You know what would be really cool? If you could join a fantasy baseball league that was against, like, 1000 other fantasy baseball teams. But not a 1000-person league, where people are trying to figure out who the back-up third baseman is on the Single-A Astros affiliate, the Corpus Christi Amscrayers. No, this is a 12-person league designed so you compete against eleven other people in your league, then 90 other leagues of twelve. That would be cool. Oh, wait, we’ve done that. It’s called the Razzball Commenter Leagues, and they’re back, and you don’t even have to be a commenter to join it! For a limited time only, get your loved one a fantasy baseball league! That’s right, your hearts go pitter-patter or you’re dead on the inside (my condolences). Since back in June when you abandoned your fantasy baseball team because it was totally sucking and you returned to your cubbyhole of leftover Chinese food and Teddy Grahams, you’ve longed for this day. As Bob Marley sang, this is your redemption song, mon. Or womon, for our four girl readers. It’s time again to join some fantasy baseball leagues. Before you close all of your extraneous porn windows and rush to sign up, let’s explain how these fantasy baseball leagues are going to work. We’re going to have a bunch of leagues and crown a winner from each, then we’re going to crown ONE winner from all of the winners. We will be crowning the winner by taking each team’s points and multiplying it against a ‘league competitiveness factor.’ If you want to see how it worked last year, go here. So we’re going to fill up as many fantasy leagues as we can for the next seven weeks. Each fantasy baseball league will be a mixed league, 12 team, snake draft, roto, 5×5, 5 OFs, one Middle Infielder, one Corner Infielder, one Utility, 9 pitchers, 20 game eligibility, 180 Games Started max, 1000 IP minimum. Like last year, we will again be going with TWO DL SLOTS. The only things you need to change from the default settings is the 180 Games Started and the TWO DL SLOTS. Please be vigilant about having the exact same league rules and setup as everyone else. The lineup is also known as: C/1B/2B/SS/3B/CI/MI/5 OF/UTIL/9 P/3 BENCH/2 DL with 180 Games Started and 1000 IP minimum. The fantasy leagues will be played in ESPN and they will be free to join.
We’re going to start with twenty-five leagues of 12 and see how we do from there. To join a league… Sorry, again for the people in the back of the room:
TO JOIN A LEAGUE
Click the LINK in the ‘League Link’ column (see below grid) and enter the PASSWORD at ESPN. Emails are there for some leagues, but you shouldn’t need to email anyone. You can join as many leagues as you like.
TO START A LEAGUE
Please create a league in ESPN based on the league rules reference above. Step by step: Hit Create. Then Create ESPN Custom (middle option), Name League, Change to 12 Teams, Restriction Type: None, Open to All Users, Access: change to Private, create Password, leave as Roto and Snake, Make Draft Date and Time, Create. From Default settings all you have to do is change to TWO DL SLOTS and 180 Starts by pitchers. So, you go to ROSTERS and Click “Edit Roster Settings.” There, change to 2 DL Slots and 180 Starts (the counter will change to 20.0 per slot). Then SUBMIT Roster Settings. Finally, Create Your League! (Important Note: Make sure league is viewable to public but requiring a password to avoid non-Razzballers joining.) When that’s finished, click here. You will be permissioned shortly so you can add your league info to the Google Doc (the below grid cannot be edited from this page). On that Google Doc, you will need to enter your name, league link, password and please UPDATE the number of openings as your league fills up. That’s it. Oh, and don’t use your bank account password. (Here’s a video Jay made to help some noobs. Is noobs spelled with zeroes or oh’s? Hmm…) You can start as many leagues as you like.
THE BIG PRIZE
You win bragging rights. Not just any bragging rights, but the bragging rights that you beat a thousand or so other people, and you can emphasize the “or so” as emphatically as you’d like. What? Not enough? Okay, for this year’s prize we’re taking the bull out of bulloney. We are upping the ante. “Hey, Olympic high jumper, can you jump over this ante?” No, you can’t, it’s been upped too high. LOOK, it’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s our ante! “Excuse me, astronomer, is that a satellite orbiting earth?” No, son, it’s Razzball’s ante. They upped it. This year we are giving away an autographed baseball of the player who is my avatar. That’s right, an autographed baseball of… Well, you have to win to find out who the player is. Next, we’re giving an autographed baseball of the one, the only Oscar Gamble! That’s right, Rudy’s 3rd cousin, once-removed, Oscar motheffin’ Gamble! Finally, the winner will receive a brand new hoodie. Not just any hoodie, but one that tells the world, “I only care about fantasy sports. No, I don’t even care about deodorant.” A hoodie so spectacular it forced me to look up the proper spelling of spectacular just so I could describe it. A hoodie that makes men want to be your friend and women want to sleep with you. Or vice versa if you’re one of our four female readers. This hoodie is one-of-a-kind (except for the same hoodie we’ve given away in past years to the winner). A hoodie that Snoop Dogg would be proud to rock. And that man has forgotten more about hoodies than you’ll ever know! Wear it to weddings, funerals or into the shower and tell people you are the 2015 Razzball Commenter League Champion. Okay, now sign up…
Last year I sought out serious competition after cruising in 2012, and I got rocked in both leagues.
So this year I joined Tehol’s league.
@MasterofGrond: Ha! Was gonna make a joke about that, but felt bad to talk about him while he wasn’t around.
@MasterofGrond: Haha
@MasterofGrond:
He also set the draft for 8AM instead of 8PM
Ugh so espn is doing some sort of maintenance right now…
@bossmanjunior: Huh?
@Grey:
Around 3 am eastern time, whenever I tried to click a link, it came up with a default ESPN page saying they were doing maintenance. I kept trying and eventually I was able to get in.
Nice!
AWESOME,ready to get it on
@AL KOHOLIC: Nice!
@AL KOHOLIC: Just sent Original Recipe invite.
@AL KOHOLIC: Got to get it on!
Maintenance again…..PSYCH!!
@El Famous Burrito: Seems like it’s working now
Awesome! Except for the maintenance.
@Fanthead: Seems fine now
Missed my shot to face off against the Fantasy Overlord himself! Dang! Jay might have to be the suitable replacement.
@Nico: Maybe not
@Grey:
hmm you saying my idea of you playing vs us peasants
might come to fruition ?
Yeah, I might do a little contest…
@Grey:
Cool!
Any good vape flavors recently?
@Grey: Wow, teaser… I thought that’ was only Nick’s thing.
Hahahahahahahaha… Wow, nice call…
Are you going to do the first and second rd pairings article this yr? No pressure but that was the best article since the Sports Illustrated for kids piece on the Bash Brothers in May of ’88
In the meantime, better pairing
Mcutchen and Rendon
Or
Mcutchen and Donaldson
Thanks Grey!!
@Jvslyke: I’ll be doing it tomorrow
Got into Ghuls league. First timer here(giggles)
@Lightblack: Nice!
I hope Espn is fixing the pitching eligibility issues.
@Joeg414: Why?
@Grey:
Just two examples I found :
Aaron Sanchez pitched in 24 games last year all in relief and ESPN has him listed as a SP .
and
Carlos Martinez pitched in 7 games as a SP and 50 games a RP last year, and ESPN has him listed only a SP this year.
RCLs don’t use SP and RP designations…
Clicked on the link and got the ESPN “site down” message again. WTF. How incompetent can ESPN be? Is there a reason you use ESPN over like Yahoo or CBS? They blow.
@Geezus Shuttlesworth: It’s what we’re set up to use to get everyone’s stats
Grey and anyone with solid advice,
Just getting into a new, very deep dynasty. Draft starts tonight and I was fortunate to get the 1st overall pick. There’s 15 teams, snake draft, 7×7 roto, 50 man rosters including minors. Do I keep the pick and of course take Trout, or do I get as much as I can in trade since my next pick wont be until 30th overall. I’ve already been offered overall 25th and 36th for my 1st and overall 60th. If I were trading I’d try to counter that and get a little more or give a little less with the 2nd pick. How much should I expect or want? Or sit pat and enjoy Trout for the next 6 or 7 years? Thanks for the help!!
@Come on baseball…: Take Trout
I’m in! Hope to be able to provide lots of statistical info this season.
@VinWins: Nice! Love having you back in the fold Vin, I’ll have to hit you up for spreadsheet links once the season gets going. Will you be running numbers through your website again?
@MattTruss: Thanks! I will probably be posting on my website, if everything goes as planned.
@VinWins: welcome back Vin!
@J-FOH: Thank you!
@VinWins: Vin!
@Grey: Grey!
Vin! (Hearts to you my friend)
@VinWins: this is awesome news
@mauledbypandas: Thank you.
@VinWins: Welcome back!
@Wake Up: Thanks! I was anonymously in your RCL last year. Did not do well.
@VinWins: Send me your email if you want back in. Like to have you back!
ESPN rocks!
@VinWins: Ha
ESPN down for maintenance this morning.
Then comes online for about an hour. They’ve added Yasmany Tomas and Carlos Rodon. That’s it.
Now, down for maintenance again.
They had 8 days to fix things, and still screwed it up.
Is Yahoo any better? I tried it many years ago and it was by far the worse of the two.
@El Famous Burrito: Yahoo’s UI is like weaponized aids.
@Jay: dear god yes, it is terrible. ESPN has some flaws but compared to Yahoo it is amazing
@El Famous Burrito: Seems like it’s working now
Yahoo!>>>>>>>ESPN
@Vacation: Word
Can someone make a draft thats not on a weekend night??
@Tony Two Bags: create your own!
@Frank Grimes: Grimey!
@Tony Two Bags:
Big, if true league is Tuesday night March 31st at 8pmET
@Tony Two Bags: I’ve got a league that isn’t on a weekend night. April 2nd at 9pm EST.
@Tony Two Bags: Yeah, start your own league, we need more
Hey Grey- will you guys be doing the podcast again this year? Is Nick still alive? I hope you guys start it up again. It was alot of fun!
@gordon shumway: Yeah, beginning of March
@Grey: Great- looking forward to it!
Get to keep 4 players for a 12 team, 5×5 roto league with OPS and QS instead of AVG and W.
Stanton and Bautista are no-brainers. Who are the other two I should keep you think? Thanks! (The round I get to keep them in in parentheses).
Stanton (1)
MadBum (2)
Bautista (3)
Dee Gordon (9)
Gregory Polanco (10)
Gerrit Cole (13)
Tyson Ross (14)
Jorge Soler (22)
@Random Collmenter: Soler and probably Gordon.
@Random Collmenter: Soler, Gordon
Off the RCL topic, still like the Rudy draft. Pitching looks really strong. Hitting looks like it’ll need some tinkering but can come together. My Wednesday morning QBing is I would have looked at Kolten Wong in the 9th instead of Rosenthal. With Kimbrel already in the fold and an emphasis on pitching it was too high to pay the premium for high K rate closer. Then swap out the Kendrick pick for Belt or Arcia makes the offense look a bit nicer and then chase closers a bit later on.
@GhostTownSteve:
what did you think of Springer @ 3.3?
@Frank Grimes:
Appropriate. What did you think of back to back SS on the 1st/2nd rnd wheel?
@GhostTownSteve:
I didnt understand the strategy.
there was a handful of players I would have taken instead.
then billy hamilton went four picks later. really?
@Frank Grimes:
I think people who are numbers people and who use valuation systems that incorporate z-scores tend to buy the steals guys. Because those systems are based on standard deviations, they generate some intense dollar values for high steal players. Pod is going to come out and justify the pick at some point and he’ll probably show the math.
Thx. I hear you. I’m not quite as high on Wong as you are. Prefer Kendrick as a R/RBI/AVG contributor and using later MI picks to support SB (Santana, Owings). My rankings love Arcia’s power and Belt’s overall contributions…but I prefer Khris Davis to Arcia and Bruce/Khris is enough on that type of OF for me. I’d obviously take Belt over my CI (Mauer) but don’t like either of their injury risks. I got Mauer sooo late that I feel there’s definite upside if he’s healthy (.300/80/10//80).
@Rudy Gamble:
I think I see you as just a touch speed light so that’s why I might have taken Wong there. His success rate is insane (95%) or something like that. I think you can kind bank 30 with health where I think you’re hoping for double digits with Owings. I’m not insanely high on Wong like Albright is but I think he went for pretty fair value there. And again, it’s very easy to tinker after the fact. Nice job going and getting MCaCarthy nice and early. Took him way before ADP but was the right move.
A very un-Razzball draft. Heavy on pitching, top closers AND Joe Mauer. The times they are a changin’.
I admit to being such a dork that I listened to the radio coverage on XM. Boy were those two guys doofuses. They hated your team, so that’s a good sign.
I don’t have XM so didn’t hear the play-by-play. I go way back w/ Glenn Colton – played football (co-ed, touch) in NYC with him for a couple years back in the aughts. Can’t speak to their radio abilities but they have a solid track record in ‘pert leagues.
Good point on Wong’s SB success rate but not banking on anyone with his speed (6.6 Spd on FG, 105 in BHQ) for 30 SB. Whereas Santana is 8.2, 159 and Owings is 6.8, 159. Owings hasn’t run a lot to date so I think 20 SB is probably best-case but his skill set matches up well vs. Wong.
I did the math and I went 61/39 on hitting/pitching. Not my goal which was 67%. Pitching-heavy an apt description and don’t be shocked if I make a pitch for hit trade to balance it out a bit.
Thx on McCarthy. I had all the NFBC ADPs at the ready – and they served me pretty well in strategizing for the draft – but could only rely on them so much. I thought Scherzer would make it back to me for #2 and Marte for #3. Both were gone a few picks before my #2…
But while this was un-Razzball (as defined by Grey’s preferences), this draft is in line w/ my past drafts.
@Rudy Gamble: I think it’s a good strategy in this format to go with a BPA approach in the early rounds and wait for value to present itself in terms of the “scarcer positions” like you did with 2B, SS, and C. Especially like Santana and Kendrick where you got them.
Oh, and the McCarthy/Salazar 14/15 swing was very nice! Nice drafting, Rudy.
thanks! felt i reached a bit for santana but liked his R/SB potential.
@Rudy Gamble: A .270-.275 BA and 25ish SBs are nice stats to get out of a SS at that point in a draft. The Twins aren’t exactly loaded with top-of-the-order options, so he’s likely to stick up there and be an asset in runs as well. I like the pick.
@Rudy Gamble:
Shouldn’t have spoken ill of your buddy. Who’s more the doofus, the doofus broadcasting or the doofus listening?
well, if he shat on my team, feel free to call him a doofus
@Rudy Gamble:
They were all over the Harvey pick like chicken on junebug
Harvey pick is one I don’t like
Your mustache game is weak!
@Keith Hernandez: Word
Wish that Wins/AVG wasn’t used
@Banana: Sorry
Hey Grey need help with keepers:
$326 budget
7 Keepers and 1 NA
Cole $6
Cobb $11
Smardjza $18
Gio $21
Lirano $12
Stroman $1
Miller $11
Keuchel $1
Volquez $1
(NA)Lucas gilioto $1
Goldy $40
Kinsler $35
Nolan $1
Yelich $6
Heyward $17
Werth $1
Machado $11
Polanco $1
Bogaerts $6
Ramos $15
(NA)Russell $1
Vargas $1
Alcantra $1
Obviously have to keep Goldy, but who else should I stick with at those prices?
@Kyle: also Nolan $1 is Nolan Arenado
@Kyle: Arenado, Yelich, Heyward, Machado, Polanco, Boagerts. Maybe Vargas over Polanco
@Kyle: cole, stroman, nolan, yelich, polanco, vargas, and Russell for NA. This gives you a lot of dollars left to get what you want and tons of upside youth.
@J-FOH: Really no Xander? Any reason why Vargas over him? No cobb or shark?
@Kyle: purely value for the keep. I’m not a huge fan of xander and think he is over valued. I would prefer to get Owings in the draft for a dollar or go all boring and get Aybar on the cheap and use that money more wisely. Cobb is close, but at the value you are getting Cole and Stroman I would rather bid on new arms Shark should be had for roughly the same price and if you can’t get him in the draft you are still left with lots of money to get someone else. Pitching is deep.
@Kyle: Don’t keep starters unless they’re the elitist of the elite. Or your other options are that crappy…
@Cram It: at the price of cole and stroman it’s worth it. They are ace’s in the making at bargain prices.
@J-FOH: Maybe. I guess Stroman for $1 is worth the gamble. I think Bogaerts is worth the gamble moreso. Eh, keep Stroman over Yelich then. What the hell do I care? It’s not my team!
@Cram It: can you give me more than one reason to love Bogaerts? He has no speed, high K rate makes him prone to slumps, high BABIP in minors and being a Sox over rated the hype, HR/FB was really low last year and should come back up some but we are hoping for a rebound that at that cost is not worth it to me. I would rather go in all cheap with an Owings or Aybar and spend the money somewhere else. You being an auction man know that the extra 5 bucks makes a difference when it comes to layer you really like and I don’t think Xander is the guy to waste it on this year
@J-FOH: He’s played one season. He’s 22 years old. There’s no rebound issue yet. And to paraphrase the words of that scout from Moneyball: “He’s got a good body…and a pretty girlfriend.” I would pay $6 for him as my starting SS this year.
@Cram It: with a crazy high BABIP in the minors, but you keep that solid analysis coming.
@J_FOH: Minor league BABIP, ShmeeABIP.
Not disagreeing per se, but Chris Owings had a .386 BABIP in (AAA) in 2013 and a .314 w/ARI last season. He may create slightly better luck than Xander given the smidge higher speed score, but still. Cust Kayin’
@J_FOH: I’d still go with the 6 keepers you picked over Xander though.
@J_FOH: thanks Matt, I’m glad someone agrees with my keepers
@Cram It: it over inflated his projections. I still think he can hit 20 bombs I just wouldn’t count on it for 2015
@J_FOH: THIS
Not really my point, but i’ll take a flyer on Owings for a dollar over 6 for Xander. Thats my whole point. The hype machine is over inflating him and I just don’t see the value in over paying for a crap ass position. Now if were talking paying a few extra bucks for a guy like Souza or Pollock then Im all in, but not a SS when there is a lot of solid guys later and not someone I want to build a keeper team around anyway.
@J_FOH: The hype machine is causing you to rebel simply because it’s a hype machine. I’m just saying, ESPECIALLY as a keeper, $6 for an unproven guy with potential at a shitty position, however much you want to buy in or not, is worth it to me. I’ve paid $6 for plenty of failures in non-keepers.
please elborate on this potential, whats his ceiling and whats his floor?
Ceiling: 20/10/.260 hitting in middle of the order in a loaded lineup and top SS
Floor: Back in AAA cuz his defense sucks and he’s hitting .180
Truss, you start a league?
@J_FOH: Agree with Truss, with a bump in avg., and that’s just for this year. Razzball, btw, has him worth $16 this year. Also agree with the floor!
I love Bogaerts
ECFBL, back in business!
Then I opted to join FCL vs. running another RCL.
Sweet, thanks, Truss!
You got it boss
Truss thank you for honestly answering my question and agree on AAA prospects. With the OF depth and Betts and Hanley, it could happen. Oh Cram, BTW I don’t always agree with grey. I have my own brain. So why don’t you take your Bogearts comments and Cram them up your Cram hole.
@J-FOH: Oh I certainly don’t always agree with Grey either. Or Sky, or Rudy, etc. I like Bogaerts as a $6 keeper because I like Bogaerts as a $6 keeper. The end. Cram your beard up your cramhole. You probably could!
It can’t end like this. I demand a cage match!
@Sky: against the anvil? Cram don’t stand a chance but it will be fun to watch
@Cram It: sound logic there. You should go work for espn
@J-FOH: I don’t need over analytics and cockamamie advanced statistics to tell me whether or not I should like a guy.
Did you just go third person nickname reference? I’ve taken down a 300 pounder before. Granted, he was 5’4″, but that’s a big base!
HA!
If your wrestling skills match your analysis skills I can do this with both arms tied behind my back.
Off the RCL topic too:
So, with an average league, be it h2h or roto, consisting of 2 SP’s, 2 RP’s, and 4 P’s, what is your “staff” you target going into a draft, Grey? 6 SP’s, a pair of closers, and one bench middle reliever? Last year I ran out of innings in my roto league and wound up losing it in the final weeks after leading most of the year with I believe 6 starters I leaned on most of the year. Do you draft 6 SP’s, use 3 as your core, and then pick & choose starts from the rest to keep your innings in check or how do you avoid that limit heading into drafts?
@Clint: 6 SPs
Grey,
I was offered a trade today in our 6X6 15 team Roto. We can keep 6 guys plus 4 MLers if they qualify (under 50IP/150AB). I am currently keeping these guys before our $260 draft (14Hitters & 9Pitchers starting lineup)
Rizzo$25 / Altuve$16 / Puig$11 / Springer$6 / Melancon$9 / Robertson$11 & R.Castillo$4 – MLer.
I am being offered Soler $1, Pedersen $2 and Sano $1 for Melancon and Robertson.
This would give me an extra 3 keeper potential that I can plug into my starting lineup day 1. Which gives me tons of cash elsewhere to use.
Bonus question – thoughts on punting Saves? Our league tends to spend like $35 on Kimbrel & Chapman and $20 on the rest…..We have 6 pitching categories (ERA, WHIP, K, W, S, APP). I was thinking going SP strong, stream the rest and use MRs like Watson and W.Davis.
@Andy: I’d take that in a heartbeat. Draft lesser closers
@Andy: What Cram said
Hey Grey, quick keeper question. 12 team, h2h, keep up to 5.
I have Rizzo, Edwin Encarnacion, Cano, Upton, Cespedes. I also have Price and I am not keeping him.
I am trying to get Harper, would you move Cano + Price to try to get him? Are there any other players you would target to pair with my group?
Thanks as always
Sure
GREY!
Are any of the baseball or hockey posters (You, smokey, etc) playing in these leagues?
If so which ones? I would love to jump into one with one of them.
Thanks.
I’m sure Smokey will start a league
Need some saves since I lost doolittle. 9 P slots in 15 team 5×5 dynasty
Have Carrasco, Iwakuma, Lynn, Kennedy, Quintana, Lackey, Lee, Burnett, Roark.
Koji, Qualls is all I have now for saves.
Can trade Roark and a pick for Benoit. I know he is old but competing now. Cool to do?
Thank you
@MB: Sure, Roark’s not even in the starting rotation. No loss there.
Sounds fine
I am competing in a 15 team 5×5 cbs dynasty league, daily moves. 50 guys (30 mlb, 20 milb).
Lost doolittle and only have greg holland, boxberger, broxton, neshek and wade davis for possible saves.
Is David Wright for Chase Headley and Tyler Clippard OR David Wright and Tillman for storen and headley a move you guys would do?
Have Kris Bryant and Semien as my other 3B elig guys and can platoon headley to get more out of him.
Thanks in advance
Nope
@Grey: How about wright for storen and headley? Thanks
Get a cheaper closer
@Grey: First of all, Doolittle may not miss much time at all. Second of all, even without Doolittle, you have plenty of saves options already and hardly need to make a panic trade.
Need help with my 11 man auction draft keeper league. I need to know which keepers you think would be best. I can keep up to 10 guys from the previous years team. $260 is available for both the keepers and the auction draft. If you don’t use your budget you lose it. Lastly, the “keeper” value is the average of the last 2 years, 2014 and 2015 from ESPN.
Positions are as followed:
C: Lucroy ($12)
1b: NA
2B: Kolten Wong ($6)
3B: Adrian Beltre ($28)
SS: Hanley Ram. ($25)
OF: Cespedes ($17)
OF: Matt Kemp ($14)
OF: Starling Marte ($18)
UTIL: Kole Calhoun ($8)
UTIL: David Ortiz ($17)
Bench: Xander ($3)
Bench: Molina
Bench: Torii Hunter
P: Zach Britton
P: Jake Arrieta ($5)
SP: Sonny Gray ($9)
SP: Francisco Liriano ($4)
SP: Clayton Kershaw ($32)
SP: Tyson Ross ($6)
RP: Greg Holland
RP: David Robertson
Bench: Michael Wacha ($8)
Bench: Marcus Stroman ($3)
Bench: Matt Garza
Bench: Jonathon Niese
Bench: Drew Hutchison
Bench: Clay Buchholz
Bench: Jose Fernandez ($11)
2B: Kolten Wong ($6)
3B: Adrian Beltre ($28)
SS: Hanley Ram. ($25)
OF: Cespedes ($17)
OF: Matt Kemp ($14)
OF: Starling Marte ($18)
UTIL: Kole Calhoun ($8)
UTIL: David Ortiz ($17)
Bench: Xander ($3)
Kershaw
Actually, skip Hanley and do instead Arrieta
@Grey:
Can you explain why so much hitting and so little of pitching? Tyson Ross is cheap and you have him ranked above Arrieta.
@Grey:
One other thing. If I could pull the
Gomez/Rendon
for
Beltre/Kemp/Wacha or Gray
That would be a solid trade for me, yes?
“Be a player, be a commissioner, be part of the magic”
This came directly from Michael Chiklis’ headstone…
He died right?
He’s dead?
@Grey: As Bob Costas once famously said, “Hey, you mind reaching those Lucky Charms for me…way up there… “
Haha… Bob Costas still has remnants from a high school wedgie… You commishing a league?
@Grey: Was going to but I still haven’t received my autographed photo???
And I started watching the video and then I fell asleep, restarted it and fell asleep again, now I’m watching a Bob Ross marathon…
The happy little clouds demand it of you.
@Grey: Just kidding…I’m working on it!
Thanks, WU!
@Grey:
@Grey:
BUT I DO WANT THE PHOTO STILL!!!
*strokes out*
Haha
REGULAR COMMENTERS!
THIS IS YOUR CALL TO ARMS AND YOUR RAZZDOODIE!
SHOW OFF YOUR LOVE FOR ALL THINGS RAZZ AND START AN RCL
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS, INVITE YOUR MOM, INVITE YOUR GIRLFRIEND, INVITE YOUR DOG!
YES IM SHOUTING, THIS ISN’T A CAPPS STUCK ISSUE, DO IT NOW OR I’LL HUNT YOU DOWN AND CUT YOU.
* Grey will send you an autographed photo if you start a league*
*Signed in mustache grease.
@Grey: FROM THE MAN HIMSELF!
and where all your new regulars today, they disappear on the one day you need them to step up and earn their stripes. C’mon guys.
Yeah, not sure
@Grey: as the unofficial sergeant in arms at razzball I’m going to have to take them out to the woodshed if they don’t show and don’t start leagues. Ok, now I’m getting all worked up and might have a mini stroke…ah it feels like baseball
Go have a mini stroke shouting at all the people that need to be shouted at!
@Grey: as long as we get more RCL’s then I don’t mind the mini stroke
Billy Squier says, You better be Strokin
@Grey: a non hip hop non contemporary musical reference? I’m linking this to my favorites ….hey wait is this Coug typing for Grey again because tell him I want my copy all cougars riding mustaches volume 37 back.
Ha, I’m not completely sheltered… Only partially
@Grey: Billy was big in Jersey wasn’t he?
Strokin and the Jersey Shore are synonymous
@Grey: before the fist pump you had the stroke
Ha, totally… They’re still strokin, I’m sure
@Grey: in their IROC’s
Of course!
@J_FOH: I can’t start one, you know I only have 9 friends
@nick the dick: doesnt matter, we have tons of anonymous people that just want to play. I ran 4 last year
@J_FOH: Yeah I know. I thought once you sign up for one that’s it
@nick the dick: nope, you can play as many as you want. You can even host your league in one and just not tell them its for razzball. Ive seen people do that, I was in three before I even took aMike Leake this morning
@J_FOH: well thats a horse of a different color
C’mon, Nick, start up a league!
@Grey: maybe we should of put in the post that you can play in as many as you like.
There’s people with more than one league they’re commissioning in the spreadsheet… Not a huge leap of faith… I will add though.
@Grey: how many times do you say see rankings everyday.
7 dozen times…
@Grey:
Cougs: “Hey Grey what do you want to have for dinner”
Grey: ” see rankings”
HA!
Added
@Grey: will do G!
Thanks, Nick T.D.!
better keeper in dynasty league – bruce or fielder?
pick 3 of these in dynasty league – gattis, harvey, stroman, chris carter
Neither? Fielder…. Harvey, Stroman, Gattis
@Grey: ha. already keeping Goldie, Tulo, Stras, Kemp, Longo, Springer. Other options are teheran or gray. Will try and package fielder and bruce for an upgrade.
Sounds good!
Keep league question …
5×5 Roto … 10-team keeper league … keep 5 players (no year/time restrictions).
Which 5 would you keep as keepers?
Pujols, Reyes, H. Ramirez, Rizzo, J. Bautista, C. Dickerson, Strasburg, Bumgarner, Kluber,
T. Frazier, Heyward, Avisail Garcia
Hanley, Rizzo, Dickerson, Strasburg, Frazier
I could see going Bautista instead of Frazier
@Grey:
Thanks for the feedback.
How do you usually determine which players to keep in 5 or 6 player keeper league? Do you use a certain criteria to determine who to keep?
I am in a few keeper and dynasty leagues and will be faced with this decision 5 or 6 times this season.
Answered below…Join a league!
@Grey:
LOL I’m usually already in a RCL league by this time. I’ve been in leagues the past few years. I will join 1 or 2 soon. :)
2!
in akeeper you like Adam jones or Gomez more? both are the same age. I’m leaning Jones…
Did you join a league?
@Grey:
Thanks for the feedback.
How do you usually determine which players to keep in 5 or 6 player keeper league? Do you use a certain criteria to determine who to keep?
I am in a few keeper and dynasty leagues and will be faced with this decision 5 or 6 times this season.
I usually go for the best guys for this year… Join a league!
@Grey: as soon as iget home tonight…at work can only read on potty breaks!
Go take another poop! I’d go Gomez
@Grey: yessir!! I did have Five Guys today…
@Jay: I’m in!!!
Nice!
Haha… I’m jealous!
Hi Gray — quick question on your projection methodology. The below comparison is meant for illustrative purpopses (though the numbers are from your projections).
Alex Gordon and Avisail Garcia projected for nearly the same stat lines. Gordon gets a couple extra HRs, Garcia a few extra SBs. EXCEPT! Garcia has 17 more HRs. despite that edge, Gordon is given a $14 value while Garcia gets $12. Is that based on a sort of “safety premium”?
$ AB R HR RBI SB AVG
Alex Gordon KC OF OF 14 538 84 20 70 10 0.262
Avisail Garcia CHA OF OF 12 541 83 18 87 14 0.261
I see that they’re really close to each other on your OF rankings, so I’m picking nits a little bit, but based on this it looks like the assignment of dollar values isn’t based on a straight math formula, but includes an element Razz-gut intuition. is that fair?
There’s things going on with the rankings besides just stats… That’s why I say to read the blurbs in the top 20 breakdowns… Join a league!
@Grey: Don’t worry — I read (nearly) every rambling word of your tomes. I was just trying to dive into the methodology of assigning dollar values.
Basically, the dollar values are what you’d pay for the guy, not necessarily what your projection would value him at from a pure math perspective? the guys with a wider range of outcomes lose some value and the guys with a higher certainty/consistency get a bit of a boost?
OK, I will stop. I wish you used Yahoo for the RCLs (only because that’s what my other leagues are on, so it’s convenient, not that I think Yahoo is actually better). I will get in on one, nonetheless.
Yeah, guys with a wider range of outcomes could get a boost for that if their wider range is huge upside… Injury concerns, age, upside, downside, safety… It all plays into dollar and projections….
The RCL signups are so well organised now. I almost miss the cluster****s of yesteryear.
Haha… Member what a shizzshow it was with people saying in the comments I have a league?
@Grey: Yeah, or those people who would just reply “I’m in!” or “put me down for one!”
And despite it clearly stating that Original Recipe was invite-only I’d get about 100 emails on sign-up day.
Good times!
Haha… Totally… Or the ones that are like I started a league…with 200 games started. Email me!
YOOOOOO…are all passwords the same??
Nah, they’re in the spreadsheet in the post…
@Grey: My bad…didnt notice it
No worries
@JeF With 1 F: Im going to start one now just checking on the password homeboy
Excellent! Thanks!
@Grey: Join it…..DO IT
Yes, DO IT!
@JeF With 1 F: start two
@J-FOH: OK
@J-FOH: One done..ill do the other tomorrow
@J-FOH: I tried to join yours but it keeps saying incorrect password
@JeF With 1 F: I think there is an issue with ESPN right now. I kept getting the same error.
They’re having problems again?
@JeF With 1 F: thats because ESPN doesn’t want you playing with me…
@J-FOH: ha…probably right
@Jef with 1 f: I don’t know why it’s not working.
@J-FOH: who knows man….it’s ESPN…so there’s that
If you need saves and Bucholz is your SP 7, you okay to trade bucholz for casilla, mejia, feliz, reed or clippard (I own doolittle)?
Sure
Dynasty keep for ever league…
Crazy to trade Goldy for Freeman and Cargo?
Yes
@Grey: Keep Goldy forever!
Thanks Grey, I’ll sign up.
Quick question about the cdm cap leagues, what is your opinion (anyone can chime in on this!) Every year I put together this amazing team on paper according to the cap and then I say to myself ok self I’m going to make sure to watch the 2 start pitcher thing and hot streaks and everything else and I never end up joining the league. I am seriously considering it this yr once again. Has anyone around here ever won a cdm league and is it trustworthy is my big question. For 450.00 I need to know I have a shot at winning. I’m already in two other leagues and 1 is 400.00 buyin.
Thanks for any help.
Too rich for my blood… I don’t play in huge buy-in leagues… Maybe someone else can chime in…
Thanks Grey the only way i think I will ever do it in the future is if I find someone to split it with me. Seems like the best bet, just can never find anyone to split it.
Yeah, I did one last year, but I didn’t like it since there were no waivers… Join a league here, they’re free!
Note to Everyone. ESPN will not let you delete a custom league once you start the process so if you make an error they won’t let you delete it. I called and they told me in a very nice British accent no. (I forgot to make one publicly viewable last night really late)
Also please check the draft times you are signing up for. Some of the west coast commissioners will have later drafts during the week and no one likes an auto drafter. So please make sure you look at the draft time on the spread sheet when you sign up. This became a problem last year with people wanting to change the draft time after joining a league.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program
@J-FOH:
You might want to talk to that bozo T-hole. he can’t even set the password on his league correctly.
@Kid A: can you try and get in mine and then drop out if it let’s you in?
@J-FOH:
Dysfunctional.
And your password isn’t working either.
hey Kid, is that you in my 3/30 RCL?
@Mike:
Yessir. I’m ready to boogie – Are you?
Nice! hells yeah
@Mike: Be forewarned: I’ll terrorize you – if only for a few months.
haha…looking forward to it
@Kid A: try to capitalize the S
You don’t know your own password?
@Grey: I did it with one eye open last night and I thought I had it right. Funny thing is I barely smoke anymore…maybe I need to go back to smoking a lot of weed. I’ve tried countless of ways and can’t remember what I did wrong. Thats what I get for making fun of overly hairy sky in my password.
If you go to your own league page, the password is there
@Grey: yeah its not there, i have to do it over. I even logged in as someone else and it didn’t work in bout a 100 different combinations of skysquatch. I blame it on Obama
@J-FOH: “Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful”
@J-FOH: I tried forty times to join that one. How were there only 10 spots open if the password was wrong? Were you both teams?
JFOH should start another one
@J-FOH: Don’t kill me!!! I was only kidding.
Only you can see it
Go to message board page, click Invite Owners and the password is on the bottom left
@Grey: It’s definitely not Jack Full Of Hi-Level Thinking.
That’s for sure
@J-FOH:
Well now it looks like you left the league.
What are you up to Jackson?
@Kid A: I just re-did it. Multi tasking not so great right now but we can talk about it in the FCL, prefer not to in here
@J-FOH: FCL message board is popping off again like last season. I think we had +/- 10 thousand comments in there last year. Bunch of goddamn madmen.
@Kid A: MattTruss223 is going to blow that thing up.
@Kid A: This thread is fun. Can we keep it going for a bit longer?
@SteveNZ: I’m highly concerned he is going to slam that chin-beard in a car door as someone drives off.
@Grey: @Kid A: Done, what a mess.
Close its a medley of yakety sax, sad trombone, born under a bad sign and institutionalized. I for each personality playing all at once
@J_FOH: Still not working.
I just hit link and someone joined, so I guess you’re just being an ass at this point…scratch that you are always an ass, now you’re just being a bigger you
@J_FOH:
First you ask for my help, then you start calling names. You fickle bastard.
And the password still isn’t working.
I just checked and it works
@Kid A: I have to say, the beard is an impressive sight when you see it in the flesh.
Now you have a password and no link
@Grey: it won’t update at home. Heading back to office right now because Google Chrome crashed on my computer at home and Google docs won’t let me update link.
Just put it here and I’ll update the Google doc.
@J-FOH:
This just keeps getting better and better.
Does Yakety Sax queue up every time you leave the house?
Ha!
@J-FOH: You had to go back to the office because your browser crashed?
Hey Magellan, be careful you don’t fall off the edge of the earth and get eaten by dragons on your way back.
Google Chrome hasn’t worked for almost 9 months on my laptop. I haven’t got it fixed yet because I haven’t needed it, I can views docs, just can’t add certain things to them, doesn’t matter, my office is literally two minutes from my house
@J-FOH: wow, you can just watch that Jaywrong how to video, you appear to the be the exact person(s) he made it for.
Nice update on your Twitter handle
@Grey:
I snoop you – you don’t snoop me!
Sorry, I conflated our snooping.
Is there a group that is entering through NFBC this season ???
seems like a Rudy and some played that format last year
I doubt I do it this year, you can ask Rudy in his post tomorrow…
yes, in process of setting this up
@Rudy Gamble: how much is it?
$150/team
sign me up !!!
I have a draft set for 6:30 AM ET March 14 for those with a different schedule or different continent.
Always thinking, you!
@VinWins: Yes, but what year???
Haha… Sorry, snooping again.
@Grey: Always strutting around like you own the joint, Albright…
@Kid A: Every year!
Whatever happened to the rapper/celebrity interview series Jack was supposedly working on?
So much potential there.
Is it pipelined or stillborn?
Stillborn, I’m guessing… Let’s work on a password and link first.
@Grey:
The unbearable lightness of being Jackson.
A damn shame though – so many great angles to play with the interview series.
Especially the ‘fawning over their twenty years ago self’ angle
@Grey: hahaha!
@Kid A: still working on it, Cappozi going down kind of stalled it. I have made a couple connects I’ve fostered and working my way in. Really I need Cappozi up and running so I’m not in a situation where I got someone and no show for them to go on. Thats the hold up.
That’s no hold up, there will be a podcast starting in March… Old school style… Just jabbering…
@Grey: how is that not a hold up? when you have no show to put them on and not knowing what is going on with host, I can’t sell something thats not even there, what do you think this is hollywood?
@J_FOH:
What do you need Capozzi for, to go all bug-eyed and scare the bejesus out of them?
The radio on the tv on the internet is back on the radio.
Stop making excuses and just do it!
@Kid A: when did this happen, I haven’t got no memos saying we went back to podcast..
@J_FOH:
“That’s no hold up, there will be a podcast starting in March… Old school style… Just jabbering…”
@Kid A: oh so the one I got 9 minutes ago, yeah that changes things
@J_FOH: Don’t shoot the messenger, my spherical friend.
@Kid A: I prefer oval
@J_FOH: Being inside the belly of the beast, you should know these things. Come on, dude.
@Kid A: I will not slander my boss publicly in regards to how information is sent out
@J_FOH:
Vape Signal?
@Kid A: vape pigeons
he should make it the password from Spaceballs…12345
Hey that’s my luggage!
Getting divorced is a pain in the ass
Usually… But can lead to getting a new piece of ass
@Grey: true…you always know how to pick me up when I’m down
I’m the wind beneath your wings… Are you really getting a divorce?
@Grey: yes
Crap, really sorry to hear that… I hope she didn’t leave you for Duda because that kind of conflict of interest just wouldn’t be right…
@Jef with 1 f: so you really were thrown out living in the auto last week or 2? yikes.
@Grey: hasn’t been good for a while…she’s ridiculously uptight and I’m really laid back…just butting heads on everything
I figured the sleeping in the truck wasn’t a good sign… Sorry, man, that sucks…
@Grey: I wasn’t really sleeping in the truck lol…the couch though. ..thanks bro…it’s all good it will work out for the best
Definitely…
@Jef with 1 f: nevermind, the answer was right below.
@Grey: now join my league you S.O.B
@Jef with 1 f: Haven’t you learned yet that it doesn’t work like that?
@Kid A: I’ll never learn
@Kid A: @Grey: guilt-free piece of ass
@Happy Vegans: you sign up for RCL’s yet, my league is up and fixed and its a west coast friendly draft time.
@J-FOH: Cool… do it tonight. Just about ready to get locked in for the night with ‘Alien’. Greatest effing haunted house movie ever!!
@Happy Vegans: it takes 30 seconds, go sign up.
@J-FOH: I didn’t even check your draft time…when is it
@Jef with 1 f: 11:30 eastern on a Wed
@J-FOH: that would be tough for me
@Jef with 1 f: maybe it just wasn’t meant to be
@Jef with 1 f: wipes tear for eye
Haha
@Jef with 1 f: that tear probably froze
@J-FOH: Done… and done.
@Happy Vegans: WESTSIDE!
@J-FOH: HA!
A. Gomez or Upton in a keeper?
B. Puig/sale or rendon/stras?
@jay: gomez, rendon stras
@J-FOH: sweet.
Not sure why the google spreadsheet is doing this, but our league is put at the bottom of the ‘non-full’ leagues after all the vacant leagues, down with the full ones. There are five or so down there, hard to see them unless you scroll (and we still need a few more people).
Not sure why, but it’s fixed now…
Hey Grey, I would love your advice please!…My league (10 team HTH 5×5 category) is changing its roster format from 10 hitters, 10 pitchers, & 7 bench slots to 13 hitters, 9 pitchers, & 3 bench slots. So, are pitchers more valuable now since I can only roster a maximum of 12 compared to years past when I rostered 16?…so each one will account for a greater % of my 5 pitching stats. On the flip side, there will be far fewer pitchers drafted, hence, more quality pitchers available on the waiver wire.
Similarly, are hitters less valuable now since they only make up 1/13 of my offensive stats compared to 1/10? However, there will be fewer quality hitters available on the waiver wire with 30 more hitters drafted than past seasons, which obviously makes hitters more valuable. I’m confused on how to analyze this!
I always prioritize hitting in the first 10 rounds or so but wanted to know how hitters’ and pitchers’ values change with our roster changes. Thanks as always for your expertise!
I’ve been thinking about converting a league from standard snake-draft to an auction. What I’ve found in a quick online search is that standard auction budget for 23 player teams is $260. Would any of you experienced auction players suggest a higher budget for a slightly larger roster of 25, or would you just keep it at $260? Thanks for any advice here.
@Hal Incandenza: Also, would number of teams be a factor on the budget? I’m hoping to get back to 14 but we’re pitcher heavy in the depth as we use Holds (6×6, also w/OPS).
Any brave Razzers should check out League 36 for a chance to compete with the 2014 overall champ (who also had the 10th best team last year.)
@VinWins: OK, not league 36 anymore. It is the one started by Nate T.
@VinWins: wouldn’t the overall champ (by definition) have to have been the best, not 10th best team in 2014?
@goodfold2: I’m pretty sure he had #1 and #10
I’m looking for Rob ‘Royce’ who my friend Nick and I met at Razzball’s football draft in San Diego. Want to see if you want to join our San Diego league.
Pat Frost
[email protected]
Nick Melucci
[email protected]
Probably should’ve just used grinder…
I keed
@Pat: I’ve got his email address – I forwarded your comment on to him.
Oh Steve’s got you… Thanks, Steve!
@SteveNZ: Thanks, Steve!
@Grey: @royce!: I’m here for you guys. I’d rather be there, but here with internet access will have to do.
@royce!: Got’s Rob’s email. @SteveNZ: Thanks Everyone. Got Rob’s email. Razzball community comes through!
Pat ping me tomorrow on my Friday post to remind me and I’ll set you up with the info
@Pat: Replied via email
RCL Champions League is seeking members
email me at [email protected] if you won an RCL last year and would like to compete against other league winners!
Just curious, why no auction love in the RCLs?
All leagues need to be the same so it’s fair for everyone competing in different leagues and we do snake
Do you know if it is possible to co-own a team in these leagues? My buddy and I would like to co-manage one if that’s available.
I think that’s possible
@Raftman: Possible for sure.
@Raftman: My wife and I co-managed a league last season. It is most certainly possible.
Awesome. should I just join any league and try? As long the settings allow for two managers, it should work, right?
@r aftman: Yeah – just join any league and once you’re signed up as a manager, you can invite someone else to be your co-manager.
@SteveNZ: Yeah, I don’t think that is correct. I think that’s a feature only in League Manager leagues, not the custom leagues most RCLs are.
@VinWins: Ah, you are probably right. I know the co-manager thing has been done in Original Recipe but I have always set up a League Manager leagues for that one…
@SteveNZ: thanks guys. Yeah, that’s the issue we ran into last year. I guess we’ll just pass.
Too many comments to scroll through to find what I’m looking an answer for.
Is there a place on the site that is appropriate to find a keeper/dynasty league that isn’t associated with the commenter leagues? I apologize if I’m cluttering up the wrong thread, but didn’t know where else to ask. Thanks.
Ask in Mike’s post today
@Zico: put your handle in your email
@Zico: Looks like I have great timing for inquiring on such a thing. I’m torn between which league to join. Thanks guys, I’ll sign up for one once I figure out which I prefer.
The password for Tehol’s “The Golden House of Beddict” league (Sunday March 15 draft) isn’t working for me. 12% chance of user error, but i’ve copy-and-pasted it and tried spelling it a few different ways with no luck.
I’ll ping him.
looking to join my first RCL this year. fresh off a victory following all your advice – time to see how i fare against one of the ‘perts here.
Just curious how the 180 GS maximum plays in? is it easy to creep up on that number too early in the season? or is it lofty enough that you can still stream with regularity?