My Top Fantasy Baseball Picks Going into 2010

Are you ready for some baseball? In a few days baseball fans everywhere will begin their 2010 fantasy sports journey. For me it will be my 16th year participating in fantasy competition.

During this time I have compiled numerous statistics.

My top 10 ranking players from the past 15 years are: Yankee superstar third baseman Alex Rodriguez. In 63 selections, Rodriguez is averaging 28.95 fantasy points per week.

Rodriguez will enter the 2010 season 17 homers away from 600.

Second on my list is Houston Astros starting pitcher Roy Oswalt. I have selected Oswalt 10 times and he has averaged 28.9 fantasy points per week.

In 2008, Oswalt compiled a 17-10 record including 3 complete games and two shutouts. He pitched 208.2 innings and struck out 165.

In 2009 he suffered from back injuries and finished the year 8-6 and 138 strikeouts in 181.1 innings pitched. He also finished three games but recorded a career worst 4.12 ERA.

He enters 2010 27 strikeouts shy of 1,500 and 197 innings shy of 2,000.

FANTASY TIP- When selecting a starting pitcher, remember to select the pitchers with two scheduled starts per week. Another trick is to look for the starter that has been moved to the bull pen. He may end up earning three or more saves in the week in addition to your selected closer.

Cardinal slugger Albert Pujols is third on my top -10 list. Pujols has been a member of my fantasy team 79 times and is averaging 27.65 fantasy points per week.

Pujols finished 2009 with 47 homer runs and 135 runs batted in (RBI).

He enters 2010 34 homers shy of 400 and 189 walks shy of 1,000.

Fourth on my list is former Atlanta Brave turned Red Sox turned Cardinal pitcher John Smoltz. In 71 selections Smoltz is averaging 26.94 fantasy points per week. Smoltz had an injury plagued year in 2008.

He took the mound in 2009 with the Red Sox and later was released. Late in the year he joined the Cardinals. He finished the year 3-8 with 73 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched. The soon to be 43- year-old Smoltz is currently with out a team but wants to pitch.

Yankee pitcher Andy Pettitte is fifth on my overall list. In 49 selections he has averaged 25.61 fantasy points per week.

Pettitte finished 2009 with a 14-8 record and 148 strikeouts.

He enters 2010 74 innings shy of 3,000 career innings pitched.

Alfonso Soriano of the Cubs ranks sixth on my overall list, averaging 25.25 fantasy points per week in 35 selections.

Put up low numbers for him in 2009, slamming only 20 homers and driving in 55 runs. He enters 2010 10 homers away from career number 300.

Seventh on my list is Glendon Rusch. Rusch has only appeared on my fantasy team two times, scoring 50 fantasy points for an average of 25 fantasy points per week.

Rusch missed 2007 with injuries. In 2009 he appeared in 11 games with the Colorado Rockies recording two wins and striking out 13. It is still a mystery how much playing time he will see in 2010.

Tiger's first baseman Miguel Cabrera is eighth on my top-10 list. Cabrera has played on my fantasy team 45 times and is averaging 24.93 fantasy points per week.

Cabrera belted 34 homers in 2009 and drove in 103. He comes in 2010 80 hits shy of 2,000.

Cubbie Carlos Zambrano ranks ninth on my list. Zambrano has been on my team 30 times and is averaging 24.86 points per week.

Zambrano failed to record 10 wins last year finishing the season with a record of 9-7 and 152 strikeouts. He is expected to be the Cub's opening day starter.

Rounding out my top- 10 is Milwaukee Brewer Prince Fielder. In 50 selections, Fielder has scored 1,237 fantasy points for a weekly average of 24.74 fantasy points.

Fielder hit 46 homers and drove in 141 runs in 2009. He enters 2010 needing 40 homers to hit career number 200.

My top players by position are: 1B, Albert Pujols, Cardinals; 2B, Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox; 3B Alex Rodriguez, Yankees; C, Brian McCann, Braves, and Alfonso Soriano, Johnny Damon, and Carlos Lee are my three highest ranking outfielders from the past 15 years.

My top three ranking starting pitchers are Roy Oswalt, John Smoltz and Andy Pettitte. My top ranking relief pitcher is Mariano Riveria.

My top ranking players of 2009 were mostly pitchers. Edwin Jackson finished first on my list. In three selections he scored 102 fantasy points for an average of 34 fantasy points per week.

Russ Ortiz placed second, scoring 58 fantasy points in 2 selections for an average of 29 fantasy points per week.

Andy Pettitte is my third highest ranking player of 2009. In nine selections he scored 230 fantasy points for an average of 25.55 fantasy points.

Pedro Martinez, finished fourth on the list after averaging 2.335 fantasy points in three selections.

Roy Oswalt was my fifth highest performing fantasy player of 2009. In seven selections, Oswalt scored 175 fantasy points for an average of 25 points per week.

Zach Duke was sixth on my list of 2009 players. He scored 147 fantasy points in six selections and a 24.5 fantasy point per week average.

Alex Rodriguez is the first hitter to rank in my to-10 list coming at number seven. He scored 145 fantasy points in six selections for an average of 24.16 fantasy points.

Yankee's relief pitcher Mariano Riveria comes in eighth with 408 fantasy points in 17 selections for an average of 24 fantasy points per week.

In ninth place is Alfonso Soriano with 166 fantasy points in seven selections for an average of 23.71 fantasy points per week.

And rounding out the top-10 is pitcher Barry Zito with 140 fantasy points in six selections for an average of 23.33 fantasy points per week.