"The BoS Ten" - Top Ten Keepers

New Kids on the Block: Mike Trout & Bryce Harper.

I wanted to make this list with more in depth reasons why I feel these top 10 guys are the guys you want to definitely draft at the top in a keeper's league, keepers leagues when it comes down to Fantasy Baseball or APBA Baseball.

The BoS (Boys of Summer) - Top Ten

1. Mike Trout - OF (Angels)

There should be absolutely no reason, that this stud is avoided if you have the #1 overall pick, sure there is a few guys you can make an argument for (I guess) -- but if you have the top pick, you MUST draft this guy, or you'll be kicking yourself every time you play the guy who does have him. This kid can do it all, and I feel he will be the next member of the 40/40 club.

2. Ryan Braun - OF (Brewers)

Showed he can still carry big stats without the presence of Prince Fielder in the lineup, his career OPS is .942, while his career low OPS is .866 (2010). He only missed 100 RBI's once (97 during his 113 game rookie season) & is only age 29, with plenty more to do! Oh did I mention he has a lifetime batting average of .313?! To put it in perspective, his career OPS & batting average is slightly lower than Cabrera's.

3. Miguel Cabrera - 1B (Tigers)

Mr. Triple Crown may not have the best glove among the bunch, but he has been consistent force in all three Triple Crown categories since he broke in full time back in 2004. He has nine consecutive 100+ RBI seasons, since being full time, he has only missed 30 HR's once (2006 with 26 HR's) -- the guy can do it, one thing that may go unnoticed that he's a doubles machine (45, 48 & 40 -- the last three years) and he's only drawn 100 BB's once (even though he has a lifetime .395 on-base percentage), should pitchers consider intentionally walking him more? Can they even do that with the current Tigers lineup?!

4. Justin Verlander - SP (Tigers)

If you look up the word "Workhorse" in a dictionary, you might find a picture of Justin Verlander sitting right next to it -- of course with his intense, serious work face on while delivering a 100+ mph fastball right pass ya! If any player can catch or even pass Nolan Ryan's 7 career no-hitters, it will certainly be this guy -- when he's on, he's on! Posting only a 1.07 WHIP from 2009 to 2012.

5. Robinson Cano - 2B (Yankees)

Very much like Verlander, stepped up to whole different level starting in 2009. Four straight seasons of .300 avg, 25+ HR's, 40+ doubles & .520 slugging percentage with at least 100 runs scored! A career .308 hitter, and if you subtracted his 2005 & 2008 seasons, his career OPS of .854 would be a lot higher! He brings a huge bat which is scarce when it comes down to second basemen, that is one of many reasons why he is in the top five here.

6. Clayton Kershaw - SP (Dodgers)

Maybe, just maybe high -- but an ace is very important for a franchise to go a long way, if you don't have pitching all the bats in the world can only get you so far, the Texas Rangers of the late 1990's can attest to that as well with almost every Colorado Rockies teams since 1993! His career ERA (2.79) and WHIP (1.14) are actually lower than Verlander's, and what he has done the last three seasons have been remarkable; posting a 48-24 record, 2.56 ERA & 689 K's in 665.1 innings! So yes, I would draft him higher than hitters such as Andrew McCutchen & Bryce Harper.

7. Craig Kimbrel - RP (Braves)

What Kimbrel has done in his brief career has been nothing short of impressive! His 2012 season alone, ranks among the best all-time seasons ever by reliever with 42 Saves & a 1.01 ERA, not to mention his ridiculous amount of strikeouts (116 K's in 62.2 IP) & 0.65 WHIP. He cut his 8 blown saves from 2011 more than half, with only 3 last season. He also has good support in the bullpen with Venters, O'Flaherty & Walden to relay the ball to give him the opportunity for saves. Now in a Fantasy Draft this would probably be considered an early pick, but if you are starting a franchise, taking Kimbrel at #7 should not be a stretch; I think back to our computer APBA league, and when one of my buddies drafted Mariano Rivera #2 or #3 overall in 1997, people questioned taking a reliever so early, in the long run... he got the last laugh.

8. Andrew McCutchen - OF (Pirates)

A "Five-Tool Player" who can do it all, he apparently netted the fourth best season ever accumulated in a Fantasy Baseball League with his impressive numbers all across the board. He was second in the N.L. in batting average (.327), 31 HR, 96 RBI, 20 steals, 107 runs, 194 hits & .400 OBP; all combining for a .953 OPS. He has 98 career steals at age 26, and has been cited on wanted to steal more often, so there could be an increase in that department -- he's an excellent fielder & he's capable of being your lead-off man as well, which in most cases now, he's #3 or cleanup. 

9. David Price - SP (Rays)

A career record of 61-31, 3.16 ERA & 1.17 WHIP; he has now posted three straight solid seasons for the Rays, from a fantasy standpoint your only concern would be wins, due to bad run support (Price only netted 12 wins in 2011). Became a first-time 20-game winner in 2012, and has averaged 204 K's the past three seasons. Putting an emphasis on team pitching is another reason that Price is ranked this high, and the fact he's only 27.

10. Bryce Harper - OF (Nationals)

Bryce Harper is one of the rarities, a once-in-a-generation type of ballplayer, love him or hate him, he's not going to go away, and is only going to get better. He has already accomplished things in MLB that present Hall of Fame players hadn't done by Age 20. He posted a rookie season of .270, 22 HR, 59 RBI & 18 steals; a season that logged 26 doubles, 9 triples & .815 OPS, while getting on base 34% of the time -- He is only going to get better!

JUST MISSING...
Matt Kemp, Jered Weaver, Prince Fielder, Justin Upton, Adrian Beltre, Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, Carlos Gonzalez, Josh Hamilton, Stephen Strasburg & Gio Gonzalez.

You could make a strong argument for the guys who all just missed the top 10, it's all about preference -- Josh Hamilton, Carlos Gonzalez & Adrian Beltre are sliding down the list in my opinion, while Matt Kemp could have easily been in the top 10, just missing the 40/40 club in 2011, not to mention was strong in all triple crown categories, but was a bit inconsistent heading into 2011, and missed some time once again due to injuries.