Top 20 Sleepers For Fantasy Sports Magazine

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:09 am

Okay, we found some smart baseball writers among our NFBC customers last year and we want to offer the same writing opportunity again this year. I am looking for 20 Top Sleeper Picks for 2008 that we can publish in our second issue of Fantasy Sports Magazine and I'm asking our NFBC customers to submit one pick per person.

Here's what I'm looking for:

I want 1-2 paragraphs of your best sleeper for 2008 and an explanation of why he will be a sleeper pick along with stats from last season. Only the top nominations will make it into print.

Send your samples to me at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, Jan. 22nd to get in the magazine. Tom and I will also have our sleeper picks. I know who mine is already.

Okay, now get busy. If you need an example of what I'm looking for, here's one from last year:

8. Hunter Pence, OF, Houston

It seems to be the "sleepers" with the best chance at impact come from teams in transition and the Astros are definitely in trransition. This would be a great opportunity for Hunter Pence, one of the '06 AFL All Prospect Team members to step up. While his defense showed improvement in the AFL, I am not sure he has the arm for RF in place of Jason Lane/Luke Scott, but he has shown a nice power/speed combo in Arizona and in Corpus Christi. Chris Burke has a lock on CF, but Craig Biggio's age makes him a good injury candidate. If Burke moves back to his natural position at 2B, Pence would be a lock to get 85%+ of the CB AB's. Even without that, Pence appears ready for the majors, making Lane or Scott expendable. Pence has a weird approach to hitting and the DUI during the AFL can not be viewed as a positive, but he did hit 59 homers over the last two years, has good success on the basepaths (17 SBs in 21 attempts for the Hooks), and the scouts have lauded his improved defense. If he has a spring as good as his AFL results, Houston will not be able to keep him down on the farm.

Wayne Edwards

Duluth, Ga.

Wayne, I owe you a Pete Rose autographed baseball for the best sleeper pick of 2007!!

The same prize goes to the best nomination of 2008. Now start writing!!!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 4:10 am

Oh, and if you're confident enough in your sleepers, you can post your article here too. I'll gladly grab them off here and decide if it makes the cut or not. Thanks all.

bluenose · Post by **bluenose** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:11 am

Billy Butler, DH, Royals

Don't sleep here. If Butler doesn't already have 1B eligibility in your league, he will by the end of April. 21 HR between Omaha and the bigs last year and a combined average of .292 has to bode well for the 22-year-old. His attitude problem in Omaha last spring was cured with the carrot, not the stick: KC called him up for a cup of coffee instead of busting him down to AA and it opened Butler's eyes. Upon returning to Omaha he worked hard at learning the 1B position and will stop what was a merry-go-round there in KC immediately. KC are an improving team and this year I project Butler for .295-20-95. He'll be .300-30-115 on an improving Royals outfit before he's 25 and looks like a 35 HR hitter in his prime, so move him up your board accordingly if you have a keeper format.

Shawn Young

Halifax NS

[ January 16, 2008, 11:26 AM: Message edited by: bluenose ]

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:18 am

Dear Mr Greg,

With all due respect to you and Hurricane Wayne Edwards. Hunter Pence was a nice sleeper but how can you choose him a top prospect over a much less known Milwaukee 4th OF type named Corey Hart.

Signed,

Chest Rockwell

Representative for his butt buddy Brian Oakchunas

PS Gordon do you have another Jorge Cantu for us?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:26 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Dear Mr Greg,

With all due respect to you and Hurricane Wayne Edwards. Hunter Pence was a nice sleeper but how can you choose him a top prospect over a much less known Milwaukee 4th OF type named Corey Hart.

Signed,

Chest Rockwell

Representative for his butt buddy Brian Oakchunas

PS Gordon do you have another Jorge Cantu for us? Hart might have been less-known in Florida, but he wasn't elsewhere. Hart was already a hot pick, whereas Pence was still in Double-A with little hope of making it to Houston before September. Good call Wayne.

GG will have an entry, I just know it. Now where's your Noah Lowry of 2008??

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:39 am

Number one sleeper is Jeff Clement.

Backup catcher for Seattle. Probably slides into the DH slot. Great bat and over looked.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:44 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

Dear Mr Greg,

With all due respect to you and Hurricane Wayne Edwards. Hunter Pence was a nice sleeper but how can you choose him a top prospect over a much less known Milwaukee 4th OF type named Corey Hart.

Signed,

Chest Rockwell

Representative for his butt buddy Brian Oakchunas

PS Gordon do you have another Jorge Cantu for us? Hart might have been less-known in Florida, but he wasn't elsewhere. Hart was already a hot pick, whereas Pence was still in Double-A with little hope of making it to Houston before September. Good call Wayne.

GG will have an entry, I just know it. Now where's your Noah Lowry of 2008??

[/QUOTE]And you say you are not a Brewer homer? I will not be participating in this because I really have not found a third tier guy I love yet. No Noah for me in 2008 I know you had him in the content league- he lives on the edge and I have to stay up too late to watch his games. Plus I don't think he could strike bjoak out. I have no idea how he put up decent k numbers early in his career. Only upside to him is I expect the Giants to win 90 games, possibly 95 if they resign Feliz and can get Ray Durham and Ryan Klesko healthy.

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 5:45 am

Originally posted by Walla Walla:

Number one sleeper is Jeff Clement.

Backup catcher for Seattle. Probably slides into the DH slot. Great bat and over looked.

and as of now only Utility eligible.

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:05 am

So you draft him to the bench. You telling me you can't work him into the DH position if he gets hot??? Well maybe not if you draft a hot DH only player. But most won't.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:37 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Wayne, I owe you a Pete Rose autographed baseball for the best sleeper pick of 2007!!

In such an distinguished field, I feel honored just to have been nominated. I would like to thank the Academy, my Mama, my dog PeeWee, my mentor Kent Stermon....

Now let's see if I can find a 2008 version...

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:52 am

Originally posted by Edwards Kings:

quote:Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Wayne, I owe you a Pete Rose autographed baseball for the best sleeper pick of 2007!!

In such an distinguished field, I feel honored just to have been nominated. I would like to thank the Academy, my Mama, my dog PeeWee, my mentor Kent Stermon....

Now let's see if I can find a 2008 version... [/QUOTE]Now I feel like I turned on my pupil- we are like the mafia and Kenyon is the head "Don"

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:18 am

Delving deep for a true “sleeper” means you will usually have to drop into the minors and probably into the lower minors for a prospect. What makes this candidate even more “sleepy” is that his home organization traded away in 2007 top talent (Mark Teixeira) for an up and coming player (Jarrod Saltalamacchia) that shows good promise to be the man at catcher for some time in Arlington. However, since sitting out most of 2006 because of Tommy John surgery (certainly not a positive, but at least he is not a pitcher), Texas Ranger prospect Taylor Teagarden, 24, has blown through the low minors. In 2007 playing between High A Bakersfield and AA Frisco, the right-hand hitting Teagarden hit 27 homers in 394 at bats while garnering a .310 batting average and taking a respectable 75 walks. His .422 minor league career on base percentage means he has certainly shown the ability to get on base despite being a bit of a free swinger (167 K’s in 510 minor league at bats could limit his batting average upside in the majors).

Already known for his athleticism and outstanding defense (he threw out 33% of those who attempted to steal a base on him exhibiting a quick release and a strong arm), Teagarden’s offensive breakthrough caught the eyes of many in the recent Arizona Fall League. A product of a very successful Texas collegiate program, Teagarden is a winner who has played for winners (his 2005 team won the Northwest League) which is a positive intangible making him more attractive. He may not make the show in Texas because of Salty, but he is too good to keep down on the farm too much longer.

Wayne Edwards

Duluth, GA

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:25 am

I've gotta come up with a better sleeper than my Nook Logan pick last year. That was brutal.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:22 am

Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

I've gotta come up with a better sleeper than my Nook Logan pick last year. That was brutal. It's like you limped in!!

Tom Kessenich · Post by **Tom Kessenich** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:31 am

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

quote:Originally posted by Tom Kessenich:

I've gotta come up with a better sleeper than my Nook Logan pick last year. That was brutal. It's like you limped in!! [/QUOTE]I thought the story was to pick a player who was going to get hurt on Opening Day.

Ooops.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:35 am

Originally posted by Chest Rockwell:

PS Gordon do you have another Jorge Cantu for us? I got an even better one for u this year

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:39 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

GG will have an entry, I just know it. Now where's your Noah Lowry of 2008??

"An" entry? I could write the whole article myself. I'm that good. Mmmuuuhahahahahaha!!!

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:11 pm

Here's a breakdown of the 20 sleepers last year .

First the loser's

1Anthony Reyes brutal 2 wins 14 losses , and a 6.04 era in 107 innings.

2 Boof Boonser with a era of 5.10, and a whip of 1.53 Boof never got it going , with 173 innings that is some damage.

3 David Ross is 17 homers worth the 203 bavg.[no]

4 Jorge Cantu [gg] 1 hr and 13 rbi's in 115 at bat's. next

5 Freddy Garcia hurt all year.

6 Nook Loogan [TK] 325 AT BATS 0 HR'S 21 RBI'S

he did steal 23 bases.[not enough

7 Brandon McCarthy 102 innings era 4.87 ,whip of 1.56.

Misfit Island [not bad enough to be on bust list]

1 Adam Lind 11 hr's , 46 rbi's in 290 at bats.[still just 24 years old.]

2 Noah Lowry he won 14 games with a 3.92 era , but a whip of 1.55 is pretty bad. what happened to the K's.

3 Miquel Montero Only 214 atbats but 10 hr's and 37 rbi's.[still just 24]

4 Mark Teahan 7 hr's 60 rbi's and a 285 bavg.[not good enough , where is the power.]

5 Matt Garza 83 innings with a 3.69 era .[upside]

6 Mark Buehrle 201 innings with a 3.63 era ,a whip of 1.26 and 10 wins.[ nice comeback]

Cant vote for these two as they shouldnt have been on sleeper list.

AJ Burnett

Matt Cain these guy's were picked in the top ten rounds, not sleepers.

AND THE WINNER'S ARE

Kevin Kouzmanoff After a slow start he picked it up with a 12 hr and 44 rbi 2nd half.Total numbers 18 hr 74 rbi's and a 275 bavg. [not bad]

Ryan Church IN 470 atbats 15 hr and 70 rbi , and a 272 bavg. [not bad for the 27th round]

Hunter Pence in 456 atbats 17 hr, 69 rbi's , and a 322 bavg.[ have to admit i missed this one.]

Corey Hart i grabbed him in the main event in the 16th round , and what value 24 hr, 81 rbi's 23 steals and a 295 bavg

Tough call between these last two.I agree Pence was more of a sleeper , but pure fantasy value it's Hart. We might need a recount , it's Florida all over. [just kidding]

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:13 pm

I missed Wes Helms , put him in the busts.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:31 pm

Kouz and Church did about what was expected of them imo, so Hart and Pence were the only true sleepers on this list. So this season when someone tries to spin you on their sleeper, assume there's a 90% chance he won't be worth the promise.

Less than Dave · Post by **Less than Dave** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:49 pm

ok, so this is asking for guys who either start in the minors or are relative unknowns... cuz I think like picking a guy who is beign drafted in the 2nd-3rd rounds who is a top 10 player would be a sleeper.. or a guy in the 7th who could be a 2nd rounder... but if that's not what you're looking for then I will try to stay within the waaayyy unknown/irrelevant players.

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:00 pm

dave- all the millers qualify. since you sell beer- maybe "it's miller time" and i hope this thing keeps growing so greg can step up to some real beer- sam adams or the german kind.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 1:19 pm

Originally posted by Less than Dave:

ok, so this is asking for guys who either start in the minors or are relative unknowns... cuz I think like picking a guy who is beign drafted in the 2nd-3rd rounds who is a top 10 player would be a sleeper.. or a guy in the 7th who could be a 2nd rounder... but if that's not what you're looking for then I will try to stay within the waaayyy unknown/irrelevant players. Greg can best answer as to what contents he wants for the magazine, but if last year is any indication, we had all types of "sleepers" from comeback kids, to breakout candidates, to minor leaguers ready to make an impact (like mine).

By the way...it is snowing in Duluth. We must have a whole half an inch. Feels like Wisconsin.

Less than Dave · Post by **Less than Dave** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 2:57 pm

I LOVE German wheat beer, Heffe Weizens and the like. My fav still might be Blue Moon or Lienenkugel's though. I don't distribute Miller actually, we distribute Coors

Tastes like **** .

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:39 pm

Originally posted by Less than Dave:

I LOVE German wheat beer, Heffe Weizens and the like. My fav still might be Blue Moon or Lienenkugel's though. I don't distribute Miller actually, we distribute Coors

Tastes like **** . Have you tried Pyramid Hef? That is the best. Widmer is a good clone.