Eno Sarris RotoGraphs Chat
Let’s talk FanGraphs: The Game and other fantasy baseball. I mean, I’ll do what I can to help y’all. But, the game’s out there, and it’s play or get played. That simple. So see you at noon-thirty.
With a phone full of pictures of pitchers' fingers, strange beers, and his two toddler sons, Eno Sarris can be found at the ballpark or a brewery most days. Read him here, writing about the A's or Giants at The Athletic, or about beer at October. Follow him on Twitter @enosarris if you can handle the sandwiches and inanity.
Hey yall, I am thinking of employing a punt batting average strategy in an upcoming draft. I’ve done some mock drafts and I know what team I might end up with:
C Arenciba
1st Goldschmidt
2nd Uggla
3rd Reynolds
SS Peralta/Hardy
MI K. Johnson
CI Pena
OF Granderson
OF Bruce
OF Swisher
OF Willingham
OF Soriano
UT Dunn
other targets: Quentin, Espinosa, Upton, Gardner, D Gordon, C. Davis, B. Belt, A. Jackson, B. Allen, Stubbs, C. Young, Rasmus
and since I pick most of my offense late in the draft, I get a handful of aces early.
It would be a 10 team all MLB snake draft. I would try to win all the pitching categories, along with homers and a decent finish in RBI…I could also draft more of the low average high runs and steals guys like Gardner, Upton, D Gordon, Rasumus etc and take a hit in RBI but finish higher in runs/steals. Do yall think it could work?
Your margin for error is tiny.
Cons:
1. Looks like you’d be punting steals with that roster also.
2. I know 1 HR = a run and at least 1 rbi…but:
– Getting on base more leads to runs
– Low-average guys (if due to K’s) don’t get as many
‘cheap’ rbi…i.e. sac flies
3. At best you win 3 offensive categories, lock in a last place in avg, and struggle to get middle of the pack in sb.
4. It is rare to be able to build a pitching staff that carries BOTH wins and saves. There’s almost always a team or three that maxes RP or SP. Even if you spent your first 10 picks on pitching I don’t think you can guarantee all-category domination…which you’d need.
I’d rather “punt” hr and dominate the other 4 with mid-tier guys like Butler, Markakis, Ichiro, Maybin, Aybar, Kendrick. If you avoid all average drains, most often associated with chasing HR, and focus on 2-4 hitters, should be able to still build that studly staff you crave!
ESPN Player Rater had Kemp #1, Ellsbury #2…yet which one is talked about as first pick overall more? The power guy. I’d rather build a punting team around Billy Butler than Mark Reynolds. You still have a shot at finishing higher in HR than those teams who give up mid season. The roster you lay out has zero chance of getting 3-5 points in average imo.
I’ve mocked that approach many a time in years past and am convinced it’s too hard to win/too easy to fail that way. Just my two cents.
eno, how long does it usually take for a community research article to be approved?
Hey Eno,
Congrats on the baby! My wife and I are expecting our first on April 11th too!
Here’s to good health to all!