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| Old-time Nat "Da Meat Hook" reppin' that Virginia Tech cap. |
As far as the actual MLB season, there were countless stories, from new rookie sensations, injuries, suspensions, new stars, and the end of numerous careers, including Prince Fielder, Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez (maybe), and David Ortiz. Will the end of the Billy Goat's Curse be next?
As always, TDZ's got your season-ending synopsis for all things 2016 NoJR.
The Branch Rickey Award
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| MLB GM, or Alfred Hitchcock character? |
As I do every year, I assembled the list of draftees, matched them up with their end-of-year Yahoo ranking, and then calculated the average ranking for each team's draftees. Here are the
results:
Final draft rankings:
- Gmonie16: 237.61
- AJ's Aces: 292.43
- St. Louis Browns: 332.13
- Saratoga Oldtimers: 336.35
- Rip City Reavers: 365.17
- VATECH NATS: 373.74
- Nickel Blitz: 390.61
- Nuckin' Futz: 395.35
- Grand Theft Votto: 396.52
- Sippin on Gin Andrus: 407.96
- CobraKai: 454.22
- Hughes Drubbers: 496.57
Gmonie16 won best draft by a landslide this year. Aside from his keepers, he made some great selections like arguably the best season ever by a closer in Zach Britton ($10, Rank 23), import Kenta Maeda ($3, Rank 111), and Robinson Cano ($24, Rank 26), who had a brilliant return to form.
Saratoga Oldtimers still
holds the gold standard for best draft based with his 209.7 showing in 2013.
Ruben Amaro Award
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| Amaro's legacy. |
The record for worst draft ever is still held by former GM Lloyd's Christmas, who set an all-time worst mark of 578 last year. This record might stand the test of time...
Revisiting the Draft
While a good draft doesn't guarantee success, it certainly doesn't hurt. Here, we look back in brutal 20-20 hindsight at the top snags and hilarious gaffes. Please note that these players are NON-keeper selections.
Your 2016 All Bargain Team
Catcher: Evan Gattis - Gmonie16
$1 - Ranked 270 - 270
- Gattis led all catchers in homers with ease (32), and ended the season ranked as the #4 ranked catcher in the fantasy game - all while playing most of his games at DH. He even set a new personal best for steals (2).
Honorable mention: Jonathan LuCroy at $14 (AJ's Aces)
$10 - Ranked 12 - 120
- In his final year, Big Papi did not disappoint. He actually led MLB in OPS and had an incredible slash line for a 40 year old: .315/.401/.620 with 38 homers. He ends his career with 541 dingers, good for 17th all-time. Replacing his production in the Red Sox lineup looks impossible, and to make matters worse, the team is losing the most clutch hitter in its history. I hope to see him in Cooperstown.
Honorable mention: Carlos Santana at $1 (AJ's Aces)
Second Base: D.J. LeMahieu - Saratoga Oldtimers
$1 - Ranked 43 - 43
- After a career year in 2015 where he managed a .301 batting average, D.J. took it a step further in 2016, setting new career highs in every category (except steals) and leading the NL in batting average (.348). However, Ted Williams is rolling over in his cryogenic chamber upon hearing that LeMahieu sat out the final weekend of the season to secure the title.
Honorable mention: Daniel Murphy at $12 (Nuckin' Futz)
Shortstop: Jean Segura - Nuckin' Futz
$5 - Ranked 34 - 170
- In recent years, Segura was floundering with minimal pop and a low batting average, but he erupted with the Diamondbacks. He hit .319 with 20 dingers and 33 steals, providing that rare power and speed combo for the Futzers.
Honorable mention: Elvis Andrus at $1 (Nickel Blitz)
Third Base: Justin Turner - Gmonie16
$1 - Ranked 116 - 116
- Turner blossomed into a solid contributor for the Dodgers last year and carried over that success into 2016, setting career highs in most categories and becoming the biggest ginger in MLB. After a slow start to the year though, Gmonie16 and Rip City both dropped him and lived to regret it.
Honorable mention: Adrian Beltre at $10 (Saratoga Oldtimers)
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| Let's not forget the insane defense (although he plays right field now). |
$34 - Ranked 2 - 68
- Mookie has officially arrived as a top star. If you compare his stats to Trout's, they're nearly identical with one exception (a huge chasm in walks). He just turned 24.
Honorable mention: Mike Trout at $58 (AJ's Aces)
Outfield: Khris Davis - VATECH NATS
$1 - Ranked 92 - 92
- I wonder if Vegas had odds on which Davis - Chris or Khris - would end the year with more homers. The odds would have been pretty heavy in favor of Chris, but it was the new Athletic who finished on top with 42 dingers, 85 runs, and 102 RBI. His contract with the A's? 1 year, $500k!
Honorable mention: Nelson Cruz at $25 (St. Louis Browns)
Outfield: Ian Desmond - Sippin on Gin Andrus
$10 - Ranked 51 - 510
- Hanley was actually $1 cheaper and ranked slightly better, but I'm giving Desmond the edge here due to SS eligibility and having a more even blend of power and speed (which is hard to find). His first season in the outfield was a huge success, so it'll be interesting to see what kind of contract he gets this offseason.
Honorable mention: Hanley Ramirez at $9 (Nickel Blitz)
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| Nothing like beating the Cards, right Cubs fans? |
Kyle Hendricks - Sippin on Gin Andrus - $1 - Ranked 17 - 17
Tanner Roark - VATECH NATS - $1 - Ranked 84 - 84
Justin Verlander - Grand Theft Votto - $5 - Ranked 25 - 125
Tanner Roark - VATECH NATS - $1 - Ranked 84 - 84
Justin Verlander - Grand Theft Votto - $5 - Ranked 25 - 125
Marco Estrada - VATECH NATS - $1 - Ranked 170 - 170
Aaron Sanchez - Grand Theft Votto - $2 - Ranked 105 - 210
- The biggest surprise of the season for me, pitching-wise, was Hendricks leading the league in ERA (2.13). It's worth noting that Kershaw didn't qualify due to innings pitched. Hendricks had the 4th lowest BABIP and the 4th highest left-on-base percentage, meaning some regression is to be expected next year, but if the Cubs continue to have such elite defense, anything's possible.
- Roark is pretty similar to Hendricks in terms of having some "luck" statistically - his ERA (2.83) is over a run below his xFIP (4.17). But he's got one of the best names in the game and had an incredible 15 K performance. He's getting better and better.
- I think most baseball fans had written off Verlander, thinking his best days were behind him, but he had something of a renaissance in 2016. He was the 6th best SP in fantasy, finishing 2nd in Ks and tied for 4th in WHIP among starters. Rumors of his demise appear to be greatly exaggerated.
- Estrada and Sanchez made up an underrated duo in Toronto that has helped the Blue Jays reach the ALCS. Both stretched out to 175+ IP with low-to-mid 3 ERAs and solid WHIPs.
- Roark is pretty similar to Hendricks in terms of having some "luck" statistically - his ERA (2.83) is over a run below his xFIP (4.17). But he's got one of the best names in the game and had an incredible 15 K performance. He's getting better and better.
- I think most baseball fans had written off Verlander, thinking his best days were behind him, but he had something of a renaissance in 2016. He was the 6th best SP in fantasy, finishing 2nd in Ks and tied for 4th in WHIP among starters. Rumors of his demise appear to be greatly exaggerated.
- Estrada and Sanchez made up an underrated duo in Toronto that has helped the Blue Jays reach the ALCS. Both stretched out to 175+ IP with low-to-mid 3 ERAs and solid WHIPs.
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| He just made one of my bargain selections look ridiculous. |
Andrew Miller - Hughes Drubbers - $7 - Ranked 9 - 63
Alex Colome - VATECH NATS - $1 - Ranked 81 - 81
Steve Cishek - Nuckin' Futz - $1 - Ranked 90 - 90
- Miller remains one of the most dominant relievers in the game and trailed only Kershaw in the rankings for pitchers. In 74.1 IP he amassed 10 wins, 12 saves, 26 holds, and 123 Ks with an elite 1.45 ERA and 0.69 WHIP.
- Colome turned out to be an elite closer with 37 saves, 71 Ks, a 1.91 ERA, and 1.02 WHIP. My favorite part is he was SP eligible.
- Lastly, Cishek had a redemption season after a brutal 2015. Even within the 2016 season, he had to overcome adversity with losing the closers role, but he returned to dominance as a strong setup man.
- Colome turned out to be an elite closer with 37 saves, 71 Ks, a 1.91 ERA, and 1.02 WHIP. My favorite part is he was SP eligible.
- Lastly, Cishek had a redemption season after a brutal 2015. Even within the 2016 season, he had to overcome adversity with losing the closers role, but he returned to dominance as a strong setup man.
The All-Bust Team
Catcher: Kyle Schwarber - VATECH NATS
$26 - Ranked 1312 - 34112
- VATECH had dreams of 30+ home runs from the catcher position when we drafted Schwarber, but he fell to injury almost as soon as the season began. Instead, he still got 30+ homers from Evan Gattis - are you kidding me?
Dishonorable mention: Devin Mesoraco at $9 (Sippin on Gin Andrus)
$22 - Ranked 989 - 21758
- It was a sad year for Fielder as he announced his retirement from baseball upon learning that he would need to have a second spinal fusion surgery. He finishes his career with 319 home runs - the exact same number as his pops, Cecil.
Dishonorable mention: Lucas Duda at $5 (Hughes Drubbers)
Second Base: Dee Gordon - Grand Theft Votto
$15 - Ranked 879 - 13185
- This is one of the few cases where injury wasn't primarily responsible for the player's lack of production. In this case, it was PEDs! He missed the first 80 games of the year, and eventually got rolling toward the end of the year, but it wasn't enough to provide value beyond several weeks.
Dishonorable mention: Kolten Wong at $6 (Nuckin' Futz)
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| If you care about non-fantasy baseball, he's still a plus defender. |
$18 - Ranked 337 - 6066
- Tulo put together his usual season: missed about 30 games with a gradual decline in power. The big difference from his Colorado days is in the BA department though - without the thin air at Coors carrying his hits further, his BA has plummeted since the trade last year.
Dishonorable mention: Carlos Correa at $49 (VATECH NATS)
Third Base: Miguel Sano - Rip City Reavers
$28 - Ranked 382 - 10696
- I wish this player I drafted had simply been injured, because I hung onto him for months and he never turned things around. Word to the wise: his K-rate (36%) is prohibitive of any substantial fantasy value and actually was worse than any K-rate produced by notorious whiffer Mark Reynolds. Be afraid... be very afraid!
Dishonorable mention: Maikel Franco at $17 (Grand Theft Votto)
Outfield: A.J. Pollock - Hughes Drubbers
$36 - Ranked 1147 - 41292
- It's every GM's worst nightmare: make a substantial investment in a top player only to see him fall to a season-ending injury in Spring Training. HD managed to recover for a 3rd place finish in spite of the misfortune.
Honorable mention: Giancarlo Stanton at $44 (CobraKai)
$25 - Ranked 747 - 18675
- Gomez was a former top-5 fantasy OF, but a hip injury sapped him of much of his ability as he struggled to a .231 BA, 13 HR, and 18 SB.
Honorable mention: Yasiel Puig at $15 (Lloyd's Christmas)
Outfield: Michael Brantley - Nickel Blitz
$13 - Ranked 1209 - 15717
- Another case of injury ruining the season of an immensely talented player. Brantley had to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery, but, despite the setback, the Indians are up in the ALCS. When I think about Brantley's injury woes, I think back to another Indian OF, Grady Sizemore, who sadly wasn't able to recover, but hopefully Brantley has a better fate.
Honorable mention: Lorenzo Cain at $21 (Grand Theft Votto)
Starting Pitchers:
Matt Harvey - VATECH NATS - $36 - Ranked 842 - 30312
Gerrit Cole - AJ's Aces - $27 - Ranked 676 - 18252
Adam Wainwright - CobraKai - $19 - Ranked 846 - 16074
Gerrit Cole - AJ's Aces - $27 - Ranked 676 - 18252
Adam Wainwright - CobraKai - $19 - Ranked 846 - 16074
Sonny Gray - CobraKai - $13 - Ranked 966 - 12558
Zack Greinke - CobraKai - $26 - Ranked 468 - 12168
- Technically Harvey was a keeper, but there was so much hullabaloo early in the year about his scuffling that I had to include him. Eventually he underwent shoulder surgery.
- Gerrit Cole had a variety of ailments culminating in a season-ending injury in his throwing elbow. He's also been in a contractual spat with the Pirates, so not a pleasant season for the young fireballer.
- CobraKai had a trio of pitching busts. Wainy joins the Bust list for a second consecutive year. Sonny Gray was an unfortunate keeper, and Zack Greinke had a horrific start to the year in Arizona and only slightly improved from there. Despite the draft day futility, CobraKai actually had the best head-to-head record for wins and was 3rd in Ks.
- Technically Harvey was a keeper, but there was so much hullabaloo early in the year about his scuffling that I had to include him. Eventually he underwent shoulder surgery.
- Gerrit Cole had a variety of ailments culminating in a season-ending injury in his throwing elbow. He's also been in a contractual spat with the Pirates, so not a pleasant season for the young fireballer.
- CobraKai had a trio of pitching busts. Wainy joins the Bust list for a second consecutive year. Sonny Gray was an unfortunate keeper, and Zack Greinke had a horrific start to the year in Arizona and only slightly improved from there. Despite the draft day futility, CobraKai actually had the best head-to-head record for wins and was 3rd in Ks.
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| Gut five is the new high five. |
Shawn Tolleson - Nuckin' Futz - $12 - Ranked 823 - 9876
Trevor Rosenthal - Grand Theft Votto - $14 - Ranked 648 - 9072
Jake McGee - Rip City Reavers - $9 - Ranked 516 - 4644
- It's the closers' graveyard. Tolleson had an ERA approaching 8, Rosenthal had a WHIP approaching 2, and McGee's K-rate plummeted by over 4 K/9.
- It's the closers' graveyard. Tolleson had an ERA approaching 8, Rosenthal had a WHIP approaching 2, and McGee's K-rate plummeted by over 4 K/9.
All-Free Agent Team
As always, there were a number of players who emerged from the free agent crop to become major contributors. For this exercise, I simply looked at the best Yahoo ranks at each position for all undrafted players.
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| More of this please, Villar. |
1B - Chris Carter - 86
2B - Jose Ramirez - 96
SS - Jonathan Villar - 14
3B - Jake Lamb - 108
OF - Jackie Bradley Jr. - 73
Util - Mike Napoli - 64
The biggest weakness is at catcher, but let's not forget the unbelievable debut of Gary Sanchez towards the end of the year. He pushed Buster Posey to my bench, which is no easy feat considering he's still the top-rated catcher in the game despite the down year.
SP - Rich Hill - 58
RP - Addison Reed -28
RP - Seung Hwan Oh - 33
P - Tyler Thornburg - 38
P - Brad Brach - 47
P - Nate Jones - 52
P - David Phelps - 62
For pitchers, there was an unusual amount of depth in free agency, in particular with relievers. Addison Reed led the league with 40 holds, which blew away second place (Neftali Feliz had 30). Among starters, Rick Porcello made a huge leap and led the league in wins (22). Meanwhile, Rich Hill carried over his success late in 2015 and was able to sustain it over a full season, kind of (110 IP).
Jose Fernandez
One couldn't talk about the year in baseball without mentioning the passing of Jose Fernandez. He was a transcendental talent with his career in front of him, and his passing was a shocking tragedy for his family, friends, and fans. He will be missed.
Odds and Ends
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| Easily the highlight of the year. |
- Jake Arrieta had won back-to-back NoJR championships with Rip City, but came up just short in the finals this year. Carlos Correa is now the only player to have appeared on back-to-back champsionship rosters.
- We had one trade this year: CobraKai sent Sonny Gray to Grand Theft Votto for David Ortiz on June 21.
- Sonny Gray had an off year that saw his ERA climb from 5.20 to 5.69 by season's end, which includes a stint on the DL. Not exactly the buy low payoff that GTV was hoping for.
- In contrast, Big Papi had a 1.118 OPS on June 21 and ended up at 1.021, suggesting that his production declined slightly but was still elite. Advantage: CobraKai.
- Grand Theft Votto was also active with free agent transactions, leading the lead with 60 to edge out Rip City and 2015 winner Saratoga. The all-time record of 69, set by Rip City in 2011, remains intact.
- A total of $276 was spent in waiver bids this year, just edging out our total from last season ($264). The largest FAAB of the season was the $120 that Nuckin' Futz spent on Alex Reyes, which received no competing bids, but in fairness he was an absolute beast down the stretch.
- The previous record bid was $127 for Joe Ross spent by - you guessed it - Nuckin' Futz just last season.
- With an even 400 transactions for the season, we shattered the league record for transactions set last year (376). Our new GMs, GTV, Sippin on Gin Andrus, and St. Louis Browns were active and great additions to help set us over the top!
- Gmonie16 led the league in win percentage at .612. Early in the year, it looked like he might finish the year north of .700, but thankfully for the rest of us his team came back down to Earth. The all-time record for season win percentage is .661, set by Run All Night (RIP) last year.
Thanks to all the Nephews for playing this year! I hope to see you all in 2017, and let me know if you have a preference between money league or keeping it free. Enjoy the playoffs!
Past season synopses and champions:
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