This week I will continue looking at how the 2007 draft should have shaped up had we known what these players would do.  This week I'll look at utility players and outfielders.

Utility Players
One of the biggest differences between Strat-O-Matic and Roto would be the use of fringe players.  I'm talking about those players who get about 200-300 at-bats and play five positions.  In Roto, even and AL or NL league, you're not touching one of them with a ten foot pole.  In Strat, having a player who plays a ton of positions is extremely helpful.  Most keeper leagues I'm in require that you carry two players per position even if that player has enough at-bats that you'll never need to take him out.

1.) B.J. Upton (.307 BA, .390 OBP, .527 SLG, 19-8 SB/CS, .900/.923 L/R OPS)
I had no idea where to put B.J. Upton.  Is he a shortstop?  Third Baseman?  Second Baseman?  Outfielder?  Although he was only rated at third last year, this year he'll be listed in all three outfield positions and second base.  His card will be quite enjoyable to roll, but I'm not sure what he'll be rated defensively.  I expect a 2b-4, lf-3, cf/rf-4.  Honestly, I have no clue.

2.) Esteban German (.266 BA, .355 OBP, .370 SLG, 11-7 SB/CS, .677/.602 L/R OPS)
German will have second, third, short and left field on this card.  There was a lot of excitement about German, but if you thought he was going to hit over .300 again, you were being silly.

3.) Joe Inglett (No Major League At-Bats)
I know many people took Joe Inglett on the speculation that he was going to be the starting second baseman for the Tribe.  He hit .284 in 200 at-bats and played second, short, left and center.  Alas, the Indians were deep at utility infielder and he spent the entire year in Triple-A.  Eventually he was waived to make room on the protected roster and the Blue Jays picked him up.  They have made room for him on the Major League roster, but he will return to Triple-A next year and be an emergency backup.

Outfielders
As there wasn't much available in outfielders, I won't split them up between corner and center like I normally do.  Most of the power in the draft could be found here.

1.) Delmon Young (.290 BA, .319 OBP, .408 SLG, .684/.773 L/R OPS)
He's been compared to many players.  Is he the next Barry Bonds?  Vlad?  Andre Dawson?  Very likely, he was the number #1 overall pick in your draft.  He will have a good card against right-handers, but you will need to platoon him.  It will be interested to see what he is rated at center field now that he has moved there.  I suspect that he'll be a cf-3.

2.) Andre Ethier (.289 BA, .354 OBP, .459 SLG, .984/.790 L/R OPS)
I like Ethier.  He reminds me of Garrett Anderson in that when they move it is so smooth that it is easy to think they are dogging it.  In reality, he is a better fielder, but Strat gives him a 4, just like Anderson.  Ethier should have more stolen bases then he does, because he doesn't have the power one wants from a corner outfielder who is likely to be a 4.  His lack of power is the reason why he'll always have to share at-bats.

3.) Carlos Quentin (.213 BA, .299 OBP, .348 SLG, .804/.593 L/R OPS)
He started the season as the starting fight fielder and ended up getting sent back down to Triple-A.  He has also had some hamstring problems.  This was the third major injury for him in his career, so there is some concern that he is injury prone.  He is a good buy low candidate if you are willing to wait these struggles out.

4.) Chris Duncan (.259 BA, .354 OBP, .480 SLG, .602/.896 L/R OPS)
I'm not a big Duncan fan.  He certainly hits home runs, but he'll never be more than a of-4/1b-4.  He has missed two months with a sports hernia, so he won't be a full time player on your team and you'll certainly have to platoon him even if you use him just as a DH.

5.) Josh Willingham (.266 BA, .364 OBP, .464 SLG, .621/.900 L/R OPS)
Like Duncan, Willingham is an outfield-4, so he has to hit to have value.  His OBP is .320 against left-handed pitchers despite a .218 batting average, so you are looking at a column of walk.  That means that when a left-handed reliever comes in you might not have to take him out.  He will not get the benefit of a rating at catcher next year.  You wouldn't want to start him there, but it did give you options in non-DH leagues.

6.) Chris B. Young (.239 BA, .295 OBP, .472 SLG, 26-5, .731/.777 L/R OPS)
He has a chance to be the first rookie to be a 30/30 player.  His 30 home runs with only 64 at-bats is one of the worst HR to RBI ratios in the history of baseball.  Still, he makes a good #9 hitter because I suspect that he'll be a cf-2.  If you don't use him as a start, he'll be useful as a defensive replacement and pinch runner.

7.) Matt Kemp (.338 BA, .373 OBP, .527 SLG, 10-5 SB/CS, .982/.854 L/R OPS)
He's hit for power.  He's hit for batting average.  He's done just about everything that could be asked for, but he still won't get regular playing time.

8.) Lastings Milledge (.273 BA, .340 OBP, .424 SLG, .993/.666 L/R OPS)
There are two things going against Milledge.  He plays for the Mets and they will always be looking at free agents, even if he is better then the guys they sign.  Second, he has -- well -- some emotional issues.  On the other hand he has almost as many HBP (7) as he does walks (11) in limited at-bats.  He will have a goon card against left-handers, so he is worth finding a spot on your active roster for.

9.) Adam Lind (.227 BA, .271 OBP, .382 SLG, .521/.696 L/R OPS)
Not the numbers you were looking for from one of the power sources in the draft.

10.) Adam Jones (.288 BA, .339 OBP, .442 SLG, 1.129/.567 OPS)
If you drafted him, you knew you were going to wait a couple of years before he became a regular.  The fact that he has a 1.129 OPS against left-handers means you will platoon him for part of the season.  Strat has been know to smooth out cards to prevent players like Jones from having too much value.

Outside the Box: Shane Victorino (.282 AVE, .349 OBP, .424 SLG, 37-3 SB/CS, .863/.733 L/R OPS)
Technically, Shane Victorino received a card in the 2003 set at as a 22-year-old.  I'm going to assume he was thrown back in by now.  He plays all three outfield position, crushes lefties and will have a great stealing rating.  In the future he will be starting in center field every day.  If you picked him up late, you get a gold star.

So much for hitters.  Next week I'll take a look at starting pitchers.

JP Kastner is the winner of the 2007 Strat-O-Matic Baseball Online Expert League World Series.  In five seasons of SOMBOE, JP Kastner has five winning seasons, four playoff appearances, three World Series appearances and now one World Championship.  He is in his second season in the Tout Wars mixed league.