Our 2016 Razzball Commenters Leagues are in full signup mode. I even heard there were a few people from Anonymous that signed up! They said, “To the world, I’m anonymous, just another white man who sits in parking lots with binoculars watching women.” Man, that Anonymous guy is depressing! As we always do about this time, I eviscerate the haters and complicators! I eviscerate the not-knowers and the over-knowers! I eviscerate the ESPN goers and the garden hoers! I overuse a word like eviscerate that I just learned! I am the Fantasy Master Lothario (don’t abbreviate it) and I’ve come for your children. See, because blog writing doesn’t pay so well, I’m taking a second job as a bus driver, so I’m here for your kids. Like a baller! A shot caller! A “I’m outside of Hot Topic at the maller!” My eviscerating (I’m conjugating my new word!) today comes at the expense of ESPN and their 2016 fantasy baseball rankings. To the tune of Kendrick Lamar’s Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe.
I am a sinner, you know Delmon Young is probably gonna sin again
Lord forgive him, Lord forgive him
Jews, Cubans and most white people he don’t understand
Sometimes I don’t want to draft a pitcher in the first five rounds, let alone
Pitcher, don’t kill my vibe, pitcher, don’t kill my vibe
Last year, the ESPN rankings seemed to take a turn for the better. This year, they took another turn, which left them back at awful. Jose Altuve as the 6th overall player?! I’m having a heart attack like Redd Foxx, you big dummies! Then Dee Gordon 14th overall?! Okay, so ESPN, basically, is just drafting steals. Did they let A.J. Mass do all of their rankings? Did they forget a home run is a point in favor of a Run, RBI, Average and HR while a steal is a steal? Could someone, anyone, please explain to me how Anthony Rizzo is ranked after Altuve, Gordon, Bautista, Miggy, Abreu, and McCutchen? Rizzo is 26 years old and he just had a year of 31 HRs and 17 SBs with a .278 average. Miggy hasn’t stolen 17 bases in his last five years combined! Miggy hit 18 homers last year and he’s six years older! Rizzo gives the power of Bautista, Miggy, Abreu and McCutchen. Will get more steals. Will not kill you in average. Will get Runs and RBIs. Will someone please explain to me ESPN’s ranking?! Please! They have Rizzo ranked lower this year than I ranked him last year. Okay, they phone these rankings in, only explanation.
ESPN fell on their face and awoke with the sharts
Another mistake — McCutchen at 7 overall! — someone must’ve said McCutchen and Cockcroft dropped seven farts
Wear their rankings on your sleeves if you’re in a sleeveless shirt
I can admit that my Correa ranking does look like yours
Why do I resent every ranking like this
Tell me your purpose of ranking Cano in the top 40 again
But even a small lighter can burn a bridge
They really just take last year’s end of the season ranks and regurgitate them, at least a smidge.
They have Cano over George Springer. Wait, it gets better. Their projections for Cano: 85/21/78/.294/5. Their projections for Springer: 87/27/78/.262/25. I shizz you not. Springer’s down for 27 HRs and 25 SBs and he’s after Cano? WHAT?!? I get it, projections are one element to the story. There’s upside, downside, injury concerns, etc. There’s also one more element to the story…THAT YOU GAVE A GUY PROJECTIONS OF TWENTY-SEVEN HOMERS AND TWENTY-FIVE STEALS IN THE PRIME OF HIS CAREER AND YOU RANKED HIM AFTER CANO?! Sorry, for the caps, but my Shift key got sticky after the thought of owning Springer on every team while watching people draft Cano. Drafting Cano in the top 40 is one of those things where I guarantee you, no actual ESPN ‘pert would draft him there. They would say something like, “No, I wouldn’t draft him there, but our readers know him.” The ESPN ‘perts either have contempt for anyone that uses their rankings or they just don’t care, which could be construed as contempt. I’m not even being hyperbolic when I say this. They do not care about their readers. They are like an ice cream store that only serves chocolate and vanilla. Will everyone be happy? No, of course not. Will enough people be happy while they exert as little effort as possible? Yes.
I can feel Yordano’s energy from two planets away
I got my drink, I got my music
I would share it but today I’m yelling YOU HAVE JOSE FERNANDEZ AS THE 19TH BEST PITCHER?!
For a pitcher that does not kill my vibe,
For a pitcher that does not kill my vibe.
Okay, this is just funny. Jose Fernandez is ranked after Keuchel, Kenley Jansen, Kimbrel, Wade Davis, Kinsler, Tulo, Beltre and David Ortiz (!!!). Actually, it’s not funny. It’s appalling. What if someone actually used these rankings? Oh, and this is comical in a not-comical-they-should-be-ashasmed kind of way. Aroldis is after all of those other closers I just mentioned. That makes sense. Ow, I just got an eye roll headache.
Pitchers don’t kill my vibe, you ain’t read a post like this in a long time
Don’t you see that long line
And you see our similarities end at Kershaw as the first SP and Stras in the top fifteen, yah
Fantasy number threes I can see you, you can’t believe I can rhyme with Samardzija
Hide your ESPN rankings, hide your ESPN rankings, you know you can do better.
Most of my sleepers that I wrote about almost two months ago held true as I figured they would. As I said back then, I have a pretty good idea who the big box sites will like. I’m way up on McCullers (sleeper), Taijuan (sleeper), Avisail (sleeper), Schoop (sleeper, by the way, ESPN ranked Schoop after Chase Utley; I can’t even make that up), Pederson (sleeper) and Odor (sleeper). Go against people who use ESPN rankings and it’s gonna be armed robbery and that most certainly won’t kill your vibe, King Kunta. Oops, wrong Kendrick song.
Now on the less-Kendrick tip, here’s a chart of the biggest values from ESPN to me (Thank you!) and the players that ESPN overrates (No thank you!):
THANK YOU
| Player | Grey’s Ranking | ESPN’s Ranking | Overall Difference | |
| Anthony Rizzo |
4 | 17 | 13 | |
| Kris Bryant |
9 | 20 | 11 | |
| J.D. Martinez |
14 | 26 | 12 | |
| Starling Marte |
12 | 28 | 16 | |
| George Springer |
20 | 37 | 17 | |
| Justin Upton |
21 | 51 | 30 | |
| Jason Heyward |
39 | 54 | 15 | |
| Jose Fernandez |
47 | 67 | 20 | |
| Noah Syndergaard |
48 | 68 | 20 | |
| Corey Seager |
51 | 71 | 20 | |
| Francisco Lindor |
62 | 76 | 14 | |
| Albert Pujols |
34 | 80 | 46 | |
| Gregory Polanco |
32 | 90 | 58 | |
| Rougned Odor |
61 | 94 | 33 | |
| Danny Salazar |
60 | 98 | 38 | |
| Maikel Franco | 52 | 123 | 71 | |
| Evan Longoria |
83 | 133 | 50 | |
| Brett Lawrie |
94 | 149 | 55 | |
| Raisel Iglesias |
116 | 153 | 37 | |
| Matt Duffy |
134 | 166 | 32 | |
| Ketel Marte |
184 | 211 | 27 | |
| Nick Castellanos |
135 | 212 | 77 | |
| Joc Pederson |
101 | 223 | 122 | |
| Luis Severino | 129 | 224 | 56 | |
| Jake Odorizzi | 129 | 225 | 96 | |
| Jorge Soler |
100 | 227 | 127 | |
| Yu Darvish |
110 | 240 | 130 | |
| Stephen Piscotty |
148 | 251 | 103 | |
| Michael Conforto |
182 | 257 | 75 | |
| Jean Segura |
140 | 282 | 142 | |
| Marcell Ozuna |
141 | 349 | 208 | |
| Matt Adams |
121 | 772 | 651 | |
| Pablo Sandoval | 206 | 792 | 586 | |
| Jonathan Schoop | 93 | 802 | 709 | |
NO THANK YOU
| Player | Grey’s Ranking | ESPN’s Ranking | Overall Difference | |
| Clayton Kershaw |
16 | 3 | 13 | |
| Jose Altuve |
11 | 6 | 5 | |
| Andrew McCutchen |
15 | 7 | 8 | |
| Dee Gordon |
26 | 14 | 12 | |
| A.J. Pollock |
31 | 15 | 16 | |
| Madison Bumgarner |
41 | 29 | 12 | |
| Carlos Gomez |
70 | 32 | 38 | |
| Miguel Sano |
77 | 33 | 44 | |
| Matt Carpenter |
91 | 34 | 57 | |
| Robinson Cano | 92 | 36 | 56 | |
| Nelson Cruz |
65 | 42 | 23 | |
| David Ortiz |
104 | 46 | 58 | |
| Carlos Gonzalez | 67 | 49 | 18 | |
| Dallas Keuchel | 73 | 53 | 20 | |
| Adrian Beltre |
84 | 56 | 28 | |
| Kyle Schwarber |
78 | 57 | 19 | |
| Troy Tulowitzki |
96 | 60 | 36 | |
| Ian Kinsler |
142 | 66 | 76 | |
| Sonny Gray |
164 | 73 | 91 | |
| Jose Reyes |
113 | 87 | 26 | |
| Ben Revere |
193 | 89 | 104 | |
| DJ LeMahieu | 298 | 102 | 196 | |
| Jay Bruce | 219 | 130 | 89 | |
I just love when you sing to me…
@FrankGrimes: Where’s my vape?
@Grey:
haha it should have arrived Friday!
Fo reals?! Damn, I’m over here patting my arm veins like I’m a Silk Road customer and you’re holding back the shizz!
@Grey:
for reallies looks like it got delayed
why? dog sniffers? is vape illegal in the rich mans hood already?
https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction.action?tLabels=9405511699000045022244
Wow, that’s the longest two day mail shipment ever… Good ol USPS
@Grey:
well it’s some extra steeping time for max flavor!
Mmm..steeping
@Grey:
Some flavors really benefit from it.
That pear from Vape kitchen got so strong
I had to cut it with some other flavor haha
Too peary? Cmon, Grimey!
Check your math on Syndergaard.
@Connor: ditto the math on Polanco …those.fools.have him ranked 58 after your ranking Fantasy Master Lothorio….it’s good to be a fastball follower. Many thanks
@henncoop: damn auto correct ….good to be Razzballer!!!
@henncoop: We the followers of the fastball!!!
@henncoop: Fixed, thanks!
@Connor: Oops, fixed
Thanks Grey. Do you know anything about how companies such as ESPN treat its fantasy analysts? Do they have to prescribe to a specific philosophy of ranking and drafting whether they agree with it or not?
@RaiderRob: It’s not a philosophy that they are prescribed to, but the wrong type of medication.
@The Great Knoche: Ha
@RaiderRob: I don’t think anyone cares what their people do with rankings
Hey Grey,
First up – thanks for all the superb work in draft preparation! Always a joy to see this site warm up as spring training looms.
Sorry to take you back to the draft pairings but I was a bit late. To be fair, it’s sort of rankings related.
Quick question. For Rizzo (and to a lesser extent Goldy), you mention also grabbing Upton or Springer. Is there any reason not to look for Marte who is ranked fairly highly by your good self? Going by mocks on Yahoo, it looks like Rizzo and Marte would be quite common to get. (I do realise you say grab anyone who isn’t an 1B but just checking whether there’s anyone to be avoided).
Thanks in advance!
@Chuzwozza: No reason to not take Marte, I was just assuming he’d be gone already, but if he’s not, go for it
@Grey: Super – thanks as always for the reply. In one mock (real results may vary), I was able to grab Upton as well as Marte!
Nice!
Grey!
a. Thanks, just thanks sooooo much. Just when I thought I might have a leg up (when I need an elephant’s leg up) in my league with Jack, you go and do this! Damn you, Grey!!!
b. Actually, I ain’t mad ya but made the exact same observations doing mock drafts over the past 4 days. Incredible how JoFer is ranked so low. Even more incredible is how full draft rooms in 12-team mock drafts are BLINDLY following ESPN’s rankings just as they do in CBS leagues!!! I thought 12-team and roto and 5×5 was supposed to be more cerebral but it would appear that that is not the case.
c. Thanks for this very cerebral article and for putting it in an easy to read table.
Cheers,
Ante
@Ante GALIC: A. Ha B. That is insane C. No problem
Grey!
An addendum. It’s not bad enough we have the grammar police still sniffing around NOW we have the math police! As indicated above, check your math dude! 68-48=20 and not 38 as you incorrectly indicated for NOAH. Please make the headache go away!
Cheers,
Ante
@Ante GALIC:
When the “obnoxious twat boots” are strapped to you – which planet’s orbit do you aim for?
@Kid A: Haha! What up, Kid A? Haven’t seen you on-board in some time. Looking forward to reading your insightful stuff soonest.
Cheers,
Ante
@Ante GALIC: hahaha.
@Kid A: You used your one phone call to dump on Ante. Classic Kid.
@Ante GALIC: Yeah, kinda like when you explicitly said Goldy went in Rd 2 of your draft, but when called on it, you said he went #8 overall and never said he went in round 2….and by “kinda” i actually mean not even close b/c you clearly just made shizz up
@Ante GALIC: Oops, fixed
Grey:
Great job with your ranking prep. Really appreciate the insight.
Need some help with my keeper league draft.
League: 16 Team, 5 X 4 (no whip), & weekly lineup. Line up consists of 9 hitters (standard) & 6 Pitchers (4 Spers & 2 Rpers). 28 team roster.
Players owned going into draft:
Definite Keepers: Marte Pit OF, Polanco Pit OF, Ellsbury NYY OF (no choice, salary player) & Davis KC RP
Potential Keepers: Teix NYY 1B, Seimen Oak SS, & Castellanoes 3B Det….maybe McHugh Sp Hou (last resort)
All above players contracts will expire at the end of the season, but I would have the matching rights to all of them.
Currently, for this auction, I have the matching rights to Gordon Mia 2B, Abreu CHW 1B, JD Martinez DET Of, Salazar CLE SP, Ventura KC SP & Kluber CLE SP.
I have $$$ to spend but cannot match ALL of the above and sign an impact bat at 3B.
We keep 10 after the auction & then do a straight draft (18 rounds) based on order of league finish.
After my auction, which potential team do you like the best going to into the straight draft?
Team 1:
1B Abreu (2 year deal)
2B: Gordon (2 year deal)
SS: Seimen
OF: Marte, Polanco, Ellsbury
DH JD Martinez (2 year deal)
SP: Kluber (2 year deal) & Salazar
RP: Davis
Note: I think Castellanoes can fall to me. Last year I chased 3B all season, had zero luck.
SS is very shallow in the auction (no one worthwhile is unprotected), Seimen will not make it to me if I drop him.
Team 2
1B Teix
2B Gordon (2 year deal)
SS Seimen
3B: Arrendao COl (3 year contract)
OF: Marte, Polanco, Ellsbury
SP: Kluber (2 year deal) & Salazaar
RP: Davis
Note: Or I could pass on Kluber to get either Abreu or Martinez, but 2 SPers would be Salazaar & Ventura.
Team 3:
1B Abreu (2 year deal)
SS: Seimen
3B: Machado (3 year deal)
OF: Marte, Polanco, & Ellsbury
DH: Teix NYY
SP: Kluber, Salazaar, & Ventura
Note: I trade Davis for picks, but would be chasing saves all year. Top 25 Closers will be gone before I pick. Again, I could pass on Kluber to sign Martinez… would have another hole at Sper.
Any suggestions or alternatives with the players above? I really want an impact bat at 3B. Almost all of the top 3B bats are available. Bryant CHC will be matched. Arrenado can be matched, but owner has too many holes to fill to sign such an expensive contract. Machado is an unrestricted FA so a pretty strong bidding war will occur.
Thanks for all of you hard work. Keep up the great work
@Hewhohesitates…islost: Team 3
@Grey:
Thanks grey. One more follow up.
Going with team 3, should I draft those 3 spers including paying for kluber or should I use the money for Martinez OF instead of kluber?
Isn’t it a 3 outfielder league?
@Grey:
yes, 3 OFers. I thinking about loading up at OFer. Martinez would have been my DH providing power. I thought I was a little thin in power.
Sounds like it may overkill now that I think about at your question.
Yeah, it’s overkill
Doing some research last week I also noticed the following:
ESPN has Carlos Rodon ranked as the 98th best SP and completely outside their top 300, behind guys like Wade Miley, Ubaldo Jimenez, Henderson Alvarez, etc. Meanwhile, Cockcroft, who you would think would have quite a bit of say in those same rankings, has Rodon as his 49th best SP. How can ESPN’s most visible baseball writer have a guy 50 places better than their site rankings? Just for comparison, Yahoo has him at #134 overall. It makes absolutely zero sense.
@Don: I did a mock yesterday and when I saw where Rodon was I was appalled. In some leagues i’m in I could see him still being around for one of my last couple picks
@Don: That is bizarre, I honestly don’t understand who does ESPN’s rankings, I don’t swear to you that I don’t think it’s ESPN’s writers
Name a place and time.
@I’mgettingsomeHeadley: ignore please.
@I’mgettingsomeHeadley: 17th century Budapest
@I’mgettingsomeHeadley: October 1, 1961, Yankee Stadium.
@I’mgettingsomeHeadley: January 18th, 1908
@I’mgettingsomeHeadley:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiD4Sm5Vbwk
dynasty with 7 RP, 5 or 6 SP slots. min 35 innings per week H2H 20 teamer. holds, double plays, QS, K/9, relief wins, relief appearances, OBPA added.
which side of quintana/k-rob
for
boxberger/cobb?
league set up like the ones JB just started, so minimum amount of players from real life teams. WSOX is offering me cobb side for my 2. I’m not TB. so far (just post draft) my SP/RP are
SP darvish, quintana, liriano, hammel, fiers
RP k-rob, giles, tolleson, kela.
till darvish is back i’ll be rostering 2 of about 15 pretty bad SP out there (think c.anderson/hughes/colby/hellickson as “best” ones, unless my waiver nets me vince V), and after he’s back streaming one of them. also have urias stashed. adding cobb would be two very injury prone types.
@For an Armenianless vacation come to Akron: 5 DL spots, which seems relevant.
@For an Armenianless vacation come to Akron: after looking at cobb’s injury history again, and k-rob vs boxy’s skill stats this is a clear no. even if we rule out the hit by pitch’s missing 60 days it’s still 53/38/183 in 3 out of last 5 years with rib/oblique/forearm stuff. 2012 only good year with lack of missing time.
@For an Armenianless vacation come to Akron: Quintana
Hey Grey,
Question about league scoring setup. Having our annual league meet tonight to make minor adjustments to league settings and scoring. We are a 12 team 7×7 head to head category league (keeper league). We plan to keep our hitting the same with OBP and total bases as the extra two categories. But pitching is where we look to adjust. Last year we had: W, L, saves, ERA, WHIP, Ks, and Holds. Last year we did holds for the first time over complete games. So my questions are:
1. What’s your quick take on holds?
2. Would you replace holds with quality starts which someone suggested, or is that too redundant with also having wins?
3. What do you favor between quality starts and wins as categories? Someone suggested replacing wins with quality starts which I understand rationale for but I just seem reluctant to take out that category.
Thanks for your feedback as always.
@G: my 2 cents. 1. Holds are a fantastic category. It opens up the world of great middle relievers. It also sometimes makes teams chooses between Holds and Saves, which offer nuances in strategy. Replace W with QS, if anything.
@Rufus Xavier Sasparilla: thanks Rufus. Appreciate the feedback
@G: 1. Holds are better than CG 2. Nope, it is too redundant 3. Wins
@G: does your format have saves + holds?
@J-FOH: Have had SV+HD in main hometown league for last 4-5 years. So much better than saves. Completely devalues shitty closers and allows for playing good relievers regardless of role. Can’t believe more leagues don’t do this instead of chasing saves.
I’ve got a keeper question Grey! I’d really appreciate some help! League Settings: 10 team, H2H Points, weekly lineups
C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, OF, OF, OF, U, U
6 SP, 2 RP
Hitting: standard setting but with no penalty for Ks
Pitching:
+1 for IP
+10 points for a W,
+5 for QS
-5 for L
-1 for BB
-1 ER
no penalty for Hits Against
A good pitchers can net 25+ points in a single start, Arrieta and Kershaw finished with more points than any hitter. I’m tempted to just stack up on pitchers considering this is a keeper.
3-5 keepers…next year, their keeper value is this year’s minus one round and so on…so Marte would be a 7th round pick next year if I keep him…1st rounders can’t be kept.
Sale (forfeit Rd. 2 pick – can be kept for 1 year)
Arrieta (Rd. 5 pick – 2 years)
Cole (Rd. 6 pick – 2 years)
Marte (Rd 8. – 2 years)
Hosmer (Rd 12 – 3 years)
Pollock (Rd. 18 – 3 years)
L. Cain (Rd. 10 – 2 years)
Salazar (rd. 10 – 2 Years)
Maikel Franco (Rd. 10 – 2 years)
Thank you!
@Noam: Cain
Cole (Rd. 6 pick – 2 years)
Marte (Rd 8. – 2 years)
Hosmer (Rd 12 – 3 years)
Pollock (Rd. 18 – 3 years)
@Noam: Tough choices, btw
@Grey:
You wouldn’t keep Arrieta in the 5th?
Over Cain, sure
Hey Grey
Im seeing a pattern in my mock drafts that I tend to end the first 5 rounds with a 1b, 3b, and 3 of. For example Rizzo, Bryant, Springer, C Davis, Upton.
This early in the draft are you in favor of taking the best player available and filling your 2 utility slots or take the best available player that fills a position of need like MI or SP?
If these players were available how would GM Grey use picks 6 and 7 in this scenario?
Pujols, Frazier, Polanco, Heyward, Bogaertes, Dozier, Syndergaard, Carrasco
@Wacha Wacha: Don’t fill your UTIL spot in the first 7 rounds of a draft
@Wacha Wacha:
Turbs, you follower.
Hi Grey,
A pairing question. Two keeper Yahoo league with usual 5 cats plus OBP and SLG. I have Trout. Also Mig in 2 or Mookie in 3. I know you recommended Miggy If available as second pick but in this circumstance what would you think of keeping Mookie in third and taking best available 1B in second? I doubt Mig would be there but based on Yahoo ADP, the list would likely include at least one of Rizzo, Abreu, Incarnacion, Davis, Votto, Agon and Fielder. Thanks.
@Streaming Leake: 12 team league.
@Streaming Leake: Hard to imagine Rizzo not being kept even if people like ESPN or Yahoo rankings. I’d personally keep Miggy because there are so many OF available. Maybe target a guy like Polonco who falls in a lot of drafts. I love Mookie too, but to shore up that 1b slot will be very convenient for you
@Jason E.: Thanks.
@Streaming Leake: That works for me
@Grey: Thanks.
No problem
Can confirm much of this… I just left the second round of my offline ESPN dynasty draft (pick 12 out of 16) with bot Rizzo and Marte.
@ichirosan: That’s so goofy
Hey grey,
Wacha Wacha and Soler a good return for Braun in a keeper?
@Nightpandas: Yes, take it.
@Nightpandas: Not crazy about it
@Nightpandas: Id take it, but im not a Braun guy
Grey spitting hot fire!
Sat on that Rizzo keeper offer over the weekend (which would have had me giving up cheap Archers and Fraziers) and ended up getting a offer for Betts ($25 compared to $30 Rizzo) and a couple cheap ransoms for Archer only. Works for me!
After this trade, keepers will be pretty below priced Abreu, Frazier, Betts, Blackmon, Hosmer, Stras, and Darvish. Woo!
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: Nice!
Oh please let the mofo’s I’ll be drafting with be ESPN ranking followers.
@Lville Jim: Exactly
I have many (possible) closers and need to move 1~2 rooms.
Soria, Jeffress, Hoover, Cishek
Which one or two to drop? Thanks.
Soria is furthest from saves, assuming Wade Davis stays healthy; and Hoover is worst of the bunch.
@Tigres:
It seems Jeffress is in committee to close the door, will he get final closer job in your guess? I thought Cishek is also worse … , Cishek over Hoover? Thanks.
Honestly, I don’t like any of those guys. Cishek ain’t great but Mariners seem to want him to close. I think Jeffress wins the job with a good spring. Brewers likely to trade Will Smith in season, and as LHP he has trade value even without saves, so speculate on RHP as likely closer until ST performance says otherwise.
@Wilson: Agree with Tigres
I know you do this with ESPN & Y! rankings. If you don’t already, I think a similar post comparing your rank vs. NFBC ADP would be valuable. NFBC ADP is more like what your readers will actually experience in their competitive leagues. ESPN & Y! are just fish in a barrel, which is fun but less instructive.
Granted it’s just a VLOOKUP away in my Excel table…
@TheTinDoor: I’m not going to do NFBC, but Rudy should, he uses them
These posts are Grey’s thing, not mine. I suggest just taking my rankings and putting them side-by-side to NFBC ADP.
Kinda weird that my first 4 LABR picks (Bryant, Marte, Upton, Syndergaard) all showed up on Grey > ESPN.
Sir Greymalikin-
In a H2H dynasty (16 teams), should I give Cano and Trevor Bauer for Starlin Castro and Kenley Jansen? I’m trying to Youthanize (not euthanize) my infield. I’m deep enough at pitching. Many thanks!
@Rufus Xavier Sasparilla: Sure
Great article and perfect timing. I’m in the middle of a slow draft (16 teams). We did the MiLB first, which was weird, but it has been quirky the whole draft. I really don’t think anyone reads razzball in this league, which suits me fine. But just wanted to throw out what I have so far (minus the minors)..head to head. Weekly lineup set (only for pitchers) and you can’t have more than 5 SP on your bench to limit streaming (which is lame). 6 points for a QS and 5 for a W. 2 for SB and everything else seemed standard. It’s a keep forever dynasty on all players (which intrigued me). I know you guys don’t know who is available, but what should my next pick be? I’m thinking Nola, Starlin, or Schoop. Or what stat am I lacking? Thanks! (I know I should have grabbed a better 1b but Springer in round 3 was a guy I felt like I couldn’t pass on)
C:
1b: Brandon Belt
2b:
SS:Orlando Arcia (MiLB pick)
3b: Nolan Arenado
MI:
CI:
OF: Starling Marte
OF: George Springer
OF: Gregory Polonco
U:
SP: Danny Salazar
SP: Tyson Ross
SP: Taijuan Walker
SP:
SP:
RP:
RP:
@Jason E.: Obviously using Greys rankings, Nola is the third highest rated pitcher left behind Hisashi and Samardzija. I just preferred Nola in this format.
@Jason E.: I would take Starlin than Schoop than Nola if you are in a Yahoo league.
@Mike: CBS
@Jason E.: Thanks! I’d go Castro, Schoop then Nola
Enjoying your commentary as usual. Read it with my first cup of java BEFORE deleting spam.
I have a problem in my Schwarber?
1. Is he keeper material?
2. Schwarber over Rendon?
3. Schwarber over Chris Davis?
4. Schwarber over Syndergarrd?
@Michael Robinson: Nice, thanks! 1. Yeah 2. Yeah 3. No 4. No
@Michael Robinson:
shitburger will be a bust this year
@FrankGrimes: I agree, staying away from him
Sean Manaea what do you expect of him this year?
5 months in the minors
@Mike:
Unlikely to “break camp with A’s but not impossible.” Depends on health of the rest of the staff. Could be 5 months in the minors, could be up early depending. He is 24 so not like he’s fresh of the HS campus. A’s have so many wild cards. Hill, Parker, Bassett, Hahn, Graveman, not at all hard to see a call up as early as late April.
The A’s are gaga. They’re giving out Randy Johnson comps. Doolittle’s brother who played with him in AA last year says he has the best stuff he has ever seen live. Definitely keep an eye.
Thanks. I was watching MLB network and they believe that he will make the rotation out of spring.
They were comparing him to Randy Johnson.
@Mike: I’d be shocked if Beane puts him in the rotation out of spring
@Grey: Yea he has never pitched AAA and only 180 innings in the minors.
Exactly
@Grey: Guy I know was at Indiana State with him. Thinks he could be real deal, but agree no way he’s not touching AAA first. Beane will get the extra year of service time out of him. They have so many options at least until Parker and Hill fall apart…literally.
I agree, Knoche
Hey Grey. Thanks for your response on my earlier question. Was just wondering if you ever heard of this service or have used it for trade reviews?
http://www.rotoumpire.com/baseball/rotoumpire_faq.cfm
I know your philosophy on having commish put all trades through which I agree with as commish of my league but too many people whine and complain with trades every year that im considering this option as a backup if certain teams challenge a trade that I am fine putting through.
Any thoughts?
@G: Is this spam? I think it’s a silly service
@Grey:
Not supposed to be spam. I found this service online and it seemed pretty thorough where they anyze trades based upon your league settings and keepers, etc. and not just a computerized trade analyzer which spits out a yes or no based on stats. It just seemed like a decent backup if people object to a trade that commish put through. Figured that if people object that complaining team would pay for that trade to be reviewed by this service.
@G: also this is not my service that imtrying to promote lol. Just wondering if you or others have heard of it and if it is reputable or good in any way
The Cano and Papi ranks make total sense….for the marketing department at ESPN. I know Cano is no longer a Yankee but everytime he is flashed on the screen they can reference him being an ex Yankee
So true, I think it’s a matter of who they think readers will know
@Grey:
“Um boss, Barry Bonds retired years ago”
“I don’t care, get him in there”
I think it goes something like this, “Hey, Cockcroft, the rankings are in.” “These are crazy, I’m doing my own.”
@Grey: I bet Jeter is in there
Prolly
Jeez, they must pull these rankings from a hat
I was saying this above, I don’t even think it’s Cockcroft, Karabell and company that do these rankings
@Grey: I got that vibe last year frI’m Tristan. Like the content department and the rankings department are seperate groups that don’t talk.
Yeah, exactly…I actually think the rankings are from Rotowire…
@Grey: Yeah really just seems like there is no thought put into it at all.
It’s odd because Cock and Klara do rankings, it just doesn’t seem factored into espn’s…
Long term keeper league, H2H, cat. I have an offer for Strasburg on the table, basically I can choose from Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, Jason Heyward he’s also willing to package Moncada in the deal, we have a spot for young keepers basically an NA spot that he would fall into
to put it into perspective for pitchers I already have Sherzer and G Cole along with Eduardo Rodrigues, so Strasburg is some what expendable, my offensive keepers are Frazier, N Cruz, A Rendon, along with the options of Kyle Seager, Blake Swihart, Corey Dickerson
So I could use an upgrade in terms of offense, should I shop Strasburg around more, should I keep him and go pitching heavy with keepers (we keep 8 total)
I’d take Heyward and Moncada, but you can shop for more if you like
I think your Pujols ranking might be a little high if he misses the first month.
Yeah, I might drop him a little if we get to mid-March and injury news isn’t good
@Grey:
really hoping to get first base in first round this year
Agreed
Grey,
Great stuff as usual. I have a Keeper question for you. I have the following potential Keepers and the rounds they would be kept (we keep 2): Goldy (1), C. Davis (6), Carrasco (7), Correa (12), Syndergaard (12).
I have the second pick in the Draft of our Yahoo 12 Team H2H League so I will most likely pass on Goldy and draft Rizzo (long story – other top players are being kept). I am also going to keep Correa. My question is Davis in Round 6 or Syndergaard at Round 12. Leaning towards Thor, but I wanted to ask.
Thanks very much Grey.
Go Thor
@Grey: Many thanks. Keep up the most excellent work.
No problem
Thanks for your good work as always Grey!
Just wondering, will you be doing something similar for Yahoo rankings? I guess I could just compare their projections to yours, but you know… I’m lazy, haha
@Big W: P.S. Sorry if someone already asked above
Yahoo comes tomorrow
@Grey: Thank you!!!
No problem
If you could do one of these posts for Yahoo rankings that’d be hawt. I think they are sightly better than ESPN. And on a related note, how does your pitcher aversion manifest itself in your batter/pitcher split for auctions? I’m not talking valuations, I’m taking what you actually spend.
I’ll do Yahoo tomorrow
@Owen Simring: Same rule applies. Don’t pay for pitching. Grabbing your first SP in round 6-9 is the equivalent of spending $20 r less on your first auction SP.
Looks like there is an open spot in an RCL jack put together that I joined up in case anybody wants to jump in…
@GhostTownSteve:
should be a fun league. some good commenters in there it looks like.
@GhostTownSteve: we got 12
@J-FOH: You sure? Team 10 shows no owner?
@The Great Knoche: I see it now.
@J-FOH: Open? Let me know.
@Vegans: still open
Sorry if I missed this somewhere but will you be doing the same comps for Yahoo?
Tomorrow
Thanks to your rankings last year, I ended up with these players in a 6 keeper ESPN h2h league, 10 team:
Goldy
Rizzo
Kershaw
Arenado
Betts
Marte
Upton
A: thank you for the high Arenado ranking last year, I traded very little to get him, B: I’m trying to trade Upton, who is the 7th ranked out of these, for draft picks (which is allowed), but due to his awful ESPN ranking no one wants him. Damn you ESPN rankings. Should I try to trade Marte for a high pick or just let Upton go?
Nice! Trad him for a high draft pick and keep Upton
You’re not doing a Yahoo auction value one are you? Because if I spent the last two weeks identifying the best values against Yahoo, cross referencing with guys I actually like, and testing the market on these players in mock drafts, and then you went “Here’s a list of the biggest discrepencies and best values.”, I’d be really annoyed.
@Cram It: I think you should prepare to be annoyed. Haha!
@The Great Knoche: Ha. Probably my own fault for doing it a month a half away from draft day!
@Cram It: less annoyance!
Haha, no I’m not
@Grey: Ok cool. My work will mean something then!
Who were some of the biggest values?
@Grey: Well, I’ll list they’re avg draft cost, which is always higher than their projected value, because everyone overpays for everyone, so even still, great value:
Polanco $13
Frazier $19
Kyles Seager $8
Belt $7
Starlin Castro $2
Rodon $3
Hanley $9
Deshields $2
And my personal favorite: Maikel Franco $4
Upton at $22 is nice for a stud
So is JD at around $27.
Should save some bucks on quality.
Great value for all of those guys… Rodon at $3… HAHAHAHA… Seager at $8? I don’t think any of Yahoo’s experts would even say he’s less than $20
@Grey: Like ESPN, who knows where they get their expected “Projected Value” from ? As long as it keeps their actual costs down.
Yeah, exactly… I don’t think the people that work there know fully where the values come from, not even joking
will you’ do the same thing with cbs this year. My league commissioner just switch from ESPN. if not, can anyone tell me if there is a way to upload rankings to cbs.
Nope on CBS
Grey! Your rankings are like another version of the emmaculate conception…first being the birth of Drazen Petrovic (of course) and second being the birth of my son 9 days ago! Question for you, will the ‘Hitter/Pitcher Tiers’ link on the 2016 Rankings page be updated? If so, when? Thanks for all you do.
Ha, thanks! Congrats! Someone else does the tiers, no idea if they’re doing them
Love these posts.
In the “thank you” I would add Matz, who espn has like 180th, and Yasmani Thomas, who they have 600th or somthing.
It’s insane how good my teams have looked doing mock drafts on espn.
Thanks!
@Grey: I should say how good the mock team looks using your rankings and their adp.
Was curious if you unintentionally left off Matz and Tomas or was there a reason they didn’t show up on the thank you list?
I didn’t list everyone, just went through some that jumped out at me
Grey,
In a 12 team standard hth format, how soon before the season begins is the best time to draft? Is there a best time?
Thanks
Right before the season
Does anyone believe in a Jimmy Nelson breakout this year?
I go over him in my rankings
Now that the Betts and co for Archer trade went through, got a really interesting offer for Frazier…
My Frazier ($16) for his nicely-priced Rodon ($3) Buxton ($4) and Corbin ($8) (Corbin would prob be a nonkeeper trade piece).
Go for it?
To keep Rodon and Bux, I’d let my $14 Darvish fall to the auction pool (and hopefully get him again at or below that price). Freeing up this salary would also give me a lot more to work with come draft day.
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: *keeper league btw
Hold
Grey,
10 team keeper league, total of 7 players kept. So right of the bat 70 players off the board.
I have the 7th or 8th pick in the draft.
I plan to keep Arenado, Lindor, JDMart, Kershaw, Strausbug, Kershaw, Salazar and Darvish.
Other possible keepers, CarGo, Buxton..
Another owner offered me a deal for Corey Seager for my 1st rd pick with would the 7th or 8th I have and he would return back to me a 4th rd pick.
What would you do? Keep what I have up top, go get Seager or drop Darvish for either Cargo or Buxton?
I’d want Seager
Darvish over Buxton…Seager over CarGo
@Grey: So move my 1st pick for Seager, take the owner 4th. btw i traded my 3rd pick last year for JDmart. just in case you need to know that that.
Keep: Seager, Arenado, JDmart Kershaw, Strabusbug, Salazar and Darvish?
I just feel having a 2nd and 2 4th rd picks, if 70 players gone, the list will be limited.
The list will be limited, that’s why you have your 7 keepers
I love The ESPN bashing Grey. As Freud would say sometimes a steal is just a steal.
@Zeus: I posted before reading the whole thing. Schoop after Utley? Wow, unless you’re a racist Philly fan attending Wing Bowl or a Jimmy Buffett concert that makes no sense. As for me get you lips wet cause it’s time to have pep.
Yeah, it’s bonkers
Ha, yup
I am torn on whether or not to keep the Carl Everett persona…ANYWAY…
Thank you for caring too much Grey ;)
The real Carl Everett would never evolve into another name
@Grey: Aha!
Mattingly institutes no facial hair policy in Miami. (ironic since he once was benched for it as a Yankee) Yelich is only one excited, “now I’ll only look 15 years younger than everyone instead of 25” he says.
HA! Nice
@The great knoche: wow, so that simpsons sideburns joke will be reenacted with mattingly as mr.burns.
Categories are HR, R, RBI, SB, OBP, and SLG.
Start 1 at each infield position, 4 OF, 1 DH, no CI/MI.
Barring trades I’m keeping Gordon, Rendon, Springer, Marte, and Buxton.
I can keep Cutch in the 1st OR Abreu in the 3rd?
Abreu is a slam dunk right?
Yes, Abreu
10-team 5×5 keeper league … keep 6 players … no restrictions how long you can keep player.
My existing potential keepers are: Encarnacion, Lindor, C. Davis, Carlos Gonzalez, Blackmon, Archer, A. Jones and Sano
I was sent a few trade offers featuring Machado. Are any of these trade a decent value to get Machado?
Charlie Blackmon and Miguel Sano for Manny Machado and Hanley Ramirez
Charlie Blackmon, Archer and Miguel Sano for Manny Machado and Joc Pederson
I’d take Machado in the 1st one
@Grey:
Thanks for the feedback! :)
No problem
Whos the better keeper – in a keep forever league:
2 of 3
Piscotty or Ozuna or Javier Baez?
My other keepers:
posey
rizzo
cdavis
desmond
polanco
cain
eaton
JoFer
Harvey
Kluber
Arrieta
Melancon
I should probably trade pitching for an infielder
Not Baez
dynasty with a bunch of defensive stuff added. this makes 1B more valuable than 3B due to putouts/double plays. categories added are: BB’s, putouts, assists, outfield assists, fielding %, double plays, OPS, hits. 20 team H2H
C sal perez (he’s worth even more since he plays so much, it’s why i held zunino for so long last 2 years)
1B fielder (this is ugly to have a DH at 1B due to these categories)
2B. forsythe
3B beltre
SS andrus
LF upton
CF delino
RF stanton
util franco
BN choo, hicks, gallo, profar, mazara (at least 2 of these last 3 get NA’d soonish)
NA t.anderson
these categories made hosmer 4th overall in putouts and 5th in double plays.
would you do franco for hosmer? an owner needs 3B more than 1B, i’m the opposite from fielder not playing defense almost at all. hosmer also is only 3 years older (would’ve thought more). hosmer is of course weaker (slighty, so far) in OPS.
@Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: this starts to look like a no when i find out hosmer owner wants more than franco anyway. this owner would have only fatt adams as starter (and he doesn’t like fatt adams) and he’s worried about doing that. longer term i might get lucky if franco can just get some starts at 1B (or even better if he actually got moved there)
Sure
BFF! Looks like the Jays are trying to acquire Bruce, too bad it’s 3 years too late.
@Teddy Heater: not really, he’d have cost a lot more 3 years ago.
@Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: I was referring to fantasy, not real baseball. I’ve been a Bruce owner every year until now, so I’m sure if he gets traded he’ll crush it cause I won’t own him anywhere.
@Teddy Heater: yeah.
@Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: crap, this is probably bad for a-jax getting a starting spot too (i’ve got him for way too expensive in a very deep league, would cost me to cut him, and i can’t trade him until he signs, and since it’s taking him this long to sign one place i could’ve traded him to has since obtained other OF’ers)
Yeah, might be bad news for Pillar…
Keep forever league, no costs. Should I deal my Hosmer+Glasnow for LoCain+Orlando Arcia?
Sure
Just got done drafting…12 team yahoo roto standard, with 2 utility spots had the 6th pick
C. W. Castillo
1b. Rizzo (6)
2b. Schoop (209)
3b. Frazier (43)
SS. Bogaerts (67)
OF. J.D. Martinez (19)
OF. Springer (30)
OF. Billy Hamilton (102)
Utl. Joc Pederson (126)
Utl. Delino DeShields (222)
Bench. Domingo Santana (257)
PITCHERS
Noah (54)
Salazar (78)
Familia (91)
G. Perkins (150)
S. Tolleson (161)
JJ. Hoover (198)
Carter Capps (270)
R. Iglesias (115)
C. Rodon (137)
M. Fiers (174)
L. Severino (185)
A. Nola (246)
You look a little light on average and saves… Neither thing are a major deal at this point… Saves come into the league and average is fluky… Looks solid overall, F!
@Grey: Agree with the average..I think I’ll be alright with saves 4 closers and a possible fifth…I do plan on trying to trade a starter for another though…Yahoo’s rankings aren’t much different than ESPN ha…made it fairly easy.
@JeF WiTh 1 F: Everyone is sleeping on schoop and DeShields
@JeF WiTh 1 F: i’ve traded for deshields now in 3 dyansties in last 3 weeks
1. for calhoun str up
2. for heaney + 3rd rounder + 4th rounder (this is in league where those picks are garbage value)
3. for joe ross str up
@Aubrey Plaza’s Pillow: Nice..hopefully it’s still like that in a month
ok, post NA draft (can only draft those) waivers come off tomorrow. this team
C beef welington/mesoraco (one catcher league, but they were clearly better options than demoted/minor league pitchers to keep, we have huge benches)
1B E5
2B pedroia/harrison
SS k.marte
3B franco/harrison
LF upton/k.davis
CF cain sugar/delino
RF soler/polanco
1 util
BN tapia
NA swanson/t.anderson/dom smith/mcmahon/b.zimmer
SP carrasco/arreita/kluber/richards/iglesias/carmart/cashner/k.hendricks/bauer (later will grab at least 4-6 more of these, but they are all streamer types)
RP f-rod/perkins/osuna/strop (1 spot open)
BN stephenson/reyes (STL)
Later unless Stephenson stays up to start year i’ll need to cut at least 1 NA guy (i’m already cutting tapia)
1. who is the cut? (probably dom smith or mcmahon)
2. if i can waiver mazara (dropping tapia) tomorrow should i cut a 2nd NA guy? I know mazara is ranked higher in a vacuum but my team is 1B/SS/2B weak and RF strong. other options to waiver are b.park, SS improvement (semien/segura small increase), buchholz (best SP), or just grab my 5th RP.
3. harrison seems useful as backup 2B/3B but am i better off dropping him for park? (if i already got mazara or buchholz). there seem to be a lot of guys similar to harrison in FA.
1. McMahon 2. Smith 3. Yes
Yoan Moncada shows up to ST jacked as hell. Is he worth stashing in a keeper as someone that can be worth a top 50 rank next year, or will he not see any playing time this year?
@Fungazi: no playing time this year, very unlikely.
In a keeper league (no penalties for round kept), is my Schwarber for Springer even? I look at projections for this season and see even HR, runs, RBI, and similar average, OPS. Are the steals worth giving up the C eligibility and 4-5 years of age? I’m leaning heavily towards ‘no’-opinions?
@Matt: You want Springer there. ..do it while you can
@JeF WiTh 1 F: agreed.
8 keepers – keep forever
Roto 6×6 (ops + holds)
Keeping
Rizzo
Cabrera
Abreau
Marte
Braun
Tulo
Choose 2 from
Puig
Soler
Carrasco
Felix
Also, generally with 8 forever keeps, how many pitchers would you typically like?
@ferris: Solar, Carrasco
@JeF WiTh 1 F: *Soler
how weird is it when you see these espn “perts” at functions, it’s gotta be funny. no matter how nice of humans they might be (like with FOH and cockraft, or whichever one of them he’s buddies with) they are simply a joke at their jobs, while being thought of by a lot of people (and likely paid like it) as great. yet they keep on working there (the $ i’m sure) doing that joke of a job each year. be hard to look somebody like that in the face and not laugh out loud. kinda like the $10 handjob crack whore standing next to the $500 an hour call girl who looks exactly like a model while giving a third person technique advice as if her opinion holds the same weight.
@What’s a Drexl?: and of course by “nice people” we’re having to look past the whole contempt or not caring for their readers, so, that kind of “nice”
I like your work and I absolutely love it when you rip into ESPN but I think you were too hard on them regarding Altuve. I think having him at 6 is bold but not crazy and I could see someone drafting him over Rizzo. Rizzo is a stud and will prob put up .280/95/35/105/11. The 11SBs to be is the icing as that is rare in the position. There are a few guys in that position though that can somewhat hang with the rest of that line as 1B overall is pretty deep. 2B is is pretty decent this year but no one but Dee is touching Altuve. Altuve might be only 2B to hit .300 and get 90 runs. He also has a little power to keep him in there with the rest of the 2Bs. Then He offers the most steals aside from Dee. Not a lot of positions offer SBs that makes steals at 2B very important. The scarcity of SB and 2B to me bumps Altuve up the ranks. Even in points leagues hes up there in pts. All of that is why I would draft Altuve before Rizzo and not have an issue with it
Pillar/Pompey hurt by trade…This has to be good for Billy Hamilton though right? Makes Duvall and Cozart middle of order guys now, as sad as that sounds. He should now lead off. Poor Votto, he has no one around him now.
@The Great Knoche: yikes, cozart middle of an order.
Hey, Grey, Corey Seager or Kang?
Currently own Kang, but was offered Seager.
Love me some K-power, but Seager a very tempting 98-AB having young stud.
@Mikey U: I would take seager and not even think twice about it
@Nuke Laloosh:
Well, I did think twice, and then I took it.
Maybe living in Korea has made me irrational for Kang.
ESPN loves steals, but still didnt rank Rickey Henderson?!?!?
Perplexed Chef is
Was offered Rizzo for Corey Seager straight up. Very tempted. 12 team keeper. We keep 15 year to year. Either would be kept.
I already have Votto so 1b is not necessarily a hole.
I also have Russell and Machado who can slide in at short for the season.
Not sure why you wouldn’t
Hey Grey, I asked you about keepers at the end of last season and I wanna see if you still feel the same way. Here’s my roster as it stands:
Batters: Pierzynski (lol), Hoz, Dee, Arenado, Bogaerts, J. Upton, Calhoun, Gordo, Abreu, Prince, A. Jones
Pitchers: Yordano, DeGrom, Salazar, Stroman, Darvish, aaaaaand the rest are mainly trash streamers from last year’s playoffs.
Currently keeping: Arenado, Abreu, Dee, DeGrom, Upton
Look good? Gracias gracias
Yeah, those keepers look right still
@Grey: Sounds good, thanks. I’m ready to get this season rollin’!
Me too!