Chris Carpenter and Tim Lincecum were 2 top pitchers if you had them on your team. I had them on a few. But one would need the bats to back them with for the power & runs & the steals part of the game. Carpenter was forgotten in many drafts but he won't be next year. I dropped him a few times & traded him. Glad I kept him in many times.
Matsuzaka, Daisuke (Bos) was a bust this year due to bad pitching & injury. Ordonez, Magglio (DET) was also a bummer, other than his batting average. Ya had to hold on to him even though many dumped him. Ramirez, Alexei (CHA) Was a complete disappointment his numbers were hard to take. But you either dropped him or platoon him to his several position spots. But the Chi Sox SS was way under what he was last year.
DeRosa, Mark (STL) Injury kept him down to what he could have been. But he put up some decent numbers and again one week crazy hot the next week crazy not. Longoria, Evan - This guy was a MVP where ever ya had him if ya rode him through his slow periods. As also was Lee, Derrek (CHN) Big surprise his power numbers went up this year, like he use to be. Almost MVP on many of my teams.
Cuddyer, Michael (MIN) was one of the best free-agent off the wire. But when he went slow he was mostly dropped in leagues, to be picked back up again. He started slow because he wasn't played, but when he took off so was him being picked up. I had him on many teams then on a few I dropped him when he slowed down then missed him or got him back. He was hot down at the end of September after Morneau, Justin (1B,CI) went out for the year. He did good as he was expected to do. Mark Reynolds, Ari 1B, 3B, sure gave ya the home runs ya had to start him he will go up more in the drafts if the K fact don't come into play in your league. Rajai Davis, Oak OF, he was easy pick up down the end for his steals in many leagues of H2H. Picked up quickly for them last surge teams of Cat numbers. He will be a draft item next year for sure, over many of the older grand larceny players who's age caught up them in the steals department.
Albert Pujols, StL 1B, was a MVP if ya owned his stats and the best hitter in baseball today. Cabrera, Miguel (CI,1B,3B) he put up good stats maybe someone's MVP. His number were as good as Lees & Longoria. But the last word on him personally. We could be hearing news on a rehab check in or divorce. He needs to wise up some in that area for sure, he's a champion player be a shame to see him blow it.
Lind, Adam (OF) was the best free-agent pick of the year - he gave ya power numbers once they gave him the game time. And was just the home run hitter many were hoping to pick up.
Cruz, Nelson (TEX) was good wavier claim type, he had his cold runs which hurt his break out year. He won't be missed in next years drafts.
Werth, Jayson (OF) had his usual numbers & it paid to keep him in the line-up.
Bourn, Michael (OF) talk about a come back ya needed this guy for the steals & he was wa wavier wire pick up about every where.
Span, Denard (MIN) is the man he is consistent and a keeper for platooning or starting. His draft notice will be higher next year.
Braun, Ryan (MIL) ya had to keep him in good or bad days he was good enough for everyday stats. Bay, Jason (OF) - Wright, David (NYN) were also in the same boat as Braun. Not the numbers one hoped to see but good enough to keep in the line up.
Cantu, Jorge (FLA) had up & down times hard to keep in at times, a little off the mark where he was expected to flame. Roberts, Brian (BAL) his boat was the same one Cantu rolled in on. Jeter, Derek (NYA), Phillips, Brandon (CIN) keepers in the line up everyday.
Swisher, Nick was a off the wavier line & back again the homers is what ya needed from him, and hope ya had him when he did it.
Tulowitzki, Troy (COL) drafted everywhere but from the low-end side of it. So then he starts out cold and his name was showing up on my free agent wire. Flamed by how he did fantasy players in 2008. But then he started to take off and many got him when he did, and if you got in on that you got a great pick up for shortstop.
Hart, Corey (MIL) was up & down and some what of a disappointment. Many put him on the wavier wire. Podsednik, Scott (CHA) for steals & batting average & runs was a good pick up but didn't get everyday play so it made it hard to keep him on the line-up card.
Guerrero, Vladimir (LAA) was below average, injuries were part of it. He'll drop in the draft next year, he might be getting to old. Beltran, Carlos (NYN) is another who might be getting to beat up & old. Injuries kept him a bummer to own, But his numbers were just enough to keep him in, but he was down in his steals this year.
Granderson, Curtis (DET) fell off the mark, some what a disappointment. I didn't have him hardly anywhere until at the end.
Choo, Shin-Soo (CLE) was consistent but not a go to guy everyday if ya had some power anywhere for the spot.
Ortiz, David (BOS) took a long time getting on track & he was dropped a lot early, he too maybe getting to old, he will drop in the drafting next year for sure.
Ellsbury, Jacoby (BOS) was dropped a lot very early in the year & a good pick up if you landed the wavier position.
Ludwick, Ryan (STL) disappointment & dropped by many.
Kendry Morales, LAA 1B, a on & off the line up guy because of the side of the plate he hits better at. keep him on many wavier wire.
Pena, Carlos DL (1B,CI) Got hurt at the end had MVP numbers for the year before he went down. I could have used him a lot of places. Aaron Hill, Tor 2nd was a big pick up this year off the free agent list, he did not draft well. I got him early I knew this guy could have it if he stays healthy. And he did have the power numbers. Marco Scutaro, Tor 2B, 3B, SS, was another good early wire pick up. Matt Holliday, StL OF was not doing much in the Oakland line up, went to Cards & started to really produce. Juan Rivera, LAA OF, DH had his short hot time, many had him I did for a short time at the end. Jason Kubel, Min OF, DH was consistent as a good platoon-er if you notice him getting cold.
Juan Pierre, LAD OF was a hot pick up when Manny Ramirez, LAD OF, DH got suspended. Help a bunch in the steals. Adrian Gonzalez, SD 1B, Adam Dunn, Was 1B, OF these to were everyday guys because of the home run numbers you hoped for.
Mark Teixeira, NYY 1B was a MVP for the team if you owned him, excellent numbers. Nate McLouth, Atl OF was some what a disappointment but ya had to start him if you had the slot. Jimmy Rollins, Phi SS did not give the usual numbers. Kevin Youkilis, Bos 1B, 3B did not give the numbers as last year but good enough to keep in, injuries hurt him as well.
Alex Rodriguez, NYY 3B after coming back put up good numbers, wished I had not traded him in a few leagues, but some places I had to make the move. Only 2 teams out of the 4 where I had him did I not keep him. Asdrubal Cabrera, Cle 2B, SS a good pick up to platoon where ya needed to fill a hole, he'll be drafted fairly high next year. James Loney, LAD 1B just usual numbers, nothing to scream about, many times seen his name on the pick me up list. If ya had a deep line up he filled the hole for the double first baser's. Coghlan, Chris (FLA) was another hot pick up the last 6 weeks of the season.
Verlander, Justin (DET) had a good year, not like his Cy Young year but two times better than last season. One of 3 you needed to stick with this year. Branyan, Russell (CI,3B,1B) got hot after being being a pick up then got hurt at the end. Young, Delmon (OF) MIN one of the hottest the last 2 weeks of season awesome numbers if you got to him.
Soriano, Alfonso DL (OF) was a bust as usual since becoming a Cub. Upton, B.J (TB) was a somewhat bus except for steals, hurt ya anywhere else. Hit for the cycle last week of the season had one big day at Yankee stadium. Sizemore, Grady CF CLE, got hurt late big miss but his numbers were just a enough to play everyday somewhat a disappointment.
Webb, Brandon, Reyes, Jose DL (SS,MI) to big hurts if you had drafted them, DL list all season. Soto, Geovany (CHN) was a big bust this year. Volquez, Edinson (CIN) got hurt & it hurt ya if you where counting him as a starter. Valverde, Jose (HOU) got hurt & did not get the pitching punch with a team that did not have the lead most the time going into the later innings. Bruce, Jay (OF), Josh Hamilton, Tex OF, Milton Bradley, ChC OF, DH, Carlos Quentin, CWS OF these four guys were the biggest bust of all and if you kept with them everyday they hurt you big time. Lance Berkman, Hou 1B was a disappointment, found him on the wire late and did not help much for the power end. Hole filler by then.
Bell, Heath (P) was the best for saves - Broxton, Jonathan (P) was a good fire man, Rodney, Fernando (P) was as well. Ryan Franklin, StL RP was the big surprise if you were lucky to have got to him first off the wire, the Cards took thier rime on deciding the closer spot. Rodriguez, Francisco (NYN) bad team not many saves, Brad Lidge, Phi RP bad outings, blown saves, high ERA. Got dropped a lot of places.
Vazquez, Javier (P) Burnett, A.J. (P) Lee, Cliff (PHI) Lilly, Ted (CHN) had to keep them guys Wells, Randy (P) had some good streaks but some that hurt ya too. Zambrano, Carlos wasn't the same big thrower hurt ya more than he helped ya. Jimenez, Ubaldo (COL) had a good season good numbers. Santana, Johan DL (P) going good sometimes then got hurt it really hurt to lose his numbers. Peavy, Jake was excellent his last 2 starts injury robbed his year. (P) Feldman, Scott (TEX) Millwood, Kevin (TEX) these 2 guys had good streaks but bad ones in there that happened when you were counting on them. Dan Haren, Ari SP, James Shields, TB SP decent numbers from these 2 guys. Rich Harden, ChC SP, John Danks, CWS SP were a dissappointment. Edwin Jackson, Det SP up & down times but ya had to start him if he was your #5 guy. Zack Greinke, KC SP was good pick up if you had not drafted him, might win the Cy Young.
Inge, Brandon (DET) had his moments and you could use him at 3rd. Doumit, Ryan (PIT) injury and up down numbers. McCann, Brian (ATL) once he could see the ball & got some glasses finish the year pretty good. Jorge Posada, NYY C might have had the best numbers for the catcher position, but catcher was down no matter who you had on the card.
Miguel Montero, Ari C, was a wire pick up & keeper, Rod Barajas, Tor C had some big weeks down at the end. A.J. Pierzynski, CWS C was consistent.
Byrd, Marlon CF TEX - Fowler, Dexter CF COL - Raburn, Ryan LF DET - Stubbs, Drew OF CIN look for these guys to be drafted next season.
Summary of the year: Big injuries to key keepers & top ten draftee's hurt your line ups. If one was lucky to not hold on to them to see what they do or how or when they bounce back off the DL. You made the right move. The ones that ya held on to that were a bust really effected your position in leagues or made it hard to catch up, lost ya head to head games. The pitching was hardest to reckon with. I had some teams that had the top 3 starts this year and them teams made it to the final 4 for a championship try. Some teams I had the pitching and were soft in the hitting.
You just gotta know when to drop the bums and find the hot ones. Being conservative helped in some leagues and some it hurt really bad. But I was lucky to be conservative enough to get most my teams in the playoffs for the gold. It was them final pick ups that got many of them to the championship crown. The holding to veterans next season in the draft will really depend on their age, many are just not producing enough to keep a spot open for.
Legendary Teams of Baseball League
America's Team ~ Legendary Teams of Baseball League 2009 Champions
