We at Razzball hear the cries of the dedicated fans and emotionally invested fantasy baseballers who tear up when their favorite/drafted players underperform. The black holes in their teams’ lineup that threaten to swallow all that is Debby Boone. The pitchers that are, alas, belly-itchers.
Thus, we are going forward with the 5th annual installment of Fantasy Razzball - where the goal is to manage the worst fantasy baseball team possible. If you have a weak stomach or a big heart, stay away. If you have a big stomach and a weak heart, you should see a doctor and make some changes in your diet. If neither of those conditional statements apply, you can forget about tears in your beer. It’ll be more like tears in your coffee and saving money on sugar.
The rules are basically the same as the past 2 years but we have a few logistical changes:
- Just as we have with our Razzball Commenter Leagues, we need volunteer commissioners to manage each league/draft time. We’ve already recruited a commissioner for the full league (Higgins) to update standings and make sure all the leagues abide by the same rules. So if you’re interested in being the commissioner, add your name/e-mail address in the comments.
- We used to create four ‘dummy’ teams that merely served to draft the top players and try to minimize the damage for anyone who missed the draft and forgot to update their rankings. It didn’t work as well as hoped so instead we’re going to adjust the competitive index so it removes the last 3 teams in each league.
League Rules
- 10 Team Leagues, MLB universe, uses Yahoo! position eligibility
- All leagues must be in Yahoo! (to maintain consistent position eligibility rules and IP caps)
- Weekly Roster Changes (leaves you time to lavish on your Daily Leagues)
- C / 1B / 2B / SS / 3B / CI / MI / 5 OF / 9 P / 5 bench
- 1,250 innings cap. No minimum IP. No AB mins/maxes
- Leagues will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. If you want to play in the same league with a couple friends, no problem. Just submit the e-mail addresses at the same time.
- Each league will have four ‘dummy’ teams that merely serve to draft the top players. This helps minimize the damage for anyone who misses the draft and forgot to update their draft list.
- 1 team per person.
- Collusion between teams is grounds for disqualification from winning the grand prize.
- Blogs/sports sites may have multiple participants but one team per writer. These blogs will be noted in the standings and during periodic standings posts. It is expected – but not required – for some quid pro quo mention of Razzball on your site.
- Hitter Stats
- AB = +2
- H = -3
- R = -4
- HR = -6
- RBI = -4
- K = +2
- Pitcher Stats
- IP = -1
- HR = +4
- L = +8
- K = -1
- ER = +1.5
- H+BB = +1
The point structure makes it so that about 2/3 of the league’s hitters as well as just about every pitcher has positive value. So leaving a roster spot open or filled by a guy who plays once a week will hurt your team.
Grand Prize
An autographed baseball by Grey Albright, myself (Rudy Gamble), and a TBD Fantasy Razzball All-Star (last year was Neifi Perez).
Note For Sports Bloggers
We have discontinued the ‘Blogger” league but you are more than welcome to join a commenter league. Once all the leagues are drafted, we’ll have a sign-up sheet to add blog affiliations to the master standings.
How To Sign Up
Find an open league below and e-mail the commissioner for an invite.
Commissioner:
1. VinWins — vinreich [at] zoho.com
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can now go back at being the Texas Rangers of Razzball and impossibly get the 2nd Overall place without a chance to sniff the Championship for the 3rd year in a row.
my god, adam dunn must have been beastly in this league last season…
@beardcrabs, By my calculations, Dunn was worth 608 points. Only Bronson Arroyo (612) was more valuable. Ryan Braun was -327.
Here is a google doc with more numbers.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0An3I_TiueBsydGx2czJHSjdQckpYMFl2SDhDSGNVb3c#gid=0
@VinWins, oops, left out a key stat. Arroyo was the top pitcher, but with 413 points.
yep .
that four dummy teams idea was pretty bogus .
had i known that you were going to change that rule ,
i might not have filled up my dance card .
oh well ,
maybe next year .
any chance that you’re considering changing it from a weekly (weakly)
league to a daily league for 2013 ??
i’d be in favor of that .
Hey Rudy, I filled up 1 and started a second, because it is easy to use the same settings without having to go through everything. I will just invite 10 instead of 9, and 1 person can take over the team I used to set up the league, if that is ok.
That’s great, Vin!
@VinWins, Hey, you mind just filling them all up and then passing along a team from each? Probably be easier than having multiple commissioners…
@Grey, Sure.
The difficult part is just coordinating all those draft times with everyone in each of the leagues, but if Vin is up to it then cool.
So where are these open leagues?
I’m lookin to sign up into a razzball league. . .
@Jman, Send VinWins an email… His email is in the post.
Sounds like a hoot! Would it be too much trouble for you to post the roster used by last year’s champion just so we can see what wins in this sort of league? Thanks.
@yep, I said it,
just grab every shitty pitcher that you can .
look for #4 and #5 starters and start them against every
high-powered offense , whether they’re pitching twice that
week or not .
(oriole SP’s are nice) .
and obviously batters that have full-time jobs , poor batting
averages and little power .
(catchers are good for utility spots , so roster a couple of poor ones).
also , stay on top of SP’s being called up to replace injured starters .
because it’s a weekly league , you should try and pick-up SP’s a
week in advance …. i.e. as soon as you hear about a SP getting hurt
or being “rested” , going to see a doctor , etc , immediately seek out
his replacement , roster that guy and hope for the best/worse .
@chata, Ha great advice chata thanks
@yep, I said it, I don’t have last year’s rosters, but I calculated how many points players accumulated in 2011.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0An3I_TiueBsydGx2czJHSjdQckpYMFl2SDhDSGNVb3c#gid=0
2nd league still has 3 openings.
Started 3rd league.
LEAGUE 3
Send to nvandy89 [at] yahoo.com
I took over as commish from Vin for League 3.
Someone has suggested we get rid of the can’t cut list. Do we want to do this?
@VinWins, Rudy is at SXSW today, he’ll get back to you when he gets a second. I’m not sure the implications of this, though it does seem like it makes sense to get rid of…
Rudy said it’s fine to remove it…
Off topic here, but have any of you other guys had problems with rotoworld lately? Their site has been almost impossible to visit the last week or so.
@EmporersMonkey, Yeah, it’s been funky.
Stupid question: is this a Yahoo league or ESPN?
Yahoo
These are the scoring settings for the league invite I got:
At Bats 2 Points
Runs -4 Points
Hits -3 Points
Home Runs -6 Points
Runs Batted In -4 Points
Strikeouts 2 Points
Innings Pitched -1 Points
Losses 8 Points
Hits 1 Points
Earned Runs 1.5 Points
Home Runs 4 Points
Walks 1 Points
Strikeouts -1 Points
This can’t be right?
@SmokeTNT, Yes, Fantasy Razzball is a league where you try for bad players. You are trying to score as many points as possible, so you need players that get At Bats, but are not hitting.
If you are looking to get into a Razzball league where you try for good players, you want to join the RCL. Email the commissioner of RCL 46 for an invite.
tbrindley [at] nebraska.edu
@VinWins, I need to start paying attention, heh.
@SmokeTNT, LOL
A 4th league has been opened.
vinreich@zoho.com for an invite.
Also, will need someone willing to take over as commissioner once the league is full.
Yes! Its back!!!
Im in, will email you later Vin for an invite.
LEAGUE 3 is full. If you sent Vin an invite he forwarded it to me. If you not in League 3, try for a new league.
I’m willing to commish. I’ve been ruling with an iron fist for 4 years in my main league. Let me know.
Brendan at nadnerb52@yahoo.com
@Malon, Thanks. I may take you up on your offer. For now, an invite has been sent to you.
@VinWins:
I’m interested in this awful league and so is my brother. Emails are maohlsson@hotmail.com and grohlsson@gmail.com.
Thanks!
@Mike, Invites have been sent out to both of you.
@VinWins, I sent you an email last night about coordinating all of the leagues. Did you receive it?
@Higgins, I did, and sent 2 back
Hey — when are you going to do your 20 Risky Pitchers For 2012? I always find that column extremely useful.
@Tammy, Tentatively end of next week. Spoiler: Bud Norris is risky again.
@Rudy Gamble, any chance by next Thurs? My draft is next Friday and we are allowed only 5 waiver pick ups during the year!! Staying away from pitchers on your list last year saved me from making some major mistakes.
A 5th league has been started.
vinreich@zoho.com
Still 6 openings in Fantasy Razz 5.
@VinWins, See my post. ready for a rematch.
@VinWins, bkr.grg at gmail dot com
sounds like fun. Im down to play.
@gbaked, I sent your email to the new commissioner of Razz 5. You should be getting an invite today.
Hook me Vin. You beat me last year but I am ready for a rematch. tourinnc
@tourinnc, I can’t let that happen. Actually, I’m setting up all the leagues, but I’m only in league 1. So, you haven’t received an invite yet?
I made a google doc with last year’s numbers if anyone wants to see who were the top scorers in 2011.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0An3I_TiueBsydGx2czJHSjdQckpYMFl2SDhDSGNVb3c#gid=0
@VinWins, Need approval to view it Vin.
@TheNewGuy, Oops. Should work now.
@VinWins, Thanks, nice one man.
I just started the 6th Fantasy Razzball league. Email me for an invite:
vinreich@zoho.com
We just had one owner drop out, so there’s a team available in League 5. If you want in, talk to Vin or leave me your email. Draft is tomorrow night.
Fantasy Razzball 1 has an opening.
Draft is tomorrow, Wednesday, at 7 ET.
@VinWins, Contact me
vinreich@zoho.com
@VinWins, League 1 is full again.
Any openings left in these bad boys?
@Shea Sera Sera, All full right now. If there’s more interest, I’ll start another league.
contact me
vinreich@zoho.com
@VinWins, I’m very interested in playing and willing to run a new league as well. Previous league champion in 2009 (I think it was that year at least).
@VinWins, We’re trying for a 6th Fantasy Razzball league if anyone is interested.
vinreich@zoho.com
I just drafted totally wrong. I thought fast guys, low power and grab 1b/3b early was good until after the draft. Didn’t realize K’s/Ab’s would matter so much. I think the only thing I did right was focus on batters. Can you recover when 2-3 teams drafted really well.? Or hope for some timely injuries. I don’t have any players on the first player list page from last year pts!
@MJD Took A Knee, with a lot of these schmohawks, PT is the biggest variable – Brian Bogusevic could be a first round producer (of poo) if he wins an everyday gig. Bad players (esp. pitchers) are called up all the time, so good waiverwiring can keep you in it. My theory is that the draft is somewhat less important in a razz league.
@NursingAGroin, Thanks. I drafted Bryan LaHair as my first pick. I didn’t even think to look at high ranked players that would still be good for this. See how it goes.
Hey Vin still waiting to hear which league I am in. Have played for the last two years. Would be really disappointing if I do not get a chance to play this year . Looking forward to hearing from you soon. tourinnc
@tourinnc, I just tried again. Maybe I have your email wrong. What is it?
tourinnc@nc.rr.com
@tourinnc, ok, I didn’t have that. An invite has been sent. Only 1 person has joined so far, but several other said they were interested.
Still 4 openings for the final Fantasy Razzball team
vinreich@zoho.com
@VinWins, That’s still 4 openings for the final Fantasy Razzball league.
vinreich@zoho.com
Who won last year? And in which of the leagues is he playing this year?
Just wondering.
@Yep, I said it! Voidoid, he’s in league 4 this year. His team is called Bill James Handjob.
Still 2 openings for the final Fantasy Razzball team.
Drafting Monday, 9:30et/6:30pt
vinreich@zoho.com
Last chance!
Still 2 openings for the final Fantasy Razzball team.
Drafting today, 9:30et/6:30pt
vinreich@zoho.com
The 6th Fantasy Razzball League has been filled!
Can someone provide the links to all 6 leagues, or will there be periodic updates posted on how everyone is doing. This is my first time in this format, so I’m not sure exactly how it all works. By the way, are Grey and Rudy in these leagues? Now that the drafts are over, I’d like to see who they picked.
@Yep, I said it!, Sorry, once I made it through the scramble to fill the leagues, I didn’t think to check back here for comments.
There will be updates, either in posts or in the forums.
I don’t know if you noticed my links in the forums, but from this you can get to all 6 leagues, as well as the 48 RCLs.
https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1_dV_7-ZgonYyr6MxV-jwvu_agnieitriB46B0B4x_CI
The whole concept is inspired insanity! And we need more of that.
So, what happens when a player is so bad he’s demoted to the minors? How does that affect a team?
@George Hook, That’s the genius of it. You need to find bad players with long leashes. Otherwise, you just drop them and find the next bad player…
Any more openings? I’m able to draft on short notice.
Adam