Welcome to the weekly Tout Wars FAAB report, on its new home right here on the Tout Wars site. Each week, we’ll review the free agent acquisitions from all five leagues, with commentary from a league member, as well as yours truly.
We changed the timing of the weekly run to 1 PM ET every Sunday, with the report posted later that afternoon so you’ll have time to digest and apply to your own leagues. In addition, I’ll be joining Lawr Michaels and Justin Mason on the Tout Wars Hour on the FNTSY Network every Sunday at 3:20 PM ET to discuss the results.
You can find the complete list of Tout Warriors here. Everyone starts with 1000 FAAB units, less any penalty incurred by finishing below a designated point in the standings. This is a means of keeping everyone motivated to keep playing all season long. The minimum bid is $0. FAAB units can be traded as well as rebated for players released off the DL. The report will list all winning bids along with unsuccessful tries and contingencies. This provides the maximum level of information to help gauge interest on the players.
The American and National League only formats are 12-team leagues, as is the new points-based head to head league, The Mixed Auction and Draft each have 15 clubs. All the leagues have four reserves with an unlimited DL, expect the head to head league, which allows six reserves. The headings above each league are links to publicly accessible sites where you can see standings, roster and a complete review of transactions. The initial auctions and drafts can be found here.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | ||
| CStewart, Det | Mike Podhorzer 92 | Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 23 | |
| MShoemaker, LAA | Mike Podhorzer 46 | Larry Schechter 0 | |
| WAstudillo, Min | Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 6 | ||
| DanNorris, Det | Larry Schechter 0 | ||
| WHarris, Hou | Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0 |
UNAWARDED BIDS
| PLAYER | |||
| NVincent, Sea | Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0 | ||
| JJimenez, Det | Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton 0 |
Todd’s Take
It took Detroit longer than most expected, but Christin Stewart was finally given the keys to left field for the rest of the season. His plate skills for Triple-A Toledo were fine, fanning at an acceptable 21 percent rate while walking a healthy 13 percent. He swatted 23 homers for the Mudhens.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | ||
| JJeffress, Mil | Mike Gianella 38 | Phil Hertz 33 | Steve Gardner 1 |
| MLorenzen, Cin | Phil Hertz 17 | ||
| DomSmith, NYM | Phil Hertz 5 | Mike Gianella 35 | |
| AVizcaino, Atl | Phil Hertz 3 | Steve Gardner 1 | |
| CReed, Cin | Phil Hertz 0 |
UNAWARDED BIDS
| PLAYER | |||
| JLuplow, Pit | Phil Hertz 33 | ||
| JUrias, LAD | Phil Hertz 1 | ||
| CFerguson, LAD | Phil Hertz 0 | ||
| JVenters, Atl | Phil Hertz 0 |
Todd’s Take
So, I’ve got one of the worst pitching staffs in the league, yet three of this week’s pick-ups were recently released off my sorry squad, including Lorenzen and Jeffress last week. I made the calculated decision I could gain more points in wins and whiffs than I’d lose in saves, while remaining in the cellar in ratios. I won’t see the wins and K’s points until the last week, if at all.
Mike Gianella benefited from my ply, grabbing Jeffress. None of the points Mike stands to gain in saves (including leapfrogging me) will influence the three-horse race for the title between Steve Gardner, Grey Albright and Tristan Cockcroft, though Jeffress could also help Mike in ratios, possibly costing Grey and Tristan a point. Selfishly, my concern is trying to minimize my loss of FAAB. I’d feel bad if my strategy contributed to the championship for someone, but that’s OK. There have been numerous other FAAB releases affecting things, like some bozo dropping Kyle Freeland in April. Just not my year… again.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | ||
| JMFernandez, LAA | Ron Shandler 18 | ||
| JBruce, NYM | Zach Steinhorn 9 | Ron Shandler 18 | Ray Flowers 6 |
| Fred Zinkie 5 | Tim Heaney 0 | ||
| CStratton, SF | Ray Flowers 8 | Tim Heaney 0 | |
| GHolland, Was | Ray Flowers 7 | Ray Flowers 4 | |
| YHirano, Ari | Scott Swanay 7 | ||
| JChoi, TB | Ray Flowers 6 | Zach Steinhorn 3 | |
| FValdez, Hou | Jeff Zimmerman 3 | ||
| JAlvarado, TB | Fred Zinkie 3 | Ray Flowers 4 | |
| WAstudillo, Min | Jeff Zimmerman 2 | Al Melchior 0 | |
| MDuffy, TB | Jeff Zimmerman 2 | ||
| RStripling, LAD | Al Melchior 1 | Ray Flowers 7 | Jeff Zimmerman 3 |
| RGrossman, Min | Scott Swanay 0 | Al Melchior 0 | |
| KPlawecki, NYM | Al Melchior 0 | Jeff Zimmerman 0 | |
| NMartini, Oak | Al Melchior 0 | ||
| SKieboom, Was | Al Melchior 0 |
UNAWARDED BIDS
| PLAYER | |||
| LBrinson, Mia | Ron Shandler 18 | ||
| ZDavies, Mil | Ray Flowers 7 | Ray Flowers 5 | |
| YMunoz, StL | Ray Flowers 5 | Scott Swanay 0 | Jeff Zimmerman 0 |
| HDozier, KC | Ray Flowers 5 | ||
| TWard, LAA | Ray Flowers 5 | ||
| DFletcher, LAA | Jeff Zimmerman 2 | ||
| ARomine, NYY | Jeff Zimmerman 0 | ||
| CaJoseph, Bal | Jeff Zimmerman 0 | ||
| DanNorris, Det | Jeff Zimmerman 0 | ||
| WDifo, Was | Jeff Zimmerman 0 | ||
| AConley, Mia | Al Melchior 0 | ||
| JChavez, ChC | Al Melchior 0 |
Todd’s Take
I usually insert a photo of the player garnering the top bid atop the header, but in this case I opted to make an exception. Try to tell me Willians Astudillo isn’t the love child of former Tout Eno Sarris and Bartolo Colon. You can’t. Admit it, you can’t.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | ||
| BKeller, KC | Charlie Wiegert 123 | D.J. Short 35 | |
| SSchebler, Cin | Adam Ronis 47 | ||
| BLowe, TB | Adam Ronis 13 | Adam Ronis 37 |
Todd’s Take
At the time of this writing, Adam Ronis is nine points behind Rudy Gamble. Adam is looking at gaining 5 points in R, RBI and SB, one of which passes Rudy for a net six. He’ll still need a few more, but here’s why you keep grinding. To his credit, Rudy has been making consistent moves all season, he just didn’t see anything to help this week. Good luck, gents.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS
| PLAYER | WINNING BID | ||
| JRoss, Was | Dr. Roto 27 | Jake Ciely 7 | |
| JrgLopez, KC | Jake Ciely 0 |
UNAWARDED BIDS
| PLAYER | |||
| RStripling, LAD | Dr. Roto 27 |
Todd’s Take
Clay Link needed to sweep his match with Jake Ciely being swept to have a chance to set up a chance to pass current leader Jake in the season’s final two-week period. Clay is doing his part. It appears Jake will take at least four of the six points, leaving him with an insurmountable eight game lead.