Cream of the crop: #1 Alex Rodriguez (NYY) #2 Miguel Cabrera (Det) #3 David Wright (NYM) #4 Chipper Jones (Atl) #5 Aramis Ramirez (Cubs) #6 Garrett Atkins (Col) #7 Ryan Braun (Milw)

The next best: #8 Chone Figgens (LAA) #9 Mike Lowell (Bos) #10 Ryan Zimmerman (Wash) #11 Adrian Beltre (Sea) #12 Alex Gordon (KC) #13 Hank Blalock (Tex)

You could do worse: #14 Yunel Escobar (Atl) #15 Edwin Encarnacion (Cin) #16 Joe Crede (CHW) #17 Mark Reynolds (Arz) #18 Eric Chavez (Oak) #19 Troy Glaus (Stl) #20 Scott Rolen (Tor) #21 Kevin Kouzmanoff (SD) #22 Pedro Feliz (Philly) #23 Akinori Iwamura #24 Melvin Mora (Balt) #25 Nomar Garciaparra (LAD)

Hope and Prey: #26 Ty Wiggington (Hou) #27 Casey Blake (Clev) #28 Jose Bautista (Pitt) #29 Rich Aurilla (SF)

Career Year: Ryan Bruan (Milw) There will be no sophomore slump for the reigning NL Rookie of the Year. In 113 games RB hit .324, 34 HR's, 97 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. A very intense off-season workout program will benefit the 24-year old phenom. He plays in a hitter-friendly park for half his games! Take him and forget about it. Look for even better numbers in 2008.

Sleeper: Hank Blalock (Tex) Hank Blalock missed the first 3 1/2 months last season after recovering from shoulder surgery. He batted .293, 10 HR, and 33 RBI in only 58 games played. He is at the magical of age of 27, were good MLB players have stellar seasons. I see a .275 average, 30 HR's and 110 RBI for this stud of a hitter. You will be able to get him late in your draft.

Bust: Chipper Jones (ATL) He looks great this spring but I like to pick younger guys in their prime. Chipper is good, after all he has a career batting average of .309 and has hit at least 20 HR's in 13 straight years. If he's healthy he has a good year but that's a risk I wouldn't take.
 

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