The city of New York is spoiled in getting to watch 2 of the best left-sides of the infield in the major leagues. While it is hard to argue that a combination of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez is not the best in the majors, you don't have to look farther than across town to find the duo that is their superior. Mets' fans are more than fortunate to have speedster Jose Reyes, 25, at shortstop while five-tool slugger David Wright, 26, holds down the hot corner next to him. Both players are approaching the prime years of their careers and it's scary to think what the Mets offense could do if both get hot at the same time. Consider that 2 guys named Carlos (Delgado and Beltran) hit behind them and the Mets will be a pitcher's nightmare.
At the top of fantasy drafts for 2009, Hanley Ramirez and Albert Pujols will go 1 and 2, but after that it gets interesting. Rodriguez's latest hip injury needs to be monitored and if he is forced to miss some time, the third player drafted in fantasy is going to be a Met. But who do you take when it comes down to Wright and Reyes?
When it comes to runs scored, it's virtually a wash. Reyes can manufacture runs all by himself, but Wright preceeds RBI machines Delgado and Beltran in the lineup. Wright's power numbers were career highs last year as he hit 33 dingers and drove in 124 runs. Reyes hit 16 homeruns with 68 RBIs, but has been destroying the ball this spring. Owners can expect his '09 numbers to be more like his '07 year with upwards of 20 homers and around 85 RBIs. Those power numbers, combined with the 65 stolen bases he has averaged the past 4 years, make Reyes very hard to pass up. However David Wright is no slug, as he swiped 34 bags out of 39 attempts in '07. His stolen base % has actually been better than Reyes' the past 2 years. Wright's batting average has consistently been about 20 points higher than Reyes' as well. If you're looking to guarantee your team some speed, it's hard not to grab Reyes in the third draft spot. Just make sure to complement this pick with a power hitter in the second round with a guy like Josh Hamilton, Ryan Howard, or Prince Fielder. But I think the better fantasy player will be Wright, especially in leagues that count caught stealing as a catagory. Wright has already replaced ARod as the league's best third basemen in many people's eyes and he's only getting better. He delivers in every catagory and has been nothing but consistent. Drafting Wright and then grabbing another 5 tool player like Matt Holiday in the 2nd round will be more than enough stolen bases to make up for passing up Reyes. Grabbing an all-around hitter like Wright also enables an owner to go for a top-5 starting pitcher late in the 2nd round because you wouldn't be committed to making up for a lack of power like you would with drafting Reyes. It's also much easier to pick up a guy that steals 30 bases in the middle-to-later rounds of the draft than it is to find a guy that hits 30 homers.
So the better fantasy option of the Mets' stellar left side? You can't go wrong with Wright.
Keep it classy,
Chinn
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I like it. Except, I am going to argue that you can pick up a guy with 30 steals better than 30 homeruns in the middle rounds. The Willy Taveras' and Michael Bourns are around, but they give nothing else. Many a time you can find a guy like Raul Ibanez in the middle rounds who will be a consistent 20-25 home run threat. I'm not gonna argue that Wright is a better pick than Reyes because I think it comes down to preference, but perhaps depth of a position is an issue?
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