OK, so this article has nothing to do with Charlie Sheen, but the following players are guys that will be on WINNING fantasy baseball teams in 2011. They are also players that I have a total man crush on, but hey Mr. Sheen is topical so you have to capitalize on pop culture.
But like he seems to have a crush on hookers and blow, man crushes are a big part of fantasy drafts, and everyone has them. So feel free to shout out your favorite players to the tune of "It's Raining Men" because you will not be judged.
Hopefully you don't have man love for someone like Joe Saunders or even Xavier Nady. Below you will find my own personal man crushes, some because of the incredible talent that they possess, others are because of the value that they offer in drafts and still others are for the potential that they have for the future.
Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
So how long are restraining orders good for? Because I am wondering how much longer I am not able to go within 500 yards of Longoria. The order was placed in June of 2007 when I was able to watch Longoria perform in the minor leagues, and I was immediately smitten. In fact, I made him a mix CD that I believe to this day that he still listens to.
There's just nothing this kid can't do. He hits for a good average, has a sweet swing that produces power and his stolen bases have risen each year in the majors. Some are concerned about how Longoria will do without the protection of Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena, but first of all Crawford hit in front of him and how much protection was Pena providing with his .196 batting average and 158 strikeouts? Seems like a perfect guy to pitch around Longoria to get to.
Longoria is going to be an absolute beast and should be a middle of the first round pick. I'm sorry Evan, I won't ever barge in your bedroom again if you just give me a second chance!
Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds
I have officially dug a tunnel underground from my house in New York all the way to Cincinnati and the Votto residence. And every so often I will crawl through that thing like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank just so I can catch a glimpse of the Reds' first baseman.
He has made a marked improvement each season in the majors in either power or batting average numbers, and he was the National League MVP as he put it all together with a tremendous average and some of the best power numbers in baseball. I don't think that Votto's numbers will get much better, but I also don't think that his production last season was a fluke by any stretch and he should be a middle of the first round pick.
I hate getting the sixth or seventh pick in drafts and having to decide between Longoria and Votto. How do you decide between two things near and dear to your heart? I usually just flip a coin, it is so hard to disappoint one of them into thinking I love the other one more.
Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
This is a new one for 2011, but my love for McCutchen is quickly catching up to some of my biggest favorites. You can just see McCutchen continue to improve as he matures more and now not only do I see his numbers getting better, but he is poised to be a leader of the young Pirates team which should only add to his moxie and success.
Some might be surprised when McCutchen's power numbers improve this season, but he is going to be moved to the three-hole this season, which means he will be trying to drive the ball more, which should lead to more baseballs in with the people.
And with no important batter behind him , there's no reason to think that McCutchen won't continue to try to steal bases like he has in the past. I can easily see him being a 20/30 guy with a chance at 25/30.
Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
Yes, he is on my favorite team, but this crush has nothing to do with him being a Cardinal. Take a look at Rasmus' rookie season, and then the numbers he put up in 2010 and you will see a nice improvement across the board.
This kid is a five-tool superstar waiting to happen, and it is going to happen in 2011. He should be put in the most favorable spot in any batting order in baseball, which is directly in front of Albert Pujols. No pitcher is going to want to walk Rasmus and bring up Pujols with a minimum of one guy on base.
Rasmus has power to all fields and is a very smart baserunner who is capable of swiping 20+ bags. As of right now I just have a small shrine built to Colby in my office, but by the end of the year there COULD be police involvement. If I don't post an article for a couple of days and the Cardinals are on a road trip in New York, I could be in hiding in the Cardinals' dugout, or in the holding cell at Citi Field!
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pittsburgh Pirates
One of the top prospects in all of baseball last season, Alvarez came to the majors and, aside from a less than impressive batting average, I thought his rookie season was pretty good.
He hit 16 homers and drove in 64 runs in just over a half a season. Sure he struck out way too much, but so many power hitters do now, so that isn't as much of a strike against him as it used to be.
There were reports that he came to camp fat and out of shape, but the team denied it and he is having a very good spring. He is still falling on draft boards from where I thought he would be in 2011, but I am drafting him every chance I get.
Look for a big season in 2011 where Alvarez hits a minimum of 25 homers and drives in no less than 90 runs. He is a great option at a thin third base position.
Adam LaRoche, 1B, Washington Nationals
Where else can you nearly guarantee yourself 25 home runs and nearly 90 RBI with a .270 batting average in the 18th round outside of LaRoche?
I am not entirely sure why this guy gets no fantasy attention, I guess because he has pretty much played for every armpit franchise in the major leagues, but he also plays one of the deepest positions in fantasy. But this guy is the PERFECT corner infield player and is incredibly consistent.
He isn't a sexy name and he isn't going to break out and hit 40 homers, but he is nearly automatic for the numbers I listed above. He is on all of my teams and he comes through for me every time.
Sean Rodriguez, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays
Looking for a power hitting middle infielder that could hit 25 home runs in the 20th round of your draft? Impossible, right? Oh no my friends, I introduce you to Sean Rodriguez.
One in a long line of awesome Los Angeles Angels' prospects that were never given a chance to flourish at the major league level, Rodriguez toiled in the minor leagues for years and wore out the pitching on the farm. This kid hit 21 homers in just 248 at-bats in 2008 at AAA Salt Lake and then followed that up with 30 bombs in 108 games the following season.
He now all but has the starting second base job wrapped up and will be getting his first extended look at everyday playing time. He is an absolute steal in drafts this year and has a current average draft position of 245 according to Mock Draft Central's new Expert ADP. 245!!!!! Behind Fernando Rodney who saves about one game out of every five it seems!
Rodriguez will be a monster in your middle infield spot and he should be a household name before too long.
Gio Gonzalez, SP, Oakland Athletics
Even after his 15-9 year with 171 whiffs last year, Gonzalez still seems to be flying under the radar in 2011 on draft day with an average draft position (thanks again Mock Draft Central) of 163, and he is being drafted after guys like Rafael Soriano, who isn't even a closer, and Jorge Posada, who has half of one good knee left and I think a quarter of one shoulder still intact.
Gonzalez might not be on the best offensive team, but the Athletics' should be better this season. He will again win 15 games and I can see him even striking out 190 this year. He is a work horse who goes deep into games and if he can just keep the walks down a little bit his 3.23 ERA won't look like a fluke either.
Brandon Morrow, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
A starter, a closer, an eighth inning guy, a closer, middle relief, back to starting. The Seattle Mariners could never decide what to do with Morrow and his production suffered because of it.
However, the Blue Jays saved him from what was certain arm surgery waiting to happen and made Morrow a starter. Morrow flourished as a starter and unleashed his incredible strikeout potential. He struggled at times, but he was still adjusting to his new role and hadn't thrown nearly as many innings the previous season.
Now with a full offseason of rest and knowing his role, look for Morrow to improve. I love him to win 15 games and strikeout 200 batters and he should get his ERA under 4.00.
Aroldis Chapman, RP, Cincinnati Reds
I know he looks like he is going to start the year in the eighth inning, that is all but a given. However, Chapman is so good I don't care what his role is with the Reds, I think he will have fantasy value.
Right now his average draft position is 216, which is pretty much after every closer is off the board. I still can't see Francisco Cordero holding on to his job all year, and with Chapman's AMAZING fastball you would think he is the perfect fallback plan in the ninth inning in Cincinnati.
If he were to gain that job for the Reds I believe that he would put up numbers similar to what Neftali Feliz did last season, that is how dominating he could be.
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