The objective is to get more base runners on in front of the teams better hitters. In this case Cedeno or Crosby would be batting in front of Akinori Iwamura and Andrew McCutchen. Those in the mainstream media are not necessarily fond of the idea. They often dismiss it and claim it as an act of desperation. They claim the “second leadoff man” idea does not work. They are wrong in their assessment. According to Tom Tango’s “The Book” you can put the pitcher in the 8^th spot and gain a couple runs over the course of the season. This one move won’t make the Pirates division contenders, but it does help. The point of the move is to optimize the lineup the best you can and this move does that.

Considering all the information that is out there, I’m surprised more teams don’t do this. A couple runs over the course of a season is not a lot, but it is something. Unfortunately, the Pirates probably won’t win enough for the move to be accepted, but I think more teams should be doing what the Pirates are doing.

Andrew McCutchen is on his way to being a sure super star…right? He had an outstanding rookie campaign in 2009 and showed flashes of brilliance. He’s going to be a terror on the bases, and he sure showed he could swing the bat a bit, while flashing what could be a real “golden” glove in the near future. I’m sure everyone has the same question running through their mind. When are the Pirates going to trade him to “start over?” Is it going to happen next year? Two years from now? 4 years from now? Well- I’ll what I can to silence Pittsburgh doubt, but I don’t think the Pirates are going to trade him and will look to lock up the youngster for a long time- similar to what the Rays did with Evan Longoria. Can I be sure in that statement? Eh- I’m trying to make myself believe it. Listen, the point of the statement is simply this- eventually Pittsburgh has to get out of it’s rebuilding stage and make a run. They have an outstanding stadium to say the least, and they have more money than they let people believe- it’s simply going to take a couple risky signings, and a couple other developments and Pittsburgh can definitely find it’s way back to the promised lands. It might take some time- but with McCutchen already there, and star number 2 on the way- it might be sooner rather than later.

Has anyone seen Pedro Alvarez take BP? Holy Cow. The ball jumps off his bat. Forget his superman strength, forget his high draft position, and forget the Pirates almost didn’t sign him due to some shady business going on by the ever popular Scott Boras. Just remember that this is the guy that’s supposedly going to save the franchise. Alvarez can rake- there’s no denying it, there’s nothing to be afraid of. He’s going to hit for a ton of power at the big league level- probably unreal power. The question is- when are the Pirates going to bring him up? Well- it’s time. The season is about here, and I don’t know (well…I do know how they COULD send him to AAA and it’s all economics) how they can tell their best hitter to pack up his stuff and head to AAA for more “seasoning.” The time is now for this young man to be recognized as one of the best prospects in baseball. He could bring a ridiculous amount of pop to a pretty pathetic lineup outside of a player or two, and with some insane talent, and some big games- maybe fans will remember that there is a baseball team in Pittsburgh. And if fans remember there’s a team, maybe ownership will spend some of that revenue. Anyone see the effect here? Maybe that’s a ton of pressure on a young kid, but he’s a man in a young man’s body. He’s ready physically and he’s ready mentally to show people that his BP power is the real thing. I hope that Pittsburgh can keep these young kids and return to some form of greatness in a couple years, because it’s going to be a shame if they’re both traded to bigger marketed teams- yeah I’m talking about you New York Yankees.

This guy can do it all. 35 bombs, 20 steals, a .320 average, 115 runs, 115 RBIs, what more can you ask for? He’ll continue to put up monster numbers and is the clear No. 1 choice in outfield because he simply has better power numbers than Crawford. Cherish your time with Braun now (he’s clearly one of the top keepers in the league) because rumor has it Prince Fielder will leave Milwaukee when his contract is up after the 2011 season. If that happens, Braun will likely see nothing good to hit.

2. Carl Crawford TB

After a down 2008, Crawford returned to supermodel status in ’09, but instead of Pepsi ads and B-list movies with one of the Baldwin brothers (See: “Fair Game”), he instead turned in the best season of his career pretty much across the board. Crawford set a career high in steals (60), walks (51) and OBP (.364) while tying his career high in AVG (.305) and adding 15 homers, 68 RBIs and 96 runs. There are rumors that he is unhappy in Tampa, so if there is any truth to that, keep an eye on his numbers, they may slack off a la Manny Ramirez at the end of his Boston run.

3. Matt Holliday STL

Holliday was on holiday for much of his short-lived time in Oakland as he got off to a really rough start. Once he was traded to the St. Louis Pujols’, he suddenly woke up and St. Louie suddenly became a two-man town and a serious contender. Holliday made Nelly proud by putting up 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games in the STL with a .353 AVG. As if those numbers weren’t eye-popping enough, Holliday didn’t even accumulate those totals in 30 more games with the A’s. He is clearly more happy hitting in the Midwestern weather, either that or he loves hitting behind Pujols. Whichever it is, draft with confidence, but don’t expect that .350 AVG to stick around. I’d say it’ll end up more like .320, but .330-.335 isn’t out of the question.

4. Grady Sizemore CLE

Everybody gets a mulligan, right? Sizemore was in desperate need of a mulligan after the season he had last year. After four straight years of continual improvement culminating in a 30-30 season with 98 walks, 90 RBIs and 101 runs in ’08, Sizemore suffered a variety of injuries that put him on more rehab stints than Tom Sizemore (no relation). Even when on the diamond, he wasn’t anywhere near his productive self. But, I expect a full turnaround. Sizemore will once again become an elite fantasy player, and his eye-popping numbers will come at a cheap price—he left a lot of owners with a sour taste in their mouths after drafting him last year, so everybody has been bad mouthing him for a full year. Draft with confidence.

5. Matt Kemp LAD

This may come as a surprise to some people, but it’s time for the world to take notice: Matt Kemp is an elite fantasy outfielder. The only thing he doesn’t do well is walk, but even still, 52 BBs in 159 games isn’t bad. He was just four homers away from the 30-30 club last year and he has made continual improvements in his game from year to year and at just 25, he still has his prime years ahead of him. Time for a guarantee? Matt Kemp will reach the 30-30 plateau in 2010. He’s firmly entrenched in the Top-5 Fantasy Outfielders and before it’s all said and done, he could take the cake as the best on this list.

6. Ichiro Suzuki SEA

It’s official, the man with only one name is starting to decline. At 36, Ichiro’s best years on the basepaths are behind him, but that doesn’t mean he still can’t rake. His .352 average last year was the second highest of his illustrious career, but that’s pretty much all he brings to the table now. His 26 steals and 88 runs were by far the lowest totals in his career and even though his power was up (11 HR and 31 2B), it’s not enough to make anybody salivate over him. Ichiro will win you some leagues with his average alone, but expecting much more than that in any other category, even in an improved Seattle lineup, isn’t too wise at this stage in his career. He still is elite, but just barely.

7. Jacoby Ellsbury BOS

Ellsbury’s play early in ’08 warranted a full-time job in center and made the Red Sox feel better about shipping Manny to Los Angeles. And boy did he run with his opportunity in ’09. He set career highs across the board, coming in at .301 with an astonishing 70 steals. He is a pretty good leadoff hitter hitting atop one of the best lineups in baseball and should score plenty of runs again. It’s not out of the question that he steals 80 bases or even more. If he continues to progress and get the green light, 100 may even be possible. He’s only 26 and he has plenty more years of stardom left, so if he’s available in a keeper league, scoop him up like kitty litter.

8. Jason Bay NYM

Bay can do it all and is probably the last of the elite outfielders. He turned a career year in ’09 (his 36 HRs and 119 RBIs were his best single-season totals) into a big payday with the Mets and should be one of the first outfielders off the board. He can steal a few bases, walk 100 times and he will have Jose Reyes and David Wright ahead of him with Carlos Beltran providing protection. A guy could do worse.

9. Justin Upton ARI

This may surprise some people, but just like with Matt Kemp, it’s time to take notice of these NL West outfielders. Upton was so highly touted out of high school that it made the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight look like child’s play. Everybody expected him to make an immediate impact for the D-Backs, and he didn’t in ’08. Everybody forgot that he was just a 20-year-old kid for much of that season. Heck, he couldn’t even buy a beer and he was five years away from becoming eligible to even rent a car to get him to the stadium. After a subpar ’08 campaign, everybody seemed to lay off and Upton was able to relax and put up a Top-10 fantasy OF season. He hit .300 with 26 bombs, 86 RBIs, 84 runs and 20 steals in just 138 games. Imagine a full season of those numbers and combine that with the progression he showed from ’08 to ’09 and his immense hype and you have yourself a superstar in waiting. The hype is back on: Upton is the man.

10. Curtis Granderson NYY

A lot of people are down on him, mostly because he strikes out so much and isn’t a prototypical leadoff hitter, but let them talk crap while you swoop in and snag him at a price that probably is cheaper than he’s worth. Granderson hi 30 bombs last year and stole 20 bases, a great power-speed combo. He only had 71 RBIs and 91 runs, but he spent his days in an underperforming lineup. Those days are over. He’s hitting in front of (or maybe directly behind Derek Jeter depending on if Giradi keeps DJ in the leadoff spot) Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. He will have plenty of opportunities to score and drive in runs and with the short porch in right field in the new Yankee Stadium, could exceed 30 homers. He has never stolen more than 26 bases in a season, but may run more with the Yankees, so a 30-30 season is not out of the question. The only area where he won’t help you is average, as .249 just doesn’t cut it for most people. But, in points leagues, he’s an icon and even in Rotisserie leagues, he can help you in every other area but average, which is why he’s not in the elite category.

11. Carlos Beltran NYM

Keep in mind that Beltran had knee surgery and probably won’t be ready for opening day. However, when he does come back, Beltran will provide a big boost to your fantasy lineup. His average has improved in four straight seasons, and thanks to an injury-plagued ’09 that caused him to miss half the season, will come on the cheap, real cheap. But, Beltran will be hitting behind Reyes, Wright and now Jason Bay, so he will have a million of opportunities to drive in runs (an exaggeration, but he could easily drive in 120 runs after he comes back with the way those three get on base). Beltran probably won’t ever reach 30-30 again, but he could easily throw in 20 steals and close to 30 home runs after he returns.

12. Jayson Werth PHI

I know, I’m surprise at this, too, actually. But, Werth’s numbers are right up there with any fantasy outfielder ahead of him and the only reason why he’s ranked as low as he is is because his career year came at 29 and it was the only year that he’s had that kind of success. But, if he puts up a season anywhere near last year’s (36 HR, 99 RBIs, 98 runs, 20 steals and even 91 walks), you’ll have struck fantasy gold with the likely sixth-10^th round pick that you could wait for him at. Heck, he may even still be around in the 11^th round, which would be like winning the jackpot. There’s some risk, but it seems pretty minimal and hitting in that lineup and that ballpark, Werth figures to prove his worth in at least the power categories.

13. Carlos Lee HOU

El Caballo is a run-producer, pure and simple. Look no further than his ’08 season (where he drove in 100 in just 115 games) for proof of that. But, the Astros’ lineup vastly underperformed last year and Lee didn’t have as many opportunities as he normally would have. Berkman, according to his career trends, should have a great year and Michael Jason Bourn is a bonafide leadoff man now, but even still, Miguel Tejada is gone and the rest of the Astros aren’t exactly the cream of the crop. Lee will still drive in 100, that much is guaranteed, and he will hit .300 or so with few strikeouts (only 100 combined in the past two seasons), but also few walks and runs and he no longer looks to be a factor on the bases. He’s still a solid option, but one with question marks.

14. B.J. Upton TB

Wow, he’s five spots below his younger brother? How many people would have seen that coming after the ’08 posteason B.J. turned in? Well, anybody who paid attention last year could have predicted this. Upton started the season with an injury and ended the season as a pain in the butt for some fantasy owners. He only hit 11 homers after putting on a home-run derby-esque performance in the ’08 playoffs and hit just. 241. He still stole 42 bases, however. The scary thing, though, is his average and decreasing plate discipline. After hitting .300 in 2007 and .273 in ’08, he dropped to the wrong side of .250 and his walks dropped 40 from ’08 to ’09. However, with all that said, I actually predict a great year from Upton. He’s going to figure out his power in the regular season sometime and he is only 25, so inconsistent averages and plate discipline are custom from the younger folk. He will steal you 45 bases, and could even steal 50, and this is the year that his power comes out for real. His average may not approach .300 again, or at least not for a while, but it should still be somewhat serviceable in 2010.

15. Nick Markakis BAL

Marky Mark-akis is one of the most underrated players in the Major Leagues and in fantasy leagues, especially points leagues. He hits 45-plus doubles a season, drives in 100 runs, scores 100, hits around .300 and slugs 20 or so homers. Last year was sort of a down year, but Markakis will be back on track in ’10. His 18 steals in ’07 came out of nowhere and have steadily declined since, but he should still be good for 5-10 swipes and though his walks are down (he walked 99 times in ‘08 because he was the only threat in the Baltimore lineup and thus, was pitched around a lot), Baltimore has an up-and-coming lineup and he should score and drive in more runs in ’10 and since less pressure will be on him to carry the load, he could be in for a career year.

16. Shin-Soo Choo CLE

The Choo Choo train finally found a permanent stop in the Majors for a full season after departing from Korea and making three separate short stops in the Big Show from ’05-’07. He had a great second half in 2008 and turned that into a full-time job in ’09, a job he ran with. Choo, who is just 27 (the age where the body reaches its physical peak and most MLB players have their best seasons) hit 20 homers, stole 21 bases, hit .300, reached base at a .394 clip, drove in 86 and scored 87. Wow, that’s production in literally every category you could ask for. He will only get better as he gets more accustomed to Major League life and as he approaches his prime, so he could easily be a Top-15 fantasy outfielder.

17. Michael Bourn HOU

Unlike his speedy cohorts like B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury, Bourn is pretty much a one-category fantasy stud. He is a blur on the basepaths (61 steals in ’09), but has virtually no power. He did have 42 extra base hits, but only three of those left the yard, so he is one of the few fantasy players worth drafting that will actually hurt you in the power department. And, after a terrible ’08 season at the plate, everybody was calling him just a burner, a guy who could only steal bases. But, he proved them wrong by nearly doubling his walks in ’09 and raised his average almost 60 points to .285, thus a 40-run increase in his scoring total, jumping from 57-97. He also just turned 27, so a career year may be in store. He won’t ever hit for power and won’t ever win a batting title, but he could score 100-plus runs with a .290-.300 average and could steal 80 bags.

18. Bobby Abreu LAA

He will be 36 by the time opening day rolls around, so there are obviously some question marks regarding how long he can really keep putting up Bobby Abreu-type seasons. The one sign indicating decline in production is that his 15 homers in 2009 tied for the lowest total he put up in a full season in his time in the Major Leagues. However, the rest of his numbers were right in line with career norms. With Abreu, you know what you’re going to get—15-20 bombs, 100 RBIs, no matter how many homers he hits, 25-30 steals, .290-.300 AVG, 90-100 runs and close to 100 walks. The only question is: how many more years will he continue with that kind of output? My guess is at least one, so draft with confidence in ’10, but don’t entertain the thought of hanging on to him in keeper leagues.

19. Manny Ramirez LAD

I really don’t know what you’re going to get from Manny from year to year. I mean, Manny just being Manny is a great mantra, but if you don’t know which Manny he will be, where does that leave you? It’s clear Manny has talent and is one of the best right-handed hitters of all-time at driving in runs. He’s clearly a first-ballot Hall of Famer, but at this point in his career, he is only motivated by money. You saw how he fell out of favor in Boston because he simply stopped trying. So, what can he do for you fantasywise? Will he hit 45 homers with 130 RBIs and a .330 AVG? Or will he end up with 20 homers, 85 RBIs and a .270 AVG. I honestly can’t help you with that anymore than I can tell you why the sky is blue or why Drew Barrymore is still getting acting gigs. He will be 38 by opening day, so draft with caution in that area too. Whatever way you look at it, he’s high-risk, high-reward.

20. Andre Ethier LAD

Ethier rounds out the only outfield that boasts all three starters on this list. With Juan Pierre now on the South Side of Chi Town, there is nobody there to limit time for any of these three Dodgers and though Ethier is ranked lowest of the trio on this list, he is still a very good fantasy outfielder. He’s only 28 and his 31 homers, 106 RBIs and 92 runs last year prove that he’s got of upside. The only issue last year was his unusually low .272 AVG, but his career norm in that category is .291, so don’t fret about it, it will return to normal in ’10.

21. Nelson Cruz TEX

OK, the first note on Cruz is that he’s maybe the streakiest fantasy player I have ever seen. After owning him last year, I can tell you that depending on the format of your league, that can be awfully frustrating. He will put up weeks where he steals five bags, hits seven homers and drives in 15 runs. Other weeks, he will have three singles and a run scored. It’s maddening if you’re a fantasy owner. Just be patient and trust that his final numbers will be fine. Also, his hot streaks are a big boost in head-to-head leagues that reward players who put up god-like weeks. Cruz will be 30 in July and hasn’t really had much success to his name in the Majors besides ’09, but he is for real and he could put up better numbers in each category in 2010 if he can stay healthy and not miss more than 30 games due to injury again.

22. Torii Hunter LAA

Hunter has intangibles that don’t help you in fantasy baseball, which sometimes boost his value in some leagues, but when broken down, he still puts up pretty good numbers. He set a new career high in AVG last year with .299, proving that he is still adapting as a player. Even at 34, he can still steals some bags, around 15-20, and he will hit 22-30 homers with 90 RBIs, but won’t ever score many runs because he’s never walked more than 50 times in a season. He will once again be hitting in the middle of the Angels’ lineup, most likely right behind Kendry Morales and Bobby Abreu. News that is even better than that for fantasy owners: his great season last year came in just 119 games, as he missed the other 43 due to injury. Imagine a full season of that production.

23. Andrew McCutchen PIT

Cutch is this high on this list for two reasons: multi category production and keeper league status. First things first, he’s only 23, and after a very veteran-like 2009 season, it is clear that Cutch will be a stud someday in the Majors, both in real life and in fantasy. He will help out in every category, and someday, he may be a 30-30 threat. But, now, he will just be a 23-year-old trying to put another season together. That season, however, could be .300, 20, 85 with 100 runs scored and 30 steals. He’s proven that he’s capable of that this year. Watch out for a sophomore slump, but Cutch is so naturally talented that he may just sidestep that as well.

24. Adam Jones BAL

Jones is also so high on this list because he is but 24 and boasts a promising career path. He made pretty good strides from ’08, his first full season, to ’09, his second year. Considering the first half he had, it’s not hard to get excited about what Jones could put up in the future, but his second half was downright awful. However, his pre-all star break numbers would project out to a .303 AVG with 194 hits, 110 runs, 94 RBIs, 24 HRs and 12 SBs over a full season, and that’s just dipping the toe in the water of what the uber-talented Jones could really be capable of.

25. Johnny Damon FA

I have to be honest, I was nearly completely lost as to who to put at the last spot that I discuss in depth. There are a handful of guys that are pretty interchangeable after Jones and McCutchen, but I think Damon has the most upside of those guys, depending on where he lands. He’s obviously more valuable in the Yankees’ lineup than most anywhere else, but with the Randy Winn signing, obviously he will not be returning to the Big Apple. So, this pick could fluctuate depending on where he ends up, but Damon is a solid veteran fantasy player, though at 36, he shouldn’t be on anybody’s keeper list. His speed may continue to decline, but he didn’t get caught stealing at all last year, so maybe his new manager will give him the green light more. Either way, he will supply a decent average with 20 or so homers, 75-80 RBIs and 100 runs. Not bad.

26. Josh Hamilton TEX—Has to prove to me that ’08 wasn’t at least a slight fluke

27. Carlos Quentin CWS—Played like a Top-25 OF in ’08, but can he stay healthy?

28. Hunter Pence HOU—Power/speed combo, but not the best in points leauges

29. Denard Span MIN—Solid in most categories, good average, will score a lot of runs

30. Shane Victorino PHI—Will get 30 or so steals with good average and runs

31. Nyjer Morgan WAS—Speed demon and really thrives atop Washington lineup

32. Raul Ibanez PHI—Career year from 37-year-old not exactly enticing

33. Juan Pierre CWS—Will have a good year leading off for ChiSox

34. Rajai Davis OAK—Rounding out the recent run of speed demons with high averages

35. Alex Rios CWS—Had some down years but I’m really high on him, has 1^st round talent

36. Nate McLouth ATL—Decent power/speed option, but not the best of those types

37. Alfonso Soriano CHC—My how the mighty have fallen, will he ever get back to 30-30 days?

38. Dexter Fowler COL—Cheap steals option from a young and improving player

39. Lastings Milledge PIT—Great talent but when will he realize it? Could be this year

40. Ryan Ludwick STL—He is for real, but his ’08 season was probably too much to expect

41. Mike Cameron BOS—Power/speed guy in a good lineup, but getting older

42. Brad Hawpe COL—Can’t hit lefties, but bashes righties, so if you have bench spots, plan accordingly

43. Kyle Blanks SD—Power machine, could hit 30-40 bombs in ’10, but that’s all he offers

44. Carlos Gonzalez COL—Played better down the stretch, great in keeper leagues

45. Jay Bruce CIN—Great talent, just slumped in ’09, will rebound in ‘10

46. Carlos Gomez MIL—I love him this year, fresh start could mean 40+ steals for cheap

47. Colby Rasmus STL—They love him and he’s hitting in front of Pujols/Holliday

48. Vernon Wells TOR—Been steadily declining since big contract, what happened?

49. Nolan Reimold BAL—Starting spot in Baltimore outfield his job to lose

50. Travis Snider TOR—Very young still, so will have some growing pains

51. J.D. Drew BOS—Great on-base guy for leagues that count that, but injury-prone

52. Jermaine Dye FA—Where will he land? The answer to that changes his value up or down

53. Brett Gardner NYY—Great speed option in good lineup, but will he flourish in full-time role?

54. Corey Hart MIL—Decent power/speed guy, but had a down year and doesn’t walk

55. Chris Young ARI—Could be good power/speed guy, but has had two really down years

56. Franklin Gutierrez SEA—Better in real life, but is steadily improving

57. Michael Cuddyer MIN—Solid power/RBI option in middle of MIN order

58. Milton Bradley SEA—Will rebound, but how high is his ceiling?

59. Nick Swisher NYY—Good power with a lot of walks, but low average

60. Chris Coghlan FLA—Rookie of the Year, but doesn’t provide much besides average

61. Coco Crisp OAK—I’m real high on him, I expect a full rebound year

62. Cameron Maybin FLA—Great talent but may be too young and inexperienced still

63. Josh Willingham WAS—Pretty good power numbers and decent average

64. Scott Podsednik KC—Rebound year last year, but what to expect this season?

65. Julio Borbon TEX—Starred in small taste last year, but is he ready full-time yet?

66. Matt Diaz ATL—Should turn in a good average in full-time starting role

67. Jeff Francoeur NYM—Should serve him well to hit in NYM lineup all season long

68. Cody Ross FLA—Good power and average options and he flies under the radar

69. Garrett Jones PIT—Stud down the stretch last year, but how will he be in full season?

70. Marlon Byrd CHC—Is he really worth a fantasy draft pick? Doubt it

71. Mark DeRosa SF—Versatility boosts value, but strictly in OF, he doesn’t cut it.

72. Juan Rivera LAA—Decent power, but not worth taking up an OF spot, except in deep leagues

73. Melky Cabrera ATL—Just not a good fantasy player, especially out of NYY lineup

74. David Murphy TEX—Always seems to find his way into the lineup

75. Kosuke Fukudome/Xavier Nady CHC—Not bad options if you have bench room and can play the matchups

It’s been a trying year for some in both worlds, namely for Cubs fans (I weep with the rest of you all) and fantasy owners who are coming off almost a decade straight of top-three finishes and somehow found themselves in fifth place all the way back in May and expected A-Rod to come back from his hip injury to save their team, but instead they remained in fifth place at season’s end much to their own bewilderment and awe (I may be speaking from personal experience here).

As the saying goes, “hindsight is always 20-20.” In an effort to prove the validity of this statement and to play some solid Monday Morning Quarterback, I’ve compiled an awards ceremony for the 2009 fantasy season complete with Silver Sluggers for each position in each league (the most valuable fantasy player from each position) and Rookie of the Year nods.

MVP—Albert Pujols

This isn’t even a question. Pujols was the man all season long, ranking near the top in just about every offensive category. In my points league, he had an almost-unheard of 796 points (nobody has reached the 800 plateau since A-Rod’s 2007 season and before that, you’d have to go back to Barry Bonds’ steroid-driven 73-homer, 2001 season). He was the toast of Rotisserie leagues with a .327 AVG, 124 runs, 47 homers, 135 RBIs and even mustered up 16 stolen bases. The main knock on Pujols the past couple of years is his lack of production in the stolen-base department, but you can’t argue with 16 swipes ever, let alone from a guy who is an absolute BEAST in every other 5×5 category. For those of you that play head-to-head leagues, he even helped you out in walks (115) and strikeouts (only 64?!!!). He sets the standard for which all other fantasy players strive to become.

Cy Young—Justin Verlander

This was a tough choice, maybe the toughest of all the awards. With names like Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum, CC Sabathia and Zack Grienke bouncing around my head, I decided to go with the Tigers’ ace. Verlander led the Majors in innings pitched, strikeouts and wins in addition to sporting a 3.45 ERA while pitching to the Designated Hitters in the American League.

AL Rookie of the Year—Andrew Bailey

Question: what ML closer had a better WHIP (Walks + Hits / Innings Pitched) (.88) than Mariano Rivera (.90)? I’d give you a hint, but I think it’s pretty obvious given the subhead. Bailey was near-unstoppable all season as the Athletics’ closer, saving 26 games in 30 chances while striking out 91 in 83.1 innings. He also sported a 1.84 ERA and six wins. It’s hard to be a rookie pitcher, let alone in the AL. It’s even harder to be a rookie closer in the AL. Instead, Bailey went all season long like he’d been doing it as long as Mariano Rivera. And for a young closer, it’s never bad to emulate Mo, either in real life or in the fantasy world.

NL Rookie of the Year—Tommy Hanson

Honorable Mention—Andrew McCutchen

This was also a tough choice as McCutchen (.286 AVG, 74 R, 12 HR, 54 RBIs, 22 SB) was a five-category producer, but Hanson was money from the day he got the call to become a part of the Atlanta Braves’ rotation. His 11-4 record, 1.18 WHIP and 2.89 ERA were indicitive of his all-world talent and his 116 Ks in 127.2 IP weren’t too shabby, either.

AL Silver Sluggers

Catcher—Joe Mauer

Is anybody really surprised here? I don’t know if he suddenly tapped into the power behind his sideburns, but whatever he did differently this season, it worked like a charm. Mauer, the best hitting catcher in the game today, maybe ever, again won an AL Batting Crown (.365), but this time added incredible power numbers to his already gaudy statistics. His 94 runs, 28 homers and 96 RBIs easily ranks him as the most valuable catcher in all of baseball even if you don’t take into account the fact that he missed the first month of the season with back issues. This guy is a man among boys and fantasy gold. He was so good that I couldn’t even give Victor Martinez honorable mention despite a superb offensive season (.303, 88, 23, 108).

First Baseman—Mark Teixeira

Honorable Mention—Kendry Morales

George Steinbrenner and the Yankees’ front office spent a lot of money securing Teixeira in the offseason and Big Tex paid off big time. The 29-year-old first baseman put up some of the best numbers of his career (.292, 103, 39, 122) while batting in front of the game’s second-best player (A-Rod). He started off slow with just three homers, 10 RBIs and a .200 AVG in April, but once A-Rod returned from his hip injury, Tex went off, hitting 36 homers and driving in 112 runs the rest of the way.

Morales, the 26-year-old Cuban defector, was the rightful replacement to the first base job for the Angels after Teixeira left and he almost matched Big Tex in numbers. His line of .306, 86, 34, 108 was a welcome surprise to fantasy owners everywhere.

Second Baseman—Ian Kinsler

Kinsler once again showed that he is the best AL second baseman in the fantasy world when he’s healthy enough to take the field. However, he also showed that he is not the most durable player with another DL stint, but was so productive when he was on the diamond that he helped carry some teams to a fantasy championship, as he did for Team Diamond in my league. He was second in my league in points for second baseman (only Chase Utley had more) and his 30-30 season was a welcome addition to any team.

Third Baseman—Alex Rodriguez

Many would argue that Evan Longoria or even Chone Figgins would be better options here, but when taking missed time into account, A-Rod is clearly the best choice among AL third basemen. The artist formerly known as the best player in baseball (sorry A-Rod, you’re the man but Pujols is a God) put together his 12th straight season with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs thanks to a two-homer, seven-RBI performance in his final game of the season, helping cement his case as best fantasy AL third baseman in addition to helping many fantasy owners close out their championship seasons. This guy did it all for owners who rode out his early season hip injury and slow start upon his return, even totaling double digits in steals once again (14). Now, if only playoff stats counted too…

Shortstop—Derek Jeter

Let’s hear it for New York!!! The Captain rounds out the list of Yankee infielders who helped earn their fantasy owners a league championship. While he may not have made the Yankee hat as famous as Jay-Z, Jeter had a resurgent year, hitting .334 with 107 runs, 18 homers, 66 RBIs and 30 steals, helping out in every category. He was consistent from start to end which made weekly head-to-head owners happy and put up great overall numbers, which made everybody happy. He even made the move to leadoff in the order seamlessly, never hurting his fantasy owners all season.

Left Fielder—Carl Crawford

Crawford was once again a monster on the basepaths (60 steals) and helped out in every other category with a .305 AVG, 96 runs, 15 homers and 68 RBIs. His 60 steals were a career high and he rebounded with one of the best years of his career after an injury-riddled and disappointing 2008 campaign.

Center Fielder—Jacoby Ellsbury

The freshest-looking face on this list, what Ellsbury lacks in facial hair he makes up for with blinding speed on the bases while setting the table for one of the best offenses in baseball with the Red Sox. His 70 steals led the Majors and helped garner him the title of the second highest scoring outfielder in my points league. His .301 AVG, 94 runs, eight homers and 60 RBIs also helped out fantasy owners while his prowess on the basepaths was enough to win some owners the steals category hands down.

Right Fielder—Shin-Soo Choo

Shin-Soo Who? Why him? Well, the answer is pretty simple. The 27-year-old South Korean outfielder edged out Bobby Abreu in this category in part because he had more home runs and a higher average, but also because Abreu likely went higher than Choo in leagues by five or more rounds, yet the two were very close statistically. Choo’s numbers (.300, 87, 20, 86, 21) help Rotisserie owners in every category and were enough to earn him the 11th highest scoring outfielder in my points league.

Designated Hitter—Adam Lind

Yes, that Adam Lind. The old Blue Jays top prospect. He finally put it all together for a magical season at the plate (.305, 93, 35, 114) while picking up the slack for Alex Rios (before he left for Chi town) and Vernon Wells. Many people took late-round fliers on Lind and they were rewarded kindly for their faith as his numbers were almost worthy of a first-round pick.

NL Silver Sluggers

Catcher—Brian McCann

It was a tough year for any catcher not named Mauer or Martinez (who spends a lot of his time at first base or DHing anyways) and McCann was likely the next best option for any fantasy owner out there. His numbers (.281, 63, 21, 94) weren’t bad, but they didn’t exactly inspire their owners to write love ballads about him like some Mauer owners may have done (not me, but I certainly am tempted to even though I was stupid enough to pass on him in drafts).

First Baseman—Albert Pujols

Enough said.

But, for argument’s sake, if Pujols didn’t win the award, it would have to be a tie between Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder. The two men are not only alike in their body build (SEE: brick shithouse), but their performance on the field left their fantasy owners reeling as well, but in a good way. Both All Stars drove in 141 runs and scored roughly the same amount of runs (Howard: 105, Fielder: 103) while clubbing 40-plus homers (Howard: 45, Fielder: 46). Howard gets the edge with eight steals (HOW?!) while Fielder was able to limit his strikeouts (something Howard may never learn how to do) and post a .299 batting average.

Second Baseman—Chase Utley

Yes, he’s the new Reggie Jackson. That is great and I’m not trying to take away from anything he has done in the postseason because he’s been more inhuman than a Twilight movie in October/November (which speaking of which, why in the hell is the World Series being played in November now?), but did he perform in the regular season? The answer is a resounding yes as his Pony-Boy haircut (yes, that was an Outsiders reference) must have fueled him for the best overall season he has put together in his career. His batting average (.282) was a little down from his career norm, but he made up for that with 112 runs, 31 homers, 93 RBIs and 23 steals were a welcome addition to any fantasy team. He wasn’t thrown out once all year on the basepaths, obviously taking notes from his double-play partner Jimmy Rollins. Hell, Utley even threw in 88 walks for leagues that count bases on balls in their scoring. Any way you look at it, Utley is a fantasy stud from a weak, weak position.

Third Baseman—Mark Reynolds

Honorable Mention—Ryan Zimmerman

Reynolds may strike out more in one season than Pujols does in his entire career, but that doesn’t mean he still can’t be productive in the fantasy world. Reynolds was solid last year (28 HR, 97 RBIs, 11 SB), but he took it to another level in 2009, putting up such gaudy numbers that I almost didn’t include Zimmerman as an Honorable Mention. Despite his record-setting whiff numbers (223, and yes, he did top his own mark for strikeouts in a season), Reynolds was able to muster up a .260 AVG to go along with his 44 homers and 24 stolen bases. His 98 runs and 102 RBIs don’t hurt, either.

If not for a terrible supporting cast, Zimmerman may have been the most valuable third baseman in all of fantasy. His all-around solid numbers (.292, 110, 33, 106) were good enough for a fourth-place finish among third basemen in my league, finishing behind just Reynolds in the NL.

Shortstop—Hanley Ramirez

Honorable Mention—Troy Tulowitzki

Hanley may not have come that close to a 30-30 season with just 24 bombs and 27 swipes, but more than made up for that with a .342 AVG on top of his 101 runs and 106 RBIs. He is the unquestioned leader of the offense in Florida and all 500 of their fans give him a standing ovation every time he is announced before the start of their games. Fantasy owners may follow suit after an uber-successful 2009 campaign.

Tulo, as he is better known since Tulowitzki doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, hit for a cycle in the ’09 season both in terms of the original definition (against the Cubs in early August) and in the fantasy world as he put up great numbers in every category in his junior year after a sophomore slump. His numbers (.297, 101, 32, 92, 20) are what owners should expect from now on. Unless of course he can only put up good fantasy seasons in odd years.

Left Field—Ryan Braun

Braun was the leading point-getter out of all outfielders in my league and fourth overall among hitters (behind only the big three of Pujols, Fielder and Howard). He posted career highs in steals (20), runs (113) and RBIs (114) while smacking 32 homers en route to a 203-hit season and a .320 AVG.

Center Field—Matt Kemp

Kemp turned in a great season despite his constant state of flux in the Dodgers’ lineup. Why Joe Torre insisted on batting Kemp 8th is beyond me, but wherever he batted, Kemp was unstoppable in the fantasy world. He approached a .300 AVG (.297) and the 30-30 club (26 HR, 34 SB) while scoring 97 runs and driving in 101. He played great defense in center as well, not that that matters for fantasy, though. It was just a part of my ‘Praise Matt Kemp Hour’ that I do every day shortly after I turn my head East and pray to A-Rod and Albert Pujols to help me figure out a way to get them on the same fantasy team in one season.

Right Field—Jayson Werth

Though I originally had Werth on this list just so I could post a photo of his sick facial hair, I took a closer look at his numbers and realized he was more than worthy of the spot. He didn’t reach the century mark in runs or RBIs (98 and 99, respectively), but fell just short. He also parked 36 long balls and swiped 20 bags while stroking at a .268 clip in his first year as a season-long starter. Expect good things to come from both Werth and his chin stubble in the future.