http://www.rotoauthority.com/2008/01/jose-reyes-vs-h.html

Time for a shortstop smackdown. These guys are both getting picked toward the top of the first round - which one is a better bet for 2008?

 

Jose Reyes

 

• Age: 24.6
  
• Games in Majors: 596
  
• 2006 line: .300-17-81-122-64 in 647 ABs (value of $47.89 under my system)
  
• 2007 line: .280-12-57-119-78 in 681 ABs (value of $43.60)
  
• 2008 projection: .288-13-64-112-66 in 630 ABs (value of $39.94)
  
• '08 Average Draft Position: 3.78. (Earliest: 1; Latest: 9)
  
• Misc: slumped to .205 AVG and 5 SB in September '07.
  

Hanley Ramirez

 

• Age: 24.1
  
• Games in Majors: 314
  
• 2006 line: .292-17-59-119-51 in 633 ABs (value of $34.84)
  
• 2007 line: .332-29-81-125-51 in 639 ABs (value of $53.71)
  
• 2008 projection: .309-23-71-107-46 in 590 ABs (value of $37.99)
  
• '08 Average Draft Position: 2.33 (Earliest: 1; Latest: 5)
  
• Misc: Had October surgery to repair torn labrum tissue in left shoulder. Injury never affected performance but could cause him to miss a few weeks to start 2008. Also, the Marlins lost their best hitter via trade.
  

Early mock drafters are taking Hanley before Reyes, most likely because Ramirez was worth $10 more in 2007. The safe, and in my mind best choice here is Reyes. He's a $40 player even with a conservative projection. He plays for a better team and has no injury concerns. Like Hanley, he is still young enough to grow further. If I pick second overall, I will take Reyes.

 

Not to hedge my bets, but taking Hanley instead is certainly defensible. He seems to have a higher ceiling than Reyes. He's just riskier, mainly because of the injury. He has more power than Reyes but steals less, and I think the incremental swipes are worth more than the HRs. Also, it's very difficult and not too repeatable to drive in 80 hitting mostly leadoff. Not sure if Hanley will continue to do so in '08, anyway. At any rate I would guess that the loss of Miguel Cabrera hurts his run total at least a little bit. I'll take Reyes, by a hair.

Is there any truth to the statement that Hanley may miss a couple weeks to open the season because of his surgery?

Reyes is a no-brainer.

Reyes is a no-brainer.

Agreed, you'd have to have no brain to take him, especially in the offensive minded fantasy baseball.

I would take Reyes too, but I have seen some projections including yours that say Hanley will have a good offensive year.

I posted this in another, similar thread...but I'll just post it again.

 

Jose Reyes is a tad bit overrated if you ask me.

 

Sure, he's a great player...but he's really only had one good year at the plate. The rest have been alright, but not quite that good.

 

He's never hit above .300 in any year. He hit .300 exactly in 2006...good but not incredible.

 

His career high OBP is .354 which is not exactly great (it's good, but not great), especially for a leadoff hitter.

 

He's a great fielder and has excellent speed, but I think Hanley, Rollins, and Tulowitzki are probably better than him.

 

If he played in Kansas City he wouldn't be nearly as "outstanding" as everyone from New York is making him out to be

 

 

And to add to that...You'd have to be blind (no offense to the two people in here who said it) to want to take Reyes over Hanley in fantasy baseball.

You'd have to be blind (no offense to the two people in here who said it) to want to take Reyes over Hanley in fantasy baseball.

Well, it's written down in black pixels. You know what the situation is with Reyes. You know where he is batting, you know what his lineup is capable of, and you know that he is going to be among the league leaders in steals and runs [not just SS's]. He's also going to put up respectable offensive numbers for a SS.

 

HanRam is better IRL [other than giving up double the E's], but in a much worse situation. It's that simple.

I don't know if its as simple. I don't see it as Hanley over Reyes hands down. Even though Hanley does put up those monster numbers, the lineup around him is not as devastating.

 

I had Reyes last year. He had a down year based on his past performances. As well as the entire Mets lineup with all of its injuries and brain farts. Reyes is a solid fantasy player. I do love Hanley, but he killed owners in errors which can be very damaging in Head to Head leagues. I can see it going either way. Depending on your comfort zone.

 

I would take Reyes simply based on the fact that he will commit less errors (I play in a Head to Head League), his numbers "should" go up this year based on the belief that he had an off year, and the offense around Reyes. Hanley's offensive protection is not going to be there based on the fact that Miggy is gone. This is my humble opinion. I'll let someone else take Hanley.

Well it depends what kind of league you're in, really.

 

I'm in a complete points league. Just points for hits, runs, total bases, steals, wins, saves, and k's.

 

It's not a 5x5 either, just straight points.

 

So the ability to steal(its only worth 1 point) or the ability to field is meaningless in my league, making Hanley the obvious choice

On offense alone you take Hanley in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011...