Fantasy Baseball Advice

The final results are in and I tested negative!  Oh, wait, this is for the fantasy baseball leagues.  Um, yeah, ignore that first sentence.  This year in a not-so-unprecedented move of not-so-unprecedented size and enormity.  We’re giving away prizes to our fantasy league winners!  Last year we gave away a hot tub, but this year we did that one better.  We one-upped a hot tub!  We’re giving away an autographed Neifi Perez baseball.  Wow!  Whoever won that Neifi Perez baseball, try not to act too smug, okay?  If you didn’t win this year, don’t worry, there’s always 2012! (Assuming the Mayans were as cracked out of their mind as they sound.) Also, before I let Rick Allen drum roll us into the winners, I wanted to give a warm thanks-slash-”Hey, good job, guy” to VinWins for updating the leagues every two weeks and updating us about his updating of them.  Okay, here comes the update.  Update, update, update… Stupid broken record!  Anyway, here’s the fantasy baseball league updates:

Overall Razzball Commenters League Winner

Drum roll, please… Random Italicized Voice! I won something? But I drafted Justin Morneau.  Not you, but someone who took your name and made you seem smart.  Oh.  Sweet!  Should I contact my trademark attorney?  No.  Can I continue?  Who’s stopping you?  Nice showing, RIV.  Member in the preseason when I said you want to draft a 1st baseman in the 1st round?  RIV drafted Votto.  Think your season is done when you have some bad breaks at the draft?  RIV drafted Mauer in the 4th round, Aaron Hill in the 8th and A-Rod in the 2nd round.  Also drafted Nate McLousy, Erik Bedard, John Lackey and Jon Niese.  In a very competitive league, they still scored 12′s in every category but saves and ERA, where they were at 10 and 11, respectively.  Regale us, RIV, regale us!  (Frankly, it’s pretty amazing how well they did.)

The prizes headed RIV’s way is a trophy from Clay Trophies from our very own commenter, Tony.  The trophy is pretty effin’ — wait, I need caps for emphasis — COOL.  Seriously, RIV, if you don’t want it, I’m taking it.  Who said I didn’t want it?  Not you, man.  Again, my bad.  In addition to the trophy, you’re going to get a Louisville Slugger with my signature.  Now you can walk around like Joe Clark!  If the kids still said that something rad was rad, they’d say this bat was rad.  RIV, please put your email in the comments so I can lavish you with prizes.  All 455 other people who didn’t win, better luck next year!  And congratulate RIV.

Overall Fantasy Razzball Winner

Drum roll, please… Voidoid!  Somehow that name makes total sense to win a league where the idea is to have the worst fantasy team.  Now when you walk around in your velour robe singing, “I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it,” you can say you’re singing about Fantasy Razzball.  Voidoid scored 6,085 points, but thanks to how badly their leaguemates wanted to do badly they beat out ichirosan who scored 6,556 points but was only able to get 3rd place because of how terrible their league was at being terrible.  That is not pretty awful, friends.  That’s just awful.  (If you’re not confused yet, don’t worry it gets worse.  Or is it better?)  Speaking of awful, I was actually one of the 120 participants in the Fantasy Razzball tourney of turpitude and I finished 26th.  I just couldn’t get my ball rolling for the worse.  I had Porcello in the beginning of the year when he was doing well, then when he started making dresses out of garbage bags I had already dropped him.  Guthrie lost games for me, but wasn’t razztastic like he needed to be.  Infante was manning the Not Corner, and he was pretty terrible in the good way for most of the year, but August and September weren’t great which is to say they were decent.  Jason Bay was terribly wonderful on my hitting, but he just wasn’t enough.  Show them what we have for Grey!  Nothing!  Again, that somehow seems like a good prize for this league so maybe I should get something.  We’ll leave that to the rocket scientists to figure out, or just anyone with some free time.  But for Voidoid we one-upped nothing! (If you read the lead — or lede if you’re a newsie — you probably know what Voidoid won, but act surprised anyway.)  No, instead of nothing, Voidoid won a Neifi Perez baseball.  We wanted Neifi to sign a turd, but we didn’t want to get kicked out of the Parsippany Holiday Inn autograph signing.  Voidoid put your info in the comments and I’ll make all your wishes come true, if your only wish is a Neifi Perez signed baseball.  And lavish him with some praise for stinking up the joint so good.

RCL sign-ups are in full bloom, but this isn’t for that.  This is for those in deeper or shallower leagues.  We already went over what it took to win your fantasy baseball league for 12 teams.  Don’t believe me?  Click this.  Sucker!  You got Rick Schroder rolled!  Or not because you read this part before you clicked it.  I know, 2002 called, they want their internet meme back.  Okay, here’s what it takes to win your 12 team fantasy baseball league.  Now here we have what it takes to win a 10, 14 and 16 team mixed league and an AL-Only or NL-Only league.  I’m not going to breakdown how much it takes to move up each point because with a little math you should be able to figure it out on your own.  Look at me having high hopes for you Razzballers.  (Hint:  Average is always the middle plus a half.  So the average in a 10 team league is 5.5.  To move up a point is the difference between the high and low number divided by the number of teams minus one.  So to move up one point in Runs in a ten team league, it’s 1240-1000 divided by 8, which is 30 Runs.  Voila, snitches!)  This is for the roster of C/1B/2B/SS/3B/5 OF/MI/CI/UTIL/9 P in the mixed leagues.  Then the AL and NL-Only leagues are factoring in 2 catchers.  In ten team mixed leagues, 10 pitchers are factored in because of the heavy waiver wiring that goes on.  Finally, the mixed leagues IP range is 1400-1500 and 1300-1400 in single leagues.  Wins and Ks should be lowered if your cap is below that.  Anyway, here’s what it takes to win a 10, 14, 16, NL-Only and AL-Only fantasy baseball league:

10 TEAM, MIXED

RUNS

Average – 1120
High – 1240
Low – 1000

HOME RUNS

Average – 267
High – 315
Low – 219

RBIS

Average – 1093
High – 1216
Low – 969

STEALS

Average – 184
High – 254
Low – 114

AVERAGE

Average – .279
High – .291
Low – .267

WINS

Average – 100
High – 120
Low – 79

SAVES

Average – 84
High – 156
Low – 44

ERA

Average – 3.66
High – 3.10
Low – 4.23

WHIP

Average – 1.25
High – 1.18
Low – 1.31

STRIKEOUTS

Average – 1348
High – 1576
Low – 1120

14 TEAM, MIXED

RUNS

Average — 1067
High — 1181
Low — 953

HOME RUNS

Average — 247
High — 287
Low — 206

RUNS BATTED IN

Average — 1038
High — 1155
Low — 921

STEALS

Average — 169
High — 229
Low — 108

AVERAGE

Average — .275
High — .287
Low — .263

WINS

Average — 90
High — 109
Low — 71

SAVES

Average — 62
High — 117
Low — 33

ERA

Average — 3.75
High — 3.17
Low — 4.33

WHIP

Average — 1.26
High — 1.20
Low — 1.32

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1192
High — 1394
Low — 991

16 TEAMS, MIXED

RUNS

Average — 1040
High — 1151
Low — 929

HOME RUNS

Average — 241
High — 280
Low —201

RBIS

Average — 1013
High — 1127
Low — 898

STEALS

Average — 157
High — 213
Low — 100

AVERAGE

Average — .274
High — .286
Low — .262

WINS

Average — 88
High — 106
Low — 69

SAVES

Average — 56
High — 107
Low — 30

ERA

Average — 3.78
High — 3.19
Low — 4.37

WHIP

Average — 1.27
High — 1.20
Low — 1.33

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1167
High — 1364
Low — 969

10 TEAM, AL-ONLY

RUNS

Average — 974
High — 1078
Low — 870

HOME RUNS

Average — 220
High — 259
Low — 180

RBIS

Average — 944
High — 1051
Low — 838

STEALS

Average — 147
High — 202
Low — 91

AVERAGE

Average — .272
High — .283
Low — .260

WINS

Average — 84
High — 101
Low — 66

SAVES

Average — 45
High — 88
Low — 13

ERA

Average — 4.05
High — 3.42
Low — 4.67

WHIP

Average — 1.31
High — 1.24
Low — 1.37

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1084
High — 1267
Low — 901

10 TEAM, NL-ONLY

RUNS

Average — 940
High — 1040
Low — 839

HOME RUNS

Average — 219
High — 258
Low — 179

RBIS

Average — 921
High — 1025
Low — 817

STEALS

Average — 132
High — 182
Low — 82

AVERAGE

Average — .271
High — .283
Low — .259

WINS

Average — 92
High — 111
Low — 73

SAVES

Average — 44
High — 101
Low — 14

ERA

Average — 3.82
High — 3.23
Low —4.41

WHIP

Average — 1.28
High — 1.21
Low — 1.34

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1242
High — 1452
Low — 1032

12 TEAM, AL-ONLY

RUNS

Average — 826
High — 914
Low — 738

HOME RUNS

Average — 188
High — 219
Low — 157

RBIS

Average — 802
High — 893
Low — 712

STEALS

Average — 123
High — 167
Low — 79

AVERAGE

Average — .271
High — .283
Low — .259

WINS

Average — 80
High — 97
Low — 63

SAVES

Average — 38
High — 74
Low — 11

ERA

Average — 4.12
High — 3.48
Low — 4.76

WHIP

Average — 1.32
High — 1.25
Low — 1.38

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1038
High — 1213
Low — 862

12 TEAM, NL-ONLY

RUNS

Average — 791
High — 875
Low — 706

HOME RUNS

Average — 184
High — 214
Low — 153

RBIS

Average — 775
High — 863
Low — 688

STEALS

Average — 111
High — 151
Low — 71

AVERAGE

Average — .271
High — .283
Low — .259

WINS

Average — 87
High — 105
Low — 69

SAVES

Average — 38
High — 84
Low — 12

ERA

Average — 3.89
High — 3.28
Low — 4.49

WHIP

Average — 1.29
High — 1.22
Low — 1.35

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1169
High — 1367
Low — 971

With the Razzball Commenter Leagues sign ups starting on Monday, we decided to take a look at what last year’s RCLs showed us.  I.e., this is what it took to win these fantasy baseball leagues last year.  Across twenty-one 12 team leagues, you would think you’d have some wide variations, but it’s amazingly close what you need in each category to do average vs. win.  Some quick points upfront.  There were 5 outfielders and one utility, so if you play in a Yahoo league with three outfielders and two utility, I’d expect more offense across the board.  Not much, but some.  There was a 180 games started max for pitchers.  6.5 is average in a 12 team league, not 6 because the last place team has 1 point, not zero.  Finally, the RCLs are made up of guys that are probably more competitive than your casual fantasy baseball leaguemates, so if you can hit these benchmarks, you should be in good shape.  Anyway, here’s what it takes to win a 12 team fantasy baseball league:

Runs – 1,021

The average team last year scored 998 runs, that would get them 6.5 points in the standings in runs.  To win your league, it took 1,124 runs with the average hitter contributing 86.5 runs.  To move up a point from average, you needed an extra 22.80 runs.  So 23 runs on top of 998 runs took you from 6.5 points to 7.5 in the standings.  I like to aim for a 7.5 in runs.  So I would aim for 1,021 runs or 79 runs/player.

Home Runs — 255

The average team hit 235 homers.  To win, you needed 291 homers or 22.4 homers/player.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points in the standings), you needed an extra 10.19 homers.  I like to aim for an 8.5 in homers.  So I would aim for 20 extra homers from 235 or 255 homers or 20 homers/player.

RBIs — 973

The average team needed 948 RBIs.  To win, you had to get 1,083 or 83.6 RBIs/player.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 24.4 RBIs.  I aim for a 7.5 points in RBIs.  So I would aim for 973 RBIs or 75 RBIs/player.

Steals — 177

The average team needed 150 steals.  To win, you had to get 208 or 16 steals/player.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 10.5 steals.  I aim for 8 points in steals.  So I would aim for 177 steals or 14 steals/player.

Average — .271

The average team’s, uh, average is .271.  To win, you had to get a .284.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an increase of .002.  I aim for average in, well, ya know.  So I would want a .271 average.  Let the rest figure itself out.

Strikeouts — 1,272

The average team’s Ks are 1,149.  To win, you needed to rack up 1,342 Ks.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 34.99 Ks.  I aim for a 10 in Ks.  Actually, I don’t aim for it, but that’s where I end up.  So I would want 1,272 Ks from my pitching staff.

Wins — 86

The average team’s pitchers won 86 games.  To win, you needed to win 104 .  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed to win an extra 3.23 games.  (Any Astro pitcher is good for at least four .23 wins.)  I go for average here, which is 86 games.  Otherwise known as letting the cards fall where they may.

Saves — 122

The average team’s relievers closed out 87 games.  To win, you needed 142  saves.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 10.02 saves.  I aim for a 10 in saves.  My thought is if you have extra, you can always trade those suckers.  To get 10 points in saves, you needed 122 saves.

ERA — 3.56

The average team’s pitchers had a 3.64 ERA.  To win, you needed a 3.18 ERA.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an increase of .08.  I aim for a 7.5 in ERA.  So I would want a 3.56 ERA.  In reality, ERA’s so fickle that aiming for ERA is like throwing darts at a unicorn.

WHIP — 1.23

The average team’s pitchers had a 1.26 WHIP.  To win, you needed a 1.18 WHIP.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an increase of .01.  I aim for a 9 in WHIP.  So I would want a 1.23 WHIP.

We already went over what it took to win your fantasy baseball league for 12 teams.  Don’t believe me?  Click this.  Sucker!  You got Rick Schroder rolled!  Or not because you read this part before you clicked it.  I know, 2002 called, they want their internet meme back.  Okay, here’s what it takes to win your 12 team fantasy baseball league.  Now here we have what it takes to win a 10, 14 and 16 team league.  I’m not going to breakdown how much it takes to move up each point because with a little math you should be able to figure it out on your own.  Look at me having high hopes for you Razzballers.  This is for the roster of C/1B/2B/SS/3B/5 OF/MI/CI/UTIL/9 P.  Anyway, here’s what it takes to win a 10, 14 and 16 team fantasy baseball league:

10 TEAM — In a 10 team league, you should aim for around 80 points. That’s 3rd place, which is noted for each category below.

RUNS

Average — 1088
High — 1204
Low — 972
3rd Place — 1152

HOME RUNS

Average — 262
High — 309
Low — 215
3rd Place — 288

RUNS BATTED IN

Average — 1054
High — 1173
Low — 935
3rd Place — 1120

STEALS

Average — 166
High — 230
Low — 103
3rd Place — 202

AVERAGE

Average — .283
High — .295
Low — .270
3rd Place — .290

WINS

Average — 80
High — 97
Low — 63
3rd Place — 90

SAVES

Average — 75
High — 156
Low — 44
3rd Place — 131

ERA

Average — 3.83
High — 3.23
Low — 4.42
3rd Place — 3.47

WHIP

Average — 1.28
High — 1.21
Low — 1.34
3rd Place — 1.24

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1099
High — 1285
Low — 913
3rd Place — 1202

14 TEAM — In a 14 team league, you’re in contention if you have around 110 points.  Or 4th place, which is noted in the categories below.

RUNS

Average — 1030
High — 1140
Low — 919
4th Place — 1089

HOME RUNS

Average — 242
High — 282
Low — 202
4th Place — 264

RUNS BATTED IN

Average — 990
High — 1102
Low — 878
4th Place — 1050

STEALS

Average — 143
High — 195
Low — 92
4th Place — 171

AVERAGE

Average — .279
High — .291
Low — .267
4th Place — .286

WINS

Average — 77
High — 93
Low — 61
4th Place — 86

SAVES

Average — 54
High — 117
Low — 33
4th Place — 98

ERA

Average — 3.95
High — 3.34
Low — 4.56
4th Place — 3.60

WHIP

Average — 1.30
High — 1.24
Low — 1.37
4th Place — 1.27

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1024
High — 1197
Low — 851
4th Place — 1117

16 TEAM — In a 16 team league, you’re in contention if you have around 120 points.  Or 5th place, which is noted in the categories below.

RUNS

Average — 993
High — 1099
Low — 887
5th Place — 1042

HOME RUNS

Average — 230
High — 268
Low — 192
5th Place — 248

RUNS BATTED IN

Average — 954
High — 1062
Low — 846
5th Place — 1004

STEALS

Average — 135
High — 184
Low — 87
5th Place — 158

AVERAGE

Average — .279
High — .291
Low — .267
5th Place — .286

WINS

Average — 77
High — 93
Low — 61
5th Place — 86

SAVES

Average — 54
High — 117
Low — 33
5th Place — 98

ERA

Average — 3.95
High — 3.34
Low — 4.56
5th Place — 3.60

WHIP

Average — 1.31
High — 1.25
Low — 1.38
5th Place — 1.28

STRIKEOUTS

Average — 1013
High — 1184
Low — 842
5th Place — 1093

With the RCL sign ups in full bloom, we decided to take a look at what last year’s RCLs showed us.  I.e., what it took to win these fantasy baseball leagues last year.  Across nine 12 team leagues, you would think you’d have some wide variations, but it’s amazingly close what you need in each category to do average vs. win.  Some quick points upfront.  There were 5 outfielders and one utility, so if you play in a Yahoo league with three outfielders and two utility, I’d expect a bit more offense across the board.  There were 198 games started vs. 180 games started this year.  So Wins and Ks were a bit high, but I’m going to factor those changes into the below numbers.  6.5 is average in a 12 team league, not 6 because the last place team has 1 point, not zero.  Finally, the RCLs are made up of guys that are probably more competitive than your casual buddy office fantasy baseball league, so if you can hit these benchmarks, you should be in good shape.  Anyway, here’s what it takes to win a 12 team fantasy baseball league:

Runs – 1,067

The average team last year scored 1,047 Runs, that would get them 6.5 points in the standings in Runs.  To win your league, it took 1,159 Runs with the average player contributing 89 Runs.  To move up a point from average, you needed an extra 20.39 Runs.  So 20 runs on top of 1,047 Runs took you from 6.5 points to 7.5 in the standings.  I like to aim for a 7.5 in Runs.  So I would aim for 1,067 Runs or 82 Runs/player.

Home Runs — 277

The average team hit 262 homers.  To win, you needed 304 homers or 23 homers/player.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points in the standings), you needed an extra 7.5 homers.  I like to aim for an 8.5 in homers.  So I would aim for 15 homers from 262 or 277 homers or 21 homers/player.

RBIs — 1,036

The average team needed 1,016 RBIs.  To win, you had to get 1,128 or 87 RBIs/player.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 20.37 RBIs.  I aim for a 7.5 points in RBIs.  So I would aim for 1,036 RBIs or 80 RBIs/player.

Steals — 168

The average team needed 153 steals.  To win, you had to get 208 or 16 steals/player.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 10.02 steals.  I aim for 8 points in steals.  So I would aim for 168 steals or 13 steals/player.

Average — .277

The average team’s, uh, average is .277.  To win, you had to get a .290.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an increase of .0314.  I aim for average in, well, ya know.  So I would want a .277 average.  Let the rest figure itself out.

Strikeouts — 1,165

The average team’s Ks are 1,065.  To win, you needed to rack up 1,238 Ks.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 31.47 Ks.  I aim for a 10 in Ks.  Actually, I don’t aim for it, but that’s where I end up.  So I would want 1,165 Ks or 129 Ks/pitcher.

Wins — 77

The average team’s pitchers won 77 games.  To win, you needed to win 92.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed to win an extra 2.84 games.  (Jason Marquis is good for at least two .84 wins.)  I go for average here, which is 77 games or 9 wins/pitcher.  Otherwise known as letting the cards fall where they may.

Saves — 117

The average team’s relievers close out 87 games.  To win, you needed 133 saves.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an extra 8.52 saves.  I aim for a 10 in saves.  My thought is if you have extra, you can always trade those suckers.  To get 10 points in saves, you needed an extra 30 saves from average or 117 saves or 39 saves from 3 closers or 29 from 4 closers.

ERA — 3.80

The average team’s pitchers had a 3.91 ERA.  To win, you needed a 3.31 ERA.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an increase of .11.  I aim for a 7.5 in ERA.  So I would want a 3.80 ERA.  In reality, ERA’s so fickle that aiming for ERA is like throwing darts at a unicorn.

WHIP — 1.25

The average team’s pitchers had a 1.30 WHIP.  To win, you needed a 1.20 WHIP.  To move up a point from average (6.5 points), you needed an increase of .02.  I aim for a 9 in WHIP.  So I would want a 1.25 WHIP.