Mock Draft Rounds 11-13

The list continues….some questionable picks in this group for sure. Some potential gems in the rough though, as well.

Round 11
Steve 1	John Danks	SP	Steady  ERA in the 3.60-3.70 range and WHIP under 1.25. Exactly what I’m looking for from a fourth starter.
Geoff 1	Juan Pierre	OF	Speedster will pilfer at least forty. Should be set in SB with him and McCutch.
Brent 1	Matt Garza	SP	Always been a big fan of Garza. Switch to the NL could help his cause
Adam 1	Curtis Granderson	OF	A year of health won’t help him against LHP, but it will with everything else.
Adam 2	Trevor Cahill	SP	An increase in K rate and he’s a borderline #1 in fantasy as well as real life.
Brent 2	Tim Hudson	SP	Solid pitcher when healthy and last year showed that
Geoff 2	Aubrey Huff	1B	Decent numbers for an under the radar 1B. Will be solid but not GREAT
Steve 2	Josh Beckett	SP	Beckett skills diminishing or was last year an aberration? I’m betting aberration.
Steve 3	Ian Kennedy	SP	Live arm that’s learning how to fine tune his pitches in a weak division.
Geoff 3	Hiroki Kuroda	SP	Nothing special but won’t hurt you either. How’s that for a ringing endorsement?
Brent 3	Gio Gonzalez	SP	Repeat please!
Adam 3	Nick Markakis	OF	Now that he’s actually got some lineup protection, we’ll see how good he really is.
Round 12
Adam 3	David Ortiz	DH	Still productive after all these years, at least after May.
Brent 3	Chris Perez	RP	Projecting a 30 saves season with great counting stats.
Geoff 3	Jason Bay	OF	If he is healthy there’s no reason to think he can’t get back, or at least close, to where he was in 2008/2009.
Steve 3	Craig Kimbrel	RP	Should win closer’s role – the kid has electric stuff.
Steve 2	Drew Storen	RP	See Kimbrel, Craig.
Geoff 2	Javier Vazquez	SP	Has always been a NL pitcher. Betting on a return to pre-2010 numbers.
Brent 2	Brad Lidge	RP	Closers starting to thin out a bit, needed to make a play for a potential 30 saves player.
Adam 2	Francisco Rodriguez	RP	He should have a pretty good year if he stops beating up his father-in-law.
Adam 1	Joe Nathan	RP	Looks very good coming off of TJ surgery.  Should be back to his normal dominant form by May.
Brent 1	Jonathan Broxton	RP	I BELIEVE IN YOU JON…… no really I did in 2009. Did not want to jump on the wagon but this round has been CL filled
Geoff 1	Ricky Romero	SP	Good young pitcher. Won’t wow you but with be very serviceable
Steve 1	Huston Street	RP	Health is always a concern, but not a lot of sure-fire things available in these rounds.
Round 13
Steve 1	Matt Thornton	RP	Jumbo Jenks is out of the picture – door now open for Thornton to step through.
Geoff 1	Ricky Nolasco	SP	Nolasco!
Brent 1	Jeremy Hellickson	SP	Love his upside
Adam 1	Vladimir Guerrero	DH	There are worse things than hitting cleanup in Camden Yards.
Adam 2	Paul Konerko	1B	Needed a little more team power, and this guy fits the bill nicely.
Brent 2	Andres Torres	OF	A nice mix of power and speed.
Geoff 2	Howard Kendrick	2B	With the Angels’ addition of Wells and return of Morales he should score a ton of runs.
Steve 2	Torii Hunter	OF	Not the hitter he once was, but as a #3 OF he has a great deal of value.
Steve 3	Adam Jones	OF	Still some upside here, and he’s hitting in a much improved O’s line-up this season.
Geoff 3	Ryan Franklin	RP	Needed to get second closer before I got stuck with Mitch Williams
Brent 3	CJ Wilson	SP	Last year should be the beginning of his maturation as a pitcher.
Adam 3	Brett Myers	SP	Finally got out of Philly and had a very nice year.

Mock Draft Rounds 7-10

A little slow coming out of the gates, but here’s rounds seven through ten as we iron out the rest of the details.

Round 7
Steve 1	BJ Upton	OF	The lesser of the the Uptons-batting average is a worry but steals are not.
Geoff 1	Brian Wilson	RP	Somebody has to be the first closer to go, Wilson is as good as any of them.
Brent 1	Aramis Ramirez	3B	He can’t kill me two years in a row……Right?
Adam 1	Matt Cain	SP	Last year’s playoffs were his coming-out party.  He’s now officially reached ace status.
Adam 2	Ichiro Suzuki	OF	Batting average and stolen bases will be excellent, but how many runs will he score?
Brent 2	Chris Young	OF	A repeat of last year and he and Pence will compliment each other nicely in my OF.
Geoff 2	Brett Gardner	OF	The on-base skills will lead to tons of SB and runs in this line-up
Steve 2	Jay Bruce	OF	Feels like we’ve been waiting for the huge breakout from Bruce for awhile. Talent to produce as a #2 OF.
Steve 3	Pablo Sandoval	3B	Might be reaching here. Hoping for a bounce back from Kung-Fu Fatty.
Geoff 3	Martin Prado	3B	In a decent lineup, Prado should be very productive this year and is multi-position eligible.
Brent 3	Corey Hart	OF	No Comment
Adam 3	Clay Buchholz	SP	ERA of 2.20 and WHIP of 1.15 after the All-Star break for a guy just hitting his stride?  Yes, please.
Round 8
Adam 3	Delmon Young	OF	All of his stats are trending the right way.  Hard to believe he’s still only 25.
Brent 3	Max Scherzer	SP	Big K numbers to come….. This is a love/hate relationship and I love to hate him!
Geoff 3	Mariano Rivera	RP	SOLID SOLID SOLID even at the young age of 57
Steve 3	Gordon Beckham	2B	A nice bounce back candidate. Great second half last year.
Steve 2	Daniel Hudson	SP	Electric stuff with the ability to maintain the coveted K/IP
Geoff 2	Alexei Ramirez	SS	Remarkably consistent and helpful in every category.
Brent 2	Roy Oswalt	SP	When healthy this guy’s as good as anybody except maybe the rest of the Phillies rotation.
Adam 2	Joakim Soria	RP	The best closer that doesn’t rhyme with “bar piano.”
Adam 1	Dan Haren	SP	Bad: back in the American League.  Good: back in the American League West.
Brent 1	Heath Bell	RP	Lots of low-scoring games in San Diego mean lots of saves.
Geoff 1	Michael Young	3B	Good in Texas.  Might be even better in Colorado if he gets traded.
Steve 1	Pedro Alvarez	3B	Along with the Dread Pirate McCutchen, he’s going to be keystone in the Bucs’ rebuilding process.
Round 9
Steve 1	Kelly Johnson	2B	Not completely sold on his 2010 numbers, but if he comes close to repeating then he’s a bargain here.
Geoff 1	Ted Lilly	SP	Undervalued and underappreciated starter. Should continue to be a solid #3 pitcher every fifth day.
Brent 1	Ben Zobrist	2B	Which version of Zobrist is the real deal, 2009 or 2010? We’ll find out this year.
Adam 1	Carlos Marmol	RP	Huge Ks for a closer and good SV totals, but gets there in some interesting ways.
Adam 2	Brett Anderson	SP	People seem to be holding 1st half health last year against him.  Look at the 2nd half stats.
Brent 2	Neftali Feliz	RP	He’ll probably be closing, but even if he starts he’s valuable.
Geoff 2	Jonathan Papelbon	RP	Had a bad season last year, but now he’s close to cashing in on free agency.
Steve 2	Brandon Morrow	SP	Should get tons of run protection and his skill set is still on the rise.
Steve 3	Elvis Andrus	SS	If last year’s playoffs were any indication of his ceiling, 2011 may be tremendous.
Geoff 3	Jonathan Sanchez	SP	200 Ks and improves every year……
Brent 3	Stephen Drew	SS	I think the potential has been there for years. Lets hope it comes out this year.
Adam 3	J.J. Putz	RP	He’s been an elite closer before, and he’s healthy again.
Round 10
Adam 3	John Axford	RP	Might as well solidify my closers now; might not get the chance again.
Brent 3	Casey McGehee	3B	Should get plenty of RBI opportunities while hitting in stacked Brewers lineup.
Geoff 3	Drew Stubbs	OF	Best chance to become this season’s version of CarGo (minus the batting average) due to his 20/30 upside.
Steve 3	Shawn Marcum	SP	Like most pitchers, he’ll benefit from move to NL. Would have been fine picking him here if he was in Toronto.
Steve 2	Andrew Bailey	RP	Need to finally start making a couple of closer picks, as much as I want to Sean Landetta saves.
Geoff 2	Ryan Dempster	SP	Great numbers to have as a number three fantasy starter.
Brent 2	Wandy Rodriguez	SP	A bit of a roller coaster at times last year, but final numbers were more than solid.
Adam 2	Colby Rasmus	OF	Don’t like his K rate, but everything else suggests a star-in-waiting.
Adam 1	Chad Billingsley	SP	As soon as he lowers his BBs, he’ll be a true ace.  Flying completely under the radar this year.
Brent 1	Colby Lewis	SP	Competed in the hot Texas summer and came away with great overall numbers. Can he do it twice in a row?
Geoff 1	Neil Walker	2B	Will be hitting in what may turn out to be a surprisingly potent Bucs line-up.
Steve 1	Jhoulys Chacin	SP	Could be Ubaldo-lite this year. Has the potential to reach 200 K if he can log enough innings.

Mock Draft Rounds 5 and 6

Rounds five and six this morning, hoping to add seven and eight later today….

Round 5
Steve 1	Jacoby Ellsbury	OF	A healthy bounce back year. 130 runs and 50 swipes is possible.
Geoff 1	Jimmy Rollins	SS	May be on wrong side of career but still capable of strong outputs if healthy.
Brent 1	Jayson Werth	OF	Not excited about new park but the guy can still produce.
Adam 1	Brandon Phillips	2B	Remarkably consistent performer at a position starting to get very thin.
Adam 2	Justin Verlander	SP	The very definition of an ace.  Great stats virtually every year.
Brent 2	Clayton Kershaw	SP	23 years old and already pitching at an elite level.
Geoff 2	Chris Carpenter	SP	The strike-outs are a little low, but his wins and peripherals are rock solid.
Steve 2	Zack Greinke	SP	Former Cy winner should benefit from move to the NL.
Steve 3	Ubaldo Jimenez	SP	The run of starting pitchers continues. One of the last true aces left on the board.
Geoff 3	Alex Rios	OF	Looking at 20/30 production to along with Hamilton. Great one-two OF punch.
Brent 3	Mike Stanton	OF	Might be a little early for Stanton but if he lives up to the hype he is well worth it.
Adam 3	Rickie Weeks	2B	If he stays healthy and cuts down on the Ks, this is a great value pick.  If not….
Round 6
Adam 3	Cole Hamels	SP	He might be the 4th starter in the Phillies’ rotation, but he’d be the 1st for most teams.
Brent 3	Brian McCann	C	Gotta Love a good hitting catcher. Has a lot more help in his lineup this year to boot.
Geoff 3	Jered Weaver	SP	A near lock for 200 Ks and a great ERA.
Steve 3	Carlos Santana	C	Best available catcher, potential to outperform his draft slot by a ton.
Steve 2	Adrian Beltre	3B	The move out of Fenway is a wash due to the launching pad known as Arlington.
Geoff 2	Mat Latos	SP	Great stuff and gets half his starts in a pitcher’s park.
Brent 2	Hunter Pence	OF	20-20-90-90 .280  if he repeats owners will be happy with those numbers
Adam 2	David Price	SP	He’s an ace already, has electric stuff, and is just starting to put it all together.
Adam 1	Shane Victorino	OF	Solid in every category and poised to have a big year at the top of the Phillies’ lineup.
Brent 1	Tommy Hanson	SP	Might be my favorite young pitcher! Has all the makings for an ACE. 200 Ks this year possible
Geoff 1	Francisco Liriano	SP	Very solid year last year let’s hope he stays healthy.
Steve 1	Yovani Gallardo	SP	A solid number two that should have some pressure taken off him w/ addition of Greinke and Marcum.

Mock Draft Rounds 3 and 4

The mocking continues…in my opinion the real fun starts after round 4. We’ll take a look at rounds five and six tomorrow.

Round 3
Steve 1	Joe Mauer	C	Not a big fan of taking a catcher with 3rd pick, but his perennial battle for a batting title is undeniable.
Geoff 1	Andrew McCutchen	OF	Some may think this is early for the Dread Pirate, but I’ll take a 20/30 anyday.
Brent 1	Shin Soo Choo	OF	I think Choo Is one of the safest players in Baseball. 300-90-20-90-20
Adam 1	Matt Kemp	OF	A 20-20 guy even in a bad year, he should be much better with Joe Torre not around.
Adam 2	Buster Posey	C/1B	Young stud should get more PA than a normal C since he’ll be playing 1B on days he doesn’t catch.
Brent 2	Jose Reyes	SS	Healthy Reyes gives me much needed production from weak position.
Geoff 2	Jose Bautista	3B/OF	Even if he comes back down to earth, he’ll still hit 30 HR with a high OBP.
Steve 2	Derek Jeter	SS	This is higher than his #’s from last season should dictate, but I really feel like he’ll play up to this draft spot.
Steve 3	Justin Upton	OF	2010 was a down year, but Upton’s talents are far too impressive to pass up.
Geoff 3	Kendry Morales	1B	Freak injury last year shouldn’t affect his power or production moving forward.
Brent 3	Ian Kinsler	2B	Solid all around when healthy
Adam 3	Tim Lincecum	SP	2-time Cy Young winner is still one of the elite, but at a reduced price this year.

Round 4
Adam 3	Nelson Cruz	OF	If he stays healthy, this guy is a 5-category monster.
Brent 3	Adam Dunn	1B	50 HR possible in new home!
Geoff 3	Adam Wainwright	P	Consistency is hard to come by with pitching; there’s no reason to think he won’t be great again this season.
Steve 3	Cliff Lee	P	See Wainwright, Adam.
Steve 2	Dan Uggla	2B	30 HR power now hitting in a much better lineup.
Geoff 2	Victor Martinez	C/1B	Solid if not spectacular production. Should see more fastballs with Miggy hitting behind him.
Brent 2	Justin Morneau	1B	Back to normal this year will bring solid numbers. .300-30-100-100 possible with healthy lineup.
Adam 2	Jason Heyward	OF	Can’t believe he’s still here.  Paying a bit for potential, but already very good.
Adam 1	Jon Lester	SP	Future Cy Young winner just entering his prime.  Is this the year?
Brent 1	Josh Johnson	SP	With a few more wins could be elite fantasy pitcher.
Geoff 1	Andre Ethier	OF	Should get back to 30 HR with 100 RBI production
Steve 1	CC Sabathia	P	A pure workhorse that approaches or reaches 20 wins every year.

Mock Draft Round 2

As we continue to work on our 2011 Mock Draft we will be slowly rolling out a few rounds at a time. We will post the draft in its entirety (without comments) at the conclusion of this process in addition to each team’s complete roster. Here are the results of Round 2. Rounds three and four should follow later this afternoon.

Adam 3	David Wright	3B	His K rate last year was alarming, but he’s the most complete player left.
Brent 3	Roy Halladay	SP	Lifetime .123 BA, but a heck of a good pitcher.
Geoff 3	Chase Utley	2B	He’s healthy, and will put up big numbers this year. .290-110-30-95-15.
Steve 3	Matt Holliday	OF	Steady as it comes. Protection from Pujols certainly doesn’t hurt either.
Steve 2	Mark Teixeira	1B	A premier power hitter that brings his hard hat and lunch pail everyday.
Geoff 2	Ryan Howard	1B	He’s not going to hit under 40 this year. I’m guessing 48 and 2 steals.
Brent 2	Ryan Zimmerman	3B	Shallow position and not many great 3B left. Will go nice with Cano.
Adam 2	Dustin Pedroia	2B	The “Laser Show” should be primed for a career year in the Sox’ new lineup.
Adam 1	Alex Rodriguez	3B	As long as his hip cooperates, he’s the last elite 3B option on the board.
Brent 1	Kevin Youkilis	1B	His 3rd base eligibilty will help his value and my gut is next one is way down the list.
Geoff 1	Felix Hernandez	SP	As solid as they get for SP. With a li’l help from his lineup he could be #1 SP.
Steve 1	Prince Fielder	1B	If his every other season production continues, then he’s in for a monster season.

All-Time Fantasy Teams: Houston Astros

All-Time Fantasy Teams: Houston Astros (Single-Season Stats)

 C

Craig Biggio (1991)

Biggio is the only player thus far to make his team’s list at multiple positions. An All-Star season in 1991 forced the ‘Stros to move him to 2^nd base to reduce the wear and tear on his lower body. Turned out to be a great decision for the club and their future Hall of Famer.

.295 BA/ 79 R/ 4 HR/ 46 RBI/ 19 SB/ .374 SLG

1B

Jeff Bagwell (1999)

Seriously amazing. That just about sums up Bag’s ’99 season. A 40/30 year to go along with 143 runs as he played every game that season. I’d run out of adjectives if I tried to describe his fantastic year. The numbers speak for themselves.

.304 BA/ 143 R/ 42 HR/ 126 RBI/ 30 SB/ .591 SLG

2B

Craig Biggio (1998)

Part-two of the dreaded Killer Bs, Biggio mounted one of the greatest single seasons in the history of the position. His 20/50 campaign, coupled with a 123 runs and a great batting average, make up a truly dynamic offensive threat.

.325 BA/ 123 R/ 20 HR/ 88 RBI/ 50 SB/ .503 SLG

3B

Ken Caminiti (1994)

This was a surprisingly thin crop and Caminiti’s selection was not a sure-thing. His best (and perhaps steroid-induced) seasons came after his move to San Diego. Ken’s defense was always fantastic, but his offensive output was not. The ’94 season was his best in Texas. I’m very luke-warm with this selection.  

.283 BA/ 63 R/ 18 HR/ 75 RBI/ 4 SB/ .495

SS

Dickie Thon (1983)

For those of you who don’t remember him- yes that is his real name. Thon will never be a candidate for the Hall of Fame, but ’83 was an All-Star season for him. He added a Silver Slugger to the trophy case due to a great mix of power and speed.

.286 BA/ 81 R/ 20 HR/ 79 RBI/ 34 SB/ .457 SLG

OF

Cesar Cedeno (1974)

Cedeno was one of the first true stars for the Houston franchise, and his unique blend of speed, and power, and run production would play nicely on any team, during any generation. A four-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner, CC may be one of the most underrated outfielders of the 1970s.

.269 BA/ 95 R/ 26 HR/ 102 RBI/ 57 SB/ .338 SLG

 Lance Berkman (2001)

The Big Puma, as he is affectionately known, put together a fantastic ’01 season. His mastery of the strike-zone is apparent in his .431 on-base percentage, and his power played great in his home ballpark all summer long. The final offensive line below is truly impressive.

.331 BA/ 110 R/ 34 HR/ 126 RBI/ 7 SB/ .620 SLG

Hunter Pence (2010)

When trying to compile a fantasy team I try to compile a well-rounded and versatile group. Balance is invaluable and across the board production is rare indeed. Pence’s numbers may not jump off the page at you, but his numbers are steady and consistent. I’ll take them anytime.

 .282 BA/ 93 R/ 25 HR/ 91 RBI/ 18 SB/ .461

Starting Pitcher

Mike Scott (1986)

As much as I wanted to include Roy Oswalt and Nolan Ryan (my all-time favorite pitcher) here, its impossible to ignore Scott’s total domination of the National League during his Cy Young award winning ’86 season. Scott did it all that summer and his K/BB ratio is unbelievable.

275.1 IP/ 18 W/ 7 CG/ 306 K/ 2.22 ERA/ .92 WHIP

Relief Pitcher

Billy Wagner (2003)

The Wag’s summer of 2003 included not just 44 saves in 47 chances, but also great peripherals. The ERA and WHIP were great, but perhaps most impressive was the fact that he kept opposing hitters to a .169 batting average.

86.0 IP/ 44 SV/ 105 K/ 1.78 ERA/ .087 WHIP

Mock Draft 2011

As the 2011 Major League Baseball season approaches, so do fantasy baseball drafts and auctions. Backwoods Baseball is no exception, as we’ve begun our annual Mock Draft. The format is simple: each owner is responsible for 3 teams in a 12-team mixed league and each roster must include 24 total players. We’ll be drafting under the guise of a standard 5×5 scoring system. Complete results will be posted at the conclusion of the snake draft, with each owner’s thoughts and opinions on their teams mixed in throughout. Here’s  a sneak peek at our first twelve choices:

Steve 1	Hanley Ramirez	SS	Very shallow position and I think he’ll perform at career high levels.
Geoff 1	Albert Pujols	1B	One of the greatest players of all time – in his prime.
Brent 1	Troy Tulowitzki	SS	Tulo and any top 12 1B is better than Miggy and the next best SS.
Adam 1	Miguel Cabrera	1B	Along with Pujols, the only guy without any real concerns.  A total stud.
Adam 2	Evan Longoria	3B	Just coming into his prime, he’s the best player at a surprisingly thin position.
Brent 2	Robinson Cano	2B	Wanted to make sure I got number one at the position.
Geoff 2	Carlos Gonzalez	OF	.330-125-38-125-30 potential. Triple crown contender.
Steve 2	Carl Crawford	OF	5 category production hitting infront of Youkilis and A-Gon.
Steve 3	Joey Votto	1B	Breakout season just the beginning for Votto.
Geoff 3	Josh Hamilton	OF	If healthy for 150+ games… imagine the numbers – pure hitter.
Brent 3	Ryan Braun	OF	5 Category production.
Adam 3	Adrian Gonzalez	1B	His swing is perfect for Fenway, and now he’s actually got lineup protection.

 

Check back often for updates and results of the full 24- round process. We welcome all feedback and thoughts on our picks.

All-Time Fantasy Teams: Baltimore Orioles

All-Time Fantasy Teams: Baltimore Orioles

 C

Gus Triandos (1958)

Catcher is definitely becoming the toughest spot to fill as we compile these lists. The Baltimore Orioles were no exception, as although Triandos power was legit, his low-average leaves a lot to be desired.

.245 BA/ 59 R/ 30 HR/ 79 RBI/ 1 SB/ .456 SLG

1B

George Sisler (1920)

Sisler’s 1920 season was truly fantastic, and one that often gets lost in the shuffle when talking about epic offensive performances from that decade. Give me an average over .400 and 137 runs, coupled with a tone of steals any time.

.417 BA/ 137 R/ 19 HR/ 122 RBI/ 42 SB/ .632

2B

Brian Roberts (2007)

Robert’s injuries are now starting to pile up on him and he may be only a shell of his former self. His former self was pretty darn good, though- especially in 2007. 100-plus runs and fifty swipes make for a very productive two-bagger.

.290 BA/ 103 R/ 12 HR/ 57 RBI/ 50 SB/ .432 SLG

3B

Brooks Robinson (1964)

The heart and soul of the mid-Atlantic, Robinson is perhaps better known for his vacuum-like defensive skills. Offensively Brooks was no slouch, as evidenced by his ’64 season where he put up career bests in RBI and home runs.

.317 BA/ 82 R/ 28 HR/ 118 RBI/ 1 SB/ .521 SLG

SS

Cal Ripken, Jr. (1991)

The Iron-Man certainly stamped his mark on the game of baseball and will be forever remembered as not just a baseball player, but as a piece of true Americana. Hard-working, consistent, and strong-willed only begin to scratch the surface of adjectives that could be used to describe the Bird’s longtime shortstop. His 1991 MVP was well-deserved, as he was a Gold Glover and Silver Slugger, as well due to his amazing overall effort.

 .323 BA/ 99 R/ 34 HR/ 114 RBI/ 6 SB/ .566 SLG

 OF

Brady Anderson (1996)

Anderson’s career-year has always raised more than a few eyebrows, as he blew away his previous career highs, and never again reached the heights of the success he found in the middle of the Steroid-era. Steroids or not, the guy flat-out mashed all year long.

 .297 BA/ 117 R/ 50 HR/ 110 RBI/ 21 SB/ .637 SLG

Ken Singleton (1979)

Singleton never fully reached the promise that he displayed at times early in his career while playing for Montreal, but he was able to put together a couple of great seasons for the O’s during the latter stages of his 14-year career. ’79 was by far his best, as his 35 home runs and 111 RBI paced the squad.

 .295 BA/ 93 R/ 35 HR/ 111 RBI/ 3 SB/ .533 SLG

 Frank Robinson (1969)

Often regarded as one of the game’s all-time greats by his peers, Robinson’s season in ’69 showcased his versatility and consistency. Frank the Tank was able to hit for average, hit for power, and even snag a couple bags on occasion.

 .308 BA/ 111 R/ 32 HR/ 100 RBI/ 9 SB/ .540 SLG

 UTIL:

Eddie Murray (1985)

An All-Star year for ‘Steady Eddie’,  in ’85 he was a consistent performer throughout the summer. When a player hits over 500 career home runs, smacks over 3,000 hits, and drives in over 1,900 runs its often hard to pick one specific stand-out year. The same can be said for Murray whose consistency may be his greatest trait.

 .297 BA/ 111 R/ 31 HR/ 124 RBI/ 5 SB/ .523 SLG

 Starting Pitcher

Jim Palmer (1975)

The Hall of Famer’s eight 20-win seasons may never be replicated by a pitcher, not to mention his two separate stretches of four straight twenty win campaigns (1970-1973, 1975-1978). The 1975 season was truly prolific however, and his total domination of the American League that summer led to one of his three Cy Young Awards. The numbers below are not typos- he was that good.

 323.0 IP/ 23 W/ 25 CG/ 193 K/ 2.09 ERA/ 1.03 WHIP

Relief Pitcher

Gregg Olson (1990)

The 1990 season was one in which Olson peaked in his production. He compiled almost a strikeout per inning, on his way to 37 saves; a career high.

 74.1 IP/ 37 SV/ 74 K/ 2.42 ERA/ 1.18 WHIP

All-Time Fantasy Teams: Boston Red Sox

C:  Carlton Fisk (1977)

Easily the best season of the 24-year veteran’s Hall of Fame career, this Vermont native was an absolute nightmare for opposing pitchers all year.  While especially good at Fenway and against RHP, Fisk’s overall production was almost identical in each half of the season, a rarity among catchers.

.315 BA/ 106 R/ 26 HR/ 102 RBI/ 7 SB/ .402 OBP/ .521 SLG/ .922 OPS

1B:  Jimmie Foxx (1938)

These stats look like a batting line from a video game set to “easy.”  Foxx’s 3^rd AL MVP campaign yielded numbers that rival any individual season in the history of the game.  I suppose when a guy’s RBI total looks like a typo,  it helps make up for only 5 SB.

.349 BA/ 139 R/ 50 HR/ 175 RBI/ 5 SB/ .462 OBP/ .704 SLG/ 1.166 OP

2B:  Dustin Pedroia (2008)

“The Laser Show” put up the best season of any Red Sox 2B, and it helped him win the AL MVP.  Much like the man himself, nothing immediately jumps out at you except for the overall excellence in every category.  Pedroia also took home the AL Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards, helping round out his trophy cabinet.

.326 BA/ 118 R/ 17 HR/ 83 RBI/ 20 SB/ .376 OBP/ .493 SLG/ .869 OPS

3B:  Wade Boggs (1987)

Though this Hall of Famer and member of the 3,000 hit club was one of the greatest contact hitters ever to play the game, he set his personal bests in HR, RBI, SLG, OPS, and Total Bases during the 1987 season.  Even better, he didn’t sacrifice OBP to do it as it was the 2^nd best mark of his career.

.363 BA/ 108 R/ 24 HR/ 89 RBI/ 1 SB/ .461 OBP/ .588 SLG/ 1.049 OPS

SS:  Nomar Garciaparra (1998) 

From 1997-2003, Nomar had one of the greatest stretches of any SS in history.  He had four seasons that could all be defended as his best, as evidenced by his 1998 season ranking as only 3^rd in BA, R, and OPS as well as 4^th in SB.  He did, however, reach his highs in HR and RBI, and finished 2^nd in the AL MVP voting.

.323 BA/ 111 R/ 35 HR/ 122 RBI/ 12 SB/ .362 OBP/ .584 SLG/ .946 OPS

OF:  Ted Williams (1949)

“The Splendid Splinter” has been universally regarded as the greatest hitter of all time, so choosing one year to highlight was almost impossible.  He set his single-season highs in R, HR, and RBI during the 1949 season, but he hit for the 10^th worst BA of his career.

.343 BA/ 150 R/ 43 HR/ 159 RBI/ 1 SB/ .490 OBP/ .650 SLG/ 1.141 OPS

OF:  Carl Yastrzemski (1970)

Unbelievably, Yaz’s Triple Crown-winning season of 1967 was not the best statistical one of his 23-year career.  In 1970, he set personal highs in BA, R, SB, OBP, and OPS, adding to his Hall of Fame legacy and surmounting a time of offensive complacency.

.329 BA/ 125 R/ 40 HR/ 102 RBI/ 23 SB/ .452 OBP/ .592 SLG/ 1.044 OPS

 

OF:  Tris Speaker (1912)

“The Grey Eagle” led the Red Sox to two World Series victories and is acknowledged as one of the greatest centerfielders of all time, both offensively and defensively.  His sublime 1912 season earned him the only MVP award he would receive.

.383 BA/ 136 R/ 10 HR/ 90 RBI/ 52 SB/ .464 OBP/ .567 SLG/ 1.031 OPS

UTIL:  Jim Rice (1978)

“Jim Ed” bashed his way to the AL MVP in 1978 in one of the finest years ever seen at Fenway Park, leading the league in H, 3B, HR, RBI, SLG, OPS, and Total Bases.  Soft-spoken with the press, Rice let his bat do his talking all the way to the Hall of Fame.

.315 BA/ 121 R/ 46 HR/ 139 RBI/ 7 SB/ .370 OBP/ .600 SLG/ .970 OPS

Starting Pitcher:  Smoky Joe Wood (1912)

One of the most amazing years ever put up by a Red Sox pitcher.  Wood’s career was never the same after this herculean effort, but he will surely always hold the franchise single-season record for wins.

344.0 IP/ 34 W/ 1.91 ERA/ 1.015 WHIP/ 258 K/ 35 CG/ 10 SHO

Starting Pitcher:  Pedro Martinez (2000)

Done in the heyday of the steroid era, this is perhaps the most impressive season ever turned in by a starting pitcher relative to the context in which it was accomplished.  Every time he pitched at Fenway, the energy was more rock concert than baseball game.  The seven years Pedro spent pitching in Boston are unparalleled in Red Sox history.

217.0 IP/ 18 W/ 1.74 ERA/ 0.737 WHIP/ 284 K/ 7 CG/ 4 SHO

 Starting Pitcher:  Roger Clemens (1986) 

1986 was Clemens’ coming-out party to the rest of the American League.  Though it ended on a bittersweet note, the Texas fireballer used his first Cy Young award as a launching pad to six more – including the next season – and a spot in the Red Sox record books as the franchise’s all-time leader in wins and strikeouts.

254.0 IP/ 24 W/ 2.48 ERA/ 0.969 WHIP/ 238 K/ 10 CG/ 1 SHO

Starting Pitcher:  Cy Young (1901) 

There’s a reason the yearly award for the best pitcher is called the “Cy Young.”  Though he had many memorable campaigns in Boston, his first season after arriving was in many ways his most impressive.  However, when you win 511 games, it’s hard to pick any one season as clearly the best.

371.1 IP/ 33 W/ 1.62 ERA/ 0.972 WHIP/ 158 K/ 38 CG/ 5 SHO

Starting Pitcher:  Luis Tiant (1974)

 Known for his windup, mustache, and flair, “El Tiante” authored a season for the ages and established himself as more than just an entertaining figure on the mound.  His mental and physical toughness – as well as his idiosyncrasies – served to catapult him to cult hero status among Red Sox fans of multiple generations.

311.1 IP/ 22 W/ 2.92 ERA/ 1.166 WHIP/ 176 K/ 25 CG/ 7 SHO

Relief Pitcher:  Jonathan Papelbon (2006)

 This was one of the most dominant seasons in the era of the modern closer.  His fastball had so much giddy-up to it that it seemed to literally accelerate halfway to the plate.  Together with impeccable control and the intensity of a hungry wolverine, it was strange to see any ball hit with conviction against him. 

68.1 IP/ 4 W/ 35 SV/ 0.92 ERA/ 0.776 WHIP/ 75 K

Relief Pitcher:  Dick Radatz (1964)

“The Monster” turned in perhaps the greatest season in Red Sox reliever history in 1964.  Though he never started a game, his stats compare favorably to those of a modern-day ace.  Gifted with enormous size and just as big a fastball, many batters who faced him were intimidated before the first pitch.

157.0 IP/ 16 W/ 29 SV/ 2.29 ERA/ 1.025 WHIP/ 181 K

All-Time Fantasy Teams: San Diego Padres

San Diego All-Time Fantasy Team (Single Season Stats)

C

Terry Kennedy (1982)

166 H/ 75 R/ 21 HR/ 97 RBI/ 1 SB/ .295 AVG

1B

Adrián Gonzalez (2008)

172 H/ 103 R/ 36 HR/ 119 RBI/ 0 SB/ .279 AVG

2B

Mark Loretta (2004)

208 H/ 108 R/ 16 HR/ 76 RBI/ 5 SB/ .335 AVG

SS

Khalil Greene (2007)

155 H/ 89 R/ 27 HR/ 97 RBI/ 4 SB/ .254 AVG

3B

Ken Kaminiti (1996)

178 H/ 109 R/ 40 HR/ 130 RBI/ 11 SB/ .326 AVG

OF

Tony Gwynn (1997)

220 H/ 97 R/ 17 HR/ 119 RBI/ 12 SB/ .372 AVG

Dave Winfield (1979)

184 H/ 97 R/ 34 HR/ 118 RBI/ 15 SB/ .308 AVG

Greg Vaughn (1998)

156 H/ 112 R/ 50 HR/ 119 RBI/ 11 SB/ .272 AVG

UTIL

Gary Sheffield (1992)

184 H/ 87 R/ 33 HR/ 100 RBI/ 5 SB/ .330 AVG

SP

Kevin Brown (1998)

257.0 IP/ 18 W/ 257 K/ 2.38 ERA/ 1.07 WHIP

Jake Peavy (2007)

223.1 IP/ 19 W/ 240 K/ 2.54 ERA/ 1.06 WHIP

Gaylord Perry (1978)

260.2 IP/ 21 W/ 154 K/ 2.73 ERA/ 1.18 WHIP

Randy Jones (1975)

285.0 IP/ 20 W/ 103 K/ 2.24 ERA/ 1.05 WHIP

Bruce Hurst (1989)

244.2 IP/ 15 W/ 179 K/ 2.69 ERA/ 1.14 WHIP

RP

Trevor Hoffman (1998)

73 IP/ 53 SV/  86 K/ 1.48 ERA/ .085 WHIP

Rollie Fingers (1977)

132.7 IP/ 35 SV/  113 K/ 2.99 ERA/ 1.20 WHIP