Forgot Log-in or  Password? |  Help  Not a member, Register Now!
Stream  beta
Go to CBSSports.com
      
2011 Draft Prep Guide
Fantasy Football Today
Downloadable Draft Kit
Mock Drafts
Draft Analyzer
Player News
Stats
Players
Depth Charts
Roster Trends
Columns
Injury Report
Projections
Rankings
Red Zone Stats
Teams
Schedules
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
Office Pool Manager
Playoff Challenge
2011 Draft Prep Guide
Downloadable Draft Kit
Mock Drafts
Player News
Stats
Players
Depth Charts
Roster Trends
Columns
Injury Report
Rankings
Projections
Teams
Schedules
Weekly Planner
Probable Pitchers
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
Downloadable Draft Kit
Player News
Stats
Players
Columns
Injuries
Projections
Rankings
Teams
Schedules
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Downloadable Draft Kit
Player News
Stats
Players
Columns
Injury Report
Projections
Rankings
Teams
Schedules
Mock Drafts
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
Downloadable Draft Kit
Player News
Stats
Players
Columns
Injury Report
Projections
Rankings
Teams
Schedules
Mock Drafts
Scores
Standings
Message Boards
Fantasy Games
Commissioner
Free
Premium
No Fantasy Teams Found
 
 

David Gonos

Handing out Fannies hardware

By | Senior Fantasy Writer

Movie stars have their Oscars, musicians have their Grammy's, and stupid people have their Darwin awards.

A Fantasy Baseball season isn't complete without an awards show.

[Cue schmarmy music]

Now, coming to you live from the second cube of the first row of the second floor of the CBSSports.com building in sunny Fort Lauderdale, it's the Fourth Annual Fannies Fantasy Baseball Awards Show! (Please keep all speeches short and respect the wrap-up sign.)

Jake Peavy was the best Fantasy starting pitcher in 2007. (US Presswire)  
Jake Peavy was the best Fantasy starting pitcher in 2007. (US Presswire)  
Fantasy Baseball is a different animal and not everyone in the world understands the pain we go through when our WHIP rises .04 points. "Normal" people aren't familiar with the joys of watching highlights of your second baseman getting 10 total bases in a night.

So these awards are not only to entertain you, the constant reader, but they are also intended to draw opinions from you, so we've added each category to our new message boards for you to vote on.

The envelopes please...

Daniel Okrent is widely considered one of the godfathers of Fantasy Baseball (and many believe Fantasy sports in general) and we are forever in his gratitude. It was in 1980, 27 years ago, when Okrent pitched his new stats-based baseball game to his friends at a New York restaurant called La Rotisserie Francaise.

The book FantasyLand: A Season on Baseball's Lunatic Fringe pointed out that Bill Gamson actually started a game closely related to Rotisserie Baseball back in 1960 with some of his friends. So we're going to name the top two awards after these two gentlemen in recognition of their contributions.

2007 Okrent Award: Best Fantasy pitcher

Jake Peavy, SP, San Diego: He won only 11 games a season ago, and his ERA (4.10) was more than a full run higher than what he put up in 2005 (2.88). But one of the things I kept harping on in the preseason was that the arrival of Greg Maddux on this staff would help Peavy trememdously. Maddux tutored Peavy not only on pitching, but on carrying himself as a staff ace and helping lead a team from the mound. Granted, things didn't work out so well in San Diego's one-game playoff at Colorado, but that didn't erase his numbers over the past six months. Here are some points of interest:

  • Led major-league starting pitchers with a 2.54 ERA.
  • Led the majors with 240 strikeouts -- just one more than Scott Kazmir. He got six strikeouts in the Padres' 163rd game of the season to overtake the Rays' lefty for his second strikeout title.
  • Only seven pitchers threw more innings (career-high 223 1/3), which means his ERA was even more powerful in Rotisserie play.
  • Started the year 9-1 with a 1.98 ERA.
  • From July 27 on no one was even close to Peavy, who went 10-1 with a 2.63 ERA, striking out 104 in 92 1/3 innings, when most owners were battling in their Head-to-Head playoffs.
  • His 1.061 WHIP was the lowest among any pitcher with at least 100 innings pitched.
  • Only two starting pitchers with at least 100 innings, had a lower opponent's batting average against (.208).

AL winner -- C.C. Sabathia, SP, Cleveland: The Tribe's hefty lefty ace came through with his biggest (and healthiest) season to date. He led the majors with 241 innings pitched -- only his second season above the 200-inning mark. I know I'm going to hear from the Chowderheads about Josh Beckett getting robbed for this spot, but Sabathia pitched 40 more innings and had a lower ERA, although Beckett led the majors in wins (20) and was close to Carsten Charles (C.C.) in strikeouts.

Runners-up: Beckett, Brandon Webb, J.J. Putz, John Lackey, Fausto Carmona, Jose Valverde, Johan Santana, Erik Bedard, Dan Haren, John Smoltz and Francisco Cordero.

2006 winner: Johan Santana; 2005 winner: Chris Carpenter; 2004 winner: Johan Santana

Vote for who you think was the best Fantasy pitcher this season!

2007 Gamson Award: Best Fantasy hitter

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, N.Y. Yankees: At the end of April, A-Rod was on pace for 119 home runs and 290 RBI. And then he just fell apart, hitting just 40 homers and knocking in only 122 RBI from May 1 on. Do you realize that even if he missed all of April, he would have still been second in the AL in homers and third in the AL in RBI? This is A-Rod's second Gamson Award over the past three seasons.

  • Led all hitters with 54 homers, 156 RBI and 143 runs scored -- easily the best in each category. He actually had 17 more RBI than the second-best player (Magglio Ordonez, 139).
  • His 818 points in standard Head-to-Head leagues are the best in the majors. As a matter of fact, his 818 Head-to-Head points are the most by any player over the past six seasons.
  • Only two players (David Ortiz and Ryan Braun) with 34 or more homers had fewer strikeouts than A-Rod's 120.
  • He led the majors with a 1.067 OPS, which is the gold standard when measuring a player's impact.
  • He was one of only six players to hit at least 30 homers and steal at least 20 bases (he stole 24). But he was one of only one three to also knock in 100 runs.

NL winner -- Matt Holliday, OF, Colorado: This was incredibly tough to choose between Holliday or Jimmy Rollins. The Rockies' slugger doesn't have anywhere near the speed numbers of the Phillies' shortstop, but he had 43 more RBI and hit 45 points higher. Rollins' 30-SB difference didn't make up the power difference in my mind. Plus, Rollins had Hanley Ramirez and Jose Reyes that were nearly as effective at his position. I imagine this vote will get me the most hate mail.

Runners-up: Rollins, Reyes, Ramirez, Prince Fielder, Ryan Howard, Grady Sizemore, Carlos Pena, Ryan Braun and Chase Utley.

2006 winner: Ryan Howard; 2005 winner: Alex Rodriguez; 2004 winner: Adrian Beltre

Vote for who you think was the best Fantasy hitter this season!

2007 Ty Cobb Award: Best Fantasy combination of speed and hitting

Ty Cobb hit over .400 in a season three times and his 892 career steals was an MLB record for 50 years, making him the model for this award.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Philadelphia: His 744 Head-to-Head points would have tied Ryan Howard as the best Head-to-Head hitter from 2006. But Rollins' 380 total bases are six behind the majors' leader, Matt Holliday. He joined Curtis Granderson, Willie Mays and Frank "Wildfire" Schulte as the only players in major league history with 20 stolen bases, 20 homers, 20 triples and 20 doubles.

AL winner -- Chone Figgins, 3B, L.A. Angels of Anaheim: It's tough not to give this to A-Rod, but I figure he has enough hardware. Figgins has no power to speak of, but his 41 steals tied for seventh in the majors -- yet he had only 442 at-bats, well below the others because of a hand injury.

Runners-up: Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, Carl Crawford, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson, David Wright, Juan Pierre and Eric Byrnes.

2006 winner: Jose Reyes; 2005 winner: Carl Crawford; 2004 winner: Ichiro Suzuki

Vote for who you think was the best Fantasy combination of speed and hitting this season!

2007 Babe Ruth Award: Best Fantasy power hitter

Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs and registered a remarkable 1.379 OPS in 1927. This award will eventually be named after Bonds (Fantasy owners don't care about steroids), but until then, Ruth continues to be our standard.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, N.Y. Yankees: See above. A-Rod was actually the sixth overall player chosen on average in last spring's drafts. In, The Earliest Mock Draft Ever, which began last week, he was back to being the No. 1 pick.

NL winner -- Ryan Howard, 1B, Philadelphia: This is a back-to-back win for this award in the NL for Howard. Holliday certainly had a better batting average, and Howard got off to a slow start, but the third-year slugger now has 105 homers and 285 RBI in the past two seasons.

Runners-up: Holliday, Carlos Pena, Prince Fielder, David Ortiz, Ryan Braun, Adam Dunn, Jim Thome and Miguel Cabrera.

2006 winner: Ryan Howard; 2005 winner: David Ortiz; 2004 winner: Barry Bonds

Vote for who you think was the best Fantasy power hitter this season!

2007 Fernando Award: Best Fantasy rookie pitcher

In 1981, Fernando Valenzuela became the only pitcher to win rookie of the year and the Cy Young in the same season. At one point, he allowed only one run in his first 36 innings on his way to winning his first eight major-league starts.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, Boston: Dice-K nearly won the award before he even threw his first pitch this season. They hype coming into April was great and he produced about as good as you could have expected in a pennant race in his first year in a foreign country. He led rookies in starts (32), innings (204 2/3), strikeouts (201) and wins (15). Those numbers would have also led all rookies from a year ago, except for wins (Justin Verlander, 17) Matsuzaka had little competition for this award to be honest.

NL Winner -- Yovani Gallardo, SP, Milwaukee: He actually had the best ERA (3.67) of any rookie in the majors with more than eight starts this season. He also reached 101 strikeouts (one of only six rookies to do so) in only 110 1/3 innings.

Runners-up: Brian Bannister, Joakim Soria, Tim Lincecum, Jeremy Guthrie, Matt Garza, Micah Owings, Kyle Kendrick, Franklin Morales, Hideki Okajima, Kason Gabbard, Peter Moylan, Justin Germano, Jesse Litsch and Joba Chamberlain.

2006 winner: Justin Verlander; 2005 winner: Scott Kazmir; 2004 winner: Zack Greinke

Vote for who you think was the best Fantasy rookie pitcher this season!

2007 Ted Williams Award: Best Fantasy rookie hitter

In 1939, Ted Williams hit .327 with 31 homers and an unreal 145 RBI for Boston. He also scored a still-standing rookie record 131 runs.

Ryan Braun, 3B, Milwaukee: He hit well in spring training, but his defense got him sent back to Triple-A Nashville. Hunter Pence overcame Josh Hamilton's hot start, and Braun overtook Pence's hot start. Had Braun not missed the first two months of the season, he would have finished in the top-five in NL MVP voting -- not just Rookie of the Year. From his call-up on May 25 to the end of the season, only five other hitters (A-Rod, Rollins, Holliday, Howard and Wright) had more Head-to-Head points than Braun. There is no debate, however, that the NL has the much better rookie position players than the AL. Pence, Hamilton, Troy Tulowitzki, James Loney and Chris Young could have won this award in the AL.

AL winner -- Delmon Young, OF, Tampa Bay: He didn't make a huge splash in the majors or on the Fantasy front, but his numbers were still impressive. And that includes the fact that he played in 162 games and didn't throw a bat at an umpire. He knocked in his share of runs (93, only four fewer than Braun) and gets the nod here because of his .288 batting average. But he only hit 13 homers. He should hit twice that number in '08.

Runners-up: Pence, Hamilton, Tulowitzki, Loney, Chris Young, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Kouzmanoff, Josh Fields, Billy Butler, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Reggie Willits, Alex Gordon, Norris Hopper, Yunel Adam Lind, Escobar, Rajai Davis, Mark Reynolds, Akinori Iwamura and Travis Buck.

2006 winner: Hanley Ramirez; 2005 winner: Ryan Howard; 2004 winner: Jason Bay

Vote for who you think was the best Fantasy rookie hitter this season!

I want to thank all of our readers for a great Fantasy Baseball season. I have appreciated your comments throughout the year and I look forward to hearing from you over this long baseball-less winter.

Feel free to send me a question or a comment. Here are a few that you can just clip and paste. "Are you insane?" ... "What are you thinking?" ... "You're an idiot -- but can you tell me if I should make this trade?" ... "I have a beautiful sister that likes Fantasy dorks, want her number?" ... Send your comments, hate mail, credit card numbers and beautiful sister's phone numbers to me by clicking on my Columnist page and sending a note through the feedback form.

 
 
 
Player News
Joe Mauer
Mauer 'feels good' after workout
Joe Mauer, C, MIN
2:50 PM
News: The News-Press reports Twins C Joe Mauer took two rounds of batting practice and went through a set of conditioning drills around the base paths Monday, and he appeared to have no problems sprinting. Mauer battled leg injuries in 2011. “I feel good,” Mauer said. “It feels good to get back out here again.” Mauer also put to rest the rumors that he gained 30 pounds in the offseason. “I heard that, too, and I couldn’t believe it," he said. “It’s just how rumors start. There were a lot of things out there last year that weren’t true. I’m about 220, 225. I need to add a little more weight before we start.”
Analysis: While most players feel good when they arrive to camp, it's especially encouraging to hear Mauer say that since last season he was coming off knee surgery and wasn't ready for the start of spring training. Mauer will head into 2012 motivated after an injury-plagued 2011. There's no guarantee he is past his knee problems, but the Twins are going to do their best to make sure Mauer avoids the DL. There is obviously risk involved with drafting Mauer, but his potential to be an elite Fantasy option at catcher make it worth drafting him. An offseason of staying health could make Mauer a steal in the fifth or sixth round of mixed-league drafts.
Jair Jurrjens
Jurrjens still trade candidate
Jair Jurrjens, SP, ATL
11:57 AM
News: CBSSports.com senior writer Danny Knobler reports sources said the Braves could try and trade SP Jair Jurrjens if he proves healthy in spring training. The Braves tried to trade Jurrjens this winter, but they couldn't find a taker because potential trade partners weren't convinced Jurrjens was healthy or could stay healthy. Jurrjens missed the end of the 2011 season with a knee injury and has made just 43 starts the last two seasons.
Analysis: When Jurrjens is healthy, he is one of the best pitchers in the majors. His 1.87 ERA in the first half last season was second to only Jered Weaver among major-league starters. Jurrjens has won 13-plus games in three of the last four seasons. So why would the Braves want to trade him? Well, Jurrjens is a free agent after the 2013 season and it appears Atlanta is ready to clear some rotation space for the likes of Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado. It's going to be very interesting to see what happens with Jurrjens this spring. There appears to be a chance he might not finish the spring with Atlanta, which could mean Jurrjens slides down draft boards in NL-only formats that lose players who are traded to the AL. In mixed leagues, Jurrjens is still a decent mid-round Fantasy pick.
A.J. Burnett
Angels, Indians interested in Burnett
A.J. Burnett, SP, NYY
11:40 AM
News: FOXSports.com reports sources indicate the Angels are interested in Yankees SP A.J. Burnett, whose name has been heavily mentioned in trade rumors with the Pirates. However, the Angels are on Burnett's no-trade list and he wants to stay east. Pittsburgh is still considered the heavy favorite to potentially land Burnett. CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman said the Indians have also inquired about Burnett. The trade talks involve DH Travis Hafner, but Cleveland is unsure if it would make that trade. The Yankees also don't mind the free agent DH options available.
Analysis: Right now the hold up in the Pirates trade is how much money Pittsburgh will be willing to pay of Burnett's remaining salary over the next two years ($33 million) and the prospects the Pirates would send to the Yankees. Perhaps these rumors regarding the Angels and Indians might speed up the process, but other sources have said the Yankees would keep Burnett if the deal isn't right for them. Wherever Burnett pitches in 2012, he is going to be a late-round Fantasy pick coming off a turbulent 2011 campaign.
Coco Crisp
Crisp moving over for Cespedes?
Coco Crisp, CF, OAK
10:13 AM
News: Sources have told FOXSports.com that the Athletics intend to start newly signed Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes in center field right away, which would move Coco Crisp over to left field and Seth Smith to DH. Cespedes is already 26 and has faced upper-level competition in Cuba, but some scouts think he could use some time in the minors to adjust to the U.S. game.
Analysis: None of these reports are coming directly from the Athletics, so you should consider them nothing more than speculation at this point. Still, speculation is better than nothing, and if Cespedes is in fact going to be on the opening day roster, then he might even be worth drafting in the middle rounds, given his upside. As for Crisp, moving to left field wouldn't have any real impact on his Fantasy value. The Athletics outfield is even more crowded with the Cespedes signing, but the team seems to consider Crisp a mainstay at the top of the lineup. Given his base-stealing ability and doubles pop, he's a worthy fourth or fifth outfielder in mixed leagues.
Ryan Braun
Braun will know fate by Feb. 24
Ryan Braun, LF, MIL
10:03 AM
News: Monday came and went without a ruling on Brewers OF Ryan Braun's pending 50-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. It was the 25th day since the three-man panel heard Braun's appeal. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the panel was supposed to “make all reasonable efforts” to deliver a verdict within that period of time, but chairman Shyam Das was given an extension. A decision is expected before Braun reports to spring training on Feb. 24, but the exact date is unknown since the process is intended to be confidential.
Analysis: The panel's need for a lengthy deliberation is theoretically a good sign, but then again, since the process is usually confidential, we don't know how common such extensions are. Braun's case is said to be unique, but it might not make much of a difference to the panel. If you're drafting now, you should do so with the expectation that Braun will miss the first 50 games of the season, which could allow him to slip to the middle rounds in standard mixed leagues. If the appeal is upheld, though, he's suddenly back to being a first-rounder in Fantasy.
Mike Moustakas
Moustakas in great shape
Mike Moustakas, 3B, KC
12:48 PM
News: Royals manager Ned Yost had his contract option for the 2013 season picked up on Tuesday, but the Kansas City skipper seemed more interested in talking about his 2012 team. Yost was impressed with how many players have shown up for spring training early and is really blown away by the fitness level of a few of his players. "Billy Butler and Mike Moustakas -- I'm extremely proud of both of those guys," Yost told reporters. "They could be in the best shape they've been in their careers. Billy looks great, and I didn't even hardly recognize Moose he looks so good."
Analysis: While the fitness level doesn't necessarily mean a player will have success, it really can't hurt either. To hear Yost rave about Moustakas should get the attention of Fantasy owners. Moustakas, who is one of the Royals' top prospects, struggled when he first arrived in the majors last season. However, he seemed to have figured it out by season's end. Moustakas hit .352 with four homers and 12 RBI in his final 22 games last season. He is definitely one of the more intriguing Fantasy sleepers heading into 2012 and this latest report just adds to his appeal on Draft Day.
Jake Westbrook
Westbrook sheds 25 pounds
Jake Westbrook, SP, STL
2:11 PM
News: The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Cardinals SP Jake Westbrook has shown up for spring training 25 pounds lighter than he was last season.
Analysis: This is the time of year where everyone seems to come to camp in better shape than they left last season. Hopefully for Westbrook it makes a difference in his game. He did go 12-9 in 2011, but he posted a 4.66 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 33 starts. Westbrook can chew up innings, but he won't post impressive ERA, WHIP or strikeout total. Leave him for NL-only Fantasy formats.
Jhoulys Chacin
Chacin fires back at GM
Jhoulys Chacin, SP, COL
12:07 PM
News: The Denver Post reports Rockies SP Jhoulys Chacin responded to comments made by GM Dan O'Dowd, who expressed concern recently about Chacin's offseason conditioning. "I came to Arizona this past Monday. I have not stopped training during the winter, both in my country and here," Chacin told Venezuelan newspaper Meridiano. "I have always done the best job I could all throughout these past few months. I don't know where these comments came from. I believe they're the result of what other people have told him, instead of his own personal evaluation. I am looking forward to meeting O'Dowd personally, and I am confident that he will have a different conclusion after a firsthand evaluation." O'Dowd made his comments after seeing Chacin at the team's Fanfest in January. "He looked OK. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated," O'Dowd said. "It's still not what it should be."
Analysis: O'Dowd believes Chacin needs to lose weight because the excess pounds affect the balance in his delivery and cause his fastball command to suffer. Chacin spent much of the winter working out in his native Venezuela after working out in Tucson previously. On Feb. 9, Chacin reportedly weighed 226 pounds but anticipates being close to the 218 pounds he was last spring when he reports to spring training on Feb. 19. Chacin went 8-7 with a 3.16 ERA in 18 pre-All Star break starts last year and went 3-7 with a 4.31 ERA in 13 starts after the break. Chacin struggled with walks in the second half and was much more hittable down the stretch than he was early in the season. This situation is clearly not the way Fantasy owners want to see Chacin kick off the 2012 season, but perhaps this will provide him with the motivation he needs to reach elite status. Look to Chacin as a mid-round Fantasy option on Draft Day.
Kyle Seager
Seager gets work at first base
Kyle Seager, 3B, SEA
1:25 PM
News: The Seattle Times reports Mariners 3B Kyle Seager took grounders at first base Tuesday. Manager Eric Wedge said it was because of pitcher fielding drills Seager was at first base.
Analysis: It's interesting to see Seager working at another position in camp with Wedge calling him the front-runner for the third-base job. However, it appears clear that Seager was just needed as an extra body during fielding drills. Justin Smoak is still the team's first baseman and Mike Carp is his expected backup. Carlos Guillen can also play first base, so we can't look too much into Seager taking grounders at first. His main focus should be winning the 3B job over the likes of Alex Liddi and Chone Figgins. Consider Seager nothing more than a late-round, low-end Fantasy corner infielder on Draft Day. He does have some sleeper potential, but don't reach for him in drafts.
Travis Hafner
Hafner on Yankees radar?
Travis Hafner, DH, CLE
1:19 PM
News: CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman reports the Indians have inquired about Yankees SP A.J. Burnett, who has been heavily involved in trade rumors. The talks with the Indians revolve around a Burnett for DH Travis Hafner deal. However, Cleveland is unsure if it would make that trade, and the Yankees also appear content with the free agent DH options available.
Analysis: This trade rumor is definitely interesting because a trade to the Yankees would immediately elevate Hafner's Fantasy appeal. He would end up going to a hitter's park and be inserted into one of the best lineups in baseball. That means a ton of chances to fill the stat sheet. However, it doesn't appear this deal is imminent, so Fantasy owners shouldn't get their hopes up. It's best to view Hafner as a low-end, injury-risk Fantasy option for the late rounds of deep formats on Draft Day. Hafner continues to post poor home run totals and hasn't played more than 100 games in three of his last four seasons.
 
 
 
Top Videos
Tigers 1B: Miguel Cabrera
Blue Jays OF: Jose Bautista
Angels 1B: Albert Pujols
 
More Fantasy Baseball Videos
Rankings