I got your 09 Lee and Dempster right here!

[Snord35]

With two weeks to go I'm going to throw out some super sleepers.



Cliff Lee and Ryan Dempster were two guys that didn't crack the top 450 last year in drafts but a few did take a chance on them and found GOLD.



Well lets take a look who could be this year's Lee and Dempster. Now the rules are the player like Lee has to be coming off an injury and not a good past. For Dempster a RP going to SP with a bad history for pitching stats.



I'll Start with Cliff Lee.

Always good for wins and was a mid to late round draft pick for years in the NFBC. Only one good full season in his career but always a source for K's and Wins. His best season prior to 08 was 05 when he was 18-5 3.79 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 143 K's in 202 IP. His 2nd best season was 06 14-11 4.40 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, and 129 K's in 200.2 IP.



My guess for this year's Lee is Jeremy Bonderman. Just like Lee in 07 Bonderman was injured and was always a good source for K's and wins.

Now just like Lee, Bonderman has a high career ERA and a up and down K/9. Now granted I'm not high on Bonderman this year but he fits the bill. A season of 19-5 2.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 200 K's in 216 IP would be as wild as Lee's 08 Season.



Some others to think of:

Fausto Carmona- didn't make the cut due to a short career.

Jeff Francis- got injured

Kevin Millwood- was not injured but has done this twice 02 and 05.

Freddy Garcia- Has had too good of numbers in the past.

Dontrelle Willis- My runner up but really don't see it lol.

Doug Davis- Didn't get wins like Lee

Jose Contreras- 2nd runner up but will miss time this season.



Now for the hard one who will be like Ryan Dempster? Dempster is a rare case, even with his numbers last year his career ERA is still at 4.55. It was 4.82 before that if you wanted to know. Now Dempster did have one season as a starter with a ERA under 4 and two seasons as a RP with a ERA under 4. His career best ERA was 3.13 as a closer in 05 but had a 1.43 WHIP! Speaking of WHIP he only had 4 out of 11 seasons with a WHIP under 1.50 and two with a WHIP under 1.40. So what gas can RP turned SP will have a ERA under 3 and have a WHIP drop by .13?



Well the winner is Seth McClung!

Look at his career stats! They suck, and suck bad just like Dempster so he is my bet to go 16-7 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.20 WHIP and 174 K's in 208 IP.



Some others to think of:

Scott Downs- Runner up but last two years he has great stats.

Jorge De La Rosa- Starts to much in the past.

Aaron Heilman- Has good Career stats

Kyle McCellan- short career and not for sure SP

Brandon Morrow- Too Good to fit the bill.



So come draft day pick those guys that have a good year once every 3-4 years and is coming off a injury or being moved to the rotation and you will find your gold!

[Thunder]

i'll throw out a name just for the hell of it...any of the cincinnati reds starters.



harang and arroyo are capable of comeback years.

volquez and cueto have shown dominance in their short careers.

this could be the year homer bailey shines.

[Schwks]

good posting