Today, we go over the top 40 outfielders for 2013 fantasy baseball. Yesterday, we went over the top 20 outfielders for 2013 fantasy baseball. It will be a date which will live in…Well, it won’t live in infamy, so what’s the opposite of that? Famy? It will live in unfamy? That’s just ridiculous. What are you, the 7-Up guy? By the time you get to these outfielders, I’m sure you’ve drafted at least one outfielder. If you haven’t, wake from your slumber, Rip Van Schmucko, your draft is slipping away from you. There’s a lot of interesting names in this top 40. Alex Rios is one interesting name. It was even more interesting when it was Alexis Rios. All of the 2013 fantasy baseball rankings are there. If you right click that and open it in a new tab, your car will get a free smog check (it won’t). Without further delay (there really wasn’t much delay, I mean, that was a short intro compared to most)… Anyway, here’s the top 40 outfielders for 2013 fantasy baseball:
21. Austin Jackson – This tier started in the top 20 outfielders for 2013 fantasy baseball. This tier ends at Gordon. I called this tier, “You could get a number one outfielder or flop, plop, nothing.” I almost put Austin Jackson in the top 20. I was thisclose. Nay! Thisclose. Is that closer? Yeah, it is. But Jackson’s in the same tier as guys in the top 20, so it’s kinda like they’re together. Maybe they can go for drinks and talk about this. “Whaddup, Desmond Jennings? We were in the same tier on Grey’s preseason rankings!” That’s Austin greeting Jennings at the All-Star Game. The lack of walks from Jackson in previous seasons scared the bedeityofchoiceus out of me. The Ks weren’t something I liked. I had concerns about Jackson four days to Wednesday. Last year, he raised his walks, lowered his Ks and made solid contact. The steals were a bit low (12), coupled with 9 times caught stealing. That’s a concern, but he’s fast and 26 years old. Me likey. Guys and four girls, please draft Austin Jackson. 2013 Projections: 105/15/62/.288/20
22. Alex Gordon – Here’s one place I go a tad screwy. The other guys in this tier are clearly number one outfielders or obviously headed that way. There’s issues with some of them, but you see their number one-ness. Last year, Gordon hit 14 homers. Yay. Placido Polanco called and asked him if he wanted some power hitting tips. I’m looking at Gordon’s peripherals though, and I’m really liking what I’m seeing. His walks went up, line drives went up (not literally) and Ks went down. His fly balls went down (literally), but not to the point where we need to be alarmed. His doubles were insane (51 last year) and he’s going to be 28 years old, which I’m hoping means this is the year his power peaks. He needs luck here, but if he hits enough “Just enoughs” (almost stutterer!) and has another 150+ game season, he’s going to be a huge breakout for 2013. The markings are on the wall; he just needs to tag the ball. Banksy approves. 2013 Projections: 92/27/105/.290/10
23. Ben Zobrist – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Craig. I call this tier, “These guys have more value at other positions so there’s that.” I already went over Zobrist’s projections in the top 20 2nd basemen for 2013 fantasy baseball.
24. Allen Craig – Went over Craig’s projections in the top 20 1st basemen for 2013 fantasy baseball.
25. Hunter Pence – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Markakis. I call this tier, “We had some good times with these guys. Like that time when we…Uh… And that other time!” This is gonna be a long tier of players you all know more or less and who’ve you’ve gotten more and/or less from depending on their season. Each guy is six of one/half dozen of another. Everything from last year looks repeatable for Pence with a touch higher average. The problem, of course, he only hit 25 homers and stole 5 bases. If he’s not stealing 15 bases a year, like he’s a few years removed from, then his value drops to a solid number two outfielder, but not a number one. 2013 Projections: 81/24/95/.284/7
26. Alex Rios – Rios’s career reminds me of the Game song, Martians vs. Goblins. In the general sense. Not in the general sense that it’s a phenomenal song, but in the general sense that Rios looks schizophrenic from year to year, fighting with himself over what he is. B**ch, I’m a motherf**kin’ martian, I’m a goddamn goblin! So, will Rios fall back like LeBron’s hairline, sucking like with wonton soup or will his power be limitless like Blanka on Sega Genesis? I have no idea. Keep in mind, last year I told you to draft him and this year I’m weary because he’s priced much higher. 2013 Projections: 88/19/70/.281/18
27. Nelson Cruz – He’s a number one outfielder…If he doesn’t get hurt. That “if” is bigger than Tarantino’s ego. So, will Cruz rebound nicely without Hamilton or will he do Jackie Brown, some high profile karate crap and some period pieces that are wrapped in a bow by the media pretending to be more than they are, which is nice in parts, but poor as a whole? 2013 Projections: 74/25/86/.265/7
28. Carlos Beltran – You know the hot garbage you leave out overnight then decide to make a hat out of? That was Beltran in the 2nd half of last year. It was a garbage hat. His 2nd half: 33/12/32/.236/5. I just vomited in my mouth then spit it on the floor and it spelled out, “I’m vomit. What’s up?” If that 2nd half is any indication of which way this 35-year-old is headed, I’d stay away, but his 1st half was solid. I think we’ll probably get somewhere between the two for the full 2013 season, which is still a’ight. 2013 Projections: 75/23/89/.279/10
29. Mark Trumbo – Went over Trumbo’s projections in the top 20 1st basemen for 2013 fantasy baseball.
30. Josh Willingham – What can I say about Willingham that hasn’t been said before? He has four superfluous nipples. I could say that. I could also say that whenever he took off his shirt in the high school gym locker room, they called him Milkingham. Of course, I’m not sure if any of that is accurate, but I could say it. 2013 Projections: 78/29/89/.257/3
31. Curtis Granderson – He hit a career high for homers last year (43), his worst average (.232) and has a strikeout rate that is rapidly getting out of his control. My hypothesis as to what’s going down is what a lot of lefties could be susceptible to when they see the Pesci Pole in Yankee Stadium only about 175 feet away. He’s trying to hit everything out. He’s going to be 32 years old this year and if he loses even a hair off his average and power, he’s going to be tough to own. UPDATE: Grandy had the curtis-y (hehe) to get injured before most drafts happened. He’s going to be out for 10 weeks with a fracture in his forearm. If my math is right, he has a three-arm and a one-arm and should have a forearm again by May. 2013 Projections: 71/24/82/.242/11
32. Shane Victorino – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Reached a deal with the Red Sox, so they didn’t have to go to battle with Daniel Nava in right field. You know what they call Daniel’s sister? Nava-ho. Hey, blame her promiscuousness. Great landing spot for Victorino’s fantasy value. In 18 plate appearances in Fenway, he has a .143 average, but that’s the small sample size talking, as I said in my college production of the Puppetry of the Penis. I could see Victorino slapping balls against the wall all day long, as I said in the same production. With Fenway boosting his BABIP and him returning to his pre-Dodger Stadium power, he could be good for a return to 15/30/.270.” And that’s me quoting me! 2013 Projections: 92/14/66/.272/29
33. Ichiro Suzuki – On one hand, I think the entire Yankee team can collapse under old age. On the other hand, I think everyone on the Yankees can collapse under old age, except Ichiro and he can still have a good year. On a third hand that is actually Genesis’s Invisible Touch album cover, maybe Ichiro stays healthy and still doesn’t do much. I tend to trust my second hand. It’s been with me for as long as I can remember. 2013 Projections: 88/12/62/.289/22
34. Michael Bourn – His nine homers last year are make believe. Anyone actually see any of his homers? Raise your hand. You don’t count, sorry. Anyone else? See? No one saw them. They don’t exist. He hit 5 homers in one month, when he was obviously hitting from the 2nd base bag, then four over the course of the rest of the season. I’d hope for five homers from him for the year and expect two. Of course, steals are there in bucketloads. SAGNOF! Oh, and it didn’t matter where he signed. He decided he didn’t want to throw out all his racist Native American dinner plates, so he went from the Braves to the Indians. 2013 Projections: 97/3/49/.269/40
35. Torii Hunter – When he signed with the Tigers, I didn’t write about him. What’s up with that, yo? I’m not sure. His homers went into the dumper last year (16) due to a huge drop off in fly balls (2011 FB rate 33.3% to 25.4 last year). You didn’t really see much of a fall off on the bottom line because his line drive rate went up a tick and his BABIP was ridiculous. Basically, every grounder went through. At one point, he could’ve hit a slow roller to the 2nd baseman and have it caught by a squirrel and said squirrel would run around with the ball until Torii was safe at first. Looking for a veteran that could completely disappoint? Look no further. 2013 Projections: 87/20/78/.260/8
36. Andre Ethier – Don’t worry, this tier ends soon. I promise. 2013: Projections: 83/23/87/.285/3
37. Nick Markakis – You ask yourself, what does Markakis have to do to finally move down the preseason rankings? Good question, you. The O’s have to move him out of the heart of the lineup. To make that happen, write a letter to the Orioles’ front office. As long as he’s in there, he’ll get counting stats. 2013 Projections: 82/17/85/.293/5
38. Josh Reddick – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Fowler. I call this tier, “Take last year at worst, get more than last year at best.” There’s some hope in this tier for upside. Hope for upside is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies. I will be hoping that this familiar fantasy baseball axiom finds you, and finds you well. Reddick looks like the crazy-nippled Milkingham with a handful of steals and a worse average. Reddick only hit 14% of fly balls for homers, which isn’t a huge number for a 32-homer guy. That’s because he didn’t hit anything besides fly balls. He was second in the majors for fly ball rate and hit a large number of infield flies. Gonna make it hard for him to hit a dignified average (or a decent average if you don’t overuse a thesaurus). There’s a chance he hits a few more line drives like in 2011 when he hit .280. As Jeff Buckley would’ve said, “Upside… Halleluiah… Upside… Halleluiah… Upside… Halleluiah…” 2013 Projections: 83/27/90/.255/7
39. Norichika Aoki – He reminds me of Yoenis. Norichika’s numbers make sense in context of one year, but that sample size is smaller than you after taking a dip in an ice cold pool. His 6.6 on the Bill James Speed Score has him ranked by De Aza, Maybin and Ichiro for speed, so he should be able to steal some bases. His 7.9% HR/FB rate doesn’t seen preposterous. He doesn’t strikeout at all. He ranked 6th for tops in strikeout rate. He even walks a bit (9.4%), which is comparative to, say, Pedroia. I’m honestly flying by the seat of my pants with what to expect because of his lack of a track record, but I think we can get a comparable season to last year with a couple more homers. One word of caution: Don’t Google Noribukkake A-okay. You people are sick! 2013 Projections: 85/12/54/.295/27
40. Dexter Fowler – Unlike the previous two in this tier, I’m going further out on a limb with Fowler. What, I’m not chicken. He has 40 steal speed. Granted, he’s all thumbs when it comes to actually stealing bases. Literally, he runs on his hands. It’s pretty cool. Last year, he was caught five times in 17 attempts. That’s progress. The year before it was 12 steals in 21 attempts. Ha! Davey Lopes just threw a bag of poop at Fowler’s house. With a step forward, he could steal more. Hey, that’s punny. Continue into the top 60 outfielders for 2013 fantasy baseball. 2013 Projections: 92/9/50/.269/27
So you’re avoiding the “We had some good times with these guys. Like that time when we…Uh… And that other time!” tier right, or did i read the vibe wrong…
@beardcrabs: I wouldn’t say avoiding… I’m just not anxious for them… Honestly, half of them are so low in my top 400, I’m not getting a decent amount of them…
@beardcrabs: Here’s the word I was looking for: meh.
@Grey: Eh, don’t be like that. I just took one of ’em in the slow mock…
@Steve: Is that the mock you play out over the year?
@Grey: Yeah. Just took Beltran. Another friend-of-Razzball took Pence, pretty much right in my face.
Big O?
@Grey: vinko.
Ah…An old school Razzer!
@Grey:
not me .
vinko went pence and smardz .
in between , i took cj wilson and middle brooks .
steve , at the turn ,also took ian kennedy .
p.s.
you can’t trust those 2 guys .
the walls have “eyes” in this joint .
People are probably reading what we’re writing right now… Creepy…
@Grey:
again .
not me .
[email protected]Steve: Is it public? Can we monitor? link?
@simply fred:
so long as you don’t ridicule my pick of bryce @ # 14
@costaricanchata: who’s this oley’n character? what was he thinkin’? :-)
Have a lotta’ love for the Big O!
6X6 roto 12 team league. Extra categories are doubles and quality starts. Keep 5 players.
So far I’m keeping:
Ryan Braun
Adrian gonzalez
Ian Kinsler
Which two would you keep out of:
Brett Lawrie
Yoenis Cespedes
Eric hosmer
Thanks for the help!
@cruisinkc: cespedes and lawrie
@cruisinkc: Hey, first girl reader, I agree with Wallpaper.
@Grey: hey grey! I’m proud of the “first girl reader” title!
Thanks Grey! As always, entertaining to read and very informative.
@Raftman: No problem…
Milkingham?
I think you could get locked up if caught trying to milk a pig. Sounds like something Rocket Man Clemens would have done to get bigger. “I didn’t use steroids. This is all natural. A lot of weight lifting and milk drinking.”
@Wallpaper Paterson: Ha!
Thanks, Grey. I think OF 20-40 and SP 20-40 lists are the most important ones you do. Usually picking the right three guys from this list (OF #2, 3, and likely my U) makes or breaks my season. I’ll probably go back to the round 7-10 Nelson Cruz well again this year – so speaking of, does your write-up of him mean you didn’t like Django? Full disclosure, I haven’t seen Inglorious Basterds yet but thought Django was a good time. Then again, I don’t get out much. LOVE the site, and you deserve all the $$ contributions you get. Also happy to get in a comment before the thread devolves into a Jim-Rome-esque copycat-fest. Shoot, sorry that last line sounds grumpy. “hey you kids get off my lawn” yells the old guy.
Wait, I just noticed that the Margarita tab is gone?
@Jef: If you click on “Home” at the top, you’ll find “Buy Grey a daiquiri” right after the first post.
@Jef: I looked at my watch with Django when there was 45 minutes left and thought it was over… As I said above, had parts that were fun, I needed to be stoned to enjoy the whole thing… Thanks for the kind words!
@Grey: Some friends went to see Django Unchained before my birthday party, expecting that it would be over in less than two hours because one of them looked up the wrong movie (that Django about Django Reinhardt that came out a while back)…They ended up leaving the movie with about 45 minutes left, which I told them was not necessary, but was flattering nonetheless. It sounds like I can tell them that they didn’t miss much anyway.
They saw the editor’s cut of the movie… If there was one that could’ve told QT what to do… It was entertaining like Inglorious Basterds, but I didn’t like the 3rd act of either…
You made a list and I checked it twice. Where is Jason Werth?
@Lob Ball: Not in the top 40…
I’m pretty positive Gordon will be available for me when my pick comes up in our draft and he looks like a more than solid no. 2 OF behind my fav keeper, Giancarlo. Yeah, I’d be happy with that 1-2. What would you say is Gordon’s floor, though?
@Jon: Last year…
Shaun Marcum has a deal with the Mets. Gotta figure he maybe moves up a couple of spots now that he faces the Marlins pretty often, no?
@Eddy: Nah… He has arm issues…
And by the time you’ve woken up Justin Upton will be a Brave!
@Eddy: Wow, Momma Upton moves to Atlanta…
Sounds like Braves are getting closer to landing Justin Upton… K Rosenthal and J Heyman tweeting.
@Jon: Crazy…
Where is Jose Bautista????
@Greg: #10 on the top 20 outfielders
Was really hoping to see Crawford here…I just can’t stop drafting this guy
@Edub: You should try…
Upton to Braves for Prado, Delgado +.
@royce!: Nick Ahmed and Zeke Spruill.
@royce!: Diamondbacks are funny… They hate their good players…
Hi Grey. Looking for some advice in a 5×5 roto keeper (3year). Also two catcher. I need eight from this group.
Hamels
Shields
Latos
Moore
Wieters
Butler
Castro
Hill
Moustakas
A Jackson
Hosmer
I figure Castro and Hamels are givens but having trouble with the rest. Thoughts?
I posted this late last night (thank you for the reader responses…just looking for Grey’s insight)
@Boomer19: Castro, Hamels, Latos, Moore, Wieters, Butler, Jackson, Hosmer…
@Boomer19: @Boomer19:
Sorry. Top six. Damn copy and paste.
@Boomer19: Castro, Hamels, Moore, Wieters, Butler, Jackson…
J. Upton to the Braves. That OF is sexay.
@Will: Y-Up
i like me some j-ups to the braves. so Mr. Grey, what this post tells me is a top 4 outfielder grouping of justin upton, adam jones, shin-soo choo, and alex gordon would be rock solid?
@alldayLT: Definitely…
Braves getting Upton and third baseman Chris Johnson. The D-Backs get third baseman/outfielder Martin Prado, starting pitcher Randall Delgado, minor-league shortstop Nick Ahmed and minor-league pitcher Zeke Spruill.
It is now a “done deal” pending physicals.
this should shuffle some value a bit, now Chris Johnson gets a full platoon with Juan Francisco, Shizz!
@Todd25: Ha…Yeah re: Johnson…
Seems that the greatest fantasy impact from this Upton trade should be an increase in Juan Francisco’s ABs, since Prado was the most likely 3B platoon partner. Or was there another potential 3B I’m forgetting? chipper isn’t having second thoughts like Rolen, I hope
@royce!: dammit, just sawn the Chris Johnson part… That screws Francisco.
@royce!: I wonder if this will affect Prado much? maybe rotate between outfield and 3b, and maybe +2 hr? or maybe the lineup drop off will kill all value.
Grey, how does the J-Upton trade affects your projections for him and your #10 overall ranking? His home and road splits are not terrific. Does playing with Bossman Junior and Heyward counteract leaving friendly Chase Field?
@Vacation: I’ll update it, it’s not going to change anything but words…
Pick TWO catchers for the next 5 years?
McCann
Ramos
Grandal
Mesoraco
Arencibia
Avila
Brantly
@Commish Cauda: McCann, Avila…
No love for the Milk Man in the bottom 40 outfielder’s ? Gonna be in a hitter’s park in a hitter’s line up. What’s not to like. ? I’m surprised you had Beltran in your 20-40 ranking’s.He’s just screaming IR list multiple times.
Thinking about my # 3 and # 4 OF picks. Thinking Cespedes,Gordon,Makaris,and Melky. Standard 12 man, H2H, 5X5 league. Any other idea’s for OF picks ? need to pick two.
Thanks as always for your advice.
@Big AL: There will be a top 60 tomorrow…
I’m a happy Braves fan this afternoon. Gonna be hard to not try and land all 3 OFs in drafts…I’ll talk myself out of doing that, but man that’s a nasty OF. J-Up prolly loses some HRs with the move but gets some more Runs/RBIs.
From a real baseball perspective, I love this move. Losing Prado’s versatility kinda stinks, but he was gonna walk at the end of the year anyway.
Scott had a well-timed Braves minor league preview yesterday huh?
@MattTruss223: Yeah, good day to be a Braves fan, for sure… Bad year to be a D-Backs fan…
I got it, Kevin towers is getting advice from Ed Wade. “If you can’t win burn the organization to the ground! To the ground!!!” says Ed Wade. Damn it, now Nick Ahmed is going to block Didi Gregorious at shortstop.
@Cole: Towers is effin’ puzzling… It’s worse than Wade… Towers is actually producing nice prospects and getting rid of them…
@Grey:
There’s basically no precident for how fast they dropped Bauer. A number one overall pick from the year before? You don’t give those guys up.
They’re MLB equivalent to cutters… They cut because it feels good…
@Grey: Little surprised about Fowler making top 40. Was offered this trade…which side? Cain for Wil Myers(26th rd keeper) and 4th rd pick. 12 Team H2H – Long Term Keeper League(8 keepers per team)
BA, R, AVG, SB, BB, HR, RBI, TB
ERA, WHIP, K, QS, IP, K, SV, L — Min. 40 IP
@Obmij76: I’d take Myers, don’t really have enough info though…
@Grey: current keepers besides Myers include Prince, Hanley, Latos, Samardizja, Harper, Jennings, Kimbrel, Belt. Almost all top players are kept so the draft is about filling holes. Still keep Myers instead of dealing for Cain?
Yeah, go with Myers…
Womb reunion!
Cespedes I am actually sold on the talent, but he only played 129 games last year and I can see him being a regular on the DTD or the 15 day. He had hands and hammy last year. He’s big and he plays hard, high impact. For real baseball sake, the A’s need him to be healthy. They were like a .650+ winning percentage when he played last year and sub-.500 when he was out.
I like Josh Willingham among this group. I think he’s overlooked and folks worry that Target Field will supress the power (despite last year’s evidence to the contrary). Guy has never failed to reach at least 20 home runs when he has played 130 games or more. He hits the ball in the air. And I can tell you from his time in Oakland, he does not get cheated. He hits ’em high and far. Got absolutely great extension on his swing and you cannot get him out inside. I see no reason he doesn’t go 30 100 again this year even if he miss his standard 20 games with bumps and bruises.
I am totally with you on Gordon. The lights are on with him. He’s a .300 hitter now and will chip in all around. A guy I will definitely want to own.
I think that Austin Jackson seems like a stretch to get 20 SBs. I think maybe having Cabrera and Fielder coming up is a disincentive to send a guy who gets caught as much as he does. Even if he gets to 20 SBs, his numbers for some reason to me don’t seem to match up with how high you have him (even if he hits the projection). Definitely have him a few pegs down in my mind.
@OaktownSteve: Ha, yes… The Womb Reunion! People seem to love Cespedes if the last two days of comments are any indication… I don’t think he had this many fantasy fans last year… Rudy and I drafted him in multiple leagues without much effort…
Just subscribing to the post. Nothing to see here.
Unrelated to the top 40 OF, but I can’t seem to wait for your SP rankings!
12 team, h2h, 5×5, $260 Full roster w/ 1 Catcher (5 of, CI, MI, Util, 6 SP, 3 RP)
Keep 5 from the following:
Votto $37
Bumgarner $15
Latos $14
Aroldis Chapman $5
Wainwright $10
Aoki $10
Revere $8
Chris Davis $10
Thanks for all the guidance.
I have a question that is not so a propos, but since my only online presence is on razzball, I’m asking it here. I just watched the trailer for the new Coen Bros film, which presumably is set in the 1960s. In one scene, the main character is looking at records, some of which are in plastic sleeves. This seemed odd to me. Do any of the older razzballers recall if they had plastic sleeves for vinyl in the sixties? I don’t know why I care, but I do.
That sounds like a question for Oaktown Steve…
@royce!: Yup, they would have, and in the 70s too. A plastic sleeve and then inside the cardboard one.
@royce!:
Absolutely yes. Later in the 70’s and into the 80’s they went from the plastic sleeve to the shrinkwrap. It kind of coincided with the decline of album cover art. In the 60’s and early 70’s more dough went into producing the covers and people used to consider the album cover, the liner notes and the record itself as all part of the collectable product, so those plastic sleeves were there to protect the cardboard cover.
Hey…it was a question for me!
@OaktownSteve: You’re right – I was thinking of the plastic sleeve that covered the disc (which was then placed inside the cardboard sleeve). I’d forgotten about those plastic sleeves that cover the cardboard one. I think I have a couple of those somewhere…
@OaktownSteve: Huh, cool to know. I was thinking that people began treating them like collectables later, so the plastic sleeves came along then, kind of like with comic books or baseball cards. I have a lot of vinyl from the 60s and most of it is beat to hell, though I rarely pay over $20 for anything. Thanks for the insight!
@OaktownSteve:
don’t remember the plastic sleeves (maybe it’s just that i can’t envision what it is you guys are talking about) .
do remember that the sgt peppers album evoked stories that seem to take on the mystique of cult-ism .
not sure if that was when paul “was dead” , though .
Gonna end up with Heyward/Jennings/Granderson as my OF in a keeper league. (B. Lawrie being my only other keeper on offense) It’s 6×5 H2H with hits being an extra catagory. Am I gonna be doomed in AVG. & Hits or do you think I can recover during the draft?
You’ll need to recover, but you will be at a slight disadvantage…
Keeper league question: I just got offered Albert Pujols straight up for Justin Upton. Do I make that move???
I’d take Pujols…
My other keepers are Cargo Stanton Longoria and Starlin
Ok I’m gonna throw this out there, if you don’t like it, just let it hit the guy sitting next to you eating a burrito.
Why wouldn’t baseball teams do this…
This idea is mainly geared for when a team needs one run. Ok so it’s first and third, with either 1 or no outs. The guy on first is slow, so the manager decides to pinch run for him, but instead of putting in a guy who is fast, he puts in a guy that is built like Dwayne Johnson (aka The Rock) or bigger (yes bigger!) Now this “Baseball Rock” is an athletic guy, he doesn’t have blinding speed, but he can make it around the bases, and he understands the game.
So you instruct The Baseball Rock, that any fly ball hit you play it like any other baseball player would, halfway or book it.
BUTTTT, if it’s a groundball you have The Baseball Rock just stand where he is in his short lead.
One out so the fielding team goes to second, but then when they throw the ball to first The Baseball Rock lines himself up with the throw, and blocks the ball preferably with his back (Obviously the ball could still get through, but that’s why this guy has to be HUGE). The guy on third was ignored, and scores as the team assumed the double play.
Even if it’s no out, the team holds the guy on third, the guy stays, so the team throws to second, but the moment the ball is deflected by the Baseball Rock, the guy on third has a chance to make it home.
HELL if you had a real badass player he could do this anytime he wanted to break up a double play. I doubt there is a rule against a player wearing 10 shirts under his jersey. You’re telling me that a throw from JJ Hardy is going to hurt The Baseball Rock, puh-lease.
HELL #2 you don’t even need to have a man on third. In the situation where a double play ends the game, ENDS YOUR SEASON, why not give your team another at bat. As they say in baseball, “It only takes one.”
HA! I like it! Basically, you’re hiring Andre the Giant-type players to break up double plays and barrel over catchers for the winning run…
@Grey: Haha, I didn’t even think about the catcher barreling bonus. The move that keeps on giving!
Let’s buy a team!
@DKohn:
Rules of baseball 7.08(b)
Any runner is out when:
(b) He intentionally interferes with a thrown ball; or hinders a fielder attempting to make a play on a batted ball;
Is it intentional if the guy is just a behemoth running as hard as he can?
@Grey: @Grey:
The written rule gives the umpire discression, so that if he judges that the intent was to interfere, he can call the guy out. Also, infielders have already been dealing with this for year turning double plays. It so happens that the trajectory for a side arm throw from the second base bag to first is right at the runner’s head. Not surprisingly, they always slide.
Can our hypothetical Andre the Giant guy wear a suit of armor?
@Grey: …that oddly looks similar to the black knight from Holy Grail!
Could have stadium giveaways and everything!
@Grey:
I love it! It’s like an Bill Veeck/Charlie Finely baseball parallel universe. Midgets and giants in armor, stripper basecoaches in bikini tops, catchers with air horns, polar bears…
Wait, polar bears? Nah, that’s crazy… Giants in armor and strippers is where I draw the line…
This feels like an opposite ploy to Eddie Gaedel…
Altuve or Machado for the next 2 years (AL only)? No particular need for categories, but MI is probably more of a particular need than CI based on my other keepers.
Machado
Great work as ush. I don’t even care whether you are right more than other experts–just so much more fun to read than anyone else.
Now that I ‘stache smooched your rashy booch, a keeper question:
8 Team H2H points. Start 1 @ each IF position, 3 OF, 1 Util, plus 5 SP and 2 RP weekly.
All keepers same dirt cheap price for this year and next, as we KY slide from Draft to Auction:
Fo Sho Keepers: Braun, Prince, Beltre $5 each!!!!!!
I need to keep 5 out of these 9 @ $5 bucks each for next 2 years:
Wieters
Bruce
Dickey
Grienke
CC
Medlen (only SP eligible, no sneaky RP starters)
J Zimmerman.
Lawrie
Profar
Which four do I show to the door?
Luh you, dawg
Thanks! I love you too… Bruce, Greinke, Zimmermann, Wieters, Dickey… Great keepers…
Grey – Any concern with Justin Upton moving to Atlanta? His home/road splits are disconcerting – .924 OPS at Home and .670 OPS on the Road last year; .937 / .731 for his career.
I’m not concerned Chase Field isn’t that much better than Turner… Maybe he just liked being cheered, close to home, sleeping in his own bed… It’s not like it’s Coors to Petco…
As you told last year I took Rios quite late in my 20team keeper league(well, I won last year – 5th year now). we keep 5 guys in the first 5 rounds of a snake draft, 25 players. Looks like I won´t be able to trade him, so should I keep him? I have adam jones, reyes, hamels, gio, aramis, konerko, Y.Molina(we count H and OBP, so I rank him higher than you, at least one more year..), I have an offer of BJU for hamels I consider. plus rios…so what to do?
Congrats! I’d keep Hamels… Don’t see room for Rios on your team… Jones, Reyes, Hamels, Gio, Aramis…
Awesome as always Grey…….Quick help if you can,would you rather keep Alex Gordon or Will Middlebrooks in a keeper league.Standard h2h .
Thanks! Gordon…
@ Grey :
there seems to be an inordinate # of A ‘s fans who comment on this site .
do you have any statistical evidence to verify my assertation ?
what kind of profiling do you do around here ??
@costaricanchata:
am wondering if the next A ‘s fan , to come waltzing through here ,
just happens to be a beautiful black woman who speaks spanish … am i getting kicked out ??
I think they’re all related to Oaktown Steve…
@Grey:
There’s only about 40,000 or so thousand of us. When the A’s sell out the O.co, literally every A’s fan in the world is there simultaneously. We are not all related but we do have a secret handshake.
Oh, when I first read your first sentence I thought you were gonna say that was the size of your family… Lots of Sister/Wives if it was that big…
@costaricanchata: This seems true. Might be the underdog sort of thing…I was raised in Washington, and therefore am stuck with being an M’s fan (and now live in SD, and am stuck with that shizz), but I was rooting for the A’s wholeheartedly last season.
Seems like there are few Braves fans here, too, bc if there were, I’m sure this post would be filled with overwhelmingly happy comments about the Upton trade. Though I suppose those commenters could be in the middle of a drinking binge brought on by their wonderful luck…
Hey Grey!
Keeper leagues. I’m only allowed to keep until 5. Which are the best players from this list?
Cano
Wright
Reyes
Jennings
Aoki
Cruz
Gio Gonzalez
Morrow
Realistically speaking, who can I aim for a 1B/3B when I’m trying to trade Reyes (or any of these for that matter)?
Thank you!
Cano, Wright, Reyes, Jennings, Gio… A top 5 1st baseman for Reyes…
@Grey: 12 team mixed dynasty league roto. Trade my Machado for his Scherzer? Machado would be my CI, whereas Scherzer would be my 5th starter. Thx!!
5th starter? Geez… I’d go for it…
This math is a little specific, but I have $50 to spend on keepers on a 3B, OF and SPs. How would you use it in a H2H league?
a) Zimmerman + Jennings + Medlen = $48
b) Lawrie + Jennings + Medlen, Lester, Anderson = $50
c) Lawrie + Rasmus + Minor, Medlen, Lester, Anderson = $46
d) Some other combo
Zimmerman $23
Lawrie $15
Jennings $22
Rasmus $4
Minor $14
Anibal $12
Lester $7
Medlen $3
Anderson $3
A
Fowler had the highest BABIP in the majors last year: .390
You don’t think he’s in for some big regression?
Torii had a .389 BABIP last year and you think he’s due to regress…
Torii is older and slower, speed helps get a higher BABIP and I did project Fowler’s average to come down… Fowler’s around a .350 BABIP guy and Hunter is around a .310 BABIP guy…
Gotcha… I guess his biggest value is scoring a shitload of runs at the top of that lineup… I guess I just don’t want to pay for runs and steals and not much else.
What do you think this Upton trade means for Adam Eaton’s value? Will he get any playing time this year?
@Grey: why is Hunter ranked ahead of Ethier? Ethier’s projection > Hunter’s projection.
Torii has a bit more speed upside and Ethier is more reliant on counting stats…
Grey,
If you didn’t draft an OF in the top 20, would you say it’s “Cespedes for the rest of us”?
Ok, on a serious note. What kind of year do you think Carlos Gomez will have for the Brewers?
A little birdie told me Gomez’s blurb is right around the corner… Maybe even tomorrow… Wink, wink, nudge, nudge…
I took your advice and did not trade Cargo for Scherzer, but got another offer. Cargo ($12, last year of his fantasy contract) for Trumbo ($4 w/ three years left) and Shelby Miller (minor leagues, so $0 towards the cap, four years left upon activation). As this would be done pre-draft, I’d fill two slots for $4 vs. one slot for $12. What do you think of that offer? I know you love Cargo. I do too.
I’d want Carlos Gonzalez there…
I thought so. Trumbo too streaky/risky. Same guy offered me Shelby Miller and Zack Wheeler for Cargo too. They’re both supposed to be studs and soon. Two (hopeful) stud SPs for four years each at $0 against the cap, or one year of Cargo for $12? Note: my only keeper pitchers are both relievers, and SPs go for the most money in our 12-team H2H points league. Please opine. Thanks.
Go with CarGo still…
You ever get out to meet your fans? The mustachioed man of mystery vibe is cool, for sure, but I’d love to sit down with you for a pint and a burger at the Bowery sometime. Either way, your writing is always clever, and your analysis is typically spot on. I have this weird feeling that someday we’re gonna be saying, “I used to read Grey’s blog before he was a regular on Around The Horn”. (I apologize to the future you if you end up spending that kind of time with Bill Plaschke). Thanks, Man. Lemme know if you’re ever up for that burger.
So after making a deal for Cespedes, I checked Eric Hosmer’s second half numbers from 2011. Eerily similar to Cespedes from 2012.
I think Cespedes has more physical tools … more similar to Matt Kemp or Vlad Guerrero. But it shows how half a season isn’t much in the grand scheme of things.
I still think he is drastically underrated if he is beyond 50 overall. But the risk is there.
I hear ya…