NL fantasy baseball preview

Tuesday, March, 31, 2009; 9:47 PM | 0 | | Print

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ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Underrated: Mark Reynolds (3B)

No strikeout category? No problem. Reynolds is more likely to K than any other hitter in the league, and his average reflects this. He makes up for it, however, with the potential for 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Sleeper: Felipe Lopez (2B)I bet you couldn't tell me what team he played for if he wasn't listed under the Diamondbacks. Traded in the off-season, Lopez has power, speed and can post a .260 average to boot if he plays the full 2009 campaign.

ATLANTA BRAVES

Underrated: Kelly Johnson (2B)

He's young and consistent, destined to flirt with a .300 average while hitting 10 to 15 home runs - certainly worthy of a late-round pick, especially at his position.

CHICAGO CUBS

Overrated: Carlos Zambrano (SP)

Oh, he's still very much worthy of a roster spot on your team, but Zambrano is not the elite pitcher he was a few seasons ago. His strikeout rate dropped mightily last season, and his earned run average was just below four. Don't jump on him too soon.

CINCINNATI REDS

Sleeper: Ramon Hernandez (C)

Why does this guy seem a lot older than 32 years old? Hernandez still has power left in his tank and is worth a late round pick.

COLORADO ROCKIES

Overrated: Garrett Atkins (3B)

Decline in home run and RBI totals over the past few seasons plus the fact that he's not hitting behind Matt Holliday anymore equals stay away.

FLORIDA MARLINS

Overrated: Jorge Cantu (1B)

Many will dig on Cantu after he hit 29 home runs and drove in 95 runs last season, disregarding the fact that the first baseman has been a highly inconsistent hitter over the course of his career thus far.Sleeper: Emilio Bonifacio (3B)Replacing Cantu at third base, Bonifacio is projected to be the Marlins starting third baseman but should be eligible at the second base and shortstop positions in most leagues as well. This versatility combined with the potential to steal 40 bases make Bonifacio worthy of a flier in the late rounds. 

HOUSTON ASTROS

Overrated: Miguel Tejada (SS)

Miggy's home-run totals in the past five years: 34, 26, 24, 18, 13. Seeing a trend? His RBI numbers are going in the same direction. 

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Overrated: Manny Ramirez (OF)

Many people will draft him too high because they think of the sideshow that is Manny . His numbers, however, just don't make him a top-three outfielder. He gives you no steals, and it's a risk to say he'll stay healthy and hit more than 30 home runs.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Underrated: Rickie Weeks (2B)

You can get him easily in the late rounds after he hit a career-low .234 last season. He will most certainly improve on that number this season and is very capable of 15 to 20 home runs and 25 to 30 stolen bases. Still in his mid-20s, Weeks has yet to hit his peak.

NEW YORK METS

Overrated: Carlos Beltran (OF)

Don't even think about taking him in the latter part of the first round. Not even in the early part of the second. Beltran's power numbers are dropping and although you can still bank on him for 20/20, he's not the stud that he once was statistically.Overrated: Francisco Rodriguez (CL)Saves only get you so much in fantasy baseball.

Don't overpay. His numbers will continue to be good in the National League but his strikeout-to-walk ratio will continue to decline as it has in the past three years.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Overrated: Cole Hamels (SP)

Don't take him before the fourth round. He's an injury risk with the workload placed on him, and his strikeouts per nine innings dropped in '08.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Underrated: Adam LaRoche (1B)

LaRoche is one of those classic "under the radar" players because he's on a terrible team. Any player who compiles 25 home runs and drives in 85 runs while hitting .270 garners attention, though, no matter what second-division club he plays for.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Underrated: Ryan Ludwick (OF)

No one believes he can replicate his 37-homer, 113-RBI performance of last season, so his value is down - too far down. He's only 31. Take a chance in the middle.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Underrated: Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B)

He was listed as "underrated" in our preview last year as well and went on to hit 23 home runs (not to mention 31 doubles) and drive in 84 runs in 2008. But people still have not paid enough attention to Kouzmanoff. Others still don't even know who first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Underrated: Pablo Sandoval (3B)

I'll be honest, I consider myself a hardcore baseball fan and I hadn't really heard of this guy. But the consensus fantasy projections look extremely solid. Sandoval is quietly staring down a .292, 12 HR, 75 RBI season.

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