BABS Gets Packaged Up
MEMBERS: Link to free PDF appears at end of this post.
So, the book is essentially done, at least done enough that I can wrap it up with a nice bow and create a single PDF file. That is available now. Look in the right column. See it? Good.
Members to this site have already seen just about everything that is in the book. I’ve made a few minor edits, such as removing the paragraph where I talk about “if Aroldis Chapman gets suspended.” I’ve added a few testimonials that some of you have been so nice to offer. The charts in the PDF are prettier. Everything else is the same.
If you’d like the handy PDF to download onto your electronic device of choice, the link appears below. It’s free for you. For non-members, it’s $9.95 but they don’t get the BABS Excel file or any of the articles that you will be reading over the next month and beyond.
That’s right, there’s more.
The book addresses the underlying philosophy, the concept and provides initial data for 2016. From here, we keep going.
Here is what you can look forward to in March, and into April (dates are tentative):
BABS in Auctions (March 8)
Several of you have written to me with questions about how to apply BABS in auction leagues. I’ll go into more depth about planning your roster and choosing players.
BABS in Keeper Leagues (March 11)
Tons of questions about adjusting BABS values in keeper leagues. It starts by looking at those high-skilled players with Experience risk, and we can adjust from there.
BABS in Leagues With Alternative Rules (March 15)
Scoresheet/sim, points leagues, head-to-head. Adding on-base-percentage, holds, etc. BABS can accommodate these hybrids with a few tweaks.
If Every Player Was Healthy (March 18)
If we could count on Giancarlo Stanton being healthy, we’d likely be drafting him in the Top 3 and pushing him towards $40. Who else would benefit from some sudden health?
BABS Visits Tout Wars (March 22)
I’ll be taking BABS into the Tout Wars-AL draft with me on March 19. I’ll share my results.
High-Skilled Mid-Timers and Part-Timers (March 25)
About 70 percent of each year’s surprises come from players backing into unexpected playing time. I’ll look at the best high-skilled players not projected as full-timers.
Final BABS Update (March 29)
Some final words and a final pre-Opening Day spreadsheet update.
BABS in the XFL Dynasty League (April 1)
The XFL dynasty league has a 17-round reserve draft to top off our 40-man rosters, on March 30. I’ll share my results.
BABS Predicts the Pennant Races (April 5)
It’s just for fun, but we can use BABS to get a look at where teams might finish in 2016.
Here is the PDF file. Enjoy. See you next week.
Darn shame your alternative formats piece is AFTER my March 12 draft…
I know you intend to do an update later in the spring. Do you plan on highlighting the changes using colors or whatever? In other words, will the changes be apparent or will we have to go through player by player?
I do not plan to track the changes, no. Sorry.
Ron, looking forward to your auction piece. I took BABS and applied it to the auction prices vs. actual earned dollars in my long-running 5×5 OBP mixed league last year. It turns out my league greatly undervalues speed and saves. And overvalues power.
Of the top 30 profit earners, 10 were SV, 10 were S+ or SB, and 10 were just general breakouts. I find speed is especially undervalued.
I’ve realized that this is a trend that has been in place for years. The problem is that this perception doesn’t dissipate over the season. So it’s not like I can buy closers and speedsters and then trade for value, even though there’s an active trading culture in the league.
Any suggestions on auction strategy? Typical $260 budget with 10-man bench and FAAB (league fluctuates from 12-14 owners per year).
I wouldn’t do anything about saves. They are probably correct in undervaluing them. But when a group undervalues a commodity that is actually scarce — steals — then that is a buying opportunity for you. Sounds like you can stock up on SBs at minimal cost and easily win that category. If you do that, you will likely also do pretty well in Runs. And I’ll bet you an still do well enough in power to stay in the hunt even if you finish mid-pack in HR, RBI, OBP.
Ron,
I have ran a H2H Points league for the past 25+ years. These are our counting stats.
Hitters: AB, 1B, 2B, 3B, HR, SB-CS, BB
Pitchers: IP, H, HR, BB, W, L, Sv
My question is, will applying your player “rankings”, values, etc. be addressed for such in your upcoming pieces? Either way…
What is the best way for me to apply “rankings” and info to our system. Everything I read seems to factor in Runs, RBI, etc.
Thanks for your insight.
Todd
Thanks, Ron. I think my focus will be on the P/SB combo players who don’t carry AV risk. Along with some cheap speed options.
The general belief in my league is that pitching and speed comes into the league during the year. But I don’t think that’s true anymore for speed (if it ever was).
There are an unlimited number of hybrid formats. It’s impossible for BABS to be all things to all people, however, she works better than most. You have to stop thinking in germs of the granularity of individual stat categories and refocus on the broad skills measures, which BABS addresses. Runs/RBIs? Team-dependent. BABS assumes that if you have good power and batting average skills, you’ll do well in those categories. You don’t use them; she doesn’t either, at least not directly.
Ron,
I am wondering how you use BABS in a keeper league while looking for upside? I finished my draft with a total of 68 asset units and 24 liability units, but while other guys were grabbing Story, Snell and Glasnow types, I was grabbing playing time. I completely missed the bus on all prospects and now after trading away Correa, I pretty much have no youth. There is however, a couple players on the wire that I have interest in (Cron, Travis). What are your thoughts on what to do here?
The keeper league articles comes out Friday.
Ron,
Appreciate you taking time to respond. And to remind me that I’m more locked into the stat categories and rankings than I actually realize. I understand I need to apply this as I see fit. Thanks for your expanded way of thinking. All my best.