I’m always intrigued by the End Game, the last few rounds of a draft. I’m even more intrigued by the emphasis that many of us put on “winning the End Game.” Indeed, last month, I wrote a column about how overrated the End Game was, and how for the most part, it didn’t matter who was drafted in the last five rounds of a 15 team, 30-player draft as most would be cut within the first ten weeks.
Well, we just completed our 8th FAAB week in the NFBC, and I figure it’s about time to look at my league and see how important, or not, the End Game has been thus far. First, some raw numbers:
- The 26th round has seen eleven of the fifteen drafted players already cut, with just four remaining.
- The 27th round has seen seven of the fifteen drafted players already cut, with eight remaining.
- The 28th round has seen eleven of the fifteen drafted players already cut, with just four remaining.
- The 29th round has seen twelve of the fifteen drafted players already cut, with just three remaining.
- The 30th round has seen twelve of the fifteen drafted players already cut, with just three remaining.
Only ten of the 45 players drafted in the last three rounds remain, and we are only about 25% of the way through the season. However, there have been a handful of notable contributors at the end of the draft.
In the 30th round, Jed Lowrie (340 batting average, 9 home runs and 36 RBI) and Tyler Skaggs (3 wins, 46 strikeouts, 3.07 ERA and 1.20 WHIP) have certainly helped their respective fantasy teams. Colin Moran (20 RBI, .288 batting average) highlights the 29th round, and Tyson Ross (2 wins, 53 punch outs and 3.40 ERA) is the star of the 28th round. While twelve of the 30 players drafted in the 26th and 27th round have survived, only Walker Buehler (2 wins, 1.64ERA, 1.00 WHIP) and Matt Davidson (11 Homeruns, 24 RBI) have contributed in any significant manner.
At this point, just six players drafted among the final 75 picks are contributing to their respective fantasy teams and overall just 22 (less than 30%) remain on their respective teams. Other than these six players, the last five rounds were pretty much a bust.
On the contrary, as expected, players picked up in FAAB in the first two weeks after the MLB season started have proven to be bigger contributors than players selected in the End Game. In week one of the FAAB. 43 players were added via FAAB (21 on April 1 and 22 on April 8). Among those added on April 1 were Dansby Swanson, Francisco Cervelli, Eduardo Escobar, Keynan Middleton, and Hunter Strickland. Among those added on April 8 were Ben Zobrist, Max Stassi, Christian Villanueva, Matt Boyd, Nick Markakis, and Joey Lucchesi.
It’s no surprise that FAAB players will fair better than End Game picks. After all, when we use our FAAB, we have the luxury of a week or two of games and answers to questions not available to us on draft day. What is surprising, even to me an End Game pessimist, is that so few players drafted in the last five rounds are contributing in any positive manner. Next time you hear a fantasy manager lament that his 27th round pick was nabbed right before his/her pick, you can tell him that it doesn’t matter, as the End Game is indeed overrated.
I had the opportunity to visit three MLB parks last week. I started with a Tuesday Diamondbacks victory at Dodger Stadium, a Thursday Atlanta whopping at Marlins Park, and then Mother’s Day watching Shohei Ohtani stifle the Twins for 6 1/3 at the Big A in Anaheim. I’ve visited over 2/3 of the stadiums now, and can conclusively tell you one thing… The food at Marlins Park is the worst in major league baseball. Dorm food is better. The worst buffet in any casino is better. Heck, the food at old Yankee Stadium was even better.
I should have known that I was in for thoroughly unsatisfying food when I asked an usher about the best food options. The usher (and prior to the first pitch, every fan has his/her own usher at Marlins Park, or so it seemed) explained that they had hot dogs, popcorn and nachos. When I explained that I wanted the best food, he looked perplexed and offered, again, hot dogs, popcorn and nachos. Ultimately, I tried a special hot dog (not special), a hamburger (not good) and ended my culinary trip with some pork nachos (dry and cold). The only thing worse than the food was the Marlins.
Best of luck,
Follow Buster @BusterH_Esq.
