Mostly MLB Notes: Talking NL LABR Auction
I just completed the NL-Only LABR auction live in Phoenix over the weekend, which is always fun and an industry league that’s been around forever. Before we get into the particulars, let me reiterate it’s NL-Only, which really changes things. At bats and innings pitched are legit commodities. So as usual, I went with a spread the wealth strategy and didn’t pay up for a big star.
The most I spent for someone was Corey Seager ($30). Positional eligibility actually matters a little less in this type of format, but we are still talking about a shortstop who just hit .308/.365/.512 as a 22-year-old. He’s also a strong defender and baserunner. Seager is a legitimate threat to win the MVP award this season…I root for the Giants but keep loving Dodgers in fantasy drafts. Over the last three years, Justin Turner has a 138 wRC+, which ranks top-20 in MLB despite undergoing microfracture surgery during this span that was the main reason for his slow start last season (he had a .649 OPS over his first 184 ABs and an .894 OPS over his final 297 ABs and will be hitting in the middle of a loaded lineup)…I also bought Julio Urias who just posted a 25.0 K% that would’ve ranked top-15 among all starters had he qualified as a 20-year-old. The Dodgers have possibly the best set of pitch framing catchers as well. And I wanted Joc Pederson too and considered going to $45 for Clayton Kershaw. I’m disgusted with myself.
TV Talk: I recently binged “The Fall.” This show is incredibly good and I can’t recommend it enough…I liked the second season of “The Missing” as well…“Homeland” is having a really strong season…I’m the biggest David Fincher fan, and his new show “Mindhunter” sure looks intriguing.
Here’s me talking about the draft.
Steals are clearly a priority in drafts this year after the spike in power, and Jose Peraza is a good bet to approach 40 bags…Josh Bell had more walks (21) than strikeouts (19) last year and is my pick to win ROY in the NL…Ryan Schimpf isn’t going to help in batting average, but $7 for a second baseman who hit 20 homers in 276 at bats last year seemed like a bargain. PETCO Park is basically a neutral field these days too…I didn’t plan on drafting three catchers, that’s for sure. But it felt like a crime to allow Devin Mesoraco go for $3 in an NL-Only format that requires two starting backstops. He’s just a couple of years removed from hitting 25 homers in 114 games (with an .893 OPS) and bats in one of the better hitter’s parks in baseball. Trades are allowed in this league, thankfully.
Headlines of the Week: Massive Spider Claims Six Seats For Itself On Busy Melbourne Train…Man Blames Uber For Divorce, Sues For $45M…Woman Who Lost Memory Had To Fall For Her Boyfriend Twice…America’s Top Fortune Cookie Writer Is Quitting Because Of Writer’s Block…South Carolina Man Wins Two Lottery Jackpots In One Day…Man Wins Bet Chugging Bottle Of Tequila, Dies Minutes Later…Widow Says Naked Drunk Man Scared Her Husband To Death.
Michael Conforto feels like a reach considering he doesn’t have an obvious clear path to playing time right now. I’m betting on talent to prevail, but “floor” should matter more than upside in only leagues…I can’t stop drafting Stephen Strasburg, as this is clearly a problem. The year in which he puts it all together will undoubtedly be the one I don’t have him…Chase Field is obviously a hitter’s park, but Taijuan Walker is now pitching in the NL, and he looked like a future star before dealing with 10 bone spurs in his foot last year. I could deal with eight or nine, but 10 seems uncomfortable.
Police Blotter: Brothers Jesse James, Billy Kidd Arrested After Disturbance At Bar…Woman Arrested After Attempting To Rob Bank With Water Gun In Stolen Pickup…Florida Man Arrested In Plot To Get Rich By Bombing Target Stores…Escaped Cow Leads Police On Two-Hour Chase To Taco Bell…Judge Decides Man Convicted Of Bank Fraud Is Flight Risk After Trying To Buy $4 Million Plane…99-Year-Old Woman Arrested To Fulfill Bucket List…Teen Wakes Up Headed To Own Funeral…Florida Man Claims Dog Shot His Sleeping Girlfriend…Deputies Follow Trail Of Beer Cans To Find Escaped Inmate…Woman Stabs Dad, Bites Grandma, And Fights Deputy While Holding Child…Man Found Not Guilty Of Stealing Cheese, But He Left His Trial Before The Verdict And Got Prison Time.
Song of the Week: The Chainsmokers & Coldplay – “Something Just Like This”
Bonus Song of the Week: Rihanna – “Desperado”
Longread of the Week: Breaking The Bank
I was the last person to grab an outfielder. Scott Schebler plays in a park that’s increased home runs by 29 percent for LHB over the last three seasons, which is the third-highest in MLB over that span…Robert Gsellman has shown increased velocity and sure looks like the real deal. $10 was more than expected to get him, but he’ll be a profit still…Especially in “only” leagues, you should grab either two closers or none, so I wasn’t elated coming away with just Neftali Feliz. I planned on punting but $8 seemed like a reasonable bid. Getting Joaquin Benoit for free in the reserve rounds seemed like a steal as well…Everyone seemingly loves their team after drafts, but I will say having eight clear starting pitchers and all everyday hitters throughout my lineup has me liking this one more than usual coming away from such a tough and competitive auction.
