Biggest Fantasy Suprise in 2009 (1 Viewer)

[MaddHatter]

I know some on this list were sleepers, so some of the die-hards thought that they would have a good season, but who is your choice regardless of format (Roto, H2H).

 

[Eephus]

Good topic.

I voted for Zobrist because he started the year as a 27 year old minor leaguer with no previous MLB success and no real position on the defending AL champs. He has a chance for 20/20 with 170 combined R & RBI. Factor in multi-position eligibility and he was a valuable fantasy piece this year.

There are other guys on the list with more fantasy production but they all had stronger resumes at the start of the season.

 

[Greco]

I went with Hill, but was thinking Other and mentioning Bartlett.

 

[Eephus]

I went with Hill, but was thinking Other and mentioning Bartlett.

Hill was my first inclination but he's had solid years with the bat before. The HR jump is unexpected but the guy did hit 47 doubles in his last healthy season and his OPS is only 20 pts higher than 2007.

 

[Knightro]

I went with Feldman. You could make a case for just about everyone else using some kind of stat from 1-2 seasons back. Absolutely nothing in Feldman's career said "breakout" in 2009. In fact, just about everything said RUN AWAY! Low strikeout rate, high home run rate and a high walk rate in Texas left him undrafted in Tout Wars this year. I picked him up a month into the season unopposed.

 

[Comer]

Tommy Hanson has had a nice season

 

[Spartans Rule]

Tommy Hanson has had a nice season

Given that people were drafting him knowing he wouldn't be up for two months, I'd hardly call it a surprise that he was good.

 

[dparker713]

I went with Feldman. You could make a case for just about everyone else using some kind of stat from 1-2 seasons back. Absolutely nothing in Feldman's career said "breakout" in 2009. In fact, just about everything said RUN AWAY! Low strikeout rate, high home run rate and a high walk rate in Texas left him undrafted in Tout Wars this year. I picked him up a month into the season unopposed.

Similar reasoning, but I went with Happ.

 

[Eephus]

I went with Feldman. You could make a case for just about everyone else using some kind of stat from 1-2 seasons back. Absolutely nothing in Feldman's career said "breakout" in 2009. In fact, just about everything said RUN AWAY! Low strikeout rate, high home run rate and a high walk rate in Texas left him undrafted in Tout Wars this year. I picked him up a month into the season unopposed.

Similar reasoning, but I went with Happ.

If you base it solely on his recent history, Zito has a similar M.O.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I went with Choo.

Grady was the first OF I took; Choo one of the last.

The power/stolen base combo was very good.

Adam Lind deserves a mention. Randy Wells, SP for Chicago, does too.

 

[Mr. Littlejeans]

Zobrist. It's not even close.

 

[editor47]

being in an nl-only league in an nl city, i'm going to say kendry morales. i couldn't have told you who he was in march. hell, i'm still not sure what position he plays. i know he's putting up great numbers through.

second is reynolds. i knew he would be good for me, but i never expected 42 HRs and 20-plus SBs. plus his BA is solid if not spectacular.

 

[guru_007]

let's see

Andrew Bailey has been nice

Mark Reynolds has way surpassed expectations

Ben Zobrist has been solid

and I have a soft spot in my heart for Leo Nunez

 

[MAC_32]

Good topic.I voted for Zobrist because he started the year as a 27 year old minor leaguer with no previous MLB success and no real position on the defending AL champs. He has a chance for 20/20 with 170 combined R & RBI. Factor in multi-position eligibility and he was a valuable fantasy piece this year. There are other guys on the list with more fantasy production but they all had stronger resumes at the start of the season.

I expected good things from a lot of these guys and drafted accordingly, Zobrist. I thought he was a utility guy, at best.

 

[editor47]

troy tulowitzki having 29 HRs is a pleasant surprise.

 

[Knightro]

As a Rays fan, I'm loving the Zobrist love in here but honestly, the signs of the breakout were there in the 2nd half of last year for those that were watching. He hit. .264/.364/.521 in the 2nd half last year including .321/.426/.732 in the season's final month in 2008

July - .200/.245/.420

August - .221/.316/.338

Sept - .321/.426/.732

Apr09 - .289/.360/.644

May09 - .313/.439/.625

June09 - .271/.406/.612

Notice the declining slugging % - boy has been tiring out.

August09 - .440

Sept09 - .413

His slugging % went down every single month this year as teams finally figured out they better stop throwing him first pitch fastballs (7 homers on the 1st pitch this year) or early in the count (16 homers on 1st or 2nd pitch of an at bat).

 

[MAC_32]

As a Rays fan, I'm loving the Zobrist love in here but honestly, the signs of the breakout were there in the 2nd half of last year for those that were watching. He hit. .264/.364/.521 in the 2nd half last year including .321/.426/.732 in the season's final month in 2008July - .200/.245/.420August - .221/.316/.338Sept - .321/.426/.732Apr09 - .289/.360/.644May09 - .313/.439/.625June09 - .271/.406/.612Notice the declining slugging % - boy has been tiring out.August09 - .440Sept09 - .413His slugging % went down every single month this year as teams finally figured out they better stop throwing him first pitch fastballs (7 homers on the 1st pitch this year) or early in the count (16 homers on 1st or 2nd pitch of an at bat).

He didn't have a place to play opening day, the others did.

 

[Jefferson the Caregiver]

Adam Lind had a really nice year and he was available in the latter half of drafts