This post is related to the 2020 Best Baseball League series. If you missed it, check out the series kick-off article.

The 2020 Best Baseball League

Fantasy drafts are interesting in that you have to decide whether you draft for the present, the future, or try to thread the needle with both. As the excellent make-believe-general-manager that I am, I was determined to win now and build for the future. So, with my first pick, I was looking for a young-enough impact player, controllable for multiple years. At pick number 11, Joe Greeno seemed like a good option.

Steve Rosin, Laval’s head scout, stated very simply about Joe – “Greeno is a very good player overall”. I always appreciate Steve’s straightforward nature; he doesn’t mince words. He was, however, a hoot at the 4th of July party. I digress…

The rest of Steve’s scouting report went as follows: Joe will routinely challenge for the batting title. He plays plus defense with a plus arm that has plenty of carry and accuracy. He has power and can go yard if a pitcher makes a mistake. He can start in right field on any team in the league.

A 26-year old this polished was hard to pass up in the first round, and so Verde became the first member of the Laval Flying Tigers. He immediately became the face of the franchise, and despite the pressure, shined brightly. He ended the year 8th in the league in extra base hits, was an All-Star, hit 28 homers, 45 doubles, scored 111 runs, drove in 113 runs, and slashed .313/.376/.548. That’s an OPS of .938, an OPS+ of 139, and good for 6.2 WAR. Joe also added 9 outfield assists, which was tied for second across among all RFs. Given my trust in Rosin, I think Verde’s 2020 season wasn’t an example of his ceiling. His 14.3% strikeout rate is excellent, and his BABIP was .333, so his .313 average might have been lowered by some bad luck. Maybe I’m just being hopeful.

Let’s compare him to some statistically-similar age-26 seasons: (For Single Seasons, From 1871 to 2019, For age 26, (requiring H>=194, 2B>=45, HR>=28 and BA>=.313), sorted by Home Runs)

Joe’s season sits somewhere in a blend of Holliday, Yount, and Atkins’ age-26 seasons. Not too shabby.

Verde’s two most memorable games came at the end of the season, where in one August game he hit a grand slam, with 6 total RBI, and in a September battle, went 3-3 with 2 home runs and scored 4 times. It’s also just cool that he wears the #2 as a right fielder. (Jeter is top 3 SS all time, don’t @ me). Joe was also a lefty masher, batting .348 against south paws. Excited to see what Joe brings in 2021.

Categories: 2020 Best Baseball League, OOTP Simulation