Here is a list of a few players (no particular order) who I think may be low on the average fantasy baseball draft list, but who I am picking to click this year.1) Milton Bradley, OF, LA : He turns the magic number 27 this year. He comes off a year that began with turmoil during spring training when he was dumped by the Indians to the Dodgers. In 2003, this guy hit .321, 10 HRs, 56 RBIs, 10 SBs, 377 ABs. Last year, he took a hit to the average (in a pitcher's park half of the time) with stats: .267, 19HRs, 67 RBI, 15 SBs in 516 ABs.
Well, this year, the Dodgers are reducing the foul area with more seats, which is good news for hitters.
I predict .285, 25 HR, 90 RBI, 15 SBs. All pretty good fantasy stats for a 3rd or 4th OF.
2) John Buck, C, KC : Dealt to KC in the Beltran trade to HOU, this guy quietly socked 12 HRs in 238 ML ABs. His average was lacking (.235) and he K'd 79 times (yikes). BUT, in his AAA stint before his ML call-up, he batted .300 in about the same number of ABs and struck out half of the time. At 25 years old... and in the second catcher position, I think he'll be valuable.
3) Hee Seop Choi, 1B, LA : I just have a feeling. This guy looked pretty decent before he got to the Dodgers. A little adjustment in the off-season and spring training, and I have a gut feeling that this guy is going to surprise. He walked 63 times with 343 ABs last year. Throw in a few more hits, and ths all translates onto a nice AVG and OBP. (Call it wishful thinking from this Dodger fan).
4) Jeff Davanon, OF, ANA (I refuse to use LA) : .377 OBP... sporadic playing time. Give this guy a starting job (which he has a good shot of getting this year), and I call him a five-category player. In 285 ABs last year, .277 AVG, 7 HRs, 34 RBI, 18 SBs (3 CS). Good 3rd or 4th OF, but I bet you can get him at the tail end of a draft for $1.
5) Lew Ford, OF, MIN : Guy posts some very impressive numbers, but he gets less attention than even Juan "please be" Gonzalez. Full season of play, and he bats .299, 15 HRs, 72 RBI, 20 SB. Call him the "quiet" fantasy stud. 29 years old... and I think he's about to get even better.
6) Jody Gerut, OF, CLE : Guy was a very average minor leaguer, but he showed flashes of brilliance in 2003. Last year, he was somewhat lackluster, cutting his HRs in half from the previous year (11, from 22 in about the same number of ABs). .252 BA vs. .279 the year before. 28 years old. He did improve in SBs (13 last year, compared to 4 the previous year). I see him getting stats somewhere in the middle of the previous two years. With those stats, this guy is the perfect 4th or 5th OF.
7) Craig Monroe, OF, DET : 28 years old. Had a quiet breakout season last year. .293/18 HRs/72 RBI, 3 SB. Yah, I didn't realize it, either. Good 4th or 5th OF pick, and I bet when you shout his name out... you get him for $1, while a majority of your fellow drafters will be scratching their heads, asking: "Who?"
