Official "Experts" Projections and Anaylasis

Well we have been waiting and waiting and they have finally arrived. The so called experts have released their fantasy baseball projections. so why should we care? We probably shouldn't, but its always refreshing seeing what non-fans think of our team

Carlos Ruiz
ESPN- 40 runs, 8 hr, 44 rbi, .257 avg
MLB- 51 runs, 12 hr, 53 rbi, .263 avg
Both predict a better season than he had at 09, though they both still have him fairly mediocre...which is where they should have him

Ryan Howard
ESPN- 104 runs, 47 hr, 145 rbi, .268 avg
MLB- 103 runs, 47 hr, 137 rbi, .265 avg
Apparently neither seem to think Howards drastic raise in avg was legit. An interesting fact is while ESPN had Howard ranked as the 5th best 1b, MLB had him ranked 4th. The interesting part was that they both had him ranked behind a player Howard eclipsed in all major fantasy stats besides one. say hello to your Yankee bias

Chase Utley
ESPN- 114 runs, 30 hr, 97 rbi, .290 avg
MLB- 106 runs, 30 hr, 98 rbi, .284 avg
Apparently MLB.com is buying into a decline by Utley. Interestingly enough even with them projected him to start declining they still have him as the best at his position.

Jimmy Rollins
ESPN- 103 runs, 19 hr, 79 rbi, .273 avg
MLB- 104 runs, 19 hr, 81 rbi, .275 avg
Both are expecting a bounce back year from Rollins, but neither has him regaining MVP form. Both have him a top 5 ss.

Placido Polanco
ESPN- 91 runs, 11 hr, 67 rbi, .306 avg
MLB- 75 runs, 16 hr, 69 rbi, .281 avg
Wow. One has him succeeding majorly in his new environment, the other has him flopping with only an increase in his hr numbers.

Raul Ibanez
ESPN- 84 runs, 26 hr, 92 rbi, .274 avg
MLB- 87 runs, 26 hr, 89 rbi, .269 avg
While MLB has him decreasing all across the board ESpn has him improving only one category. apparently neither believes in Ibanez's break through last season

Shane Victorino
ESPN- 96 runs, 12 hr, 55 rbi, .288 avg
MLB- 108 runs, 11 hr, 60 rbi, .296 avg
While MLB.com is buying into Shanes gradual improvement, it appears ESPN finds him fluky. I do not think they projected him for 7th in the order.

Jayson Werth
ESPN- 88 runs, 31 hr, 90 rbi, .273 avg
MLB- 97 runs, 29 hr, 90 rbi, .264 avg
While ESPN calls him a "bona-fide top 10 outfielder" they also project him to decline vastly. I guess they think it will be a down year for outfielders.

Roy Halladay
ESPN- 201 k, 16 W, 2.91 era
MLB- 211 k, 20 W, 2.94 era
Both have him as the second best pitcher in the MLB, but both have his stats decreasing in the NL.

Cole Hamels
ESPN- 184 k, 12 W, 3.55 era
MLB- 199 k, 16 W, 3.67 era
Both have Cole Hamels rebounding but neither has him recording an ERA under 3.50. MLB has Hamels the 12th best pitcher in baseball while ESPN has him the 29. Seems like MLB.com is anticipating a horrible year for pitchers around the league.

JA HAPP
ESPN- 154 k, 12 W, 4.17 era
MLB- 166 k, 9 W, 4.29 era
Both apparently think hes a fluke. Not much else to say about these projections

Joe Blanton
ESPN- 148 k, 12 W, 4.02 era
MLB- 128 k, 13 W, 4.21 era
Both have Joey continuing his streak of average-ness.

Brad Lidge
ESPN- 30 sv, 4.43 era
MLB- 29 sv, 4.23 era
Either they don't buy the excuse of him being hurt last season or they just don't think hes that good anymore

Conclusion- i think ESPN had more realistic stats of the two, yet i still think there are some flukes, two in particular...Werth and Happ. but i will let them find that out for themselves