2008 Keeper List Preview

Written by the Doc, edited by Pefacommish. Pefacommish’s comments are in italics.

I was asked at the poker game where the annual world-famous Pickled Peckler list of BABI keepers is. Ask and you shall receive, with the covenant that it will all be changed by all the rumored trades.

ALL TEASE FALKUHNS:
Here is one long keeper list, especially if Brian Wilson ends up the closer in SF. I see larry.net doing some 2 or 3 for 1 trades to really improve his team. After all, Larry is a prolific and superb trader.

The Falkuhns have 2 Catchers and 4 MI’ers, which means he needs to move at least a MI’er, maybe even the infamous Kelly Johnson, along with a catcher or Kouzmanoff, and if healthy, Pedro Martinez. The Rips had interest in KJ last year, maybe they still do. All I can say about this team is Pot Right.

1) Brian McCann C $15/08C –He slid from .333 to .270 and from 24 to 18 HR, but he’s still a top 3 Catcher.
2) Prince Fielder 1B $5/08F – Will he get a Howard extention or go to a more reasonable to $20 or $25?
3) Brandon Phillips 2B $6/08 – the best pickup of all time, especially since he’s a crossover, not an X contract. After going 30-32, he must be extended to at least$16, maybe $21.
4) Kelly Johnson 2B $3/08 – 16 HR – 9 SB, worth keeping and probably goes to $8
5) Felipe Lopez SS - $7/08C – Even with is dropoff in Bave to .245 and SB to 24, still worth the $7
6) Khalil Greene SS $16/09 – He’ll never hit for average, but a breakout to 27 HR is easily worth $16
7) Jeremy Hermida OF $5/08F – not the ROY stats expected, but .295 – 18 HR is still worth the $5. Not worth going to $15 unless expect a true breakout year.
8) Felix Pecan Pie $5/09F – Has been a frontline prospect for ever, but may get a starting spot finally with Soriano and Fuck you dome
9) Tim Lincecum $5/09F – future star if Giants can get any runs to give him wins, and get a closer better the Wilson
10)Brian Wilson $11/09X – currently the competition for Hennessy as frontline closer

Other Potential Choices:
1) Carlos Ruiz C $2/09 – Peckler’s liked this guy, unfortunately one of them bid on Brian Schneider unexpectedly. Not a star, but expect 8-10 HR and SB if full time catcher
2) Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B - $18/09 – .275 – 18 HR is at value, in CI spot that is always expensive
3) Pat Burrell OF $25/09 – 30 HR – 114 RBI was worth the money
4) Bronson Arroyo $7/08 – is in Cinci, and numbers dropped to average, but worth price if don’t have enough keepers5) Pedro Martinez $11/09 – he pitched well when finally returned. But, is still 1 year closer to retirement and injury prone. But, $11 is still an interesting price.

(PEFAcommish: Fielder to $20. Larry’s in this for the long term, and Fielder is an injury waiting to happen. Phillips to $16, because you never know when he might be traded. Hermida will not be extended so should be traded. Pedro is almost sure to be kept-how do you not keep him at $11, plus starting pitching is the weakness in this team. Larry, if you don’t want to keep him, come knocking at our door. Arroyo’s numbers make him a toss back. I’m against keeping Pie. Burrell’s a pretty decent player at that price, as is Kouzmanoff. Larry’s got a lot to trade. I’ll bet he doesn’t pull the trigger. )

ANY 9
Not many keepers, but will have lots of money to spend and price enforce. A role I’m sure he’ll covet.

1) Ryan Howard 1B - $30/11 – Got a big contract, and though had good season, still numbers dropped. From .313 to .268, 58 to 47 HR. Expect, .215 – 36 HR at that rate of decline this year and a buyout in 2009.
2) Alex Gonzalez SS $2/09 – injury prone, but did return to form as “The good Alex Gonzalez”. .272 – 16 HR is worth $2 easily.
3) Norris Hopper OF $1/09 – Norris WHO? Great $1 buy. He hit .337 with 11 SB’s. Looks like the new So Taguchi.
4) Aaron Harang $19/09 – Imagine what his #’s would be on a good team in a good park. A definite #1 starter.
5) Boobie Howry $8/08 – the set up man to closer Kerry Wood and future closer Carlos Marmol
6) Homer Bailey $5/09F – Big potential, ugly #’s ERA 5.76, Whip 1.57, in bad park, on bad team, managed by Dusty, so expect injury waiting to happen

Other Potential Choices:
1) Jason Repko OF $1/09 – If he’s healthy he’ll only need to beat out Matt Kemp, Andruw Jones, Luis Gonzalez, Juan Pierre, Andre Ethier, Delwyn Young, and of course Mark Sweeney to make majors and get some playing time. He does have cheap speed.
2) Manny Acosta $7/09X – Might be in the Braves closer mix when the dust settles.
3) Anthony Reyes $5/08F – Ugly #’s, but big time talent. Still probably goes back into the draft, if for no other reason to force Kevin to pay a little extra.
4) Billy Wagner $38/09 – A star with studly #’s, but still only 34 saves even on a great team. Will go around the same price.

(PEFAcommish: Can’t keep Homer. Acosta is not in the closer mix in Atlanta.)

BATS:
It’s hard to see him keeping Carlos Lee as he has lots of money spent with this bargain-free keeper list. Everyone’s at value with just a little upside.

1) David Ross C $12/09 – BA sucked, dropping from .255 to .203, but he did hit 17 HR. If think can return to .250, he’s worth the price as a power hitting catcher.
2) Bengie Molina C $8/09 – Great value, .276 – 19 HR – 81 RBI, and a Homer to boot.
3) Alfredo Amezaga OF $3/09 – Worth more if plays any 2B, but still had 13 SB, and SB’s cost are expensive.
4) Josh Willingham $18/08 – His numbers dropped, but he still hit .265 – 21 HR – 8 SBs. He’s worth the money, but no extention.
5) Carlos Lee $44/09 –Hard to expect anyone to be kept at $44, but .303 – 32 HR – 10 SB – 119 RBI is sure worth the money.
6) Geoff Jenkins OF $14/09 – FA – if stays in NL and starts, can expect another .250-.260 – 20 HR season
7) Jeff Francis $10/09 – he’s in Colorado, so #’s won’t be studly, but 17 wins – 4.23 – 1.379 is solid there. Imagine his price anywhere else.
8) Jake Peavy $34/09 – whatelse would you want, 19 wins, 2.54 – 1.061, 223 innings
9) Brian Fuentes $15/08C – not worth it as setup, but if gets traded to be a closer is. Still $100 to buy him out???
10) Francisco Cordero $27/08C – now in Cinci, but still a closer and will cost as much or more in draft. No reason to buy him out

(PEFAcommish: This is the only team that sold out to try to win last year. Barry still has some pieces, but no real values. It’s going to be a tough season. Good news – Jenkins signed with the Phillies, a great hitters’ park.

That’s a tough decision on Fuentes. If Barry had finished 1st or 2nd, it would have been easy to pay the $100. But finishing4th, he basically broke even. Now he heads to the end of the line, and he has to start with either $100 in the hole or a waste of $12. That’s a shame.

Finally, Barry should trade Carlos Lee to Larry for Kelly Johnson.)

BLEACHER BUMS:
Luckily for all of us, this team had to trade away the future to get the SB’s they needed to win the championship. Oops, that’s the Pecklers who traded away the keeper. Never mind. Forget the Busch dynasty, it’s now the Bum’s world and we’re all just visiting. The team is young and looks set up for years.

1) Ryan Braun 3B $5/09F – A Pujols rookie year - .326 – 33 – 94 – 14 in only 436 AB’s. But, at least his defense sucks. Could end up in OF. Too bad. I’d drop him.
2) Kaz Matsui 2B $5/08X – Finally finished a season as Pecklers kept envisioning for years, but not on our team. Had 23 SB, but he’s now now in Houston. Expect him to back up Chris Burke at 2B, so I’d drop him too.
3) Jeff Francoeur OF – $15/08C – His HRs dropped from 29 to 19, but his BA improved to .293, and he drove in 105 RBIs. He should continue to improve. He’ll go for $35+ in 2009.
4) Lastings Milledge OF $5/08F – He hasn’t lived up the superstar billing in NY, but should get a chance to play in Washington and has 20 HR potential. Can’t extend him to $15 though.
5) Chris Young OF $5/08F – Great stats 32 HR – 27 SB, hurt by .237 BA. If he can hit .270+, could steal even more. Will extend to at least $15/09C, deserves $20/10C.
6) Corey Hart OF $9/08 – Another guy who reached his potential in a contract year: .295 – 24 – 23. Look for him to be extended to $19.
7) Brad Penny SP $13/09 – I thought he’d be kept last year, but actually came cheaper. A steal with 16 wins, 3.03 – 1.308. Should be just as good
8) Ted Lilly $9/09 – He was great find, none of us believed he could be good after 5 sucky years. But, had 2nd career year (other then 2002 A’s) with 15 wins, 3.83, 1.140. Hard to believe can do again, but I said that last year.
9) John Maine $10/09 – Pecklers had too many keeper starters and were too stupid to go for more, otherwise we liked Maine and Rich Hill if we did. Maybe it’s time for a change in theory. This guy was great from the start, and tired a bit late, still 15 wins, 3.91 – 1.272 is still pretty damn good.
10) Rich Hill $13/09 – Another young star in the making, now team is working on getting and offense.
11) Takashi Saito $28/09 – 39 saves – 1.40 – 0.715

11 players ... who to drop above – Milledge??

Other Potential Choices:
1) Miguel Olivo C $9/09 – Full-time catcher with 16 HR is worth $9, even with .237 BA, but he’s not keepable on this team.
2) Ray Durham 2B $12/08 - .218 BA kills his line, still 11-10 are OK. And being a Giant raises his price by $1-2.
3) Noah Lowry $4/09 – He crashed down the stretch, but he still finished with 14 wins and a 3.92 ERA, though with a deadly 1.551 WHIP.

(Pefacommish: That would be a yes on dropping Milledge. The Bums like to keep guys, so expect them to extend Young to $20, and Hart to $19, maybe even $24.

Here’s the Kaz trade back story (literally). Kaz has that back problem, and I was sure he’d play his way back onto the DL after returning from it in the spring. Meanwhile, when Nick Johnson went for $10 in the draft, I told the Doc that he was the steal of the auction. I never forgot that. I sent an email to Doug offering Kaz for Johnson, who we thought would be back by June.

Doug’s reaction was like a scene out of Warren Beatty’s “Heaven Can Wait”. He’s put into the body of this really rich guy, and starts to get into shape to become a Super Bowl QB. He then buys the Rams. The former owner of the Rams is whining: “He stole my club. He asked me to name a number, so I named a completely ridiculous amount. Bastard said “Yes.”

Doug said “Yes.” The bastard.)

BUSCH LEAGUERS:
He won’t need SB’s, and will have some to trade with Ramirez, Rollins, and Bourn. He still needs HRs and lots of pitching. Kind of like most years for Jeff, and I wouldn’t bet against him.

1) Garrett Atkins 3B 19/08C – WOW, did he improve. BA was .329 – 29 HR – 120 RBI. Last season’s extension was well justified.
2) Hanley Ramirez SS $11/08 – The best keeper for next season. 17 HR – 59 RBI – 51 SB’s -.292, looks like Jose Reyes, Jr.
3) Jimmy Rollins SS $43/09 – If there’s any $40+ player worth keeping, a guy with .296 – 30 – 94 and 41 SB surely has to be the guy. No more SB’s needed for this team.
4) Mike Bourn $6/08X – had 18 SB in 119 AB’s, and now should be either a starter or #4 guy in Houson, and expect 20+ SB’s. Just what Jeff needs - a tradable piece from SB depth.5) Josh Hamilton OF $5/09 – At least this feel good story, wasn’t on the Mitchell report. .293 – 19 HR for $5 flier.
5) David Bush $12/08 – Jeff says he likes him, and traded for him. But, 5.12 – 1.40 doesn’t on the surface look like much to me. But, Jeff has been right a lot more then he’s been wrong.
6) Tom Gorzelanny $7/09 – The Peckler’s drove him to $7, but stopped for some unknown stupid reason. We wouldn’t have gotten him, but at least we should have made Jeff pay more. In Pitt, so only 14 Wins, but 3.88 with ave 1.309 is pretty good.

Other Potential Choices:
1) Jeff Kent 2B $22/09 - .302 – 20 HR are at value, but no bargain
2) Andre Ethier OF $13/09 – There’s a lot of OF’ers in town, so likely the #4 or 5 guy.
3) David Weathers $15/09 – had 33 saves, with 3.59 – 1.210, but Cinci signed Francisco Cordero to be their closer. So depends if Weathers lands elsewhere in NL to close.

(Pefacommish: Ramirez looks like Reyes, Jr. except he’s $38 cheaper after an extension to $21. I wouldn’t keep Bush. Jeff won’t either. Kent ended up with a pretty good season after a very slow start.)

BUSCH LICKING, RIP KILLERS:
Nice start at cheap picking, but may not keep any hitters except Bautista below. The others are at value or may not have set starting jobs. But the Lickers have always been aggressive at paying for hitting anyway.

1) Scott Hatteberg 1B $5/08- he’s been solid since leaving Oakland, .310 – 10 HR, was worth his $5, but not much more. Will he keep the job though, or will Joey Votto take over.
2) Jose Bautista 3B/OF $10/09 – not a star, but 15 HR – 6 SB is keepable, even with .254 bave
3) Alfonso Soriano OF $37/08 – Dropped from 40 – 40, to 33 – 19, but was hurt for 1 month and didn’t steal much then. Still has potential to be 40-20, if not better
4) Ryan Church OF $17/09 – Now in NY and had 15 HR, but probably not going to start. At best will platoon, so $17 is a bit high
5) Adam Dunn OF 31/09 – Bave improved again to .264 with 4th straight 40 HR season and had 9 SB. Worth his money if Bave and SB return again.
6) Nook Logan OF $6/09 – stole 23 bases, which is worth the $6 alone, and has to be, since will get 0 HR and hit .260 off the bench. But, he was non-tendered by Nats, so where does he end up?
7) Chad Billingsley $5/08F – has great stuff, is on a good team, had 12 wins with 3.31 – 1.33. Worth his $5, but a stretch to go to $15
8) Yovani Gallardo $5/09F – another youngster with big stuff, and showed it: 9 wins in 17 starts – 3.67 – 1.27 stats
9) Oliver Perez $5/08X – which Oliver Perez will show up. He did return to Pittsburgh career year form with 15 wins – 3.56 – 1.311

Other Potential Choices:
1) Tom Glavine $11/08 – looked like ready to retire half the time, 4.45 – 1.41. He’s back in Atlanta.

(Pefacommish: Dunn is a sure keeper. I’d bet they’ll keep Soriano too.)

CAPPERS:
The New Bums, as George made ZERO MOVES last year. Just like last year, he has a solid keeper list by drafting good players, but didn’t quite get the right players or fully spend his money enough he needed to win. Again, he has a good start on HR’s and 60 SB. Needs Soriano to be the closer in Atlanta, so will only have to fill in hitting, and buy pitching.

1) Chris Snyder C $3/09- Hit better than you would have guessed: .252 – 13 HRs.
2) Adrian Gonzalez 1B - $13/08 – He improved to 30 HR (impressive in SD) – 100 RBI, with .282. Look for him to be increased to at least $18.
3) Dan Uggla 2B - $10/08 – Wow, 27 and now 31 HR, even with .245 BA is studly. Has to extend to $15-20.4) Troy Tulowitzki SS $5/09F – A future yearly All Star, .291 – 24 – 99 – 7.
5) Ryan Theriot 2B/SS $10/09 – I still don’t know how we didn’t keep bidding, we had him as a Peckler on everyone of our practice drafts. He was who we thought he was: 28 SB’s worth.
6) Chris Duncan $16/08X – Back to back 20+ HR’s, though BA was only .250.
7) Nate McLouth OF $5/09 – He finally reached the potential he showed few years ago and even hit HR’s – 329 AB – 13 HR – 22 SB.
8) Ian Snell $16/09 –Snell has big K power, but is in Pitt, so wins are a crapshoot. Still 3.76 – 1.332 is worth his value.
9) Brett Myers $7/08C – Lidge is now closer, so Brett will start again. So, we’ll have to see which Brett shows up in 2008
10) Rafael Soriano $12/09 – A keeper if has any chance at closing, which is still open slot in Atlanta

Other Potential Choices:
1) Derrick Turnbow $4/09 – He was talked about as closer again, but now Brewers signed post-steroid Gagne
2) Jonathan Sanchez $2/09 –He’s in lots of trade rumors, and could start in 2008 somewhere.
3) Ricky Nolasco $5/09 – coming back from injury, has good stuff. Would have been $10 until bombed with injury in pre-season and bombed in opening start

(Pefacommish: I have a feeling George will keep Turnbow. I’m not sure who he’d drop (maybe Snyder). It’s hard to be in love with Gagne, and the Brewers keep talking about Turnbow. Gonzalez to $18, Uggla to $20.

I also can’t believe we didn’t say $11 for Theriot. We had him down for $10, and we had money to spend. Instead we ended up spending $8 on Craig Wilson, who is available for trade, by the way. I think it is because we had already bought Flash Gordon for 26 after not planning to buy a frontline closer. We hadn’t quite figured out how much we still could spend, and got a little nervous. We also had shelled out $29 for Andruw Jones without planning on it. Two minutes after passing on Theriot, who George says we would have gotten at $11, we were both whining about being a couple of weenies. We knew he was a sure thing.)

DOYLE CARTEL:
Greg has 2 closers and 2 more relievers who might get saves. He has little hitting, but what he has are young and cheap. And he has LOTS OF MONEY to spend on hitting and starters. But will he blow it by trading away his key pieces if they start out bad? Hey Greg, before making your trade, call the Pecklers, we’re interested.

1) Joey Votto 1B $5/10F – Sure keeper if activated.
2) Orlando Hudson 2B $15/08 – Started off solar hot, but slowed down in 2nd half. He still hit .294, 10 – 10. He is borderline to keep at $15.
3) Matt Kemp OF $10/09 – He looked overpriced with all those Dodger OF’ers, but he showed he can hit. In only 285 at bats, he hit .344, 10 – 10. He’s got 20-20 potential, which is why every potential Dodger trading partner is asking for him.
4) Justin Upton OF $5/10F – Upton will be either starting or he’ll platoon with Chris Burke. Must keep.
5) Cole Hamels $5/08F – 15 wins, 3.39 – 1.12, with 177 K in 183 innings. He’s a stud, looks like could be extended to $15
6) Manny Corpas $2/09 – Great pick last year. A $2 closer is every rotisserie guy’s wet dream.
7) Matt Capps $5/o8X – He’s got a second $5 closer. Doyle’s in heaven.
8) Jonathan Broxton$5/08F – He’s immensely talented, but he won’t be the closer, so is he worth it in last year??
9) Luis Ayala $1/09 – He could be the closer if Chad Cordero get’s traded, and he has a chance to be closer in 2009.

(Pefacommish: We were the first team to finish last year, for the first time ever. We had $8 for 2 pitchers just before everyone became a buck. We bought Kerry Wood for $3, and immediately it was our pick. We had 2 names on our list: Rauch and Corpas. Rauch was a surer thing, so we threw him out, and some asshole pushed us to $5. Corpas became a $2 closer. Bite me.

As for Capps, we weren’t quite ready to throw in the towel, but when Barry sent his “Capps is available Candygram”, I threw out to the Doc trading Derrick Lee. With Gordon killing us, we needed saves, but Capps wasn’t such a sure thing. Now I wish we had done it. We ended up trading Lee for an even less sure thing, Carlos Gomez, who may not make the Mets out of spring training, and who they have been offering to everyone.)

HOBO ARTILLERY:
Not a lot of keepers, but they are either cheap or good values. And Noel has 2 closers to start the season, so he won’t have to waste that money overpaying or chasing saves. They have one frontline pitcher in Hudson plus 2 cheap starters, so Hank can spend lots of money on hitters.

1) Matt Holliday OF - $23/08C – He improved in every category: .340 – 36 – 137 – 11. He’s 1 year away from a $45-50 BABI price tag.
2) Chuck James $2/08 – He showed potential one game, then got rocked in the next. Still, 4.24 – 1.376 might be worth another flier at $2.
3) Chad Cordero, Closer $24/08C – As a closer he’s an automatic keeper, but he’s on the trading block, so could be anywhere by draft day.
4) Kevin Gregg $5/09 – Almost everyone made a bet on who would end up Marlin closer. Winner - Hobo. Nice find boys. Even if team only wins 70 games, he’ll get his money’s worth of saves.
5) Tim Hudson $20/09 - Looked like Hudson of Oakland A’s: 224 inning, 3.31 – 1.221
6) Mark Mulder $2/09 - He’ll be ready for spring training and could be the #2 starter on Cardinals. Ouch, sorry Kevin.

Other Potential Choices:
1) Marlon Anderson OF $1/09 – was worth his $1, but won’t go for any more
2) Ryan Ludwick OF $6/09X – 173 AB – 7 HR, if going to get any AB’s, might be a flier keeper
3) Willy Aybar 3B $1/09 – who knows where he’ll be: AAA, Majors, mental hospital, jail??? He’d be starting 3B for the Giants if we had him.
4) Chris Carpenter SP $11/08C – looks like $100 into the pot. Coming back from Tommy John.
5) Eddie Guardado $7/09 – keeper if gets signed to a team where he could get some saves – like GIANTS???

(Pefacommish: Hank’s a little short on hitting. It will be interesting to see if Mulder is ready to pitch again. For a team that finished out of the money, they don’t have much of a list.)

300 POUNDERS:
Good players, balanced keeper list, no real bargains. The 8 keepers below cost $137, but has a closer, #1 starter, and star hitter (Utley). So, $143 for 17 players, isn’t much money, but won’t need big price players except to get a basestealer.

1) Dmitri Young 1B $13/09 - .320 – 13 HR and All Star berth came out of no where, but still only 13 HR for $13, not great value.
2) Chase Utley 2B $23/09C – The best 2nd baseman in the game.
3) Pedro Feliz 3B $11/09 – Giants offered him arbitration, so he could be back. Ouch, sorry Giant fans. But he should get another 20 HR – 75 RBI season.
4) Aaron Rowand OF $20/09 – Gotta keep him as a Giant, if for no other reason then to trade him to Barry or Lou or the Bums. Actually, we knew he was a bargain at the time and he stayed healthy and though didn’t get the SB’s expected, still had .309 – 27 HR season.
5) Orlando Hernandez $4/09 – He’s old, often injured, but still can pitch. 9 wins, 3.88 – 1.207 easily worth the $4
6) Chris Young $16/08 – He reached his potential with 3.12 – 1.10 in 173 innings, but only 9 Wins ?!?! Is he worth going to $21? I doubt it. Just ask George.
7) Jason Isringhausen $24/09 – Reasonable price for a closer and he’s a Cardinal as well.
8) Carlos Zambrano $26/09 – Started out like crap, but ended as expected 18 wins, 3.95 – 1.331 should improve.

Other Potential Choices:
1) Miguel Montero C $5/09 – He had 10 HR’s, but needs better then .224 BA to be a keeper.
2) Juan Pierre OF $41/09 – He only had 37 SB’s, so a bit overpriced.
3) Greg Maddux $15/08 – Old Guy. He resigned with SD. His 14 wins, 4.14 – 1.24 are borderline for keeping, but can he keep it there?

(Pefacommish: David Wright is back in the pool. Kevin thinks he’s still a contender, but after Utley, where are the bargains that the Bums have like Braun? Zambrano is fully, fully priced, and Rowand moves from one of the friendliest parks to one of the unfriendliest. Kevin won’t likely be able to hide Feliz in a catcher slot for half the season this year.)

OLD RIPS:
Mark went into total rebuilding mode, and his team is really cheap. He has plenty of SBs, with Victorino and Drew and Martin. But he has no real HR guy, with all of his hitters getting 10-15 HR’s. This may work in the end, since will have to buy lots of pitching, and power, which there’s lots of in the draft.

1) Russell Martin C - $5/08F – The top fantasy catcher in the game - .293, 19 – 21, has to extend to $15 contract.
2) Yorvit Torrealba C $2/09 – Ended up resigning in Colorado, so he’s worth $2 just for that.
3) Conor Jackson 1B – 5/08F - Back to back 15 HR seasons, worth keeping, but not worth going to $15. D’Backs pulled back the offer to Tony Clark, so Jackson should get plenty of at bats.
4) Ronnie Belliard 2B $1/09 - .290 – 11 HR. No brainer.
5) Freddy Sanchez 2B - $6/08 – Increased to 11 HR, with second .300+ BA.
6) Stephen Drew SS $5/08F – Bave sucked at .238, but has 15-15 potential. Do you go to $15 on potential??
7) Matt Diaz OF $2/09 - I thought he’d be kept at $5 last year, he didn’t like he’d get AB’s, but he can hit. Got 358 AB - .338 – 12 HR and should get more AB’s now.
8) Shane Victorino OF $13/09 – Josh liked him, but I didn’t believe. Then I saw him get 5 SB against Giants in 3 games. Now I believe. He finished with 37 SB’s.
9) Jayson Werth OF $2/09 – He was a throw in from Ken. He’s probably a better keeper then anyone Ken has. .298 – 8 HR – 7 SB in 255 AB’s. Too bad he didn’t do that when he was a Peckler.
10) Kyle Kendrick $5/09X – Nice pickup. Ended up 121 IP – 10 wins, 3.87 – 1.27.
11) Dan Wheeler $9/08 – Was security guard for Lidge, now he’s the warden with 44 Saves, but ugly #’s 5.30 – 1.299.

(Pefacommish: Wheeler is in the AL now. Drew is not extendable and barely keepable. Sanchez isn’t extendable either – nobody wanted him in trade at $6. Werth is sure to get more homers in BABI this year than Cabrera.)


PICKLED PECKLERS:
We didn’t follow our plan last year to get Theriot for SB. Nor did we follow our plan to NOT buy a closer and instead buy cheap or future saves: we wanted both Soriano/Gonzalez, Rauch, Corpas and Meridith.

Instead at the last second we paid $26 for Flash Gordon, which didn’t leave money or spots for Soriano and Corpas, and we ended up with all the wrong potential closers.

Then we tried to get corner infielders as this has been tough position, so traded Kaz for Future 1B bargain – Nick Johnson. Oops again. So much for good management. Still, we have a good start 2 good starters starters, plus Loney, Pence, and Byrnes. The key though is if Wood is ends up as the Cubs closer. Then we have a lot of players to fill the last 3 slots, but are all depending on where they land and if they get starting jobs: IF Nick Johnson or Tony Clark get 1B job, IF Rauch backs into a closer slot when Cordero gets traded, and IF Carlos Gomez make majors are key hopes here.

1) James Loney 1B $5/09F – Pecklers schemed to get him and Pelfrey in Farm, well 1 of 2 was right: 344 AB, .331 – 15 HR
2) Jack Wilson SS $4/09 – Josh never liked him until he had late season surge to get .296, 12 HR
3) Eric Byrnes OF $13/08 – Back to back stud seasons, from 26-25 to 21-50 and .286 also. Needs to be extended to atleast $18, but do we dare go to $23?
4) Hunter Pence OF $5/09F – He should have made Astro’s out of spring training, but still had 456 AB, 17 HR- 11 SB
5) Brandon Webb $19/08C – Went from the Cy Young to #2 Cy Young - pretty studly 2 years. And Arizona has improved the team offense. But, do they have a closer?
6) Adam Wainwright $4/08 – Ugly start, but improved to 14 wins, 3.70, but couldn’t fix the WHIP 1.40
7) Kerry Wood $3/09 – Looks like will be Cubs closer for now

Other Potential Choices:
1) Johnny Estrada C $10/08 – He had a bad 2nd half, and now is a FA after being non-tendered by Mets so they could keep another former Peckler, Brian Schneider. .278 – 10 HR isn’t quite up to his .300 hitter standard needed to be worth the money.
2) Ryan Zimmerman 3B $21/08 – He also started slow, so he ended up with a BA of only .266. He did hit 24 HR and drove in 91 RBI. He’s got a big upside is likely worth the price. We’re likely to keep him, but not extend him.
3) Nick Johnson 1B $10/09 –Not the best trade in world for Kaz. If healthy, he can hit with 20 HR – 10 SB - .300 Bave potential. Will have to see if he’s healthy to start the season. If so, he’s a keeper.
4) Tony Clark 1B $2/09 – Depends where he lands. Could he be Giants 1Bman?? BA is always a question, .249 last year, but had 17 HR in 221 AB, and had a better second half. Easily worth the money if has chance to play. And Pecklers want to keep another corner infielder if Johnson isn’t keepable.
5) Jeff Keppinger 2B $5/09X – He had a fine under-the-radar rookie season: .332 – 5 HR in 241 AB. If he has a chance to play he is worth keeping, but right now he may be behind one of the Alex Gonzalez’s.
6) Carlos Gomez OF $5/09F – Keeper if makes opening day roster – he will definitely steal bases.
7) Mike Gonzalez $9/09 – Yeah, we’ve still got him. The Pecklers never completed our plan to get Gonzalez and Soriano together. Gonzalez just about had the job, then he got hurt. Unless there’s a miracle, he’ll be back in draft.
8) Octavio Dotel $18/09X – He’s a free agent, so depends where he lands. If he has chance to close, he’s a keeper.
9) Mike Pelfrey $5/09F - #’s were ugly, actually same as short stint in 2006. I guess potential doesn’t mean much.
10) Jon Rauch $5/09 – Nationals have been shopping Cordero all off season. Pecklers hope he lands in Arizona, to protect Webb, and Rauch the first crack at closer.
11) Kevin Correia $6/09X – Really pitched well down the stretch when made a starter, finishing 3.45 – 1.32, so currently should be 5th starter. The only problem is, we’ve seen him pitch.

(Pefacommish: Lots of possibilities here. The biggest upside is if Washington finally trades Cordero, and we end up with 2 closers for a total of $8. This assumes Wood gets the job, but the Cubs not only gave him over $4 million, but he has a $3 million incentive clause based on “games finished.”)