Mr. Pickles
Footballguy
Below are ESPN's top 50 from last year along with auction dollar values for mixed/AL/NL. Let's examine why they were good picks or failed to live up to expectations:
1 Albert Pujols, STL 1B $35 - $39 - no issues here; that elbow never really mattered; some day he'll be human
2 Hanley Ramirez, FLA SS $33 - $36 - only played 142 games; slight power shortage; seems like he's not a nice person
3 Alex Rodriguez, NYY 3B $31 $35 - - under 138 games for the third straight season; AVG and OBP slumped; stopped running (hip)
4 Ryan Braun, MIL OF $30 - $33 - slight dip in power; some HR became 2B; no clear reason for small regression
5 Chase Utley, PHI 2B $30 - $32 - thumb ligament cost him about 1/4 of the season; rate stats showed a slight dip but not bad
6 Matt Kemp, LAD OF $29 - $30 - strikeouts ballooned while AVG crashed; still young and couldn't match expectations
7 Prince Fielder, MIL 1B $29 - $29 - AVG and power declined noticeably; OBP was fine, though
8 Carl Crawford, TB OF $28 $33 - - had another awesome season; being in BOS can only help; will he run as much?
9 Miguel Cabrera, DET 1B $28 $32 - - elite and completely reliable; has been a horse for years; might overtake Pujols one day
10 Tim Lincecum, SF SP $27 - $29 - gave up more HR, BB, and hits; other numbers were dominant; still very safe; herbal intake issues?
11 Mark Teixeira, NYY 1B $27 $30 - - hideous April (which is typical); AVG never recovered from the hole
12 David Wright, NYM 3B $27 - $28 - notable drop in OBP which is likely due to him trying to recover some power; seems to change his approach a lot
13 Roy Halladay, PHI SP $27 - $27 - pretty studly; the lack of front line K/9 is made up for by wins
14 Evan Longoria, TB 3B $26 $29 - - not reaching his HR potential; finally got caught stealing in 2010
15 Ryan Howard, PHI 1B $26 - $26 - only 143 games; a bit rotund; ebb in power, but still not old enough to panic
16 Joe Mauer, MIN C $25 $29 - - Target field hurt; the power is there, but he won't press to realize it; AVG/OBP god; needs more games played
17 Justin Upton, ARI OF $25 - $26 - too many expectations at 23; still improving; pressed a lot in 2010; only 133 games
18 Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS OF $24 $29 - - never healed; there was no way he was going to deliver on the crazy expectations anyway
19 Felix Hernandez, SEA SP $24 $28 - - Cy Young speaks for itself; a horse.. that's good and bad
20 Troy Tulowitzki, COL SS $24 - $25 - you want to take him early, but the injuries tell you not to; value was fine here, but could have been even better
21 Matt Holliday, STL OF $24 - $25 - amazing how a move to STL erased the memories of OAK; park and lineup effects are real, folks
22 Ian Kinsler, TEX 2B $23 $27 - - heard someone call him the new Chipper Jones, and I agree; total enigma with no consistency
23 Ichiro Suzuki, SEA OF $23 $27 - - plugs along at an advanced age; the guy is in supreme shape and we know speed can stick around a while
24 CC Sabathia, NYY SP $23 $26 - - piles up the wins in a perfect situation; still youngish but tons of miles on the arm; needs more salads
25 Derek Jeter, NYY SS $23 $26 - - had his worst season since he was a rookie; getting old at a position that demands youth; habitually overrated
26 Zack Greinke, KC SP $22 $25 - - known headcase, but had no help in KC; gave up a ton of runs (can't all be his fault); move will be huge upgrade
27 Grady Sizemore, CLE OF $22 $25 - - was never healthy; probably still isn't healthy; just forget he exists
28 Jimmy Rollins, PHI SS $21 - $25 - played a little more than half the year; the AVG sucked but other numbers weren't awful, actually
29 Adrian Gonzalez, SD 1B $20 - $25 - no idea how he did what he did in Petco; the shoulder sapped some power late; assume health?
30 Dan Haren, ARI SP $20 - $24 - gave up a ton of HRs as well as more hits and BB; settled down with the Angels
31 Robinson Cano, NYY 2B $20 $24 - - optimized just about everything he's good at; probably a career year
32 Dustin Pedroia, BOS 2B $19 $24 - - bum foot and bad luck; I can't believe how puny he is
33 Pablo Sandoval, SF 3B, 1B $19 - $24 - just looked lost; his style of hitting is prone to slumps; needs a lot more patience; still young
34 Ryan Zimmerman, WAS 3B $19 - $23 - basically improved despite only 142 games
35 Brian Roberts, BAL 2B $19 $24 - - was never healthy; not sure why he got this ranking as it was obvious his back was a mess; was fine in return
36 Joey Votto, CIN 1B $19 - $23 - huge improvements across the board; this is why I like guys who can walk; still only played 150 games
37 Jayson Werth, PHI OF $18 - $23 - - enormous mid-season slump; probably nothing to worry about but the park move won't help
38 Kevin Youkilis, BOS 3B, 1B $18 $24 - - I still say he's an injury risk; you need a guy like this to play all the time; love the patience
39 Brandon Phillips, CIN 2B $18 - $23 - basically 2009 with more runs and less speed; seems to be a known quantity
40 Adam Lind, TOR OF $18 $24 - - played about the same number of games in 2010 but everything got worse.. everything; puzzling at his age
41 Jon Lester, BOS SP $18 $24 - - top line starter; all systems go
42 Jason Bay, NYM OF $18 - $22 - - only 95 games and hated Citi Field; seems older than he is
43 Mark Reynolds, ARI 3B, 1B $18 - $22 - god awful AVG; free swinging has its issues; three years of 200+ K; doesn't run as much
44 Adam Wainwright, STL SP $17 - $21 - was amazing in every way; still hard to predict which SP will be the man each year
45 Brian McCann, ATL C $17 - $21 - the AVG dropped, but everything else was a-ok; still young and plays more than most catchers
46 B.J. Upton, TB OF $17 $24 - - Really really fast; everything else is suspect; I highly doubt we ever see that 20/40 season; AVG is horrible
47 Justin Verlander, DET SP $17 $24 - - throws hard and racks up stats; not an elite guy, but hard to see a slump
48 Victor Martinez, BOS C, 1B $17 $24 - does everything well and consistently, but how many games will you get out of him? wasn't worth this pick
49 Justin Morneau, MIN 1B $17 $23 - - concussion and lousy luck; was completely dominant prior to it; total wild card for 2011
50 Carlos Lee, HOU OF $17 - $21 - the team collectively slumped early which hurt; Lee's skills are eroding, though; 300 lbs?
1 Albert Pujols, STL 1B $35 - $39 - no issues here; that elbow never really mattered; some day he'll be human
2 Hanley Ramirez, FLA SS $33 - $36 - only played 142 games; slight power shortage; seems like he's not a nice person
3 Alex Rodriguez, NYY 3B $31 $35 - - under 138 games for the third straight season; AVG and OBP slumped; stopped running (hip)
4 Ryan Braun, MIL OF $30 - $33 - slight dip in power; some HR became 2B; no clear reason for small regression
5 Chase Utley, PHI 2B $30 - $32 - thumb ligament cost him about 1/4 of the season; rate stats showed a slight dip but not bad
6 Matt Kemp, LAD OF $29 - $30 - strikeouts ballooned while AVG crashed; still young and couldn't match expectations
7 Prince Fielder, MIL 1B $29 - $29 - AVG and power declined noticeably; OBP was fine, though
8 Carl Crawford, TB OF $28 $33 - - had another awesome season; being in BOS can only help; will he run as much?
9 Miguel Cabrera, DET 1B $28 $32 - - elite and completely reliable; has been a horse for years; might overtake Pujols one day
10 Tim Lincecum, SF SP $27 - $29 - gave up more HR, BB, and hits; other numbers were dominant; still very safe; herbal intake issues?
11 Mark Teixeira, NYY 1B $27 $30 - - hideous April (which is typical); AVG never recovered from the hole
12 David Wright, NYM 3B $27 - $28 - notable drop in OBP which is likely due to him trying to recover some power; seems to change his approach a lot
13 Roy Halladay, PHI SP $27 - $27 - pretty studly; the lack of front line K/9 is made up for by wins
14 Evan Longoria, TB 3B $26 $29 - - not reaching his HR potential; finally got caught stealing in 2010
15 Ryan Howard, PHI 1B $26 - $26 - only 143 games; a bit rotund; ebb in power, but still not old enough to panic
16 Joe Mauer, MIN C $25 $29 - - Target field hurt; the power is there, but he won't press to realize it; AVG/OBP god; needs more games played
17 Justin Upton, ARI OF $25 - $26 - too many expectations at 23; still improving; pressed a lot in 2010; only 133 games
18 Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS OF $24 $29 - - never healed; there was no way he was going to deliver on the crazy expectations anyway
19 Felix Hernandez, SEA SP $24 $28 - - Cy Young speaks for itself; a horse.. that's good and bad
20 Troy Tulowitzki, COL SS $24 - $25 - you want to take him early, but the injuries tell you not to; value was fine here, but could have been even better
21 Matt Holliday, STL OF $24 - $25 - amazing how a move to STL erased the memories of OAK; park and lineup effects are real, folks
22 Ian Kinsler, TEX 2B $23 $27 - - heard someone call him the new Chipper Jones, and I agree; total enigma with no consistency
23 Ichiro Suzuki, SEA OF $23 $27 - - plugs along at an advanced age; the guy is in supreme shape and we know speed can stick around a while
24 CC Sabathia, NYY SP $23 $26 - - piles up the wins in a perfect situation; still youngish but tons of miles on the arm; needs more salads
25 Derek Jeter, NYY SS $23 $26 - - had his worst season since he was a rookie; getting old at a position that demands youth; habitually overrated
26 Zack Greinke, KC SP $22 $25 - - known headcase, but had no help in KC; gave up a ton of runs (can't all be his fault); move will be huge upgrade
27 Grady Sizemore, CLE OF $22 $25 - - was never healthy; probably still isn't healthy; just forget he exists
28 Jimmy Rollins, PHI SS $21 - $25 - played a little more than half the year; the AVG sucked but other numbers weren't awful, actually
29 Adrian Gonzalez, SD 1B $20 - $25 - no idea how he did what he did in Petco; the shoulder sapped some power late; assume health?
30 Dan Haren, ARI SP $20 - $24 - gave up a ton of HRs as well as more hits and BB; settled down with the Angels
31 Robinson Cano, NYY 2B $20 $24 - - optimized just about everything he's good at; probably a career year
32 Dustin Pedroia, BOS 2B $19 $24 - - bum foot and bad luck; I can't believe how puny he is
33 Pablo Sandoval, SF 3B, 1B $19 - $24 - just looked lost; his style of hitting is prone to slumps; needs a lot more patience; still young
34 Ryan Zimmerman, WAS 3B $19 - $23 - basically improved despite only 142 games
35 Brian Roberts, BAL 2B $19 $24 - - was never healthy; not sure why he got this ranking as it was obvious his back was a mess; was fine in return
36 Joey Votto, CIN 1B $19 - $23 - huge improvements across the board; this is why I like guys who can walk; still only played 150 games
37 Jayson Werth, PHI OF $18 - $23 - - enormous mid-season slump; probably nothing to worry about but the park move won't help
38 Kevin Youkilis, BOS 3B, 1B $18 $24 - - I still say he's an injury risk; you need a guy like this to play all the time; love the patience
39 Brandon Phillips, CIN 2B $18 - $23 - basically 2009 with more runs and less speed; seems to be a known quantity
40 Adam Lind, TOR OF $18 $24 - - played about the same number of games in 2010 but everything got worse.. everything; puzzling at his age
41 Jon Lester, BOS SP $18 $24 - - top line starter; all systems go
42 Jason Bay, NYM OF $18 - $22 - - only 95 games and hated Citi Field; seems older than he is
43 Mark Reynolds, ARI 3B, 1B $18 - $22 - god awful AVG; free swinging has its issues; three years of 200+ K; doesn't run as much
44 Adam Wainwright, STL SP $17 - $21 - was amazing in every way; still hard to predict which SP will be the man each year
45 Brian McCann, ATL C $17 - $21 - the AVG dropped, but everything else was a-ok; still young and plays more than most catchers
46 B.J. Upton, TB OF $17 $24 - - Really really fast; everything else is suspect; I highly doubt we ever see that 20/40 season; AVG is horrible
47 Justin Verlander, DET SP $17 $24 - - throws hard and racks up stats; not an elite guy, but hard to see a slump
48 Victor Martinez, BOS C, 1B $17 $24 - does everything well and consistently, but how many games will you get out of him? wasn't worth this pick
49 Justin Morneau, MIN 1B $17 $23 - - concussion and lousy luck; was completely dominant prior to it; total wild card for 2011
50 Carlos Lee, HOU OF $17 - $21 - the team collectively slumped early which hurt; Lee's skills are eroding, though; 300 lbs?
