Fantasy Baseball: Top 5 Milwaukee Brewers for 2010

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 19, 2010 12:00 PM EST in Baseball

The Brewers are next in the Top 5 series, so let's have a look:

1. Ryan Braun-he's the best, or second best, outfielder in the draft depending on who you talk to (I say Matt Kemp is #1). Braun will give you 30+ HRs and 100+ RBIs with 15-20 SBs every year, and he is capable of hitting 40 HRs in the very near future.

2. Prince Fielder-speaking of power, the Brewers may have one of the top 1-2 power hitters in the game. Fielder proved that his 2008 season was an aberration as he clubbed 46 HRs and drove in 141 to go with his .299-.412-.602 slash line. Bill James projects a 44-124-.286-.393-.574 season in 2010.

3. Yovani Gallardo-Gallardo went 13-12-3.73-1.31 in 2009, as his BB/9 increased from 3.00 in 2008 to 4.56 in 2009. Still he struck out nearly 10 batters per nine innings, but his LOB%, or strand rate, was pretty high at 77.9%. James projects 12-3.53-1.30 in 2010.

4. Alcides Escobar-not many rookies make the Top 5's, as I am not ready to buy into a bounce-back season from OFer Corey Hart or Casey McGehee continuing to hit like he did in 2009. Escobar has the speed to steal 35+ bases in 2010, but has no power whatsoever. His only value to fantasy owners is his speed.

5. Trevor Hoffman-not much more can be said about this HOF closer. Many experts wrote him off in 2009, and he responded with a 37 save season with a 1.83 ERA. James projects similar numbers in 2010.

Sleeper Alert: Mat Gamel-Gamel was touted as the next Ryan Braun going into 2009 fantasy drafts, and he struggled with the comparisons as he finished 2009 with 5 HRs, 20 RBI, and a .242-.338-.422 slash line. James projects a 17-73-.277-.354-.464 season for Gamel in 2010. If given a position, whether at third base or right field, Gamel should hit.

Poll

Will 2010 be Mat Gamel's break out season?

Yes-he could top James projection

31 votes

No-where will he play?

47 votes

78 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Escobar

I think Escobar can give much more than just steals. The past few years in the minors he’s been a .300 hitter and he’s only 23 so he’s going to grow. In his admittedly small sample size of 150 AB, his BB%, K%, BB/K and BABIP were remarkably similar to his minor league numbers. Furthermore, playing time is secure with JJ Hardy gone and the fact that defense doesn’t slump, and Escobar’s defense is supposedly stellar. Finally, who is going to be hitting leadoff in front of the two best power hitters in the game? Escobar. So Escobar could easily be a R, SB, AVG horse.

by kellemonster on Jan 19, 2010 4:46 PM EST reply actions

Weeks?

I se Escobar lower….7th or 8th as long as Weeks is healthy.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 19, 2010 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

I went back and looked, and you’re right they put him down at 7 or 8 during last season, although I wonder if that had more to do with felipe lopez having a high BA year and not wanting to put the guy you traded for low in the lineup.

I guess if I was building a line up I’d put Escobar #1 and Weeks #2 Obviously this will all shake out in spring training, but I’d think you put the guy with the lower average but more power behind the speedy guy with no power.

But if Escobar is up in the #1 spot, does your opinion of him change?

by kellemonster on Jan 19, 2010 4:55 PM EST up reply actions

yes

he will probably steal more bases, score 90+ runs and hit for a good BA, assuming he hits right away. I assume they will give him a long leash, not that I have any reason to think they won’t.

raygu
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Jan 19, 2010 4:58 PM EST up reply actions