2012 Fantasy Baseball Peckin’ Order: The Top Five Shortstops NOT To Draft In 2012
I have said it time and time again; the most scarce fantasy baseball position is shortstop. With only 5, maybe 6, top tier players at the position, the drop off between that 6th and 7th guy is so much that it could cost your team the season.
Being on top of the best available players as you creep through the draft is imperative to a winning season. The wrong shortstop could literally cripple your offensive output and put you into a major bind. The following group of players isn’t necessarily players I wouldn’t draft, but players I wouldn’t take as my starting option.
Top 5 Shortstop to stay away from in 2012:For the first player on my do not draft list, 2011 was incredibly generous to him. So generous, that he SHATTERED career numbers.
Asdrubal Cabrera (SS, CLE) posted 25 homers, nearly twice as many as he had in his career up to that point. He also drove in 92, scored 87, and stole 17 bases – all career high numbers. Unfortunately, Cabrera’s break out year reminds me way too much of another middle infielder that had similar career lows only to break out in one insane offensive year, Aaron Hill (2B, ARI). After Hill’s career year (2009) he began to slip back to his old self, and I am afraid that Cabrera will do the same thing. Keep Cabrera off your rosters, unless you need to fill a middle infield or utility spot…he isn’t worth your starting SS spot.As of late,
Rafael Furcal (SS, STL) has come into some major issues with staying healthy. Furcal has completed 100 games just once over the last three seasons, and with the emergence of Dee Gordon (SS, LA) Furcal was shipped out to St. Louis to play with the now Pujols-less Cardinals. Furcal is 34 this year, and with age comes slower speed, quicker break downs, and decrease in ability. He shouldn’t be considered for anyone’s opening day fantasy rosters.Don't forget to check out our 2012 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide. It’s our best yet, with ranks, auction values, and insights from some of the best names in the game!
Our next participant will definitely help you in the steals category, but will do absolutely nothing else for your fantasy squad.
Alcides Escobar (SS, KC) was thought to be the next Derek Jeter (SS, NYY) – a combination of average, minimal pop and 20+ stolen bases. Well, he got the steals down pat, but he hasn’t been able to put together anything else. In nearly 1200 Major League at bats Escobar has a .252 average and a .294 on base percentage, only 9 homers and 98 runs batted in and with minimal offense behind him runs scored will be limited as well.Our final shortstop to stay away from comes from the confines of San Diego.
Jason Bartlett (SS, SD) has had a pretty nice career for himself, despite being bounced around to now three different teams. Last year’s .245 average may be a bit of an abnormality however, I just can’t take that chance. Bartlett has decent speed and has eclipsed the 20 SB mark on several occasions, and normally his average is much better than a year ago. But he has absolutely no power, which only gets hurt more by the very spacious ball park he calls home, and with a pretty anemic offense either in front of him or behind him, don’t expect him to drive in many, or score many on his own. If Bartlett can get his average back to respectability he is worth a late round UTIL pick up, but nothing more than that.The shortstop position is growing with the youngsters
Elvis Andrus (SS, TEX), Dee Gordon (SS, LA) and Starlin Castro (SS, CHC) among others, which is great for you as you prepare for your drafts. But it isn’t there yet, and you need to be cautious when drafting. Jump quick and early and get yourself a stud at the position, or you could be looking from the outside in come playoff time.(September 16, 2011 – Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images North America)
Written by Justin Mandaro exclusively for The Fantasy Fix.
You can follow me on twitter @PeckinTheFix
The Author
