2020 BARF League Draft

Every year a group of fantasy analysts from the Bay Area gather together in San francisco’s best sports bar The Wreck Room for a day of drafting. When I say it is a day of drafting, I mean it also. The combination of booze and Eno Sarris’ indecision on EVERY pick made the draft go seven hours. That being said, it is a fantastic time.

Another year of @BARFLeague! pic.twitter.com/e5gSLWWMUG

— Justin Mason (@JustinMasonFWFB) February 8, 2020

The Draft Order:
1- Angry Mike, Regular Joe
2- Eno Sarris, The Athletic
3- Doug Thorburn, Baseballholics Anonymous
4- Bubba Entrekin, Fantasy Sports Degens
5- Toby Guevin, Bat Flip Crazy
6- Khang Do, iRotohead
7- Joe Green, Regular Joe
8- Matt Davis, FantasyPros
9- Sammy Reid, Rotogrinders
10- Danny Zachry, Giants Pod
11- Howard Bender, Fantasy Alarm
12- Justin Mason, Friends with Fantasy Benefits, Fangraphs, TGFBI
13- Zach Bett, Regular Joe
14- Dalton Del Don, Yahoo

 

The Full Draft Board:

https://www.fantrax.com/newui/fantasy/draftResults.go?leagueId=twxt22uak6814ji7

 

My Strategy:
I had planned on getting an elite hitter followed by an elite pitcher in round two or three. I hoped to maintain balance while devaluing OBP a bit. The hard part with this draft, however, is that it rarely goes to plan.

 

My Team:

Round 1, Pick 12: Francisco Lindor– I figured one of the top shortstops would fall to me in the first round, but was surprised to see both Turner and Lindor there. The latter is a top 7 player to me, so to get him at 12 felt like a steal.

2.17: J.D. Martinez– I was hoping Walker Buehler would make it back around to me, but Dalton sniped him on the turn. Martinez is a top 10 player in this format to me and I was happy to snag him.

3.40: Giancarlo Stanton– I am probably least happy about this pick. Getting to see Arenado and Bregman fall to the late second and then all the pitchers I was hoping to make it back around to me was infuriating. If Stanton stays healthy, it’ll be a great pick, but that is a big if at this point.

4.45: Ozzie Albies– Really wanted Paddack or Corbin here, but they went in between my third and fourth round picks. Albies is unsexy, but a steady contributor that should bat second in a great Braves lineup.

5.68: Aaron Nola– Never thought I would end up with Nola as my ace, but I think he has a pretty safe floor.

6.73: Luis Severino– Severino is the antithesis of Nola, super high ceiling, but the floor is scary.

7.96: Kirby Yates– Yates led the Majors in saves last season. The Pagan trade makes this pick a bit scary, but that happened towards the end of the draft.

8.101: Roberto Osuna– Few closers in baseball are as safe as him on the soulless Astros.

9.124: Max Kepler– A lot of people don’t believe in Kepler to repeat, I believe. .

10.129: Lance Lynn– I don’t understand why Lynn continues to be doubted at this point. He should be a top 30 SP for everyone, but keeps dropping.

11.152: Joc Pederson– The trade with the Angels falling through makes this one a bit disappointing.

12.157: J.D. Davis– Davis is a StatCast hero and should play close to full time as long as his defense doesn’t get in the way.

13.180: Byron Buxton– At this point I felt I needed some speed and some upside, Buxton at 180 seemed to fit the bill. I was torn between him and Hampson.

14.185: Garrett Hampson– Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Apparently, I like shame?

15.208: Kolten Wong- Wong is an underrated asset considering his defense should keep him in the lineup regularly. I expect a repeat of last season.

16.213: Nick Solak– I was torn on taking Lourdes, but the upside of Solak pulled me in. Plus, with the reports he could open as the everyday first baseman and me needing a CI, it was worth the gamble.

17.236: Lourdes Gurriel Jr.– I was surprised to see Gurriel fall here, but was not going to let him fall into someone else’s hands.

18.241: James Paxton– I know he is hurt, but at some point, he is worth the stash.

19.264: Michael Kopech– Kopech has a ton of upside and that is what my pitching staff needs.

20.269: Jon Gray– Can the Rockies please trade him?

21.292: Kyle Gibson– No one loves Kyle Gibson more than me. NO ONE! The reports that he struggled with diverticulitis last season gives me hope that if it is been treated, he should bounce back. At least I have learned what diverticulitis is. DO NOT GOOGLE IMAGES IT!

22.297: Jeff Samardzija– All the underlying metrics say stay away, but my heart says buy back in so cheaply.

23.320: MacKenzie Gore– I believe there is a real chance he is on the Opening Day Roster.

24.325: Tom Murphy– Fake player, good price.

25.348: Jesus Aguilar– Double digit walk rate and full playing time should be golden for him in this format.

26.353: Travis d’Arnaud- I hate the price on d’Arnaud this year, but he slipped way too far in this draft.

27.376: Jorge Mateo– I will have every share in every league this year. He is out of options, so he will make the A’s or another team.

28.381: Nathan Eovaldi– Dart throw. Maybe an early cut if he looks bad in spring.

pic.twitter.com/fH2qIX4HuQ

— MrsThatBitchWhoHatesYourGuts (@MrsDSalinger) February 9, 2020