I’m a pretty harsh critic of Razzball, but occasionally we’ll post things that even I feel are extremely helpful. Usually these are done by other people for our site. One of those things was the Fantasy Baseball War Room. Another helpful thingie-ma-whosie is the 2011 fantasy baseball tiers, brought to you by regular commenter and all-around solid F.O.R., VinWins. This fantasy baseball tier sheet is like the Cliff Notes version of the 2011 fantasy baseball rankings. The tiers give you where I ranked players and the tier names, which should give you a rough idea of what I’m thinking when you don’t have much time.
If you’re in a tight squeeze in a draft and you don’t have time to look at a dozen different posts or read everything I wrote about a player, you just look at the fantasy baseball tiers and you know quickly know where a guy ranks and a snapshot of what I’m thinking. For instance, you see Dan Uggla sitting there in your draft. You quickly scan the fantasy baseball tiers and see I have him below Pedroia and above Weeks. I also say, “Your last chance for a legit 2nd baseman.” So you can quickly infer I’m saying if you don’t get Uggla in this tier, you’re no longer on solid ground. To solidify that, the next tier is called, “Do you feel lucky? Well do you, punk?” So obviously there is risk involved with those guys. If you fail to get Uggla, you can quickly see another tier below is called, “I’m on board with these guys.” So you can quickly surmise, I like those guys too and that’s the order. Anyway, you get the gist.
Also, VinWins went the extra mile and put my top 300 for 2011 fantasy baseball into a spreadsheet. Now thank VinWins.
Finally, there’s the Fantasy Baseball Team Name Generator. I got the Scranton Crackers, which sounds like a gang that would wear a lot of flannel.
I’m trying to find a way to print the tiers successfully. I copied all of the cells and tried to paste in excel with the same format and that didnt work. I also right clicked on the document and went to print preview and the tiers did not show up. I see its apart of google docs, which means the commenter who made the tiers can make it accessible for all the other commenters. This (i hope) will help to print the tiers successfully. Any chance we could work this out?
@Trevor4G: Can’t have everyone accessing the Google doc unless VinWins makes it so no one else can alter it. Have to wait to hear from him.
@Trevor4G: @Grey: haha i was going to ask the same thing, i love that tier sheet but cant figure out how to print it and get all the info.
I would like to thank VinWins for his hard work. This will definitely help in my upcoming drafts.
Oh, and I’d LOVE a printable version, as well.
@Grey
I live in Scranton… and there is no flannel to speak of. We do have a AAA affiliate and a television mockumentary, however.
I asked this a few posts back, but wanted your opinion grey.
Just found out i have the #1 pick in my 15 team 7×7 league. the 2 xtra offensive cats are OBP and TB+BB. Im def taking Pujols 1st overall, but am struggling with my next 2 pick at 30 and 31. Im leaning towards taking Dunn in one of these spots as im sure he will be there and this scoring format suits him big time imo. only issue is i already have a 1B in Pujols and Dunn can only go in my utility slot? Is it a bad idea to walk out of round 3 with 2 firstbaseman, not picking again until 60/61?
@Tony: @Wilsonian: I’m sure VinWins will check in at some point.
@Pops: No flannel in Scranton? You’re not hanging out in the right lesbian bars.
@quimmy: Yes, it’s a bad idea.
Grey, the more I prepare for drafts and talk to friends about players, I can’t find anyone anywhere as high as you are on Andrus. His second half last year wasn’t good (.247/10RBI/9SB/31R), and with no power, he’s really a 2 category contributor. I know he should post plenty of runs, but is there a difference of 10+ rounds between him and Aybar, Alcides Escobar, or even undrafted Cliff Pennington? All of them can give 30 steals and some runs, while your Andrus projections are as optimistic as I’ve seen at 45 SB, where he’s averaged 32 in the majors…
I really only post this because I want to believe again. Help me Grey
this worked for me…
Right click – select all – copy – paste on Excel.
that just saved me 48 hours…sweet.
@grey: grassy a$$
Thank you VinWins (and Grey of course).
This will make editing the Yahoo pre-ranks somewhat less tedious.
SHOCKING NEWS! Rich Harden is injured. I don’t know what to trust in this world.
Thanks, VinWins!!!
This is fantastic. Coolest tiers I’ve ever seen.
@Josh: He’s crazy young and his minor league numbers tell me he will get a few homers this year and 40 steals. Arlington and the Rangers are like the Rockies and Coors in the AL. Put a decent OBP with speed at the top of that lineup and I want him. I am admitedly higher than most on Andrus. But I’m willing to take that gamble on a young shortstop with legs.
@quimmy: De nada.
@DonSlaughtOnslaught: No problem.
@DonSlaughtOnslaught: That’s just crazy.
Here is the link to the tiers google doc where I believe you can view but not edit:
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0An3I_TiueBsydHo3YXZvU0JTVWtVYXhwTnBSZmV6Nmc&hl=en&authkey=CKDyzZQL
There are various options for downloading, including Excel. Hopefully you can find an acceptable option for printing. If you just click ‘Print’ under ‘File,’ it will be in PDF form.
Grey do you use Mock Draft Central’s ADP page at all? I think I remember you breaking down the biggest draft “values” based on your rankings compared to Mock Draft’s ADP’s… Have you done that or am I smoking something?
****
Something to follow:
https://razzball.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=14288
@DonCoburleone: Yeah, I’ll do that post in the near future.
@Grey: Two questions:
1. If Feliz is moved to the rotation, where would you rank him in the starters?
2. If he is moved, what reliever takes over at closer now that Frank Frank is gone?
@Wilsonian: @DonSlaughtOnslaught: @Ned Shakeshaft: @Tony: You’re welcome. Hope it proves a useful tool.
@GopherDay: He’d be just in the top 40. Ugando or Lowe.
I have been told I can email the tiers as an Excel attachment, if people want to send me their email.
[email protected]
Shoot, I’d love a chance at Feliz, but I have a TEX fan in my league. When this news hits him, there’s a good chance he dislocates his shoulder from the reach he’ll do.
@Eddy: has he actually been moved to the rotation? I’ve heard rumors of this since last November, but nothing said if he actually will be moved or not.
@VinWins: I really do appreciate the work commenters like you do on this site. Unfortunately, I don’t think it’ll be too much help to me. Too many of my leaguemates in my 3 leagues come to this site. That’s the problem with going out drinking and talking about fantasy baseball. You spill the beans about your secret.
@Wilsonian: Are you secretly Miguel Cabrera?
Wow…Jeff Nelson just said on MLB.com that J.A. Happ could win 20 games.
@Grey: ha…nope, unfortunately (or should that be fortunately?)…but with Jeff Nelson’s comments about Happ, I’m thinking he might be chugging Scotch in between takes.
@Wilsonian: In related news, Jeff Nelson just signed on to be Happ’s agent.
Just did a 12-team ESPN mock draft. I tried the back-to-back-to-back 1B approach with the first pick to see how it ended up. Admittedly, Howard and Fielder wouldn’t fall to me there in RCLs, but I can see it happening in some of my other less competitive leagues.
(1) Albert Pujols 1B
(24) Ryan Howard CI
(25) Prince Fielder UTIL
(48) Ian Kinsler 2B
(49) Hunter Pence OF
(72) Elvis Andrus SS
(73) Francisco Liriano SP
(96) Casey McGehee 3B
(97) Colby Rasmus OF
(120) Brett Anderson SP
(121) Carlos Quentin OF
(144) Daniel Hudson SP
(145) John Axford RP
(168) Travis Snider OF
(169) Matt Wieters C
(192) Andres Torres OF
(193) Edinson Volquez SP
(216) Leo Nunez RP
(217) Javier Vazquez SP
(240) Edwin Jackson SP
(241) Joel Hanrahan RP
(264) Danny Espinosa MI
(265) Brandon League RP
(288) Bud Norris SP
(289) Mike Minor SP
Based on your projections, I added up all the stats and then compared them to the post about what you need the stat categories to win your league.
My hitting was above-average in R, really solid in HR and RBIs, slightly above average in AVG, and below average in SB.
Pitching was really solid in W and K, and a little below average in ERA, WHIP, and Saves (waiver wire can fix saves pretty easily).
Do you this team, as is, has potential to win. I’m seriously considering picking Pujols-Howard-Fielder with a #1 overall pick. Talk me out of it if I shouldn’t.
happy friday, grey- I wanted to share my 2011 team name with you. feel sorry for my leaguemates, cause they’re about to feel the wrath of Ghay Buttholz!
@Wilsonian:
Oregon Nut Cups, a Razzball commenter, posted this in the forums:
http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=6135477
It looks like they may actually go through with it. He’s averaging around the 7th-8th round in 12-team leagues, I don’t think he can go any higher.
Warning: Unrelated comment to fantasy baseball.
So I’m pretty stoked to be an FIU student right now. Watching the FIU opener right now, hoping Wittels extends his streak to 57 games. He’s scheduled to hit 3rd next inning, I’ll fill you guys in.
@Grey
In the 4th round of a 12 team H2H draft, would you go CC, Lester or Kershaw?
I understand how your rankings have them, but they all have drastic differences. Kershaw is in an extreme pitcher’s park and has a really good shot of winning the CY, however he’s lacking W. Lester can also win the CY, but he faces the Yankees every so often, and Boston isn’t a great park. And CC, though slightly trending downward, barring any injuries, can net me at least 15 W with good Ks and command.
I don’t know what to do (sad emoticon)
Darn, fielder’s choice.
@Hennessey: If you can end up with that team, then do it. But you could pick two 1st basemen then get to the 15th round and realize you have nothing else and need to trade one of your first baseman.
@byrone: Thanks, you too!
@Eddy: I’d be pretty stoked just to be in Florida. Don’t ever say someone is lacking Ws. Kershaw could win 20 this year without changing anything.
@Grey:
C’mon, LA can’t be bad. Half of the people here want to move to Cali as it is. I’m fine in Miami, though. Not sure why everyone is dying to move out.
And I was implying the chance for W. Yanks and BoSox will create a lot more W opportunities for C.C and Lester than the Dodgers will for Kershaw.
But I’m assuming you’re leaning Kershaw here?
Grey,
who has an MLB impact first: Hosmer or Chisenhall?
higher ceiling: Schepprrs or Schlereth?
Wittels popped out in foul territory. Damn it!
I think he’s 8 for 8 in opportunities where he was down to his last AB to extend the streak though, so there’s still hope!
@tom thumb: Get both pitchers as well as Scherzer and call your team Oh Schit.
But seriously, I’d say Chisenhall FIRST impact (though Hosmer will be better) and Scheppers ceiling over Schlereth. I’m always crossing my fingers that they throw Scheppers and Ogando into the 9th and 8th innings and make Feliz a SP, but either way I think Scheppers is better on K-rate alone.
@Eddy: Nah, it’s not bad. I like Lester and Kershaw. I worry about CC.
@tom thumb: Agree with Calogero.
***Check out the RCL trophy that will go to the winner****
https://razzball.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/razzball-trophy.jpg
Ha! That stache on the trophy is great!
@Grey: I hope that’s your ‘stache hair.
@Calogero: @Grey: I figured as much. I am just trying to balance drafting guys that might help this year (Schlereth and Chisenhall) to guys with high ceilings. I love love love Hosmer and am elated that he is constantly over-looked for Freeman just because of ETA. As for Chisenhall, I actually think he can be a solid MLB 3B. His skill set seems very Zimmerman-esque and I hope he gets called up soon.
Sucks for Schlereth and Scheppers because I think both could close on other teams. I also keep hearing rumblings about Scheppers starting, but that experiment didn’t go so well last year…
@VinWins: Cool, right?
@Steve: I hope so too.
@Grey: Flaming balls are the foundation of any quality trophy!
Seriously though, looks awesome.
@Grey: grey thanks for posting a link LOL
I just hope the Stache’ lives up to you name!
@VinWins: you know it…. the stache was grey’s one request.
Next year will be bigger and better…. I’m loving the direction this site is going, can we buy stock? I feel like forrest gump and lt dan buying apple in the early days?
Great site man, glad i can donate something to it……
@royce!: thats what she said…
Big giant huge “Thank you!” to VinWins for this excellent draft assist.
One unfathomably gargantuan bow-down and prayer to Grey his moustachio’d holiness for post after post of solid gold f-baseballing holy grail.
Just noticed an early error when looking at the tiers. Adrian Gonzalez (11) and Carl Crawford (18) were swapped, compared to where they are in Grey’s rankings.
How come the link for the Fantasy Baseball Tiers no longer works?