed where they are. Read more »

It’s a hard guarantee to make, but not when considering Tampa Bay third baseman Evan Longoria’s ability and maturity level. We’ll say it, though: Longoria will be a Top 10 fantasy player this season.

The overwhelming thought is that Longoria is, and will be, a .270 type hitter in 2009 and beyond. But don’t be so sure. Some early contact struggles as a rookie were too much to overcome with his season batting average, which still checked in at a respectable .272. Those same early struggles shouldn’t be a factor in his second season. Read more »

Our condolences to those early drafters who used a first overall pick or paid $30+ on New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez in auction drafts.

First, he picked up some serious emotional baggage in February. Now, his immediate future is in doubt with reports of a cyst and torn labrum in his right hip. While his 2009 season can’t be qualified as “lost” just yet, his outlook is far from bright. Read more »

After the Baltimore Orioles traded Ramon Hernandez to the Cincinnati Reds, prospect Matt Wieters got a more clear path to the Major Leagues, which is excellent news in fantasy. And, in an offseason filled with some big name signings, both present and future, it may be the most fantasy-relevant storyline out there.

But, relevance has nothing to do with clarity, and we may not have a good answer as to when Wieters will be wearing a major league uniform. We’ve learned from stud rookies in years past, though, that they can succeed in seasons shortened by minor league service time. If Wieters does start the year at Triple-A Norfolk, he can still be a big factor during the fantasy season. Read more »

“The sophomore slump”.

No one will ever actually admit to being a second-year player going through a mysterious curse that makes the best hitters and pitchers suffer tremendously following an impressive rookie year outing. Some say it’s just a lack of concentration, or raising the expectations too high for themselves, or just plain old nerves. Newsflash: Those three excuses are just better ways of saying, “I’m in the sophomore slump and I don’t think there’s any way out of it.” Read more »