Baseball

2011 Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft

It is that time of the year where football is coming to an end and our attention now needs to change to fantasy baseball.  Come March, there will be an abundance of fantasy baseball drafts and I am starting early to help your brain transition from fantasy football to fantasy baseball.  Each week I will add a new round of draft picks.  Feel free to comment on my draft picks and let me know what you think….

Round 1

1. Hanley Ramirez, SS, Florida Marlins

The best player going into this fantasy baseball season is definitely Albert Pujols.  The thing that hurts his fantasy draft stock this year in my 2011 mock draft is that there are a lot of big time first basemen that can be picked up later on.  The reason I go with Hanley Ramirez number one overall is that there are not many shortstops that produce his kind of numbers.  He hits for power, steals bases, drives in runs, and scores many runs.  Troy Tulowitzki is about the only other SS that comes close the Ramirez’s numbers.

2010 Stats: Avg. .300, 21 HR, 76 RBI, 92 Runs, 32 SB’s

2. Albert Pujols, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals

The second pick in your fantasy baseball draft may be the easiest this year.  If someone like me picks Hanley Ramirez then it’s a no brainer you go with Pujols and if the first pick is Albert Pujols then you have to go with Ramirez.  Pujols does not need much discussion about because he is the best player in the game and may be the best hitter in baseball history.

2010 Stats: Avg. .312, 42 HR, 118 RBI, 115 Runs, 14 SB’s

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers

Cabrera has been getting better every year he has been in the league.   He has hit over 30 HR’s in 6 of his 8 MLB seasons and also hit for a great average as a power hitter, which is hard to come by.  Last year he had a career year for his overall stats and I expect him to have the same production in 2011.

2010 Stats: Avg. .328, 38 HR, 126 RBI, 111 Runs, 3 SB’s

4. Carl Crawford, OF, Boston Red Sox

Carl Crawford has been one of the best fantasy outfielders in the last few seasons.  In a rotisserie league, one of the biggest categories that I try to win the stolen base category.  Crawford is one of the best at the art of stealing bases.  In his 9 seasons of MLB experience he has had 7 seasons when he has stolen over 40 bases.  Along with the stolen base category, he can hit for average, drive in runs, score runs, and even hit close to 20 home runs.  Now in Boston, with a short left field fence he could look at even more home runs and maybe a higher average.

2010 Stats: Avg. .307, 19 HR, 90 RBI, 110 Runs, 47 SB’s

5. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Boston Red Sox

Adrian Gonzalez has produced extraordinary numbers in San Diego’s pitcher friendly park and now he is playing in Fenway Park.  Fenway is a lefty friendly park, with a short left field fence.  Gonzalez is a very good opposite field hitter so the green monster should also be very appealing to him.

2010 Stats: Avg. .298, 31 HR, 101 RBI, 87 Runs

6. Robinson Cano, 2B, New York Yankees

The battle between the top second basemen is between Robinson Cano and Chase Utley.  Utley ended up missing a large part of the season last year and Cano had a career year in 2010.

2010 Stats: Avg. .319, 29 HR, 109 RBI, 103 Runs, 3 SB’s

7. Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays

Longoria was drafted in 2006 and made his way to the majors very quick.  Since he has been up with the Tampa Bay Rays, he has done nothing but put up big numbers.  He has produced over 20 HR’s, and over 85 RBI’s in his three professional seasons.  Last year, he also showed some speed on the bases with 15 stolen bases.

2010 Stats: Avg. .294, 22 HR, 104 RBI, 96 Runs, 15 SB’s

8. Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds won the National League Central Division for the first time since 1995.  Joey Votto was a major reason for the turn around.  He won the National League MVP for the monster numbers that he put up.  Everyone knew that he was capable of his 2010 stat line it was just a matter of time for it to show.  He has overcome a lot of adversity and I believe he will be a force in the NL for many years to come.

2010 Stats: Avg. .324, 37 HR, 113 RBI, 106 Runs, 16 SB’s

9. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies

I have seen a few fantasy baseball mock drafts have Troy Tulowitzki in the top 5.  I think that is a little too high but I definitely can understand the reason he would be drafted so high.  It goes along with my explanation for drafting Hanley Ramirez number one overall.  The reason I have him slipping a little is that he has missed a decent amount of games over his last three seasons, so that scares me but his numbers don’t lie and position scarcity helps him go in the first round of most fantasy baseball drafts.

2010 Stats: Avg. .315, 27 HR, 95 RBI, 89 Runs, 11 SB’s

10. Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Although outfield depth is an easier position to come by, Ryan Braun is one of my favorite fantasy players in the past three years.  He has played in over 150 games, driven in over 100 runs in each of the last three seasons, and hit over 30 HR’s in 3 out 4 seasons.  You could call him Mr. Consistency and that is a huge factor in my fantasy baseball drafts.

2010 Stats: Avg. .309, 25 HR, 103 RBI, 101 Runs, 14 SB’s

Basketball

2011 NBA Mock Draft

Order	Player	College	Year
1	SF - Harrison Barnes	North Carolina	Freshman
2	PF - Perry Jones	Baylor	Freshman
3	PF - Jared Sullinger	Ohio State	Freshman
4	SF - Terrence Jones	Kentucky	Freshman
5	C - Enes Kanter	Kentucky	Freshman
6	PG - Kemba Walker	UCONN	Junior
7	PG - Josh Shelby	Kansas	Freshman
8	PG - Kyrie Irving	Duke	Freshman
9	PF - Jonas Valanciunas	Lithuania
10	PF - Mason Plumlee	Duke	Sophomore

Order	Player	College	Year
11	SF - Chris Singleton	Florida State	Junior
12	PG - Brandon Knight	Kentucky	Freshman
13	PF - Jan Vesely	Czech Republic
14	SF - Jeff Taylor	Vanderbilt	Junior
15	PF - C.J. Leslie	North Carolina State	Freshman
16	C - Patric Young	Florida	Freshman
17	PF - Donatas Motiejunas	Lithuania
18	SF - Derrick Williams	Arizona	Sophomore
19	SF - Jordan Hamilton	Texas	Sophomore
20	PF - John Henson	North Carolina	Sophomore

Order	Player	College	Year
21	PF - Marcus Morris	Kansas	Junior
22	PF - Kenneth Faried	Morehead State	Senior
23	SF - Kawhi Leonard	San Diego State	Sophomore
24	SF - Kyle Singler	Duke	Senior
25	SG - Alec Burks	Colorado	Sophomore
26	SF - Tyler Honeycutt	UCLA	Sophomore
27	PG - Demetri McCamey	Illinois	Senior
28	SG - Travis Leslie	Georgia	Junior
29	C - Aaric Murray	La Salle	Sophomore
30	PG - Shelvin Mack	Butler	Junior

2011 NFL Mock Draft >>>

Football

2012 NFL Mock Draft

2012 NFL Mock Draft

1. Indianapolis Colts – QB Andrew Luck – Stanford

This is a no brain pick.  Even with Peyton Manning still there they will draft Andrew Luck ensuring that they will have a franchise QB for the next 15 years.  I don’t know what they will do with Manning but I think they will need to release him and start a new future.  If they were to keep Manning and draft Luck they would have around $50 million tied up at the same position which won’t help improve the team.

2. St. Louis Rams – OT Matt Kalil – USC

Sam Bradford did not perform up to the standards he established in his rookie year but still has a bright future.  The Rams look like the favorites to land Coach Jeff Fisher whose first move will be to decide who to take #2 overall in the 2012 NFL mock draft.  I think it will be a pretty easy pick going with someone who can protect their franchise QB.  Kalil is head and shoulders above offensive lineman and would be a great tackle to add to the front line.

3. Minnesota Vikings – CB Morris Claiborne – LSU

I think that the Vikings have two choices here with the third pick.  They will have to choose between WR Justin Blackmon to help out Christian Ponder in the passing game or Morris Claiborn to help out a very bad secondary.  In my mock draft I have them going with Claiborne because they need a playmaker on the defensive side more than the offensive side.  Also seeing what Patrick Peterson did this year backs up the pick even more.

4. Cleveland Browns – QB Robert Griffin III

I don’t believe that Colt McCoy is the answer at quarterback in Cleveland.  Robert Griffin III is a very intelligent quarterback as well as a person.  He can make all the throws as well as very athletic.  Picking RGIII will be a great start with the 4th pick and they will also have Atlanta’s 1st round pick which I would have them adding another weapon to help their new QB out.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – OT Jonathan Martin – Stanford

Another quarterback who didn’t live up to expectations was Josh Freeman and it was largely due to the lack of protection that he was given.  Last year they spent a lot of their first couple of round picks on the defensive line drafting two defensive ends.  In the 2012 NFL draft I expect them to turn to the offensive line and draft Jonathan Martin who will be a great addition and hopefully get Freeman back on track.

6. Washington Redskins – CB Dre Kirkpatrick – Alabama

The Redskins have established a very good pass rush by drafting two defensive ends in the past two drafts in Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo.  Now with that being said a good pass rush doesn’t mean much when the secondary leaves receivers wide open.  Kirkpatrick is an excellent cover corner as well as a returner so expect them to go with a cornerback instead of a quarterback.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Justin Blackmon – Oklahoma State

Justin Blackmon is a top 5 draft talent who has fallen due to other needs by the teams ahead of Jacksonville.  So if this scenario occures then the Jaguars won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on Blackmon.  Last year they drafted Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick and he did not perform like the other rookie QB’s did but I believe that was due to the lack of playmakers around him.  He did not have any receivers that could separate from the defense.  Bringing in Blackmon with instantly spark that offense that is solely based around MJD.

8. Carolina Panthers – DE Quinton Coples – North Carolina

The Panthers are pretty much set on the offensive side with two great running backs and a great WR in Steve Smith.  I think with this top 10 draft pick they will need to look at the defensive end.  They finished 24th in total defense in 2011 and were tied for 25th in total sacks. Coples could fall farther from this spot but right now I have him going to Carolina and help put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

9. Miami Dolphins – DE Melvin Ingram – South Carolina

Jason Taylor said he is retiring after this season ending a Hall of Fame career spent mostly in Miami.  This will create a hole that Miami has to fill immediately.  I think they will go into this off-season looking for a franchise QB but I don’t think there is anyone worth of the 9th overall selection so they will have to go with the best available pass rusher.  That is where Melvin Ingram will come in and take over immediately.

10. Buffalo Bills – DE Andre Branch – Clemson

Like the Dolphins, the Bills will be looking for a franchise QB.  I think they need to cut Ryan Fitzpatrick so they can save some money on that terrible contract they concocted.  They could draft a QB or find a free agent to come in maybe Matt Flynn.  But like I said with Miami I don’t see anyone worthy of a top 10 selection so they need to turn to the defensive rush.  Last year they drafted Marcell Dareus who performed very well but needs someone on the end to help him out.  Branch will be a nice addition to that defensive line.

 

Mock draft picks 11-20 >>>

Mock draft picks 20-32 >>>

>>> Richie’s 2012 NFL Mock Draft <<<

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