2009 FantasyScope Projections, beta release

UPDATE: Please see the finalized projections here.

As promised, my updated projections are now online here. Over 1000 players, with better accuracy. Enjoy!

fPAR-CHONE: Top 10 SS for 2009

We now round out the infield with the top 10 shortstops according to CHONE, and evaluated with the fPAR method. Not a real big fan of this list, which reads like it’s from 2007.

fPAR-CHONE: Top 10 2B for 2009

Here are the top 10 second basemen for 2009, according to Sean Smith’s first projections:

fPAR-CHONE: Top 10 3B for 2009

This is not the deepest position, but even with the loss of eligibility for Ryan Braun and Miguel Cabrera it still harbors some of the most elite hitting and production talent in baseball. Here’s who CHONE targets as most valuable from a fantasy standpoint this year:

fPAR-CHONE: Top 10 C for 2009

And now a look at the top 10 backstops according to fPAR, using the CHONE projections. With some new young sluggers on the scene, how do we value them against aging but established hitters? Here’s one peek:

fPAR-CHONE: Top 10 1B for 2009

Using Sean Smith’s CHONE projections, here’s what fPAR gives us for the top 10 first basemen this year:

Draft Strategy: Don’t draft pitchers early?

There are a lot of fantasy gurus out there telling you not to waste your early draft picks on pitching. They’re injury-prone, they’re unpredictable, go for the sure thing in position players. That might hold true for the first round, but I’d like to give you some reasons why drafting pitchers earlier than others is not always such a bad idea.

Over-Under: Josh Hamilton and Dan Haren

Overrated

What happens when a player has an amazing comeback from a personal problem, drives in almost 100 runs by the All-Star Break, gets all sorts of media attention and contends for the MVP? Ask Josh Hamilton, who’s being taken in the top 10 of most fantasy drafts right now.

2009 Profile: Joba Chamberlain

Don’t forget about Joba Chamberlain. He’s been a top setup man for the Yankees, giving him some minimal fantasy value, but that’s about to change. The New York Yankees are depending on him to be a major fixture in their revamped starting rotation this season.

2009 Profile: Victor Martinez

What a difference a year can make. Victor Martinez, almost unanimously the first catcher drafted last year, has slipped a lot due to a year in which he missed much of the season with a torn hamstring and an elbow surgery. Yes, that’s a lot of DL time. Ouch. Incredibly, he came back to play with one month left, and showed that he can still hit, posting a .288/.358/.475 line in 67 PA in September.