Final BABS Ratings

The final BABS ratings for 2017 have been posted to the database. Site members have access to that now. While I am working on the Baseball Forecaster (order now!), things will continue to be quiet here. However, if you have any insights about the 2017 season – and BABS in particular – feel free to post…

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The Tactical Power of Doing Nothing

The following story is going to sound irrelevant, but bear with me… I recently joined a small band with some friends in my community. There are five of us: a lead guitarist, a rhythm guitarist, a bassist and a drummer. I play the keyboard. We are all in our 50s and 60s, none are professionals…

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When should you start taking things seriously?

This is my ESPN Insider column for the week. For some of us, it’s been an agonizing season so far, hasn’t it? Last week, the following was posted on the message board here at RonShandler.com: “After one week, Eric Thames (pictured) was doing well but Brandon Belt was a free agent. Seeing a chance for…

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The Flawed FAAB Process

This week’s ESPN Insider column, appearing every Friday. Last week, in the Tout Wars Mixed Auction league, the pearl of the free agent pool was the just-anointed closer for the Washington Nationals, Blake Treinen (pictured). This is a player who would have gone for $15-$20 at the draft had he been named a week sooner.…

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Things we can count on after one week

This week’s ESPN Insider column, appearing every Friday. This is the week for eternal optimism. Clayton Kershaw and Bryce Harper look vintage. Greg Holland and Jeanmar Gomez really did get saves. Khris Davis’ owners are downright giddy over their eighth round bargain. Everyone is still in or near first place. With draft day still fresh…

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PLAYER PREMONITION #170403

Every so often, something about a player will rise to my consciousness. A hidden indicator. A revelation that wakes me up at night. I’ll call these periodic posts Player Premonitions. We’ll  open this new feature with a starting pitcher. Seven years ago, this pitcher won 18 games with a 2.97 ERA in nearly 200 innings,…

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Dangers of chasing profit

The latest BABS Master List Update is now online in the Members Only CONTROL CENTER. Our goal in playing this game is to try to find players whose productivity exceeds our investment. Player projections attempt to place a metric on productivity; ADPs and AAVs attempt to show us how others are investing. These two lines…

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The BABS Project – Introduction

This is a free preview of the Introduction to The BABS Project. ME: Hey, welcome. YOU: Hi Ron. I see you’ve written another book. Oh, this thing? Yeah, a writer’s gotta write. What is it this time? BABS? Mayberry? LIMA? Some other arcane acronym? Sort of. Way back in 2016, I wrote “Ron Shandler’s Other…

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An early look at 2017

New Braves stadium

During these apparently quiet off-season periods, it’s easy to lose sight of how much work is being done behind the scenes at baseball information sites. I’ve been busy working on The BABS Project ebook and laying the foundation for 2017 content here on this site. So, to keep you engaged, here is a preliminary look…

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The Need for Speed

In the upcoming edition of the Baseball Forecaster, you will read about the ever-changing shifts in the statistical landscape. By now, it’s common knowledge that home runs left ballparks at historic rates last year, and stolen bases took the opposite path. If you were to assume that these trends will persist, then there is one…

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