Rookie Base Stealers Bourn Ellsbury

I have both Jacoby Ellsbury and Michael Bourn on my team, but only room for one of them in my starting lineup.  This is a H2H league 5X5 standard scoring. 

Here is my team right now:

C AJ Perzynski

1B Carlos Delgado (ugh, I know)

2B Brandon Phillips

3B Alex Gordon

SS Hanley Ramirez

OF ELLSBURY OR BOURN

OF Manny Ramirez

OF Delmon Young

U Pat Burrell

U Dan Uggla

Starting Pitchers: Johan Santana, Dan Haren, Dustin McGowan, Pedro Martinez, Kelvim Escobar, Tom Gorzellany, Bartolo Colon

Relief Pitchers: JJ Putz, Bobby Jenks, Trevor Hoffman

Ellsbury Predictions .280 / 4HR / 70R / 58RBI / 26SB (464AB)

Bourn Predictions .255 / 0HR / 90R / 31RBI / 39SB (490AB)

I think Bourn is getting a lot less hype, but I am excited about him, and I believe Bourn's predictions are a little low on the SB side, I think he can hit 50 SBs, but I think the other numbers are right on.  I also think Ellsbury's numbers are dead on, maybe he will have a little more runs.

Do you think they will both be leadoff hitters for their teams come opening day?

Who would you start?  Would you try for a trade?  Where am I weak?

Please, no team bias here Houston or Boston fans.

I agree. Bourn is underrated. He will be the leadoff hitter and he will have an opportunity to steal up to 40 or 50.  Ellsbury is probably in the better lineup and really, if you have the opportunity (in a daily league, for example) , you should not hesitate to use either.  I like having an extra base-stealer on the bench who I could use on off days or against some of the more speed-oriented opponents.

While I'm not crazy about your corner Infielders, I think you'll be OK overall.  Maybe you can look into trading Ellsbury, who is the more touted name, for some help there if you want.

Bourn!  Bourn!  Bourn!  Looking at your team, you are going to need as many SB's as you can get because you have five guys that won't get you one all year (AJ, Delgado, Burrell, Uggla, and Manny).  Bourn has CF locked up, the leadoff spot locked up, and has been given the green light to run all year.  If he stays healthy, he should see 650 at bats.  More at bats equals more chances for SB's, runs, etc.  If he doesn't steal 50 bases, I'd be shocked!

One more note, never look at CBS.Sportsline's predictions.  Do you own research and trust your gut.  The probably spend one second predicting each player's stats.

I would have to agree with the other posters about you taking Michael Bourn.  I have him on my team and I'm thrilled to have him.  I think he can get 50 steals, 60 if he can raise his batting average, and I think that he will have some home runs too, if this spring is any indication.  I think he has 3 so far.  You do need lots of help with speed so you might want to try to use both as an earlier poster suggested.  Your corner infielders are weak, as is your catcher, but I would be fine with Alex Gordon if I were you, just expect some cold stretches.  You might try to grab Evan Longoria as the Rays have a better lineup than Gordon and he could spell him for you when Gordon hits a rut.  As far as Carlos Delgado is concerned, now please, no hating on this suggestion, but I think that you should try to trade Manny Ramirez for an upgrade at first.  Try and see if someone will reach and give you like Mark Texiera for him.  I'm just not that high on Ramirez and I think people will over pay for him.  This too allows for both Jacoby Ellsbury and Bourn to start so it could help.  I guess I would leave A.J. Pierzynski, though you might drop him in favor of Chris Snyder of the Diamondbacks.  I love your staff albeit there are some injury concerns with Pedro Martinez and Kelvim Escobar and Bartolo Colon's possible shaky job security what with Clay Buchholz waiting in the wings.  I would drop Tom Gorzelanny in favor of Ian Kennedy or Shaun Marcum of the Blue Jays.