I am currently working on my 2012 pre-season top 100 list, but once the name is posted, it will be in cement, so you can go by what you see. I have ranked these players with my own personal opinions taking a lot of things into effect. The main thing being potential, but ETA is a small factor as well. The letter grade resembles overall upside for fantasy purposes. This list will hopefully be updated once every 4-6 weeks during the regular season as well. Enjoy!

1) Bryce Harper A+ (ETA 2012) (They say “more power than Stanton”)

2) Matt Moore A+ (ETA 2012) (Filthy, great mound presence)

3) Mike Trout A+/A (ETA 2012) (Mickey Mantle like)

4) Yu Darvish A-/B+ (ETA 2012) (At #4 because he is ready now, I could see 5-8 and maybe 5-11 all being better in the long run)

5) Jurickson Profar A-/B+ (ETA August 2013/ early-mid 2014)

6) Shelby Miller A- (ETA July 2013) (Great upside)

7) Jameson Taillon A- (ETA 2014) (Verlander upside)

8) Gerrit Cole A- (ETA 2014) (Great upside)

9) Julio Teheran B+ (ETA late 2012/mid 2013)

10) Manny Machado B+ (2013) 

11) Dylan Bundy B+ (2014) (Verlander upside)

12) Jesus Montero A-/B+ (2012) (Safeco hurts his value)

13) Miguel Sano A-/B+ (2014) (Miguel Cabrera upside)

14) Anthony Rendon B+ (mid-2013) (Longoria-like, trying out at 2B)

15) Trevor Bauer B (2012) 

16) Carlos Martinez B+ (2014) (High risk/High reward)

17) Martin Perez B+ (late 2012/mid 2013) (Johan’s stuff, Marmol’s control)

18) Yoennis Cespedes B (2013)

19) Tyler Skaggs B (2012-2013) (Could be a bust)

20) Devin Mesoraco B- (2012)

21) Jake Odorizzi B (late 2012)

22) Bubba Starling B (2014)

23) Drew Pomeranz B (2012) (Could be a bust)

24) Jacob Turner B (2012)

25) Taijuan Walker B (late 2013)

26) Nolan Arenado B (2013) (Please stick at 3B! Could move to 1B though)

27) Travis D’Arnaud B- (late 2012/2013) 

Top 20 keeper list updated

1) Durant

2) Lebron

3) Kevin Love

4) Derrick Rose

5) Dwight Howard

6) John Wall

7) Chris Paul (+1 due to Curry’s ankle)

8) Ricky Rubio

9) LaMarcus Aldridge

10) Russell Westbrook

11) Greg Monroe

12) Steph Curry

13) Kyrie Irving

14) Blake Griffin

15) DeMarcus Cousins

16) Tyreke Evans

17) Dwayne Wade

17) Andrew Bynum

18) Carmelo Anthony

19) Marc Gasol

20) Ty Lawson

NBA:

Francisco Garcia is out of the dog house! Time to continue what he finished last year, top 80 numbers from a guy who is on free agency in almost every league.

Bismack Biyombo is very impressive. He is the #1 long-term cheap buy right now. If you can get him for a Gordon Hayward or something similar to that, jump on it.

Steph Curry has fell to #44 on Yahoo!’s big board? Well he is back tonight and he is ready to start thriving back to the top 10. If he stays healthy, he is a top 6 dynasty keeper.

Speaking of:

1) Durant

2) Lebron

3) Kevin Love

4) Derrick Rose

5) Chris Paul (+1 due to Curry’s ankle)

6) Steph Curry (-1)

7) Dwight Howard

8) John Wall (I wish he had a jumper though)

9) Greg Monroe

10) Russell Westbrook

11) Kyrie Irving

12) Carmelo Anthony

13) Ricky Rubio

14) Blake Griffin

15) LaMarcus Aldridge

16) Andrew Bynum

17) Kyle Lowry

18) Tyreke Evans

19) Rajon Rondo

20) DeMarcus Cousins

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Just missed (and will be in the next rankings): Danilo Gallinari, Pau Gasol, Al Horford, Marc Gasol, Dwayne Wade, Josh Smith, Ty Lawson, Roy Hibbert, Andre Iguodala, Monta Ellis, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams, James Harden, Kemba Walker, Brandon Knight, Mike Conley, DeMAr DeRozan, Andray Blatche, MArcin Gortat.

Looks like my pre-season predictions were very accurate, that’s a first.

I like Baltimore, New Orleans, NYG and NE this week —- but will actually be rooting against all of them minus the G-men. If Tebow pulls the upset again, it will make my season. Everything else would be obsolete at that point….

I then see Baltimore and New Orleans moving on, with the Saints winning the Super Bowl.

Is it time for Spring Training yet?

2012 Miami Marlins Outlook- ready for a big run:

Did Ozzie Guillen go from rags to riches or what?

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1 Jose Reyes SS

2 Infante/Bonifacio 2B (Both great 2-hole bats)

3 Hanley Ramirez 3B

4 Albert Pujols 1B (My insiders say it’s a lock-lol)

5 Mike Stanton RF

6 Logan Morrison LF

7 Chris Coghlan CF

8 John Buck C

9 SP spot

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SP1 Josh Johnson

SP2 Ricky Nolasco

SP3 Anibal Sanchez

SP4 Alex Cobb?

SP5 Chris Volstad

Cl Heath Bell

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* I think they will sign Pujols and trade Gaby Sanchez for a SP like Alex Cobb or Wade Davis.

* Jose Fernandez (ETA-2014) and Chad James (2012) have SP3 upside to look forward to.

* Matt Dominguez (MLB Ready now) is a great trade chip for the 2012 trade deadline.

* Keep an eye on the great OF talents in the minors if Chris Coghlan struggles long-term (from? East Lake High School, Pinellas County, Florida), particularly Yelich & Ozuna (both 2014). 

Uconn, Kentucky, Ohio State, UNC and Louisville are my favorites for 2011-2012.

1. Uconn has Jeremy Lamb coming back. Period.

2. UK brings in the top recruiting class for the third year running to go along with Terrence Jones. Remember the name “Teague”.

3) Ohio St.-Sullinger is determined to make a mark for himself.

4) Barnes is back, maybe college hoops best player, along with a loaded freshman class. This isn’t the typical Dick Vitale prediction right here. They are this good this year. I am one who is usually skeptical about UNC, but not this year.

5) UL- Not as much height or talent as the first 4, but this team is experienced as can be not to mention Pitino is under strict watch this year. A now or never attitude in place at the Yum! Center.

Great move making this public if you are Texas. CC now knows that if he opts out of his contract, he will be making more money in the future, whether it’s from Texas or New York. This gives Texas a real shot at signing him. After missing out on Cliff Lee and losing C.J. Wilson after this year, Texas would be the AL West favorite again if they land Sabathia, who I like more than Lee and Wilson going forward.

Best Case Scenario: They sign Sabathia.

Worst Case Scenario: New York spends more to keep Sabathia.

Texas is building a dynasty like ball-club right now that should be WS contenders for the next 5-6 years.

The Angels are only going to get better as they have re-signed Weaver long-term, Mike Trout is just about everyday ready and will be a Longoria type figure in California, when Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter’s contracts expire they will have plenty of cash to go around, and did I mention Kendrys Morales is coming back? As long as they retain Scioscia, they will be contenders.

The Red Sox aren’t going anywhere fast. 

The Rays will be better with Moore in the rotation next year.

The Yanks will be there of course, but what if they lose Sabathia? Then what? CJ Wilson and Dempster?

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/The-predictable-flamethrowing-officially-begins-;_ylt=AgS00LTEh_VxM2obh1DCmaE5nYcB?urn=mlb-wp23639

I hope this means the Cubs rob CJ Wilson from the AL East Republicans. It could also mean Pujols or Prince for the Cubbies since there won’t be any interest in Jose Reyes. My hope is that he comes in and does a large pre-spring cleaning.

***Reports from the Chicago Tribune stated that “There has been fear within the Cubs’ organization that Chairman Tom Ricketts will be asked to part with major pieces, possibly including All-Star shortstop Starlin Castro or Andrew Cashner”.

Glad that didn’t happen.

-Isn’t it fun watching Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets lose every week?

-What do the Colts do if they get the #1 pick? Trade it for 2 future 1st and a 2 seems likely but they will also consider actually picking Andrew Luck. Let the bidding begin.

-The Bucs should have traded up for Suh instead of Mccoy, at any cost. 

- Calvin Johnson may be the most talented WR of all-time. I don’t think he will ever surpass any records in terms of yards but he could make a push for a few touchdown records. Watch out Jerry Rice. Watch your back Randy Moss.

- Lesean McCoy is my favorite RB to watch.

- Isn’t it about time Jahvid Best did something? The field is practically wide open with the triple-coverage defense on Calvin Johnson.

-More likely to make a push this year, Bills or Lions? I’ll take Detroit. 

-The Rangers have a lot more talent than do the Tigers.

-Brewers in 4 or 5?

-I wonder where Francona and Girardi watch the ALCS at?

-The Rays may have their best team ever in 2012, especially if we keep CJ Wilson out of the AL East.

-Aaron Hernandez and Jimmy Graham are a fantasy football dream boats. I was on the Hernandez band-wagon and I know quite a few who were on Graham’s. It makes Gates owners look silly.