I know most of you are champing/chomping at the bit for me to finish these facacta 2010 fantasy baseball rankings. Well, the pitchers are right around the corner. Some of these top 80 outfielders for 2010 fantasy baseball are long shots to make the club, but they might give you value if they do. Or they might just give you value when they’re called up in the summer. As Kanye West said, I’ll show you how I cook up summer in the win-turr. As with the other rankings, where I see tiers start and stop are mentioned with my projections. Anyway, here’s the top 80 outfielders for 2010 fantasy baseball:
61. Krispie Young – This is the first tier. This tier goes from here until Francoeur. I call this tier, “The few veteran outfielders I’d take a flier on late, and even these guys leave a lot to be desired.” If Krispie hits a third of his infield pop-ups for homers next year, he’ll hit 40. And if I were 30 years old in 1760, I’d think Martha Washington was hot. 2010 Projections: 60/20/75/.245/15
62. Nick Swisher – Swisher reminds me of a just-post-roided Giambi. 25+ homers and a poor average. What I sorta like about him? I feel like he can hit 35 homers. Hard to find that late. 2010 Projections: 80/30/90/.255
63. Delmon Young – The fact that he’s only 24 and he ended up in the veteran outfielders that are kind eh category is both the good and bad. The good, his tools can still develop. The bad, what’s taking so effin’ long? 2010 Projections: 55/17/75/.290/7
64. Lastings Milledge – Three short years ago Mets fans were debating if the organization should unretire number 41 in case Milledge wanted to wear it. Now, the Pirates are debating between Milledge and Brandon Moss in the outfield. Milledge will only be 25 in 2010 so you shouldn’t write him off… Just don’t write him in with ink. 2010 Projections: 60/12/70/.265/12
65. Jeff Francoeur – It’s only fair that you know that I placed Frenchy in the below tier of guys I don’t want at all then moved him up to this tier… Then down… Then up. Just don’t want you to feel flimflammed on my Frenchy flip-floppery. (<–Alliteration in lieu of wit.) 2010 Projections: 75/20/85/.275/5
66. Juan Rivera – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Willingham. I call this tier, “Guys that you draft that you shouldn’t.” What I mean with this tier, you’re better off just taking a flier on upside. Willingham, Ross, Rivera, et al are guys that are always on waivers. Maybe not them per se, but guys that do exactly the same thing. If you don’t get Willingham in a draft, so what? You can get ten other guys off of waivers that do the same thing. 2010 Projections: 65/24/75/.280
67. Cody Ross – Something about a player with two first names that always translates to boring. If you’re able to draft Ross and hold him for longer than a week of the season, you have more patience than me. His 25 homers and 5 steals and .270 average look okay on draft day, but there’s always someone who breaks out the first week of the season and Ross is the first one to go. 2010 Projections: 65/22/75/.265/5
68. David DeJesus – Someone save us from this tier. 2010 Projections: 80/12/60/.280/7
69. Jermaine Dye – Just when you thought this tier couldn’t get yawnstipating-er. 2010 Projections: 70/22/85/.260
70. Josh Willingham – The best thing I can say about Willingham is that he’s the last name in this tier. 2010 Projections: 60/24/70/.255/3
71. Cameron Maybin – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until the end. I call this tier, “These guys may not even have a starting job. So?” When you’re this deep into a position, you’re better off taking a flier on upside. I’ll give you an example to explain my point. Jason Heyward starts the season hot. Hits 5 homers and steals 4 bases in April. You can trade him for someone that far exceeds his value. Juan Rivera starts the season hot. He hits 7 homers in April. You know who you can trade him to? His Moms. That’s about it. Do I want an outfield of Heyward, Maybin and Stanton? Maybe in 2012. No way for this year. re: Maybin; If you’ve been reading the site for longer than a minute — not an Urban Dictionary minute which is actually a long time — you’ll know I was crushing hard on Maybin last year. Nothing’s changed except his shoulder’s healed and he’s a year more seasoned like that beef stew in the back of your fridge. I’m everywhere! 2010 Projections: 85/14/50/.285/20
72. Jake Fox – His projections are over at the top 20 3rd basemen for 2010 fantasy baseball.
73. Jason Heyward – Went over my Jason Heyward fantasy there. 2010 Projections: 65/12/70/.290/20
74. Desmond Jennings – Went over Desmond Jennings fantasy there. 2010 Projections: 75/7/45/.285/25
75. Austin Jackson – Jackson is supposedly going to be the starting center fielder for the Tigers. He’s shown a lot more speed than power in the minor leagues and that shouldn’t disappear in the majors. His .300 average in Triple-A looks like an aberration. He’s liable to get exploited on breaking stuff. A .250-.260 average wouldn’t surprise me. Watching Leyland run Clete Thomas and Raburn out there in 2009 without much to show for it makes methinks Jackson will not only be the starting center fielder but he’ll probably lead off. 2010 Projections: 85/5/50/.275/22
76. Michael Taylor – Went over my Michael Taylor fantasy already. 2010 Projections: 85/12/60/.280/15
77. Kyle Blanks – Blanks, the love child of Fabulous Moolah and Kamala, the Ugandan Giant, naturally has some power in his ginourmous frame. He should get to 25 homers easily and the average probably won’t be as bad as you might think for an all-or-nothing-type. 2010 Projections: 60/30/85/.270/3
78. Matt LaPorta – I’m real worried about the hip surgery he had in October. He’s much younger than most guys who have this surgery — by about 50 years — but still any time you go messing with a guy’s hip I think there has to be some residual soreness or so I saw on House. Have to watch in Spring Training to see how he’s coping. 2010 Projections: 65/17/80/.275
79. Gerardo Parra – For Parra to get near 25 steals, he’d probably get thrown out 30 times. Cust kayin’. 2010 Projections: 75/10/60/.295/10
80. Ryan Raburn – With Fowler and CarGo, the Rockies are the fantasy sleeper outfield of 2010. With Austin Jackson and Raburn, the Tigers want that title. In 2006 and 2007, Raburn put up numbers in Triple-A (averaged 18 homers and 14 steals) that put him on the map. Then, in 261 ABs last year, he had 16 homers and 5 steals. Even though Ryan Raburn sounds like someone that should be dating Angela Lansbury, he has some upside and Leyland seems committed to giving him a chance. 2010 Projections: 65/22/75/.265/10 <– crazy optimistic, but whatever.
After the top 80 outfielders for 2010 fantasy baseball, there’s really not that many guys, but here’s two to look at:
Michael Saunders – Probably won’t play unless Bradley’s hurt… Oh, wait a minute, Bradley’s always hurt. Saunders looks like a poor man’s FraGu. Slight power, Slight speed. Best case scenario, 15/15. One thought, if Saunders was a solid prospect, why wasn’t he traded to the Orioles? 2010 Projections: 55/12/65/.275/15
Seth Smith – Man, I got it bad for the Rockies outfield this year (except Hawpe. Hmm… Guess that means I only like 2 out of 3. Nevertheless!). If Smith can somehow corral 450 ABs, he could get to 20+ homers and 10+ steals. It’s a longshot that is predicated on playing time. Predicated-schedicated… Get rid of Hawpe! 2010 Projections: 60/15/75/.290/10 with plenty of upside from there, but he needs a starting job.
