By Jeff Andriesse
Rotowhine.com Editor
February 24, 2008
Each week leading up to the 2008 major league baseball regular season, Rotowhine.com will dissect the top players in both the American and National League at each key fantasy position.
Top 15 Designated Hitters
A lot of fantasy leagues don’t require a designated hitter, and on top of that a lot of DH’s are eligible at other positions. A few of these guys we’ve mentioned in previous rankings, but they have a chance to play a lot of games at DH. It’s up to you to decide if they are more valuable here. Most of the players on the second half of this list should not be drafted in most mixed leagues. I wouldn’t take any of them in NL-only leagues, but that’s just me.
While it is true that a quick glance at this list leads one to believe these guys would make a great list of interviewees for a History Channel special on the first lunar landing, you should try to put aside the ages of these dinosaurs and remember that Frank Thomas, Jim Thome, Gary Sheffield and Jason Giambi will rarely, if ever, have to don a glove. There is a lot of power potential among the designated hitters, and if you play in an AL-only league you will probably have to have one of these geriatrics on your team. Pass the Metamusil, and let’s get started.
1. David Ortiz, BOS
2007 5×5 Stats: .332 BA, 116 R, 35 HR, 117 RBI, 3 SB
Age: 32 (11/18/75)
After off-season surgery to correct knee problems that were said to contribute to his power decline last year, Ortiz is reportedly 100 percent. His numbers were rather dominant as it was, especially his career-best .332 batting average. We’re also confident that Papi has 50-plus homers in him in 2008, making him a borderline first-round pick in mixed leagues.
2008 Projections: .316 BA, 108 R, 51 HR, 125 RBI, 1 SB
2. Travis Hafner, CLE
2007 5×5 Stats: .266 BA, 80 R, 24 HR, 100 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 30 (6/3/77)
For anyone who drafted Hafner with an early pick, myself of course included, his 2007 numbers still appear before us as a shock-inducing virtual slap-in-the-face. More frustrating is that Pronk regressed despite reaching 545 at bats, easily a career best. We suspect that Hafner is a good enough hitter to rebound nicely. Actually, since I probably won’t draft him again after what he did to me, it takes all of my will power not to predict a season of Jimmie Foxx-like proportions.
2008 Projections: .290 BA, 89 R, 38 HR, 112 RBI, 0 SB
3. Gary Sheffield, DET
2007 5×5 Stats: .265 BA, 107 R, 25 HR, 75 RBI, 22 SB
Age: 39 (11/18/68)
The jury is still out on whether or not Sheffield is getting too old to be a fantasy force anymore. His inconsistent 2007, which saw him get off to an awful start, ended up being a 20-20 year, so he’s still got the goods to help you. In fact, with Detroit adding Miguel Cabrera to its lineup and Sheffield now used to DH-ing, he could certainly keep going strong - and even improve.
2008 Projections: .288 BA, 109 R, 24 HR, 98 RBI, 16 SB
4. Jim Thome, CWS
2007 5×5 Stats: .276 BA, 79 R, 35 HR, 96 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 37 (8/27/70)
Thome has found a groove with the White Sox. At age 37 he might fall further than usual, making him a nice mid-round selection for fantasy owners looking for extra power. Thome is certainly a candidate to break down at any point, though, and will take his share of rest throughout the season.
2008 Projections: .273 BA, 76 R, 30 HR, 87 RBI, 0 SB
5. Frank Thomas, TOR
2007 5×5 Stats: .277 BA, 63 R, 26 HR, 95 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 39 (5/27/68)
The Big Hurt has actually made it through a couple of seasons without being hurt, revitalizing his career and fantasy prospects. He slipped in homers despite moving to a better park and offense in Toronto. The Jays will still ask a lot of him, but we wonder if he won’t keep slipping.
2008 Projections: .261 BA, 66 R, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 0 SB
6. Johnny Damon, NYY
2007 5×5 Stats: .270 BA, 93 R, 12 HR, 63 RBI, 27 SB
Age: 34 (11/5/73)
Damon is one of the possible designated hitters for the Yankees, and he’ll also play some left field. He is tailing off pretty fast but he’ll still steal you some bases and score a lot of runs when he does play. Hideki Matsui’s injuries could force him to start the season at DH, meaning more playing time for Damon in the outfield. If Damon proves he’s healthy, he could guarantee himself full-time action somewhere on the field.
2008 Projections: .266 BA, 85 R, 13 HR, 61 RBI, 21 SB
7. Garret Anderson, LAA
2007 5×5 Stats: .297 BA, 67 R, 16 HR, 80 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 35 (6/30/72)
While Anderson showed some signs of revitalization last season, he faces an uphill battle for at bats this year with the addition of Torii Hunter. Forget about Hunter or Vlad Guerrero ever sitting out, leaving Anderson to battle it out with Gary Matthews and Juan Rivera for the left field/DH playing time. Anderson could very well sit vs. lefties this year.
2008 Projections: .283 BA, 58 R, 17 HR, 71 RBI, 0 SB
8. Jonny Gomes, TB
2007 5×5 Stats: .244 BA, 48 R, 17 HR, 49 RBI, 12 SB
Age: 27 (11/22/80)
Gomes won’t offer you any surprises. He’ll swing for the fences and connect for around 20-25 dingers if he gets anywhere near 500 at bats. He’ll strike out as much as anyone in either league as well. He’s never had over 400 at bats in his career, however, so he’s a fantasy reach. His saving grace was 12 steals last year.
2008 Projections: .242 BA, 52 R, 22 HR, 60 RBI, 10 SB
9. Jason Giambi, NYY
2007 5×5 Stats: .236 BA, 31 R, 14 HR, 39 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 37 (1/8/71)
It’s this simple: if Giambi is healthy all season, he’ll be a great value pick. Unfortunately, signs point to the Yankees platooning him at first and DH and resting him regularly. He’s clearly on the downside.
2008 Projections: .249 BA, 49 R, 20 HR, 66 RBI, 1 SB
10. Aubrey Huff, BAL
2007 5×5 Stats: .280 BA, 68 R, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 1 SB
Age: 31 (12/20/76)
We don’t have a lot of confidence that Huff will be any better than he was last year. He’s solid in AL-only leagues as a DH/corner infielder, but that’s about it.
2008 Projections: .271 BA, 63 R, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 1 SB
11. Jose Vidro, SEA
2007 5×5 Stats: .314 BA, 78 R, 6 HR, 59 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 33 (8/27/74)
It was a rather curious decision for the Mariners to make the extremely professional hitter Jose Vidro their primary DH last year considering Vidro’s lack of power. But it actually paid off as he hit .314 in full-time work. In fantasy land, he’s useless if he doesn’t at least hit that goal again.
2008 Projections: .295 BA, 80 R, 5 HR, 63 RBI, 1 SB
12. Milton Bradley, TEX
2007 5×5 Stats: .306 BA, 37 R, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 5 SB
Age: 29 (4/15/78)
Bradley has landed in Texas, his sixth team in nine years. He’s nuts, as you know. He is also gimpy heading into the season. I think Bradley emerged from the womb with a strained calf. He could very well DH for the Rangers more often than not, although Frank Catalanotto and the newly reacquired Kevin Mench will probably rotate with Bradley for playing time.
2008 Projections: .285 BA, 52 R, 14 HR, 59 RBI, 4 SB
13. Dan Johnson, OAK
2007 5×5 Stats: .236 BA, 53 R, 18 HR, 62 RBI, 0 SB
Age: 28 (8/10/79)
The streaky Johnson has really disappointed in the last two years, going from promising prospect to sub-.240-hitting dud. Nevertheless, Johnson could actually be starting at DH this year, and while he likely won’t break out, he could be worth owning if young Daric Barton stumbles at first base. Emil Brown and Mike Sweeney are also around to steal some DH at bats.
2008 Projections: .246 BA, 57 R, 17 HR, 67 RBI, 0 SB
14. Jason Kubel, MIN
2007 5×5 Stats: .273 BA, 49 R, 13 HR, 65 RBI, 5 SB
Age: 25 (5/25/82)
Kubel is a decent young hitter, albeit one who is brutal against lefties. The Twins have a bunch of new role players who could all eat into each others’ at bats. I’m thinking of guys like Mike Lamb, Brendan Harris and Craig Monroe vulturing Kubel’s playing time. The result is a barely-draftable AL-only option.
2008 Projections: .264 BA, 62 R, 14 HR, 60 RBI, 4 SB
15. Ross Gload, KC
2007 5×5 Stats: .288 BA, 37 R, 7 HR, 51 RBI, 2 SB
Age: 31 (4/5/76)
Gload might DH and play some first base for the Royals after a semi-productive 2007. His stats don’t look like much, but he had only 320 at bats and he plays on the Royals, for goodness sake. That’s a good stat line for a Royal. A very undraftable player.
2008 Projections: .284 BA, 50 R, 12 HR, 57 RBI, 3 SB
Coming Thursday (Feb. 28): Greg Fox breaks down the Top 20 National League starting pitchers.
