Power in short supply among NL outfielders
It used to be that there was plenty of depth to go around in the outfield so fantasy owners didn't have to jump at the first few of them on draft day and could still end up with a solid group. That doesn't seem to be the case any more.
In the National League last season, only four outfielders hit 30 homers and four reached 100 RBI. By comparison, five NL first basemen reached the 30-homer mark and five had 100 RBI. (Adam Dunn, who qualified at both spots, did as well.)
To sum it up, power numbers especially consistent power numbers aren't easy to find in the outfield.
Of course, guys like Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Jayson Werth will also steal 20+ bases to go complement their power numbers. Braun also hit .320 and led all outfielders last season in runs scored with 113 -- just another reason why he's at the top of our position rankings.
Kemp gets the second overall spot after his breakout 2009 campaign when he hit 26 homers and drove in 101 runs to go with 97 runs scored and 34 steals. Even more impressive, Kemp walked more and struck out less than he did the previous season. That shows he's still improving at the ripe old age of 25. Upton played in just 138 games, but still managed to hit 26 homers and steal 20 bases while maintaining a .300 average. And Werth posted career-best totals of 36 homers and 99 RBI to go along with his 20 steals.
Those four, along with the Cardinals' Matt Holliday, comprise the upper tier of NL outfielders, with the Mets' Jason Bay leading the second group.
But after those guys, with Dunn as the most notable exception, there isn't a whole lot of power. That's when speed begins to take over. Look for guys like Michael Bourn, Nyjer Morgan and Andrew McCutchen in the middle rounds to give you a boost in steals.
Popular sleeper/rebound candidates this year include Jay Bruce, Chris Coghlan and Kyle Blanks.
And as for Braves rookie Jason Heyward, judging from his performance so far in spring training … plan on him making the team and being the starting right fielder on opening day. The kid is too good to keep out of the lineup especially in Bobby Cox's final season as Braves manager.
<TABLE border=1 width=250 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>1</TD><TD>Ryan Braun</TD><TD>Mil</TD></TR><TR><TD>2</TD><TD>Matt Kemp</TD><TD>LAD</TD></TR><TR><TD>3</TD><TD>Justin Upton</TD><TD>Ari</TD></TR><TR><TD>4</TD><TD>Matt Holliday</TD><TD>StL</TD></TR><TR><TD>5</TD><TD>Jayson Werth</TD><TD>Phi</TD></TR><TR><TD>6</TD><TD>Jason Bay</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR><TD>7</TD><TD>Manny Ramirez</TD><TD>LAD</TD></TR><TR><TD>8</TD><TD>Carlos Lee</TD><TD>Hou</TD></TR><TR><TD>9</TD><TD>Shane Victorino</TD><TD>Phi</TD></TR><TR><TD>10</TD><TD>Andre Ethier</TD><TD>LAD</TD></TR><TR><TD>11</TD><TD>Michael Bourn</TD><TD>Hou</TD></TR><TR><TD>12</TD><TD>Nate McLouth</TD><TD>Atl</TD></TR><TR><TD>13</TD><TD>Raul Ibanez</TD><TD>Phi</TD></TR><TR><TD>14</TD><TD>Adam Dunn</TD><TD>Was</TD></TR><TR><TD>15</TD><TD>Hunter Pence</TD><TD>Hou</TD></TR><TR><TD>16</TD><TD>Andrew McCutchen</TD><TD>Pit</TD></TR><TR><TD>17</TD><TD>Carlos Gonzalez</TD><TD>Col</TD></TR><TR><TD>18</TD><TD>Nyjer Morgan</TD><TD>Was</TD></TR><TR><TD>19</TD><TD>Brad Hawpe</TD><TD>Col</TD></TR><TR><TD>20</TD><TD>Jay Bruce</TD><TD>Cin</TD></TR><TR><TD>21</TD><TD>Mark DeRosa</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR><TD>22</TD><TD>Chris Coghlan</TD><TD>Fla</TD></TR><TR><TD>23</TD><TD>Ryan Ludwick</TD><TD>StL</TD></TR><TR><TD>24</TD><TD>Alfonso Soriano</TD><TD>ChC</TD></TR><TR><TD>25</TD><TD>Conor Jackson</TD><TD>Ari</TD></TR><TR><TD>26</TD><TD>Jason Heyward</TD><TD>Atl</TD></TR><TR><TD>27</TD><TD>Carlos Beltran</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR><TD>28</TD><TD>Lastings Milledge</TD><TD>Pit</TD></TR><TR><TD>29</TD><TD>Kyle Blanks</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR><TD>30</TD><TD>Dexter Fowler</TD><TD>Col</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
It used to be that there was plenty of depth to go around in the outfield so fantasy owners didn't have to jump at the first few of them on draft day and could still end up with a solid group. That doesn't seem to be the case any more.
In the National League last season, only four outfielders hit 30 homers and four reached 100 RBI. By comparison, five NL first basemen reached the 30-homer mark and five had 100 RBI. (Adam Dunn, who qualified at both spots, did as well.)
To sum it up, power numbers especially consistent power numbers aren't easy to find in the outfield.
Of course, guys like Ryan Braun, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Jayson Werth will also steal 20+ bases to go complement their power numbers. Braun also hit .320 and led all outfielders last season in runs scored with 113 -- just another reason why he's at the top of our position rankings.
Kemp gets the second overall spot after his breakout 2009 campaign when he hit 26 homers and drove in 101 runs to go with 97 runs scored and 34 steals. Even more impressive, Kemp walked more and struck out less than he did the previous season. That shows he's still improving at the ripe old age of 25. Upton played in just 138 games, but still managed to hit 26 homers and steal 20 bases while maintaining a .300 average. And Werth posted career-best totals of 36 homers and 99 RBI to go along with his 20 steals.
Those four, along with the Cardinals' Matt Holliday, comprise the upper tier of NL outfielders, with the Mets' Jason Bay leading the second group.
But after those guys, with Dunn as the most notable exception, there isn't a whole lot of power. That's when speed begins to take over. Look for guys like Michael Bourn, Nyjer Morgan and Andrew McCutchen in the middle rounds to give you a boost in steals.
Popular sleeper/rebound candidates this year include Jay Bruce, Chris Coghlan and Kyle Blanks.
And as for Braves rookie Jason Heyward, judging from his performance so far in spring training … plan on him making the team and being the starting right fielder on opening day. The kid is too good to keep out of the lineup especially in Bobby Cox's final season as Braves manager.
<TABLE border=1 width=250 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD>1</TD><TD>Ryan Braun</TD><TD>Mil</TD></TR><TR><TD>2</TD><TD>Matt Kemp</TD><TD>LAD</TD></TR><TR><TD>3</TD><TD>Justin Upton</TD><TD>Ari</TD></TR><TR><TD>4</TD><TD>Matt Holliday</TD><TD>StL</TD></TR><TR><TD>5</TD><TD>Jayson Werth</TD><TD>Phi</TD></TR><TR><TD>6</TD><TD>Jason Bay</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR><TD>7</TD><TD>Manny Ramirez</TD><TD>LAD</TD></TR><TR><TD>8</TD><TD>Carlos Lee</TD><TD>Hou</TD></TR><TR><TD>9</TD><TD>Shane Victorino</TD><TD>Phi</TD></TR><TR><TD>10</TD><TD>Andre Ethier</TD><TD>LAD</TD></TR><TR><TD>11</TD><TD>Michael Bourn</TD><TD>Hou</TD></TR><TR><TD>12</TD><TD>Nate McLouth</TD><TD>Atl</TD></TR><TR><TD>13</TD><TD>Raul Ibanez</TD><TD>Phi</TD></TR><TR><TD>14</TD><TD>Adam Dunn</TD><TD>Was</TD></TR><TR><TD>15</TD><TD>Hunter Pence</TD><TD>Hou</TD></TR><TR><TD>16</TD><TD>Andrew McCutchen</TD><TD>Pit</TD></TR><TR><TD>17</TD><TD>Carlos Gonzalez</TD><TD>Col</TD></TR><TR><TD>18</TD><TD>Nyjer Morgan</TD><TD>Was</TD></TR><TR><TD>19</TD><TD>Brad Hawpe</TD><TD>Col</TD></TR><TR><TD>20</TD><TD>Jay Bruce</TD><TD>Cin</TD></TR><TR><TD>21</TD><TD>Mark DeRosa</TD><TD>SF</TD></TR><TR><TD>22</TD><TD>Chris Coghlan</TD><TD>Fla</TD></TR><TR><TD>23</TD><TD>Ryan Ludwick</TD><TD>StL</TD></TR><TR><TD>24</TD><TD>Alfonso Soriano</TD><TD>ChC</TD></TR><TR><TD>25</TD><TD>Conor Jackson</TD><TD>Ari</TD></TR><TR><TD>26</TD><TD>Jason Heyward</TD><TD>Atl</TD></TR><TR><TD>27</TD><TD>Carlos Beltran</TD><TD>NYM</TD></TR><TR><TD>28</TD><TD>Lastings Milledge</TD><TD>Pit</TD></TR><TR><TD>29</TD><TD>Kyle Blanks</TD><TD>SD</TD></TR><TR><TD>30</TD><TD>Dexter Fowler</TD><TD>Col</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
