We will be rolling out plenty of 2010 fantasy baseball coverage in the coming days, weeks and months, but let’s start right here with player-by-player profiles of our rough top 100 preseason rankings. Stay tuned to the site for more player profiles, draft kit information, rankings, sleepers, busts, etc. as Spring Training approaches.

Shane Victorino, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Overview: The Flyin’ Hawaiian secured his first All Star selection in 2009, along with his second consecutive gold glove … scored more than 100 runs for the second straight year … offers solid batting average and stolen bases as well as competitive power numbers … ‘09 season was light on speed; it was his first campaign as a full-timer that featured fewer than 30 SBs.
2009 numbers: .292 avg., 10 HRs, 62 RBIs, 102 runs, 25 SBs in 156 games.
Key splits and trends: A switch-hitter who bats lefties better, as .314/.283 split shows … fared better in the summer months, hitting .381 in July then tailing off with a .237 average in September … downward trend in stolen bases is something to watch … attempted just 33 steals last season, compared to 47 in ‘08.
Strengths: Batting in Phillies lineup brings ample opportunity for runs to be scored and batted in … high average and stealing prowess are keys to his success in fantasy.
Weaknesses: Power numbers are nowhere near gaudy, but they are acceptable … needs to be more active on the basepaths to be worthy of an early selection in fantasy.
Bold prediction for 2010: Victorino falls out of the Phillies’ No. 2 spot, taking a hit in runs and RBIs, but rebounds with 30+ SBs.

Following a perfect 2008 season, Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge went on to put up disastrous numbers in 2009. Fantasy owners suspected a drop-off, but — injuries or not — Lidge’s plummet to a 7.21 ERA and Major League-leading eight blown saves was too much.

Lidge attributed the stats to never feeling quite right physically all season. A knee problem caused him to place excess pressure on his elbow. In addition to problems in the elbow, the bulky knee also caused Lidge to lose command of his fastball. Read more »

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ is in the middle of an argument between baseball purists and stat heads, says David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News. To make a long story short, there’s a disagreement sparked by ESPN.com baseball writer Keith Law on whether Happ’s success last season was based on fluke or a special combination of Happ’s intangibles.

We have a foot in both camps when it comes to qualifying vs. quantifying the game of baseball. Problem is, both views on Happ suggest that he’s due for a reality check. Read more »

We will be rolling out plenty of 2010 fantasy baseball coverage in the coming days, weeks and months, but let’s start right here with player-by-player profiles of our rough top 100 preseason rankings. Stay tuned to the site for more player profiles, draft kit information, rankings, sleepers, busts, etc. as Spring Training approaches.

Raul Ibanez, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Overview: Consistent producer who emerged as a power threat in his first season with the Phillies … despite his fewest at-bats since 2004, managed a career-best 34 home runs … health is an issue to consider because of Ibanez’s age, but even at 37 years old, is as trustworthy as fantasy outfielders come.
2009 numbers: .272 avg., 34 HRs, 93 RBIs, 93 runs, 4 SBs in 134 games
Key splits and trends: Most of his damage was done in the first half of the season, when he hit .309 (80-for-259) with 22 HRs and 60 RBIs … a groin injury derailed his hot start, and he had a difficult time recovering … a 17-for-102 stretch throughout the summer drove his batting injury down from .307 to .272.
Strengths: Power is a plus, but intangibles are even more important; has nearly unparalleled lineup support and run production opportunities … is a proven commodity with more than a decade of fantasy success under his belt.
Weaknesses: Should be considered an injury risk, as age makes sudden erosion a possibility … isn’t particularly dynamic at the plate, either; hit just .233 with runners in scoring position.
Bold prediction for 2010: Ibanez fails to log 500 at-bats and falls short of the 30-home run mark.

The last of the viable closers went off the market this week when Jose Valverde signed a two-year, $14-million deal with the Detroit Tigers. Valverde, who had 25 saves with the Houston Astros last season, solidifies the Tigers’ bullpen after they lost relievers Brandon Lyon and Fernando Rodney to free agency. Valverde also finds a home and essentially trades places Lyon, who signed with the Astros this winter.

Valverde’s signing puts the finishing touches of clarity on the closer landscape in fantasy baseball. Only a couple of situations remain either unresolved or completely undesirable. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who still call Joel Hanrahan their stopper, and the Philadelphia Phillies, whose closer Brad Lidge just underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, are the biggest question marks left. Read more »

Big names are involved in today’s reported three-team deal that would send Toronto Blue Jays’ ace Roy Halladay to the Philadelphia Phillies. We would hate to get too far ahead of ourselves and break down all of the different scenarios and their corresponding fantasy spins. So, let’s just take a look at the mainstays Halladay and LHP Cliff Lee, who is reportedly being shipped to the Seattle Mariners.

Halladay is a fantasy ace, no matter the uniform he’s wearing or the stadium he calls home. Citizens Bank Park isn’t exactly a pitcher’s best friend, but Halladay is a veteran who keeps the ball down and limits the damage on his mistakes. And don’t forget about the lesser National League lineups, ones that are watered down with unathletic pitchers taking their ugly hacks. Halladay’s numbers should certainly even out, perhaps even improve, as he moves on to a contender with a high-powered offense behind him. Read more »

Joe Blanton, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Status: Having a strong 2nd half
Basics: 8-6, 3.88 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 124 Ks in 153.0 IP
Key Stats: 6-3 with a 2.57 ERA in last 16 starts
What to Watch For: More decisions - has 7 NDs in last 14 starts
Other Notes: Has gotten progressively better throughout the season … numbers are still suffering because of rocky start … has lowered ERA more than three full runs (from 7.11 to 3.88) since May 21 … is equally effective at home (5-3, 3.98 ERA) and away (3-3, 3.76) … offers a good mix of win probability, decent K rate and hot streak
Verdict: Add, expect quality starts, hope for wins

Philadelphia Phillies ace Cliff Lee continued his tear through the National League on Monday, allowing just two unearned runs in seven more strong innings as the Phils finished off a series victory over the New York Mets. Lee allowed six hits, walked none and struck out five. In five starts with the defending World Series champs, Lee is 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 40 innings.

Fantasy spin: With this latest push, Lee is in the same neighborhood as his 2008 Cy Young award-winning numbers. He’s also coming up big for fantasy owners who either dealt with early mediocrity in mixed leagues or paid to acquire him in NL-only leagues. The move to a high-scoring contender came in perfect time for his late season resurgence.

J.A. Happ, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Status: Establishing himself as Phils’ most reliable starter
Basics: 8-2, 2.75 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 89 Ks in 121.0 IP
Key Stats: Has made Quality Starts in 9 of last 10
What to Watch For: Endurance as innings count rises
Other Notes: Has been a key stabilizer in shaky Phillies’ rotation … has had some shaky outings at Citizen’s Bank Park, recording a 3.77 home ERA compared to 1.84 ERA on the road … in 528 minor league innings, he allowed just 440 hits and struck out 545 batters … also had a solid stint in the majors as a reliever in 2008 with a 3.70 ERA in 31.2 IP
Verdict: Add in all formats; no reason he shouldn’t be owned in 100 percent of leagues

The Philadelphia Phillies placed closer Brad Lidge on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee Tuesday, according to the team’s official site. Overwhelming reaction to this news, especially from Phillies faithful, has been cheers and celebration, rather than disappointment and frustration.

Lidge has been, quite simply, awful this season. And while there were signs he was righting the ship, there have been more stumbles along the way and a league-leading six blown saves. He’s the polar opposite of the lights-out closer who went a perfect 41-for-41 in save chances as the Phillies won the World Series last season. Read more »