Key Stats: Is it me, or does Aramis Ramirez get a bad rap? I feel like he is one of those guys that doesn't get any respect. I think there is a mythos about him that he is old and each year is the year that he is going to fall apart because he has been around forever. Truth be told though, when you come up and wear a major league uniform at 19 like Ramirez has, and you are going into your 15th season, you have to be doing something right. That something is bat .284 and average 21 HR's a year for your career. He is six years removed from a 30 HR season, but with the exception of an 82 game injury shortened 2009 he hasn't hit less than 25 in that span. I'll take that production matched with him moving to a more potent offense for '12.

The viral internet sensation with more core strength than anyone I personally know has inked a contract with the Oakland A's. Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes joins a trio of outfielders acquired via trades (Colin Cowgill, Seth Smith, and Josh Reddick), one added through free agency (Jonny Gomes) and one re-signed by the club (Coco Crisp). When factoring in that the club has converted shortstop to center fielder Grant Green playing in Triple-A, Michael Taylor flanking him in a corner outfield position at Sacramento, and top prospect Michael Choice in Double-A and coming off a monster Arizona Fall League performance, and I'm left scratching my head. Regardless, as a wise man once said, it is what it is.

Key Stats: The one thing that you can truly depend on from Carl Crawford in fantasy baseball is that whoever owned him last year does not want him this year. The easiest excuse for coming up short for a team is a failed first round draft pick and Crawford was the very definition of that last season. In a year when he was supposed to have a career high number of runs scored playing in a potent offense, Crawford set a new career low. He also set career lows in batting average, on-base percentage, and (oh this one really hurt) stolen bases. He was to fantasy players what Barry Zito is to the Giants. A useless anchor. 

Skeptics Say: It might not get better. The most obvious reason to cite for Crawford's failure last season was playing for a new team in a new environment. Obviously dealing with the pressure in Boston is much different from the pressure of Tampa, and perhaps Crawford isn't cut out for a large market team. And as he now moves toward his age 30 season, the question becomes is the end going to come faster for him than it would for the average player who doesn't rely on the tools that Crawford has. According to Red Sox GM Ben Cherington, Crawford is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day. When a report like that comes out before Spring Training, shouldn't we expect it to be much worse than a game or two that he'll miss?

Today, we begin to roll out our 2012 positional rankings. We'll start from behind the plate and work our way around the diamond.

Key Stats: Adam Wainwright is an ace pitcher. With the exception of the two innings that made up his 2005 season, Wainwright has never posted an ERA higher than 3.70, or a FIP above 3.90. He finished 3rd in the Cy Young Award voting in 2009 and 2nd in 2010. Things were lookin mighty fine for Adam Parish Wainwright going into 2011. Then he felt discomfort throwing BP, a week later he had Tommy John surgery and was out for the season. He recovered quickly though, and even petitioned for a spot on St. Louis' post season roster. He was denied ultimately, but to think that he felt he was healthy and recovered enough to pitch then can only mean good things for 2012, right?

Four of the Nationals top five prospects were selected in last June's amateur draft. That's what happens when three top-10 prospects are traded to acquire the services of Gio Gonzalez. Of course, it helps that the four prospects cracking the top five have a lot of talent. Topping the prospect list is a guy you might have heard of, and he alone makes this list pretty special.

The Mets bolstered their farm system with a July trade. That deal left the Mets with a duo of power arms atop their prospect rankings that only a few teams can rival. Beyond their one-two punch at the top, there are some intriguing prospects, but ones with question marks. no comments

Key Stats: In 2009 Greinke established himself as an "ace", 16-8 record, 2.16 ERA, 242 K's and an AL Cy Young Award. He "fell apart" in 2010, losing record, ERA over 4.00, lower K rate, higher BB rate. It wasn't a pretty picture. The Brewers traded for him, and he found his old form again in Milwaukee. Back to 16 wins, back over 200 K's, back to being an "ace". The best part about Greinke regaining his form is that all of his peripheral ERA stats are significantly lower than his actual ERA implying he pitched even better than the surface shows. If you toss the disastrous 2010 season out, his K% has gone up every year since 2005.