Many do not realize the types of numbers that Ibanez has put up over the last several years. Consider that last season he hit .293 with 23 homers, and 110 RBIs even in an offense that struggled to score. Additionally, he has hit over 100 RBIs in three straight seasons. He has also topped 20 homers in four straight seasons. Not bad for a guy that the baseball world has largely ignored. Especially when you consider his power numbers should increase after leaving huge Safeco Field for the tiny Citizens Bank Park in Philly.

Though Ibanez is about to turn 37 this season, the Phillies do not expect that Ibanez will miss a beat in reaching these numbers. History would be on their side of the argument as well, as Ibanez is the picture of production over his career. The 6-2 Ibanez is in fantastic shape, and still gets to all the balls in the outfield that he should. With the adventure that was Pat Burrell in left field being the standard that he will be held to, Ibanez should be a huge upgrade defensively.

Offensively, Burrell was pretty much a one trick pony. He would knock the cover off the ball, and was a clutch player at times, but he was not exactly a good at bat the majority of the time. Ibanez should provide even better protection for Utley and Howard in the middle of the lineup. He is the perfect compliment to an offense that many might consider….perfect.

Regardless of how the Burrell loss plays out, Ibanez will be an asset to this Philly ball club. He is not only a fantastic fielder and batter, but a wonderful influence in the club house. In all the years he has been in the league, Ibanez has never been a problem. Philly could use a few of these types in the dugout, and it should only enhance a team that is ready to defend the Title.

Michael Young – Young is one of those guys that every fantasy baseball team loves to have. Virtually every single game he produces something to help your team out, and rarely takes anything away. He has a little of everything in his game, and is consistently among the league leaders at his position. He is the best option in the American League and will improve on last years already strong numbers.

Derek Jeter – Jeter just keeps on producing year in and year out with little slow down in sight. The power numbers have started to come down, but it is unclear if that is due to him or the surrounding cast. I would venture to say that if the Yankees needed 15-20 home runs out of Jeter, he could provide them. The fact is, he is destined to be a solid defensive option, that can hit the occasional dinger and get on base alot. Jeter is perfect in that role, especially at this stage of his career. Another solid year should be ahead for the Yankee captain.

Mike Aviles – Aviles burst on the scene last year and one can not help but wonder where in the world he came from. He killed his previous career bests in almost every single category, and his .325 average and double digit homers were particularly strange. The question is, was this one of those seasons where reality sets in and he comes back down to earth? My guess is somewhere in between.

Jhonny Peralta – Peralta had a monster year for himself in 08 with a .276 average, 23 home runs, and 89 Runs driven in. He even found time to steal 3 bases. The year was certainly an eye opener, and his power numbers are for real. I expect that he will drop in average this season, but his home runs and RBIs may actually increase a bit. Peralta is certainly one to watch.

Orlando Cabrera – Cabrera is that position player that is versatile, and finds his way onto my fantasy baseball team every year. His numbers are never amazing, but he finds a way to help out every single game. Like Young, he is a multi-category threat. I will always have room for him when he produces like he has in recent years. Cabrera is also a great player to pick up some extra steals without hurting your average too bad.

Garrett Atkins – Regardless of where Atkins ends up, I am sure that he will struggle. How do I know this? I have drafted him every year since that magical 06 year that he showed so much promise. He has been in a free fall since that day. What is truly hard to believe is that he plays half of his games in Colorado. Colorado, dammit! That should be good for some kind of juice in the bat should it not? It appears that is not the case, and Atkins can not seem to figure it out.

Mark Derosa – Derosa exploding for 20 plus longballs last year was a complete and utter fluke. He has never been a homerun hitter and the Cubs were smart to trade him when they did. I love the style of play that Derosa plays, but it is not because he is a huge run producer. Let others take the chance on Derosa this season because his price tag is out of whack. Especially with him moving over to the Indians and the American League. Heartbreak will come to those that overpay for this scrappy yet limited player.

Matt Holliday – Location, location, location. That is what the deal is with Holliday. When you compare his numbers in Colorado and his numbers in other parks, you will quickly see the Coors Field influence. Holliday is an absolutely fantastic ball player. No doubt about that. But he will be overpriced moving into a ball park that is no Coor’s Field. His numbers will drop across the board with no question. He is still a great player, but just not as great as he was in Coor’s Field.

Ryan Ludwick – Ludwick also suffers from the one season mirage. Last year he went crazy on National League pitching hitting 37 home runs with 113 RBIs. His batting average was what really stuns you when you look at the career. Ludwick has always been a .250-.265 type hitter. Suddenly out of the blue last year he puts up .299? That simply is not going to happen again. Still, Ludwick will post solid power numbers and get his share of RBIs. Especially in that Cardinal lineup. The key is to not pay for that average. If he is sky high, leave him for somebody else.

Jake Peavy -Peavy gets it from both sides. If he stays in Petco park where he has a much lower ERA, he is going to get much less run support than he might elsewhere. If he moves to another team with a hitter’s park, he is likely to get the exploding ERA problem. Either way, you have to figure on a drop in production for Peavy on some front. He is a great starter that is simply in a very bad situation for draft day value. Let someone else take on the chances for this one.

Consider Hanley Ramirez’s power numbers. After a mediocre 17 homers back in 06, Ramirez exploded for 29 bombs in 07. Just to show that it was no fluke, Hanley then hit 33 home runs in 08. What will be the encore in 09? For those that like looking at the more specific slugging percentage, how does .540 and .527 in the last two seasons sound? Ramirez has plenty of power.
When you look at the baseline for any player, you have to look at batting average as well. Hanley Ramirez has batted over .300 for three straight years, and did so while having an on base percentage that hovers around .390.

Another big factor for picking a number one fantasy baseball player would be RBI production. Given that he is a tablesetter type that is not called upon to drive them in as often, Ramirez is still quite the run producer. He drives in about 70-80 runs per season. More importantly, he has scored 125 runs in two straight seasons. That is one tough thing to do for any player. To score 125 runs and still drive in those types of numbers is telling.

Speed? Oh yes Hanley has that. Ramirez is projected to steal around 40+ bases this year as well. That is just the cherry on the top for baseball’s most well rounded batter. Hanley Ramirez also entered the 30 home run / 30 stolen base club last year in only his third true season. That is impressive by any standard.

Hanley Ramirez is heading towards being the best player in baseball, and fantasy baseball along with it. The young star has spent the majority of his career improving, and the amazing thing is that he is just now 25 years old. He is only now beginning to reach his prime. What will he do when he really knows what he is doing?

It is a scary thought for owners that do not own him in their fantasy baseball league. This is the reason that Hanley Ramirez should be the number one pick in fantasy baseball drafts across the country.

Raul Ibanez has toiled away in the shadows of other great players and quietly put together some fantastic numbers. Ibanez put up some serious numbers in Seattle last season batting .293 with 23 bombs and 110 RBI. Those power numbers are not quite on the level of Burrell’s 33 bombs, but Ibanez will see an increase in his homers in this ballpark. Figure also that you are getting a better on base percentage, and better average with Ibanez, and you start to see the value. Burrell also would strike out at a rate that is nearly double that of Ibanez. That certainly translates into runs for the Phillies.

While the offensive side is likely to come to a push, the defensive side is another story. The defensive liabilities of Burrell were widely reported, and Ibanez is a talented fielder as well as hitter. The Phillies should be much more secure defensively with Ibanez patrolling the corner. That said, Ibanez over Burrell is certainly not far fetched.

Ibanez has spent a career being mostly unknown, and does not seem to mind. This might be the year that everybody learns who he is. The Phillies are sure to give him the stage with the talent and strength of this team. They seem highly likely to reach the playoffs again this season, and Ibanez could get the opportunity to be appreciated outside of his own team circle and fans. Baseball is like that. You can star for a team that is out of the spotlight for years and barely get a nod, and then move to a powerhouse and explode onto the scene.

Either way, the Phillies are likely to be smiling all the way to the National League playoffs. The Phillies are loaded from top to bottom, and they have the pitching to back up all this offense that everybody is talking about. Also, the Phillies are finally going into a season healthy. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Jayson Werth, and Ryan Howard are all healthy and ready, as well as the pitching staff. That will be a new experience for the Phillies in comparison to recent years.

Sort of like Raul Ibanez.