Mar 05 2009
San Francisco Giants - Fantasy Baseball Preview
If not for CY young winner Tim Lincecum, the Giants could very well be an utter disaster for fantasy baseball teams in 2009. Yet the one thing going for the Giants and fantasy baseball teams, aside from Lincecum of course, is the plethora of young and talented prospects ready to breakout in 2009. Pablo Sandoval, Travis Ishikawa, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Nate Schierholtz, Eugenio Velez, Emmanuel Burriss, Conor Gillaspie, John Bowker and Brian Wilson are all age 27 or younger for the 2009 season. And best of all, that list doesn’t even include up and coming star prospects Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, Tim Alderson and Angel Villalona, who will all be age 22 or younger during the 2009 season. So overall, if you are in a deep keeper league, the Giants offer an excellent picking ground to start building your team.
Top 10 San Francisco Giants - 2009 Fantasy Baseball Rankings
#1 - Tim Lincecum - SP
After last years amazing breakout, Lincecum enters the 2009 season in contention with Johan Santana for the #1 overall fantasy baseball starting pitcher ranking. If you are in a keeper league, Lincecum is the clear cut #1 overall starting pitcher.
2009 Projections: 15 wins, 250 strikeouts, 2.70 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
#2 - Bengie Molina - C
Even though Molina is getting up there in age at 35 for the 2009 season, his catcher eligibility makes him fantasy baseball starter worthy in most leagues. Molina is worthy of a top 10 overall fantasy baseball catcher ranking to begin the 2009 season.
2009 Projections: 40 runs scored, 15 homeruns, 80 rbi, .290 batting average
#3 - Pablo Sandoval - C/3B/1B
Sandoval enters the 2009 season as a bit of a gamble, and overall liability if he doesn’t pan out as expected, but if I have to choose between Sandoval and Matt Cain, I am taking the catcher-third base-first base eligible Sandoval. He should emerge as at top 5 overall fantasy baseball catcher eligible player by the end of the 2009 season.
2009 Projections: 60 runs scored, 20 homeruns, 75 rbi, .300 batting average
Other Notables:
#4 - Matt Cain - SP
#5 - Brian Wilson - RP
#6 - Randy Johnson - SP
#7 - Fred Lewis - OF
#8 - Edgar Renteria - SS
#9 - Aaron Rowand - OF
#10 - Travis Ishikawa - 1B
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Seattle Mariners up NEXT
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