Comments on: 2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Top 10

By: Larkin Cunningham

Larkin Cunningham — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 02:25:20 +0000

Finally someone has some sense about Matt Kemp. He was on my team last year and I surely wouldn’t have won the championship without him. But the fact remains that last season’s statistics far exceeded Kemp’s true abilities. I’m expecting the following numbers this season: 90/30/95/.285/25. Don’t get me wrong, those numbers are pretty damn good – but they are far more in line with the numbers he put up prior to last season. Simply put, sports fans are putting too much value in Kemp’s numbers last season. He may put up similar power numbers but I truly believe the rest of his numbers will drop, especially his batting average. ESPN has him ranked 3rd and you have him ranked 7th. If it were me, I would have him ranked 12th. That may sound crazy to many of you baseball fans out there but by the seasons end you will see that I am right.

By: drew

drew — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:10:30 +0000

@Zach O, That yankees/dodgers argument is valid for real baseball purposes, but only fantasy baseball matters for these rankings. Kemp doesn’t have more value in fantasy baseball just because he excels on a terrible team.

By: Zach O

Zach O — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:31:29 +0000

@Steven W, I agree. Without Fielder behind Braun, he drops significantly. Without him Braun’s runs and total bases will drop so he is not going to be the same player he was in 2011. I also think that Kemp should move up to the 2nd or 3rd spot. he was only 1 home run away from a 40/40. Also the numbers he puts up and the weakness of his team are incredibly great. That’s why when someone asks what are good players on the Yankees. The answer to that is 5-7 players. But when someone asks you what are the good players the Dodgers, the answer is Matt Kemp and that’s about it. So that is my point. Without the other great players around Kemp he still puts up great numbers.

By: Steven W

Steven W — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:06:40 +0000

Are you not just a little concerned with Braun as the #1 pick without the protection of Fielder?

By: Matt T

Matt T — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 23:26:43 +0000

I agree with putting Braun on top. Without his 50 game suspension it makes a huge difference in what his performance might look like. He is a sure player and one of the most consistant in the game right now. I believe that Bautista belongs higher than Tulo because of the homerun total. If Bautista keeps hitting as many homeruns as he has in the past two years, than he is a definate pick. So yes, I believe that Bautista belongs ahead of Tulo.

By: jared

jared — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:42:29 +0000

I’m confused why you have Bautista higher than Tulo. Your projections are very comparable for the two of them, each having the advantage in 2 categories. I think Tulo is more valuable because SS depth is awful this year. Thoughts?

By: Greg

Greg — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:10 +0000

@chata,

Ouch. That kinda of sucks for your reputation as a prognosticator now, doesn’t it?

By: ryan

ryan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:54:51 +0000

understand the high ground ball rate for a-gon but .275 average??? He has been close but never hit that low before, has to be at least .290

By: T.Hunt03

T.Hunt03 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:55:47 +0000

I can’t say much about these top10 as compared to my top 10. I believe
half the Rangers lineup could out do this bunch. I’m not a rangers fan
either. Longoria?, um do you live in Tampa Bay or something? I don’t see
Longoria staying healthy long enough or enough clutch hitting to come
close to guys like Hamilton, Granderson, Cano, Ellsbury, Tex, Braun ect.
Also, I’m familiar with the numbers game, but what order is the key to
your 5 numbers. Are the last 4, HR, BA, RBI, Steals? What is the 1st #?
Nothing personal but I find each article about each player a little confusing and ‘degrading’. I have 6 years post H.S. and was the class ace in English Lit as an American in England, albeit late 70′s. Still reading
your top rankings for 2012, Thanks.

By: MStark

MStark — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:38:39 +0000

Heh. I’m remembering the forum talk about Votto last year. He may as well have been Dunn and Liriano’s lovechild, the way he was hated on…

I never seriously entertained any thoughts of selling Votto low last year; I always figured he was just a hot stretch away from catching up to his mean, and he was…

but I am surprised to see him ranked at 3, especially considering position scarcity. I mean, if you think Votto and Cano are going to give you similar numbers, why not take the 2B?

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:17:11 +0000

If Tom Cruse was 5″ taller he just might be able to reach up and pretend to pull a quarter out of Katies ear…

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:26:44 +0000

@Miami Mu$tache: Not great choices... Do you have a 1st baseman already? If so, Desmond, Papelbon... @birrrdy!: Could happen, not what I'm counting on though since we haven't gotten that in 5 years...

By: birrrdy!

birrrdy! — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:01:27 +0000

@Grey ZING! nice one. I guess I still hold out hope that I’m looking at 30/100/100/10/.310 for Holliday this year, and this is where fantasy dreams come crashing down come June I suppose…. ;^)

By: Miami Mu$tache

Miami Mu$tache — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:52:17 +0000

5×5 13 team 12-16 flex keeper. I am deciding on the following for my last two keeper spots. Ian Desmond, Melky Cabrera, Gaby Sanchez, Aaron Hill or Papelbon. There will be at most 3 RP kept, so closers are very available in the draft. It’s the only reason Papelbon isn’t automatic. What two would you keep, just based on best production for next year.

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:36:56 +0000

@birrrdy!: 25/5 with a .290 average also sounds a lot like Mike Morse.

By: birrrdy!

birrrdy! — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:34:05 +0000

@ Grey. Ouch, too rich for my blood. Holliday ($31)/Phillips ($21) for Zimmerman ($21)/Strasburg ($18). Just can’t do it. You must really have Holliday low on your rankings this year. I think he’s still good for 25/5 with a .290 avg. Zim would probably just be 30/1 with the same avg. Problem is, Holliday might start stealing again and go 30/10 while Zim could get injured (as always) and put up partial numbers. Starsburg also on an innings limit.

I think I’ll just go Phillips($21) for Alonso($5)/Tabata($7) per your original recommendation and just hold on to Holliday. If that falls through, then I’ll just go Phillips($21)/Hudson($17) for Strasburg($18)/Latos($21), or just Phillips for Strasburg straight up if he’ll take it. I know Holliday seems expensive at $31, but his value could be a lot more unless we know for sure he’s not gonna steal any more bases for good. He seems to compare evenly to Zimms in every other category, but Zimms will never steal.

By: Random Collmenter

Random Collmenter — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:31:36 +0000

Zim’s just as injury-prone as Hamilton and looked freaking terrible last year. I do like him for a bounce-back year for sure tho. Def 3rd-rounder for me.

Curious to see where he ranks Beltre. He was such a beast last year…. Same with Granderson.

By: SwaggerJackers

SwaggerJackers — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 01:19:35 +0000

@Random Collmenter: I'm not sure where to take Braun but I remember Grey mentioned that even after Braun comes back, he's going to have to shake the rust off so I don't think he's top 20. Hamilton - maybe but injuries, blah, blah, blah, drugs, blah, blah, blah. You know the drill.

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:59:26 +0000

@Steve: I think Longoria will be around in most leagues at the turn. @Steve: Fair enough @birrrdy!: Ha... Take Zimmerman and Strasburg...

By: Random Collmenter

Random Collmenter — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:51:03 +0000

@SwaggerJackers – good list, but u still have to include Braun, right?

And I might stick Hamilton in there above say, Zimmerman.

By: birrrdy!

birrrdy! — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:47:36 +0000

@Bob – you’re right, figuring out keepers for this league is like solving a puzzle. Plus, you pull the trigger on a trade this early, you are STUCK if the guy gets injured in spring training. Only relief is if (1) you trade them to someone else; or (2) they get traded to the AL, but then you just lose them outright, which is usually worse. Some people try to save money on the draft, some just go for it. Prior experience has suggested that there is no keeper price high enough for truly elite players. They are just too valuable in our league with unlimited keeper rights. Doubly so if they are a hitter.

@ Grey — I posed the two offers: Phillips($21) for Alonso($5)/Tabata($7), and then Holliday($31) for Latos($22)/Strasburg($18). If both accept, I’m kinda screwed. My keepers would be:

– [Alonso ($5), Tabata ($7), Latos ($22), Strasburg ($18)] [LOCKED IN] and Hanley ($31), Wright ($25), Dee Gordon ($13), and Hart ($16). Santana ($3), Storen ($21), D.Hudson ($17) and all the others would be outside looking in.

Is that a good deal considering I had to give up Holliday and Phillips to get to that set of keepers? Also, throwing a BIG WRENCH in the equation… The guy with Latos and Strasburg has thrown out two interesting counters… Phillips/D.Hudson for Strasburg/Latos, OR Holliday/Phillips for R.Zimmerman($21)/Strasburg. In either of those scenarios, I would only be dropping Storen from my original keeper list (and keeping Santana and of either Holliday/Phillips). Which, do you think, is the best outcome for me overall?

YES, I am trying to take advantage of early-Janaury Grey generosity before the deluge of desperate fantasy players hits (all requesting super league-specific advice)!!!!! ;^)

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:19:06 +0000

@Grey: Actually, Bundy only makes batboy. Haystacks Calhoun is the mascot.

By: SwaggerJackers

SwaggerJackers — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:14:04 +0000

Let’s try to figure out who’s 11-20

Tex
Cano
Hanley
Cargo
Stanton
Wright
McCutchen
Reyes
Zimmerman
Crawford/Ellsbury

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:13:14 +0000

@Grey: Can't argue with that. Just thinking about your Longo ranking, if his current ADP holds (big if I guess), I really hope I get to pick at the turn a lot this year...

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:11:51 +0000

@xrayxtals: Cano and Cargo are on their way tomorrow... No problem...

By: Grey

Grey — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:11:02 +0000

@Steve: And King Kong Bundy as the mascot? @Jeff: Not really, Kinsler's not that far off from Upton for next year.

By: xrayxtals

xrayxtals — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:08:55 +0000

If you are taking the consistency of Votto (at #3 no less), where is Cano? 2B is deeper than either 3B or SS, sure, but he is the king of the two hole (okay that’s a stretch… double pun!)

Also, you have Tulo high (I’m in the same boat), what about CarGo? The numbers (especially per game) are always there. I think I’d take him over either AGonz or Fielder, but maybe we’re just splitting hairs.

I agree on the Longoria ranking, and unless I have pick #3 (where I have him on my top 10), I will likely get him much lower in all my drafts. If his has even a luck neutral year, for him, he will be worth his draft spot.

Thanks for these lists, look forward to the rest!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:59:20 +0000

Does it change anything if I mention we are a 16 team league and start 4 OF’s?

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:57:36 +0000

Only the Razzball Top 10 could overshadow Bartolo Colon signing with the A’s.

And let’s face it, you’ve gotta be pretty big to overshadow Bartolo Colon.

Which gets me to thinking, how cool would it be to have a rotation anchored (deliberate usage) by Colon, CC and Sidney Ponson? Perhaps David Wells and Joe Blanton could round out the rotation, with Bobby Jenks to close.

By: Grey

Grey — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:56:11 +0000

@Jeff: I'm sorry, just realized out of 3 you would have 2 OFs, go with Kinsler.