Here are some names of mid-to-late round picks that will benefit you in 2009:
Josh Johnson, FLA: Although many people have heard of him and know what he did in his rookie campaign, this is a guy that I would target on all fantasy rosters. He is a huge strikeout pitcher and since coming back from his injury in mid-2008 did nothing but impress. Probably going around 14-16th in most drafts, he is a guy who can bring as much value as a #2 pitcher on a fantasy squad. Think: A poor man's John Lackey.
Mike Pelfrey, NYM: Not exactly a forgotten commodity around fantasy leagues, but this 25-year-old on an offensive juggernaut is going to bring you between 13-15 wins and a mid-3 ERA. In the middle to late rounds, you can do worse. Think: Chien-Ming Wang.
Jonathan Sanchez, SF: Interested in a strikeout per inning and someone who pitches in a park as big as SBC? Jonathan Sanchez is your man. Although the Giants won't give the run production that Pelfrey will get, they may not need to when Sanchez is on his game. Think: Oliver Perez. Really high-ceiling, but the ability to be as inconsistent as any. This may be the year that Sanchez puts it together.
Other players to watch out for:
Brandon Morrow, SEA; Max Scherzer, ARI; Fausto Carmona, CLE; Armando Galarraga, DET; Chris Young, SD; Kevin Millwood, TEX.
Good sleepers, although Jonathan Sanchez being compared to Oliver Perez is kind of a stretch. Perez had a year with the Pirates where he was not only the ace of his team, but an outside Cy Young contender (had the Pirates given him any run support, he may have been a legitimate option). Sanchez has filthy stuff, but I feel he's at least a year away from being dominant. He's still battling for the last spot in the Giants rotation, although reports out of spring training are that he has put some distance between himself and Noah Lowry.
ReplyDelete