Welcome to Bernie’s Baseball World.
The month of March is the time when most fantasy baseball managers draft their teams.
This is the time of the year when debates begin about player evaluations as they relate to fantasy baseball categories.
As this writer begins to share information with passionate baseball fans, it is important to start with constructing a balanced, well rounded fantasy baseball team.
For this series of articles, the concentration will be on the following fantasy baseball categories:
Batting Average/On Base Percentage
Runs Scored
Home Runs
Runs Batted In
Stolen Bases
Quality Starts/Wins
Saves/Holds
Earned Run Average
Strikeouts/walks yielded
Innings Pitched
General Guidelines:
This writer has developed general guidelines for fantasy drafting.
To begin, the game of baseball has changed markedly.
Rule No. 1-Know the categories and rules of your league
The pitch clock, larger bases, and pitcher engagement with the rubber have made stolen bases more prevalent.
Are stolen bases rewarded in your league? Is a point deducted for caught stealing?
For some MLB players, a base hit or a walk turns into the equivalency of a double. He steals at the first opportunity.
As a result, a pitcher with a high walk rate is not helpful in fantasy.
In some leagues, every walk yielded is deducted from the strikeout total.
Rule No. 2- Balance your roster
Fantasy leagues are won in the middle and later draft rounds.
In every league, and in every format, every player in the league will wind up with a quality player in the first two rounds.
It is from Round 3 onwards where leagues are won. Study MLB team rosters. Know where a hitter is hitting in the batting order. Know who is hitting around him. Know his home run park, and the park tendencies.
Be aware of the number of innings a pitcher has thrown in his past. Is he going deeply into games? What are his manager’s tendencies regarding pulling pitchers?
Rule No. 3- Know your competition
You may know the favorite MLB team of your league members. In many cases, fantasy players will select players from his/her favorite team. That knowledge helps you.
In some cases, you will know if your league members gravitate to a specific position/skill/or fantasy category early and often. Be aware of that. Watch how and who they draft.
I will always gravitate to players from the best teams. It makes sense, but not every fantasy manger considers entire team offensive strength. It matters.
Rule No. 4- Have fun
Catcher Rankings:
I prefer a one catcher league. MLB baseball games are not played with two catchers.
My rankings will look at home park, past production, and success over multiple categories.
I want to draft two catchers-with the possibility my starting catcher can get hurt, and I might be able to use my second catcher as a DH in my roster.
CATCHER SLEEPER: CAL RALEIGH-SEATTLE MARINERS
Raleigh may be drafted as the 7th or 8th catcher in your league. I think he is better than that.
Note: All the way to No. 13, I would take two catchers. I would keep one on my bench, and consider playing him as a DH/Flex, without hesitation.
CATCHER RANKINGS:
1- ADLEY RUTSCHMAN-ORIOLES
2- J.T. REALMUTO-PHILLIES
3- WILL SMITH-DODGERS
4- CAL RALEIGH-MARINERS
5- YAINER DIAZ-ASTROS
6- WILLIAM CONTRERAS-BREWERS
7- JOHAH HEIM-RANGERS
8- SEAN MURPHY-BRAVES (Braves best hitter, but he may split time. Beware.)
9- GABRIEL MORENO-DIAMONDBACKS
10- WLlLSON CONTRERAS-CARDINALS
11- SALVADOR PEREZ-ROYALS
12- FRANSICO ALVAREZ-METS
13- MITCH GARVER-MARINERS
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14- LOGAN O’HOPPE-ANGELS
15- KEIBERT RUIZ-NATIONALS
16- BO NAYLOR-GUARDIANS
17- SHEA LANGELIERS-ATHLETICS
18 ELIAS DIAZ-ROCKIES
19- TYLER STEPHENSON-REDS
20- LUIS CAMPUSANO-PADRES
21- ALEJANDRO KIRK-BLUE JAYS
22- DANNY JANSEN-BLUE JAYS (should rank higher, but splits starting time with Kirk)
23- TRAVIS D’ARNAUD-BRAVES- (should rank higher, but splits starting time with Murphy)
24- CONNER WONG-RED SOX
25- YASMANI GRANDAL-PIRATES
26- RYAN JEFFERS-TWINS
27- AUSTIN WELLS-YANKEES
28- JAKE ROGERS-TIGERS
29- PATRICK BAILEY-GIANTS
30- NICK FORTES-MIAMI
31- YAN GOMES-CUBS
32- MARTIN MALDONADO-WHITE SOX
33- MAX STASSI-WHITE SOX
34- RENE PINTO-RAYS
