Fantasy Baseball Fix : 2011 Howie Kendrick Projections

If you missed the previous entries of the Fantasy Fix click below.

The Fantasy Fix continues as we count down the 12 most Fantasy Baseball relevant Angels.

Ranking at number 7 is Angels second basemen Howie Kendrick. We’ve already given some insight on what 2011 may look like for Kendrick but lets take a look at Kendrick’s value strictly from a fantasy perspective for the upcoming season.

Kendrick gets a slight bump in fantasy relevance for 2011 due to his adjusted positionalvalue. Second base / middle infield is not a position of depth in Fantasy Baseball and with Chase Utley’s uncertain health status that statement is now more true than ever. Kendrick should start 2011 hitting somewhere in the Angels lower half of the order ( 6th -7th which will limit his impact in the Runs scored category. However, Kendrick will provide owners with solid batting average and RBI totals in 2011. He is one of the Angels best hitters with RISP (.292 in 2010 and .303 career) so Scioscia could potentially use Kendrick in a more critical RBI spot, like 5th or even 3rd at some point during the season.

I envision the Angels lineup evolving throughout the season based on player performance so Kendrick could hit in a number of spots ( excluding cleanup) ranging from 1st – 7th. Where he hits in the order could potentially offer Kendrick owners a huge boost. If Howie can learn to be a more patient hitter, he makes for a prototypical #2 bat which would mean an increase in runs scored.

The Hangout View : I’m already on record projecting 2011 to be the year that Howie Kendrick produces at a level that is close to what most expected of him. While Kendrick likely wont see a big boom in On Base Percentage ,which is essential for him to become the player most predicted. I expect him to improve a bit in that area. Kendrick even managed to take 2 walks in a game last week! Howie offers fantasy managers a solid option as a number two second basemen and a number one middle infielder with the ( dreaded word) potential to produce elite numbers for his position. Kendrick has emerging power and solid speed and a 20 -20 type season is likely his ceiling , but one that he will likely reach at some point in the next few years. Owners should draft Kendrick in the middle rounds knowing they will get a solid 3 category contributor ( Avg, RBI , SB’S ) with the potential for good Home run and Runs scored totals. Kendrick’s potenial production maybe considered elite in what appears to be a barren second base / middle infield crop. The following line for 2011 is well within reach:

.305/.335/.435 ,13 HR , 80 RBI,75 Runs and 15 stolen bases