*takes a long inhale* You smell that? No, not your sweatpants you’ve been wearing for the last week. Well, them, but I’m talking about the smell of the 2023 fantasy baseball draft season. So fresh, so clean. So ulcer, so sniped. It’s good to be back to one of the best times of the year. It’s so much better than “Playing your 9th outfielder because everyone is hurt” time of the year. I’ve even begun rolling out my 2023 fantasy baseball rankings on our Patreon. So, me and a bunch of Razzball commenters got together and took part in an NFBC Draft. Will get another draft started prolly around January/February, if you wanna take part, and, of course, Happy New Year (of drafting fantasy baseball)! Anyway, here’s my NFBC 2023 fantasy baseball draft recap; it’s a 15-team, two-catcher, draft and hold league that goes 50 rounds and has no waivers:

C: Tyler Stephenson (9)
C: Elias Diaz (23)
1B: Jose Abreu (6)
2B: Thairo Estrada (12)
SS: Bo Bichette (1st round, 11th pick)
3B: Austin Riley (2)
MI: Josh Rojas (14)
CI: Matt Mervis (17)
OF: Cedric Mullins (4)
OF: Tyler O’Neill (7)
OF: Seth Brown (13)
OF: Christopher Morel (19)
OF: Jose Siri (21)
UTIL: Brendan Donovan (22)

Bench: Kyle Stowers (25), Drew Waters (28), Kyle Farmer (30), Stone Garrett (31), Jacob Stallings (32), Elehuris Montero (35), Nick Pratto (36), Nelson Velazquez (38), Max Stassi (40), Taylor Walls (42), Josh Smith (44), Michael A. Taylor (47), David Peralta (47), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (48), Conner Capel (49)

P: Brandon Woodruff (3)
P: Max Fried (5)
P: Clay Holmes (8)
P: Daniel Bard (10)
P: Jeffrey Springs (11)
P: Merrill Kelly (15)
P: Charlie Morton (16)
P: Dylan Floro (18)
P: Zach Eflin (20)

Bench: MacKenzie Gore (24), DL Hall (26), Kyle Gibson (27), Cody Morris (29), Trevor May (33), Nate Pearson (34), Ryan Yarbrough (37), Jared Shuster (39), Chris Flexen (41), Mychal Givens (43), Dane Dunning (46), Cole Winn (50)

YOU LOOK WEAK ON POWER. WHAT ARE YOU, 145-POUNDS SOAKING WET? SORRY, CHEAP SHOT. BUT YOUR TEAM DOES LOOK WEAK ON POWER TOO, NOT JUST YOUR BICEPS.

I drafted without the War Room, because this draft was before that was available, so I did eyeball it, and was wearing my new glasses that I can’t see out of, so, yeah, maybe. Absolutely higher on steals than I usually am, which is just fantastic going into a year when limited pickoffs might add steals to everyone. Tried my best to balance my speed with some power, grabbing Jose Abreu, Austin Riley, Tyler O’Neill, Seth Brown, Tyler Stephenson and some bench bats like Kyle Stowers, Nick Pratto, and, oh yeah, my new favorite player, Matt Mervis. At some point in early December, after my Matt Mervis fantasy, I wrote back in October, I began to feel my temperature rise whenever I saw his name. At one point, someone walked by my house and said, “Not nervous,” and I heard, “Matt Mervis,” and I dove out my first-floor window into a rose bush, and confronted the passer-by to see if there was any news on Matty. There wasn’t obviously, they were talking about not being nervous because they hadn’t heard back from their doctor about some tests or something. I stopped listening halfway through. Not Nervous Matt Mervis is the truth, and will make everything better. Thinking Matt Mervis is going to hit 35 homers this year, because I just came up with that number in my head and want to believe it.

ALL RIGHT, COOL. LET’S HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT TAKING A PITCHER IN THE THIRD ROUND AND GOING BACK ON TEN YEARS OF NONSENSE I’VE HAD TO LISTEN TO FROM YOU. MAKING A STUPID GREY VOICE, “DON’T DRAFT A PITCHER UNTIL PICK 45 OVERALL BLEH BLEH I’M SO STUPID.”

You sound angrier than usual, Mr. Al Capps.

SORRY, I HAVEN’T EATEN LUNCH YET.

Brandon Woodruff was drafted by me at 41st overall, so, really, only a few picks before I usually grab my 1st starter. This league is so deep and there’s no waivers, so my next pick wouldn’t be for eight picks, and, as I always say, if a guy falls, then you have my go-ahead to draft. Woodruff was the 11th pitcher off the board! No idea what others are thinking, but three closers went before him! Josh Hader went before him. Didn’t Hader just have an egregious 2nd half? I get it, closers are boosted in this league (again, no waivers), but I got Clay Holmes and Daniel Bard roughly 75 to 100 picks after Hader. Not saying they’re great, but, again, 75 to 100 picks later, and they both were better than Hader on the Player Rater last year.

NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIMES PASSES, ONE THING REMAINS THE SAME, YOUR TEAMS NEVER HAVE ANY FLAWS. WELL DONE DRAFTING LEAGUE WINNERS EVERY TIME!

Okay, I get the sarcasm. Last year, I drafted Aaron Judge and Jose Ramirez in the same league, and finished 9th, so, clearly, the recent track record needs some gleaming over. I truly do love this team. Grabbed my already-fawned-over Matt Mervis; Tyler O’Neill sleeper, Thairo Estrada sleeper; Seth Brown sleeper, and there’s another sleeper on this team I haven’t even gone over yet. Also, in years past, I leaned heavily on safe, late picks. This year I tried to work in some upside plays like Stowers, DL Hall, Cody Morris, Pearson, Shuster, Drew Waters and Stone Garrett. Oh, yeah, I’m about to turn Cole Winn into Will Winn.

ANY ACTUAL TAKEAWAYS BESIDES SOME EMPTY VICTORY LAPPING?

There’s a ton of outfielders to draft, but somehow it still gets shallow super quick. If I had to point to one issue with this team, it’s my outfield could be Cedric Mullins and a wing and a prayer. It’s why I went a little heavier on outfield on my bench too. Solid part of this team is a lot of guys have extra position eligibility. Did I just jinx myself into a starting team by June of Kyle Farmer, and Taylor Walls? Oh God, I think I did. I’ll be starting Farmer with no chance for the overalls.

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Ron
Ron
2 months ago

Pleasure drafting with you, Grey. I was the Judge team in the 5-spot. Always a joy to draft against people who put so much thought and effort into every pick. In other DC drafts, I’ve taken shares of Mervis, Casas, J Walker and others you’ve already written up.

In this draft of yours, I like how well rounded your hitting group is. Looks like a Grey Albright team to me! Best wishes to you and good luck this season.

Hernan
Hernan
2 months ago

Lol, real quick, Brady Singer or Jon Gray???

Smitty
2 months ago

Nice draft and like you I’m also banking on production from Nervous Mervis. Haha… Smelling platoon hope I’m wrong.

Smitty
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

Haha agree, especially after the numbers he put up last year. Coincidentally, I took him in the 17th too. Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Foxman
Foxman
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

I will take Hosmer for the block please
X gets the square

Harley Earl
Harley Earl
2 months ago

Drafted starting pitching in the third and fifth rounds, and a reliever in the eighth round? Doesn’t that go against everything you say about pitching? I see you got O’Neil!!! You really do love that kid!! Haha!!!

Harley Earl
Harley Earl
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

yeah, I guess that makes pitching a little tougher to come by when there’s 15 teams grabbing guys. I love your 5th round pick of Fried. Great pick there, great value.

Will
Will
2 months ago

Wow those are large rosters. And your OF definitely looks light on power. Anyway, how does this league work, are you having to set daily lineups each day or is it a best ball type league where the computer figures out who played that day and then tallies up the results?

Will
Will
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

Interesting, thanks. I don’t know how you guys who play in multiple leagues do it, I have enough trouble setting lineups daily and keeping track of who is starting and who is injured in the single 30 man roster league I play in, lol.

frankgrimes
frankgrimes
2 months ago

Great team!
You must projected to finish first in this league.

frankgrimes
frankgrimes
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

such a pleasure drafting right before/after you at 10 lol
regret taking Ohtani tho!

frankgrimes
frankgrimes
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

I think the Taylor Rogers was the one I timed out on hahah

frankgrimes
frankgrimes
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

Yup

frankgrimes
frankgrimes
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

I’m definitely going to bite the bullet and grab top closer next one

frankgrimes
frankgrimes
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

Totally. Not having saves has cost me in these and now they are pushed up higher than ever lol.

frankgrimes
frankgrimes
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

Being in the back end of the draft order you almost have ti go pitcher closer I guess at 3/4

Joe Buckyourself
Joe Buckyourself
2 months ago

Grey:

10 team dynasty
6×6 with obp and DT
6×6 with QS hold and saves are separate cats.

I was offered Lindor for Burnes.

Take the bat? Or should I get more back for Burnes in a Dynasty.

Thanks.

Pochucker
Pochucker
2 months ago

I would stay away from Woodruff. Might want to read up on Raynauds disease. It is a circulation disease – does not go away. (wife has and anything below 70 deg fingers lose feeling) Pitchers with poor circulation in their finger tips is not a good thing.

Hernan
Hernan
2 months ago

Happy New Year Grey!!!, off all the Absolute Awesomeness Razzball brings to the table, the Posts on your drafted teams are my favorite…, along with the Patreon Early Rankings, the buy articles, the itch prospect analysis, beating Donkey Teeth in leagues…, etc , etc, dissecting your thought process is always awesome…, I like your team, although it seems that drafting against a bunch of other Razzball Alumni is very difficult, most your players disappear.., lots of tough competition…, hopefully I can get in that late January/February league…., also I’m drafting a DC team right now, 14 spot, and curiously Yordan Alvarez was there, someone drafted Goldy at 10…, then Bo was there at 17…, guy drafted Edwin Diaz at the turn….., guess there’s no Razzball guys in that draft…, great thing for me…

Smitty
Reply to  Hernan
2 months ago

Burrito Boys in good shape with Yordan and Bo

Hernan
Hernan
Reply to  Smitty
2 months ago

Yeah Man, lol, crazy how the scarcity and uncertainty with closers is affecting the early rounds, Alvarez and Bichette weren’t even in my queue.. , still got Romano in the 4th, which I think it’s way too early…..

Smitty
Reply to  Hernan
2 months ago

Hear ya, like you jumped in a DC after missing out on the Razz draft. Took Yordy at 13 (Bo went at 12) and came back with Alonso(2nd) then Mullins (3rd). I “waited” and took Doval in 6th. Closers crazy early

Smitty
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

Thanks Maestro!

Jimmy
Jimmy
2 months ago

Morning Sir!…your infield looks super strong! 13 team dynasty 5×5…I can keep 3 of these 4 Harrison Bader-James Taillion-Braxton Garrett-Trevor Rogers…I am leaning towards dropping Bader…my CF are Harris, Springer, McCarthy, Adolis…thoughts on Ryan Pepiot…Happy New Year and thank you for the insight and humor!

galica1234
galica1234
2 months ago

Grey!!!!!

Awesome!!!!!

a. Very nice team and as you say what could go wrong when you have…

1 Nervous Matt Mervis (boy he better be good)
2 All your sleeper picks when they were ADP values because you can’t be a hypocrite!
3 There’s no ‘c’

b. Seriously awesome team. Love Hall (will be 2017 Hader, book it, a la high Ks, multiple innings, lucky 5+ Wins and 5+ 3IP+ saves) and Stowers (except versus LHP).

c. George Carlin quote of the day for December 30, 2022

‘I have lots of ideas. Trouble is, most of them suck.’

Cheers,
Ante

galica1234
galica1234
Reply to  Grey
2 months ago

Grey!!!!

Ga!!!! What if Jakkers goes to press tomorrow!!! One more for the road if Jakkers goes to press!!! And it has to be unique and it has to be better than the last two quotes!!!

Have a safe, healthy, prosperous New Year filled with lots of good luck and lots of love.

Cheers,
Ante