NL Position Battles

With the season starting shortly, we're looking at some of the key position battles.

Part 1

Arizona shortstop: Youngsters Didi Gregorius and Chris Owings are battling for the starting job, with Gregorius emerging as the better defender and Owings as the superior hitter. Old guy Cliff Pennington is also a possibility here, though a distant one. All signs point to this battle going down to the last minute, as Kirk Gibson has said that both youngsters will play in the opening series against the Dodgers next weekend in Australia.

A fairly typical Darwin Barney swing.
Good thing he's a Gold Glover!

Chicago second base: Oregon State product Darwin Barney is the incumbent here, but his lack of offense has opened him up to a challenge from Emilio Bonifacio. It looks like both will make the team and that Barney will be the regular second baseman while Bonifacio plays all over the field, but Barney has also played some shortstop this spring. Making things more muddled has been the stellar play of top prospect Javier Baez, a shortstop who looks like the potential long-term answer at second base as the Cubs remain firmly attached to Starlin Castro.

Chicago third base: Though he's starting the season in Triple-A, Baez is a possibility here, too. Luis Valbuena is the incumbent at third, but former top prospect Mike Olt, coming off eye surgery, could be a factor once his shoulder his healthy. Current top prospect Kris Bryant has made a charge this spring and is a dark horse candidate. Donnie Murphy, who was probably the best player at the hot corner for the Northsiders last year, could also be a factor. Honestly, there are more candidates to start in the Cubs infield this year than there are for the 2016 election.

Colorado second base: Josh Rutledge came into last season appearing to be the second baseman of the future... until struggles and injuries opened things up for D.J. Lemahieu, who had a solid season. Both will likely make the team, but LeMahieu is the favorite to be the everyday starter, especially given his strong defense. Rutledge, as the likely utility infielder, will have every chance to hit his way into the starting job.

Colorado center field: And you thought the Cubs infield was a mess. Once the Rockies gave up the pipe dream of "Carlos Gonzalez, center fielder," this job became wide open. Drew Stubbs, Charlie Blackmon, Corey Dickerson and Brandon Barnes are battling to start, with Dickerson probably being the most attractive candidate from a fantasy perspective. Unless you get points for strikeouts, in which case Stubbs is your man. Also, the dreaded platoon is a very realistic possibility.

No, not THAT kind of expensive Cuban import.

Los Angeles second base: Hey look, another second base job up for grabs! Former shortstop prospect Dee Gordon looks like he'll start the season as the starter, but expensive Cuban import Alexander Guerrero seems likely to take the job at some point, once his defense catches up a bit. Gordon leads the Cactus League with nine steals, but his hitting and defense have always been shaky. Former Met/current ginger Justin Turner could also get some time in a platoon if Gordon struggles at the plate.

Miami first base: Garrett Jones and Jeff Baker look likely to platoon.

Miami center field: Hotshot youngsters Marcell Ozuna and Jake Marisinick are dueling here, with Ozuna displaying the raw power and lack of plate discipline that he showed last year and Marisinick featuring speed and defense. Ozuna seems to be the favorite, but this is another platoon possibility.

Spring Training Injury Rundown

"Jimmy's gonna get you, Kramer!"

Howdy, FBLG gang! We're just three weeks away from our draft, so let's check in with the notable guys who are battling injuries this spring:

Arizona: SP Bronson Arroyo is (back) should be ready for opening day. OF Cody Ross (hip) might be back by late April.

Atlanta: SP Mike Minor (shoulder) should be ready for opening day. SP Gavin Floyd (shoulder) could be back by late May.

Chicago: SS Starlin Castro (hammy) could be ready by opening day. SP Jake Arrieta (shoulder) could be back by late April.

Cincinnati: SP Mike Leake (lat) should be ready for opening day. SP Mat Latos (knee) might not be ready for opening day.

Colorado: SP Jhoulys Chacin (shoulder) might not be ready for opening day.

Los Angeles: SP Zack Greinke (calf) might not be ready for opening day in Australia but appears to be in line for the stateside opener a week later. SP Josh Beckett (shoulder) should be ready for opening day. SP Paul Maholm (elbow) should be ready for opening day. SP Chad Billingsley (elbow) might be back by May. OF Matt Kemp (ankle) might not be ready for opening day. OF Yasiel Puig (lots of stuff) is banged up but should be ready for opening day.

Miami: None

Milwaukee: None

New York: SP Matt Harvey (elbow) is likely out for the season. SP Jon Niese (shoulder) might not be ready for opening day. RP Bobby Parnell (neck) should be ready for opening day.

Philadelphia: 3B Cody Asche (hand) is day-to-day. SP Cole Hamels (shoulder) might be out until May.

Pittsburgh: SP Wandy Rodriguez (arm) should be ready for opening day.

San Diego: SP Cory Luebke (elbow) is out for the season. SP Huston Street (groin) is day-to-day. OF Cameron Maybin (biceps) could be back in April. 3B Chase Headley (calf) might miss opening day. C Yasmani Grandal (knee) might miss opening day.

San Francisco: 2B Marco Scutaro (back) might miss opening day.

St. Louis: OF Peter Bourjos (leg) should be ready for opening day. SP Jaime Garcia (shoulder) is out indefinitely.

Washington: SP Doug Fister (elbow) should be ready for opening day.

Draft Month!

The Smarch weather may be lousy where you are, but baseball is still close.

The calendar has flipped over to March, which means it's draft month. The Dodgers and Dbacks kick off the regular season in a couple weeks, and Opening Day is just a week later.

It's almost here.

A reminder that our draft will be Saturday, March 29th at 4 p.m. Pacific time.

We have shared a variety of documents with you to help you prepare for the draft, all of which should be available through Google Drive. Here's what you should have access to:

• 2014 FBLG preseason stats
• Projected NL rosters 2014
• FBLG emails 2014
• FBLG rulebook
• FBLG scoring
• Head to head
• FBLG best available players
• FBLG history

We'll also be sharing the 2014 Draft document with you before draft day. 

If you don't have access to any of these, or can't find Google Drive, or anything like that, please email the commishes ASAP. 

The projected NL rosters are still in flux, and we'll keep updating those as needed. There are still a few unsigned free agents who could be added as well.

If there are any names missing from the preseason stats, please alert the commishes. We think we've gotten everyone, but you never know.

Otherwise, enjoy spring training and March Madness. The draft is 26 days away.

Offseason Update

The Super Bowl is almost here, which means Spring Training starts soon. The long cold winter will thaw and baseball will draw near. And it's about damn time.

Here are some updates to get you through until then.

• The 2014 FBLG draft has been set. It will take place online on Saturday, March 29 at 4 p.m. Pacific time. We will send out the draft document as we draw closer. Bill has offered to host for anyone in the Salem area.
• We have a new team owner, with Adam taking Brian S's spot. 
• We will shortly be sending out a number of pre-draft documents on Google Drive. There will be:
• Last season's stats on it for all NL players.
• A projected rotation/lineup for each team.
• A list of the FBLG owners and their email addresses.
• The FBLG rulebook.
• The FBLG scoring document.
• The head-to-head weekly matchup document.
• The list of best-available players
Some of these will be blank, of course, but this will make sure that everyone has access to all of the documents. Also, some will change as the last free agents are signed and depth charts are shuffled. We'll be sure to have them as updated as possible by draft day.

• This year's draft order:

1. Adam
2. Rick
3. Henry
4. Jon
5. Scott
6. Matt
7. Bill
8. Reid
9. Tim
10. Rich/Brian

2013 Season Recap: Manwaring a Muumuu

How bad are the Mets? This man was one of the league's most dominant pitchers,
finished fifth in the Cy Young... and had nine wins.

Overview

Total points: 4,610 (1st place)
Head-to-head record: 12-6 (2nd place)
Postseason: Lost in championship round

Draft

Best picks: Matt Harvey (9th round), Shelby Miller (11th round), Jedd Gyorko (14th round), Domonic Brown (15th round)

Worst picks: Aramis Ramirez (3rd round), Jimmy Rollins (8th round), Jason Kubel (10th round)

Season highlights

Put up 258 and 216 in back-to-back weeks in May and June to grab hold of the points lead and not relinquish it. ... Advanced to championship round and went toe to toe with Arbitration Losers, but had to settle for second place. ... Led all teams in scoring from starting pitchers with 1,622, 144 more than the second-place team. ... Rotation of mainly Matt Harvey, Mat Latos, A.J. Burnett, Mike Minor and Shelby Miller was dominant much of the year. ... Also finished second in points at catcher and shortstop. ... One of league's best offenses when players were healthy, which was not too often.

In a nutshell

A classic case of peaking too soon. In the middle of the season, this team seemed unstoppable despite injuries to Aaron Hill, Aramis Ramirez, Wandy Rodriguez, Carl Crawford and Michael Cuddyer. Seemingly overnight, though, the offense went in the tank, the older players showed their age and ace Matt Harvey was injured. Muumuu stayed afloat down the stretch and eked out some close wins in the playoffs before falling in the championship round. The team run by the commissioners will be drafting from the bottom next year and expects to contend for another title.

2013 Season Recap: Arbitration Losers

"Did you catch that?" "Yes I did."
Marlins rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez did it all this year to lead the
Arbitration Losers to the title.

Overview

Total points: 4,420 (2nd place)
Head-to-head record: 10-8 (6th place)
Postseason: Won championship

Draft

Best picks: Allen Craig (5th round), Jonathan Lucroy (6th round), Gerardo Parra (16th round)

Worst picks: Matt Kemp (1st round), Johnny Cueto (3rd round)

Season highlights

Team was basically unstoppable after mid-July, winning last four games in regular season and rolling through the playoffs. ... Co-aces Cliff Lee and Jose Fernandez led the way, but pitching was solid top to bottom. ... Martin Prado's hot streak after the all-star break allowed for major positional flexibility when the inevitable injuries arose. ... A potent offense was led by Allen Craig, Matt Holliday and Jonathan Lucroy. ... Was second in the league in points at 1st base, starting pitching and relief pitching and third at catcher and outfield. ... Upset Testosteraun Braun 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs, then knocked off top-seeded Misfits 2-0 in the semifinals. ... Finally lost a week in the championship series, but won the war with a 215-point effort in the decisive week.

In a nutshell

This looked like one of the league's most dangerous teams after the draft, but injuries to Matt Kemp, Johnny Cueto, Angel Pagan, Chase Headley, Neil Walker and others kept them from their full potential for the season's first half. No matter. Shrewd moves by the owner, some players returning to health, and breakout years from Jose Fernandez, Gerardo Parra and Allen Craig led the Losers to the head-to-head title and a runner-up spot in the points race. After having the second pick in the draft and using his jinxing powers against Matt Kemp this year, we'll see how Tim responds to drafting near the bottom next year. It figures that he'll be a threat to repeat.

2013 Season Recap: Misfits

From phenom to ace to scrap heap and back to ace, Francisco Liriano
has had a roller coaster of a career. And he's still only 30.

Overview

Total points: 4,412 (3rd place)
Head-to-head record: 14-4 (1st place)
Postseason: Lost in semifinals, lost in third-place matchup

Draft

Best picks: Freddie Freeman (4th round), Carlos Beltran (5th round), Chase Utley (7th round), Marlon Byrd (16th round)

Worst picks: Bryce Harper (1st round), Roy Halladay (11th round)

Season highlights

Ace Adam Wainwright and waiver pickup Francisco Liriano led a solid rotation with a wide variety of contributors. ... After three-game losing streak early, team won final 11 weeks of the regular season to claim best record and top seed in the playoffs. ... Veteran-laden lineup (including Chase Utley, Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann) led the way, but faded a bit late in the year as injuries mounted. ... Bad luck in the postseason, as Misfits ran into red-hot Arbitration Losers and red-hot Pitch You Blockhead in the playoffs. ... Freddie Freeman had a monster year and looks poised to be a top pick next season. 

In a nutshell

The league's most consistent team on a week-to-week basis, the Misfits finally succumbed to injuries and were eliminated from the playoffs by the two hottest squads and also were edged for second in the points race by a mere 8 points. It was a great season for the perennial contenders, though, as the veteran lineup produced all season and Adam Wainwright pitched like a Cy Young candidate to lead the rotation. You can always count on two things from the Misfits: they'll draft a bunch of old guys and they'll be among the leaders all year. Look for more of the same next season.

2013 Season Recap: Testosteraun Braun

There weren't many golden sombreros for Paul Goldschmidt this year.
The big doofus from Delaware was one of the league's best hitters.

Overview

Total points: 4,328 (4th place)
Head-to-head record: 11-7 (3rd place)
Postseason: Lost in first round, 5-0 in consolation round, won consolation championship

Draft

Best picks: Hunter Pence (4th round), Jordan Zimmermann (5th round), Julio Teheran (7th round), Daniel Murphy (13th round)

Worst picks: Ryan Braun (1st round), Anthony Rizzo (6th round), Juan Francisco (10th round)

Season highlights

With Madison Bumgarner, Jordan Zimmermann and Julio Teheran, had one of strongest rotations in league. .. Four-game winning streak early in the season. ... After being dispatched by the eventual head-to-head champion Arbitration Losers in the first round of the playoffs, tore through the consolation round to capture the consolation title. ... Paul Goldschmidt and Hunter Pence finished among the league leaders in points, with Goldschmidt leading the team to first place in the first base scoring rankings.

In a nutshell

A great draft netted the team Braun, Pence, Goldschmidt, Bumgarner, Zimmermann, Teheran and Murphy and the team looked like a contender. But Braun's struggles, injury and suspension left a gaping hole in the outfield, the back end of the rotation and closer struggled and catcher was a black hole. Still, Testosteraun Braun had a strong squad that hung around the top of the leaderboard all year, ended the season on a hot streak and will look to carry over that momentum to next season.

2013 Season Recap: Lawyers, Guns & Money

Patrick Corbin wasn't drafted in FBLG this season,
but after a 14-8 record and 178 strikeouts, he will be next year.

Overview

Total points: 4,242 (5th place)
Head-to-head record: 10-8 (5th place)
Postseason: Lost in first round; 3-2 in consolation round

Draft

Best picks: Ian Desmond (5th round), Jayson Werth (9th round), Hyun-jin Ryu (12th round)

Worst picks: Ike Davis (7th round), Dan Haren (8th round)

Season highlights

FBLG's other rookie squad won its first three games this year. ... Had best week of season in a 228-point effort in week 17 to topple Manwaring a Muumuu. ... Was a few points away from making the consolation finals. ... Andrew McCutchen, Jayson Werth and Yadier Molina led the offense, with Molina racking up the most catching points in the league. ... Patrick Corbin (plucked off waivers), Hyun-jin Ryu and Lance Lynn led the staff, and closer Craig Kimbrel was the top-scoring relief pitcher. ... Was second in the league in points at third base and outfield.

In a nutshell

An interesting draft strategy - closer in the 3rd round, no starters until the 6th - seemed shaky, but FBLG's newest owner dominated the waiver wire, getting big contributions from Patrick Corbin, Marcell Ozuna, Yasiel Puig, Pedro Alvarez, Anthony Rendon and Zach Wheeler, among others. Despite the additions of Puig and Alvarez and Jayson Werth's second-half explosion, too many offensive holes doomed LGM's playoff hopes, as first base, second base and shortstop were holes much of the season. Still, this team looks primed for a playoff run in its second year in the league.

2013 Season Recap: Pitch You Blockhead

This man does everything well and is one of of the league's best hitters.
But he never smiles.
If you don't believe it, do a Google image search.
It's freaky.

Overview

Total points: 4,127 (6th place)
Head-to-head record: 11-7 (4th place)
Postseason: Lost in semifinals; won third-place matchup

Draft

Best picks: Shin-soo Choo (5th round), Starling Marte (12th round), Matt Carpenter (13th round)

Worst picks: Josh Rutledge (6th round), Logan Morrison (7th round)

Season highlights

With back to the wall in first round of the playoffs, blew out Lawyers, Guns & Money to narrowly earn the win on cumulative points. ... Came out guns blazin' in the third-place matchup, winning with back-to-back 200-point weeks. ... Four-game winning streak early in the season included wins over Muumuu and Misfits. ... Outfield of mainly Starling Marte, Carlos Gonzalez and Shin-soo Choo was the league's best-scoring unit, averaging over 46 points per week. ... Also led league in points at second base and third base, both helped by late-round pick Matt Carpenter (and also, yes, by Pablo Sandoval). ... Pitching staff lacked a clear ace, but Cole Hamels, Kris Medlen, Gerrit Cole and Travis Wood led a solid group.

In a nutshell

PYB's head-to-head record was probably a little better than it should have been, but that doesn't diminish from a fine season. Carpenter and the outfield kept PYB in contention until the pitching staff got hot in the season's second half and into the playoffs. PYB will look to build a little more depth next year and probably doesn't want to hear the name "Omar Quintanilla" ever again, but this team looks like it will contend at the top for the foreseeable future.