YOUR DRAFT AT A GLANCE
I never liked the name “cheat sheets.” Like “cheat codes” and your cheatin’ heart there’s something unsavory about the word cheat.
When we started the Fantasy Baseball Guide, Professional Edition magazine in 2000, I came up with the replacement name, Your Draft at a Glance. Not only did it not have the word cheat in it, but it speaks to my idea that the goal is for you to create your own lists. Lists are important, but going through the decision-making process on your own will help you during your auction or draft.
You can’t cheat on yourself.
Now, I posted position rankings a few weeks ago, but thought as we get into the height of auction/draft season that something a little more solid would be helpful. Posted now, behind the paywall at the end of this newsletter, is a link to this year’s Draft At A Glance for each league’s hitters by position and pitchers by role.
For instance, the top of the AL Shortstop list looks like this:
These are stored in a Google Sheet for easy download and for easy editing. If you see something you don’t like you can change it to make your own draft at a glance.
Plus you get actual games played by position for all players. These lists are guys with 15 or more games at a position. Guys who didn’t play 15 but qualify based on minor league numbers or expected use this year have 1000 in their column.
Players who appear in a previous chart are highlighted with yellow. For instance, Luis Rengifo was in the list at 2B and 3B, so he’s yellow in the SS and 3B and OF charts.
Note also, that there are Free Agents listed in both the AL and NL charts. You’ll want to adjust them based on the rules your league uses.
Your Draft at a Glance, a benefit for all subscribers. Link after the paywall.
ASK ROTOMAN 1
Rotoman!
Dylan Cease to the NL has left me with an open keeper slot in my AL-only league. Any thoughts on who to take from Triston McKenzie $5, Kutter Crawford $3, JP France $3, and Bryan Woo $1?
“Ceasing to be Amused”
Dear Ceasing:
Picking a keeper can be a subtle art.
The most salient detail is what each guy would go for in your auction.
McKenzie is going for about $8 or $9. Plus $4, let’s say.
Crawford is going for the same, so plus $5, let’s say.
JP France is going for around $4, so plus $1.
Bryan Woo is also around $9, so call him a plus $8.
Looks like you should pitch Woo.
But what are the other dimensions? My projection for Woo is worth $11. For McKenzie, Crawford, and France my projection is worth $12, $6, and $6. That suggests McKenzie should be considered. But Woo is still the leader.
I’ve been wary of Woo because he’s attracted some big prices and I’m not sure he’s safe enough for that, but at $1 he’s your best bet.
Sincerely,
Rotoman
ASK ROTOMAN 2
R-man:
I play 4x4 roto. I have one no-brainer, Trevor Story at 1. I was considering for my other five keeps: Bibee and Ober at 10 (17 and 16 in LABR), Civale at 6 (11 in LABR), plus Maeda at 5 and Lange at 13. That sort of gives me the core of a pitching staff and plenty of money.
But then I started thinking that Maeda and Lange are lesser bargains, maybe not even bargains in the end. Should I instead keep my two high-priced studs, Tucker at 46 and Castillo at 29, who are probably at market price, but are scarce commodities. Tucker contributes at every category and few number one starters will be available and Castillo figures to firm up my pitching edge.
When is a bargain a bargain?
”Lost in Florida”
Dear Lost:
I think Lange isn't a great bargain in 5x5, but in 4x4 he definitely is.
Maeda, with a little inflation, might go for $10, so you have some savings there. Luis Castillo with inflation could be $33 or so, though it sounds like this league grasps for good starters, so he could go for more. So, similar savings though the percentages are different.
Tucker has an inflated price. It might take that to win him but not more, I don't think. Not a keeper.
I think your choice is between Maeda and Castillo. If you go Castillo you're pretty much done with pitching, while with Maeda you'll have to decide how much more you need.
I would keep Castillo, by the way, because then your whole auction is concentrated on hitting. A simpler task.
Sincerely,
Rotoman
ROTOMAN’S FANTASY GUIDE 2024 UPDATE
Here’s a special sheet for folks who bought Rotoman’s Fantasy Guide 2024. A sheet updated through March 14.
It’s password-protected. The password is the last word in the Ronald Acuña Jr. profile. Lower case. There will be an updated version through March 14th posted tomorrow, and a link in tomorrow’s newsletter.
If you want to make edits you’ll need to save it with a different name.
Members here at the Substack have their own updated spreadsheet linked after the paywall. Paid subscribers, even for one month, get access.
FOR SALE
Rotoman’s Fantasy Baseball Guide 2024, softcover, $20, Kindle, $10.
Rotoman’s Fantasy Baseball Guide 2024, PDF, $12.
Ron Shandler’s Fantasy Expert, hardcover, $25, Kindle, $12. I wrote the foreword.
Les Leopold’s Wall Street’s War on Workers, hardcover, $25, Kindle, $23. I did a lot of the data work and some editing.
HOUSEKEEPING
When Will I See You Again Dept.: It’s Tout Weekend. Follow your favorite touts and formats with the links at ToutWars.com!
I’ve posted the Historical Top Players by Position charts after the Paywall.
Thanks for your comments, questions, arguments, and news.
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Sincerely,
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