“Today is a day that will live in infinity,” as FDRRRRRRRRR….said. It will also live in your hearts and minds for the next few months as you constantly check the 2021 fantasy baseball rankings for updates on projections, rankings and just other little fun bits of tid.
Before we get into the top 10 for 2021 fantasy baseball (though I imagine every single one of you has skipped this intro), I’m gonna lay down some exposition. Here’s where you follow us on Twitter. Here’s where you follow us on Facebook. Here’s our fantasy baseball player rater. Here’s our fantasy baseball team name generator. Here are all of our 2021 fantasy baseball rankings. Here’s the position eligibility chart for 2021 fantasy baseball. And here is a picture of my son. What a punim! You may not get all of those links in such a handy, easy-to-use format again this year, so make proper note. (Unless you just go to the top menu on this page that says “Rankings” and click it, but semantics, my over-the-internet friend, semantics.) Also, here’s Steamer’s 2021 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Hitters and 2021 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Pitchers. Rudy’s on top of it this year! Sorta, he says to note it’s Version 1.0, and tweaks will happen over the course of the next few weeks.
Now my expositional half insists I breakdown some generalizations about these 2021 fantasy baseball rankings. The 2021 fantasy baseball rankings will be an ever-evolving mass like the blob. This fantasy baseball top 10 for 2021 list is as of right now and could potentially change with a big injury or Ronald Acuña Jr. quitting baseball because he’s bored with being the best and wants to play competitive Mahjong. (I’m not sure yet where Acuña would rank in my Mahjong Top 10.) So while it is the 2021 fantasy baseball gospel, take it with a tablet of salt. Tomorrow we will cover the rest of the top 20 for 2021 fantasy baseball, then we will go around the horn with a top 20 (more like 60) list for every position. Then for pitchers and outfielders, I’ll turn the dial to 100 (more like 140). Listed with each player are my 2021 projections. Did I consult with anyone else who does projections? It would be ignorant not to, but, in the end, these are my projections. Players need 5 games started at a position to get included in the positional rankings. If I put someone in a position, that is why. Well, that is whyahoo, actually. Finally, as with each list in the 2021 fantasy baseball rankings, I will be mentioning where I see tiers start and stop. I look at tiers like this, if Mookie Betts and Acuña are in the same tier, it doesn’t matter if one guy is ranked 1st and one guy is ranked 4th, they’re both very close. It comes down to personal preference. I would prefer the guy at number one over the guy at four, but you do you, I’ll do me and let’s hope we don’t go blind. Anyway, here’s the top 10 for 2021 fantasy baseball:
NOTE: All 2021 fantasy baseball projections are based on a 162-game season, and will be until we hear definitively there will be less games.
NOTE II: All my rankings are currently available on Patreon for the price of a Starbucks coffee, if you get one of those extra grande frappuccino jobbers. Don’t wait for the rankings to come out over the next month, and get them all now.
1. Ronald Acuña Jr. – This is the first tier. This tier goes from here until Betts. I call this tier, “Ju$t.” Tier name isn’t hard to understand. These guys are Ju$t. Ronald Acuña Jr. isn’t just Ju$t. He’s Scrooge McDuck in an old-timey tub filled with Bitcoin. He’s every fraction of a penny they skimmed in Office Space. By the way, I have a theory that all major corporations saw Office Space and came up with the idea for their gift cards. Has anyone ever used exactly how much is on their gift cards? There’s prolly about $500 trillion dollars of leftover money on all the gift cards in the world. Gift us our gift card money back! So, Tildaddy, as Acuña is popularly known in these parts, is the Father, the Son and the “Holy Schnikes I Got The 1st Pick” of the draft. Was telling Donkey Teeth that I felt cowardly putting Tildaddy number one overall, because it felt easy, and I hate being easy, but I’m easily taking Tildaddy number one, so coward is I. Also, and I’ll prolly mention this at least once in every rankings post this year, but I’m weighing 2020’s stats on a scale, even if that was a wonky year, but I’m not putting all my eggs in that ovary, as the saying goes. If legitimate changes were made to a guy’s game in 2020, then I will adjust my thoughts on him. Mostly, I’m concerned about pitchers coming off a 45-65 IP season, but will cross that fallopian with my eggs when it’s that time of the month, as another well-known saying goes. In 2020, Tildaddy’s Ks went up, but his BABIP was down, and he just had a little bit of a slump that was more pronounced because of the small sample. I’m not concerned, and am in that tub with McDuck letting Tildaddy make it rain at number one overall. 2021 Projections: 116/39/97/.277/25 in 601 ABs
2. Fernando Tatis Jr. – What’s with all the juniors, huh? Makes me wish Delino DeShields Jr. was ranked third. Sadly, I have him down in the top 20 this year. (Top 20 Players Who Won’t Be Ranked Ever Again.) Was it lost on you that Ju$t is a Run the Jewels song and ranked number two was FTJ? Fun the Jewels fast! Fun the Jewels fast! Fun the Jewels fast! I was the high man on FTJ last year, and wanted to be again this year, but it felt slightly disingenuous to put in front of Tildaddy, when I would 10,000,000% take Acuña in front of FTJ. I’m sure some out there will put Tatis at number one overall, and I ain’t gonna fault them. If you never get better, you never get cheddar. And FTJ gets cheddar. Last year, when I told you to draft him supremely high, was the year to grab him. This year, you’re just hoping for a push, but a push from a guy projected for 35/25 isn’t a bad push. It’s like you’re playing against The Queen’s Gambit gambit’er and she does a Sicilian Defense and you pull out a bottle of Tanqueray and you guys call it a draw. If you were to weigh 2020’s stats as a 100% step north for FTJ and ignore RTJ’s Never Look Back, then he is about to have a 50/50/.290 season and be an easy number one. If you worry he still hasn’t had one full major league season, and maybe he’ll tire at some point, then number two is fine. I’m in the latter camp while happy to get rung up with a 100-game 30/20 season. 2021 Projections: 114/37/98/.274/27 in 581 ABs
3. Juan Soto – You’re wondering, so I’ll give it to you: Only debate in the top four for (stutterer!) me was Mookie Best or Sexy Dr. Pepper. At one point I had Best over SDP, then flip-flopped them, then flip-flopped them again, then took a 45-second nap, shot up in my bed, sweaty, questioning no one, “If there’s a Keanu Reeves, is there a Keanu Steves?” They’re both so damn sexy it’s hard. Dot dot dot. Really awkward time to pause, huh? I mean, pausing after saying “it’s hard,” and not clarifying what is hard is just bad form. It’s hard — the decision! What is wrong with you people? As I mentioned on one of our last fantasy baseball podcasts from last year, Sexy Dr. Pepper reminds me of a young Pujols — a 40-homer, .310 hitter, and more steals than you expect. That Juan Sexy Ess-Oh-Bee has upside still was final straw pushing him to three for me. 2021 Projections: 104/40/117/.312/10 in 536 ABs
4. Mookie Betts – Baseball might be a mess from the bottom of every organization’s Team President’s feet to the tippy-top of every owner’s head, but talent on the players’ end is not a problem. The top of the sport is as good as I can remember. Ju$t one sexpot after another. Tildday, Fun the Jewels, Sexy Dr. Pepper and Mookie Best are all so money. Just thought about the NL All-Star team and I had to splash ice water on my face, then stood up fast so the water would drip down, wetting my Kent Hrbek caricature three-quarter-sleeve shirt to my chest. Best is a .290-.330 hitter who can go 30/30 without a ton of effort, and is a lock for 120 runs. Thankfully, my Kent Hrbek shirt is already drenched, so my drool is camouflaged. 2021 Projections: 121/30/91/.301/24 in 607 ABs
5. Mike Trout – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Jo-Ram. I call this tier, “Yahoo Answers’ answer for, ‘Is PS4 worth buying for my kid?'” Maybe it’s manopause, maybe it’s from being quarantined for the last ten months, maybe my father didn’t lock me in a closet forcing me to smoke a whole pack of cigarettes enough times, but I cried when I saw someone ask Yahoo Answers, is it okay to buy their kid a PS4. *smacks self across the face* Get it together, you human! Yahoo Answers’ answer was that Ps4 was not as cool as the new PS5, but was still an excellent choice at a cheaper price. That’s this tier. As for Mike Trout, more like a barely used Ps5? Okay, I’ll lose the metaphor, but thinking Trout as being yesterday’s news, as Ryan Adams sang, is just straight crazy, right? Sure, his steals became nothing last year, but you really want the best real-life baseball player to steal bases in a goofy eh-eff year? Though, going back to 2019, and, yeah, maybe the steals are gone, huh? I’m about to say something, but before I do, you have to promise me you won’t try to commit me to an insane asylum. Promise? Okay. Is there that big a difference between a 39-homer, .280 hitting Trout with little-to-no-speed and Jose Abreu? *getting dragged into a paddy wagon* You promised! 2021 Projections: 103/39/109/.284/7 in 542 ABs
6. Trevor Story – When I see Trevor Story moves down to the 2nd round in some early ADP, the only thing I can think is everyone loves their new PS5. Sorry, that is the end of that allusion. I honestly have no idea why Trevor Story gets no love in drafts. It’s going on three years now. I can understand if you just woke from a coma from 2017, and you don’t understand why Trevor Story is good or why everyone’s wearing three masks and screaming like George Bluth’s prison guards, “No touching!” Assuming y’all have been staring at the walls for the last ten months and thinking about nothing but fantasy baseball, then I don’t get it. What does Trevor Story need to do? He’s a 35/20/.290 hitter, and he’s in Coors. You remember Coors, right? It makes pitchers grimace. Any definition of Coors and pitchers works there. I dug in a little to try to figure out why other people don’t like Story, but since I’m not other people, I stopped, realizing I have more important things to do. There’s more of a case to be made Story should be above Trout, then any lower than this. That’s a Story I’m more likely to tell. 2021 Projections: 105/33/98/.288/19 in 589 ABs
7. Trea Turner – As said previously, which is what I say before repeating myself, each tier’s players are interchangeable. If you want Story after Treat Urner, then I could see it. With that said, I nearly had the rankings like that myself while trying to make heads or tails of Treat’s 2020. I know, I know, I KNOW! Don’t put too much emphasis on 2020, but we can’t ostrich our heads in the sand and pretend it didn’t happen at all. Earth to dear reader, it happened, and dubya tee eff is 12/12 from Treat Urner? It’s, how do I say, not making sense. I can kinda understand it away in a few different ways: A) He knew there wasn’t much of a season, and the Nats were out of early, so he decided to say, eff it, and just hit for power. The ‘I’m going for mines’ strategy. B) With age, he can’t steal as many bags anymore, and is overcompensating. The ‘Check out my sports car’ strategy. C) There’s no C. So, B doesn’t make a ton of sense, his clocked speed was about the same. Maybe A makes sense, but I’m not sold, and it’s pretty anecdotal. The good news is his walk and strikeout rate went in the right direction, and those are the kind of changes that could stick from the shortened season, i.e., Trea Turner might’ve just became a perennial .315 hitter. Also, the other good news, steals come fast, literally and figuratively. He might’ve only stole 12 bags last year, but, in a six-month season, he could have a random 10 steals in a month, and correct two or three boring-for-steals months. Damn, I’m talking myself into moving Urner above Story again. Also, I kinda want to move them both above Trout, but I am a giant chicken. A bawk here, a bawk there, everywhere a bawk-bawk. 2021 Projections: 106/20/74/.306/33 in 608 ABs
8. Francisco Lindor – Here’s my Francisco Lindor fantasy from this offseason. It was written while getting a piggyback from a pig. 2021 Projections: 112/34/87/.283/17 in 608 ABs
9. Jose Ramirez – This whole tier could’ve been called “The 30/20 or the 20/30 Club Plus One and Trout’s on the List.” Trout knows someone at the front door, apparently. Those Jersey kids and their clubbing. The big concern I’d imagine with Jo-Jo-Ram is the fear he will hit .250. Cool, but he’s never hit for that low of an average without some bad luck. Of course, he has a proclivity for bad luck with his batted ball profile. You hit a badonkadonk trunkload of a fly balls, and bad things can happen to your average. That’s fair. He still has 25/25 ability, and he doesn’t strike out a lot, so, at worst, it’s a .250 average, and, more likely with neutral luck, it’s .270. He gives me the feels of a guy who will at some point have the bottom drop out, and just be awful, but, at 28 years old, I’m not betting it’s this year. Plus, after you bet your entire life on fantasy baseball, you don’t have room in your portfolio for more bets. 2021 Projections: 91/29/101/.268/23 in 564 ABs
10. Cody Bellinger – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until the top 20 for 2021 fantasy baseball. I call this tier, “The I Test.” The I Test is a lot like the eye test, but since I’m not judging any of these guys on anything I saw on the field, and is way more subjective, I’m calling it The I Test. I am the sole arbiter of The I Test, as nature intended it. As for Bellinger, I know about the shoulder surgery. As I said previously, “A random internet doctor said the surgery is minor, and Bellinger could come back stronger than ever. All the best doctors also list DFS in their Twitter bio.” And that’s me quoting me! He’s 25 years old, and it was fairly routine surgery that doesn’t affect hitters. Ideal? Prolly not, but this is a guy who has 45/15/.300 ability. Nothing about his previous year’s struggles scream warning signs, or even whisper it. He slumped for two months. It happens, no relation to J.A. or Ian. “You need to shorten that.” That’s someone at Ellis Island talking to Happ’s family after they misinterpreted someone saying sh*t happens as a family name. The I Test looks at Cody B. and says, “Get in on him before he’s a top three fantasy guy again.” This is the key to winning fantasy baseball. Get in on guys who are going to outperform their draft spot. Sounds basic, right? Okay, then why does everyone regurgitate to you rankings of what a player just did vs. what they are going to do in the future? Maybe they don’t know the future, like…*adjusts swami head covering*…me. 2021 Projections: 106/38/112/.278/12 in 551 ABs
Gotta love Whiskeytown references.
TFW you have Acuna, Tatis, Betts, and Jo-Ram as keepers. Time to make it 4 in a row. Welcome back, Razzballers! I know you never left but still :)
Excited for your rankings!
In a 14 team H2H points league which side do you prefer?
LeMahieu/plesac or Ketel Marte/ maeda
Happy Birthday!
I am in a 15 team 5×5 draft and hold. I can choose which draft position I pick from. What would you recommend?
Hello Grey,
I was pretty high on Croneworth prior to the Padres acquiring Ha-seong Kim, and loved that you wrote a sleeper post about him. Roster Resource is back to listing Croneworth as the Padres starting Second Baseman. Any new thoughts about this change?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
It’s here. Yearly rankings. Brings a tear to my eye. I love you, Grey. The 2021 season is truly under way.
Grey,
Since today is my birthday, I wanted to ask a ? Joe Musgrove just got traded to SD. Will his value now go up there and stay where it is? Also is he worth making a trade for him
Today is my birthday!
Musgrove’s value goes up a little, I like him
you too? Well happy birthday to you
Thanks!
Happy Birthday Grey! That deal is 3 teams, Mets get Joey Luchessi
So weird that the Pirates didn’t get an arm, they don’t have a rotation
Maybe they will give Bauer $400 m for 10 years with Lucchesi their #2. Hahaha.
Oh wait… Lucchesi went to the Mets?
Elite video LMAO! Solid rankings
Thanks, MP!
Musgrove to San Diego
nice move for him!
Puig or Pearson
solak or pearson
victor reyes or pearson
16 man dynasty. thanks
Also, Arenado for Kyle lewis and Pearson. thanks
Tough call, Arenado for this year, Lewis/Pearson for future
If Puig is unsigned, obviously not him, when do you have to decide?
Pearson over others
Im offering. You think puig gets signed in your opinion?
I don’t understand why he hasn’t been signed yet, but I’m worried it won’t happen
Great opening to your rankings, can’t go wrong with these 10. Look forward to the rest, always exciting to me. Love getting your points on each player to consider. Thanks Brother-Man
Thanks, man!
You already know what I’m gonna say, and you know what you did.
I’m not gonna argue positioning, because I feel you are right. BUT… the numbers feel squirrelly.
In his last 493 ABs, he hit 49/112/116… you have him down for 542, and yet 39/103/109… WUT. Does not compute with fact HH% and EV on LD+FB have been trending up. Explain yourself! *tears streaming down face*
Is this about Mitch Garver?
No… but close. This much more fishy!
*itch Garver?
M*** Trout!
No way! What? Over Garver? Cmon!
Make your math make sense or I call the paddy wagon cus I had my fingers crossed the whole time!
Haha, so are you saying I’m too low on Trout? You’re putting him in front of who?
haha, i mean the numbers. Your reasoning on ranking makes sense, the math on the projections doesn’t to me as explained in the first comment.
Ah, I hear ya…His LA keeps trending up and more fly balls, could mean that elusive 50 homers, and I wouldn’t put it past him… I kinda expect him to regress to 2018 launch and fly balls, so he’s not hitting .270 or lower — don’t really see 47+ HRs and .284, gonna be one or other, but I’m not betting against Trout either
Whats up Grey!
Great to see this scrolling through FB this morning to officially kickoff the ’21 baseball season, I appreciate you and the rest of the Razzballers!!
Love the strategy of taking pitching later in my drafts, it seems every year though Im left with crap for relief…in a 10 team h2h, a few questions:
A: Are there certain positions that I should look to fill earlier than others outside of drafting obvious studs in the 1st/2nd rounds?
B: It seems QS are going to be hard to come by this year, when would you start drafting SP’s?
C: When should I start grabbing relievers for both holds/saves?
Looking forward to your posts, appreciate you man!
-Gary Z
Thanks!
A. Nah, but OFs do fall off a little after about the top 10
B. Around pick 45/50
C. Separate categories? Or a Holds/saves combo category?
Separate categories
Then saves around 110/120 overall and holds around 180+
Ok awesome, thanks for the help!!!
-Gary Z
No problem
Maybe it’s just me but I’m going to nitpick one thing on the Story blurb and projections.
You project Story for 19 steals in 162 games, which would be his lowest total really since 2017. Yes, he only had 15 steals last year but those 15 came in 59 games, basically one every four games. Last year he was on pace for a 30 HR and 40 SB season. In 2019, Story 35 HR and 23 SB. In 2018, Story had 37 HR and 27 SB.
Now, here’s where my nitpicking comes in. Story was clearly headed for a 30/30 season or better last year except for losing 100 games worth of stats. This year he’s entering his free agent year, so I would fully expect him to go all out trying to produce some eye-popping stats. I mean, you gotta believe he has a 30/30 season on the brain so he can cash in.
I think you’re dead on with him everywhere else, but I’ll be stunned if he regresses to 19 steals this year. It’s not like the Rockies are going to tell him not to run. They’re going to stink. He’ll be free to do as he pleases. I expect a 30/30 year and so should you!
Yeah, you could be right, I like him a lot
I’m glad to see you don’t disagree! I’m saying it now: Story goes 30/30 this year if they play 162 games and he avoids injury.
Today is one of my favorite days of the year! Is officially the start of fantasy baseball season! It isn’t fantasy baseball without Grey’s rankings!
Appreciate all the time you put into your rankings and answering all these questions!
No problem! Thanks!
So these are the guys to target after Arozarena and Seager… I feel you!
Looking forward to it all, and hopefully it doesn’t fizzle in March again.
Haha
So here’s a specific question about a keeper league. 10 Team. I have a bunch of expensive but good players- Trout, Turner, Freeman, Springer, Abreu, Judge
I also will keep Maeda because he’s cheap and probably Gore and maybe Puk who aren’t completely trustworthy.
Question: Would you recommend keeping the expensive hitters and then getting ALL your sleeper pitchers to fill out my staff? Is that enough? Should I also target a guy like Gallon for stability if I can afford him? I know the sleepers are risky but how confident are you with those sleepers?
I like Gallen, Gore and Puk, but how cheap is cheap? In some 10 team leagues, Gore and Puk won’t even be owned, so depends on how deep too
10 team but we fill a roster of 40. There is waivers but most relevant players are not available and trades can be tough.
Maeda is $4. Gore is $1 and Puk is $5.
Gallon will go in the $20 range.
I’m thinking I could get all your sleepers for $35-40
40 is fairly deep — Gore is great at $1…Puk doesn’t feel as great, maybe he goes for around that? Gallen at $20 sounds fine, then he’s your ace
That’s what I was thinking too. Thanks.
And then round out with a bunch of pitching sleepers?
Yeah, that’s your ace then
Thanks for the advice.
No problem
Grey,
Thanks for the handy links above especially Steamers.
My main league is OBP so thanks to Rudy for that feature.
Yup, No problem!
Grey!
Hope you’re staying safe and healthy! How would you rank Tier 1 for a points league that penalizes strikeouts? I’ve got Acuña, but I’m a Dodgers fan so I kind of want to try to trade for Mookie. Good idea? Bad idea?
Thanks!
Thanks! You too! I’d keep Acuna
10 team roto, keep 10 forever –
The current plan is to keep Voit, Rendon, Story, Tucker, Trout, Soto, Y.Alvarez, Scherzer, L.Castillo and Sixto Sanchez.
Do I consider any of the following over those 10 – Altuve, Dom Smith, Bundy
It’s between Sixto and Bundy, but Sixto’s upside is much better, and I’m going him
Thanks!
No problem
Think Soto is number one for me.
The batting average stability for me makes up for steals with Acuna and Tatis. Plus he seems like 100/100 lock on Runs and RBIs with a 120/120 possibility. How about some
115/45/125/15/.325
In grand scheme if I get one of top 4 picks or even top 6 i’m happy. The gap just seems smaller than the debates of previous years.
Yeah, I thought about it, I really love Soto at 3 tho, bc of the ceilings of the other two and floors are still great SBs…Tatis’s floor worries me a tad, not sure if we’ve seen it yet
Oh, and if I’m getting pick 6 with someone taking an SP in the top 5 I’m over the moon
I just got Mookie at 6 in an NFBC draft.
Nice!
Keeper question.
12 team mixed, roto, KEEP 5 forever. Have to choose from:
Tatis, Story, Machado, Harper, Albies, Nola, Harper.
Tatis and Story are no brainers. Right now, for the other 3 I’m leaning: Machado, Harper and Nola.
What do you Razzballers think?
Thanks
I’d keep Albies and throw back Nola and one of the Harpers.
You have Harper listed twice. Was there another choice?
Yes. Thanks for pointing that out.
Take out one Harper and Inlcude Giolito.
I’d keep Tatis, Story, Machado, Harper, Albies
You clearly are a Nats fan with Trea and Soto leading the Top 10 in BA. Love the ranks but can I ask? Is twin Bellinger aka Chloe Karyelich number 11? I mean the same can be said for both? Yelich is one year removed from a batting title and have similar setups. But one works out of one of the best lineups Bellinger aka Codi – B and the other … yeah on an infomercial but hey, She still bangs…ChloYelich
Yeah, she’s number 11
Mountcastle for Valdez in keeper league?
I’d take Framber
Looking at trading either Teoscar or Arozarena for some SP help in a keeper league. Which of the 2 should would you look to trade and who are some SP targets you would consider trading them for?
Well, I’d trade Teoscar 1st, but I think Randy might get you more…I’d look for a top 5-10 SP
20 team H2H categories with quality starts and saves/holds combined
keep 3
kluber, cristian javier, alex reyes, burnes, urias, liam hendriks
thanks
The last 3.
thank you
Agree with packers
thank you
No problem
Grey!!!!
Wow, what an amazing top 10 for 2021!!
a. So many cans of worms opened therein!! Trout stealing 30 in 2021 would blow at least one of them away!
b. Marx brothers quotes will start for the first day of ST.
c. MLB quote of the day for January 18, 2021
1. Curt Flood, born January 18, 1938
‘Today’s players should know Curt Flood. Few do. It was Flood who, when the Cardinals traded him to the Washington Senators after the 1969 season, first challenged baseball’s reserve clause-which bound players for life to the clubs that first signed them-in court. He lost, but baseball was shaken. Five years later, a federal court effectively killed the reserve clause. Salaries skyrocketed.’
Tribune Staff Writer Alan Solomon (Chicago Tribune, 07/25/1993, ‘Flood Proud Of Rebel Role’, Source)
2. Scott McGregor, born January 18, 1954
‘Location and movement to me are the most important factors to pitching, but if you can locate a 95 mph fastball with movement, that’s even better. But I have seen plenty of 88-90 mph successful pitchers who can locate pitches.’
Scott McGregor in the Baltimore Sun (BaltimoreSun.com, 08/29/2006)
3. Brady Anderson, born January 18, 1964
‘He’s added a dimension that you don’t see in a leadoff man other than Rickey (Henderson). He’s an impact player in the field, on the bases, at the plate. Right now, he’s as good as any player in the league other than maybe (Kirby) Puckett. He’s definitely had as much impact as any player.’
Baltimore Orioles Coach Davey Lopes in Sports Illustrated (06/22/1992, Going Batty For Brady, Page 53)
4. Wandy Rodriguez, January 18, 1979
‘Wandy continues to throw ball well, and we need it, especially from where he is in the rotation. He’s a guy that’s going to give us a quality start and a chance to pitch deep into games. He’s thrown well and the other guys have fallen in line.’
Houston Astros Manager Brad Mills on MLB.com (Brian McTaggart, 04/22/2012, ‘Schafer’s first slam backs Wandy’s gem’, Source)
Cheers,
Ante
A. That would shock me
B. Appreciate you!
C. Hey, these guys all share my birthday! I knew there was a reason why I loved Brady Anderson’s sideburns so much — btw, I’m just now realizing you’ve been doing birthdays — have you been doing that all along for quotes?
C. Haha. I guess I should start explaining comments.
f. MLB quote of the day for December 8, 2020
1. Tim Foli, born December 8, 1950
‘The Lord is all the glory. How else can you explain a mediocre shortstop playing in the (1979) World Series.’
HAHA
Tim Foli had a way with words
Glossary for the glossary!
VinWins!
You da man!! Appreciate you much.
Cheers
Ante
Grey!!
a. I hope you are positively surprised at least 5 times this season. Like you drafted Trout but then paid you #1 dividends.
b. Since about November or so the quote took a different tack made really simple by the Baseball Almanac site. They post all the players who were born or died on this date. If you click on the hyperlink for the player you want, it opens up to either a quote for the guy (if he’s famous) or a suggestion to submit a quote for that guy (’cause he has no quote). So, there. Finally the cat’s out of the bag.
c. Happy Birthday man! Hope at least one dream comes true this year for you.
Cheers,
Ante
B. It all makes sense now, only took me 3 months to figure it out
C. Appreciate that!
Grey!
I am copying and pasting from the site. I am a plagiarist, being that I am 95% lazy.
Appreciate you more than you.
Cheers,
Ante
Haha, perfect
Grey,
It’s ranking day! It’s ranking day!! Lol it’s like the first night of Hanukkah all over again, except instead of 7 more nights we get 10? 15? more night of this fantasy baseball ranking miracle. Ahh the miracle of Razzball.
Yahoo 10 team, h2h, 6×5 including ops, keep 7 forever, keeper value tied to the round a player was drafted, noted below in parenthesis.
Trout (1)
Yelich (2)
Mondesi (3)
Giolito (4)
Scherzer (6)
Arenado (13)
Tucker (22)
Acuña (24)
Albies (14) * if I trade my Scherzer for his Albies*
1. Of the 8 listed above, who is the odd man out? This answer may change knowing I have a trade offer on the table. My Scherzer for his Albies. Scherzer holds round 6 value and Albies round 14 value.
2. Should I trade my Scherzer for his Albies? If yes, which 7 to keep? If no, which 7 to keep?
3. I may join you in the paddy wagon with this question, but would you consider trading Trout before the remaining value he has dries up? I know in ‘14 he stole 16 bases and in ‘15 he stole 11 and people questioned if he’d run again, but then in ‘16 he stole 30, in ‘17 he stole 22, and in ‘18 he stole 24. Then of course he tailed off again with 11 in ‘19 and 1 in ‘20. He’s only 29, but are the days of a decent to good amount of sbs from him gone?
He’s a first round keeper for me and I almost wonder if I should move him for someone who’s value isn’t perceived to be as high as his? Someone maybe like Story? Thoughts?
I would trade Max for Albies in a heart beat. Better round too.
I would lose Giolito.
Agree with Packers, but going in with no pitchers could hurt. Grey would probably disagree, but I think you could get mondesi in 3rd or 4th round potentially. I’d trade for allies and throw mondesi back.
Especially with OPS being a stat. Mondesi won’t help you at all there.
Mondesi tossed back over Giolito is fair, I think they’re both near-pushes at that price
Totally agree! I thought keep giolito since he has no SP and will lose his first 3 draft picks if he kept mondesi.
Yeah, that logic makes sense, then just redraft Mondesi or someone else, bc if you’re stuck without a number one, you could be in trouble
This is without knowing which SPs are available obviously
This is a great counterpoint. Your choices are essentially between
1) Mondesi and whatever pitchers are thrown back into the draft pool or
2) Giolito and whatever ss/sb monsters are still available
Worth monitoring for sure, but your point about potentially not having an ace is definitely worth noting. It would absolutely suck to not have an elite performer, albeit in one category, but I do have speed on the roster from my other 6 keepers.
Yeah, I’m torn, but I think Giolito prolly way to go
Thanks Jr for all of your feedback!! I’m leaning toward tossing Mondesi back for all the reasons you mentioned above, but thankfully I don’t have to make a final decision yet since our draft is many weeks away.
It’s a ranking miracle!
I’d take Albies and toss back Giolito
Thanks Grey for responding and for all of your tirelessly awesome and amazing work!!
Thanks Packers and Jr!
I’ll go ahead and trade Scherzer for Albies.
Grey, I agree that the decision is either toss back Mondesi (3) or Giolito (4), and that both are a push at their current value. With this being a 10 team league, would you be concerned going into the draft with 7 hitters and 0 pitchers if I threw Giolito back?
Appreciate it! Prolly would keep Giolito to guarantee myself a starter
Gotcha. Thanks!!
I’m leaning that way, but getting the Grey stamp of approval definitely swings it in that favor. Also, if I had to guess, I’d imagine it would be easier to re-draft Mondesi in round 3 than Giolito in round 4, which is what I’d be faced with throwing one of them back.
I’d think so too
Thanks!!
No problem
3. He’s still a top 5 hitter
Gotcha. While he may be on the decline since his sbs are drying up, agreed he’s still a top 5 hitter.
Considering offensive production and keeper values, if I were to move him, I’d only want one of these hitters back
FTJ, Soto, Betts, Story, and maybe Turner
I don’t think the owner who has FTJ, Soto and Turner would do it, and the same owner who wants my Scherzer for his Albies owns Betts and Story. He loves Betts so he’s likely out. Maybe he’d trade Story? I’m not sure, but realistically he’s the only person I’d want and would be able to get. Story is round 9 keeper value too.
I can see if the Albies owner wants to expand the trade, but damn a blockbuster of Trout (r1) + Scherzer (r6) for Story (r9) + Albies (r14) is a heck of a deal to kick off the season. Which side would you want?
I’d be wary of Story and Turner — if Story gets traded, not good…and Trea loses a step, he loses some of his value
Very true. Story is a fa after this season I think? So he may get traded or they may let him walk, which to your point would hurt his value.
Realistically, the only players worth trading Trout for are FTJ, Soto or Betts, and I don’t know if their owner would want to do that. But you never know.
Regardless of how likely/unlikely trading Trout is, I always love hearing your opinions and thoughts. Thanks!!
Yup, that makes sense!
Glossary
Run the Jewels (RTJ): an American hip hop supergroup duo consisting of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Run_the_Jewels)
Office Space: a 1999 American black comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. It satirizes the work life of a typical software company, focusing on a handful of individuals weary of their jobs. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_Space)
PS4: The PlayStation 4: an eighth-generation home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Announced as the successor to the PlayStation 3 in February 2013, it was launched on November 15 in North America. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_4)
Schnikes: general exclamation used in place of “crap”. (http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/schnik
Vin! Can you do this everyday. I feel like I miss so many one-liners do to my lack of cultural knowledge.
Ha! You and me both.
Haha
Haha, appreciate you, Vin Wins!
Ditto Vin!
If you don’t know Run the Jewels, you should learn about them!
I actually did look them up when you started FTJ. I had no idea.
I’m old.
Listen to the song, Ju$t
Will do
Yeah……..I’m gonna need you to come in on Saturday. Oh, oh, and I almost forgot. Ahh, I’m also gonna need you to go ahead and come in on Sunday, too.
VinWins stays winning!