Player who will make me punch the screen when he gets drafted in front of me: Felix Hernandez

Everyone has had their heart broken by King Felix. Every one. He burst on to the scene in 2005 and didn't disappoint. He struggled in '06. Then, he was surprisingly mediocre in '07, resurfaced in '08 and delivered in 2009. I think this is the season that King Felix becomes elite. If he's going to become a legit dominant starter, shouldn't that happen soon? He throws in a pitcher's park with one of the better defensive outfields in baseball. He's  a lock for 200 Ks and his K:BB is right where it needs to be (3.06 last year). I could see him making another run at 20 wins with another sub-3.00 ERA next year.

The downside: His innings bump in 2009 is a little worrisome. He went from 200 innings in '08 to 238 in 2009. He also threw 500 more pitches in '09 than he did in '08. Hmmm. Again, worrisome. Seattle has brought The King around slowly. I trust that they know what they're doing, but I'm concerned by the numbers. Worst-case scenario is that he suffers an innings bump hangover and slogs his way to a 4.00 ERA and double digit wins with a WHIP over 1.30 while frustrating the hell out of every owner for the entire season. I still like him better than Zack Greinke.

The bottom line: King Felix is an effing ace. I've seen him fly off draft boards in the second round. If I'm picking in the second half of the third round, he's on my short list. I want to punch the screen when I have to cross him off that list after he gets drafted two picks in front of me. The projections like him for wins in the lower teens with an ERA around 3.30 and a WHIP in the mid 1.2s. His walks and homers went down in 2009. His BABIP was a little low, but I don't think his ERA is going to go up by half a point. He's been around since 2005, and this is only his age 24 season. If he's going to be a dominant starter, I think his reign should start right about.....NOW!

Player who will make me fist pump when he gets drafted two rounds too early: Ichiro Suzuki

It's popular to hate on Ichiro. I'm not hating on him. When I still lived in Chicago, I would always make an effort to make it to Sox/Mariners games. I like watching Ichiro play right field. I like watching him hit. He's a special ballplayer. He plays at a higher speed than everyone else. That being said, I don't want him on any of my fantasy teams. He's being drafted in the third/fourth round. I think that's too high for a player of his skills. His stolen-base totals dipped under 30 for the first time in his MLB career. I don't think it's going to recover to pre-2009 levels. Stolen bases are easy to find in the outfield in 2010. I counted exactly nine players in the top 50 outfielders that I like for less than 10 steals this year. Nine. Whatever steals you'll miss by passing on Ichiro, you'll be able to get elsewhere.

The upside: Ichiro makes a run at .400, posts record-high run totals and starts running like he did when he was 27. He's still a phenomenal athlete that keeps himself in amazing shape, and he's still must-see TV when he's playing my beloved White Sox. Watching him go from home to third on a triple is still amazing to watch.

The bottom line: Ichiro has posted .350+ batting averages four times in his career including 2009. In each of thee three previous times Ichiro has gone over .350, his average dropped by 30+ points the next season. Ichiro will hit over .300. I'm not ready to live in a universe where that doesn't happen yet, but will he hit .350 again? History tells me he won't. Ichiro defied logic last year and posted an .851 OPS. None of the projections like him to repeat that number and neither do I. Marcel offers the most optimistic projection with a .783 OPS. That's not worth your fourth-round pick.

Player who no one is buying but should: Milton Bradley

It's also popular to hate on Milton. He signed a big contract and essentially quit on his team and appeared to go out of his way to kill more than a few fantasy teams. If you were burned with Milton in 2009, you should give him a look in 2010. He's in a better situation (for him) in 2010. There has never been much pressure in Seattle, and I think Milton is a much better fit in the AL than the NL. I knew putting Milton in the powder keg that is Wrigley Field wasn't a good idea. The days of the cute and cuddly Cubs fan is gone. Welcome to the days of the angry, bitter Cubs fan.

The downside: Milton goes berserk again and pisses off everyone in Seattle. I have no idea if Don Wakamatsu has any clue how to deal with a player like Bradley. If he leaves him alone and pencils him in every day in left, Bradley will probably make it through the season. If he tries a hands on approach, Milton will likely rebel. He's on his fifth team in four years. I don't even have a job history that poor.

The bottom line: I don't think you trust the projections on Milton. His 2009 was a complete trainwreck. It has to be the outlier and not the norm, right? He's a year removed from 20+ homers and a .321 batting average. I like him for around 20 homers with 75/75 in runs with a solid batting average. I put him in the Nick Swisher category. If I'm playing in an OPS league, I'm drafting guys like Milton and Nick late and loading up on infield early. He's being drafted after Carlos Gomez. Carlos Gomez is so awful at hitting that when he gets out of bed, his feet can't hit the floor. I picture Carlos doing his Willie "Mays" Hayes impression in BP every day. "How's he supposed to hit if he can't lift his arms?" I'd wager anything that Milton Bradley will outproduce Carlos Gomez. Two of the available projections like Milton for an .800+ OPS. Isn't that worth drafting in the 20th round? He's going to play and as long as he can stay on the field; he'll produce.

Previously on In the Draft Room ... Baltimore Orioles | Boston Red Sox | Chicago White Sox | Cleveland Indians | Detroit Tigers | Kansas City Royals | Los Angeles Angels | Minnesota Twins | New York Yankees | Oakland A's

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