I thought it would be interesting, now that we're at the halfway point of the season, to take a look at players who have been top contributors at various positions, but weren't too highly rated coming into the season. Overall, there seem to be a lot more under-performers than guys who are easily outpacing expectations. Definitely a down year fantasy-wise for the AL, even if that doesn't show up in interleague play.
C - AJ Pierzynski. 23rd round. Dusty's Base Cloggers. He might be an asshole, and I don't think anyone expects him to keep his performance up (not even his own manager, who just traded for Napoli), but Pierzynski has been the #2 fantasy catcher in the AL this year. Mauer is number 1, but with him going in the 3rd round, it is hard to call him a "value pick".
1B - Kevin Youkilis. 10th round. Don't Trade Roberts. A tough call between Giambi (undrafted) and Youkilis here, but when you get the #1 1B in the 10th round, the same round as huge busts such as Jhonny Peralta, Phil Hughes, Kelvim Escobar, and Ryan Garko, there is definitely some good value there.
Honorable mention: Giambi, Casey Kotchman (AAA Legacy, 19th round)
2B - Dustin Pedroia. 9th round. Mandrew and the VORPIES. He hasn't been as good of a "real" baseball player this year, with a pretty substantial decrease in OBP, Pedroia has been a great fantasy player this year, easily on pace to top HR and SB numbers from last year. Although he doesn't quite count, as he was a keeper, even I didn't think Ian Kinsler (11th round) was going to be this good. According to Yahoo, he has been the best fantasy player in the AL, and is on pace for a massive 25 HR, 40 SB season.
Honorable mention: Kinsler, Jose Lopez (Mandrew and the VORPIES, undrafted)
3B - Joe Crede. 17th round. Dusty's Base Cloggers. Thin pickings at 3B. Although Huff has been better according to Yahoo, he's hardly played for anyone's team, so I have to go with Crede.
SS - None. It seems like every shortstop who has played regularly for a team has underperformed. Peralta hits tons of home runs, but has a brutal average. Jeter, O-cab, and Michael Young are all having down years. Yuniesky Betancourt has been on fire since being traded (.327 average for Spencer), but he still is the 10th best AL SS overall. In a 6 team league, that isn't so hot.
OF - Josh Hamilton. 12th round. Don't Trade Roberts. Even though he's been nicked up a bit the last few days, Hamilton has been on pace for a historic season. Hitting 19 homeruns, and already driving in 76. Everyone else in the league needs to hope he makes like Morneau in the second half of 2007, so Mark can lose the league and call him a fuckhead.
OF - JD Drew. 20th round. Don't Trade Roberts. Mark's team shows up again. JD Drew has been unbelievable since Ortiz went down, incredibly outpacing whatever run production you'd expect out of Papi. A massive June has put Drew as the 5th best outfielder. Tough to beat with a 20th round pick.
OF - Carlos Quentin. Undrafted. Berkeley Hoboes. Despite a slow couple of weeks to start June, Quentin has been an offensive force, with 50+ runs and RBI, 17 homeruns, and even a few steals. He could be the offensive waiver wire player of the year.
Honorable mention: OF was actually full of bargains this year. All the fantasy previews kept saying that OF was shallower this year than in years past, but the performances of players like Milton Bradley, David Murphy, and the once-cut Jose Guillen have meant that talent has always been available on the waiver wire.
SP - Cliff Lee (undrafted, Dusty's Base Cloggers), Shawn Marcum (22nd round, YOUUUUKKK), Justin Duscherer (undrafted, Pete Rose Legacy), John Danks (undrafted, Berkeley Hoboes), Rich Harden (14th round, Don't Trade Roberts). Coming into this season, if this was your staff, I think everyone would have advised you to give up right now, and simply not bother paying attention. They all started off amazingly well, and have hit a few rocky patches here and there, but they've been top 15 starters this year. Considering anyone could have easily assembled this staff for peanuts, that is pretty impressive.
RP - George Sherill (15th round, Berkeley Hoboes), Joakim Soria (12th round, Berkeley Hoboes), Troy Percival (16th round, AAA Legacy). Unsurprisingly, bargains can be found at RP. Sherrill is #2 in the AL in saves at 26, and Soria isn't too far behind at #5 with 21. Percival, despite his hamstring problems and recent ineffectiveness has still saved 18 games, more than much more highly rated closers such as Huston Street (9th round), JJ Putz (3rd round), or Bobby Jenks (8th round). Maybe those analysts are on to something when they say don't pay for saves.
Anyone want to step up and put together an all bust team? Despite my current lead, I imagine you'll be seeing more than a few of my draftees in there.
