Apr
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 the regular season approaches.
Jayson Werth, OF, Philadelphia Phillies
Overview: Emerging do-it-all outfielder with excellent power and surprising speed … a late-bloomer, he busted out for good with increased power numbers across the board in 2009, including 36 homers … narrowly missed driving in and scoring 100 and runs for the first time in his career … played in 150 games for the first time in his career.
2009 numbers: .268 avg, 36 HRs, 99 RBIs, 98 runs, 20 SBs in 159 games.
Key splits and trends: Hit over .300 against left-handed pitchers and just .256 against righties … surprisingly hit for a higher average on the road, though power numbers were better at home … hit .230 or worse against three of four divisional rivals.
Strengths: Is strong, lanky and athletic, a prototypical combination for five-category contributions in fantasy … had career highs in HRs, RBIs, runs scored, hits, doubles, SLG and OPS in 2009 … stole 20 bases and was caught just three times, so he knows how and when to steal a bag … walked 91 times last year, significantly more than any other year.
Weaknesses: Finished in a tie for third in the NL with 156 strikeouts last season, so making contact can be a problem … average fell from .298 in 2007 to .273 and then .268 in 2009 … is an all-or-nothing type hitter who whiffs a lot and has shown little in the way of gap power.
Bold prediction for 2010: Werth will cause some angst among Philadelphia fans as he average drops again, this time close to .260 to go along with fewer than 30 HRs.
