By Kevin Kleps
The top 10 fantasy baseball designated hitters for the 2008 season, with 2007 statistics in parentheses):
David Ortiz, Red Sox (35 HR, 117 RBI, 3 SB, .332 AVG)
Travis Hafner, Indians (24 HR, 100 RBI, 1 SB, .266 AVG)
Jim Thome, White Sox (35 HR, 96 RBI, 0 SB, .275 AVG)
Gary Sheffield, Tigers (25 HR, 75 RBI, 22 SB, .265 AVG)
Frank Thomas, Blue Jays (26 HR, 95 RBI, 0 SB, .277 AVG)
Hideki Matsui, Yankees (25 HR, 103 RBI, 4 SB, .285 AVG)
Billy Butler, Royals (8 HR, 52 RBI, 0 SB, .292 AVG)
Jack Cust, Athletics (26 HR, 82 RBI, 0 SB, .256 AVG)
Gary Matthews Jr., Angels (18 HR, 72 RBI, 18 SB, .252 AVG)
Aubrey Huff, Orioles (15 HR, 72 RBI, 1 SB, .280 AVG)
Short hops
If Ortiz is eligible at first base in your league, he should outscore all but Pujols at the position. … Don’t underestimate Hafner, who had 99 home runs and 325 RBI from 2004-06. … Thomas, who has driven in 209 runs the last two seasons, can still mash. … Matsui will be 34 in June and had knee surgery in the offseason, which might necessitate a switch to full-time DH duty.
