Draft Bombing

[DOUGHBOYS]

I am on Draft number 14. A little less than this time last year. It may seem like a lot to a few, a few for a lot.
One thing I have noticed in drafts this year is that there are more, what I call, "Draft Bombs".
Draft Bombs are when a drafter makes a splash by starting his draft with three pitchers or six hitters.
In past years, these acts were met with a roll of the eyes.
This year, not so much. Common, even

The fantasy landscape and real baseball have combined to make these Draft Bombs more acceptable.
I've even seen a former winner of an NFBC Main Event with a Draft Bomb.
Real baseball has changed to a big swing or a big miss.
Meaning more home runs and more strike outs.
For hitting, power is easy to find, speed not so much.
For pitching, K's are easy to find, ratios not so much.

In my latest draft, a drafter started with Cole, Strasburg, and Sale out of the number three slot.
On paper, he looks to have a big advantage for pitching. But as we all know, 'on paper' doesn't mean chit.
Stuff happens.
Pitchers get hurt more than catchers.
But, I digress.
His next two picks are Kris Bryant and Giancarlo Stanton.
He has tried to make up power base by drafting two former first rounders who possess home run skills.

Meanwhile, the fellow drafting next to him went with a more traditional approach.
Drafter four starts his draft with three hitters. Yelich, Judge, and Villar.
Then adds Darvish and Syndergaard.
Starting with three hitters has given drafter four the opportunity for speed in Villar.
Without gauging how good of a year each player will have in 2020, it is the only noticeable difference in the top five picks.

Draft Bombing is more acceptable. The lean on home runs and K's in the real game have made it more acceptable.
Saves can be had in later rounds.
Speed? That is the bugaboo this year.
Victor Robles is going in the fourth round of many drafts.
Louis Bob Louis Robert)is going in the fifth round.
Would this happen in other years?
Doubtful.
Yet, speed is hardly ever Draft Bombed.
Acuna, Villar, and Mondesi are not near as possible as Trout, JD, and Alonso.
Deep down, we still know that home runs immediately effect four categories. Speed does not.

Draft Bombing can happen in any draft now.
Here is another example of a Draft Bomb earlier this year out of the 15 spot...

Juan Soto
Fernando Tatis Jr.
George Springer
Paul Goldschmidt
Anthony Rizzo
Eloy Jimenez
Jeff McNeil
Tim Anderson

For those familiar with 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'..."Think you used enough dynamite there, Butch?"
This drafter Draft Bombed offense, eschewing both Starts and Saves.
While his offense looks great on paper, he will need gifts from the Fantasy God on the pitching side.

Forever, experts have preached balance for fantasy teams.
Does that mean we can't Draft Bomb and have a good team?
No.
If Draft Bombing correctly, we can still achieve that balance.
After all, the difference between a team starting with Cole, Strasburg, and Sale in one league and another team starting with Cole, Strasburg, and Alonso in another is not a big difference.
Admittedly, it is much easier to Draft Bomb in smaller leagues without so much on the line.
It would take balls to Draft Bomb in larger money leagues.