Minor League Keeper Help Needed

by DJSlam on Jan 10, 2009 8:31 PM EST

Hi, thanks for reading. I'm currently in a 12 team fantasy league head to head matchups with the standard 5X5 stat categories. I need help in figuring out who to keep out of these minor leaguers. I can only keep 6 to start the season. During the season, we have a 25 man roster and an additional 8 man minor leaguer roster. However, prior to the season, you can only keep 6 minor league players and then there is a minor league draft (players who were drafted in this years actual college draft will now be available in this draft).

Anyway, here is who I have on my roster, I need to choose 6. Please note, the reason I have so many is, I went out of the playoffs early, and cut some guys and picked up alot of minor league free agents.

Hitters: Jesus Montero, Freddie Freeman, Carlos Santana, Michael Burgess, Dexter Fowler, Austin Jackson, Matt LaPorta, Jordan Schafer.

Pitchers: Tim Alderson, Trevor Cahill, Brett Cecil, Neftali Feliz, Thomas Hanson, Jeremy Hellickson, Derek Holland.

I was thinking of going with: Fowler, LaPorta, Cahill, Feliz, Hanson and then one of Holland/Hellickson/Alderson but leaning towards Holland.

Thanks for looking and please let me know your thoughts.

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Top 6

Dexter Fowler (.300+, 20+ HR, 40+ SB potential)
Matt LaPorta (Similar to Pat Burrell, maybe a lil more power and avg)
Freddie Freeman (Justin Morneau potential)
Trevor Cahill (Brandon Webb potential)
Thomas Hanson (AJ Burnett potential)
Tim Alderson (John Lackey potential)

*If you are wondering why I didn’t include Holland/Feliz, its because I was thinking in terms of pure fantasy # production. Holland/Feliz are immensely talented arms, however, Texas is a difficult place for pitchers to pitch in, and therefore, there numbers will not be of elite fantasy worth.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on Jan 10, 2009 8:47 PM EST reply actions

FYI

This is not a ranking, just a list of the 6 I think you should protect. I was torn between Freeman and Montero, but chose Freeman because he will be a 1B, whereas, Montero looks like a DH.

This would be a great debate tho, comparing Freeman to Montero.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on Jan 10, 2009 8:53 PM EST up reply actions

hello

I agree with Dewey but i’d probably keep Montero, Jackson, Feliz, or Schafer instead of Alderson.

by mark kl on Jan 10, 2009 11:13 PM EST up reply actions

I like

1. Trevor Cahill rhp
2. Matt LaPorta of
3. Tommy Hanson rhp
4. Neftali Feliz rhp
5. Carlos Santana C
6. Tim Alderson rhp

7. Dexter Fowler of
8. Derek Holland lhp
9. Jesus Montero c/?
10. Freddie Freeman 1B

I’m not as high on Fowler as most.

"In 1962 I was named Minor League Player of the Year. It was my second season in the Bigs." - Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker

by prince of power on Jan 10, 2009 8:48 PM EST reply actions

Mine

Fowler, Cahill, Hanson, Santana, Feliz, Montero

A noob or n00b is someone that lacks intellegance or common sense, most people think that noob is a word used only in the online gaming world, but in reality it is becoming an ever popular word with teenage society.

a noob could be simply a level 100 running round shouting ‘’WTF DO I GO!?’’ or someone calling someone else a noob and then getting hit with a brick, anyone can call anyone a noob, but normally they are noobs themselves
-robert_d_wilfong

by cwhitman412 on Jan 10, 2009 10:03 PM EST reply actions

for me

Cahill, Feliz, Hanson, Holland, Fowler, Santana

by MightyMoose on Jan 10, 2009 10:12 PM EST reply actions

Santana, Cahill, Hanson, Fowler, Cecil, LaPorta

Never, Never, NEVER give up

by hero66 on Jan 10, 2009 11:01 PM EST reply actions

the 6

Carlos Santana, Dexter Fowler, Matt Laporta, Trevor Cahill, Neftali Feliz, Thomas Hanson

ProjectProspect.com - Sullivan10x@yahoo.com

by sully10x on Jan 10, 2009 11:22 PM EST reply actions

Brett

Do you agree with the Vmart comps being thrown out for Carlos Santana?

John and Jim Callis have made reference.

Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!

by Dewey Finn on Jan 10, 2009 11:37 PM EST up reply actions

Santana

I guess I had not realized that Carlos Santana was so highly regarded at this point. In fact, I read so many good things about Derek Holland (mostly on this board and others) that I figured he was a no brainer keeper. Can you tell me a little about him?

by DJSlam on Jan 11, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions

Mine

First, I’m always a little skeptical of C prospects…too much can go wrong, so I downgrade guys until they are right on the cusp (unless their name is Mauer or Wieters).

My list:

Fowler – close to majors, lots of defensive options
LaPorta – high enough upside with bat to combat defensive limits
Schafer – combination of upside, stats, and defensive position
Hanson – combo of scouting, stats, and proximity to majors
Holland – ceiling is too high to ignore, and he has the stats (however briefly)
Cahill – his floor keeps rising, and he is now close to majors

Just Missed:
Freeman – A lot of guys like him don’t ever make the next step; low on defensive spectrum
Burgess – High ceiling, but also low in minors and needs to make K rate adjustments
Ajax – high enough on defensive spectrum that he can afford a stall
Alderson – Could be swapped with Holland.

by siddfynch on Jan 11, 2009 11:44 AM EST reply actions

Tough choices to make

Just based on my own prospect rankings, here is how they rate:

1. Feliz
2. LaPorta
3. Cahill
4. Holland
5. Fowler
6. Hanson
7. Montero
8. Alderson
9. Santana
10. Schafer
11. Freeman

AJax and Burgess are no-brainer cuts. AJax has a low ceiling compared to the other hitters, and Burgess is still battling K problems. Since you have so many elite pitching prospects, I would also put Alderson on the no-brainer cut list. Same with Schafer/Freeman, since Fowler/LaPorta/Montero are all better IMO.

That leaves 8 guys. I agree with Sidd that catching prospects are very risky, and since you have 7 other elite talents that you can protect, I would let Santana go. The last cut is the most difficult choice. I hate keeping that many pitching prospects, but the fact of the matter is someone like Tommy Hanson or Derek Holland is a lot closer to the bigs than Montero. Thus, I would stick with my original 6 of:

1. Feliz
2. LaPorta
3. Cahill
4. Holland
5. Fowler
6. Hanson

None of these guys is all that far from the bigs, and in fact all 6 are at least somewhat likely to make their MLB debut in 2009. All 6 also have enormous ceilings, so they offer a very nice combo of potential/proximity to the bigs. Keep these guys, grab a very good second-tier SP in the draft and go for the rest of your pitching late knowing that your minor league system should help out at some point in 2009.

by guru4u on Jan 11, 2009 4:34 PM EST reply actions

Thank You!

Thanks everyone for their input and the thought you put into this for me. It’s definitely been useful reading these and will help with my upcoming decision.

by DJSlam on Jan 11, 2009 10:56 PM EST reply actions