With more outfielders than random hairs growing from my grandfather’s ear, we take it to the top 60 outfielders for 2011 fantasy baseball. These guys may seem like they’re not worth the effort, but remember last year Colby Rasmus, Drew Stubbs and Corey Hart were found here. As with the other 2011 fantasy baseball rankings, where tiers start and stop are mentioned and my projections. Anyway, here’s the top 60 outfielders for 2011 fantasy baseball:
41. Travis Snider – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Pagan. I call this tier, “I’m grabbing at least one of these guys as my third or fourth outfielder.” I’m all in again with Snider. I’m rolling Snider into my sleeve like a pack of smokes and unclogging his pipes. Okay, that sounded bad. Not bad as in good but bad as in bad. In 82 games, Snider hit 14 homers. I’m not one to prorate stats unless you just have to double something, so over 164 games (assuming a four way tie for the playoffs and the Jays play two extra games and Snider plays in every single game a’la some Cal Gehrig Jr. shizz), Snider’s going to hit 28 homers! Pretty sweet, right? Okay, see that prorating thing doesn’t even work because Snider is young and can be better in 2011 than he was in 2010. And he can be healthier. Want more effusiveness? Try my Snider fantasy for 2011. 2011 Projections: 65/27/80/.270/5
42. Delmon Young – I dropped a triple tissue already on my Delmon Young fantasy for 2011. There was only three typos in the whole post. “Grey, you created a work of art! Sorry, Miles, that means you’re eliminated.” Young is teetering between a solid upside pick and an overrated pick, which worries me. He’s not going to put up the numbers that, say, Jay Bruce could. He’s mooby like Billy Butler and Pablo Sandoval but he shares their power too. Okay, a tad more, but not much. Aside, there should be a Razzball glossary term for these fat guys that are missing the big time power. 2011 Projections: 75/24/85/.300/7
43. Carlos Quentin – I should’ve called this tier, “To wit, guys I didn’t learn my lesson with.” “To wit” because it makes me sound smart. Though saying that it makes me sound smart makes me sound dumb. The irony! I’m not calling Quentin a sleeper this year. I’m not going caca-cuckoo for him this year. I do like him and I do think his upside really is his 2008 MVP-like season, which is crazy valuable. His downside is every other season though. His ability to get injured is almost as uncanny as his resemblance to Jose Canseco. 2011 Projections: 80/27/90/.260/3
44. Adam Jones – Another guy that I wish I could say I’m done with, but old habits die yadda3. I’m really excited to draft Jones this year. I might even write a sleeper post about him. Still think he can make good on some of that promise that he failed to live up to last year. He’s going to move up the outfielder ranks for next year. I can feel it in my bones. Speaking of bones, what happened to the picture of Adam Jones looking stoned? 2o11 Projections: 85/25/95/.295/12 (<–optimistic but whatevs)
45. Nick Markakis – Member when this schmohawk was a top 20 outfielder? Trick question, he never was. There was a time when fantasy baseball ‘perts said he was. At the end of every season though, Markakis left you with blue balls. Markakis’ homer totals from 2007 are as follows: 23, 20, 18, 12. If this were a SAT question and you had to guess his 2011 homer total, the answer would be like 6. The way he’s going, Juan Pierre’s going to outhomer him by 2013. I like Markakis’ plate discipline and I think he’s young enough to bounce back, but I’m not reaching for him. He falls to me and I’ll grab him. 2011 Projections: 85/17/80/.305/10
46. Ryan Raburn – Went over Raburn’s projections in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2011 fantasy baseball post and I dropped a Raburn fantasy sleeper on you too. I love Raburn this year. And I loved him before Karabelly. To wit!
47. Andres Torres – On one hand, you want to believe Torres’ 2010 was fluke. On the other hand, you think he can repeat. On a third hand that is actually just a foot wearing a mitten, you don’t know what to make of Torres’ last year. I hear you, loyal Razzball reader. It’s a pickle, I tell ya. Here’s my take, Torres has 10+ homer power and 25+ steal speed but he’s also injury prone. It’s one of the reasons why he’s so old and just now bursting on the scene. I’d pay for Torres as a fourth outfielder, then pray he stays healthy. 2011 Projections: 75/12/45/.260/25
48. Angel Pagan – It’s appropriate that he falls right next to Torres in the rankings because they’re pretty much the same player. Took a while in the minors because of injuries, does have some slight power and good speed, and he’s older than most guys who just get on the scene. I really don’t like one more than the other. Could’ve put Pagan above Torres. They ended up this way because Pagan has a bit less power. I would not draft both on the same team. Unless I was trying to lose. Then I would. 2011 Projections: 75/9/45/.280/25
49. Jason Bay – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Ibanez. I call this tier, “That last tier was fun, wasn’t it? Yeah, this tier not so much.” I suppose Jay Bay can bounce back. But when you suppose, you make a supp out of you and me. Hmm… That makes no sense. Fenway inflated Bay’s power. He’s kinda a 20+ homer hitter in a neutral park. He picks and chooses his running spots carefully… A little too carefully so he’s not going to put up a huge steal season. It’s all a’ight, but he’s in Metco, he’s getting old and I think his name value will cost you more than he’s worth. I’d take two (other outfielders) and pass. 2011 Projections: 70/18/80/.265/10
50. Alfonso Soriano – I’m telling you right now or write now, if homonyms always get you, this tier is not going to be that interesting to read. I suggest you put on some music and half pay attention to the next few names. Maybe hire a homeless person to read it for you. That could be fun. 2011 Projections: 65/22/75/.260/5
51. Michael Cuddyer – See Kubel, Jason. Or an 1/8th of an inch below. 2011 Projections: 85/20/80/.275/5
52. Jason Kubel – The Twins manage to consistently field a team that is solid in regular baseball terms but underwhelms for fantasy. Not everyone, of course. It’s a generalization. Go with it. 2011 Projections: 75/24/85/.270
53. Chris Coghlan – If he does start at 2nd base, he’ll have nice value there. In the outfield, Coghlan’s Law says anything else is always better. 2011 Projections: 95/8/60/.300/17
54. Denard Span – See Kubel or a half of an inch above. For those of you who look at Span and think he’s a cheap underrated option, 6 homers and 24 steals over the course of the season breaks down to one homer and 4 steals per month. That’s like watching the paint dry in a public restroom. 2011 Projections: 90/6/60/.280/24
55. Raul Ibanez – Maybe I should’ve just titled this tier, “Yawn.” Or, “Draft these guys and drop them by April 7th when someone much more exciting starts hitting.” Your call. 2011 Projections: 70/20/85/.270/3
56. Logan Morrison – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until we get to the top 80 outfielders. I call this tier, “I just had to get out of that last boring tier, so here’s some fun upside guys again.” It’s time for Morrison to break on through. See what I did there? I’m a freakin’ genius! Though I do tend to spell genius wrong. Thank you, spellchecker! Morrison will probably disappoint in 2011. Oh, he’ll be a good one at some point, but I’m not sure he’s going to be there yet in 2011. Probably a bit up and down this year. This high ranking is due to his August and September and his minor league stats. In those last two months, he hit .297. A Morrison-type pick usually translates to a guy who has one bad month and people drop him across most 12 team leagues, i.e., this comment, “Grey, Cuddyer’s hot and Morrison’s not doing anything, should I switch them out? BTW, love the stache. Rock it, Grey, rock it!” For Morrison’s upside, I’m placing him here. 2011 Projections: 65/18/80/.290/5
57. Dexter Fowler – “Aw, sookie.” That’s me getting excited about Fowler again this year. What do you want me to say? I’m a sucker for this guy. If shizz breaks right, he’s basically Tabata. Okay, maybe that’s not the most exciting way to put it. How about this? Give Fowler 600 ABs, he could steal 35+ and hit 10+ homers. That’s good for a late round flier. 2011 Projections: 75/8/40/.270/20
58. Domonic Brown – (UPDATE: Don’t draft Brown outside of keeper leagues.) Here’s my rejected Penthouse letter about my Domonic Brown fantasy. You’re probably throwing away your draft pick by going with Brown (or Desmond Jennings, who I’ll get to). Their value will probably be at its highest the day before the season starts. If you find the guy in your league that loves them some rookie nookie, I’d look to move them. To do this, pay attention to who in your draft room says something like, “Oh, man! Great pick. I was going to grab Jennings (or Brown) with my next pick.” There’s always one of those doodes. Or doodettes (for our 3 girl readers). 2011 Projections: 55/12/70/.290/14 30/8/40/.275/10
59. Lorenzo Cain – In most leagues, you’re not going to hold any of the outfielders in this tier for very long so you may as well try for some upside. If it doesn’t pan out the first couple of weeks of the season, you drop them. I’d also gamble on any outfielder who is hitting well in Spring Training who isn’t on this list. They’re flyers, ya’ll. I briefly warmed up my Lorenzo Cain fantasy already. I don’t want to yell fire in the theater of Razzball but I’m gunning for Cain as my fifth outfielder in a lot of leagues. He’ll probably put up the numbers you’re hoping Coco Crisp gives you. 2011 Projections: 70/7/40/.275/30
60. Desmond Jennings – This tier just got foxy! Wanna get hotter under your collar? See my Desmond Jennings fantasy. Unfortunately, the Rays are going conservative (read: cheap!) and supposedly leaving Jennings in the minors. The Damon and Manny signings don’t help Desmond’s cause. But he’s my constant! Situation is obviously fluid until we’re out of Spring Training. In non-keepers, I wouldn’t draft him if he doesn’t break camp with the team. In keepers, I’d go after him. 2011 Projections: 55/3/25/.270/20 (if call up is June 1st)
