2021 Final Notes

Notes on this latest database update

You’ll notice a few things in this update of the BABS database and spreadsheet. We’ve taken a sharper cut on playing time, removing many fringe players. The F/M/P designations for batters now represent the draftable talent pool. No-timer hitters now appear at the bottom of the reports. This is a living database, but at some point you have to take a snapshot and deem it your bible. This is it; have at it.

The injury designations have been updated to reflect each player’s readiness for Opening Day. Some (INJ) players have been upgraded to (inj-) if they are “probable,” even if their health issues have been longer term. Some players with minor health woes (inj-) have been downgraded to (INJ) if they are “questionable” for Opening Day. This does not affect all players, just those whose readiness for April 1 has been reported by Roster Resource at Fangraphs.com.

A few unrelated tips on the liabilities side of 2021

The 2020 short season did not take as much of a physical toll on players as a normal season would, so players who’ve struggled with injuries might fare better than we would normally expect. I think you can judiciously relax the health liabilities, especially for those with (inj-). I might even ignore those in some cases.

The 2020 short season delayed the development cycle of young players, so those (e) and especially (EX) liabilities might hold more weight than they normally would. That’s not good news for my LABR and Tout Wars teams.

I’d take extra care in drafting players who opted out of 2020, and perhaps ignore them completely. We simply can’t draw conclusions about how the time off might affect their ability to get back to expected performance levels. If nothing else, some of them might get off to a slow start. Some are already struggling this spring — Buster Posey (.188, 16 AB – pictured), Isan Diaz (.071, 28 AB), Felix Hernandez (5.2 IP, 5 ER, 5 K). Others are not — Ryan Zimmerman (7 for 15, 3 HR), Joe Ross (9.2 IP, 3 ER, 8 K) and David Price (6.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 K). Who knows?