Frascella's NBA Top 100 Players: 1 Sentence or Less...

We live in a different kind of society today... people don't want to read long-form journalism. We like Twitter. We like YouTube. TikTok. "Hot takes" that stir the pot and get conversation going.

Short and sweet, so we can move on to the next thing in our evolving modern lives.

That said, I'm featuring one-sentence synopses (or less) this time around. Here's a link to my last such list:

2019: John Frascella's Top 65 NBA Players

Quick Ranking Notes:

-Players will not be punished for opting out of The Bubble.

-This list includes injured players.

-Be sure to give your opinion after reading!

TIER 10

100. Steven Adams: A highly-efficient center who brings toughness and a never-back-down attitude in the paint. 

99. Kendrick Nunn: A very impressive rookie who is coming along nicely due to the help of Pat Riley, Erik Spoelstra and veteran leader Jimmy Butler. 

98. Will Barton: Not my favorite guy, but he brings an offensive spark when coming off the bench, and his herky-jerky style of play can disorient opposing defenses. 

97. Robert Covington: A three-and-D analytics favorite who spaces the floor and provides top-tier individual defensive work. 

96. Tristan Thompson: Another highly-efficient big who also happens to be one of the elite rebounders in the entire NBA. 

95. Josh Richardson: Another strong defender who can also give you an offensive boost when he's on his game from the perimeter. 

94. Serge Ibaka: A good, solid veteran who has developed into an extremely effective bench player for one of the best teams in the NBA. 

93. Terry Rozier: Has some good counting stats, but I'd like to see him improve his efficiency and polish up his all-around game as a floor general. 

92. JJ Redick: Consistently one of the best pure shooters in the game; spaces the floor beautifully and runs defenders around a plethora of screens. 

91. Eric Gordon: A tough guard who buckles down on D when he needs to; unlimited range and an aggressive offensive repertoire. 

90. Harrison Barnes: A consistently good player who never becomes great. 

89. Jusuf Nurkic: Will move up the list if he can remain healthy; he was out of the lineup for quite some time. 

88. Lauri Markkanen: Hasn't quite panned out the way people expected; needs to be tougher, both mentally and physically. 

87. Paul Millsap: A savvy veteran with a polished all-around game on both ends of the floor. 

86. Derrick Rose: Had a very impressive season, still showcasing that "burst" as he attacks the rack with reckless abandon. 

85. Blake Griffin: An extremely talented all-around player who simply cannot stay on the floor; too many highlight-reel dunks as a youngster. 

TIER 9

84. Draymond Green: You take away those Golden State stars, and he just doesn't seem particularly impressive. 

83. Marcus Smart: One of the best two-way bench players in the NBA; a relentless sparkplug who would bring serious value to any team in the game. 

82. Goran Dragic: Has settled in nicely as the veteran leader of the Heat's second unit. 

81. Myles Turner: An excellent young shotblocker who has the potential to be a much more impactful all-around contributor. 

80. Brook Lopez: A real solid, steady veteran and calming influence on a high-powered Bucks team. 

TIER 8

79. Ricky Rubio: He still feels a bit underrated, to me - he's a professional facilitator who keeps his teammates in offensive rhythm. 

78. Collin Sexton: Had a tremendous season as one of the Cavs' only true go-to guys. 

77. Devonte' Graham: Has quickly developed into a "microwave" scorer who can really catch you off guard with an offensive barrage. 

76. Marcus Morris: Consistently one of the best bench players in the NBA - tough, versatile and always useful. 

75. Evan Fournier: Known as a "shooter", but can also surprise you with a pretty effective all-around offensive game. 

74. Kelly Oubre: A rising young player who has found a comfortable home with the up-and-coming Suns. 

73. Aaron Gordon: A dynamic player with a lot of all-around potential; needs to find exactly what his game is. 

72. Dennis Schroder: A relentless offensive attacker who always puts opposing defenses on their heels; he ain't scared. 

71. Bojan Bogdanovic: One of the more underrated scorers in the game; a crafty veteran arsenal with more versatility than you think. 

70. Jonas Valanciunas: A rock solid traditional big; huge and powerful, with good hands and palpable energy. 

TIER 7

69. Clint Capela: Something tells me he won't be as noticeable or noteworthy with the developing Hawks. 

68. Mike Conley: I think a bigger name than his ability at this point; need to see him stay healthy and make a consistent impact. 

67. Hassan Whiteside: Arguably the best shotblocker in the world; a traditional big who can really be dominant in the right matchups. 

66. Deandre Ayton: A rising young center who has the potential to crack my top 50 in the near future. 

65. Caris LeVert: A very talented all-around player who needs to stay healthy and maintain some consistency. 

64. Montrezl Harrell: A ferocious finishing big who plays with tenacity and flair. 

63. Jaylen Brown: Finally seems to be coming into his own and establishing a consistent offensive style and repertoire. 

62. Danilo Gallinari: An old-school scorer with all of the offensive tricks in the book. 

61. Spencer Dinwiddie: Easily one of the best and most impactful bench players in the entire NBA. 

60. Buddy Hield: A high-volume scorer who needs to develop the other facets of his game. 

59. Victor Oladipo: Needs to stay healthy for a little while and we'll get him back into my top 50, where he belongs. 

58. Kevin Love: A good, solid veteran, but I'm just not sure about his impact on winning at this point in his career. 

57. De'Aaron Fox: A quick-and-athletic young point guard who aims to create havoc on both ends of the floor. 

56. Julius Randle: The best all-around player on the Knicks; a dubious distinction, I suppose. 

55. Jaren Jackson Jr: A very exciting young player who features an advanced all-around game on both ends of the floor; watch out for these feisty Grizzlies. 

54. Gordon Hayward: Hasn't had the best of luck staying healthy in Boston; still a very talented all-around player who knows how to play up to the level of his competition. 

TIER 6

53. Andrew Wiggins: One of the more talented pure scorers in the game, but his overall production will take a hit once Steph Curry and Klay are back. 

52. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: One of the most impressive young guards in the league; wise beyond his years with a real calm to his game. 

51. Eric Bledsoe: One of the best and most physical defensive guards in the game; gets a boost for contributing to one of the most dominant teams in the NBA. 

50. Malcolm Brogdon: A tremendous addition by the Pacers who has really steadied the ship for a team with some injury issues. 

49. Fred VanVleet: One of my favorite players in the NBA; this kid has balls...he doesn't back away from The Moment. 

48. Lou Williams: Another one of my favorites; an all-around scoring machine who has been making defenders look silly for many, many years now. 

47. Jamal Murray: Really impressed me during the postseason last year; forms a very formidable pick-and-roll duo with his good buddy Nikola Jokic. 

46. T.J. Warren: Probably the best player in The Bubble, thus far!

45. John Collins: A tremendous young rebounder with legitimate scoring potential, as well. 

44. Bam Adebayo: Has come out of nowhere to become a dominant disruptor on both ends of the floor; again, credit the Player Development team of the Miami Heat. 

43. D'Angelo Russell: Played out of his mind for my Nets, but needs to come back healthy and find a steady home within the NBA landscape. 

42. Jrue Holiday: Feels kind of overrated to me - good two-way player who never stays completely healthy and appears to have fleeting impact. 

41. Zach LaVine: A true go-to scorer for one of the weaker all-around teams in the game. 

TIER 5

40. Ben Simmons: "The Process" isn't panning out; the Sixers need Simmons to become more of a scoring threat so they can escape frustrating limbo. 

39. Ja Morant: An electric young point guard who plays with exuberance and brings major excitement. 

38. Tobias Harris: A steady all-around player and calming influence on a volatile Sixers' team. 

37. Chris Paul: He's still got it; you can't underestimate how important it is to have a closer who knows how to execute winning plays down the stretch. 

36. Nikola Vucevic: Consistently one of the most underrated players in the game; I have to give him his due credit. 

35. Kristaps Porzingis: This Luka/Unicorn combo is really workin' out for Mark Cuban and company!

34. Brandon Ingram: An incredibly dynamic young player who continues to develop at a surprisingly rapid pace. 

33. Andre Drummond: The best rebounder in the world; but his overall style of play is kind of dated for today's spacing-based NBA. 

32. Rudy Gobert: Personally, I'm not a huge fan, but he's arguably the most impactful defensive player in the NBA and he's an anchor for a consistently solid Jazz squad. 

31. Domantas Sabonis: One of my favorite young players in the game; an all-around force who plays unselfish, team-first basketball on both ends of the floor. 

30. Kyle Lowry: Up there with the toughest players of all; a true grinder who has worked hard for everything he has achieved at this level. 

TIER 4

29. Klay Thompson: Probably the second-best shooter in the world; also an elite defender at his position when healthy. 

28. DeMar DeRozan: As consistent as they come - but will he ever breakthrough in terms of winning in the postseason?

27. LaMarcus Aldridge: A polished, savvy all-around big on both ends of the floor. 

26. Zion Williamson: Probably the most exciting young player in the world - a Swiss army knife of a player who will probably be in my top 20 before we know it. 

25. Khris Middleton: The textbook definition of an effective "right-hand man" or No. 2 option. 

24. Kemba Walker: A well-liked, productive point guard with a propensity to deliver in the clutch. 

23. CJ McCollum: Another one of the most underrated basketball players in the universe; kid brings it every single night and is a freakin' scoring machine. 

TIER 3

22. Jayson Tatum: One of the most popular young players in the game; a Scottie Pippen-esque all-around threat with a long list of individual skills. 

21. Pascal Siakam: Probably the best individual story in the NBA - went from a 7th man "garbage cleaner" to a near-superstar faster than anyone in history. 

20. Donovan Mitchell: Has shown an awful lot early in his career, but I had him inside my top 15 about a year or so ago; something just isn't quite the same. 

19. Karl-Anthony Towns: I'm with "Sir" Charles Barkley on this one - this kid is just too soft for me. 

18. Devin Booker: Another one of the most exciting young players in the world; a versatile scoring machine who clearly has the potential to become a top-10 player. 

17. Kyrie Irving: One of the most dominant individual scorers in the game, but his off-the-court antics are really becoming detrimental. 

16. Russell Westbrook: Having a much better season than you think - check the stats, I'm tellin' ya!

15. Trae Young: Was easily one of the best statistical players in the NBA; a young floor general who can shoot, drive and dish with the best of 'em. 

14. Bradley Beal: He and James Harden are the only 2 players averaging over 30 points per game for the season. 

13. Jimmy Butler: It only took one veteran leader for the young Heat to go from a fringe playoff team to top-half seed in the improving East. 

TIER 2

12. Stephen Curry: Hopefully he comes back fully healthy, lookin' like his old self in fine form. 

11. Joel Embiid: A dominant two-way player who could benefit from more nastiness and mental consistency. 

10. Paul George: An elite player on both ends of the floor; a textbook two-way player who is as silky smooth as they come. 

9. Nikola Jokic: An entertaining all-around big who leads by example; his Nuggets feed off his unselfishness and infectious positive attitude. 

8. Damian Lillard: One of the coolest athletes in the world - a fearless crunchtime performer with flair and truly unlimited range. 

7. Luka Doncic: Quickly developing into this generation's Larry Bird - a pure genius on the basketball court. 

TIER 1

6. Kevin Durant: Can be ranked as high as No. 1 overall when healthy. 

5. James Harden: Just tired of ranking him in my top 4 - need to see him get it done in the playoffs, for once. 

4. Anthony Davis: Has the size, athleticism and all-around talent to be the absolute best basketball player in the universe. 

3. Giannis Antetokoumpo: Needs to carry his team to a title to grab my No. 1 spot. 

2. Kawhi Leonard: Season on the line...out of anyone in the world...he's probably the guy you want with the ball in his hands. 

1. LeBron James: Still "The King" - either the best or second-best player in the history of basketball; still goin' strong. 

BRING ON THE DEBATE ON TWITTER @LEGENDSPORTS7 !!! 

MLB Fantasy Grades, Part 2: Last Year's Losers (including myself)

Photo Credit: Tomahawk Take

You know how it goes...I burn through these things...

A quick, happy recap from Part 1:

Billy V: A-
Steve: A-
Mike A: A-
Ross: B+
Marty: B
Chris P: B-

Team Name: Flawless Fantasy
Manager: Hymee G. 

Infield: Kris Bryant has "back stiffness" and Carlos Correa is Carlos Correa. Obviously we like the talent in that duo, but something feels just a tad risky about the combination. Ketel Marte has turned a corner and become a true fantasy monster.

Infield Grade: B

Outfield: A foursome of all-stars, and safe. What a duo with Soto and Springer. Ozuna and Brantley are solid vets - we know what to expect, there.

Outfield Grade: A

Utility: A lot of us think Jorge Polanco will regress, but he's still a quality guy for Util. Good Utility upside with DeJong, Upton and Peralta as well. Solid group.

Util Grade: A-

Bench: Hymee loves the NL East. Brian Anderson, Swanson and Kingery make for interesting bench players. Adames is a "hunch" guy for me. I really liked that pick when it happened.

Bench Grade: B+

Starting Pitching: Hymee clipped me with deGrom. I don't usually go SP that early, but it was simply the right value point. Glasnow may have the best pure stuff in the game. Lance Lynn is a friggin' bulldog. My kinda guy. Bumgarner and Ray were both "Fro Guys" last season. Manaea came on the cheap and Gausman sucks.

SP Grade: A-

Relievers: 3 closers in Giles, Leclerc & Wade Davis. Kela may eventually come back and be a 4th closer for this squad. Nothing overly spectacular, but definitely not bad at all.

Relief Grade: A-

Overall Grade: A

Team Name: Fightin' Zyls
Manager: Matt Z

Infield: Zyllie went super early on Tatis, and that needs to pay off for him. You could argue that he has the most upside in the entire game. We'll see how it shakes out. Goldschmidt is reliable, and he needs Alfaro and McMahon to continue developing and improving.

Infield Grade: B

Outfield: "The Cat" is all-in on homers w Harper, Stanton, Cespedes & Gallo. Will he have issues in the BA category? Sure. Homers? No prob at all.

Outfield Grade: B+ (because I don't count Cespedes as a real player)

Utility: Dahl has good upside for a Util spot. Always rakes, but never stays healthy. I like Cron and Santana in these spots, as well.

Util Grade: B+

Bench: Only two spots. Aguilar could be good if the Marlins leave him alone and let him have a full plate of at bats.

Grade: C

Starting Pitchers: It's a parade of "Zylbert Guys" - Darvish, Bauer, Montas, Heaney, Fried, Richards, Velasquez, Lopez & Taijuan Walker. Certainly not the worst group I've ever seen.

SP Grade: A-

Relievers: Hendriks is a top 3 or 4 closer to me. Givens is probably in some sort of closing timeshare. Carlos Martinez always seems to bounce around from starter to reliever, then back around again.

RP Grade: B

Overall Grade: B

Team Name: The Legend.
Manager: The Legend aka "The Commish"

Infield: Anybody gonna argue with the trio of Freeman, Gleyber Torres and Moncada? I got them exactly where I wanted them. I'm assuming Freeman and Moncada can't get corona again, right? Villar was an absolute freakin' monster last year - I hope he can repeat out of the leadoff spot.

Infield Grade: A

Outfield: Betts and Kepler lead the way for me. I'll be waiting 14 days or so for Hunter Dozier, who is eligible at OF. Danny Santana was insanely good last year, but I know he's a risky bet to repeat that overall production. Pederson continues to come along.

Outfield Grade: B

Utility: Eduardo Escobar and Gurriel seem too good for Util. Probably the best Util guys I've ever had. Kevin Newman was sneaky good last year and Yandy Diaz has a live bat.

Util Grade: A-

Bench: Santander was my best fantasy player the second half of last season. He may be the best overall producer for the Orioles in a banbox. With Betts out of Boston, I have Chavis, Moreland and Vazquez to mix-and-match in Daily settings.

Bench Grade: B

Starting Pitching: The reigning champ Billy V has a MAJOR problem with my rotation. Some quotes from The Champ:

-"You have the worst pitching in the league."
-"You are very light in starting pitching."
-Took passing shots at Paddack & Soroka.

I don't usually mention stats, but just of note... Paddack had a 0.98 WHIP last season and Soroka was 2.68 in ERA. Two young aces for their respective NL teams. Boyd had 238 Ks and Marquez had 175. Samardzija stays solid, Caleb Smith gets hype and Bassitt could be the A's second-best.

SP Grade: B

Relief Pitching: Most consider Hader the best in the game. I have 3 more closers in Colome, Kintzler and Watson, too.

Relief Grade: A-

Overall Grade: A-

Team Name: Team Piazza
Manager: Jimmy H

The battle of the "H Boys" gets underway...

Infield: Realmuto is obviously a top fantasy catcher. I like Olson and Rendon; not feeling overly confident in Biggio or Hampson, just yet.

Infield Grade: B

Outfielders: Trout leads the way, clearly. I'm not a McCutchen guy. Mercado has all-around potential but I don't like his spot in Cleveland's batting order. Meadows will be back after his COVID designation.

Outfield Grade: B

Utility: Carlos Santana had a monster year last year. I feel like it was a bit over his own head. Sano has great upside in a Util spot. Tucker and Senzel are intriguing young talents.

Util Grade: B+

Bench: Odor is an empty home run guy. Tsutsugo will be platooning with the Rays.

Bench Grade: C-

Starting Pitching: Comin' in hot with Verlander, Castillo and Gray. Strong stuff, there. Folty looked so freakin' bad in his preseason start. Stiff as a board. Gave up back to back to back homers to the Marlins. Luzardo is a major prospect name. Mikolas is good where drafted.

SP Grade: A-

Relief Pitching: Diaz and Jimenez are the likely closers. Can we really trust Edwin, at this point?

Relief Grade: B-

Overall Grade: B

Team Name: Rockville Rube Baker
Manager: Tommy H

Infield: Clipped me on Garver. He looks like the real deal. Veteran infield with Abreu, Altuve, Donaldson and Bogaerts. All good.

Infield Grade: A

Outfielders: Yelich was the No 1 overall selection. Robles is well-regarded in most fantasy circles this year. Renfroe is a power guy and Choo is a steady pro.

Outfield Grade: B+

Utility: Khris Davis is a TH captain. Carpenter seems to be tapering off into oblivion. Akiyama is an obvious wild card and Hosmer is real solid down here in Util.

Util Grade: B

Bench: Went for homers in Vogelbach and Calhoun. Starlin Castro actually has to play a key role for the World Series champs.

Bench Grade: B+

Starting Pitchers: Things kind of stop after Greinke, Snell and Urias.

SP Grade: B-

Relievers: Yates is one of the best, and Bradley is safe. Good duo.

RP Grade: A-

Overall Grade: A-

Team Name: The Fresh Princes
Manager: Mike R. 

Infield: Clipped me on Will Smith. Wanted Garver or Smith around where they went, and didn't get either. Moustakas, Ramirez, Turner form a rock solid trio.

Infield Grade: A-

Outfielders: Marte, Eloy, Rosario and McNeil - an interesting mix. I never like Starling, but he continues to be a fantasy stud. Eloy is a rising offensive star. Rosario and McNeil are quality contact guys.

Outfield Grade: B+

Utility: Gonna be hard for Semien to repeat, but he was fantastic last year. Everybody knows I like Amed Rosario! Austin Riley got oooohs and ahhhhs from the crowd.

Util Grade: B

Bench: Christian Walker and Calhoun were good values. Who knows what will happen with Puig and Aquino.

Bench Grade: B-

Starting Pitching: Bieber was scary good last year. I'm not really sure how. He doesn't seem THAT good when you watch him live. Giolito was a superb value play. Rising stud. Carrasco and Anibal are on the downside. Maeda should be interesting with Minnesota.

SP Grade: B+

Relievers: Is Anderson really an undisputed closer? Not really, but the kid has crazy lights out stuff. Daniel Hudson will mix and match with Doolittle in Washington.

Relief Grade: C

Overall Grade: B+

Final Report Cards:

Hymee: A (I actually agree with Billy, Hymee does seem to have the most balanced all-around squad)
Billy V: A-
Steve: A-
Mike A: A-
Tommy: A-
Legend: A-
Ross: B+
Mike R: B+
Jimmy: B
Zyllie: B
Marty: B
Chris P: B-

Good luck to all from The Commish!

MLB Fantasy Draft Grades, Part 1: Who Crumbled Under the Pressure?

Photo Credit: NJ.com

IMMEDIATE DISCLAIMER: This entire report is done in stream-of-consciousness. I will not be looking up any stats. Just going off initial reactions and gut feelings. No time to waste; let's roll...

(Part 1 will include the first 6 report cards.)

Team: Twin Towers
Manager: Billy V

Infield: Right away, I feel like he got good value on Sal Perez behind the dish. Couple years ago he was considered an easy top 5-6 catcher. He fell pretty far in this one. Not in love with Edwin Encarnacion nor Chris Taylor. Gotta be pretty excited about Bregman and Machado at 3B and SS.

Infield Grade: B+

Outfield: I told Billy during the draft that I like Schwarber this year - I don't particularly know why. Just feel like he is going to put it all together. Luis Robert was a super, super upside pick. Can't argue with that "swing for the fences" at all. The defending champ knows what he is doing. Cannot question him. Conforto and Verdugo... we shall see.

Outfield Grade: B

Utility: Bo Bichette another high upside play. Didi could really like the Phillies' little league fences. Lux is currently in the minors. Hicks can obviously do some good things.

Utility Grade: B

Bench: Gotta like Andujar as a possible bounce-back candidate. Austin Hays was pretty impressive in a short stint last year. Sean Murphy & Kieboom are a couple more upside plays.

Bench Grade: B

Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole is the best in the game (this from a Mets fan who loves deGrom). Morton and Nola, that's monster behind Cole. Kluber at SP4 is in the right spot. His arm might be shot, but you gotta love him in that spot. No pressure on him to perform, there. Billy also got good value on Eovaldi & Montgomery.

Starting Pitching Grade: A+

Relief Pitchers: Not sure if Kimbrel will ever be himself again. I have no qualms with Iglesias nor Kennedy, where they were drafted. Fair selections.

Relief Pitching Grade: B+

Overall Grade: A-

Team: King Martin
Managers: Luciano & Marty

Infield: No complaints, here. Bellinger and Devers should be monsters. Hiura is well-liked in fantasy circles, though not as much by me. If Tim Anderson can repeat, that would be pretty spectacular.

Infield Grade: A

Outfield: I feel like Cain is kind of over the hill. Not a huge fan, anymore. Avisail never stays healthy and doesn't always find a groove vs right handed pitching. Grichuk is a headache. Strikeout machine. I like Castellanos but I don't particularly approve of this outfield.

Outfield Grade: C

Utility: Josh Bell should easily be one of the better Util players in our league. Canha was good for me last year. Buxton always seems to be more hype than substance.

Utility Grade: B

Bench: I like Smoak at Miller Park. He could really turn things around in a major way. I thought Pence was done in the past, but he came alive last year. Maybe he's on a special "workout regimen". Nimmo is a good pick down here. Alvarez a great stash at IL, just in case.

Bench Grade: B+

Starting Pitching: That Buehler news was a little weird. Why is he pitching so far down in the rotation? In a vacuum, initially, I liked him as one of the top 5 or 6 SP plays. Clevinger and Minor were good picks, where they went. Not loving Ryu anymore in the AL East. Rich Hill and Alex Wood: same guy 10-15 years apart in age. Neither can stay healthy, nor will they.

Starting Pitching Grade: B

Relief Pitching: Melancon is the lone closer. I don't think I can get behind that in Daily settings.

Relief Pitching Grade: D

Overall Grade: B

Team Name: The Rhombuses
Manager: Chris P

Infield: Not sure I've seen the double catcher strategy in the infield. This is most likely a first for me, with both Sanchez and Grandal. Wong has always sucked ass whenever I have drafted him. Lindor is a megastar and Vlad Jr. brings massive upside.

Infield Grade: B-

Outfield: Charlie Blackmon is all alone out here. Mallex Smith brings a massive amount of steals, at least. One of the best in the game in that department.

Outfield Grade: C+

Utility: Starts off quite well with Justin Turner, Andrus & Pollock. Can't really go wrong with that trio at Util. I'm not sure if Wil Myers carries any fantasy value any longer. I can't really say with any type of certainty.

Util Grade: A-

Bench: This is where old men go to retire. Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano AND Matt Kemp? What year is this?? Seager, Urshela and Bradley bring some potential value. There are still certain things to like, here.

Bench Grade: B-

Starting Pitching: Whoa whoa...Scherzer, Strasburg AND Berrios?? How ya doinnnn...awesome! No depth at all after that. It's actually kinda scary. CP is gonna be workin' that FA list. This had the potential to be an A+ staff.

SP Grade: A-

Relief Pitching: That Chapman pick was curious. Way early. Britton will begin the season as the Yankees' closer. Osuna also seems to be in deep shit. That was also way early. Who knows? He may never get the job back from Pressly. Doolittle is fine. This still has the potential to be a very good bullpen over the long haul.

Bullpen Grade: B+

Overall Grade: B- (has the potential to go up to B+ with the right roster fills)

Team Name: World Champion Astros!
Manager: Stevie Sums

Infield: Seems pretty monster to me. Surprised to see LeMahieu at first - not really traditional - but then you have Merrifield, Suarez & Story, 3 of the best.

Infield Grade: A

Outfield: What is this, my team from a couple seasons ago? Steve has both JD Martinez & Judge in his outfield - not half bad. I also like Franmil Reyes & Gurriel. This is a very Fro-approved outfield.

Outfield Grade: A

Util: Like Josh Bell mentioned earlier, Matt Chapman should be one of the elite Util players in our league. Reynolds is one of the only good Pirates. Murphy & Segura are crafty vets.

Util Grade: B+

Bench: I like both guys, but it's a short bench. Renato Nunez and Corey Dickerson. I had Nunez queue'd up for 5 rounds, then still didn't take him. Oh well.

Bench Grade: B

Starting Pitching: Yeesh. Patrick Corbin is going to have some awfully heavy lifting to do, here. Steve is looking for upside to deliver on both Lamet and Gallen. I have a hunch that Bundy will do well with the Angels. Dakota Hudson is clearly in for a regression.

SP Grade: C+

Relief Pitchers: Hand and Neris form a safe combo. I have no f'n clue who Ryan Helsley is, but I assume he is the Cardinals' closer with Gallegos possibly out.

Relief Pitching Grade: A-

Overall Grade: A-

Team Name: Overrated Fro's
Manager: Ross

Infield: Nice combination across the board here from Ross. Contreras dropped further than he should have behind the dish. Peter Alonso is the GOAT. Great speed from Albies and Mondesi. Arenado is a superstar.

Infield Grade: A+

Outfield: Not sure if Soler nor Yaz can repeat what they did last season. Benintendi still has a lot to prove.

Outfield Grade: B-

Utility: Hoskins is definitely a Ross captain. I'm just not so sure about him, at this point. Last year's BA regression was truly frightening. Maybe he has been exposed by big-league pitching. Ohtani is a surprisingly good hitter. I'd like to see him full-time as a hitter, honestly. Tauchman is already flashing some good things.

Util Grade: B+

Bench: Nothing of note on this bench. The Mariners are truly hoping JP Crawford will breakout in some kinda way.

Bench Grade: D

Starting Pitching: Why am I seeing Ohtani everywhere I turn? This feels somewhat like a weird fantasy baseball Twilight Zone. Anyway, Clayton Kershaw's kinda on his own out here. McCullers and Wheeler have potential, but we also know them. You know what I mean by that. Alcantara nice value toward the bottom.

SP Grade: B- (very close to C+)

Relief Pitchers: Workman, Robles, Britton, Ottavino. Pretty solid, all things considered.

Bullpen Grade: A-

Overall Grade: B+

Team Name: Madd Dogs
Manager: Mikey Berto

Infield: Mikey is Cub crazy with Rizzo and Baez. Of course, they are safe picks. I'm getting that feeling that Edman won't be able to repeat what he did last season. Muncy has been quite good in recent years.

Infield Grade: B+

Outfield: Acuna and Pham get your attention real quick. That is quite the Dynamic Duo. Laureano is a textbook Mike pick, and the Mets are hoping JD Davis can build off last year's surprising breakout.

Outfield Grade: A-

Utility: Nelson Cruz is one of the most underrated athletes of all time. The guy f'n mashes. He is as consistent as they come. A nice steal for Mikey there. Seager another great value. Fell really far. Too far. Votto also worth a dart throw.

Util Grade: A

Bench: Solak and Happ are the smart plays, here. Right bang for the buck. Arraez can rake, when you give him opportunities. Mazara a nice IL stash.

Bench Grade: B+

Starting Pitching: Mikey going with the young studs in Flaherty and Woodruff up top. Must be an NL Central thing, considering the Cubs in his lineup too. Oh shit. Here's another one. Kyle Hendricks is his SP3. And he has Kwang Kim, too? Wtf. This is a weird starting staff, but still pretty good.

SP Grade: B

Relief Pitching: Taylor Rogers is the lone full time closer. Ryan Pressly will begin the season as the awesome Astros' closer.

Bullpen Grade: B-

Overall Grade: A-

Tune in tomorrow for Part 2!

Frascella's Team Preview & Predictions: New York Jets

Photo Credit: ESPN

Those of you who've read my stuff over the years know...I'm not one for introductions. They are a waste of time and effort. The title says enough, doesn't it? Let's get this thing poppin'...

NEW YORK JETS

2019 Record: 7-9

Division Finish: 3rd

Conference Finish: 11th

2020 Vegas Over/Under: 7

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK: Sam Darnold is still just 23 years old...but I do have concerns about him. (1) For two seasons, thus far, he has been wildly inconsistent. (2) He doesn't play particularly well against the better teams - do you remember, I'm seeing ghosts out there? - and his performance varies from quarter to quarter, game to game. On the bright side, I think he is a top-10 overall talent at his position. But will he deliver on that talent? Or will he just be a kid who always shows "flashes" of greatness? Grade: B-

It sounds weird saying this...but...Joe Flacco was a great pickup. Darnold has played two seasons in the NFL, and both years he only played in 13 games. Do we know if he can even play a full 16 games? Flacco is a much better backup than Trevor Siemian, Luke Falk and David Fales. Acquisition Grade: B

James Morgan was a very interesting draft pick by GM Joe Douglas. He is very intriguing on tape. 6'4", 229 with a good lookin' arm. Word is the Jets may have taken him to steal him away from Belichick and the Patriots. If so, good move. He's likely the Jets' backup quarterback of the future. Draft Grade: B+

RUNNING BACK: Le'Veon Bell is pretty much finished. He was probably the slowest running back in the entire league last season. I'm pretty sure he didn't have a single rushing play longer than 20 yards. That's a real stat. Gase is still pissed Maccagnan gave him all that money. Gase brought in a guy he likes, and Douglas brought in a kid he likes. Bell's Grade: C-

When you sign Frank Gore, it's like a sign that you think your team is going to be competitive. Maybe that is the case for the Jets, since Brady and Gronk are gone and the AFC East might be wide open. That said, how can ya not love Frank Gore? One of the toughest and most durable players in the history of the NFL. Gase loves him, so he will get his opportunities carrying the rock. I'm sure he will mentor the rookie coming up, too. Acquisition Grade: B+

Rookie La'Michal Perine is pretty nifty on tape. Fantasy owners in dynasty leagues may be sleeping on him. Remember...Gase doesn't give a crap about Le'Veon. Also, this was Douglas' first draft as GM...this is his running back. His guy. Perine may not get enough opportunities to shake out fantasy value this particular season, but he certainly will in the future. Bell is a goner after this year. Draft Grade: B

WIDE RECEIVER: Don't kid yourself...Jamison Crowder is the WR1, here. He has preexisting chemistry with Darnold, and he works extremely hard to get free in the slot. He's a good play in PPR leagues, and he's still just 26 years old. Grade: B

Breshad Perriman certainly makes for an interesting pickup. He was a fantasy darling down the stretch of last season, easily putting up the best numbers of his enigmatic NFL career. Can he do it again, in different circumstances? I'm really not sure. Depends on whom Darnold prefers between Perriman and the rookie coming up next. I will say this...I think Perriman is a better all-around wide receiver than Robby Anderson. Anderson was simply too weak and limited. Perriman brings more power, physicality and strength. He is a wild card, for sure. Acquisition Grade: B

Denzel Mims is gettin' a pretty solid amount of hype as a rookie. He certainly has a high ceiling. There are concerns about drops, but he has already been improving on that. 6'3" 207 with long arms and a nice reach, Mims should really shine in the redzone. Is he Darnold's WR1 of the future? Well of course we can't know that, just yet. He probably did slip too far in the draft, though. Draft Grade: B+

Josh Doctson is the reclamation project, here. He's shown flashes of brilliance in the past, but they were very brief flashes. You certainly cannot hang your hat on this guy. The Jets are simply hoping he "finds" it this season. Acquisition Grade: C

TIGHT END: Chris Herndon is the more popular guy here, but...I dunno. Ryan Griffin really created some good will for himself last season. He is an extremely hard-worker and Darnold absolutely took a liking to him. Obviously, Herndon is the physically gifted one of the two. He's flashier, he could be a real weapon. But Griffin is an all-around football player. Gase and Douglas both love those types of guys. This just feels like a real split. Herndon is a clown off the field, too. Herndon Grade: B, Griffin Grade: B

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Douglas is clearly going with the most conservative model in the book: build your team starting with a strong offensive line. "Fortify the line," as the old saying goes. Rookie Mekhi Becton does look like a monster on film. I saw multiple people labeling him the possible "LeBron James of offensive linemen." That seems like a stretch, but I suppose we shall see. Either way, he'll definitely be one of the best OL of his draft class. Draft Grade: A-

Other acquisitions and picks: Connor McGovern, George Fant, Greg Van Roten and Cameron Clark. This Jets' offensive line is going from a D- to a B-. Fant looks like the best out of this group of four. Overall, well done by Douglas. 

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE: Steve McLendon still has it. He's a team leader and he remains a highly-effective run stuffer. He's probably still the best on this defensive line. Sophomore Quinnen Williams has to apply more quarterback pressure this season. He was quite good against the run last year, but for such a high pick, he needs to find a way to make an all-around impact. Rookie DE Jabari Zuniga needs to get after the quarterback. The Jets haven't had a formidable pass rush since Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson. They need a change. Group Grade: C+

LINEBACKERS: The vets are hoping to be back at 100% this season: C.J. Mosley and Avery Williamson. These guys were dearly missed last season. Awesome Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams will utilize them properly, as he does with most guys. Jordan Jenkins and James Burgess were sort of the surprise guys last season. They showed some good things. Jenkins certainly looks to be the better of the two, thus far. We'll see if he can build off last year. Blake Cashman should also be back from injury, and he's a decent young linebacker. Group Grade: B-

DEFENSIVE BACKS: And of course, this is where you find the Jets' lone superstar, Mr. Jamal Adams. He was always quite good, but he really broke out under Gregg Williams. G-Will moved him all around the field, and Adams was an absolute savage. This is a pairing that has worked out beautifully for both parties. I have Adams as the 31st overall player in the NFL. (Don't forget to check out my NFL Top 100 Players series.) CB Brian Poole is probably the second-best player in the Jets' defensive backfield, since Marcus Maye can never really seem to stay healthy. Williams gets a lot out of these guys. Keep an eye on aggressive rookie Ashtyn Davis; if he stays healthy, he can make a real impact. Group Grade: B

FRASCELLA'S PREDICTION

The first thing I think is...Darnold still worries me. I still don't think he's really ready. He may never be. But...this team found ways to win close games last season. I credit Gregg Williams, more than anyone else. Now the Jets have Mosley and Williamson back, with the Becton and Fant additions to the offensive line and Perriman/Mims additions to their receiving corps. This team is improving, on paper. I still don't see it all coming together, though. Maybe just a little step up from last season. 

FRASCELLA'S PREDICTION: 8-8

Frascella's MLB Top 100 Pitchers, Part 4: They Say Lefties Have More Fun, Don't They?

Photo Credit: Through the Fence Baseball

Kenta Maeda, Miles Mikolas and Domingo German led the way in Part 3 of my MLB Top 100 Pitchers series. Before we get into this installment, here's my ranking criteria again:

1. 50% of the weight: My own personal assessment of the pitcher, based on stuff, stats, consistency, ballpark factors and whatever else floats into my mind. This has to get the most weight, otherwise it wouldn't be my list.

2. 20% of the weight: The story of the pitcher. Who is this guy, over time? For example, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are pretty f'n awesome every single year; that has to count for something, right? Conversely, guys like Ken Giles and Emilio Pagan have had fluctuating results. Guys like Edwin Diaz and Blake Treinen have had dramatically fluctuating results. You get the idea. Who are they, really?

3. 20% of the weight: 2019 Yahoo fantasy baseball ranking. The algorithm combines all statistics in a reasonable way, so this is very helpful. For starting pitchers this will include ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts, Quality Starts and Wins. For relief pitchers this will include ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts and Saves. This ranking system doesn't include Holds, so I will have to evaluate the middle relievers and setup men on my own.

4. 10% of the weight: 2018 stats, and maybe a little consideration for 2017.

69. Marco Gonzales, SP, Seattle Mariners

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #39 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 3.99 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 147 K/203 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 4.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 145 K/166 innings

Three lefties in a row here, to start us off right...

Poor Marco...nobody really talks about him. The Astros win the division, make deep postseason runs and get all of the headlines for cheating. The Angels added big names in Rendon and Maddon to an even bigger name in Mike Trout. The A's seem to be perennial playoff contenders amidst "Moneyball" talk (and right now, they are the center of attention for not paying their minor league players) and the Rangers finally have a quality rotation to go along with their power bats.

So who the hell talks about the Mariners? I don't hear a single peep about Gonzales, a 28-year old lefty whom the Mariners "found" and salvaged. Early in his career, with the Cardinals, Gonzales bounced back and forth between the minors and bigs. His Cardinals' ERAs? 4.15, 13.50 and 13.50 (in small sample sizes). But the Mariners saw something in him anyway, and he has delivered in a major way. They found their ace in the rubble, a guy who has thrown 166 and 203 innings in the past two seasons. He's been remarkably consistent for a reclamation project, and he led the majors this past season with 34 starts. This is a solid, durable lefty arm.

68. Max Fried, SP, Atlanta Braves

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #38 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.02 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 173 K/165 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 2.94 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 44 K/33 innings

Another "Zylbert Guy" - this 26-year old talent was the 7th overall pick in the 2012 Draft. As a 6'4" lefty with a nice fastball and Zito-esque, slow curveball, Fried's (unsurprisingly) been accompanied by hype along the way. He's starting to deliver on that now, as he cracked 160 innings in his first full season in the bigs. If Fried can cut down on his walks and lower his WHIP on a consistent basis, he'd certainly be on a crash course for my top 50. He's smooth and has putaway stuff, so he just needs to refine the little things and "polish up" as we say in the biz.

67. Matthew Boyd, SP, Detroit Tigers

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #47 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.56 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 238 K/185 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 4.39 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 159 K/170 innings

When I think about Matt Boyd...I immediately think of Patrick Corbin. Just look at the numbers...

Corbin (age 26): 131 Ks in 155 innings
            (age 27): 178 Ks in 189 innings
            (age 28): 246 Ks in 200 innings

Boyd (age 26): 110 Ks in 135 innings
          (age 27): 159 Ks in 170 innings
          (age 28): 238 Ks in 185 innings

Like...what? What did they go to the same personal pitching coach during the offseason? That's uncanny. Corbin is a 6'3" lefty...and so is Boyd. Neither one of them have a dominant fastball, but they've both learned to lean on devastating, disappearing sliders. They've identified their "money" pitch, and it took them both until age 28 to really exploit it. I didn't know if the success was repeatable for Corbin, but so far, it has been.

Now, for me, the catch-22 is Boyd's ERA. Why is he still hovering between 4.30 and 4.60? Why didn't the 238 strikeouts (tied for the 10th-most in all of baseball, with Corbin of course) translate into better overall results? I'm not quite sure, yet. Maybe it's because the Tigers suck as a team? Maybe their inexperienced defensive players are costing Boyd runs? We can only postulate.

Boyd's a lefty (commodity), and his strikeout numbers indicate he might possibly be a top-50 pitcher; but right now, I'm just not willing to go there. I need to see the Ks translate into other stats, a development that eventually occurred for Boyd's mirror, Corbin.

66. Dakota Hudson, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #36 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 3.35 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 136 K/174 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 2.63 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 19 K/27 innings

This is not sustainable. Hudson's 86 walks were the most in all of baseball. But somehow, he just kept gettin' the job done. I mean, we can read between the lines of his numbers...he's getting groundball double-plays when he needs them. He's walking guys - there are plenty of runners on base - and not striking out enough, yet his ERA hasn't been higher than 3.35 yet. But if he doesn't get his issues under control, his results will change. Yes, 2018 was an extremely small sample size, but look at the upward trends - ERA and WHIP both rose in '19. The more innings he throws at that walk rate - despite very good natural stuff - the more likely he becomes a 4.00-plus guy. At age 25, it's time for Dakota to get a better overall feel for his craft.

65. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #85 SP
-2019 Notable Stats (Rookie): 2.81 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 96 K/80 innings
-Minor League Stats: 2.87 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 384 K/382 innings

Like I wrote about Julio Urias in Part 2 of my series, sometimes we need to rank guys on "spec". Gallen's still a baby - 2019 marked his first appearance in the major leagues. But damn, unlike his predecessor Hudson, this kid has craft. He has feel.

One of the cool things about baseball is...guys usually just are who they are. Steven Summer and I always use Adam LaRoche as an example - just take a look at the consistency of his career stats. You can probably see where I'm going with this...Gallen pitched in the minors from 2014 through (some of) 2019, and poof! Look at the similarities in his first set of big-league numbers. He was the same guy. Sure, it's a small sample size, but it's also an awfully good sign.

Truthfully, this one's also a matter of circumstance. If Derek Jeter and his Marlins had held on to Gallen, I may have snuck him into the back end of my 50s. But Chase Field is a whole 'nother ballgame. Coors Field is a pitcher's hell, but it's incredibly hot at Chase, too (and I'm not talking about the weather in Arizona). Gallen, despite being a young buck, only averaged 92.9 MPH on his fastball as a rookie. That's something to keep an eye on at Chase Field. He'll really have to continue to hit his spots with consistency.

64. Julio Teheran, SP, Los Angeles Angels

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #53 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 3.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 162 K/174 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.94 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 162 K/175 innings

You know...I'm not really a Teheran guy. I feel like I'm always saying to people - have you seen him pitch recently? His arm is shot. His two-seam fastball is just floating in there. But thankfully, I've learned to ignore my instincts (sometimes). Somehow, someway, Teheran is a pretty damn good pitcher! A 3.67 lifetime ERA and seven-straight seasons of 174+ innings. Ya gotta respect that durability.

Like Gallen, this ranking is a matter of circumstance. Teheran makes my 50s if he stays in the National League with the Braves. But I don't like the AL West for him. The Astros, A's and Rangers all have the potential to mash him. I think he'll fool them early on in his introduction to the AL, but the hitters' transition will come sooner rather than later.

63. Mike Fiers, SP, Oakland Athletics

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #38 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 3.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 126 K/184 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.56 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 139 K/172 innings

The Whistleblower!

Man, this guy ruined baseball until coronavirus came along. The latter took the cake.

That being said, I try not to judge for off-the-field activity. And Fiers is like Teheran - he doesn't blow me away with his stuff, either. He averaged just 90 MPH on his fastball last season. And yet? The 34-year old vet just continues to get the job done. More of that A's/Rays analytics "magic", I suppose. Oakland Coliseum is traditionally a pitchers' park, and the crafty ole vet is exploiting that to the best of his ability. You won't be impressed when you watch him pitch, but he's been consistently solid.

62. Zack Britton, RP, New York Yankees

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #52 RP
-2019 Notable Stats: 1.91 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 53 K/61 innings, 29 holds
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.10 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 34 K/40 innings, 7 saves

One of the better relief pitchers of his generation. Like Brandon Workman in Part 2 of my series, Britton was a failed starter. It must be something about the AL East (and we can probably figure out what that is). Workman failed as a starter with the Red Sox, and Britton with the Orioles. But ZB quickly found his niche in the bullpen, saving 37 games in 2014 - his first season as a closer - with a ridiculous 1.65 ERA. He followed that up with two more out-of-this-world campaigns - back to back all-star seasons, including a 4th-place finish in the Cy Young voting. And despite advancing years, he's been a steady, solid reliever ever since. Britton's known for his power sinker, one that comes in particularly handy when Aaron Boone needs him to clean up somebody else's mess. Britton saws hitters off and repeatedly kills opposing rallies.

61. Adam Ottavino, RP, New York Yankees

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #37 RP
-2019 Notable Stats: 1.90 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 88 K/66 innings, 29 holds
-2018 Notable Stats: 2.43 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 112 K/77 innings, 34 holds

Throughout my series I've been writing that reliever performance fluctuates...but apparently that doesn't apply to Mr. Ottavino. He led the majors in Holds in '18, then finished 4th last season. His ERA dropped below 2.00, despite pitching in a difficult pitchers' park within a difficult division. And don't forget, this kid did a heck of a job pitching at Coors Field in the past, and basically no one else can say that about themselves. Ottavino had five seasons under 4.00 in Colorado, and four of those were under 3.00. That's pretty miraculous work in that park. He's probably the steadiest setup man in the game right now (even if I don't have a ton of confidence in him in the postseason).

60. David Price, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #83 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 128 K/107 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.58 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 177 K/176 innings

I don't know why...but I love making people look at David Price's career stats.

I mean, did you really know that David Price is one of the best pitchers of his generation? Did you really have that context?

Led the majors in innings pitched in 2014 and 2016. Led the AL in ERA in 2012 and 2015. Led the majors in starts in '11, '14 and '16. Won 15 or more games six times. Struck out over 200 batters five times. Led the majors in strikeouts in 2014. A five-time all-star. Four times he finished in the top six in Cy Young voting. Three times in the top two. In 2012 he won the award. Did you really know all this?

And he's finally tapering off just a bit now, but the transition to the NL will help him. He'll grit and grind. He'll battle for every single out. And one thing has never changed about David Price...he's not afraid to challenge you with his fastball. His velocity has dropped from 94.3 to 92.7 to 92.0 over the course of the past three seasons - which is part of the reason why I couldn't squeeze him into my 50s - but he's still coming after guys. He won't back down. And there's very minimal individual pressure when you're in a rotation with two of the absolute best, Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Julio Urias, Alex Wood and Ross Stripling should be quite helpful, too.

Come back next time for the 50s!

ARCHIVE:

Part 1: Pitchers 90-100

Part 2: Pitchers 81-89

Part 3: Pitchers 70-80

Frascella's MLB Top 100 Pitchers, Part 3: Two Rays, Two Rockies and Two Twins

Photo Credit: MLB.com

Sean Doolittle, Ken Giles and Julio Urias led the way in Part 2 of my MLB Top 100 Pitchers series. Before we get into Part 3, here's my ranking criteria again:

1. 50% of the weight: My own personal assessment of the pitcher, based on stuff, stats, consistency, ballpark factors and whatever else floats into my mind. This has to get the most weight, otherwise it wouldn't be my list.

2. 20% of the weight: The story of the pitcher. Who is this guy, over time? For example, Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer are pretty f'n awesome every single year; that has to count for something, right? Conversely, guys like Ken Giles and Emilio Pagan have had fluctuating results. Guys like Edwin Diaz and Blake Treinen have had dramatically fluctuating results. You get the idea. Who are they, really?

3. 20% of the weight: 2019 Yahoo fantasy baseball ranking. The algorithm combines all statistics in a reasonable way, so this is very helpful. For starting pitchers this will include ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts, Quality Starts and Wins. For relief pitchers this will include ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts and Saves. This ranking system doesn't include Holds, so I will have to evaluate the middle relievers and setup men on my own.

4. 10% of the weight: 2018 stats, and maybe a little consideration for 2017.

80. Caleb Smith, SP, Miami Marlins

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #67 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.52 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 168 K/153 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 4.19 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 88 K/77 innings

A 6'2" lefty, smooth as silk...those guys catch your eye on the hill, don't they? But Caleb is similar to Andrew Heaney - whom I ranked in my last installment - in that he's a lefty strikeout pitcher who hasn't yet been able to keep his ERA down. Also...he's not as young as you might think. He feels relatively new on the scene, but Smith is 28 years old. It's put up or shut up time. If we have an MLB season, this will be the time to see where he's at. Is he trending in the right direction, or is he really a 4.30/4.40 ish starting pitcher at the big-league level? He gets that lefty benefit of the doubt right now, but I can't do any better than No. 80 on my list.

79. Hector Neris, RP, Philadelphia Phillies

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #16 RP
-2019 Notable Stats: 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 89 K/67 innings, 28 saves
-2018 Notable Stats: 5.10 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 76 K/47 innings, 11 saves

Neris' storyline is pretty similar to Ken Giles' (whom I ranked No. 82). He's been one of the better relievers in his league, but 2018 marked a real down year. They both bounced back beautifully in '19. Like I always say, reliever performance fluctuates. I'm not gonna nitpick you, if you want to rank Giles or Raisel Iglesias or Brandon Workman ahead of Neris. They are all in a very similar area. I'm giving Neris the very slight edge here, because he's one of the few guys left to feature a devastating splitter, and Citizens Bank Park is an extremely difficult place to pitch. The fences feel like they are just outside of the infield.

78. Yonny Chirinos, SP/RP, Tampa Bay Rays

-2019 Yahoo Rankings: #17 RP, #48 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 3.85 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 114 K/133 innings, 18 starts, 8 relief
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.51 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 75 K/89 innings, 7 starts, 11 relief

I got love for these kinda pitchers - Chirinos doesn't bitch about his role. He does exactly what is asked of him. You see the splits, there...18 starts one year, 8 relief appearances...7 starts another year, 11 relief appearances; he's completely flexible. Most don't comprehend the immense value of a swingman like Chirinos. Like I wrote about Iglesias in my last installment, some pitchers don't respond when you mess with their roles. The Reds f'd around with Iglesias, and his performance faltered. That just hasn't happened with Chirinos, to date. He's an "opener", a middle guy, a long guy...he does it all. He's good at inducing groundballs when he needs to, too. Trust me, if other teams could do what the Rays do, they would. They just can't pull it off without guys like Chirinos and No. 76 on my list...

77. Jon Gray, SP, Colorado Rockies

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #61 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 3.84 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 150 K/150 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 5.12 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 183 K/172 innings

Jon Gray is just one of those frustrating guys. I had him in fantasy when he had that 5.12 ERA, so maybe that's why I find him frustrating. But not really, though. The kid has lights-out stuff. If you just watched him throw...like if you watched him during a bullpen session...you'd confuse him for an elite MLB pitcher. Everything he throws is crisp. He's very smooth for a big fella at 6'4", 227. But he walks guys. He loses his command. He's kind of like a right-handed Robbie Ray. These guys can be maddening. Of course, we have to cut Jonny a lot of slack due to Coors Field. I'd say he's actually one of the better Rockies' starting pitchers of all time. That may not be saying much, but it's a reality. To me, you take him out of Coors and he becomes a 3.90 guy, consistently, and his WHIP drops down into the 1.20s, even with the walks. He's intriguing and enticing, but not solid nor reliable.

76. Ryan Yarbrough, SP/RP, Tampa Bay Rays

-2019 Yahoo Rankings: #16 RP, #46 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.13 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 117 K/141 innings, 14 starts, 14 relief
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.91 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 128K/141 innings, 6 starts, 32 relief

He's the (slightly) better, left-handed version of Chirinos. When in doubt, go with the lefty, right? (No pun intended.) Yarbrough, like Chirinos and some other Rays, is a modern MLB pitcher. He's a "flex". He's been effective in every role he's been asked to fill. Only reason he's not in my top 70 is because I'd like to see that ERA come down from the 4.00 ERA range and land in the 3.50-3.75 range as a hyper-effective flex. He still has some room for growth and improvement, though. He's shown a clear commitment to working on his craft and evolving with the ever-changing times.

75. Ross Stripling, RP/SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

-2019 Yahoo Rankings: #53 RP, #96 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 3.47 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 93 K/90 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.02 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 136/122 innings

The more proven version of both Chirinos and Yarbrough. In the old days, we used to rank "starters", "closers" and "middle relievers" - and the starters and closers pretty much dominated the rankings. But this is a new era. Sure, we still have those three groups...but "middle relief" has been split into long men, middle men, specialists and setup men. And Stripling isn't even on that list. He's a flex, like the two aforementioned Rays; Kenta Maeda and Julio Urias, Seth Lugo, Carlos Martinez and John Gant (of course, there are others).

And damn, I feel bad for Stripling. The kid simply cannot catch a break. No matter how well he pitches, he can never lock down a rotation spot with the Dodgers. I think Alex Wood - who cannot stay healthy - is getting his rotation spot this year. He'll probably get hurt, then Stripling will have to bounce back-and-forth from the bullpen to the rotation. If no one will show Stripling any respect, I guess I have to...he might be the most underrated pitcher in baseball, particularly in terms of value.

74. Miles Mikolas, SP, St. Louis Cardinals

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #55 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 144 K/184 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 2.83 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 146 K/200 innings

Maybe the trickiest guy to rank in this installment. Before taking off for Japan, Mikolas had a 6.44 ERA with the Rangers. Over 10 starts, he got his clock cleaned. Maybe he felt like he didn't belong anymore. Maybe he liked the money or culture in Japan. Or maybe Texas' hitter-friendly confines were the ultimate X-factor in his initial major league demise. But Mikolas starred overseas, and came back to the MLB with a vengeance in 2018. Did you know he led the National League in winning percentage (18-4 record)? He relentlessly attacked the strikezone, and his results were fantastic. He's a double-play inducer with a real heavy ball. But...ya gotta be (at least) a little worried about those '19 numbers, right? Did he return to the MLB with temporary magic? Is he trending back toward that 6.44 ERA of old? I don't think we have all the answers right now. Maybe he's a top-50 MLB pitcher. Maybe he's outside of the top 100. We should have enough information to evaluate after his next full season at this level.

73. German Marquez, SP, Colorado Rockies

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #62 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 175 K/ 174 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.77 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 230 K/196 innings

It's pick your poison, when it comes to these two Rockies' right-handers. It's a matter of personal preference. I don't know if you can really distinguish between Marquez and Gray. But my gut tells me Marquez is the better of the two. 230 Ks in 196 innings as a Rocky? That's pretty much unheard of, right? He's consistently averaged right around 95 MPH with his fastball, and when he gets on top of the ball he reminds me of prime Carlos Zambrano. There isn't a lot of finesse in Marquez's game...but I like that about him. He'll challenge you. He toes the rubber and brings it. Hitters are going to get theirs at Coors anyway, so I like Marquez's strategy. Tip your cap to an old-fashioned "come and get it" pitcher.

72. Kenta Maeda, SP/RP, Minnesota Twins

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #9 RP, #37 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.04 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 169 K/153 innings, 26 starts, 11 relief
-2018 Notable Stats: 3.81 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 153 K/125 innings, 20 starts, 19 relief

I'm not generally too impressed when I watch this guy pitch. He's 32 years old, and sometimes his arm isn't completely loose. You can tell, because he's averaging around 90 MPH with his fastball, and the ball seems to be floating in there. But over the years, I've learned to block this sort of thing out. What does it matter if a guy's stuff doesn't look particularly great? I used to doubt Huston Street and he had a strong career. Trevor Hoffman is one of the greatest closers of all time. So obviously, it isn't all about stuff. So yeah, Maeda doesn't always look great to me, but the veteran has craft. He mixes speeds and deliveries, and when he's on, he can average around 94-95 (especially out of the bullpen). And again...these flex guys are immensely valuable. I respect Maeda for taking the ball, no matter what the situation. It will be very interesting to see how he transitions from the NL West to the AL Central. If he pitches well as a full-time starter for the Twins, I will definitely move him into my top 70 or 60.

71. Taylor Rogers, RP, Minnesota Twins

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #11 RP
-2019 Notable Stats: 2.61 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 90 K/69 innings, 30 saves
-2018 Notable Stats: 2.63 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 75 K, 68 innings, 2 saves

There was an opening back in 2018, and Rogers took advantage. At the time, the Twins were mixing-and-matching in the bullpen - Fernando Rodney, Trevor Hildenberger and Trevor May had also picked up saves - but Rogers clearly emerged as the best of the bunch. In '19 he got a hold of the job rather easily...because he earned it. He's a 6'3" lefty who strikes out more than a batter per inning; anyone surprised that the Twins have become enamored with him? Rogers is one of the best lefty relievers in the game now. In fact, he's one of the best overall.

70. Domingo German, SP, New York Yankees

-2019 Yahoo Ranking: #27 SP
-2019 Notable Stats: 4.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 153 K/143 innings
-2018 Notable Stats: 5.57 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 102 K/85 innings

Initially I had German in the 60s, ahead of two fellow Yankees. I changed my mind, though, because again...I'm considering "the story" of the pitcher. And what's the story, here? German opened up last season looking like a Cy Young contender. While the Yankees suffered through a barrage of injuries, German announced himself as a major force on the hill - his 18-4 record (like Mikolas, earlier) led the American League. But he battled some injuries. Then, he embarrassed himself and the Yankee organization with serious domestic violence allegations. He let his whole team down when he was unable to finish the season. Now, he still has 81 games to serve on his lenient suspension. Obviously, this is a kid with questionable character. Felonious behavior cannot be ignored. He's probably a top 50 or 60 pitcher, but there's more to life than pure talent.

Tune in next time for the 60s!

ARCHIVE:

Part 1: Pitchers 90-100

Part 2: Pitchers 81-89

Frascella's NFL Top 100 Players: THE FULL LIST

Photo Credit: Daily Snark

Thank you all for reading throughout my series! Obviously, I rolled this thing out in installments. Here's my ranking criteria:

1. 50% of the weight: "The Eye Test" - my own personal assessment of the player's talent, productivity and overall impact on winning. This has to come first, otherwise it wouldn't be my list. 

2. 20%: Stats. The raw numbers. 

3. 10%: Impact on winning in pressure situations and most importantly, the playoffs. 

4. 10%: The experts over at Pro Football Focus really know their stuff; they examine every single play of the NFL season, and I trust their detailed analyses. I'm giving 10% of the weight to their 2019 Top 101 NFL Players. 

5. 10%: Recent Pro Bowl selections. Thanks to the coaches, players and fans to their contributions, here. 

Please note: I use logic. The quarterback position is the most influential in all of professional sports, and I absolutely take that into account (PFF does not, in their rankings).

And here's how we got to this point:

Part 10, Players 1-10

Part 9, Players 11-20

Part 8, Players 21-30

Part 7, Players 31-40

Part 6, Players 41-50

Part 5, Players 51-59

Part 4, Players 60-69

Part 3, Players 70-79

Part 2, Players 80-89

Part 1, Players 90-100

But if you don't feel like reading all the way through, here's the raw list...

100. Josh Allen, QB, Bills

99. Damien Williams, RB, Chiefs

98. Tyron Smith, T, Cowboys

97. Raheem Mostert, RB, 49ers

96. Ronnie Stanley, T, Ravens

95. John Brown, WR, Bills

94. Kyle Van Noy, Edge, Dolphins

93. Jared Goff, QB, Rams

92. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Titans

91. Anthony Harris, S, Vikings

90. Von Miller, Edge, Broncos

89. Frank Clark, Edge, Chiefs

88. DeForest Buckner, DT, Colts

87. Mark Andrews, TE, Ravens

86. Julian Edelman, WR, Patriots

85. Joe Haden, CB, Steelers

84. A.J. Brown, WR, Titans

83. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S, Steelers

82. Bobby Wagner, MLB, Seahawks

81. Devin McCourty, S, Patriots

80. Justin Houston, Edge, Colts

79. DeMarcus Lawrence, Edge, Cowboys

78. Zach Ertz, TE, Eagles

77. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals

76. Jarvis Landry, WR, Browns

75. Philip Rivers, QB, Colts

74. Kenny Golladay, WR, Lions

73. Brandon Brooks, G, Eagles

72. Arik Armstead, Edge, 49ers

71. Danielle Hunter, Edge, Vikings

70. Lane Johnson, T, Eagles

69. Za'Darius Smith, Edge, Packers

68. Shaq Barrett, Edge, Bucs

67. Jadeveon Clowney, Edge, Free Agent

66. Zack Martin, G, Cowboys

65. Lavonte David, LB, Bucs

64. Jason Kelce, C, Eagles

63. Mark Ingram, RB, Ravens

62. Josh Jacobs, RB, Raiders

61. Darren Waller, TE, Raiders

60. Darius Leonard, LB, Colts

59. Demario Davis, LB, Saints

58. Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions

57. Fletcher Cox, DT, Eagles

56. Marcus Peters, CB, Ravens

55. Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints

54. Myles Garrett, Edge, Browns

53. Ryan Ramcyzk, T, Saints

52. Carlos Dunlap, Edge, Bengals

51. Terron Armstead, T, Saints

50. Quenton Nelson, G, Colts

49. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Colts

48. Chris Godwin, WR, Bucs

47. Adam Thielen, WR, Vikings

46. Allen Robinson, WR, Bears

45. Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, 49ers

44. Tre'Davious White, CB, Bills

43. Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, Browns

42. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons

41. Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants

40. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seahawks

39. Carson Wentz, QB, Eagles

38. Amari Cooper, WR, Cowboys

37. Aaron Jones, RB, Packers

36. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Cowboys

35. Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys

34. Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings

33. Richard Sherman, CB, 49ers

32. Harrison Smith, S, Vikings

31. Jamal Adams, S, Jets

30. Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers

29. Mike Evans, WR, Bucs

28. Nick Chubb, RB, Browns

27. Joey Bosa, Edge, Chargers

26. T.J. Watt, Edge, Steelers

25. Chandler Jones, Edge, Cardinals

24. Dalvin Cook, RB, Vikings

23. Cameron Jordan, Edge, Saints

22. Calais Campbell, Edge, Ravens

21. Cameron Heyward, DT, Steelers

20. George Kittle, TE, 49ers

19. Derrick Henry, RB, Titans

18. Tyreek Hill, WR, Chiefs

17. Khalil Mack, Edge, Bears

16. Davante Adams, WR, Packers

15. Nick Bosa, Edge, 49ers

14. Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs

13. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Panthers

12. Stephon Gilmore, CB, Patriots

11. Aaron Donald, DT, Rams

10. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Cardinals

9. Julio Jones, WR, Falcons

8. Drew Brees, QB, Saints

7. Tom Brady, QB, Bucs

6. Deshaun Watson, QB, Texans

5. Michael Thomas, WR, Saints

4. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

2. Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs

Bring on the debate!