Deconstructing Ozzie Albies
by Chris Doyle Usually scouts have an idea of who players are before they reach the major leagues. “Player X is a power-speed guy who has the potential to go 20-20 someday.” “Player Y throws hard but he has command issues.” That said, every now and then someone surprises even the most experienced baseball people…
Read MoreSurprise batters who could be for real
This is my weekly article for ESPN Insider. It’s barely two weeks into the season and we are still within the period of insufficient sample sizes. Most batters have fewer than 40 plate appearances. Starting pitchers have appeared maybe three times. And yet, fantasy owners have been scouring the free agent pool for replacements, upgrades…
Read MoreBABS and points league observations
by Justin Cary BABS is a great tool to identify skills and asset groups that can assist you in grabbing value to reap profits in order to win leagues. However, marrying BABS to a points league can be more difficult than in a typical Rotisserie format. There is some variation in how points leagues are…
Read MoreAssessing risk in a team context
This is my weekly article for ESPN Insider. One week into the season, there are already more than two dozen players from the ADP Top 300 who are either on the disabled list or demoted to the minors. Roster churn waits for nobody. But it reminds us that team evaluation is not just an analysis…
Read MoreOpening week standouts
By Chris Doyle Jumping to conclusions is hard to avoid this early in the season. Winters are long and spring training is noisy, so when we finally get some legitimate data it’s easy to get caught up. One of the most satisfying things to do is proclaim how right you were about that breakout pick…
Read MoreThe challenge of reaching innings minimums
This is my weekly piece from ESPN Insider. Back in 2010, there were 45 starting pitchers who threw at least 200 innings, led by Roy Halladay with 250.2. At the end of that list were journeymen like Jon Garland and Rodrigo Lopez. Even they managed to throw 200 innings. By 2015, the number of 200-innning…
Read MoreBABS has some final thoughts…
For those who have not yet drafted, here are a few last-minute tidbits: Finding value in the catcher pool Earlier this off-season, we posted the following poll: What will be your approach to drafting catchers in 2018 (2-catcher leagues)? 32% Value, value, value. I’ll take it wherever it comes. 21% I will try to draft…
Read MoreBABS Draft Plans for AL/NL-Only Leagues
by Justin Cary The following are suggested BABS draft plans for AL-only and NL-only leagues. AL Only First base in the AL presents a challenge between targeting high upside guys with risks versus stable lower skill sets. BABS purists know they can find a ton of value here, so wait for your selection for that…
Read MoreHow to deal with the DL
This is my weekly article from ESPN Insider. On average, fantasy owners had about five players on the disabled list at any one time during the 2017 season. For some particularly snake-bitten clubs, it was not unusual to have as many as 10 on the shelf. And thanks to the new 10-day DL, the turnover…
Read MoreTout Wars, BABS and the Changing Marketplace
Player projections are irrelevant. What you think players are worth is irrelevant. All that matters is the marketplace. Here is the description that I have used time and time again: “If you are convinced that a player is worth $25 and land him for $21, you will have overpaid if the rest of your league sees…
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