Fantasy Baseball: The 20-20 Club

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 15, 2010 9:00 AM EST in Baseball Comment 10 comments

Going into draft day, fantasy owners are looking for the guys who give them more than just power or just speed. They want the guy who can give them power and speed. The hitters who can give you power and speed are in high demand, and are usually drafted within the first 3-4 rounds of most drafts, and most of these guys are drafted in the first round.

Below is the list of hitters who joined the 20-20 club in 2010. They hit at least 20 home runs and stole at least 20 bases. The names on this list are not foreign by any means. I have provided their 2009 stats, as well as whether or not I think they can duplicate the effort in 2010.

Let's take a look:

Name	G	AB	H	HR	RBI	SB	AVG	2010
Matt Kemp	159	606	180	26	101	34	0.297	Yes
Ian Kinsler	144	566	143	31	86	31	0.253	Yes
Jimmy Rollins	155	672	168	21	77	31	0.250	Yes
Hanley Ramirez	151	576	197	24	106	27	0.342	Yes
Brandon Phillips	153	584	161	20	98	25	0.276	Yes
Mark Reynolds	155	578	150	44	102	24	0.260	Yes
Chase Utley	156	571	161	31	93	23	0.282	Yes
Shin-Soo Choo	156	583	175	20	86	21	0.300	Yes
Jayson Werth	159	571	153	36	99	20	0.268	Yes
Nelson Cruz	128	462	120	33	76	20	0.260	Yes
Ryan Braun	158	635	203	32	114	20	0.320	No
Troy Tulowitzki	151	543	161	32	92	20	0.297	No
Curtis Granderson	160	631	157	30	71	20	0.249	Yes
Justin Upton	138	526	158	26	86	20	0.300	Yes
Nate McLouth	129	507	130	20	70	19	0.256	No
Torii Hunter	119	451	135	22	90	18	0.299	No

I included Nate McLouth and Torii Hunter as they were on the cusp of joining the 20-20 club in 2009 but fell a SB or two short. Notice that there was only one member of the 30-30 club in 2009- Ian Kinsler. I think Matt Kemp can join the 30-30 club in 2010, and could put together a 35-35 season. That's why I would rank him ahead of Hanley Ramirez in 2010.

Check out who will join the 20-20 club in 2010 after the jump:

But there must be some new blood joining the 20-20 club in 2010, right? Glad you asked. Here is a list of the hitters who I think will go 20-20 in 2010 (with their 2009 stats):

Name	G	AB	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
Derek Jeter	153	634	18	66	30	0.334
Alex Rios	149	582	17	71	24	0.247
Andrew McCutchen	108	433	12	54	22	0.286
Franklin Gutierrez	153	565	18	70	16	0.283
Carlos Gonzalez	89	278	13	29	16	0.284
Alex Rodriguez	124	444	30	100	14	0.286
Matt Holliday	156	581	24	109	14	0.313
Grady Sizemore	106	436	18	64	13	0.248
Chris Young	134	433	15	42	11	0.212
Corey Hart	115	419	12	48	11	0.260

Hitting in the new Yankee Stadium, Jeter could easily join the 20-20 club in 2010. Alex Rios should join the club as well hitting in U.S Cellular Field this year. I am very high on Andrew McCutchen as he hit 12 HRs in just 433 at bats in 2009. He should get over 600 at bats in 2010, so he could approach 20 HRs as well.

Another name you should not forget is Carlos Gonzalez of the Rockies. He went 13-16 in just 278 ABs in 2009. He could easily go 20-20 in 2010 if he keeps up that pace. Alex Rodriguez will have no problem hitting 20 HRs, but who else was surprised he stole 14 bases after returning from hip surgery last year?

Grady Sizemore returns from an injury-filled 2009 season, and he should have no problem going 20-20 in 2010 as long as he is healthy. I included Chris Young and Corey Hart on the list as they have the potential to go 20-20, but both experienced horrendous 2009 seasons. They have fallen pretty far in pre-season mock drafts, so they could come cheap come draft day.

Poll

Who has a better shot at joining the 20-20 club in 2010?

Corey Hart

19 votes

Chris Young

19 votes

Matt Holliday

48 votes

Andrew McCutchen

79 votes

165 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 10 comments |

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Comments

Of this list, I think Chris Young has the best shot. I’ll give my reasoning against the others.

Hart- No reason at all. I just don’t like the guy as a baseball player and that clouds my fantasy judgement of him.
Holliday- I am not sure he’ll ever steal 20 bases again. While we’ve seen that he has the ability, he’s just never stolen any more than 14 besides the flukey 200 season.
McCutchen- Definietely has the speed, but has never hit more than 14 home runs in a season in his minor league career and isn’t exactly built for a 20 home run season. I suppose he could one day, but until he fills out a bit more, I don’t see him hitting 20 home runs.

by Ian, yo on Jan 15, 2010 11:12 AM EST reply actions

Holliday’s flukey 2008 season*

by Ian, yo on Jan 15, 2010 11:13 AM EST reply actions

Some AL Possibilities

BJ Upton-he has done it before so no reason why he can’t do it again. The 24 HR is 07 may have been a fluke but I am still convinced the ability is there to hit 20 plus HR. 20 SBs is pretty much a lock.

Adam Jones-19HR/10SB in 119 games as a 23 years old. If he is healthy 20/20 should be easily within his reach

Ben Zobrist-27 HR/17 SB last year…if he got that close once, I don’t see why he can’t get 3 more bags to joing the club. Never stolen 20 in a season though.

Alex Gordon-post hype sleeper he was in double digits HR/SB in 08 before getting injured in 09. Probably the longest shot on this board

by DB11 on Jan 15, 2010 1:14 PM EST reply actions

Carlos Gonzalez

Am I the only person slightly afraid of the hype?

by faketeams on Jan 15, 2010 3:36 PM EST reply actions

the hype

is thick…..as a Dodgers fan, I hope he turns into the guy that was traded twice. Time will tell.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 15, 2010 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Didn't realize until

…I saw him listed as an elite player in Shandlers Mayberry Method

by faketeams on Jan 15, 2010 7:39 PM EST up reply actions

Count me in. I’m not drinking that Kool-Aid.

by Ian, yo on Jan 15, 2010 8:10 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

no love for the big FraGU ??

by big o on Jan 16, 2010 2:01 AM EST reply actions

I’m as big a fan of Gutz as there is but I don’t want to lump him in with these guys yet. If he repeats his stats from last year, I would consider it.

by Ian, yo on Jan 16, 2010 9:50 AM EST via mobile up reply actions