The Official 2017 Razzball 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, Razz-ball won out, much to the chagrin of jazz fingers around the world. And just one ball. No multiple balls I guess. Kinda like the opposite of how Hilton didn’t want just one tree. Double that sh*t! 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. Last season’s can be found here for posterity! So without further ado, here are our Official 2017 Razzball Picks!

Major League Baseball Picks

AL Cy Young

Marcus Stroman led the MLB with a 60.1% ground ball rate last year. His K/9 was a respectable, but not elite 7.32. And to cap things off Stroman just pitched six blank innings in the finals of the World Baseball Classic against Puerto Rico holding the heart of their lineup of Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Carlos Beltran, Yadier Molina and Javier Baez to 1 hit. Could be his year. – Kerry.

I see the AL Cy Young as a race with only a few top tier horses. Yu Darvish, Chris Sale, and to a lesser extent, Cory Kluber. If you’re going to make a bold pick, like I have with Paxton for my AL Cy Young, it needs to be done within a crop of talent that lacks the considerable depth of an award like the NL Cy Young or NL MVP. Arm slot, improved defense, velocity, a dominant pitch, southpaw, tangible success, command. The list goes on for characteristics I love in this guy. Paxton is a consensus sleeper that the market still hasn’t properly adjusted to. I’m happy to live and die by Big James this season. – Lance.

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.

Jose Peraza has the leadoff spot in Cincy, and batting in front of on-base king Joey Votto and hard hitting Adam Duvall will lead to run chances. He’ll be able to bat at least 0.280 and steal bases, along with insane multi-position eligibility. Reach for the stars! – Andrew.

Obviously there is more risk with Jarrod Dyson than going with Hamilton, Gordon, Peraza etc. but you’re getting him at an extreme discount (I drafted him 223rd in the Razzball Writers League).  Dyson could play every day giving him 50 steal potential, especially if he bats leadoff. – Viz

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.

I mean, what can you say about the Padres offense that hasn’t already been said about the Trump administration? Wil Myers second half was something awful, and I’m still not quite convinced that the speed, an aspect that helped round out his success last season, is something we can expect on a regular, seasonal basis. The fact he’s on the Padres suggests to me that he’s the best baseball player of all time… ALL TIME!, but I soon returned to my senses. – Jay

This has more to do with me just rooting against this no fun, old, white fart with Ian Kinsler.  I hope pitchers do cartwheels off the mound every time they strike him out this year.  Make baseball fun again! – Matt Truss.

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.

Come Back Player of The Year (Come Back)

Again, pretty easy to figure out what this one means. Unless you’re Jason Heyward. BURN.

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 pick of  Clayton Kershaw 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 someone like Kershaw is gone by the second round, a performance like that would be the most valuable in the history of mankind. And probably destroy the universe as we know it.

Most Valuable Fantasy Hitter (MVFH)

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

I believe Ian Desmond is back by the end of April at the latest. With his power/speed combo and the elevated BABIP coming his way in Coors Field he may still produce a 25/20 season. The current ADP of #142 on ESPN and an upside of still giving Top 25 production means he’s primed for this award. – M@

Want more of the Jay? Don’t we all folks? Don’t. We. All. Well, you, in fact, can have more. AMAZING. I know. You can find Jay enjoying his digs over at the Football side of Razz.