Third Base Ranks: Helium And A Brand New Table

So who is The Educator, anyway?

I was a blessed Midwest child who had my JV baseball home field in my backyard.  For many reasons, I’ve always been a baseball fan, not the least of which that it was the only sport I was coordinated enough to play.  Soccer?  Quit because I didn’t want to hit the ball with my head (that is dumb in my defense.)  Basketball?  Not quick enough.  Football?  My high school didn’t win a game for two straight seasons, why would I do that to myself?  So baseball, even with my noodle arm at second base, was the winner.  I had a nondescript career and a cup of coffee on a good varsity team, one that featured 8 guys that played in college.

It was an innocent time, one without even the internet to distract us.  The baseball card shop business was booming, and kids rode their bikes from all around town to see if our coveted 87 Topps Dan Gladden came in to complete the team set and check out the newest Beckett to see how our investment portfolio was developing.  My dad introduced me to Strat-o-Matic (guys, MLB The Show wasn’t invented yet!  Neither was RBI Baseball on Nintendo, for that matter) and it became a lifelong hobby.  Fantasy sports were just a natural progression.

Oh yeah, the internet.  Wasn’t invented yet for us plebians, so had to keep track of box scores from the daily newspaper (which I delivered, two time carrier of the year thank you very much) and The Sporting News.  After college in 1999 and “adulthood” finally had internet fantasy leagues and I was hooked.  Got a bunch of friends, my dad and brother, and picked up people along the way for my home league.  Since 1999, 11 people have been in the league come heck or high water.

Let’s fast forward 23 years from then till now.  You don’t want to read about my move to NC, marriage, special needs son, crazy smart daughter, and my job and time as a coach.  That will come out as I continue writing.  How did I get noticed by Razzball?

I snuck in.

You may know Son from pieces like this  

but he’s also the head honcho for the basketball part of this site, which in my unbiased opinion is the best daily source of fantasy hoops knowledge.  I was looking for more leagues for basketball and saw there is a writer’s league available.  Son forgot to put a password on it, so I was in.  I wrote a recap of the draft, apparently, Son had been drinking and posted it, and let me keep writing on the basketball side.  Tuesday recaps were my bag there.  Also, pray for Son.  He clearly has some judgment issues.

When a baseball opening covering corner infielders was presented, I jumped at the opportunity.  Finally, my year as a communications major before leaving that year with a 1.8 GPA, lost scholarship, and my parents’ respect gone is paying off.  Maybe now Mom will respect what I do?

You probably don’t care about my fantasy history, but I’ve been successful in my home leagues, have some championships, once won 110 games in a 30 team dynasty head to head, and last year finally went 3-3 in winning home leagues.  What I do the most, though, is just grind.
Got a running ranks list for every position and I think it’s fun.  I read box scores every day, read all the game recaps, hit Razzball’s daily recaps, couple other sites, and the Tweeter machine (@theEducator23).  My life with a special needs son, while challenging and rewarding, allows a lot of dead space for my ears, so I catch the major podcasts and listen to a lot of games on the radio.  Kinda without their knowledge hacked my in-laws TMobile MLB package also, so we’re all set!

I spent a good amount of time that I was supposed to be working thinking about how to best serve you, the reader.  I came up with this, based on what I like to read personally.

1. Running ranks:  I’ll do first base, alternating weeks for each one.

2. Notes and trends:  If I put in the table something under the word trend, either positive or negative, I’ll add a note about the player

3. Tiers:  You know what tiers are.  You don’t?  Google it.

4. I will focus on this year for my ranks, but I’ll add some keeper/dynasty things to spice it up.  Not like a jalapeno or anything.  There’s not much worse than a surprise pepper down the gullet.

We at Razzball have lots of ranks.

https://razzball.com/top-100-outfielders-for-2023-early-reactions/

https://razzball.com/corner-infield-i-hate-legos/

https://razzball.com/top-100-starting-pitchers-for-2023-week-1/

https://razzball.com/boldish-predictions-2023-middle-infielders/

If you’re keeping score at home, and if you are, that’s a super weird hobby, that’s ranks for pitchers, 1B, 3B, OF, and middle infielders on a regular basis.  It’s all covered, right here, and always entertaining.  I’ve learned more about baseball in a month as a writer here than ever in my life;  these guys know their stuff.  Go ahead and subscribe to the premium  

Valedictorian

Matt Chapman is the number one ranked in our fake game right now.  According to the player rater, he’s got 13 more smackers in value than second place.  It’s a contract year also.  I look for a .260 average and pushing 40 HR.  The lineup context is huge and could get 100 RBI.  Yes, I’m all in.

Honor Roll

My Razzball colleagues have written volumes about Jordan Walker already so just read theirs. He’s good.  I’m buying in.  Just remember in a keeper he won’t stay at third after this year.  I have him in one such league but already have a stacked outfield, gonna have to adjust.

Here is a Bing AI ballad written that speaks to the Razzball love better than me from the writers chat (credit to @jkj087 I stole it from him)

Grey Albright loves Jordan Walker so
He praises him on every podcast show
He thinks he is the best prospect around
With power, speed and skills that astound

He dreams of him in Cardinal red
Hitting home runs and clearing his head
He hopes he will soon join the big league
And make the fans cheer with joy and intrigue

He follows him on every minor site
He watches him with wonder and delight
He knows he is a future fantasy star
Who will help him win his league by far

Grey Albright is loyal to his crush
He waits for him with patience and a blush

Yoan Moncada is healthy now,  no oblique or Covid.  So his role is safe and the White Sox lineup is looking solid.  He’s a good guy to try especially if you missed out in your draft.

See me after class

I told you to avoid Bobby Witt Jr.  37th ranked at his position.  It’s the plate approach. That’s it.  Guys with sub .300 OBP don’t touch my teams.  Average could crater, lack of R and RBI, and hard to steal if you’re not on base right?  Y’all and your Witt first round flexes are probably sitting in 10th.

I don’t want to see Witt after class.  I want to see YOU.  Shoulda listened to me.  I’m not mad just disappointed.