Royal Fantasy Players to Watch

by Freneau on Feb 14, 2012 8:53 PM EST

This post should really be considered more a topic opening and a call to discussion, because I'm not sure any Royals are really valuable fantasy players.

The discussion begins with Joakim Soria. Really the Royals fantasy guy, if you are a traditional saves-centric league. Nevertheless, the Royals semi-demoted him briefly last season. Moreover, if he's traded, it might be to a contender that already has a closer.

After Soria who do you draft? Sure, in a deep league Francoeur or Gordon are decent players, as is Butler. I like all three guys in deep, weekly head to head leagues, because they'll play every day and fill the statsheet in reliably mediocre levels.

Do you take a run at Eric Hosmer? Sure, he would have an explosive, Pujols-like season. Or he could struggle or perhaps just settle in as a Butler-esque player.

As for the pitchers, The Sancheize is intriguing because of the strikeouts, as is Felipe Paulino, in an all around less combustible and possibly less interesting way.

Do you draft any Royals with your top 5 pick?

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Comments

think you have to take Hosmer first

Most leagues Butler will be a utility player and you can put a better player than Butler in that slot.

That said Butler would be my second Royal taken followed by Gordon. Butler is consistent and ya know what ya get.

Real question is how early do you take Brett “entourage” Lawrie? He’s gotta be the first 3b taken.

Do these effectively hide my thunder?

by splitty on Feb 14, 2012 9:37 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Did you forget the @ @ with lawrie?

Bautista and Longoria will be the first 3B taken, in the first round, with several other after that.

Doubting Thomas, the patron saint of sabermetrics

by Jeff Zimmerman on Feb 14, 2012 10:12 PM EST up reply actions

yeah thought the "Entourage" nickname would be enough snark

Do these effectively hide my thunder?

by splitty on Feb 14, 2012 10:32 PM EST up reply actions

i'd be taking lawrie 1st in a keeper league...

but i think he’s going to be an absolute star…and ive thought that for awhile….i think he outperforms every 3b except for bautista THIS year

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Feb 14, 2012 11:35 PM EST up reply actions

Huh?

You don’t draft Gordon or Butler, except in a deep league? I drafted Gordon last year probably somewhere around Round 12-15 and he ended up being my best all around player, and I had the best record in the league.

He won’t be the bargain that he was last year, but unless you’re in an 8 team league that goes 10 rounds, these Royals players are going to be drafted. An example of a guy that will get drafted in deep leagues is Moustakas.

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 14, 2012 10:03 PM EST reply actions

Just read the post again and I'm still flabbergasted.

You should do a mock draft.

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 14, 2012 10:05 PM EST up reply actions

I totally agree

What’s a deep league? 8 teams? This post is stupid

by YouDon'tPhaseMeGobble on Feb 16, 2012 12:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Gordon, Butler, and Hosmer all have value.

Draftable value too. A league would only have to be as deep as 8 teams for me to consider all three of them. At one point last year at any given time I had all 3 of these guys, Melky, and even Frenchy for awhile in a 12 team league. I kept them some of them benched for awhile, but as soon as they got hot, put them in the lineup to maximize their value. I won that league. I also had Holland and eventually traded Melky for Soria.

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Feb 17, 2012 9:52 AM EST up reply actions

From MockDraftCentral

The Royals:

Hosmer
Gordon
Butler
Soria
Frenchy
Mouse
Cain
Sanchez
Perezence
Holland
Hochevar
Escobar
Gia
Betancourt
Chen
Crow
Kouzmanoff

Doubting Thomas, the patron saint of sabermetrics

by Jeff Zimmerman on Feb 14, 2012 10:18 PM EST reply actions

I'd take a flyer on Paulino

Before anyone #11 on down.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Feb 14, 2012 10:25 PM EST up reply actions

Interesting implications there.

Hosmer > Gordon – I guess that makes some sense based on the power expectations, but I would take Gordon earlier.

Paulino not listed – I’m with Retro that I would draft Paulino, even though he would be on the waiver wire in a lot of leagues anyway. Always a chance you’re in a league with another Royals fan and that person is aware of him as a sleeper. Also very possible that ESPN’s fantasy articles will out Paulino as a sleeper candidate and his draft stock could go up.

Giavotella not getting much love. Yes, his job is not locked down, but in a league with large rosters, I would take him as a backup 2B, especially if your starting 2B is someone like Gordon Beckham, Aaron Hill, or Kelly Johnson. Seems to be some volatility at the position.

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 14, 2012 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

keepers

It all totally depends on whether its a roto or head to head league. In roto I’d consider taking Paulino for the ks.
I’m personally in a first year keeper league with some royals fans so I have the feeling hosmer’s value might get inflated as well.

by mmiller9 on Feb 14, 2012 11:02 PM EST reply actions

Top 5?

nobody.

There will be more Royals drafted this year than last though. Hosmer, Gordon, and Butler will be taken in most drafts, Sanchez late in the starting pitching, Moose late, Soria after the closers start going, Perez will have good value in two catcher leagues, and Holland will be drafted in any league with deep pitching. (Where non closer relievers get taken)

"Trying is the first step to sucking" -Jimmy Chance

by KHAZAD on Feb 14, 2012 11:17 PM EST reply actions

Forget top 5 picks....

Who will be taken in the first 5 rounds? Depending on league size, there might be no one. Now, if you’re talking 30 team leagues like I play, someone is going in the first and because it’s a keeper league you’re looking at Hosmer.

If it’s an 8 team league with only 15 players, you’re talking no one going in the top 4 or 5 rounds.

I think Alex is a good one to draft. And if you miss on one of the stud 2B early just wait and get Gia late. Or Chris Getz.

PineTarPress

by 306008 on Feb 15, 2012 9:03 AM EST reply actions

you forgot these

@@@Chris Getz@@@

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Feb 15, 2012 11:18 AM EST up reply actions

I have Cain in my keepers league, pretty cheap for two more years

I have to decide if I am going to keep him or not. I like the cheapness and potential for some SB’s. Plus it is a pretty big league, so things get thin quickly.

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Feb 15, 2012 11:17 AM EST reply actions

Just did a mock draft.

Was planning on grabbing Gordon a little early, but got beat to it. 12 team draft, he was taken in Round 4, 11th pick.

by hawkinscm87 on Feb 15, 2012 2:03 PM EST reply actions

In my

10 team league, I see hosmer going in the 4th round, gordon right after that, butler probably in the 7th and soria in the 8th.

by beltran42 on Feb 15, 2012 3:23 PM EST reply actions

This is very possible.

It’s almost exactly how I would see it going.

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Feb 17, 2012 9:55 AM EST up reply actions

Is there a RR fantasy Leauge?! Or does anyone have a yahoo Leauge slot available?!

My first year was last year and I sucked buy enjoyed it! If there are any takers hit me up

"Stay Classy Kansas City"

by Mas Cervezas on Feb 15, 2012 8:00 PM EST via mobile reply actions

I'll send you some info on a league that I have in yahoo.

If anyone else is interested email me at bigdaddypb2003@yahoo.com

I'm waiting for my wave of talent to arrive.

by mitchfreakingmaier! on Feb 17, 2012 9:56 AM EST up reply actions

Posted this about Hosmer on another SB Nation blog, but fits well here

Per Eric Hosmer, and “him not doing much last year”:

Argh, why does this phrase continue to pop up?

From May 5th, 2011 (when Hosmer debuted) to the end of the year, he was the 44th most valuable 5×5 player. Only AGonz, Miggy, Pujols, Votto, Young and Fielder were more valuable for 1B from that time point to the end of the season.

He was 21 years old. Sure, you could expect some growing pains in 2012, but consider that Hosmer slumped (badly) in June, yet was able to rebound and post 24th most valuable (better than Votto, Fielder or AGonz) line from July 1st to the end of the year. The guy can adjust, and his BB% should increase based on his career minor league numbers (well over 9%).

Is the common perception that he will actually do WORSE in 2012 than 2011?

by xrayxtals on Feb 16, 2012 8:54 AM EST reply actions

he cannot do better, he cannot do worse

he can only be the Hoz

"Things could always be worse." - Buddy Bell

by buddyball on Feb 16, 2012 10:38 AM EST up reply actions

call me crazy...

but Gordon is a top 50 player for sure in fantasy leagues. Especially in smarter leagues where pitching is devalued for bats, he’s a solid 2nd tier OF.

Soria – People reach for closers. He’ll go 50-75.

Hosmer – I’ll never own him because someone will reach for him and kill the value. There’s always one owner in a league who loves having guys who could breakout. I’d rather draft known value. He’ll be taken in the 50-75 range in more conservative/advanced leagues.

Butler – Depends if he’s 1B eligible. If he is, he’s in the 100-150 range, if not, he probably won’t get drafted in many leagues.

Francouer – 4th OF only for me. don’t trust him one bit. Probably won’t own him.

Moustakas – He’s a solid bench prospect for me. I’d be prone to take a shot on him late once I’ve already got my everyday 3B.

Sanchez – Loved his value in SF in a pitchers park and in the NL west with other bad offenses and pitcher’s parks. Don’t love him in KC, but his K rate was fantastic, will probably take a step back and I’ll probably stay away. I love owning NL pitchers. He’ll be taken in the 150-200 range. If at all.

by Bart41 on Feb 16, 2012 10:41 AM EST reply actions

Over the last 3 years

Butler has been a top 90 guy (65th in 2011) each year. I agree that the DH only position kills a lot of his value, but in Yahoo leagues, he holds onto the 1B position for 2012. If you can get him between 100-150, that’s a major steal.

by xrayxtals on Feb 17, 2012 9:26 AM EST up reply actions