Deep Impact: Dealing With Advanced Cats, Better Meow Than Later

February 9, 2017 | Deep Leagues | 10 Comments

A Deep Impact series post this early in the preseason? Where I'm from, they call that Immediate Impact. HURRRR. Though... it's hard to top my meow usage above, even with such a strong opener. Except maybe for the content of this post? Question mark, because I'm not sure what format you play in. Hint: If your league has a constitution longer than a college thesis on the European textile industry and its effect on the French bourgeoisie, well then, you're probably in the right place. We're here to take a short 'n sweet look at some uncommon scoring categories that dynasty/deep leagues might use commonly. The fantasy laymen might ask why we would create such devilish inventions... and that'd be fine, because we seriously have no clue. Because it's fun? Question mark, because it's only fun if you know how to win with these cats. And it fits the lede's theme. And that's what I'm here to help you with. Theming? No. I mean, sorta. But yeah. About those cats... Note: Football may be over, but we still have a great podcast series going into the offseason, along with NFL Draft content coming out soon. Join us?

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Top 100 for 2017 Fantasy Baseball

by: Grey

One word about this top 100 for 2017 fantasy baseball, before I give you another 5,000 words. I’m going to avoid repeating myself from the position rankings in the 2017 fantasy baseball rankings. If you want to know my in-depth feelings about a player, then you need to go to his positional page, i.e., the top 20 1st basemen for 2017 fantasy baseball, the top 20 outfielders for 2017 fantasy baseball, the top 20 Gucci handbags for 2017– Ah, I almost got you. This post is meant to give you an idea where guys from different positions are in relation to each other. Since this post is only the top 100, there’s more players where this came from. 416 more, to be very exact. Next up, there will be a top 500 that will go to 516. Then, after that, there will be a top 7,500, then a top 25,000, then a top 600,000, until we end up with a top kajillion in April. Or maybe I’ll stop at the top 500. Yeah, that makes sense. Not to get all biblical on you, but this is the gospel. Print it out and take it to Mt. Sinai and it will say, “Win your 2017 fantasy baseball league, young prematurely balding man.” Projections were done by me and a crack team of 100 monkeys fighting amongst themselves because there were only 99 typewriters. Somebody please buy Ling-Ling his own typewriter! Anyway, here’s the top 100 for 2017 fantasy baseball:

Saber Says: Jose Can You See?

February 8, 2017 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 19 Comments

by: Andrew

Jose Ramirez is a switch-hitter that experiments with positions more than the Kama-Sutra. With Yahoo, he was eligible at 3B/2B/SS/OF, while he was classified as a 3B/OF in ESPN. Ranked as the 17th overall third baseman by Grey, Ramirez poses an interesting case for sabermetrics analysis. He had his first role with consistent playing time in 2016, similar to fellow star shortstop Francisco Lindor. I’ll be analyzing the two players together, to demonstrate the relative value generated by Ramirez.

Bullpen Report: Hold On For One More Day

February 8, 2017 | Closers, Middle Relievers, SAGNOF | 43 Comments

by: Smokey

Some day somebody's gonna make you want to turn around and say goodbye. Until then baby, are you going to let them hold you down and make you cry? Don't you know? Don't you know things can change, things'll go your way, if you hold on for one more day.

That music of genius was brought on by a smooth impromptu karaoke session in a West Boston saloon. It was me and Ralph and a girl who was paid by the dollar to talk to us about her kid. It's all a true story. Fun times were had, and at the time I didn't realize how correlative the song was back then to this particular stat category and one that is by far my favorite to talk about. Funny, it only took a Wilson Phillips song on the drive home from work to reminisce about Boston, Ralph, and relief pitching. I love the stat, not everyone uses it, but I still love it nonetheless. If your leagues uses it, cool, well I will be your every other week destination for giving you the low-down on the hold situations going across the MLB. So get comfy, with a week to go until Spring Training starts, and the full extent of the 2017 season yet to play. You will get sick of me, in say... 30 weeks. So get comfy on your favorite porcelain fantasy reading chair and welcome to a brand new year!

Top 100 Starters for 2017 Fantasy Baseball

February 8, 2017 | Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 169 Comments

by: Grey

With these top 100 starters for 2017 fantasy baseball, I've finished our (my) 2017 fantasy baseball rankings for positions. Still coming will be a top 100 overall and top 500 to see how all the positions mesh together like your mesh Redskins jersey that meshes with your burgundy sweatpants. Trust me, when you see how long this post is, you'll be glad I kept this intro short. As always, my projections are included, and where I see tiers starting and stopping. If you want an explanation of tiers, go back to the top 10 overall and start this shizz all over again. Anyway, here's the top 100 starters for 2017 fantasy baseball:

Bear or Bull: You Down With IFFB?

February 7, 2017 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 12 Comments

by: Son

IFFB, how can I explain it I'll take it frame by frame it To have y'all all jumping, shouting, saying it I is for the in, F is for the field, F is for the fly, don't be the scumbag guy The last B, well that's very simple

Okay, I'll stop now. That was my feeble attempt to pay homage to NAUGHTY BY NATURE. Damn, I feel old now. GET OFF MY DAMN LAWN!!!

What's IFFB? If you just Googled it...and enjoyed what you saw, then I don't know what to tell you. I just got you to Google it huh?

Podcast: “As Long As You Don’t Talk About This Goddamn Documentary!”

February 7, 2017 | All Podcasts, Razzball Podcast | 12 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

The Razzball Pod is back, and on today's show we discuss the Super Bowl, a few trades/signings over the past 2 weeks, and spend the majority of the show breaking down Grey's top 20 overall from his 2017 fantasy baseball rankings (he made me clickbait it). What's the best part of hosting a Pod where you don't do all the rankings...? Nit-picking the other guy's rankings! I destroy his ranks with nothing to really back it up, except maybe our Podcast 2017 mock draft from last year, which Grey kept yelling about. Grey gets all testy and loves to rebut! Here's the latest edition of the Razzball Baseball Podcast: Download from iTunes

Top 80 Starters for 2017 Fantasy Baseball

February 7, 2017 | Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 210 Comments

by: Grey

One quick note, our War Room guy from last year has dropped out, so if you guys (maybe four girls) want a War Room this year, someone needs to step up to make it happen. I will take ready, willing and abled-bodied people in the comments. Oh, who are we kidding, no one here is able-bodied! I'll take anyone, just comment and I'll contact you. This is for the downloadable Excel War Room. Any hoo! With the top 80 starters for 2017 fantasy baseball, we are so close to the end of the rankings I can almost taste it! Wait, that’s not rankings I taste, I bit my lip and it’s blood. I wonder if when Dracula bites his lip it’s like when Cougs goes out with her friends and I’m left at home while Emmanuelle is on Cinemax. You might say to yourself, "Self, everyone is totally fooled by my toupee and do I really need to draft starters this deep in my friendly 12-team mixed league?" You don’t, except you will own guys from this post this year either from the draft or from waivers or your leaguemates will own them and beat you. Last year, in the tier of pitchers I liked in the top 80 starters was Aaron Sanchez (pitcher, not chef), Rich Hill (pitcher, not sniglets) and Tanner Roark (pitcher, not Tattoo's boss). If you owned just them, you had a 2.74 ERA in 512 1/3 IP. You really still think you need starters drafted early? You throw in two earlier starters, say, Kluber and Gausman, and you have way too much pitching now. I’ll go over exactly how to draft starters in a few days, but there are so many ways to skin a cat we should have PETA breathing down our necks. All the 2017 fantasy baseball rankings are there. My tiers and projections are noted. Anyway, here's the top 80 starters for 2017 fantasy baseball:

Third Base is Even Deeper Than You Thought…

February 6, 2017 | 2017 Fantasy Baseball Draft | 30 Comments

by: Lance

Let me take you through the thought process of a writer like myself. I constantly have thoughts relating to the game of baseball passing through my head. I'm sure many other baseball fanatics can relate. Ideas that have an added layer of intrigue tend to find there way onto my iPhone's Notes app, to be revisited in a triage-like manner at points later in the day. What I've learned is that you can't force these ideas. So last Tuesday Grey and I joined a 12-team roto mock draft with the CBS Sports crew and I soon realized two things...

SAGNOF Report: Five-Finger Discounts

February 6, 2017 | SAGNOF | 17 Comments

by: Smokey

If a discount is on top of "a sort of" discount, does that make it free? The title this week is twice as nice with meaning, because everyone like to go Winona on their lineup, especially late in drafts. And going double Winona, when a steal may be a steal, is SAGNOF gold. So that's where we are going today folks, the land of misfit outfielders, and one infielder. The steals category is a fickle one that you either go all in on, or just basically change lanes without your blinker type stat. This year there seems to be an abundance of "steals mainly, other stats to be desired" types. These guys aren't the elite of the elite in steals, but also aren't the fantasy stalwart you may want to over-draft. They still hold a ton of value, and most of them are familiar names. I just think with outfielders, the best theory is to roster three studs, a guy with multi-position eligibility, and one that is a steals-only guy that won't, or you hope won't just lay eggs in other categories. The Billy Hamilton's, Villar's and Dee Gordon's are long gone before these names even show up on the drop down menu on the draft app and every single one of these fellas can be had after the 180th pick currently. It is all about value kids. Although the steals category is a dropping number, stat-wise, from years gone by, it still is a stat that you garner points in. So check out what Igotta say, say hello... or don't. Cheers!

Top 60 Starters for 2017 Fantasy Baseball

February 6, 2017 | Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 156 Comments

by: Grey

To paraphrase Tupac from Brenda's Got a Baby, "I hear Grey's got 2017 fantasy baseball rankings, but Grey's barely got a brain. A damn shame. That guy can hardly spell his name. GREY'S....GOT EM....RANKINGS! Don't you know he's got 'em. He wrote them solo, and he wrote them on his bathroom floor and didn't know what to throw away and what to keep. He crumbled these rankings up and threw them in a trash heap. GREY'S....GOT EM....RANKINGS! Don't you know he's got 'em." Don't say I don't keep my shizz socially conscious. Or is it socially conscience? Meh, doesn't matter, I do it either way. So, this top 60 starters has seven pitchers I'm not crazy about. That's more than the last post, but still not that many. I.e., there's a ton of starters to draft. As with previous rankings posts, my projections are included and where I see tiers starting and stopping. Anyway, here's the top 60 starters for 2017 fantasy baseball:

2017 Minor League Preview: Seattle Mariners

February 5, 2017 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects | 41 Comments

by: Geoff

I hear Jerry Dipoto kills the whistling solo from the Scorpions "Winds of Change". Then again, it's a whistling solo in a rock song. But that's not the reason he kills it. Oh no, it's because JDP, as I call him, loves change. I mean, JDP walks into a room and changes everything just because he can. He only leases cars, and never moves in with his girlfriends. He loves a good month to month contract, and has had 7 different hairstyles in the past 17 months. Suffice it to say things at his workplace are changing too. His work place just so happens to be the Seattle Mariners baseball club, and he just so happens to run the joint. He's already made dozens of trades over the last couple of offseasons, and overhauled the organizational philosophy. Running a hitting summit for their minor leaguers focusing on cutting strikeouts and improving contact rates. What followed were career years from some of their top power bats with contact woes, players like Tyler O'Neill, and DJ Peterson gained the most. All across the organization winning became a priority. In fact, all six of the Mariners minor league affiliates qualified for some sort of post season baseball, with Jackson their AA affiliate, and their rookie level Arizona League affiliate taking home titles. The changes are evident in the upside of their recent draft class too, spearheaded by 2016 Golden Spikes winner Kyle Lewis, and talented prep bat Joe Rizzo. Add that to trades for MLB ready talents, and the aforementioned break outs across the organization last year, and you have recipe for success. Big shouts to Tehol Beddict, Sky, and the rest of the Mariners fans here on Razzball. It's the Top Seattle Mariners Prospects for 2017 Fantasy Baseball.