Fantasy All-Star Team-NL

by David Lister

 

We’re less than a month away from the 2007MLB All-Star Game (This Time It Counts!) and it’s time to do what all good fantasy owners do at this time, stuff the ballots and try to get as many of their players on the teams.  Here’s our choices for the JV, err, National League All-Star Team.

 

Catcher: Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers 

Much like the 1999 version of Pudge Rodriguez (25 SBs) and the 1997-2000 version of Jason Kendall (22 SBs per season), Russell Martin is the new token speedy catcher.  In just his second major league season Martin has established himself as a premier backstop who’s on pace for 100-plus RBI and Runs as well as 20-plus SBs.  Bengie Molina gets an honorable mention because no catcher’s list is complete without a Molina.

Avg. HR RBI SB Runs
.297 7 41 11 40

 Honorable Mention:  Bengie Molina, San Francisco Giants 

Avg. HR RBI 2B Runs
.303 6 33 12 16

 First Base:  Prince Fielder, Milwaukee Brewers 

Coming into the season most fantasy players knew about Fielder’s potential, but few could have predicted this outburst.  He was probably taken in the seventh or eighth round in your draft, which makes Fielder the breakout fantasy player of the year.  Second only to A-Rod in home runs, Fielder is the main reason the Brewers sit atop the Comedy Central (all right, I stole that one from a friend of mine, but he doesn’t write for a fantasy sports site, so I win).

Avg. HR RBI BB Runs
.295 23 51 29 43

 Honorable Mention:  Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals 

Avg. HR RBI BB Runs
.298 15 40 30 36

  Second Base:  Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies 

Utley began his major league career late (26 years old), but his numbers over two-plus seasons have been spectacular.  He’s already an annual lock for 30 HRs, 100 RBI, 100 Runs and a .300 average.  If you had a mid-to-late first round pick and you were stuck with Utley, feel honored.  He’s the best second baseman in the majors – by far.

Avg. HR RBI BB Runs
.310 12 52 21 46

  Honorable Mention:  Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds  

Avg. HR RBI SB Runs
.283 11 34 13 39

  Third Base:  Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins 

Cabrera hasn’t been around for as long as Albert Pujols, but their career averages are very similar.  Cabrera has averaged .331, hit 73 HRs and knocked in 277 runs in the past two years and his OPS has improved every year of his career.  He may not ever develop Pujols’ 40 home run power, but he’s already a dominant fantasy force.  And seriously, have you ever seen him and Pujols in the same room at the same time?

Avg. HR RBI BB Runs
.335 14 47 27 41

 Honorable Mention:  David Wright, New York Mets 

Avg. HR RBI SB Runs
.283 12 35 14 39

 Shortstop:  Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins 

This is the deepest NL position, with Ramirez, Reyes, Rollins, Renteria and Hardy all having great seasons.  We’ve got to go with Ramirez for not only his average (.319) and speed (21 SBs), but his 8 HRs this year are showing that last year’s 17 HRs was no fluke.  Don’t get too jealous, his first name is Hanley.

Avg. HR RBI SB Runs
.319 8 18 21 56

Honorable Mention:  Jose Reyes, New York Mets 

Avg. HR RBI BB Runs
.308 2 28 31 45

 Left Field:  Matt Holiday, Colorado Rockies 

His power numbers are down, but Holiday has been far from a disappointment this year.  While Coors Field has been downgraded from “OUTRAGEOUSLY Good Hitter’s Park” to “Very Good Hitter’s Park,” Holiday apparently didn’t get the message.  His career home-road splits are drastic to say the least, with Holiday hitting like a Hall of Famer at home (.362, 50 HRs, 189 RBI in 237 games) and an average player on the road (.268, 27 HRs, 115 RBI in 227 games).

Avg. HR RBI 2B Runs
.346 10 46 22 35

 Honorable Mention:  Carlos Lee, Houston Astros 

Avg. HR RBI SB Runs
.293 11 53 4 35

 Center Field:  Eric Byrnes, Arizona Diamondbacks 

Yeah, I know.  It’s kind of a stretch to call Byrnes a center fielder (19 games in CF), but we are dealing with the JV here.  And Byrnes is very deserving of a spot on our All-Star list, as well as NL’s.  The craziest part is two years ago, Byrnes played for three different teams to hit a combined .226 in 412 at-bats.

Avg. HR RBI SB Runs
.318 9 33 12 38

 Honorable Mention:  Aaron Rowand, Philadelphia Phillies 

Avg. HR RBI BB Runs
.317 8 30 21 42

 Right Field:  Shane Victorino, Philadelphia Phillies 

I’m not kidding.  There are plenty of other NL left fielders who have had better years, but we decided to separate the outfielders by each position for those leagues that also do that and that’s how I came up with Shane Victorino being the best NL right fielder this year.  I feel sick.

 

Avg. HR RBI SB Runs
.269 5 23 19 40

 Honorable Mention:  Jeff Francoeur, Atlanta Braves 

Avg. HR RBI BB Runs
.285 8 45 17 30

 Starting Pitcher:  Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres 

Between April 25 and May 27, Peavy made seven starts, pitched 48 innings, allowed 6 earned runs, 27 hits, struck out 65 batters and walked only 12.  His “down” year last year would have earned him $10 million to $12 million a year if he were a free agent.  Until he hears the dreaded “Tommy John” words, he will be about as good as starting pitchers get.

ERA K W L WHIP
1.97 95 7 1 1.02

 Honorable Mention:  Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies 

ERA K W L WHIP
3.47 104 9 2 1.16

 Closer:  Francisco Cordero, Milwaukee Brewers 

Keep this guy away from Texas.  After being traded to the Brewers last year from the Rangers, Cordero’s ERA dropped a couple of runs.  He didn’t blow a save this year until June 9 and 10, when he blew two games in a row against – you guessed it – Texas.  As a native Texan I can tell you, some people can handle it, some can’t.

ERA K SV IP WHIP
2.05 37 22 26.1 0.87

 Honorable Mention:  Billy Wagner, New York Mets 

ERA K SV IP WHIP
1.65 36 14 27.1 0.95