Baseball is back… here is what to expect
Welcome back to 2020. It’s nice to know that there is a path to a 60-game season, however, the COVID cloud is a stark reminder that nothing is certain yet. Still, BABS needs to assess what 60 games means. I have received several emails from readers asking whether BABS will even work in such a short season. Here is the answer to that question (free).
Once we get a handle on how playing time might be distributed (and to a lesser extent, any possible changes to skills ratings), we’ll publish an update to the BABS database and spreadsheet. The tentative date for this update is Friday, July 17. The plan is to publish that update along with an analysis of the major changes since March.
For some of you, this may be a late date for any 2020 drafts and re-drafts. With so many moving pieces, health risks and the statistical variability inherent in the BABS system, it is even more important for us to analyze performance using the most updated information available. If we can publish sooner, we will. Keep an eye out to your email for the BABSBulletin for any updates.
The below is from the March 18 update. (* Asterisked links are for members only.)
ANALYSIS*How to navigate BABS in these changing times Asset Group Analyses Player History Scans Game Strategies Spotlight players Positional analyses of the talent pool |
REPORTS*Report Tutorial | Variables Cheat Sheet (PDF) BABS Database BABS Draft Suite Minor League BABS Scouting INTERACTIONMailbag Reader forums REFERENCEThe BABS Project 3.0 (FREE PDF files) |
Looking ahead
During a normal season, we typically publish an update to the database and spreadsheet several times during the year. However, BABS is primarily a draft-prep program because it relies on long-view analysis. Given the shortness of the season and the likely wide spreading of playing time to more players, any in-season small-sample update would be mostly pointless, unfortunately. As such, there will be no in-season updates in 2020.
Hopefully, we’ll have some more normality in 2021.
Have a great 2020 season. Yes, it will be different, but everyone will be facing the same challenges. Since we’ll all be competing on a level playing field, I consider 2020 to be a totally valid fantasy season. Good luck.
Ron I totally understand all that you stated about needing to have as much detailed information as possible before publishing an update for the 60 game season. However if its at all possible many of us will have earlier redrafts and auctions so any way that you can publish an update a little sooner that July 17 would be greatly appreciated
I will be running the initial update earlier in the week and sending it out to the writers for their review and analyses. If those are ready earlier, I’ll publish them earlier. But there are far too many variables to consider to push it up any further.
Ron, been a long time disciple since the early days of BBHQ and you lived in VA. I just wish you could have made an initial “best guess”. I am drafting tonight 11 July 2020 and, by the looks of things, will be using and trying to adjust information that is from 17 March 2020. Oh well, at times like this I wish baseball had just cancelled the whole darn thing.
Still shooting for the 17th for updated database?? I draft on the 18th…
The database and spreadsheet are update now. Analyses coming later tonight.
Great. Thanks!! Have to do an auto draft so massaging the rankings now…