Tuesday August 21st, 2012

Peter Stein (Fantasy Baseball Analyst): Follow @peterwstein

Some of the biggest surprises in fantasy baseball this season have come from the same team: the 2012 Chicago White Sox. As a result, the White Sox are currently sitting in first place in the AL central thanks to big turnaround seasons from Adam Dunn, Alex Rios, and Jake Peavy. Each of these guys were former fantasy studs, but performed like absolute duds in 2011.

However, the contributions to the White Sox success extend far beyond this trio of players. Let’s take a look at the entire roster, which contains fantasy contributors from top to bottom. The White Sox, similar to the Angels, Rangers, or Yankees lineups, are one of the few, and certainly the most surprising, that are almost a fantasy team in themselves.

Alejandro De Aza was finally given a chance to play by the White Sox, and for the better part of the year was one of the game’s top leadoff hitters. Injuries have slowed him down recently, but his numbers to date are great for a number three fantasy outfielder: .280/6/44 to go along with 73 runs and 21 stolen bases.

Kevin Youkilis was given a second chance when he switched sox this year. When his sox were red, Youkilis put up a disappointing .233/4/14 in 42 games. In 44 games wearing white, Youkilis is mashing despite a lower than ideal average: .241/10/29. With that kind of power, along with his already established pedigree, Youkilis is still a top option at third base.

Paul Konerko is always a threat for .300/30/100 and is a must start option at first base. His 2012 numbers .314/20/57 might fall short of 100 runs batted in, but he is one of the safest and reasonably priced options at first base.

We have all heard about just how bad Adam Dunn was in 2011. The reality is that he needs to hit 35+ home runs to not be an absolute drain on his team, as well as in the average department to fantasy owners. The .207 average in 2012 still leaves a lot to be desired, but 35 home runs and 83 RBIs to date are top-notch. The last month an a half will be interesting to see if he can pull the average up another twenty or so points, or even perhaps fall under .200. However, the power numbers make him a must-own fantasy option.

Alex Rios was especially awful in 2011 as well and has been a sort of enigma his entire career. In 2012, however, he has performed as a top-notch fantasy option. He’s one of the few five category options: .301/19/71 and 18 stolen bases in 117 games. Compare this to his 145 games played in 2011: .227/13/44 and 11 stolen bases. Rios has a history of inconsistency from year to year, but his 2012 season is his best to date and has earned him status of a legitimate number one fantasy outfield option.

A.J. Pierzynski has apparently gotten a lot better with age. His 2012 season .295/23/67 makes him a top-five option at catcher. In 100 games played he is already set a career high in home runs and is approaching his career high in RBIs (77). Odd that he is OPS-ing .877 (career .755) as a 35-year-old, but White Sox fans and fantasy owners certainly are not complaining.

Dayan Viciedo has just enough power and run production potential to be worthy of being owned as an extra outfielder in the majority of fantasy leagues.  With 19 home runs and 57 RBI’s to date, and only 23 years of age, Viciedo’s best seasons (30 home runs?) are still ahead of him.

Alexei Ramirez is a very safe fantasy option at shortstop. Although the power is down in 2012 (.260/6/52), he has stolen 14 bases. In each of his first four seasons, Ramirez blasted at least fifteen home runs and drove in at least 70 runs, to go with a career .276 average. This is great production from the shortstop position.

Gordon Beckham is the only player in the White Sox lineup who doesn’t have any fantasy value. He has actually managed to regress in each of his professional seasons. With a 2009 rookie campaign of .270/14/63 in 103 games, the White Sox thought they had their version of Ryne Sandberg in the South Side. However, 2012 looks like this: .223/11/43. His time could be soon running out as he has shown no signs of his 2009 form in the last two years.

Chris Sale is the staff ace and is a legitimate Cy Young candidate in just his second professional season. With a 14-4 record, 2.72 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 137 K’s, Sale has pitched like true number one fantasy starter. Jake Peavy sure makes a great number two starter, in both fantasy and as a member of the White Sox rotation. Superb ERA (3.11), WHIP (1.08) and a whopping 150 k’s. Finally pitching like the guy the White Sox thought they were getting two years ago.

With that, the White Sox have a lineup full of top fantasy options. We didn’t even include Addison Reed, a young and effective closer. While many of these players are surprises, or complete turnaround stories, so are the White Sox as a team in 2012. It will be interesting to see if this core of guys can help their team, as well as their fantasy owners, over the crucial final month stretch of the 2012 season.

(*The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com*)

***Today’s feature was prepared by our Fantasy Baseball Analyst, Peter Stein.  We highly encourage you to leave your comments and feedback at the bottom of the page and share in the discussion with our readers.  You can also follow Peter on Twitter (@peterWstein)***

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