Each year, a select group of Fantasy Writers gather to compete in several Industry Drafts which are played out through the season with nothing more than bragging rights on the line. While this may seem to be a waste of time to some of you out there, these leagues are hard fought and competitive to the last week of the season. The League of Alternative Baseball Reality (LABR) is the longest running of these Industry Drafts, holding 12-team AL-only and NL-only Auction Drafts since 1994, while adding the 15-team Mixed League Snake Draft format in 2012.
In this article, I will highlight some of the interesting picks and trends that are forming in 2015. The full draft can be found at the following address: http://www.rtsports.com/LABR-Mixed-Draft.
LABR Mixed League Draft Review
Round 1 – Jeff Erickson (Rotowire) leads off the draft with Mike Trout (OF/LAA), no big surprise here as Trout has been selected first overall in every league of note so far this draft season, and should continue that trend through the start of the year. The Jason Collette/Paul Sporer (Fangraphs) team throws the first curveball of the draft and selects Clayton Kershaw (SP/LAD) with the third overall selection, while I understand the value and appeal of Kershaw, I still cannot bring myself to select him in the top 6-7 picks when getting a big hitter is so valuable. Craig Glaser/Corey Schwartz (B Sports) selected Miguel Cabrera (1B/DET) with the 10th selection, this could look like a great value pick come Opening Day should Miggy be 100% healthy. Bret Sayre/Mike Gianella (Baseball Prospectus) finished off round one with Troy Tulowitzki (SS/COL); Tulo is one of my favorite players and although he is injury prone, he’s one of the few players who can provide first round value in 120 games.
Round 2 – Sayre/Gianella start off round two with another Shortstop to pair with Tulo in Ian Desmond (SS/WAS), I think Desmond is one of the more overrated selections in fantasy, 20/20 is nice at Shortstop but I would like more power or a safer Batting Average with a top 16 pick, especially when I have already filled a SS roster slot. Mike Podhorzer (Fangraphs) pulled the stunner of the night by selecting young speedster Billy Hamilton (OF/CIN) with pick 2.05, I understand the appeal of Hamilton, but I just do not think Hamilton is ever going to be a good enough hitter to be worth an early second round selection. Ray Murphy (Baseball HQ) selected Starling Marte (OF/PIT) with pick 2.07, Marte is a talented young player but I think this might have been a bit of a reach here with little room to earn a profit on this high of a selection. Steve Gardner (USA Today Sports) selected the second pitcher of the draft in Max Scherzer (SP/WAS) at 2.10, not sure if I’m ready to make Max the second pitcher off the board, but I am not ruling it out and think he is in for a big year in the NL.
Round 3 – Erickson leads off the third round with Bryce Harper (OF/WAS), I for one did not think that anyone would be able to roster Trout & Harper in a draft for the next decade, but Harper has struggled mightily; however if this is the year he puts it all together, then this is a great value. Collette/Sporer went with George Springer (OF/HOU) at 3.03, there is some Batting Average risk here, but there is 30/30 potential here making this a good gamble in my opinion. The rest of the third round seemed fairly standard.
Round 4 – Murphy again goes after a player fairly early and selects Brian Dozier (2B/MIN) at 4.07, which is 16 picks ahead of his NFBC ADP of 68. James Quintong (ESPN.com) selected Corey Dickerson (OF/COL) with pick 4.08, while this is a decent value based on ADP, I feel as if Dickerson is not a great early pick as he will see some platoon action (.253/.306/.418 versus LHP) and is not a great play away from Coors Field (.252/.305/.431 on the road). Fred Zinke (MLB.com) took Dee Gordon (2B/MIA) at 4.14, while Billy Hamilton was a reach in the second round, this looks like a great value spot for Gordon in the late fourth.
Round 5 – Collette/Sporer took Starlin Castro (SS/CHC) at 5.02, seems like we have been waiting a decade for Castro to break out even though he will still only be 25 years old on Opening Day; Castro’s lack of Stolen Bases the last two years is very concerning, and his NFBC ADP in the early 8th round is probably more in the range where I would value him. Doug Anderson (FNTSY) selected Chris Davis (1B/3B/BAL) with pick 5.05, Davis burnt me in the NFBC Main last season, but with his third base eligibility and power potential, I cannot fault this pick at this point. Glaser/Schwartz took Evan Gattis (C/HOU) with pick 5.10, while many will consider this a reach, Gattis will not have to catch much this season and is now playing in a much better park for right handed power. Todd Zola (Mastersball) selected Kole Calhoun (OF/LAA) with pick 5.13, this may seem like a stretch but there is a lot to like with Calhoun, he has hit at every level and put up some gaudy numbers in AAA, plus some strong numbers in his first full Major League season. With a full time job and a spot atop the Angels lineup, a breakout is a good bet.
Round 6 – Jake Ciely (RotoExperts) took the dive on Dellin Betances (RP/NYY) at 6.04, there is some inherent risk with Betances, but I am in the group that is buying in on him being the Yankee Closer with Andrew Miller acting as the setup and situational lefty option. Podhorzer selected Mookie Betts (OF/BOS) with the next selection, Betts is a fast riser who has played at six levels in the past two years and looks to be a good source of average and speed; the only issue is a crowded Red Sox outfield, but Betts appears to have the RF spot in hand and should bat at the top of the order.
In the next article, I will highlight picks from Rounds 7 through 18.
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