Written by MadAlan
March 1, 2008

The seeds were watered and these are the new growths for 2008; and a soft group they are. None of this group will hit 30 HRs or drive in 90 teammates. Today’s game has more parity and that adds up to many teams beginning to play “small-ball” as their offense strategy. Small-ball incorporates the hit and run more often and that fact will add SBs to players who have never been known to account for many SBs. Players with average speed such as Josh Fields, Lance Berkman and Mark Teixeira to name a few may acquire a dozen SBs this year.

The general reduction in HRs resulting from a strategy change such as this will also result in one or two players per team enjoying an enormous jump in power and especially in RBIs. Sounds contradictory to you? The Bunt and the Hit-and-Run open holes and move players near the scoring area – Home Plate. They also completely eliminate the opportunity for the Batter to hit a HR. That leaves one or two players in a scoring position created for the next two Batters to drive those very same runners Home.

Expect these twelve players to move their respective careers foreword two or three notches and become the newer stars for this season:

1) Adam Wainwright St. Louis
2) Chad Billingsley Los Angeles
3) Nick Markakis Baltimore
4) Corey Hart Milwaukee
5) Yovani Gallardo Milwaukee
6) Nick Swisher Chicago AL
7) Jason Bay Pittsburgh
8) Alex Gordon Kansas City
9) Troy Tulowitzki Colorado
10) Matt Kemp Los Angeles
11) Ryan Zimmerman Washington
12) Chris Young Arizona


“….. and now the Rookies

Jacoby Ellsbury
If you watched the Playoffs from last season then you saw this young man. Enough said. Anticipate a season of .266, 80 Runs 6 HR 36 RBI 45 SB

Kosuke Fukudome
He is no kid; there is a strong reason why he has waited so long to come here and for a team to want him. Expect Injuries, difficulty with the language and culture shock collectively making for a poor introduction. Anticipate a season of .221, 41 Runs 3 HR 36 RBI 14 SB

Josh Hamilton
He owns a similar body to Gabe “Muscle & Hamstring” Kapler upon his Major League introduction years ago. Muscle & hamstring injuries held him down last season; for every 500 At-bats he will accumulate 40+ HRs but it will be possible that he will require two seasons to achieve those 500 ABs. Most NL hitters have initial difficulty with a change of Leagues because the AL has more Curves and Sliders being used than the Fastball league that the NL is. Anticipate a season of .269, 53 Runs 27 HR 64 RBI 10 SB

Geovany Soto
The position is so weak many pundits have already ranked this kid in the Top 10.
Not me. Anticipate a season of .244, 33 Runs 14 HR 54 RBI 3 SB

Evan Longoria
Scouts and scouting reports all claim he is a great prospect; yet bunches state he is not ready for power numbers yet while others claim his power is the one sure thing. I don’t think the scouts truly understand him and that factor alone scares me. Don’t expect Braun-like rookie production because neither he nor Braun will accomplish those states this season. Anticipate a season of AAA Baseball with a Call-up during the season.

Justin Upton
His brother plays for the Tampa Bay team, B.J. Upton. Justin has already played in a World Series and he isn’t yet ready for Major League breaking balls. Swing-miss. Depending upon where he hits in the lineup dictates how many fastballs he will see and that being the case it will make the difference between a .250 BA and a .280 BA plus he does not have anything like a Prince Fielder for protection in this lineup. Anticipate a season of .261, 49 Runs 17 HR 44 RBI 11 SB

Colby Rasmus
Anticipate a season of AAA Baseball with a Call-up during the season while the Cards have outfield holes to fill. Think about it.

Jay Bruce
With Brandon Phillips controlling 2B and Encarnacion holding down 3B that only leaves the crowd pleasing Freel to play in the OF. That is where Bruce would be playing. It is not likely Bruce will play a great deal in the season beginnings but Freel is a flat tire waiting to happen and when that does occur Bruce will find his home for the next 10 years. Anticipate a season of .274, 59 Runs 10 HR 54 RBI 12 SB

Michael Bourn
A more accomplished and exciting player than Willie Taveras. Anticipate a season of .284, 82 Runs 5 HR 24 RBI 44 SB

Joey Votto
He may never hit .300 again but he certainly will be an adequate source of power .. he is not fast but he is knowledgeable about running the bases in a similar manner to how Edgar Martinez was. Anticipate a season of .255, 64 Runs 27 HR 79 RBI 13 SB

J.R. Towles
Brad Ausmus is still playing in Houston.

Ian Stewart
He will get the start and compile average 2B numbers with a breakout season next year.

Asdrubal Cabrera
The owner of the 2B position in Cleveland because he hustles and understands how to use his baseball glove. Otherwise avoid him.

Adam Jones
If you are in a keeper league draft this man. He will supply you with numbers across the board this season and they will further expand each season thereafter. Anticipate a season of .266, 57 Runs 19 HR 64 RBI 14 SB

Billy Butler
Here is the next Lance Berkman with the bat; he has a long future as an AL DH eventually. A natural if ever there was one. Anticipate a season of .291, 74 Runs 18 HR 94 RBI 7 SB

Cameron Maybin
He is not ready yet but here he is. He will play a graceful OF and run the bases fast as a rabbit when he gets on-base. He is not that great a SB threat right now and will be caught somewhat often. Two years from his monster season; extreme keeper league material.

Jayson Nix
Not ready.

Lastings Milledge
This is his season. This will be yours too if you can get him.
Anticipate a season of .304, 89 Runs 27 HR 104 RBI 31 SB

Daric Barton
WOW, a singles hitting 1B. He may mature into this century’s Harvey Kuenn.

Andy LaRoche
If you have seen him swing the bat then you know he is a certain star; he does not generate the power of his older brother in Pittsburgh but he will contribute the same RBI numbers or better upon his first season compiling at least 450 ABs. Possibly a future Batting Champion; unlikely to achieve regular ABs until mid-season.

Buck Coats
Not ready.

Brandon Wood
Now that the Angels have dropped those monster expectations he will achieve them. Anticipate a season of .272, 59 Runs 22 HR 74 RBI 4 SB

Josh Anderson
Wait until next year.

Ryan Sweeney
The youngest of the three Sweeney’s just might eclipse the achievements of his older brother with KC. He should start this season; anticipate a season of .277, 51 Runs 16 HR 62 RBI 4 SB

Carlos Gómez
Lighting fast and understands how to bunt, beat out ground balls and take the extra base. A big future and it may begin this season in the Twins lineup. Anticipate a season of .263, 79 Runs 2 HR 22 RBI 41 SB

Wladimir Balentien
Not ready.

David Murphy
Just avoid him.

Steve Pearce
Much depends on who the manager wishes to put in the Pittsburgh outfield outside of Jason Bay. Pearce has one thing that none of the other candidates have and that is big time upside. He has far better skills than McLouth and may be a better glove in right field than Nady. Anticipate a season of .301, 70 Runs 12 HR 61 RBI 7 SB

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