Welcome to this week’s LABR FAAB report.
The American League only and National League only formats are 12-team contests using standard 5×5 scoring rules. There’s an old-school flavor as players purchased in the auction cannot be freely bounced from the active to reserve roster. A player purchased in the auction can be placed on the disabled list if he’s on the MLB DL. However, he can’t be reserved then replaced by a player won with FAAB; he must be released. A auction-purchased player may also moved to reserves if subsequently sent down to the minors.
The 15-team Mixed LABR league allows free movement between active and six-man reserve.
In all three leagues, a player acquired via FAAB must be immediately inserted into the team’s active lineup. Each LABR squad starts with 100 FAAB units, with a minimum bid of $1. Owners can ask for a FAAB rebate upon releasing a player on the DL.
Each week’s report will display the winning bids along with listing all contingency and failed bids so you get a feel for the level of interest in each player. After the tables showing the successful and unsuccessful bids, Lawr Michaels, Brian Walton and yours truly will offer commentary for our respective leagues. I’ll share additional thoughts for each league. The heading for each league doubles as a publicly accessible link so you can check the standings, roster and complete list of transactions.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | |||
| Josh James, HOU | USA TODAY Sports 10 | ESPN.com 2 | Colton & The Wolfman 1 | |
| Austin Meadows, TB | ESPN.com 5 | Colton & The Wolfman 1 | ||
| Ryan Borucki, TOR | Colton & The Wolfman 1 | |||
| Adrian Sampson, TEX | ESPN.com 1 |
UNAWARDED BIDS
| PLAYER | ||||
| Willie Calhoun, TEX | ESPN.com 1 | |||
| Ehire Adrianza, MIN | ESPN.com 1 | |||
| Brock Holt, BOS | ESPN.com 1 | |||
| DJ Stewart, BAL | ESPN.com 1 | |||
| Joe Jimenez, DET | Colton & The Wolfman 1 |
Lawr Michaels’ Commentary
As we head into the final week of what was the 2018 Baseball Season, first place in AL LABR is pretty well protected by Rick Wolf and Glenn Colton, a pair having a successful season like no other high profile owners that I can remember.
If Rick and Glenn run the LABR table, they also are dominating the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) league, and have a 17-point lead over my second place AL Tout Wars team meaning at least three titles among the more storied experts contests running year-to-year.
I cannot remember any owners translating such success into a single year, in fact the usual path is more like my tenth-place finish in LABR was complemented by a good second-place in Tout where I had my moments. But, killing at both leagues the same year is another thing altogether.
So, hats off to Glenn and Rick who kept their relentless drive dropping a buck on Ryan Borucki hoping to grab another win or some solid innings the final week.
Otherwise, the last FAAB hurrahs were generated by host Steve Gardner grabbing Josh James for ten bucks, while the second place team, under the direction of Tristan Cockcroft and ESPN, pulled the final moves with Austin Meadows ($5) and Adrian Sampson ($1).
However, perhaps the unawarded players–Willie Calhoun, Brock Holt, and DJ Stewart, eg–point us to players who not only might have made a last week contribution of some sort, but certainly Meadows, Stewart, and Calhoun are players to track for out 2019 drafts. At least as of today.
Todd’s Take
Several, including yours truly, have pulled off the LABR/Tout Wars Daily Double, but no one has taken down the Triple Crown, adding the FSTA league. Good luck and congrats to Colton and the Wolfman on a historic campaign.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | |||
| Peter O’Brien, MIA | Derek Carty 4 | CreativeSports 1 | ||
| Touki Toussaint, ATL | Baseball Prospectus 1 | |||
| Ketel Marte, ARI | CreativeSports 1 |
UNAWARDED BIDS
| PLAYER | ||||
| Cody Reed, CIN | Derek Carty 4 | Baseball Prospectus 1 | ||
| Gio Gonzalez, MIL | Derek Carty 4 | |||
| Matt Andriese, ARI | Derek Carty 4 |
Brian Walton’s Commentary
Peter O’Brien is beyond post-hype status. Now with his seventh organization, the former catching prospect is now a journeyman first baseman-outfielder back in the majors for the first time in two years. With the Marlins, the 28-year old has three home runs and seven RBI in his first 15 games. I bid my last $1 but was easily topped by second-place Derek Carty’s $4 offer.
Ketel Marte was purchased on draft day back in early March for $16. Lenny Melnick held onto the Arizona infielder until last waiver period. Marte will spend his final week of 2018 on my roster after I topped a tying competing bid. He started just three of six games last week as Arizona was eliminated from the post-season, but it will still be better than the 0-for-6 put up by the player I released, Hernan Perez.
The third and final player to be purchased this week is Touki Toussaint. The Braves pitcher went to Zach Steinhorn of Baseball Prospectus for $1. With the NL East clinched, the Braves are setting their playoff rotation with Toussaint getting a Tuesday start, enabling the front end guys to line up for the NLDS. Toussaint is coming off a decent outing against the Cardinals, fanning eight in 5.2 frames, allowing a pair of runs. Control is an issue (16 BB in 23 IP) but he’s not the first 22 year old to have trouble throwing strikes. With a start against the Mets, and perhaps a relief appearance later in the week, Toussaint is a solid pickup.
Todd’s Take
Howard Bender holds a five point lead over Derek Carty and a six point cushion over Zack Steinhorn. Being out of FAAB, Howard was forced to watch those chasing him make last minute bids. That said, considering much of Howard’s budget was spent on Juan Soto, he’s probably not complaining. Eh, it’s Bender, he’s complaining. Good luck gents.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | |||
| Victor Robles, WSH | RotoWire – DVR 3 | |||
| Rowdy Tellez, TOR | Fred Zinkie 1 | |||
| Francisco Liriano, DET | Fred Zinkie 1 |
UNAWARDED BIDS
| PLAYER | ||||
| Nick Martini, OAK | RotoWire – DVR 3 | |||
| Peter O’Brien, MIA | Fred Zinkie 1 | |||
| Carlos Martinez, STL | Fred Zinkie 1 | |||
| Thomas Pannone, TOR | Fred Zinkie 1 |
Todd Zola’s Commentary
And down the stretch they come. Tim McLeod is the lead horse followed by Derek VanRiper, seven lengths behind. The points are there for DVR to make it a photo-finish. Good luck to Tim and Derek, both champions in my book, regardless what happens.
DVR is looking for a couple bags from Robles, who is taking a lot of playing time from Adam Eaton.
The other moves are Fred Zinkie fighting as always, looking to pass me and get in the upper half of the standings. That’s a cute way of saying we’re fighting for 7th place.
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