2006 Shortstop Forecast

[WebHamster]

This thread contains comments on Jamey Feuer's Article "2006 Shortstop Forecast", which was posted in the Cafe's Point of View section on March 21, 2006. The full article can be read here.

[jdsportsfan]

im not exactly sure how you are putting reyes and jeter in front of tejada. your projected numbers for jeter are not as good as the projected numbers for tejada. Additionally, tejada's projected numbers are more of a low estimate; the projected numbers for jeter are a ceiling. tejada can also give more help if your league awards points for doubles or has a slugging percentage category.
Reyes is a more complex issue.obviously, tejada is a better player in "real life" than reyes. he is a team leader, he plays defense, and he is a much better hitter. however, Reyes does have excellent fantasy value because of his steals. however, i still feel tejada should be higher than reyes, especially since i believe his numbers will be closer to his 04' stats than his 05 stats.

[Madison]

the atrocious pitching ultimately came back to bite Texas on its collectively muscular rump

Why I should "e-slap" you! Unfortunately, it's true though, so I won't.

Tejada all the way down in 4th? Gutsy call there. We'll see how it pans out. I've got him at #2 behind Mike Young.

Nice writeup though!

[suppasonic]

Im not so sure I would have Eckstein so high, especially over someone like Peralta.

[Pogotheostrich]

Not bad. 2 things I disagree with.

1. I think Reyes is getting overrated this year. I'd take Tejada before him everytime.

2. Eckstein is no where near the 7th best fantasy SS.

[jameeman]

Things like 15-20 SBs, 120+ Runs, an average that should, at the least, be within 15 points of Tejada's, and the "lineup of Mass Destruction" that surround Jeter are why I slotted the Yankee ahead of the Oriole Shortstop.
Unless a 29 year old Brian Roberts, who is returning from a ghastly elbow injury that could easily impact both his confidence and physical ability at the plate, is able to replicate his unconscious and career-best '05, Mel' Mora rebounds and is more the player he was during 2004, and Javy Lopez also reclaims '04 form (that is, 25 HR po'), Miggy' won't have quite as much value as he had in season's past due not to a lack of skill, but to the suspect lineup around him.
That being said, if things break right... Tejada could easily reclaim the 2nd... or even top-spot at the position.

As a "Shortstop on the Rise," you'll notice that Peralta's projections are markedly better than those of Eck', Felipe Lopez, Croz', and Furcal. That's because I think Peralta's an exceptional young talent. Although he could eventually be bumped to 3rd base, until that happens he will stake his claim as an elite fantasy Shortstop. Since he enjoyed his "breakout" season last year ('03 and '04 were hardly notable as he played a total of 56 games between the 2 seasons), I listed him under the aforementioned heading to draw added notice. Given his own skills and supported by Cleveland's impressive cast of mashers, Peralta should vault up the Shortstop standings quite rapidly. While I did not make it clear, he should be pulled off the draft board after Rollins, and I'd probably take him over the Philly' Shorty'.