There's is a a lot of overrated players, starting with the concensous number one pick, A-Rod. Let's face it, A-Rod not going to hit 50 HR again in 2008 (but never say never. He did hit back-to-back 50 HR in his first two years in Texas). Let piles some other that could head for a dissapointing season...
- 1B Adrian Gonzalez, San Diego: Don't get me wrong. I like Gonzalez as a player and he's going to do well again. However, he's being rank ahead over studs like Lance Berkman and Derrek Lee among 1B, as well as having a typical 30 HR, 100 RBI season (his first and only because he turns 26 heading into 2008). The offense hasn't improve one bit, even w/ the acquistion of Jim Edmonds, and although I don't doubt his ability (albeit his OBP was .347), I would just rank him barely outside of the top-10 among 1B.
- 2B Brian Roberts, Baltimore: He establish a career high with 50 SB in 2007, but this is an Orioles team that's clearly on rebuilding mode, so the offense might stutter a bit. Add to the fact that he was mention in the Mitchell Report as a one-time user might cloud over his head when this season starts, although it wouldn't affect his performance. Roberts is among the top-5 among 2B but his SB and runs (his "bread and butter") might decrease with an offense w/o Miguel Tejada.
- SS Miguel Tejada, Houston: Granted that he goes to a better offense, but does that make Tejada any better? Remember, he miss 29 games last season due to injuries and posted career lows as a full-time SS (18 HR, 81 RBI). Maybe a new environment might kick-start his career, possibly a 20 HR, 90 RBI season. Then again, he's being rank over Carlos Guillen and Rafael Furcal among SS, adding to the fact that he was mention in the Mitchell Report the day after he was traded (did I mention that Tejada is playing in the NL for the first time in his career?).
- C Kenji Johjima, Seattle: The depth at C is pretty much thin after Victor Martinez and Russell Martin, so it wasn't surprising that Johjima is rank in the top-10 among C. He's nothing special right now because his stats has been declining, despite only playing 2 years in the majors. I thought I saw something special with Johjima after he hit 18 HR and 76 RBI in his rookie season, but went through a semi-sophmore slump with 14 HR and 61 RBI. What will the third year bring for Johjima?
- OF Eric Byrnes, Arizona: Like Roberts, he establish a career high with 50 SB to go along with 21 HR. The problem is that he's entering into his early 30's (he turns 32 before the season starts) and probably will never repeat that season again, but he's rank over players like Torii Hunter and Manny Ramirez.
- P Javier Vazquez, Chicago White Sox: Sure, Vazquez had a brillant season with the Sox, finishing the year with a 15-8 record, 3.78 ERA, and 213 K, ranking him ahead of such pitchers as Carlos Zambrano and Dice-K among P. He can always get you the 180+ K's and double digit wins, but he's also a pitcher that gives up a lot of runs, so don't be surprise if he hits in the high 4 ERA.
- P Francisco Cordero, Cincinnati: He had a brilliant comeback season with the Brewers, finishing the year off with 44 SV. Then again, it was the Brewers. Now he goes from the best team to the NL Central to the worst. Cordero is not going to get a lot of opportunities with the Reds as he did with Milwaukee, so probably within a range in the 20-30 SV is at best, when you consider that Cordero is rank over Wagner and Saito among RP.
- P Jose Valverde, Houston: His stuff has been great and manage to get himself 47 SV with the NL West champs D-Backs. He inherits the closer position, which has been the plague for Houston the past two seasons. As history shows, he always had one good season that was follow by a bad one and being barely rank in the top-10 means that Valverde might be overprice for a player that only SV 20+ game only once in his career.
Now for the underrated...
- 1B James Loney, Los Angeles Dodgers: He's barely rank in the top-20, but he could be among the top-10 come 2009. He hit .331 in 96 games last season and has shown some display of power (15 HR, 67 RBI). He's entering his third year as the full-time 1B (the first in his career) and slated to bat third, in front of Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent. A full season can translate into a 30 HR, 100 RBI (possibly top-10 among batting average).
- SS Yunel Escobar, Atlanta: His numbers wasn't impressive but he's the reason why Edgar Renteria is in Detroit. Escobar hit .322 in 96 games last season and although he doesn't have the speed, he's slated to be the leadoff man for the Braves.
- 3B Josh Fields, Chicago White Sox: His batting average was brutual (.244) but the power is there (23 HR, 67 RBI). The problem is that he'll likely platoon with Joe Crede if Crede is healthy, but I believe that Fields will have a spot in the lineup soon.
- OF Brad Hawpe, Colorado: He driven in 116 RBI in a potent offense but he ranks lower than expected among OF, so he might be a discount as a third OF come draft day.
- C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Texas: Barely rank outside of the top-10 among C, the centerpiece of the Mark Teixeria trade could start as the 1B or C for the Rangers, which could mean big numbers.
- P Matt Cain, San Francisco: Sure he lost 16 games last season, but his numbers were decent (3.65 ERA, 163 K) so I don't blame him for pitching well. He's going to get better and being rank outside of the top-50 among SP could prove a big discount.
As for Jimmy Rollins, he should be in the top-10 after receiving his first MVP and he's always a 30-30 threat in a high-power offense.
The debate between Peavy and Santana should get intresting among draft day, but I do believe one of these pitcher can be among the top-10, possibly with the 6th pick.