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Fools. People are fools. They look forward all year to Christmas, then they forget to open the presents. I just left a 10-team draft in which a starting lineup of guys on the verge of stardom was totally ignored. Don't be a fool. You'll be glad you picked up any of these almost-famous baseballers.
Catcher
Ramon Hernandez, A's Considering he's now only 24, Hernandez's first full season was pretty fierce. He showed nice strike zone judgment on his way to smacking 14 HRs and driving in 62 runs. With stars above and below him in the order, he's due for across-the-board improvements in all his numbers.
First Base
Derrek Lee, Marlins The 25-year-old Lee is ready to pop. He started to snap and crackle in '00 (28 HRs in 477 ABs) and will get at least 100 more chances this season, now that he's knocked Kevin Millar off the bag at first. Forty round-trippers is not that far-fetched.Second Base
Damian Jackson, Padres
A full-time gig and a spot atop the order have vaulted Jackson to the top of my wish list. He draws walks, hit .290 over last season's final two months and has an 80% success rate swiping bases. This year, he'll make a run at 50 steals.Shortstop
Mark Loretta, Brewers Amazing bat control. Loretta doesn't whiff and he sprays to all fields. Batting in the two-hole, Loretta is followed by a trio of bangers (Jenkins, Sexson and Burnitz) who'd have to really try to not ring up 30 dingers apiece.
Third Base
Corey Koskie, Twins
Two seasons in the league, two seasons above .300. So we know he can handle big league pitching. Now he gets to show us the hammer. He already has flashed mid-20s home run power in the minors. He'll hit that range in '01.Outfield
Alex Ochoa, Reds
Not many five-tool talents have graced four teams by the age of 28. It's time for this guy to settle down. I mean, come on, his slugging percentage (.586) is higher than Junior's. Only nine players hit 20 HRs and stole 20 bases last year. Ochoa is ready to join the club.Benny Agbayani, Mets
Agbayani's enthusiasm and work ethic have made him a Bobby Valentine fave, and we all know that's no small accomplishment. After two years of late-inning heroics, he'll be rewarded with the leftfield job and, possibly, the leadoff spot. And with Edgardo Alfonzo and Mike Piazza behind him, he should spend a lot of time crossing the plate.Mark Quinn, Royals
Despite a stance you wouldn't want your kid to see, Quinn is, and always will be, a hitter. And nowhere more so than in The Show, where he's gone for 26 HRs, 96 RBI and a .298 BA in 560 ABs. No reason he can't duplicate that.Pitcher
Jeff Weaver, Tigers
He's got a high-90s heater, nasty stuff and surprising control for someone who changes arm angles like a Wiffleballer. Blame last year's 11-15 record on the third-lowest run support among AL starters (4.2 rpg). Then call him an ace in waiting.E-mail The Gamer at GamerRules@go.com.