Sunday, April 27, 2008

FBAs Week 4

By: Russell Sandman


National League

1. Fantasy MVP in 2008: Hanley Ramirez

i. Runners-up: Chase Utley, Chipper Jones, Lance Berkman, Pat Burrell, and Derek Lee

2. Fantasy Cy Young in 2008 – Brandon Webb

i. Runners-up: Tim Lincecum, Jake Peavy, Ben Sheets, Dan Haren, and Johan Santana

3. Fantasy Rookie of the Year – Justin Upton

i. Runners-up: Johnny Cueto, Edinson Volquez, Kosuke Fukudome, Hiroki Kuroda, and Joey Votto

4. Fantasy Relief Man of the Year – Brad Lidge

i. Runners-up: Brian Wilson, Jason Isringhausen, Matt Capps, Kerry Wood, and Billy Wagner


American League

1. Fantasy MVP in 2008: Casey Kotchman

i. Runners-up: Manny Ramirez, Carlos Pena, Nick Markakis, B.J. Upton, and Carlos Guillen

2. Fantasy Cy Young in 2008 – Cliff Lee

i. Runners-up: Daisuke Matsuzaka, Chien-Ming Wong, Ervin Santana, Zack Greinke, and Javier Vazquez

3. Fantasy Rookie of the Year – Clay Buchholz

i. Runners-up: Joba Chamberlain, David Murphy, and Nick Blackburn

4. Fantasy Relief Man of the Year – Jonathan Papelbon

i. Runners-up: Francisco Rodriguez, Joe Nathan, George Sherrill, Joakim Soria, Mariano Rivera

This week in the National League saw the resurgence of 2007’s pick for fantasy NL MVP, Hanley Ramirez. So much for the effects of shoulder surgery and an offensively anemic supporting cast on Han Ram’s performance. No change atop the leader board for fantasy NL Cy Young or fantasy NL Rookie of the Year. But, fresh off of rehab after another knee surgery, Brad Lidge has emerged as a credible candidate for fantasy NL Relief Man of the Year.

Results in the American League represented a shakeup of leaders almost across the board. Relative unknown Casey Kotchman took the top spot among contenders for fantasy AL MVP, while surprise fantasy AL Cy Young Award candidate Cliff Lee appears to have made significant strides toward regaining his 2005 form. Clay Buchholz and Jon Papelbon once again regained top spots among contenders for fantasy AL Rookie of the Year and Relief Man of the Year, respectively.


Tune in for more coverage of the FBA’s next week!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Volquez is not a rookie.

Joe said...

Quibble, quibble. No, Volquez is not eligible for the MLB Rookie of the Year award. However, this is the Fantasy Rookie of the Year Award. While eligibility has not yet been tautly defined, Volquez's accumulation of under-40 innings pitched in the previous 2 seasons shows that he was not previously given the opportunity by a major league ballclub to demonstrate his fantasy worthiness. Having almost eclipsed his individual season high in the month of April, it is clear that this is the season where he is being given that opportunity.