1. The talent.
The AFL is where the cream of baseball's prospect crop plays. The AFL's website describes it perfectly: "every game in the AFL is like a future All-Star Game." If you have any interest at all in tracking impact rookies in preparation for your fantasy drafts, then you must keep a keen eye on what goes down in the AFL.
2. Tommy Hanson.
Hanson put up astounding numbers in AFL play last year (5-0, 0.63 earned run average, 0.59 Walks & Hits Per Innings Pitched, and 49 strikeouts, in 28.2 innings pitched). It's one thing to put up sick stats in the minors, but it's something completely different to do it in the AFL, where 180 top prospects are spread across just six teams. Anyone who knew about Hanson's performance in the AFL no doubt moved him up their fantasy cheat sheets. The owners who drafted Hanson? Well, they were treated to an ace performance over the second half.
3. Hitters will look hilarious.
Major League Baseball is requiring that all batters wear the Rawlings S100 helmet. You know, that gigantic, goofy looking contraption David Wright was (briefly) wearing after getting plunked in the noggin this season? Rockies players famously cackled upon seeing Wright take batting practice with the head gear, and he quickly stopped wearing it. Fortunately for us, the AFL players will not be allowed to refuse using the helmets, so that means more laughs for us.
4. If you quickly glance at the letters AFL, it can be mistaken for Alf, the lovable melmacian.
Anything that reminds us of the 80s icon (even by accident) is okay in my book. That guy can sell anything!
5. Stephen Strasburg.
After all the hype heading into this year's amateur draft, baseball fans will have their first opportunity to see the “National Treasure” make his professional debut.
6. Brian "I Think I Pulled Something" Giles was just named to the AFL Hall of Fame.
You know there is no way Giles' brittle body was getting into the real Hall of Fame. So it's nice for the AFL to toss this guy a bone. Hopefully, they taped the name of a good orthopedist on that bone, because Giles no doubt came up lame catching it.
7. Michael Jordan is an AFL alum.
It's pretty safe to say that Jordan's three NBA championships that followed his 1994 AFL stint are no doubt a direct result of the teachings he learned down in Arizona.
8. Now that the Arena Football League is finished, the Arizona Fall League has sole sports rights to the acronym.
Take that Jon Bon Jovi.
9. There are two (two!) Peoria teams: the Javelinas and Saguaros.
Yeah, I know. We're really grabbing at straws here.
Look, you get the point. The AFL is the most amazing thing ever, and if you don't agree, then you're more ignorant than John Rocker. Of course, if you are ignorant, you need to read our team previews to educate yourselves.
Each AFL team roster will be broken down into the following tiers:
Star Power: No, this isn't referring to my biceps, we're talking about the players with very high ceilings who should be top fantasy talent within a few years.
Instant Impact: The ceiling for these prospects may not be as high, but they will make a fantasy contribution in 2010.
Diamonds in the Rough: You probably haven't heard much about these prospects, and their impact may be a little further down the road, but if things fall into place, they could produce fantasy value sooner than expected.
In addition, we will fill you in on any overhyped fantasy prospects as we take our AFL tour.
Enjoy the ride!
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What you call cake, Chris Carbonell calls crumbs. To get your cake up, hit him up at ChrisCarbonell@rotoexperts.com.
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