The Razzball Elite League… Part Deux!

by: M@

Razzball Nation!

For the second time, the Baseball Razzball Elite League is here!

We’re doin’ it, and doin’ it, and doin’ it again! Now, stop licking your lips, LL. That’s just creepy. And this is nothing but good news! Get excited!

The idea of the Baseball Razzball Elite League (REL) was amazing, so good we had to come back for another. If only that was true in other areas of my life. At home. LINDA! But for real, REL1 filled up so fast that unless you were one of the lucky few to read JB’s post within ten minutes of being uploaded to the interwebs…you were left out. And that was most of you. Which left you sad. And we don’t like sad pandas, do we? (The answer is no…)

Once REL1 filled up dozens, nay, hundreds, of people commented on their desire to join the league if someone dropped out. We took many of those comments and were able to fill out a second REL league: REL2! Well, almost fill it up. And that’s why you’re reading this!

But first, here’s a snippet from JB‘s initial post laying out some of the groundwork for just what in the world REL actually is…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Learn more about our 2025 Fantasy Baseball Subscriptions!

The best daily/weekly player rankings/projections (hitters, starters, and relievers) for each of the next 7-10 days + next calendar week starting Friday. Kick-ass DFS lineup optimizer and projections for DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo!.

I don’t have enough spam, give me the Razzball email newsletter!

Weekly Razzball news delivered straight to your inbox.

See all of today’s starting lineups

#	MLB Starting Lineups For Mon 8/4
	ARI \| ATL \| BAL \| BOS \| CHC \| CIN \| CLE \| COL \| DET \| HOU \| KC \| LAA \| LAD \| MIA \| MIL \| MIN \| NYM \| NYY \| PHI \| PIT \| SD \| SF \| STL \| TB \| TEX \| TOR \| ATH \| CHW \| OAK \| SEA \| WSH

RCL Update: Drafts Are Coming

March 4, 2016 | Our Leagues | 7 Comments

by: Jay

GOTrazzRCLdraftComing

Actually, a few have already happened (and we’ll talk about them a bit after the jump), but, just like the title alludes to, the table is set, the forks and spoons are in their right place, and hopefully there’s food ready and on the way. In terms of the RCL universe (since I’m hungry and if there are any more food metaphors, I’ll eventually end up eating my monitor), the “league” has taken shape and drafts are about to begin. (But that doesn’t mean you still can’t create and join your choice of RCLs!) And, I want to touch on this: when I say “league”, I mean league, not leagues. Because ef pluralization… I mean, what has it ever done for me? Regardless, you have to remember, this is one complete universal league. The Milky Way of Fantasy Baseball if you will, including Mike Trout, Saturn, and of course, Uranus. Don’t roll your eyes, you knew it was coming. I only mention this (not Uranus), because as teams fall out of contention later in the season, owners will begin to pay less and less attention to their roster, and soon, you’ll have a 12-team league that feels like a five-team league. This is actually quite common in free-to-play leagues and perfectly normal for our specific formats, so don’t feel scorned, abandoned, or betrayed. These owners aren’t there to entertain you, only themselves. I mean, that’s why I write, it’s only to entertain myself. And my mother. You guys are the crazy ones reading this. And sure, at the dawn of the season, everyone feels excited, bashful hope abound. Puppies and ice cream everywhere! But as the season moves past the All-Star break, you have to remember that you aren’t necessarily playing against your 12-team league. No, you are playing against 1,000+ teams in one universal league. For some neat prizes I might add, and most importantly, ultimate bragging rights. So don’t feel alone. Enjoy the long journey. Participate as best you can. Be one with the fantasy baseballs (and Uranus). I guess that’s my last bit of advice as the RCL Updates will now be handled by Matt Truss. He will be your in-season storyteller, and starting next week, he’ll begin to tell your story. The RCL story. And I can’t wait. (I’m talking about eating…)

Please, blog, may I have some more?

JB’s 2016 Top 100 Starting Pitchers

March 4, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Pitcher Profiles | 228 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

Oh man, baseball is almost back!

This has been an epicly tough offseason… Mainly because it took me like 3 weeks and countless hours to try and get these rankings done… How the hell does Grey do it?! Probably by not watching any TV or movies; he STILL refuses to catch up and watch The Fifth Element!

Then again, I went from 6700 words in my yearly magnum opus in 2015 to 9500+ this time! JB-Full-Of-Words! I dunno if J-FOW is a new acronym I want though, I sound like the nerdy, fantasy baseball brah from Jersey Shore.

I’m absolutely pumped for another season of Pitcher Profiles, a full season with my new computer for the sexier new pitcher GIFs, flashing around my very own, spiffy Gamescore+ stat, and a season to hopefully forget the epic Greek tragedy of Shane Greene. Super Greene!

If you missed the wrap up at the end of last year, you can check out how my 2015 pre-ranks fared against Grey and ESPN.

Let’s get down-n-dirty into it! Especially since we’re nearing 9600 words with this open now… Sheesh! Someone get this guy an editor! As always, please shoot your comments below on what ya think, and happy pitching to us all in 2016!

Want to take on myself and the other contributors for prizes in our RCL League? Join here!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Debunking Position Scarcity In Mixed League Fantasy Baseball

March 3, 2016 | 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft | 102 Comments

by: Rudy Gamble

I wrote a detailed post last year on position adjustments where I looked at the subject from a few different angles. While I still have the same position that the concept of ‘position scarcity’ (aka boosting up the values of certain positions like C/2B/SS) in mixed leagues is false but largely benign, the illogicality of it is driving me a little nuttier this year. Hence, another post.

I will be focusing on standard mixed league formats. AL/NL-only is a different beast where ‘scarcity’ could occur at any position given the percentage of major league starting players who are drafted.

To start, here is a hypothetical question. Let’s say a player is projected at 80/20/80/5/.280. Should he more expensive in a draft as a 2B or a 3B? Catcher or SS? 1B or OF?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

2016 Disgraces and Delights: Middle Infielders

March 3, 2016 | 2023 Fantasy Baseball | 30 Comments

by: LT Murray IV

Greetings! Wow, my first fantasy draft of the year and the Academy Awards, all in one night! What a time to be alive! I’d like to imagine being there congratulating Leo, as I feel a certain kinship with him, as I, like him, have never been fully appreciated for my talent. I’ve never won any awards and am more well-known for my countless female actress/model take-downs. So what if my catches are extras and his are A-listers? “P is P, Dog!” Haha, have you ever know someone who uttered that phrase? What an embarrassment to life. If this is you, give your life to me and the Elder Gods, and we will do what we can to revitalize any hope you have of being a respectable human being. Anyway, I won’t be winning many awards for this past Sunday’s draft, for I was in the middle of a threesome with Christian Slater’s nephew and Lena Dunham, but as always, I will compete to a grizzly, disgusting, death if that is my fate.

I know I need to put out these position groups out faster than the Kardashian sisters at a Nickelodeon Teen’s choice awards after-party, so with all of our drafts are approaching, sit back, put your feet up, unzip your pants, and enjoy the show!

I am Tehol Beddict and this is Disgrace/Delight. TAKE HEED!

Want to take on Tehol and other writers in our RCL League? Join here!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Troy Tulowitzki, 2016 Fantasy Schmohawk

March 3, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Overrated | 319 Comments

by: Grey

I didn’t think I was going to be needed to write this overrated post. I figured Troy Tulowitzki is who he is at this point. Everyone knew who they were getting. Nothing new here to see. Old hat as milliners say. Then a weird thing happened. I started looking at where Tulowitzki was being ranked, and drafted. That’s when the “what the effs” started to set in. Was Tulo suddenly reborn a Canadian superhero by the name of Mooseknuckles in his new home in Toronto? Was there something that uber-handsome, but slightly stupid, Fantasy Master Lothario, Grey Albright, was missing? Could I come up with one more question for the Rule of Three? These questions all ran through my mind. Granted, while Tulo was running through my mind, he nearly pulled his hamstring making this whole argument moot, but he was still there at the end of my soul searching. Standing metaphorically on the tip of medulla oblongata about to take a step into my subconscious. Was this Tulo or the blue Janeane Garofalo-looking girl in Inside/Out? Or is that Janeane Garofalo in a blue sweater in front of me in line at a Pressed Juicery? Should I ask her why she doesn’t gain weight again so she can regain her funny? So many questions, so little time. Tulo was about to bat in one of the most potent lineups, and, for now, had two working hamstrings, why can’t I get on board? My existential crisis reached such a fever pitch my eyes started to move in opposite directions like Jean-Paul Sartre. Anyway, why is Troy Tulowitzski overrated for 2016 fantasy baseball?

Please, blog, may I have some more?

A Day In The Life Of A Razzballer, Part 1: The Preseason

March 2, 2016 | 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft | 51 Comments

by: Webelos Willie

Jay’s Note: I’m happy to present a unique addition to our preseason content, as one of the readers/commenters approached me about writing on the subject of “the Razzballer”. This story isn’t just unique to Webelos Willie, but to all of you as well, and maybe even the most human story I’ve ever read. Okay, maybe not to that degree, I’d probably give that award to L. Ron Hubbard’s “Battlefield Earth”, but regardless, this three-part series was such a great treat to read and because of that, I invite all fans of the site to tell us your story down in the comment section… How do you prepare for the upcoming season? How do you use Razzball? So, without further ado, here’s Webelos Willie’s Razzball story, and it just might be your story too…

It is four weeks before my draft and a lyric from a Tom Petty song plays over and over in my head. The waiting is the hardest part. MLB spring training games haven’t started. My commish hasn’t renewed our league yet. We aren’t even sure if all of last year’s owners are returning.

This is a crucial time for fantasy baseball and nothing has happened yet…

I have found that there are three components to success in fantasy baseball. Each week in this series I will mention one. The first is: Time Invested. Sometimes just showing up everyday leap-frogs you over the owners who are used to fantasy football and forget to change out their lineups some mornings. Look, fantasy football is checkers. Fantasy baseball is chess. Fantasy football takes a little bit of time every week. Baseball requires your attention every damn day for half of the year. But right now – before the baseball season has even begun – is when the time you invest really pays off.

Here’s how I am spending my time right now during the fantasy baseball preseason…

Please, blog, may I have some more?

My Dynasty Addiction: Navigating First Year Player/MiLB Drafts

March 2, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Prospects | 43 Comments

by: Geoff

Over the last month a large percentage of your questions have been focused on minors only and first year player drafts. Up until this point I’ve tried to handle your questions the best I could on a case by case basis. On who to take, where, and which player was a better fit. It was fun, I shared my biases, and you thought I knew what I was talking about. See, here’s the thing, I’m not so much an expert as I am an avid player. More than anything else these are my diary entries as I try to deal, day by day, with my crippling fantasy addiction. So today I’ve decided to give a real world snapshot of three different league’s first year player drafts. Below you’ll find a brief description of each league, and a look at the first round or two of each draft. This should give you an idea of what people are doing in actual dynasty fantasy baseball drafts in 2016. Better to show than tell, if you catch my drift.

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Aroldis Gunning For May Return

March 2, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Daily Notes | 238 Comments

by: Grey

Baseball commissioner, Rob Manfred, took the podium yesterday and said, “Whether it’s the speed of the game, popularity of the game — as indicated by TV ratings — the amount of open-handed palm grabs of a crotch or spousal abuse, we will not become the NFL. For better or worse, the number seven is indivisible under God and so are we!” And with that, Our Man Fred suspended Aroldis Chapman for 30 games. Trying to stay positive, Aroldis commented that he would not appeal the suspension but that “I am very glad I can still own a gun; I am getting married, after all.” One of the top closers takes a huge hit in value, I knocked him out of my top 100 for 2016 fantasy baseball, and took him down in my top 500. His auction value dropped from $20 to $9. Hopefully, he can make up lost salary with endorsements for Smith & Wesson and as the opening act for Smif-N-Wessun. A double threat of new income! Andrew Miller received a slight boost, as well. There’s also a long shot scenario that the Yankees are comfortable with Miller in the ninth, when Aroldis returns, and Chapman becomes the world’s best setup man. Before you scoff, you scoffer, it’s not like Miller isn’t good. Gun to my head, I’d draft Miller in any league. Unless it was Aroldis’s gun, then I’d politely ask him who he wants me to draft and tell him I’ll happily marry him. By the by, in just a few short years, Aroldis has been caught leaving a woman tied to his hotel room bed, choking a woman and firing gunshots. It’s no wonder this is his new Topps baseball card. Anyway, here’s what else I saw in spring training for fantasy baseball:

Please, blog, may I have some more?

2016 Fantasy Baseball Pitchers With SP/RP Eligibility

March 1, 2016 | 2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft | 67 Comments

by: Rudy Gamble

For those of you in leagues where SP and RP are rostered positions, the below list includes all SP/RP eligible pitchers (defined as 5+ Games Started and 5+ Relief Appearances in 2015). You can arrange the list via seven categories; 2015 games started, 2015 games pitched in relief, projections for both 2016 games started and games pitched in relief, and by ERA, WHIP, and K9. Any questions, feel free to post them below!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Podcast: “Please Be My Friend Again!”

March 1, 2016 | All Podcasts, Fantasy Baseball Rankings | 28 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

Whew, things get spicy this morning on The Razzball Baseball Podcast! Hopefully you like our new publish time, and can enjoy Grey and I yelling at each other during your morning commute! On today’s show we recap the news since the last pod including Dexter Fowler‘s return to the Cubbies and a sleeper OF situation in Cleveland. Then the hot tamale. We debate Grey and I’s (grammatical error just for you!) SP ranks. My top 100 SP will be up Friday morning, but Grey still dissected it like a frog in a 3rd grade classroom. We get heated over the sleeper potential for Joe Ross, Yu Darvish‘s impact off TJ, but make amends with a collective drooling over Carlos Rodon. Here’s our latest edition of the Razzball Baseball Podcast, now with more arguing!!!:

Download from iTunes

Please, blog, may I have some more?

Sonny Gray, 2016 Fantasy Schmohawk

March 1, 2016 | Fantasy Baseball Overrated | 240 Comments

by: Grey

This happened during the holiday season in my house: Me, “Do you know what not winning the Cy Young did to your mother? I don’t care, personally, if you throw your life away being an ace while never bringing home the postseason hardware, but your mother, she told all of her friends at her Wally Lamb book club for three straight months that you were going to win the Cy Young. She even made me go to Costco, on a Sunday during their busiest time, and buy burgers and buns for a Sonny Gray Cy Young party. Then you only receive one 2nd place vote and no first place votes. I’m disappointed, and you giving your mother and I Billy Butler BBQ sauce for Christmas doesn’t really make up for it.” Sonny, “Sorry, Pops.” “Did you even buy this or did you get it free?” I then threw Billy Butler’s BBQ into the fireplace and screamed, “Did you?!” It was an ugly scene. He’s my boy, Sonny Gray, and I love him very much, but it’s time we look at him through a non-familial gaze. Last year, he had a 2.73 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 208 IP while breaking out as a number one fantasy starter. Or did he?! Ah, Reversal Question, you are quick…Or are you?! I am!…Or am I?! Anyway, what can we expect from Sonny Gray for 2016 fantasy baseball and what makes him overrated?

Please, blog, may I have some more?