64/60 Position Rankings

Although I disagreed with Christopher's 64/60 Catcher Rankings I enjoyed the concept. I took it upon myself to rank every team similarly. Instead of doing it position by position however I decided to group all starting IF together, all specialty IF (MI,CI), all OF and all UTILITY players. Instead of using my personal opinion on where players should play or using the current roster setups I went in each team and placed players according to the %owned. So if the SS is owned in 50% of the leagues and a UTIL player is eligible at SS and is owned in 65% then the UTIL player would be placed in the SS position. The IF will be posted on Sat., Specialty INF position will run Sun., OF on Monday and UTIL on Tuesday. Next week I will post a Team Ranking for the upcoming season. Along with the 1st installment of the In-N-Out the 64/60. Let the arguments begin.

Josh Coleman
64/60 Commissioner

IF

12. LeMaestro's 41129ers- Ortiz, Kennedy, Scutaro, Longoria. The acquisition of Longoria strengthened the unit greatly. Ortiz isn't the player of 4 years ago and he may hit 30HR once again but the days of a 275 AVG are over. Kennedy and Scutaro had career years last season and the chances of a repeat are slightly less than landing a Zornes, Long, Gillum threesome in 96. You may have 75 HR's at best little speed and only Longoria is a elite performer in any category.

11. BC Dingers- Kendry Morales, Ian Stewart, Elvis Andrus, David Wright. This will surely be a surprise and highly controversial in Christopher's mind but as the Commish I must speak the truth. I love David Wright and he is a Top 3 3B without a doubt. Kendry Morales looks like a top performer at 1st but I am not sold. Morales had a .329 BABIP last season and his HR/FB rate was over 18%. Should a regression occur in both then the 30HR of last season could be in the 20's and the AVG could be in the 280-290 range. Still a solid option at first but not as solid as the man formerly known as Lazer would like to believe. Ian Stewart could be the wildcard. Stewart is a elite power option at a weak position so you can live with the .230AVG. However with Eric Young in the wings how patient will the Rocks be. If Barmes can still hit this season I could see him used as a UTILITY role and eating up Stewart at bats on the Hot Corner. On the flipside if Stewart can hit in the .260's a 30HR season wouldn't be inconceivable and then you have Kinsler without the speed. Andrus is a position filler who can swipe some bases. But with Ron Washington presumably of the COKE will he still have the need for speed?

10. Tude Smackers- Jose Lopez, Ian Kinsler, Jason Bartlett, Mark Reynolds. This INF was one of the leagues best with Longoria. From a name standpoint it sounds good but I don't expect a repeat of last season from Reynolds or Bartlett. Reynolds is still a productive player and a Top 10 option for certain at 3rd base but a 26%HR/FB rate will not be matched and I don't see him swiping 24 bags in a better lineup. So you have a 260 hitter at best but more likely in the .250 range with 30 HR. Bartlett's 30 SB likely won't be repeated and the 300+ AVG was compliments of a .364BABIP. I like Lopez but not as a 1B. Kinsler is a stud and a Top 5 option at the position. AVG and health are the only things keeping him from surpassing Utley as the best in the game.

9. Ohio River Carp- Joey Votto, Felipe Lopez, Alexi Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez. Votto and Rodriguez are both near the Top of their positions and both can be elite Fantasy Players. Ramirez is a nice SS option however you would like to have some speed also. Lopez is a position filler and will not give you anything better than average. Power wise you are looking at a potential of over 90HR's from this group but only ARod is a threat to swipe 20.

8.Hendo Colonels- Ryan Howard, Ben Zobrist, Yunel Escobar, Michael Young. Another squad full a top names but I once again am doubting repeat performances. Ryan Howard is a Top of the League Performer but you will have to live with a AVG likely below the .270 mark. I see no possible way Ben Zobrist can play as well as he did last year. I haven't even bothered to look up any underlying numbers that explain his performance from last year, I just know it won't happen again. Bulletin Board material Hobson. Michael Young could be the most overrated Fantasy Player of All Time. Every year he is a top ranked player at his position and every year he plays the same. .300/20/80/80 not top of the universe numbers. I actually like Escobar but once again you would like some speed somewhere.

7. Rubber Duckies- Adrian Gonzalez, Brandon Phillips, Stephen Drew, Chipper Jones. Adrian Gonzalez is a trade away from joining the Howard, Fielder, Teixiera group. Brandon Phillips is the beloved 20/20 player who can flirt with 30/30. Stephen Drew is Stephen Drew he won't help you but he won't hurt you unless he hurts himself but who can forecast injuries. Chipper Jones is the wildcard. Jones could remain healthy and hit his .315 with 20/80/80 or better and really improve the value of this INF or he could miss 100 games and lower the ranking.

6.Bear Creek FP Factory- James Loney, Brian Roberts, Hanley Ramirez, Jorge Cantu. One, two, three. Everyone role their eyes. Yes I love my team and although my infield doesn't have the name value of others the production will be there. Loney isn't what you envision a 1B being but he will bat in the middle of a very good lineup and he will hit over .280 so if he has a spike in FB rate or HR/FB rate a 25HR season isn't without question. Roberts may be banged up and another 30SB season may be in doubt but he will still swipe over 20 and score 100 runs and hit near .300 to go with 15HR. Jorge Cantu will likely not hit .280 again but his HR total of last season will likely increase. Given the fact that he is also hitting in the middle of a great lineup a 85 RBI season is all but guaranteed. That brings us to Hanley Ramirez. Ramirez won't hit over .330 again this season but a 300/30/90/90/25 stat line will be just fine with a SS.

5. B'Ville Stars- Prince Fielder, Dustin Pedroia, Derrek Jeter, Adrian Beltre. Fielder could lead the league in HR and RBI and is almost a lock to score 100 Runs and unlike Howard he won't kill you with his 280 AVG. Pedroia is solid across the board. 300/15/100/70/20 is the worse that should be expected. The overall quality of the INF will come down to Jeter and Beltre. If Jeter can match last season then this INF could be league best but I don't see it happening. Age will catch up to him at some point and just two seasons ago you thought the downward slope had begun and I can't picture another 30 SB season. I like Beltre in Boston. He likely won't hit over 300 but a .270AVG to go with 20-25HR is all you need out of your 3B to be satisfied.

4.Prestige Worldwide- Albert Pujols, Robinson Cano, Alcides Escobar, Kevin Youklis. From a run production standpoint Pujols and Youklis alone can carry a INF. Pujols is simply the best hitter in the game and a threat for the Triple Crown every season. Cano is a nice option at 2B but like Jeter many thought he was on the downward slope just two seasons ago. Even if Cano cannot match last season he is still at worst a Top 8 2B and won't hurt you with anything other than lack of speed. Youklis is solid producer everywhere and will give you a 300 AVG with 20/80/80 at worst. Escobar is a position filler who could be a positive SB contributor.

3. Maccabi Hebrewers- Miguel Cabrerra, Asdrubal Cabrerra, Jose Reyes, Chone Figgins. THis selection will surprise some but you simply can't mess with the Cabrerra's. Miguel is a unheralded superstar and even in a subpar lineup will hit 30/100/100 with a 300 mark. Asdrubal is a very solid 2B option who could possibly be a 20/20 guy. Chone Figgins isn't your desired power corner guy but he will hit a respectable 280 and could be a elite SB option and 100 runs is highly likely. I would like him more if he becomes the leadoff guy and bats behind Suzuki. Again another wildcard in the INF. Reyes was drafted very early by Gilbert but it appears that he could be ready for Opening Day. If Reyes can be a shell of his former self he is still a elite SB guy with 40SB capabilities. The Hebrewers may lack power but rule all INF's in the speed dept.

2. Hell and Damnation- Carlos Pena, Aaron Hill, Troy Tulowitzki, Aramis Ramirez. Their strategy was to fill the INF first and the objective was accomplished. Pena is what he is. 30/90/90 is the minimum but 40/100/100 is possible of course with that you will get the .230 AVG so be it. Hill will not match last seasons monster year but he is still a Top 8 option at the position and will give you a stat line of .280/20/80/80. Tulowitzki has placed himself behind Ramirez as the best SS in the game and playing at Coors only helps his value another 30HR season could be in the works. Aramis Ramirez is a top of the line 3B option and will hit 4th in what should be an improved Cubs lineup. Lack of speed is a concern but you can't argue the run production even with Pena's AVG risk.

1. Arguementative 9irons- Justin Morneau, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Pablo Sandoval. It could be a special year for the 9irons. I have composed two list regarding the 64/60 and the 9irons have appeared on top of both. Morneau is the opposite of Michael Young and could be the most undervalued fantasy player ever. 30/100/100 every year and the next season Morneau is listed as the 10th best 1B go figure. Chase Utley is the best at his position for now. I am somewhat concerned about the life on the tires but I think another solid year can be expected. Jimmy Rollins really needs to come closer to the MVP season than the 09 campaign to justify his draft spot but even as bad as last season was Rollins still had elite level production in Runs and SB. Pablo Sandoval will not match his 09 campaign but even a minor dropoff still doesn't effect the status of this perfectly constructed INF that could only happen in fantasy.