2011 Fantasy Baseball Hot Prospects: Domonic Brown

The 2011 season has already been unkind to Phillies prospect Domonic Brown as he will miss 4-6 weeks after having surgery to repair a broken Hamate bone in his right hand.  Brown was the frontrunner to be the Phillies opening day right fielder but will now have to wait until late April before returning to action.  While this injury does dampen the excitement most of us had for Brown entering the season, this should not impact his fantasy outlook very much if at all. 

 

Domonic Brown — OF — Philadelphia Phillies

Height: 6’5″ Weight: 200 lbs — Hits: Left Throws: Left

2010 Stats — .210/.257/.355, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 8 runs, 2 steals

(Minor League Totals AA & AAA) — .327/.391/.589, 20 HR, 68 RBI, 65 runs, 17 steals

 

Scouting Report — Domonic Brown is an outstanding physical specimen.  He is also a gifted athlete who can do just about everything there is on the baseball field.  He hits for average, power, has good speed both out of the box and on the basepaths, has good range in the outfield and possesses a cannon for an arm.  His swing is simple and surprisingly compact for having such long arms and he generates great whip action through the strikezone.  While there are scouts who project Brown as someone who will hit for a plus batting average, he has a tendency to open up his front foot too early which reduces his coverage to the outside part of the plate.  This was a flaw that was exposed early and often in his September callup and something major league pitchers will use against him consistently.  He has a great attitude as well and takes to coaching quite well also.  Brown is an extreme talent but is still raw in a few areas such as patience at the plate, hitting to the opposite field and taking proper routes to the ball in the outfield. 

 

2011 Analysis — It was very unfortunate that Brown broke the Hamate bone in his right hand after just 16 spring at-bats and will be out of commission until mid to late April.  But his fantasy value and sleeper potential are still outstanding and should not be taken too lightly.  Brown will have plenty of chances to prove himself this season though it would be wise to expect a slow start when he initially returns from hand surgery. The power numbers should hold true to his minor league totals and that means between 16-20 taters while his batting average and stolen base numbers will likely go down.  Brown may never post the big stolen base totals you might expect from such a fast player because of his low walk totals and his extra base hitting ability.  He just won’t end up on first base as much as you would like and thus the stolen base number may disappoint.  Still, there is a lot of upside in Domonic Brown as he has the potential to post great numbers across the board and be a late round fantasy force for those who draft him in 2011. 

Compare To — Carlos Gonzalez, Drew Stubbs, Barry Bonds

 

Jeff Mans is a Bleacher Report contributor and a Senior Writer at Fantasy Alarm. 

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MLB: 4 Questions Facing the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies

This offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies did something historic; something totally remarkable; something that may not have ever been done before in the history of Major League Baseball.

The Phillies took four of baseball’s best pitchers and placed them on the same rotation.

Fans rejoiced, as it was the first time they could remember their team being picked to win the World Series by almost everyone who pays attention to baseball with an unbiased opinion (I’m looking at you, Mr. Met).

But really, does having four of baseball’s best starters pitching day after day secure a trip to the Fall Classic and a parade on Broad Street?

No, it does not.

For each of the four aces, there’s an important question that must be answered.

 

How Will Chase Utley Perform This Season, if at All?

Because of the excitement of the offseason, it seems like decades since the last time we’ve had a serious concern about the Phillies.

Chase Utley, Ruben Amaro and Scott Sheridan (the Phillies’ athletic trainer) recently talked publicly about Utley’s injury for the first time in about a week. Both Amaro and Sheridan said that Utley’s knee isn’t responding to non-operative treatments and that other options may have to be explored.

Utley added that although this season means a lot to him, he must be focused on his future as well.

If Utley does in fact need some sort of surgery, he might miss significant time, which could force Ruben Amaro to make a move for a replacement. Wilson Valdez did a wonderful job filling in last season when injuries plagued the infield, but when it comes down to it, he’s still only a utility player.

After the acquisition of Cliff Lee this offseason, Ruben stated that the Phillies have reached their limit when it comes to spending money, so free agency will not be an option.

The only resort would be making a trade, which could hinder another aspect of the team depending on who would be given up. Even if Utley does play in the near future, will he be anywhere near the level he has played at in the past?

We don’t know, and only time will tell.

 

Is Raul Ibanez Going To Be…Good?

Last year, Raul Ibanez just was not there offensively. Whether it was because of his newfound food allergy, or the simple fact that he’s aging, he had a miserable season.

This year, with so many questions offensively, Ibanez is going to need to step up his game. He needs to be able to hit fastballs well again, or hit breaking balls and off-speed pitches very well.

In 2009, Ibanez had a stellar first half and he was a huge part of the team’s success and World Series run. If he proves himself this year, he really could be a difference-maker in the offense’s production.

 

Will the Phillies’ Offense Continue To Produce Miserable Numbers and Spoil Terrific Starts by the Rotation?

In 2008 and 2009, the Phillies scored three or less runs in 59 and 58 games, respectively.

Last season, Philadelphia scored three or less runs in 75 games. In those 75, the Phillies went 24-51. Many of those games were ones in which the starting pitcher only allowed one or two more runs than the offense scored.

The inability to play small ball or come up with clutch hits hurt the team when it came to winning games. The Phillies scored 48 less runs and hit 58 less home runs than they did in 2009. Their offense was very inconsistent, going through multiple slumps over long periods of time throughout the season.

Part of the blame goes to Jimmy Rollins, who had a very below-average season. This year, Charlie Manuel is contemplating dropping Rollins to the fifth spot in the batting order, where he can no longer have the opportunity to be an offensive catalyst.

Manuel is making a mistake.

In the past, when Jimmy Rollins gets on base, the Phillies score runs. That’s how it is.

If Charlie expects the Phillies to score, he needs to put the offense in the hands of Rollins as he has in the past.

Another offensive question has to do with second base and right field. If Chase Utley is missing and Ben Francisco takes the spot in right previously occupied by the powerful Jayson Werth, will the offense be able to score enough runs?

Once again, we’ll have to wait and see.

 

How Is This Year’s Bullpen Going To Perform?

Brad Lidge, 2008’s Mr. Perfect and 2009’s Mr. “As Far From Perfect as Possible,” will continue his duties as Phillies closer. In 2010 Lidge was on and off, but his season was considered successful.

What Brad Lidge are fans going to be seeing this year?

Will they be confident when Brad takes the mound in the ninth, or will they be turning off the television to avoid getting angry at the result? Hopefully, Lidge has gotten his act together and will throw a solid season.

If not, quality starts and hard-earned leads will fade away before our very eyes.

Ryan Madson is always a solid eighth-inning setup man, and he will be the least of the Phillies’ worries if he continues his above-average pitching. Jose Contreras is also a guy who will most likely continue his clutch late-inning work.

We’ll also need to pay attention to the lefty who will be called on when big-name left-handed hitters step up to the plate. Ruben Amaro was hesitant to re-sign J.C. Romero this offseason because of his health and control problems last year, but after other options proved futile Romero is once again wearing red pinstripes.

If J.C. performs like he did in 2008, he could be a difference-maker in tough situations. If not, we might see baby-faced Mike Zagurski and other left-handers in the minor leagues trying their luck on the major league squad.

After not being able to come to a contract agreement with Chad Durbin this offseason, it looks like Charlie Manuel will be giving Durbin’s long/middle-relief position to Kyle Kendrick.

Kendrick has shown he can be a quality pitcher, but his inconsistency is cause for some concern. He’s arguably going to be stepping into a more important role than his fifth-starter spot last year, because he might be thrown into key late-game situations this season.

Other questions in the bullpen include whether or not Danys Baez will be of any worth, who will fill the last setup/late-inning role in the seventh or when Madson needs a rest and who will be the second left-hander in the ‘pen.

Eventually, all of these questions will be answered.

Chase Utley will receive a second opinion on his knee, the offense will attempt to regain its past form and the bullpen will try to solidify roles and hold leads late in games.

On paper, a World Series win looks very attainable, but when you’re buying tickets for the World Series before Opening Day, remember that nothing is certain.

The Phillies are still going to need to play their hearts out, and some things will have to go the team’s way for fans to attend another Broad Street parade.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Can They Survive Injury-Plagued Cliff Lee, Chase Utley?

Chase Utley’s recent injury is quickly becoming more serious than originally thought.

Seeing a leader out of the lineup already is causing concern for many Phillies fans.

After a big offseason move put together arguably the best pitching rotation in the major leagues, fans may have to ask themselves: Can the team win without Utley and Lee?

Lee also had a minor injury this offseason, which he downplayed greatly last week. He says he is fine and he looks good after a rough first outing, but what if this injury wasn’t just a minor tweak?

Last year’s pitching rotation was already scary, but pitching was not their downfall last season and it doesn’t figure be this season. Even if Cliff Lee goes down with an injury, the big three can still carry the team while players such as Kyle Kendrick or Vance Worley step up as a fill in role while Lee recovers.

The offense, however, greatly contributed to last October’s NLCS loss to the Giants and this year’s crew has a lot of question marks.  

Can Rollins stay healthy and put up MVP like numbers again? Can Ryan Howard perform like he did in 2006? Will Utley stay healthy?  

Utley has a very good possibility of starting the year on the disabled list if his knee injury does not heal soon, this increases the need for players like Rollins and Howard to step up and fill in. Ben Francisco, who is likely to earn the starting right field position, will also need to have a hot start to the season.  

The potential is there; the players just need to perform.  

The Phillies have a dominating lineup from top to bottom, and are obvious favorites to win the NL East again and to win the World Series in October. Even if Utley and Lee were to go down with injuries, there is still enough talent to carry the team to another championship.   

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Fantasy Baseball 2011: Value Outfielders and When to Draft Them

The outfield position in fantasy baseball has been one of the scarcest positions over the past few years. Considering most leagues start five outfielders, the player pool gets thin very quickly in respect to elite outfielders. There are players you can get five rounds later with comparable numbers in many stat categories as that of their elite counterparts. 

This analysis is not meant to deter owners from drafting these players, it is simply to show you that some players are overvalued and some are undervalued. When taking player comparisons into consideration, you have to look at the type of league you are in; Roto leagues have different player values than head-to-head point leagues.

Fantasy baseball is a game of numbers, so we will look at the outfield position to show you some value picks for 2011:

 

Player A: .298 Avg. 21 HR 112 RBI 5 SB

Player B: .304 Avg. 25 HR 103 RBI 14 SB

 

Both Player A and Player B had comparable stats in most categories in 2010. The biggest difference in these players is you can get one of them eight rounds later than the other.

Player A is Delmon Young. The Twins’ outfielder is the 86th ranked player in ESPN rankings. Player B is Ryan Braun, the fifth ranked player on the entire draft board, per ESPN.

Is Ryan Braun overvalued?

Not really. He’s a great outfielder and will give you great numbers in all five Roto categories, though he did have a down year in 2010.

Delmon Young is a 25-year-old player on the rise. Smacking 21 home runs last year while playing his home games at the spacious Target Field, look for Young to at least match his 2010 numbers, if not improve upon them.

Now for the second set of outfielders:

 

Player A: .296 Avg. 106 R 27 HR 85 RBI 13 SB

Player B: .288 Avg. 91 R 29 HR 89 RBI 1 SB

 

The difference in these players is you can get one of them 13 rounds later than the other, per ESPN rankings.

Player A is being projected as a third or fourth round pick on draft day, while Player B is ranked as a 17th round pick. These players’ stats are too similar for them to be that far apart on the draft board.

Player B is Nick Swisher. The Yankees right fielder is in a potent lineup, so these stats are easily repeatable. On the other hand, Player A, Jayson Werth, is moving away from a highly-offensive team in the Philadelphia Phillies.

Werth is definitely overvalued. The Washington Nationals threw a lot of money at him in the offseason to sign him out of free agency. In 2010, Werth was not able to top 30 home runs, 90 RBI or a .300 average.

It’s a wonder the Nationals spent so much money on him. Werth has never, in his eight-year major league career, driven in more than 100 runs, so don’t expect him to in a downgraded lineup this year. Just because the Nationals overvalued him, doesn’t mean you have to too.

 

This article is also featured on www.FantasySportsKings.com. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter @Fantasy_Kings. Click on the icons on the website.

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Philadelphia Phillies Notes: Trade Rumors, Fixing Utley, Danys Baez and More

It has been a busy week for the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Florida, and for some, more than others.

While the drama in Phillies’ camp has momentarily moved away from the starting rotation, the buzz surrounding star second baseman Chase Utley has been unbelievable, as fans and personnel alike question whether he’ll begin the season on time, or whether he’ll even play at all. So what is Utley’s status?

General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr., head trainer Scott Sheridan and Utley each addressed the media today, and each echoed the same sentiment—they want to get this cleared up as soon as possible.

The evolution of Utley’s injury has been astonishing. He missed the first few games of the Grapefruit League schedule with what was described as “general soreness.” Following that, his injury was called “patellar tendinitis,” and finally today, Sheridan told the media that along with some tendinits, Utley was suffering from chondromalacia.

Understanding Utley’s injuries give us some insight to the actual gravity of the situation. While patellar tendinitis is obviously tendinitis of the knee, chondromalacia is a bit more difficult to understand. Also called “runner’s knee,” chondromalacia, in essence, is knee pain.

The injury is actually quite common among professional athletes, but doctors question whether or not Utley’s condition is a severe case. While the Phillies were traditionally tight-lipped about the future of Utley’s treatment when addressing the media, David Hale of the Courier Post recently conducted an interview with Dr. David Rubenstein, who is the head of sports medicine at Lankaneau Hospital, where he treats athletes from the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Soul.

Dr. Rubenstein’s take on the situation is much more relieving than Amaro and Sheridan first made it out to be. In an interview where he basically calls Detroit Tigers’ third baseman Brandon Inge a sissy, Rubenstein tells Hale that surgery is rarely used to treat chondromalacia, if ever.

When asked about the treatment of chondromalacia, Rubenstein said that there are two common types of injections to treat runner’s knee—steroids and artificial lubricants. I’m not a doctor, but my opinion is that Utley will be having one of, or both, of these injections within the next few days. If that doesn’t work, Utley will go under the knife.

Well, actually, he won’t. The surgery, according to Rubenstein, is an arthroscopic procedure that takes all of 15 minutes. He also says that the “four to six” week time-line we’ve been hearing about is bogus. Though everyone recovers at different speeds, Utley would be on crutches for a few days and ready to start working out again in about two weeks.

In my opinion, the sky is not falling, Chicken Little. Utley will play this season, and if I may offer a bold prediction—by Opening Day.

The prospect of Utley sitting on the shelf for a while has kicked up a flurry of trade rumors, however. Today on MLBTradeRumors, Tim Dierkes took a look at possible replacements for Utley, should the Phillies need  to explore their trade avenues.

Heading his list of possible candidates, Dierkes lists Chone Figgins, Jeff Keppinger, David Eckstein, Michael Young, Felipe Lopez, Luis Castillo and Ramon Santiago as possible replacements for Utley, and only a few of those seem like actual possibilities.

With the Phillies’ payroll having come into question in the past few days, most notably by Ken Rosenthal of FOXsports.com, players with big contracts seem to be out of the equation, removing Figgins and Young from the list, though Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated is reporting that the Phillies have scouts following Young.

The most likely possibility is Eckstein, who is currently a free agent. Signing him to a minor league contract wouldn’t hurt the Phillies any. He’s a scrappy player who fits right in to the Phillies style, and at the very least, he provides competition for Wilson Valdez in that super-utility role.

On to some good news! I will now be taking full responsibility for fixing Danys Baez! (End sarcasm)

Last week, I wrote a story on Phillies’ non-roster invitee Matt Anderson, and how one of the major roadblocks on his path to the major leagues was Baez. Needless to say, ever since I started discrediting Baez, he’s figured something out with his mechanics. At the time the article was published, he had just received a shellacking from a squad composed of Toronto Blue Jays’ minor leaguers.

Since the article has been posted, he’s thrown 4 1/3 scoreless innings for the Phillies. “I feel like I have a better angle on the ball right now,” said Baez, who is entering a contract year with the Phillies. “I feel I’m in control of the pitch and the ball. My first outing against Toronto was tough. I realized I needed to try something else.” Whatever he’s doing, it’s working.

Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s about time I begin working my magic on Utley’s knee!

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies’ Chase Utley Creates Knee-Jerk Panic With Latest Diagnosis

Those already panicking over Chase Utley‘s knee problems were given more fuel to add to the fire today. 

The Philadelphia Phillies announced that not only does Utley have patellar tendinitis, he also has chondromalacia and bone inflammation.

Utley has had both patellar tendinitis and chondromalacia in the past, so the recurrence of these issues, plus the fact that the cortisone injection did nothing, is very, very bad news. 

In a fantasybaseball.com article, a former athletic trainer states: “…inflammation of the bone, which generally means that the cartilage has completely worn away in spots and Utley’s knee now has portions where bone is rubbing directly on bone.”

Because both rest and cortisone have not helped, the outlook for recovery is grim. The Phillies plan to exhaust all non-surgical options, but those options may be slim.

And if Utley had these symptoms right at the start of spring training, that raises some questions. Did Utley have the same symptoms during his offseason workouts? And if so, why did he not seek help earlier? 

He could have had surgery in the offseason and saved months of possible playing time.

Now that the Phillies are trying to avoid surgery, that may just be postponing the inevitable. This is also wasting more time if he does eventually need surgery.

According to multiple medical sites and patient testimonies, the rest time needed for non-surgical recovery from chondromalacia, also known as “runners knee,” is listed as “months,” not weeks. 

If rest will take months to help, why not just do the surgery and get it over with?

This is obviously a frustrating scenario all around. If Utley is going to be out for an extended period of time, the Phillies need to know as soon as possible.

Either they will hand the job to Wilson Valdez or they need to look elsewhere for help.

Either way, it is bad news for the Phillies.

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Philadelphia Phillies: Will Ryan Madson Become the Closer in the Near Future?

On January 18, Ryan Madson woke up to some pretty good news.

No, he was not the recipient of a new contract.

No, his wife was not expecting another child.

And no, most certainly, the Phillies had already signed Cliff Lee back in December.

It was an important day for Madson, however, a day in which reliever Rafael Soriano finalized a three-year contract with the New York Yankees to set up future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. A $35 million payout to Soriano certainly raised eyebrows around the league, and a whole lot of questions.

Why New York, when the Yankees already have an established closer that shows no signs of letting up any time soon? More important, why so much money?

We’ve been down this road before, with guys like Francisco Cordero, Brandon Lyon and Francisco Rodriguez in past years. This offseason, Soriano, Joaquin Benoit, Scott Downs and others all set themselves up very nicely financially for the next few seasons.

It now begs the question: How much is someone like Madson worth, and will he be a Phillie in 2012?

First off, it’s important to note that the Phillies hold a team option in 2012 with current closer Brad Lidge, for approximately $12.5 million.

Should the Phillies decline that, they can work out a deal with Lidge at a lesser price or they can say goodbye to the man who helped deliver a World Series title in 2008 and turn over the closer role to Madson. It would be hard to see the Phillies keeping both men in the bullpen, primarily due to cost.

It would not be prudent for the Phillies to spend approximately $20 million per year on a pair of relievers, which is likely somewhere in the neighborhood of what it would cost to pay Lidge and Madson in 2012.

It is also important to note that Madson is the lone Scott Boras client on the Phillies’ roster. The Phillies were able to work out a three-year, $12 million contract with Madson and Boras prior to the 2009 season.

However, they have had trouble with Boras in the past. The J.D. Drew saga still haunts many Phillies fans to this day. Meanwhile, Jayson Werth hired Boras towards the end of the 2010 season and finds himself in Washington with a hefty payday. Not that anybody is blaming the Phillies for overpaying Werth, though.

Boras has done his job very well and though many don’t like him, he certainly has gotten the most for his clients, a list that includes Matt Holliday, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez.

Obviously, dealing with Madson will be a different animal altogether. Relievers are usually relatively unpredictable and only the best ones are rewarded with substantial contracts.

It’s safe to say that Madson is in line for one himself after posting a career-low 2.55 ERA last season. Since moving to the bullpen in 2007, Madson has pitched 269 innings, allowing just 242 hits and posting a 3.01 ERA and 1.20 WHIP.

His K/9 ratio has increased each season since 2007 and was at 10.87 last year. That puts him in the discussion with guys like Benoit, Heath Bell and Brian Wilson.

The question remains, though, whether he will receive a contract like Benoit’s or Matt Thornton’s (who signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the White Sox on Sunday), or whether it will look something more like Soriano’s.

Teams seem to value closer experience, and Soriano’s 45 saves last season for Tampa Bay certainly earned him his extra loot. Indeed, Madson has been known to struggle in his career in save situations, but that is unlikely to scare many teams away.

Comparing Madson to Soriano is relevant in terms of trying to figure out what type of deal Madson might be in line for.

Since 2007, the same year Madson became a full-time reliever, Soriano has posted a .93 WHIP, far lower than Madson’s 1.20 during that same time.

If there is one thing Madson has going for him, it’s that he has been relatively healthy in the past few seasons. Despite his freak injury last season (a broken toe caused by kicking a chair after a game in San Francisco), Madson has been relatively healthy throughout the past four seasons.

Soriano and Benoit, meanwhile, have both dealt with shoulder issues. Soriano missed almost all of the 2008 season with elbow issues, and Benoit has had his fair share of injury issues throughout his career.

This much is known: The Phillies will need another big season out of Madson if they want to have success coming from their bullpen. What is not known is where Madson will be in 2012.

It is likely, though, looking at his recent performance and comparing him to other pitchers, that Madson will be worth $7 million-$9 million to some team. The Phillies, in a perfect world, would probably work out some sort of deal with Madson during the season, but the current situation would not make that feasible.

Boras has likely discussed with Madson a plan of attack, one that will include waiting to see whether or not Lidge will return to the Phillies in 2012.

For now, though, Madson will focus on trying to help the Phillies to another World Series in 2011.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

Philadelphia Phillies: Have We Already Seen the Best of Chase Utley’s Career?

After thumb surgery in July of 2010, Chase Utley was limited to only 115 games last season.

This is a bit of a concern because, prior to becoming a significant part of the Phillies in 2005, Utley had only played in 137 games through his first two seasons.

From 2005 though 2009, Chase averaged 150 games per year, so a 35-game drop in 2010 definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Heading into 2011, Utley has yet to play in a spring training game after receiving a cortisone shot in his right knee.

The reason for the shot was the abnormal longevity of pain that Chase has felt in his knee.

In an article by the ESPN.com news services, Utley said:

“I’ve had it maybe in terms of pain here and there. But this is lingering longer than it has in the past. So with that said, there is a little bit of level of concern. But I think we’re doing the right things to try to get it better.”

So, baseball fans, has the City of Brotherly Love seen the best of Chase Utley?

Well, we need not worry about the glove, because the Phils’ starting pitching staff (Halladay, Lee, Hamels, Oswalt and Blanton) makes his job that much easier.

However, Utley’s bat may be of concern since his average has been gradually on the decline since 2008.

He has also seen a decrease in home runs, doubles, hits and RBI since 2008 as well.

With all this being said, it is expected that his numbers will also decrease in 2011, especially if his knee doesn’t get better.

But, even in that event, his intangibles are second to none, which plays a pivotal role in the dugout.

At age 32, Chase Utley may be on the back nine of his career. However, comebacks can happen, and don’t be surprised if 2011 acts as a lead into a healthy/sensational 2012.

Therefore, how will Chase Utley fare in 2011 Philly fans? Play ball! (Or, I mean, debate.)   

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2011 Fantasy Projections, No. 74: Will Phillies’ Shane Victorino Bounce Back?

Our 2011 fantasy baseball projections will be released one-by-one until the top 100 players have been revealed. These rankings consider past achievements, current performance and expected future results based on standard 5×5 H2H settings.

Shane Victorino posted a career-high 18 HRs in 2010, but his career-low .259 batting average is what’s scaring away fantasy managers this season. His current ADP on Mock Draft Central is 138, a far cry from where his three-year averages (see below) indicate he should be.

Victorino’s .273 BABIP last season suggests some poor luck, though his career-high fly-ball percentage (37.6 percent, career 35.1 percent) may indicate a slight change in his swing, not his luck. Fortunately, his batted ball rates weren’t too far off the norm, so a bounce-back performance in 2011 is within reason.

The Flyin’ Hawaiian’s 2011 value will rely heavily on his spot in the Phillies’ lineup. While over half his 2010 at-bats came in the leadoff spot, the switch-hitter is currently slated to bat fifth behind Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

Of course, if Utley’s knee injury shelves him for any significant amount of time, that could change. If not, Jimmy Rollins’ struggles in recent seasons are likely to keep the Phillies’ lineup a fluid situation.

For now, I’ll project Victorino as the No. 5 hitter. This will limit his run-scoring opportunities but should lead to a small spike in RBI. He’s likely to steal 25 to 35 steals, either way.

Victorino leads the third-tier of outfielders with unique 20/30 potential and won’t hurt your team’s batting average.

	PA	R	HR	RBI	SB	AVG
2010 stats	648	84	18	69	34	.259
3-year average	656	96	14	63	32	.281
2011 FBI Forecast	650	85	15	80	30	.280

 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: FANTASY BASEBALL INSIDERS

Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ 2011 Big Board:

• Top 50 Fantasy Baseball Projections
• Nos. 51-60: Jimenez, Verlander, Carpenter or Sabathia?
• Nos. 61-70: Weaver, Haren or Latos?
• No. 71: Francisco Liriano
• No. 72: Tommy Hanson
• No. 73: Brian Roberts

Latest from Fantasy Baseball Insiders:

• 2011 MLB Team-By-Team Spring Training  Injury Report
• Adam Wainwright to Undergo Tommy John Surgery: Updated Pitcher Rankings
• Keeper Conundrum: Bryce Harper or Mike Trout?

30 Teams in 30 Days Fantasy Preview:

• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Red Sox

MLB Trades: Fantasy Impact:

• Frank Francisco Traded to the Blue Jays, Who Will Be The Team’s Closer?
• Mike Napoli Traded to the Texas Rangers: Fantasy Impact
• Vernon Wells Traded to the Los Angeles Angels: Fantasy Impact 

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

NL East Predictions: Will the Phillies’ Aces Take Down the Pot?

When the Phillies added former Astros’ ace Roy Oswalt at the trade deadline last season, many believed the deal would tilt the National League’s balance of power in favor of Philadelphia.

Oswalt proceeded to pitch quite well; unfortunately for the Phillies and their faithful, the San Francisco Giants went on an improbable and impressive run to a World Series title behind their outstanding rotation and standout closer Brian Wilson.

This offseason GM Ruben Amaro has again attempted to shift the balance of power — this time with the re-acquisition of left-handed ace Cliff Lee. With Oswalt, Lee, Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, and Joe Blanton, the Phillies boast one of the greatest on-paper rotations in the history of Major League Baseball.

Will Philadelphia’s aces pitch to their collective, record-breaking potential, or will the Nationals, Marlins, Mets, and/or Braves find a way to stay stride-for-stride?

Please read on for my predictions.

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