What is the best way to rank players?

[Music2004Man]

I'm looking to start some off-season rankings of players and I was hoping you guys could help me out with which system you believe is better. I'm in a 10 team pts league so should I rank players by VORP or by value over/under the mean or 5/6 ranked guy that is being played? Does it even matter? Thanks in advance

[ramble2]

Here's a suggestion for a starting point. Rank players by position based on thier three year average points total (based on your leagues points set-up). After all, what you are ultimately after is how they wll perform in YOUR league. You can use this as a default ranking, and move players up and down accordingly (e.g., move down those on the decline, take into account younger players, etc.).

[raiders_umpire]

i do my rankings by each position by their last 3 full years(not just the last 3 years due to injuries and such) of stats... of course this is then adjusted by the players age, team, ball park and other factors as well....

[Oliver Perez]

Well, i have my own system, and it's usually mental with me, but...

I like to rank by position. It's a more standard way to compare depths by each spot. For instance, slugging first basemen are easier to find than a slugging second baseman. As guys disappear off the draft board, you want to cross out those who are picked (obviously) and look at depth.

But don't make the mistake of beign driven by depth, either. Pick those guys who are good value at the spot.

Also (and i may get some people who disagree with me on this), i throw out some guys altogether, those whom i will not draft under any circumstances. Guys like Steve Finley, Sammy Sosa, Magglio Ordonez for next year. It works, believe me. If you're in a keeper, don't feel ashamed to reach a little for a young guy who's about to break out.

Just a few things i employ. It worked for me this year, i finished in first.

[Niffoc4]

I think what everyone has said is good, and I want to emphasize not going with someone else's system if you are in a specialized points league. VORP takes into account the players actual value to his team, and accounts for their equivalant average indpendent of park factors and pitching, since your league probably does not single those out I would not use it to rank players...

[ramble2]

I think what everyone has said is good, and I want to emphasize not going with someone else's system if you are in a specialized points league. VORP takes into account the players actual value to his team, and accounts for their equivalant average indpendent of park factors and pitching, since your league probably does not single those out I would not use it to rank players...

Why would you rank by VORP rather than the points a player generated in a given system? I would think the latter would be more relevant. VORP isn't a bad way to go, but I'd rather use something more tailored to my league if possible.

[Half Massed]

I think what everyone has said is good, and I want to emphasize not going with someone else's system if you are in a specialized points league. VORP takes into account the players actual value to his team, and accounts for their equivalant average indpendent of park factors and pitching, since your league probably does not single those out I would not use it to rank players...

Why would you rank by VORP rather than the points a player generated in a given system? I would think the latter would be more relevant. VORP isn't a bad way to go, but I'd rather use something more tailored to my league if possible.

I think he was arguing against using VORP... I look at a player's production the last three years including stats that may not be counted in the league but that will affect other numbers (K/BB ratio for example), then I look at where they are at the present (age, team, etc.), give them a rough projection for this next year and rank accordingly.

[TheYanks04]

Without a doubt, Magic 8-ball.

[bigh0rt]

I generally put the best players at the top, down to the worst at the bottom.

Actually, I rank very similarly to the way described by ramble. Good stuff.

[Music2004Man]

I'm sorry guys I didn't explain VORP. I calculate it myself by seeing how many pts a given player earns over a replacement player. For instance, Pujols earned alittle over 200 pts better than the 11 ranked 1st basemen who would be the highest ranked 1b on the waiver wire. As another example David Wright was about 50 pts over the 11th ranked 3rd basemen. I hope this clears up the confusion on VORP. I should really probably call it something else so it doesn't confuse people when I post. Back to the original question though is it better to rank a players pts above the replacement player or pts from the average player who is playing at the position? Sorry about the confusion but thanks for the help.