In our 2011 fantasy baseball rankings, we’ve gone over so many flippin’ players I’ve lost track. This is, I believe, the top 60 starters for 2011 fantasy baseball, but you’re best to check the title to be sure. If it is indeed the top 60 starters, then you’re in luck. Only a few more top 20 rankings posts. What is it, February? March? Why don’t I have an app for this? Or do I want a hashtag? App ‘n Hashtag would be a good name for a 50s style diner with wifi. As with the other rankings posts, tiers and my projections are mentioned. Anyway, here’s the top 60 starters for 2011 fantasy baseball:
40. Jhoulys Chacin – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until de la Rosa. I call this tier, “One of these guys is going to be my fourth fantasy starter.” I already dazzled your retinas with a Jhoulys Chacin fantasy post. Reading it is like the inside of your mouth right after you dump in a packet of Pop Rocks. Go see for yourself. 2011 Projections: 12-8/3.60/1.24/180
41. Ian Kennedy – He ended up falling just below Daniel Hudson for a few reasons. A) Hudson has more upside. B) Hudson’s less prone to gopher balls. C) There’s no C. 2011 Projections: 11-10/3.75/1.25/180
42. Johnny Cueto – Johnny Cueto sounds like an 80’s movie villain and he will kick you in the head if you get too close to him. Believe that. Hopefully, he doesn’t metaphorically kick you in the head with his ratios from time to time like he’s done in the past. For instance, his 5+ ERA in April last year. Also, I might be being stubborn here, but I think Cueto has an 8 K/9 in his arm like he showed in 2008 instead of the below 7 he threw the last two years. It doesn’t hurt my optimism that he’s only going to be 25 in 2011. 2011 Projections: 12-8/3.65/1.26/160
43. Brandon Morrow – Are you an older man with ugly brown spots on your neck, face and hands? Liver spots that make your grandkids cry? Then read my Brandon Morrow sleeper post. It won’t help your aging, but it might distract you. 2011 Projections: 12-9/3.80/1.38/195
44. Edwin Jackson – As with a lot of guys in this tier, Edwin also got a sleeper post. Only his sleeper post hasn’t been posted yet. You’ll get it later today. Prepare your jowls for smiling. 2011 Projections: 13-10/3.80/1.30/190
45. Jonathan Sanchez – In a moment of honesty, I’m going to tell you a little secret. We got lucky as crap last year with Filthy Sanchez. I knew he was capable of a great strikeout season, but the 3.07 ERA against a 4.11 xFIP and a 1.23 WHIP against a 4.47 BB/9 was us cashing in a winning lottery ticket without even remembering buying one. Assuming our luck goes south, Sanchez will still be great for Ks but don’t expect the same ratios. 2011 Projections: 12-11/3.90/1.33/200
46. Madison Bumgarner – Really not a bad crop of starters this year, prolly cause hitting is so atrocious. The only thing that stopped Bumgarner from being in the top 40 starters was his innings last year. I’m willing to overlook it at the draft while preparing myself mentally that I may need to drop him by August. But that’s no big deal, that’s why guys like Brian Duensing are made to fill in at the end of the season. 2011 Projections: 12-7/3.60/1.25/140
47. Jorge de la Rosa – dlR is either going to get lucky in 2011, strikeout 200 and have a terrific ERA or, more likely, he’s going to have a 4-something ERA with solid Ks. His Ks have me being overly optimistic, but as long as you know I’m being overly optimistic you shouldn’t be too disappointed. 2011 Projections: 11-9/3.80/1.30/175
48. Colby Lewis – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Wilson. I call this tier, “I really don’t want a Ranger pitcher, but will consider them if they fall far enough.” When Lewis returned from the Far East, I turned my nose up at him and told him to talk to the ‘stache. Turned out, I was dead wrong about Colby last year. He’s a survivor! Lewis’ ERA was actually better at home last year than away, but I’m still pretty hesitant. The potential 200 Ks could be the only thing making me draft him. Oh, who are we kidding? Of course that would be the reason. 2011 Projections: 15-9/3.85/1.22/200
49. C.J. Wilson – For those of you worried about the drastic jump in innings from 2009 to 2010, that concern is for younger pitchers and I’m not even sure we’ve proved beyond a reasonable doubt that it’s a concern for anyone, no matter the age. I think Wilson might have to wait another year until I draft him though, as Dempster had to wait a few years before I felt he was safe. 2011 Projections: 12-6/3.95/1.28/165
50. Brett Myers – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Pelfrey. I call this tier, “It’s been a few tiers since I’ve done a tier that I’m avoiding so here we are again.” Last year Myers’ men left on base was high, his homers allowed per fly ball was low, his K-rate was whatever and he’s on the Astros. If you grab Myers at a draft, you’re going to get beat up. Not metaphorically. 2011 Projections: 8-10/4.20/1.30/160
51. Ervin Santana – He might surprise this year (read: get lucky), but he’s now had two years in a row that have been so yawnstipating that I’m not touching him in any leagues this year. 2011 Projections: 13-10/4.30/1.32/150
52. Bronson Arroyo – Eh, I have nothing against Arroyo once the calendar strikes July, but I’m not messing with a pre-All-Star Break Arroyo. 2011 Projections: 15-9/4.00/1.22/115
53. John Lackey – I’ll draft Lackey again…. If he’s traded to the NL. Until then, someone else can enjoy him on their team. 2011 Projections: 14-12/4.35/1.32/145
54. Carl Pavano – His placement in this tier was almost offset by his full-as-shizz mustache. Unfortunately, his stats last year were full-of-shizz. 2011 Projections: 13-10/4.20/1.25/110
55. Jaime Garcia – I’m not only worried about his innings last year, but also about the FIP Gods throwing fire and brimstone at his ERA in 2011 for defying them last year. 2011 Projections: 9-10/4.15/1.35/130
56. Mike Pelfrey – The FIP Gods are wrathful and the 5 K/9 Gods are spiteful. Together they’re like watching a marathon of Storage Wars. Actually, that’s terrific, who am I kidding? Why doesn’t Jarrod listen to Brandi? 2011 Projections: 12-10/4.30/1.35/105
57. John Danks – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Shields. I call this tier, “Not bad options, but I see no upside.” Manages to put together very usable stretches of the season, but he’s only a 7 K/9 and 4.00 ERA pitcher. Without luck, there’s no upside. 2011 Projections: 14-8/4.00/1.26/170
58. Carlos Zambrano – I might be the only one thinking this across all ‘perts and five continents, but I think Big Z can put together one more big season this year. His big season is still only a 7 K/9 and just under a 4.00 ERA. And you have to assume he’s going to miss at least 4 starts at some point for beating up an inanimate object. 2011 Projections: 14-9/3.85/1.35/155
59. James Shields – Shields’ K-rate was purty last year even as his luck was ugly. Shields and I took a break last year, but could see giving him a go again this year. He’s not a huge upside guy though. Expect more than a 4.00 ERA and around a 7 K/9 and you’ll get burned. 2011 Projections: 12-8/3.95/1.30/170
60. Ricky Romero – This is a new tier. This tier goes into the top 80 starters for 2011 fantasy baseball. I call this tier, “Grey’s going upside your head.” I felt people falling asleep towards the middle of that post and for that I apologize. I needed to get some of those boring names out of the way. Let’s count the ways we love Ricky Romero, shall we? 7 ways! Okay, maybe I should count them out loud. 1) Will only be 26 years old. 2) Will be entering his third big league season, a time when pitchers tend to hit their stride. 3) His K-rate was 7 and half and can get better. 4) He cut his walks last year. 5) Golden rings. 6) Pitches in the AL East… Hmm… That’s not a positive. 7) There was really only 4 reasons that I stretched out to 7. 2011 Projections: 13-6/3.65/1.30/180 (<–optimistic, but whatevs)
