Fantasy Baseball 2012- Starting Pitcher Rankings

RANK	PLAYER	TIER	ROUND	$	STOCK
1	Justin Verlander	1	2	37	Same
2	Roy Halladay	1	2	37	Same
3	Clayton Kershaw	1	2	37	Up
4	Felix Hernandez	2	3	35	Same
5	Cliff Lee	2	3	34	Same
6	Tim Lincecum	2	3	33	Up
7	CC Sabathia	2	4	33	Same
8	Jered Weaver	2	4	32	Same
9	Cole Hamels	2	4	31	Same
10	Dan Haren	2	4	30	Same
11	David Price	2	5	28	Up
12	Zack Greinke	3	6	27	Up
13	Jon Lester	3	6	25	Same
14	Matt Cain	3	6	24	Same
15	James Shields	3	7	21	Same
16	CJ Wilson	4	7	20	Same
17	Stephen Strasburg	4	7	20	Up
18	Yovani Gallardo	4	8	19	Same
19	Madison Bumgarner	4	8	19	Up
20	Adam Wainwright	4	9	17	Up
21	Josh Johnson	4	9	15	Up
22	Ian Kennedy	4	9	15	Same
23	Matt Moore	4	10	14	Up
24	Ricky Romero	4	10	13	Same
25	Chris Carpenter	4	10	13	Same
26	Daniel Hudson	4	10	12	Up
27	Jeremy Hellickson	4	10	12	Up
28	Michael Pineda	4	11	12	Up
29	Mat Latos	4	11	12	Up
30	Matt Garza	4	11	12	Same
31	Tommy Hanson	4	12	11	Same
32	Josh Beckett	5	12	11	Same
33	Jordan Zimmermann	5	12	11	Up
34	Yu Darvish	5	13	11	Up
35	Gio Gonzalez	5	13	11	Same
36	Johnny Cueto	5	13	11	Same
37	Doug Fister	5	13	10	Same
38	Tim Hudson	5	14	10	Down
39	Hiroki Kuroda	5	15	10	Down
40	Brandon Beachy	5	15	10	Up
41	Shaun Marcum	5	16	10	Same
42	Max Scherzer	5	16	9	Up
43	Anibal Sanchez	5	16	9	Same
44	Ubaldo Jimenez	5	16	9	Up
45	Justin Masterson	5	16	9	Up
46	Ervin Santana	5	16	8	Same
47	Brandon Morrow	6	17	8	Up
48	Jamie Garcia	6	17	7	Same
49	Jair Jurrjens	6	18	7	Same
50	Brandon McCarthy	6	18	7	Same
51	Wandy Rodriguez	6	19	6	Same
52	Derek Holland	6	19	6	Up
53	Cory Luebke	6	20	5	Same
54	Ryan Demspter	6	21	5	Same
55	Ted Lilly	6	21	4	Down
56	Chad Billingsley	6	21	4	Same
57	John Danks	6	22	4	Up
58	Clay Buchholz	6	22	4	Up
59	Johnathan Sanchez	6	22	4	Up
60	Edwin Jackson	6	23	4	Same
61	Ricky Nolasco	6	23	4	Same
62	Bud Norris	6	23	3	Up
63	Jhouyls Chacin	6	23	3	Up
64	Vance Worely	6	23	3	Up
65	Neftali Feliz	6	23	3	Up
66	Chris Sale	6	23	3	Up
67	Trevor Cahill	6	23	3	Up
68	Johan Santana	6	23	3	Same
69	Mike Minor	6	23	3	Up
70	Mark Buehrle	6	23	3	Same
71	Jon Niese	6	23	3	Same
72	Gavin Floyd	6	24	2	Same
73	Tim Stauffer	6	24	2	Same
74	Scott Baker	7	25	2	Same
75	Francisco Liriano	7	25	2	Down
76	RA Dickey	7	25	2	Down
77	Ivan Nova	7	25	2	Up
78	Mike Leake	7	25	2	Up
79	Zach Britton	7	25	2	Up
80	Josh Collmenter	7	26	2	Same
81	Ryan Vogelsong	7	27	1	Down
82	Jake Peavy	7	27	1	Down
83	Homer Bailey	7	27	1	Same
84	Phil Humber	7	27	1	Down
85	Roy Oswalt	7	28	1	Down
86	Jeff Niemann	7	28	1	Same
87	Wade Davis	7	28	1	Up
88	Matt Harrison	7	29	1	Same
89	Jeremy Guthrie	7	29	1	Same
90	Henderson Alvarez	7	29	1	Up
91	Edinson Volquez	8	30	1	Up
92	Erik Bedard	8	30	1	Down
93	Kyle Lohse	8	W	1	Down
94	Rick Porcello	8	W	1	Up
95	Jacob Turner	8	W	1	Up
97	Chris Caupano	8	W	0	Down
98	Julio Teheran	8	W	0	Up
99	Randy Wolf	8	W	0	Same
100	Aroldis Chpaman	8	W	0	Up
101	Danny Duffy	8	W	0	Up
102	Drew Pomeranz	8	W	0	Up
103	Jason Vargas	9	W	0	Same
104	Brad Peacock	9	W	0	Up
105	Brett Anderson	9	W	0	Up
106	Dallas Braden	9	W	0	Same
108	Brain Matusz	9	W	0	Up
109	Luke Hochevar	9	W	0	Same
110	Jarrod Parker	9	W	0	Up
111	Josh Tomlin	9	W	0	Same
112	Jorge De La Rosa	9	W	0	Same
113	Feddy Garcia	9	W	0	Down
114	AJ Burnett	9	W	0	Down
115	Dillion Gee	9	W	0	Same
116	Jordan Lyles	9	W	0	Up
117	Jake Arrieta	9	W	0	Up
118	Carlos Zambrano	9	W	0	Same
119	Alex White	9	W	0	Up
120	Mike Pelfrey	9	W	0	Same
121	Blake Beaven	9	W	0	Up
122	Carl Pavano	9	W	0	Down
123	Randy Wells	10	W	0	Same
124	Chris Volstad	10	W	0	Same
125	Travis Wood	10	W	0	Same
126	Guillermo Moscosso	10	W	0	Same
127	Tom Millone	10	W	0	Up
128	Daniel Bard	10	W	0	Up
129	Alfredo Aceves	10	W	0	Same
130	Bronson Arroyo	10	W	0	Same
131	James McDonald	10	W	0	Same
132	Joe Saunders	10	W	0	Same
133	Aaron Harang	10	W	0	Same
134	Jeff Karstens	10	W	0	Same
135	Jerome Williams	10	W	0	Same
136	Jason Hammel	10	W	0	Same
137	Wei-Yin Chen	10	W	0	Up
138	Andrew Cashner	10	W	0	Up
139	Bruce Chen	10	W	0	Down
140	Bartolo Colon	10	W	0	Down
141	Charlie Furbush	10	W	0	Up
142	Clayton Richard	10	W	0	Up
143	Zach Stewart	10	W	0	Up
144	Jake Westbrook	10	W	0	Down
145	Felipe Paulino	10	W	0	Up
146	Derek Lowe	10	W	0	Same
147	Kyle Kendrick	10	W	0	Same
148	Joe Blanton	10	W	0	Down
149	Dustin Moseley	10	W	0	Same

Ranking The Postseason Starters

1. SP Justin Verlander
2. SP Roy Halladay
3. SP Cliff Lee
4. SP CC Sabathia
5. SP Zack Grienke
6. SP James Shields
7. SP Cole Hamels
8. SP Doug Fister
9. SP David Price
10. SP CJ Wilson
11. SP Ian Kennedy
12. SP Yovani Gallardo
13. SP Jeremy Hellcikson
14. SP Chris Carpenter
15. SP Roy Oswalt
16. SP Shuan Marcum
17. SP Jamie Garcia
18. SP Matt Moore
19. SP Daniel Hudson
20. SP Max Scherzer
21. SP Rick Porcello
22. SP Edwin Jackson
23. SP Josh Collmenter
24. SP Matt Harrison
25. SP Joe Saunders
26. SP Ivan Nova
27. SP Jeff Niemann
28. SP Randy Wolf
29. SP Freddy Garcia
30. SP Derek Holland
31. SP Colby Lewis
32. SP Kyle Lohse
33. SP AJ Burnett

Top 10 Most Valuable Starting Pitchers in the MLB for 2011

These are not my fantasy rankings these are the best and most valuable at each position overall and I consider more than stats, like in fantasy baseball.

10. David Price-  He will keep the Rays half way decent and put up another all-star season.  He will be one of the best pitchers in the AL at times and everything about him should be good.  He will improve again and will be one of the biggest aces in the league.  HOW VALUABLE?: 8.9
9. Josh Johnson- Has a chance to win a Cy Young Award, this year too.  Will be big for the Marlins and he won’t go down.  Wil have some big number all-around and he can win almost every start.  He can carry the Marlins at times and he will beat the division a ton too.  There’s a lot to like about him.  HOW VALUABLE?: 9.1
8. Ubaldo Jimenez- He would be higher but he’s not consistent enough.  He will follow-up his big year and I think he can cut back on his troubles in the second half and have a good season the whole entire season but he won’t resolve all his problems yet.  He’s going to be big though.  HOW VALUABLE?: 9.2
7. Justin Verlander- He will have the best fastball in baseball again and his stuff will take him a long way.  I think this will be the year he finally gets hiss ERA under 3.00 and he will strike out hitters very often.  Verlander is bound to have a very big year and he will do a lot for the Tigers.  HOW VALUABLE?: 9.4
6. Jon Lester- He will get a bit better this year and will be one of the best if not the best pitcher at times.  He’s going to do an awesome job all year and he will have one of the bests reasons as far as stats go, in the MLB.  Lester has a really good chance for a Cy Young award this year.  HOW VALUABLE?: 9.6
5. CC Sabathia- Will be the only very reliable guy for the Yankees this upcoming year and he will do it in a big way.  he could have his best season with the Yankees in 2011 and he will have a great ERA and could be the most dominant guy in the MLB in 2011.  HOW VALUABLE?: 9.7
4. Cliff Lee- He won’t be getting any worse anytime soon and he will do just as good and help propel the Phillies.  Behind Halladay he should have one of the best seasons in the MLB in 2011 and will do everything he did for the Rangers last year and he will even get better in the way where he will give up fewer runs.   HOW VALUABLE?: 9.8
3. Felix Hernandez- He won’t get much credit for it but he could have another really good season next year and has a great chance for back to back Cy Young candidates.  Hernandez will have a good game almost every time he goes out there and he will be the best in the AL for a while.  HOW VALUABLE?: 9.9
2. Tim Lincecum- He will not have many struggles and will be the best pitcher for the Giants easily.  He will have a season more closer to 2008 and 2009.  All-around he will have a great season and re-establish himself and when he’s on almost nobody will do better.  HOW VALUABLE?: 9.9
1. Roy Halladay- I think 2011 will be his career year and it will take a while for anybody to kick him off the top, there isn’t a huge flaw in his game and will just be amazing.  HOW VALUABLE: 10.0

Phillies Sign Cliff Lee

ANALYSIS: Lee will do as good as ever and should have some very strong season in Philly.  His postseason ability will make him a lot better too.  Lee should have give up runs but not many and will pitch very good and be unstoppable most of the time.  The Phillies are a good fit.  Lee should have three very good and elite years in Philly at least.  He will get NL hitters out and will have one of his best years in 2011.  Lee is going to do many big things and he’s very dangerous with the Phillies.  It’s a very good deal especially for the Phils.  Lee won’t have barely any struggles.

STATS: Here’s a three-year outlook I made…
               W-L     SO      BB     ERA    IP           BABIP    HR
2011     18-6   177    31     2.79   220        .307       17
2012    17-5   172     34    3.18    217.2     .310       14
2012    18-6   168     42     3.21    216.1     .311        17

I think that Lee will be the cause of many games they win and though he won’t lead the league in many stats he will have many quality starts and always have good stats.  His production is way big too.

ROTATION: It should go Halladay-Lee-Oswalt- Hamles, but all should have pretty good years and they can be unstoppable so the Phillies will win a lot of games and when this season is done this rotation might be the best ever.  Each won’t allow many runs and have many good starts.

SWING AND A MISS: This hurts the Yankees a ton because now with their current rotation they wouldn’t win the AL East and even if they did they would be doomed in the playoffs.  The Rangers still have a good team and can win with what they have if they add Pavano, Greinke or even just an above average pitcher.

BOTTOM LINE: The Phillies are an early favorite to win the pennant and Lee will have some very good upcoming seasons.

My Ranking of Free Agents with Predictions

Have at it…

1. SP Cliff Lee- Rangers- Lee will pitch great in Arlington
2. OF Carl Crawford-Angels- He’s a toss-up but will do great regardless, prepare for a career year
3. OF Jayson Werth-Yankees- He will hit great in Yankee Stadium
4. C Victor Martinez-Tigers-The Tigers need another good power guy and a catcher, he fits the bill, perfect
5. OF Adam Dunn-Tigers-Would hit tons and tons of homers as a DH here
6. 3B Adrian Beltre-Red Sox- Will come back for a similar season
7. 1B Paul Konerko-Diamondbacks-Would do okay with the D’backs
8. SS Derek Jeter- Yankees- He won’t hit a ton better but he won’t go anywhere else
9. RP Mariano Rivera-Yankees- Will close good at least another two season in the Big Apple
10. SP Javier Vazquez-Padres- He will go around a 3.00 ERA agin in San Diego
11. 2B Orlando Hudson-Padres-Will sparkle with them.  He fits their team
12. SP Andy Pettitte-Yankees-Has another good season left with the Yankees, at least
13. DH Vladimir Guererro-Rangers- Fits well here
14. 1B Adam LaRoche-White Sox-Will do well in Chi Town and power could increase
15. RP Rafael Soriano-Braves-Will close great anywhere, but best here
16. 1B Carlos Pena-Nationals- The Nats will get a power hitter and he’s their best option
17. SP Carl Pavano-Dodgers- An okay fit for him and a good replacement for LAD
18. DH Jim Thome-Twins- Wil flash power again in Minnesota
19. OF Manny Ramirez-A’s-Will have an average year and have to settle for the A’s
20. OF Johnny Damon-Rays- A good guy to have and hit at the top.
21. SS Jaun Uribe-Giants- Will play great as a utility infielder
22. C John Buck-Red Sox- Best option as far as offense to replace V-Mart
23. 1B Aubrey Huff-Giants- The Giants need him in the middle of their order
24. SP Jorge De La Rosa-Astors- Would be a decent co-ace with Wandy
25. 1B Derrek Lee-Rays- Could revive his career in St. Pete
26. 1B Lance Berkman-Braves- Could gain some power in Atlanta
27. OF Magglio Ordonez-Tigers- The Tigers need him and his production is big for them
28. SP Hiroki Kuroda-Orioles- Would do okay here and be decent in the middle of the rotation
29. DH Hideki Matsui-Mariners- He will play good with these guys
30. SP Brandon Webb-Athletics- Has a chance to regain form
31. RP Brian Fuentes-Rays- Will be a great closer in St. Pete
32. C AJ Pierzynski-Brewers- Will have a good year altogether

Who will win the World Series?

I think it could go either way easy but if picking before the series I’m going with the Giants.  I think Cain and Lincecum should win at least three games combined and the offense should do it’s best all postseason.  The Rangers hitting will keep going and they should stay in every game and even have a comeback win or two and if CJ Wilson pitches good they have a real good shot.  Lee should pitch exactly like he did in last years World Series, he should be dominating.  The Rangers have a big edge at home and if they pick up a few games on the road they are an easy favorite.  I think Sanchez and Wilson might blow up in the Series and Lewis and Bumgarner could give really good starts.  What I think it all comes down too is the Rangers offense or Giants pitching better and I don’t think Cain and Lincecum will let up one bit, but don’t underestimate the Rangers offense or team.

ALCS Preveiw: Yankees vs Rangers

PITCHING: I think Cliff Lee will win every game he starts and the Rangers rotation is slightly worse, they might not always pitch like that though.  Wilson could be great or really bad and if Tommy Hunter pitches on the road it won’t be good.  Sabathia should be really good but will be outmatched by Lee if they go against each other.  Burnett should have a good start along with Pettitte.  The Rangers bullpen is going to do good and is slightly better except for the closer, of course.  The Rangers starters shouldn’t give up more than five runs in any game.
MATCHUPS:
Sabathia vs Wilson- EDGE: NYY
Hughes vs Lewis- EDGE: NYY
Pettitte vs Lee- EDGE: TEX
Burnett vs Hunter- EDGE: NYY
HITTING: The Rangers will have speed and power and will be deadly some games and innings.  Everyone will hit and Kinsler will play like an MVP.  The Yankees should have Jeter, Granderson, and Rodriguez do good now.  The Yankees should score often and will be very tough to stop in this series but the Rangers won’t be able to be handled either.  I think the Yankees will just out power them and score many runs.  The Rangers will be big with driving in runs too but will be a bit easier to stop.
ANALYSIS: I’ll take the Yankees in 6.  Lee will win any game and Wilson might give a win or two but the Yankees are just way to powerful they can outplay you and will have a better series.  The offense and possible good pitching will give them a big edge.  There will be no stopping the Yankees once they start to go on a roll

Rangers win Game 1, Can they win two more? and Doc’s No-No

• The Rangers the game today and I think they will still lose the series but they have a lot better chance to win now.  If they do go they will have to slug their way there.  the pitching should let them down except for Cliff Lee though.  The Rangers should continue to hit though and if the Rays can’t get started back-up it could be trouble.  The biggest concern is if James Shields loses tomorrow, which shouldn’t happen but very well could.  The Rays would then likely lose due to another Lee start.  CJ Wilson shouldn’t do well though but if he does he will shut them down.  I say the Rangers lose in five now, they just don’t have a strong enough team.
• Roy Halladay threw the second postseason no-hitter ever tonight.  The Reds might get swept now because their offense won’t keep going.  Halladay should be very dominant all postseason and should go on one of the best runs in postseason history.  The Phillies will keep up where they left off on Friday and should beat up on the Reds again. 

2011 Tigers: A possible option

This is what I might do(always changing) in the offseason and with Bonderman, Willis, Laird, Damon, Inge, and Robertson’s big contracts off the books the Tigers could sign possibly a big contract.  Here’s what I’d do…

1. RHP Justin Verlander
2. LHP Cliff Lee
3. RHP Max Scherzer
4. RHP Rick Porcello
5. LHP Andy Oliver

 

CL: Jose Valverde

SU: Ryan Perry

7^th: Joel Zumaya

L: Zach Miner

M: Phil Coke

Sp: Brad Thomas

U: Eddie Bonine

LINE-UP

C: John Buck
1B: Miguel Cabrera
2B: Will Rhymes
SS: Jhonny Peralta
3B: Brandon Inge- resigned for a lot less money
LF: Carlos Guillen
CF: Austin Jackson
RF: Magglio Ordonez
DH: Johnny Damon

1. CF Jackson
2. 2B Rhymes
3. RF Ordonez
4. 1B Cabrera
5. SS Peralta
6. LF Guillen
7. DH Damon
8. C Buck
9. 3B Inge

 

C Alex Avila
IF Ramon Santiago
OF Ryan Raburn
OF Brennan Boesch

Rangers acquire Cliff Lee

Lee is a great pitcher and will make an even stronger case for the Cy Young now that he’s on the Rangers.  he will pitch just as good for the Rangers as he did for the Phillies a few years back.  Lee makes the Rangers almost a lock for the playoffs, because now they have everything they need.  Lee is going to do good against the division and he’s always going to be a great down the stretch guy.  The Rangers really need to re-sign him to make it worth it though.  Justin Smoak is going to be in the upper tier of first baseman soon, with his power starting anytime, the Mariners really scored.  Blake Beaven will be a big guy in the future, in the middle of the rotation and Matt Lawson and Josh Lueke will be decent major leaguers.  Lee is going to be Lee anywhere and I think Texas will fit him really good, he won’t struggle at all and he is going to be more than an ace for this clubs.  Lee is going to be really good in the playoffs for them.  EDGE: Rangers STATS: Lee is going to rack up tons of strikeouts.