Fantasy Baseball Insiders

Our 2011 fantasy baseball projections will be released one-by-one until the top 100 players have been revealed. These rankings consider past achievements, current performance and expected future results based on standard 5×5 H2H settings.

Last June, I made an audacious statement that attracted some criticism: Josh Johnson had been (and would continue to be) better than Ubaldo Jimenez.

At that point in the season, both Johnson and Jimenez boasted sub-2.00 ERAs, but Johnson trumped Jimenez in FIP, xFIP, K/9, BB/9, WHIP, O-Swing rate, contact rate, first-strike rate and swinging strike rate.

From that point on, Jimenez posted a 3.98 ERA, while Johnson totaled a 2.98 ERA. To be fair, Johnson was shut down in early September with shoulder inflammation and back tightness (though he has since worked with a chiropractor and former World’s Strongest Man competitor in an attempt to stay healthy in 2011).

By season’s end, Johnson ranked among baseball’s elite in several pitching categories:

• ERA: 2.30 (2nd)
• FIP: 2.41 (1st)
• xFIP: 3.15 (4th)
• HR/9: 0.34 (1st)
• K/9: 9.11 (9th)
• Contact Rate: 74.9 percent (3rd)
• First Pitch Strike Rate: 64.7 percent (7th)
• Swinging Strike Rate: 11.8 percent (3rd)

Since 2005 (Johnson’s MLB debut), only five starters (Carpenter, Halladay, Santana, Wainwright and Lincecum; min. 600 innings) have an ERA lower than Johnson’s mark of 3.10.

Further, Johnson was one of only three pitchers in 2010 (Hernandez and Wainwright) to own one pitch valued at 20 runs above average, and another pitch that checked in 10 runs above average. He also had the third-highest average fastball velocity last season, at 94.9 MPH.

Simply put: Johnson is downright nasty.

Now four years removed from Tommy John surgery, you’d think injuries would no longer be a concern. Having only one 200-plus inning campaign under his belt at age 27, however, raises a reg flag. ESPN’s Stephania Bell thinks Johnson’s back injury is cause for concern, but until we hear something tangible, Johnson will remain the sixth-ranked pitcher on our 2011 big board.

Image courtesy of: Chris Creamer, Sportslogos.net

The latest from Fantasy Baseball Insiders:

• Guerrero to Baltimore: Why He’s Better Off in Camden Yards than Rangers Ballpark

Fantasy Baseball Insiders’ 2011 Big Board:

• Nos. 1-10: Is Pujols Still The Top Pick?
• Nos. 11-20: Where Do Votto, A-Rod and Halladay Fit In?
• Nos. 21-30: Hernandez, Lincecum or Wainwright?
• No. 31: Joe Mauer
• No. 32: Victor Martinez
• No. 33: Cliff Lee
• No. 34: Nelson Cruz
• No. 35: Jason Heyward
• No. 36: Justin Upton

MLB Trades: Fantasy Impact:

• Frank Francisco Traded to the Blue Jays, Who Will Be The Team’s Closer?
• Mike Napoli Traded to the Texas Rangers: Fantasy Impact
• Vernon Wells Traded to the Los Angeles Angels: Fantasy Impact
• Adrian Beltre Traded to the Texas Rangers: Fantasy Impact

Previous articles from Fantasy Baseball Insiders:

• The Sub-2.50 ERA Curse: Why Five Elite Starting Pitchers May Regress in 2011
• 2010 Batting Average on Balls in Play Leaders: What to Expect in 2011?
• 2011 Closer’s Corner: Papelbon, Cordero & Rivera Are the Only Reliable Options