I have finished my rankings based on a weighted average of the past three seasons of performance along with a new twist to take more realistically into effect the innings and at-bat weightings for the ratios.
1. David Wright, 3B, New York Mets: With HRs down in 2008, Wright hit 33. Add-in a second consecutive season with an Avg better than .300, 30+ HRs, 100+ Runs and RBIS and 15+ SB, and you have the kind of consistency that makes David Wright the #1 fantasy baseball player.
2. Alex Rodriguez, 3B, New York Yankees: Thanks to either my new weighting of AVG or rabid anti-Arod bias, the Yankees' $300MM man comes in second.
3. Matt Holliday, OF, Oakland Athletics: My rankings rely on past performance and do not include a park factor. No way I'd take Holliday the Athletic at this spot.
4. Lance Berkman, 1B/OF, Houston Astros: Last seasons' 18 SB were the reason, the former Rice University hitter was this high. No way he'd be here, SB or not, if he were a Rice U. pitcher. Regardless, if you believe the SB totals will repeat in 2009, Berkman is a great pick. Not at 4, but where he'd likely be taken in the second round.