2019 Razzball Fantasy Baseball Staff Picks

Welcome to another season of Razz-matazz Fantasy Baseball. For those of you wondering, that actually was Grey’s second choice for naming this site, but as you can see, Razzball won out, much to the chagrin of jazz fingers around the world. And just one ball. No multiple balls I guess. Shame. Shame. Shame. But here we are with another year of staff picks. So what’s the goal with this? Hashtag content, baby. (That’s the technical term.) There’s another goal though, one less self-fulfilling, unlike your mother. Despite the modern advancement of technology and science, we still have no way to have every writer provide their extended (or in Tehol’s case, I always hope abbreviated) take on every single player in the MLB. We try though! And so we have this quick-and-easy (I regret burning my “yo momma” joke now…) presentation that provides you, the Razzmatazzball community a viewer-friendly and succinct breakdown of how we feel about the upcoming season.

So without further ado, here are our Official 2019 Razzball Picks! (Be sure to share yours in the comments section!)

Major League Baseball Picks

Kerry Klug: NL MVP? With Eugenio Suarez, I understand the regression concern, but he’s improved his HR, RBI and AVG each of the last three years and is now in the best lineup he’s ever been in. I’m predicting the Reds will surprise everyone and win the NL Central with their island-of-misfit-toys pitching staff and surprise top-5 offense which Suarez will be hitting 3rd in, behind OBP-Gods Jesse Winker and Joey Votto and in front of Scooter Gennett and Yasiel Puig. 90/30/110/3/.285 is on the table.

Joey Barts: I chose Clayton Kershaw as the most valuable fantasy pitcher and NL Cy Young because he could be the steal of every draft. This is a perennial Cy Young candidate who’s going around pick 100 because of injury question marks but he could miss a few weeks and return to the fantasy ace we all know and love.

Whack Daniels: I’m a zigger when others are zaggers. For this reason, I chose Kyle Tucker as my AL ROY. He’s one injury (at any position by C) away from getting the callup. An injury anywhere in the OF, 1B, or DH; he’s up to play OF/DH. An injury to 2/3/SS, and Yuli Gurriel or Tyler White moves to 3B and Bregman moves to 2B or SS; then he’s up.

Fantasy Baseball Picks

Break Out Player of The Year (Sleeper)

You might think we’re describing someone who breaks through walls and then falls asleep really fast. Which seems weird. So I wouldn’t really put it past us… To limit the confusion, I’d better point out that these are our potential break out candidates that you should be grabbing long and grabbing hard.

Most Overrated Player of The Year (Bust)

These are the guys being held on a pedestals, who will, in return for all your worship and sacrifice, ruin everything thing you hold dear. See: 2014, Fielder, Prince. Or 2015, Longoria, Evan. Take heed Razzballers, avoid these guys at all costs.

Viz: James Paxton is 30-years-old and has qualified for the ERA Title.. as many times as our writers at Razzball! I love his stuff, but even last year’s 160 IP seems like best case scenario. Add in a move that puts him in a little league sized park (he had a big jump in his HR9 last season) and I can’t justify the cost. Maybe in an RCL where it’s easy to make up the innings he will miss, but in any 15+ team league, I wouldn’t touch him.

I Think I Love You, So What Am I So Afraid Of? (Infatuation)

Yep, we all have one. Find out which player your Razzball writer has an undying love for, despite any rational reason or purpose.

Whack Daniels: I can’t quit Tyler O’Neill because his stats per plate appearance are almost as beautiful as his biceps/triceps.  The problem is he just cannot get PAs.  Why can’t this guy play ahead of Dexter Freaking Fowler?!?

Come Back Player of The Year (Come Back)

Again, pretty easy to figure out what this one means.

Most Valuable Fantasy Pitcher (MVFP)

This is where things get sticky. That’s what she said. Technically, this could be the best pitcher overall… but the key word here is value. You know this because I underlined it. While the vanilla top-5 pitcher pick could still technically be the most valuable pitcher at the end of the year, there’s still enough room in the definition to allow the possibility that Bruce Chen will come out of retirement, have an ERA of 2.50 and get 20 wins. Seeing as his ownership rate historically always stood in the nothing-to-negative digits and top-5 Starting Pitchers are gone by the first half of a draft, a performance like that would be the most valuable in the history of mankind. And probably destroy the universe as we know it.

Donkey Teeth: Justin Bieber. I mean Shane Bieber. This beautiful young buck has the voice of an angel and the command of a demon. I also considered labeling him as my: Infatuation, Sleeper, AL CY Young, AL MVP, MVFH, 2020 Presidential Candidate, and Life Partner. Don’t be surprised if Biebs is a consensus top 10 fantasy starter heading into 2020 and in The Oval Office heading into 2021.

Whack Daniels: I think Joey Lucchesi‘s ADP being later than 200 is ludicrous bonkers insane. 10 K/9 and 3 BB/9 in his 130 IP debut last year? Yup! 10.2 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 187.2 MiLB IP? Very much so! I think Lucchesi already broke out, but apparently no one noticed. So scoop him at pick 200 and enjoy.

Most Valuable Fantasy Hitter (MVFH)

Same thing as the Most Valuable Pitcher, but with hitters. CRAZY, I know.

Whack Daniels: I think the Fernando Tatis Jr. promotion will bump Ian Kinsler to the bench and not Luis Urias.  If he gets a full season of ABs, enjoy his high average and counting numbers.  He might only hit 10 HRs, but with an insane ADP later than 300 I think he is an excellent way to fill your MI and his value comes mostly from all the other players you’ll get to draft knowing he’ll be there later for you.

What are your picks for the year? Tell us below!