Five Tool Stars Dominate 2009 Drafts

Multi Tasking Makes for Fast Fantasy Drafting

Well, as I commence this year's baseball blogging, the one sure thing in fantasy drafts, from the NFBC, is the premium again given to hitting, youth, and ballplayers who can do it all.

Yes, there is the KRod good for a gazillion saves. Everyone loves that Jacoby Ellsbury is the next Juan Pierre who can steal 75 bases. And it is great to land the next Randy Johnson in Tim Lincecum and round up 250 strikeouts. But single category stars just do not have the lust and lure of an Alex Rios, Matt Kemp, or Nick Markakis.

The runs in the drafts this year go the moment someone hits the Nate McClouth, Jayson Werth, Hunter Spence button. Owners want pop and power combined with speed and runs. They would rather have a young Corey Hart then a slugging Adam Dunn, and the whole fantasy world is enchanted with the 30/30 of Grady Sizemore.

Call it the security of knowing what you want to get, a comfort zone which enables you to secure a little bit of a lot. Teams want as their staples the five tool masters, and in grasping for them they want young rather than old, popular rather than unknown. So sit back a bit and an older and established and more consistent Johnny Damon will auction for less and fall lower than a young and upcoming Nick Markakis.

There are some other stars out there being played too softly. No, Matt Holliday probably won't hit as many homers in Oakland as Colorado, and he won't run as much, but if Frank Thomas can pop homers in the Alameda County Coliseum, so can the Holliday Hunkster. And with that power comes 20 plus stolen bases. Going to American league parks. He is a star in either league.

So as you try to find athletes to fit that mold, look at whether they ran in the minors and can hit in the majors. It is what some owners are hoping from Jordan Schafer of the Braves and Cameron Maybin of the Marlins. Ian Kinsler stats. From oblivion to stardom. You won't get those five category numbers from a Chris Davis or Evan Longoria. David Wright is the exception for corner guys who run, just like Russell Martin is that exception behind the plate.

But Andrew McCuthen is in that blood chain. Nyjer Morgan is not. So if you are looking for power and rbis as well as steals and runs, you can't roll the dice on a pop hitting Brett Garder. You have to find the power which Chris Young brought to the table in Arizona. Just be careful. In those leagues where teams play OBP these free swinging youngsters will cost you as much adversely with their strikeouts and impatience as they make up with their speed and power.

You have to find the team where the owners give them a chance. Coco Crisp in Kansas City. He once had 17 dingers in Cleveland. Goes back to the midwest, plays out of the spotlight and gives you 20/20 numbers. So look at minor league numbers and major league opportunities to find the next Matt Kemp.