The Cheap Team 2006 by Daniel
Paulling Every season, I take it upon myself to create a 25-man roster that earns less money than now-Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. This can’t be just any roster, but one composed entirely of the game’s best players. In other words, bargain basement price for through-the-roof production. But for all for less than the $25,680,727 Rodriguez will be adding to his checking account this year. Can I do it? A lot of my favorite players for this team have moved on to higher salaries, but I’ll give it a whirl. If you want to see my previous two teams, look here: 2004 Cheap Team and 2005 Cheap Team. Please tell me which you think is my best. Offense C Victor Martinez, Cleveland Indians ($1 million) – This is a good way to start off a team. Widely considered the most valuable fantasy catcher, V-Mart has the ability to hit .300 with 20 homers and drive in 90 runs. Defensively, he holds his own and calls a very good game behind the plate. Plus, backup catchers don’t get much playing time. For the past two years, Martinez has played in over 280 games. 1B Travis “Pronk” Hafner, Cleveland Indians ($2.7 million) – In only 137 games in 2005, Hafner put together a season many could consider MVP worthy: .305/.408/.595 with 33 homers and 108 RBIs. If you give him 600 ABs at last year’s rates, he projects for 41 homers and 133 run driven in. This year, he will be even better. Folks, that’s why he’s got his own candy bar. As for the move from DH to 1B, I wouldn’t be worried: he can hold his own on the other side of the diamond, too. 2B Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies ($500,000) – Last season was a breakout year for Mr. Utley. The future second base star went .291/.376/.540 with 28 homers and 105 runs driven in, a record for Phillies’ second baseman. These are Jeff Kent numbers at age 26. Oh, don’t forget, he’ll tack on a few stolen bases (16 last season) for good measure. In his upcoming peak year, we should expect Utley to eclipse those previous numbers. SS Jhonny Peralta, Cleveland Indians ($750,000) – Two seasons ago, the Indians called up a shortstop by the name of Jhonny Peralta. Omar Vizquel had gone down with injury, so they figured to see what the young 21-year-old was made up of. Peralta didn’t fare too well, but when Vizquel left for the Giants after the 2003 season, the matured, 23-year-old Peralta took over. He filled in ably and quickly made the Indians’ fans forget Vizquel. That’ll happen when you hit nearly .300 with 24 homers for a team that’s winning again. 3B David Wright, New York Mets ($374,000) – David Wright is a future (he might be already) superstar, and not even the Mets can mess that up. The third baseman plays extraordinary defense, combines that with power and speed, hits for a good batting average, and even is one of those players that brings intangibles to the table. Think of him as a cross between Scott Rolen (power, defense) and Derek Jeter (speed, intangibles). LF Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins ($472,000) – In 2003, as soon Miguel Cabrera and his baby face stepped onto the Major League stage, he experienced the best the sport has to offer: a World Series championship. You could say that everything went downhill after that, but you’d be wrong. In 2004, he hit 33 bombs and replicated that number in 2005, but with a .323 batting average. At the tender age of 22, Cabrera is reaching towards the pinnacle of the sport. He’s been so good, he draws comparisons to Albert Pujols. CF Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians ($666,667) – The Indians locked up their center fielder of the future to a long term deal, even though he’s still a bit away from his arbitration years. In fantasy draft advice, I labeled him the cheap man’s Bobby Abreu. Sizemore combines power and speed, plus will score runs and hit for a high batting average. The only thing holding him back from being a five-category contributor is runs driven in, but those will come as soon as he drops lower in the order. RF Jason Bay, Pittsburgh Pirates ($1 million) – The Padres are cursing him for being such a late bloomer. Traded to Pittsburgh in what is looking more and more one-sided deal, Jason Bay put together an excellent season in 2004. In 2005, he became a complete player, hitting for average, hitting for power, and (most importantly) stealing bases. He’s the best player no one has heard of, and definitely deserves a spot on my All Cheap Team. I’m glad to have him. DH David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox ($6.5 million) – When you splurge on a player, you gotta go all out. I went with some cheaper options in my bullpen to secure this guy as my team’s DH. You probably don’t need anyone to tell you this, but last season Big Papi went crazy: .300/.397/.604 with 47 homers and 148 RBIs. Oh, and don’t forget that stolen base he had. He has cemented himself as one of the best clutch hitters in baseball (if you believe in that stuff), and one of the best hitters in baseball period. Bench Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves ($333,500) – It was a tough decision, but I decided to go with McCann because of my Braves’ partiality. Over the course of an entire season, this young backstop could hit 15-18 homers and drive in a bundle of runs with a batting average around .280. These are very solid numbers from a starting catcher. Having McCann around would allow Martinez a few more days of rest here and there. Bench Jose Reyes, New York Mets ($401,500) – In what is probably considered a waste of his talents, Jose Reyes would mainly perform as a pinch-runner with some late-inning defensive replacement spots. He’s got the range to cover both middle infield positions, plus he’s one of the fastest guys in the league. Since my everyday lineup doesn’t have that element, it would be important to have bench containing at least one guy near the top in that category. Bench Ryan Freel, Cincinnati Reds ($1.3 million) – Here’s another guy who would be wasting his talents by sitting on my bench (and he’s wasting his talents sitting on Cincy’s bench, too). Freel has experience at second, short, third, and in the outfield, which is vital considering that I’ve gone with a four man bench. He’s got a ton of speed, as well, and should be able to steal around 35 bags very easily. Bench Chad Tracy, Arizona Diamondbacks ($381,000) – This guy could be starting for any ballclub but not this one. With the D-Backs last year, Tracy clubbed 27 homers all the while hitting .308. With three guys who aren’t so inclined to power coming off the bench, it would be nice to have someone with a little pop and is familiar with first, third, and the outfield. Pitching SP Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres ($2.5 million) – This was a very difficult decision. After all, I’m not so sure about what Peavy is capable of. Just kidding! This guy is one of the best pitchers in the National League, definite competition for Ben Sheets and Roy Oswalt for that honor. The right hander throws a fastball he can dial up into the mid 90s, along with an excellent change and curveball. When he throws all three for strikes, which happens very often, it just isn’t fair. He’s the staff ace I lacked on last year’s team. SP Rich Harden, Oakland A’s ($1.25 million) – Having one ace is good, but having two is even better. If you give him the 35 starts most pitchers get in one season, he would be 18-7 with a 3.03 ERA and 199 strikeouts. Just imagine what he can do when he doesn’t have to battle through injuries. If you need a scouting report on this guy, imagine Tim Hudson with a 97 mph fastball. SP Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians ($406,200) – I’m surprised that Mr. Lee doesn’t get that much credit. Last year he had an earned run average that was excellent (3.79), won 18 games, and threw 202 innings all from the port side. This season figures to be more of the same for the southpaw. Expect around 18 wins again, a lower ERA, more IP, and more strikeouts. SP Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners ($340,000) – I just had to buy into the hype. The recently turned 20 year old, Hernandez has done an amazing job at adapting to the Major Leagues. Guys like Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry never exorcised their demons during their primes and are now spent pondering what could have been. The Venezuelan Hernandez has his head on right. The only thing better is his arm. He throws an electric fastball, knee-buckling curveball, and an awesome slider that he will be showcasing this year. Plus, his control is impeccable. SP Chris Capuano, Milwaukee Brewers ($450,000) – The fifth spot in the rotation, this has to be a weak spot. Um, no. Capuano won 18 games for the Brewers last year (but he wasn’t a better pitcher than Doug Davis, let me say that). He strikes out hitters at a fare ratio (176 in 219 innings) and has a 2 to 1 K to BB ratio. He does give up the long ball occasionally, but nothing to worry about. I’d be glad to have him as my number five guy. Spot/Long Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins ($327,000) – This southpaw is going to make the Giants, like opposing hitters, look stupid. Liriano strikes hitters out, accumulating over 200 in less than 180 minor league innings. Folks, that means he was absolutely dominating the competition. The excellence continued at the Major League level, and he figures to be in the Twins’ rotation in no time. Middle Gary Majewski, Washington Nationals ($352,500) – There were a lot of worthy candidates for the bullpen, but I’m sorry Brendan Donnelly. With a shaggy hairdo, Majewski went into 79 games last year, throwing 86 innings. His ERA was an incredible 2.93. He racks up a few too strikeouts for my tastes, but he has been getting the job done, and that’s the name of the game. Middle Justin Duchscherer, Oakland A’s ($344,500) – This guy has the second worst arm in my bullpen, but has the second best in Oakland’s, one of the best in the American League. He throws an 88 mph fastball, mid 80s cutter, a 12-to-6 curve, and a decent changeup. The middle two rank as plus pitches, with the other two being gravy. Just like that 85-19 K-BB ratio, pure gravy. Middle Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox ($335,400) – Papelbon has taken over the closer’s role from Keith Foulke. In his first few outings, he’s four for four in the saves department, and has utterly obliterated the competition. He’s better suited for starting, but I can’t resist having him as a sixth inning guy. Set Derrick Turnbow, Milwaukee Brewers ($658,667) – Four saves in four days to start the year is an excellent thing to have on your resume. He’s a cinch for 40 this year. Everything was gaudy about him last year: 1.74 ERA, 64 Ks in 67.1 innings, and nearly a 3 to 1 K to BB ratio. Mike Maddux has worked some magic on this Angels’ washout. Set Huston Street, Oakland A’s ($339,625) – Many would consider him the closer of pretty much every team in the Majors, but just wait and see who is next. Amazingly, he pitched 78.1 innings, despite getting hurt for a short stint there. Street’s just an amazing arm from that great college baseball program known as the University of Texas. CL Chad Cordero, Washington Nationals ($525,000) – This is the guy I was talking about. The Chief has an excellent fastball and slider that leaves hitters stupefied. This allowed him to lead the Major Leagues in saves last year, and that’s a streak that’s likely to continue. He’s even more valuable because he’s such a workhorse. TOTAL COST OF THE TEAM: $24,207,559 Lineup CF Grady
Sizemore Discussion of Team The strengths of this team are readily apparent. Just look at that lineup! Honestly, there’s six guys who can hit thirty home runs, and everyone will hit at least 20. It’s not even that unbalanced. Guys like Jhonny Peralta and Grady Sizemore are capable of stealing bases and playing a little bit of small ball. Not like you’d need it, though. Another thing I like about this team is the pitching, especially the top of the rotation. Jake Peavy matches up with anyone in baseball, and then you throw on Rich Harden, Cliff Lee, and Felix Hernandez? Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot to mention Chris Capuano. Absolutely awe-inspiring. Which is a good way to describe the bullpen. There are four closers of the top rank in there, along with two elite setup men and one of the best arms in any bullpen, Francisco Liriano. The weakness
of the team is that the rotation has a minute chance of falling
apart. Peavy and Harden have had injury concerns in the past, and
there’s no saying Capuano will repeat previous successes or
that Felix Hernandez will live up to the hype. But I’ll take
my chances with this team any day of the week. Daniel is an AtHomePlate blogger;
to see his article archive, click
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