Fantasy Baseball Top 15 Shortstops for 2011 – OBP Leagues

If you play in a standard 5×5 format, you can view my rankings by clicking here.  For leagues that utilize OBP instead of average, there are a few significant changes.  Let’s take a look at how things look:

1. Hanley Ramirez – Florida Marlins
2. Troy Tulowitzki – Colorado Rockies
3. Jose Reyes – New York Mets
4. Elvis Andrus – Texas Rangers
5. Derek Jeter – New York Yankees
6. Jimmy Rollins – Philadelphia Phillies
7. Alexei Ramirez – Chicago White Sox
8. Stephen Drew – Arizona Diamondbacks
9. Starlin Castro – Chicago Cubs
10. Alcides Escobar – Kansas City Royals
11. Ian Desmond – Washington Nationals
12. Jhonny Peralta – Detroit Tigers
13. Juan Uribe – Los Angeles Dodgers
14. Rafael Furcal – Los Angeles Dodgers
15. Yunel Escobar – Toronto Blue Jays

Thoughts:

• Jose Reyes has a lot to prove, both in regards to his health and his performance on the field.  From 2006-2009, Reyes posted an OBP between .354 and .358.  Last season, he fell to .321 thanks to a poor walk rate (5.1 percent).  You would have to expect a healthy Reyes to rectify the problem and entrench himself again as one of the most exciting players in the game, wouldn’t you?  It certainly is worth noting, however, because if he struggles there again, his value is going to take a hit.
• Despite getting older, we all know that Derek Jeter knows how to get on base.  For his career, he has a .385 OBP and is just a year removed from a .406 mark.  I know he was at .340 in ’10, but that came courtesy of a career worst .307 BABIP.  Is anyone really worried that he won’t rebound?
• Jimmy Rollins has never posted an OBP above .345.  Over the past two years, he’s posted marks of .296 and .320.  Yes, part of that is tied to his struggles in the average department (BABIP of .251 and .246), but he has never once posted an elite mark.  This type of format has to knock him down a peg.
• Prior to last season’s struggles, Yunel Escobar had posted OBP of .385, .366 and .377.  In this type of format, he has a lot of value in the later rounds.  Don’t overlook him late in your draft, as he certainly has the potential to hold value.  For more on Escobar, check out an article discussing four late-round shortstop options by clicking here.
• Which side of the fence do you fall on Stephen Drew?  Are you a believer in him?  Do you think he’s overrated?  Check out a few of my thoughts by clicking here.

What are your thoughts on these rankings?  Who’s too high?  Who’s too low?

Make sure to order your copy of the Rotoprofessor 2011 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide and the 2011 OBP League Supplement, selling for just $8, by clicking here. 

Make sure to check out our 2011 OBP rankings:

• Top 15 Catchers
• Top 15 First Basemen
• Top 15 Second Basemen
• Top 15 Third Basemen

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