Comments on: Will Jacoby Ellsbury Run Wild in 2009?

By: Rocky

Rocky — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:06:13 +0000

Well guys…Taveras sucked it up even worse than I thought he would, and Gomez was barely better. Meanwhile, Ellsbury stole 70 and improved his average. But you got Taveras 100 picks later, what a steal!

By: Alireza

Alireza — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:00:17 +0000

I think Peter is probably swallowing his words about Ichiro right now.

By: R M

R M — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:09:38 +0000

Yeah, that was really a horrible prediction….Taveras is really ripping up the basepaths with 16 stolen bases at the all-star break…not to mention his .240 average and sub-.300 OBP.

BTW, I’m Jim…just using my initials instead.

By: R M

R M — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:06:37 +0000

Epic Fail.

By: Finn

Finn — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:23:09 +0000

Yeah me too — I literally laughed out loud at the snark of it.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:10:10 +0000

I am one who wouldn’t touch howard in the top 10. But I wouldn’t touch ichiro in the 3rd round either. I really dislike the idea of going with 3cat players in the top 5 or so rounds. I’d rather get someone like matt kemp or curtis granderson, someone who will contribute in 4-5 categories very easily than take someone like ichiro in round 3. The problem with ichiro is that he really is only a top player in terms of batting average. His 35 steals aren’t bad, but they aren’t particularly noteworthy either. Problem is because his 35steals aren’t extraordinary, and his hrs/rbi’s are worse than ordinary you’re really getting a guy based solely on average. I realize its personal preference but round 3 is too early for me to pick a guy based primarily on average. I’m also partially biased tho because I play in leagues with OPS, where ichiro in the 3rd round pretty much kills your team early in that category.

By: Alex Roberts

Alex Roberts — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 04:30:17 +0000

Mike,

I agree with you on two of your points. One – Howard is awesome and is a 3 category beast. Two – Howard is much more valuable than Ichiro heads up.

However, yes, I would avoid Howard in the top 10 picks. And I find Ichiro to be slightly undervalued if he falls to the mid-3rd round.

We are not too far off – you like Howard more and I am fearful of very low batting avgs.

If I did draft Howard in round 1 with the last pick, reluctantly, I would try and target Ichiro at the end of round 3 when the snake comes back to me though.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:40:22 +0000

What makes you say that? He averaged 33 stolen bases a season from 2005-2007, a span of three years. He stole 68 bases last year. Maybe I’m a skeptic, but I don’t take just last year when making predictions for the future. That happens way too much. The year after A-Rod hit 54 homeruns, he was the concensus 1st overall pick. In 2008, he came crashing back to earth. This year, Pujols is the concensus first overall pick based on his .357 average, but I bet you anything he will not maintain last year’s production in 2009. Sure, he will still be great, but not first overall pick great.

You are valuing Taveras on a season that does not line up with the rest of his career, and I think that is a dangerous move.

By: funkybass

funkybass — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:57:26 +0000

“60 steals for Ellsbury is very questionable”

That’s laughable. RTFA, in ’08 he stole 50 in 129 starts. Realistically he has a very good chance for 60 SB being their starting CF. He’d have to drop off badly in OBP for him not to get 10 more bags in 20-30 extra starts.

Having traded Crisp the Sox are putting their faith in this guy; they seem to know their homegrown players pretty well and to expect big things from JE. Keep in mind his ’08 BA may reflect pitchers adjusting against rookie hitters too. I think he’ll hover around .300 most of the season.

Although I agree that Ichiro is more valuable in general, I wouldn’t pick him above JE, simply because he’ll probably get fewer RBI opportunities… but that’s just me.

By: Mike Ketchen

Mike Ketchen — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:12:07 +0000

I know I am a little late back to the convo but I still find it intresting that Alex stated he would avoid Howard but go for Ichiro.

First lets just look at last season. You do realize that he gave you 8 more HR then any other player in the league. He also have you 16 more RBI then anyone. Toss in the fact that he scored 100+ Runs and you have a 3 cat beast. Who is doing things no one the MLB not just his position is doing. Now Ichiro finsihed in the top 10 in all of MLB in one cat. And didnt lead all OF’s in a single one. Sure he hit for a good avg and stole some bags and scored some R. But he is a 3 Cat producer that gives you things collective pieces give you. Not one hitter in all of Baseball gives you what Howard does. And also how come avg counts so much and the fact that Ellsbury had more RBI, SB, HR does not count for anything? Sure the margins were not essentially huge but in a ROTO league each gain gives value.

*also Razzball was not a projection number I was giving you. That was end of 08 dollar values.