While many of us partake in fantasy sports throughout the calendar year, those who are bit by the fantasy baseball bug are rarely satisfied. We want more.

LABR served as one of the original fantasy baseball leagues widely recognized as the best-of-the-best. Since then, others have emerged, but LABR holds a special place in the collective hearts of many fantasy baseball managers. Really, it’s held in the highest of esteem.

One look at the roster configuration should help explain why. It’s a beast. 15 teams, 29 rounds, and 435 players off the board. In addition to the intimidation factor that comes with this mountain, there is also a necessary shift in thinking.

I’m always aggressive in drafts. I find that it is the best — and, obviously, first — opportunity to separate one team from the pack. That usually can’t happen without drastic moves. In a 15-team league with 29 rounds, I’m going to have to exhibit some restraint. With that, I step out of character — slightly — and into the fire.

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Results

The lineup for this 15-team draft is 2 C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, MI, CI, 5 OF, UTIL, 9 P, 6 BN, and conducted using FantasyPros’ Draft Simulator.

1.8: Christian Yelich (OF – MIL)
It took all of one pick for me to utilize a new strategy, as I bit my nails and nervously passed on Gerrit Cole. I almost never ignore a top-flight starting pitcher in the first round, where the exceptions are arise with a player like Mike Trout falling too far. Christian Yelich is not in that same situation. Why, then, did I go with Yelich over Cole? Throughout this draft season, I have seen plenty of high-upside starting pitchers available late in the second round, many of whom were targeted in the early second or late first round last season. Put another way, I’m rolling the dice that I’ll be able to add someone like Walker Buehler in the next round. I’m also going to heavily target starting pitching after my first half-dozen picks, so I’ll take the quantity over quality at that point. Finally, the increased hitting positions — here, five outfielders — compared to many other leagues puts some priority back into the bats. Yelich is an elite hitter who just went from back-to-back finishes in the top-two for MVP voting to a severely down year in 2020. I’m buying the history and not the outlier.

Others Considered: Gerrit Cole, Trevor Story

2.23: Walker Buehler (SP – LAD)
It doesn’t always work out as expected — and, in a real draft, there’s always the threat that starting pitching gets bought up in bunches — but Walker Buehler did, indeed, make it back to me. He was the easiest selection I could have made, as he is one year removed from being considered one of the top-five fantasy starting pitchers to draft. He’s still on the cusp of that list — and obviously can move back into it — but he isn’t being drafted as such. Hence being available at this point. If he had been drafted, I would have gone with Aaron Nola.

Others Considered: Aaron Nola

3.38: Kyle Tucker (OF – HOU)
I love the start of this team, and it’s obviously because Kyle Tucker was available in the third round. Tucker has an immense amount of hype entering the 2021 season, but I’m buying. More specifically, I’m buying him in the third round of a 15-team league, where 37 other players have already been drafted. I don’t feel as if this is a reach — it’s more like the fourth-round in many other leagues — and he fits into this five-outfielder format. The Houston Astros remain dangerous on offense, and Tucker should be in the middle of it.

Others Considered: Eloy Jimenez

4.53: Blake Snell (SP – SD)
I was open-minded going into my fourth pick, but I also did not want starting pitcher to get too far away from me — just because the run hadn’t happened yet didn’t mean that it was going to wait much longer. Blake Snell may not return to his former Cy Young-winning form, but he absolutely gets a boost of potential leaving Tampa Bay for the San Diego Padres. Snell was the focal point of Tampa Bay’s insistence on limiting starting pitching exposure, and he is now almost certain to see lengthier outings. Innings will be key for most pitchers in 2021, and I’ll take the Snell in San Diego as a sneaky source for said innings.

Others Considered: Kenta Maeda

5.68: Aroldis Chapman (RP – NYY)
For the second consecutive round, I let the draft board dictate what I should do. Josh Hader was just selected, and I didn’t necessarily need a starting pitcher again — not for another round or two anyway. Aroldis Chapman fits in perfectly. I’m making it a point to not pay for top-end closers in 2021 if I can help it, but again, the depth of this particular league and draft is forcing me to cover my bases. I don’t want to be stuck chasing saves when 400 players are off the board.

Others Considered: Stephen Strasburg, Ketel Marte

6.83: Jeff McNeil (2B/3B/OF – NYM)
I basically set a buying price for Jeff McNeil and, if he falls into this range, I pounce. More often than not, it happens. I’m not sure why. McNeil’s batting average is ridiculously stable — .329, .318, and .311 in his three seasons — and he contributes something to most categories. In addition, he’s eligible at multiple positions and helps create such a solid baseline that allows for riskier picks later. McNeil is simply a great foundation piece in a draft, and I’m always baffled that people aren’t targeting him more aggressively.

Others Considered: Jose Berrios

7.98: Anthony Rizzo (1B – CHC)
This was probably the most difficult pick of the first ten rounds for me. I absolutely love the idea of a bounceback season from Austin Meadows, and I hovered my mouse over the draft button with him selected. I couldn’t do it. This roster is all about balance and, while Anthony Rizzo won’t give me any speed, he generally lifts all other areas into respectability. Essentially, I went high-floor over high-ceiling, which is uncharacteristic for me. The other element is the depth of outfield relative to first base — in addition to corner infield. I trust I can find replacements for Meadows later.

Others Considered: Austin Meadows

8.113: Tommy Pham (OF – SD)
Once again, I’m faced with a painful decision, and I feel as if my hand is forced. Kris Bryant is the Austin Meadows of my last pick, where “bounceback” is the expectation. Tommy Pham is the Anthony Rizzo, where his numbers will cover multiple categories. Most importantly, stolen bases. He gets the nod.

Others Considered: Kris Bryant

9.128: Ryan Pressly (RP – HOU)
I’m starting to see a need for power and starting pitcher, so why not go with a reliever? Really, I can make a move with Ryan Pressly because I know that I have a tendency to stack starting pitching in the later rounds. I won’t always have the ability to add a closer who should produce decent numbers throughout.

Others Considered: Nick Anderson, German Marquez

10.143: Shohei Ohtani (SP/UTIL – LAA)
I write about Shohei Ohtani whenever I have the opportunity, and I have no problem drafting him in the tenth round. Really, I’d be sliding him up my draft board in any league that allows you to slot him in as a pitcher or hitter in the same week — daily or semi-weekly leagues. He simply carries tremendous upside to help my team in at least one area. Two, if everything breaks correctly.

Others Considered: Julio Urias, Kirby Yates

11.158: Ian Happ (2B/3B/OF – CHC)
Ian Happ became one of my favorite sleepers by the end of the 2020 preseason, and I ultimately regretted not buying in sooner — and more heavily. Now, I am concerned that his stock has risen to the point where regression is imminent. It’s possible, but paying an 11th round pick to acquire Happ is such a low-risk maneuver that I can deal with any hiccups following a breakout year. That will be the key. Don’t overdraft Happ, but don’t ignore him if he falls to you.

Others Considered: Miguel Sano

12.173: Nick Madrigal (2B – CWS)
I’m finally starting to feel the pull of deviating from the “safer” routes, and it starts with Nick Madrigal. I’m probably on the lower side of the industry scale for Madrigal’s expectations, but I do love the high-floor batting average we should expect. From there, almost everything else is gravy. Gravy, however, can be valuable in a rotisserie league where the only “negative” is going to be a lack of power. There’s no saying I can’t find said power later, but I doubt I’ll get someone with Madrigal’s stolen base potential who also won’t kill my team’s batting average.

Others Considered: Andrew Heaney

13.188: Aaron Civale (SP – CLE)
Simply put, I love the breakout potential of Aaron Civale, and I can stomach the inherently shaky floor at this stage of the draft. He easily has room to improve from last year’s numbers, in which his FIP was nearly three-quarters of a run below his ERA. There was also an uptick in strikeout rate, and if he increases that further, he’ll be a stud at this point. Again, I’m personally buying what Civale could give to my team. He could also flop. I accept that.

Others Considered: Christian Walker

14.203: John Means (SP – BAL)
Heavy sigh. I’m starting to buy the hype, and I don’t like that. It’s the preseason, and we could make a subjective case about almost any player based on how they “look.” In John Means’ case, we know he can “look” better than what we saw in 2020. We know that, but the numbers aren’t exactly comforting. His FIP was a full run higher than his already-inflated ERA, so I’m clearly buying with concern. I’m rolling the dice for the sake of stealing a player on the rise, fully aware of the possible catastrophe.

Others Considered: Andrew Heaney

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15.218: Mitch Garver (C – MIN)
In another move outside of my comfort zone, I am selecting a catcher prior to the last round. Why? Because we must start two in this format, and I prefer not to bury myself. Mitch Garver is absolutely a serviceable option, and I feel better about the potential batting average loss thanks to some of the players I selected earlier — Madrigal, McNeil, and Rizzo, to name a few.

Others Considered: Gavin Lux

16.233: Richard Rodriguez (RP – PIT)
My fellow fantasy managers — computer-based as they may be — were not kind to me over the last round, and a handful of targets were scooped up — Sean Manaea and Jared Kelenic, specifically. I’m forcing myself not to jump ahead largely because I am anticipating such a move in the next round or two. Here, I’ll add one more closer — Richard Rodriguez — and plan for an aggressive attack shortly.

Others Considered: Carlos Santana

17.248: Alex Kiriloff (OF – MIN)
I am drafting Alex Kiriloff wherever possible, as I am finding him continually undervalued for two reasons. The first is the uncertainty about his status, where it is likely that he won’t start the regular season with the Minnesota Twins. This helps in deeper leagues, where Kiriloff will fall extra rounds for time missed. The second reason I’m buying is for the prospect pedigree of an outstanding hitter that is being overlooked. He could easily outperform his 17th-round price.

Others Considered: Ryan McMahon

18.263: Ryan McMahon (1B/2B/3B – COL)
I have been burned countless times by Ryan McMahon, but I clearly can’t help myself. He continues to show flashes of fantasy value whenever given the opportunity but can’t find any consistency. Like so many others I have selected in recent rounds, the price is low enough that I can accept the associated risk, but there’s no better time for McMahon to shine than right now — Arenado’s departure opens another spot in the infield.

Others Considered: Bryan Reynolds

19.278: Wander Franco (SS – TB)
I’m finally feeling the struggle, and I’ve reached a crossroads. I’m torn between the home run swing of drafting Wander Franco, the relatively “safe” targets of a Brandon Nimmo or Bryan Reynolds, or another high-risk-reward pitcher. Normally, when faced with unsure options, I do take that metaphorical big swing. So, here it is. Wander Franco is going to be a wild card for this and any other team that adds him to their roster. If he blossoms immediately, I’m ahead of the curve. If not, I don’t feel I missed an integral piece.

Others Considered: Brandon Nimmo, Bryan Reynolds, Nate Pearson

20.293: Jake Odorizzi (SP – HOU)
I have made it a point to focus on veteran pitchers in 2021, mainly because of the potential that teams will limit the innings of young arms after last year’s shortened season. Jake Odorizzi’s best days are likely behind him, but I’m targeting wins, and Odorizzi slides into a solid situation with the Houston Astros.

Others Considered: Nate Pearson

21.308: Joey Votto (1B – CIN)
Apparently, I’m loading up on first basemen past their primes, as I’m adding Joey Votto a dozen rounds after Anthony Rizzo. Votto fills the need I have for power, even if it is on the decline. Thankfully, the flexibility that players like Ryan McMahon and Ian Happ provide allows me to do some maneuvering and slot both Rizzo and Votto into my starting lineup.

Others Considered: Garrett Hampson

22.323: Joc Pederson (1B/OF – CHC)
Once again, I’m prioritizing power over everything else, including batting average. Such is the calling card of Joc Pederson. If he can get regular at-bats and produce a hot streak at any time — staples of Pederson throughout his career — he would be an absolute steal this late in the draft.

Others Considered: Bobby Dalbec

23.338: Willy Adames (SS – TB)
To this point, I don’t have a starting shortstop. It’s the 23rd round. That’s a problem. I do have the aforementioned Wander Franco, but I can’t count on production for him anytime soon. It feels wrong to be adding the actual shortstop from Tampa Bay after Franco, and this serves as a reverse-handcuff — for the fantasy football crowd who drafts a backup running back with their starter. Adames is one of the few remaining shortstops who can give me some much-needed power, and if he hits well enough to stay in the lineup, he could slide in alongside Franco — who has been playing some third base in Spring Training.

Others Considered: Amed Rosario, Andrelton Simmons

24.353: MacKenzie Gore (SP – SD)
No hesitation here. MacKenzie Gore remains one of my top late targets wherever possible, even though he is unlikely to contribute for the San Diego Padres in the near future. I don’t care. Gore has all the makings of a frontline starting pitcher, and I’ll stash him on my bench until his Major League Baseball debut.

Others Considered: David Dahl, Jo Adell

25.368: Jose Quintana (SP – LAA)
I do not love the starting pitching options at this stage, but such is the result of 367 players already off the board. I remain in pursuit of wins, which means that I need innings. Once again, a veteran fits the mold slightly better than some of the young pitchers I would have liked to add. Perhaps next round.

Others Considered: Spencer Howard, Casey Mize

26.383: Casey Mize (SP – DET)
It worked. One round after selecting Quintana, I was still able to take a high-upside pitcher in Casey Mize. Mize is available so late in the draft largely because of his bloated 6.99 ERA in his debut season. I’m still buying the prospect that showed extreme potential during his ascent through the Minor Leagues.

Others Considered: Tejay Antone

27.398: Tyler O’Neill (OF – STL)
Tyler O’Neill appears to be forgotten after hype surrounded him for years. Now in a battle to remain viable with the St. Louis Cardinals, O’Neill brings one more potential source of power to my lineup. He’ll sit on my bench for the time being but will either make an impact with St. Louis — and, thus, my team — or have no future value for me. I can handle that in the 27th round.

Others Considered: Reyes Moronta, David Dahl

28.418: David Dahl (OF – TEX)
Add David Dahl to the long list of players whose promise never delivered because of injuries. He’s now with the Texas Rangers after years of fantasy managers drooling over what he could do in Colorado. I’ll roll with him one more time to see if he has anything left. He’s still young enough to show some growth, as he will play this season at only 27 years old.

Others Considered: Nate Lowe

29.428: Kyle Farmer (C/1B/2B/3B/SS – CIN)
I did it! Despite the necessity of starting two catchers, I was able to wait until the last round to grab my second. I don’t particularly love the approach, but I refuse to push a catcher above other options unless absolutely necessary. Eventually, the well ran dry, and the opposing fantasy managers stopped selecting catchers. Kyle Farmer joins my team partly because he shouldn’t sink my batting average and partly because I’d love the opportunity to move him around my fantasy infield with the eligibility he carries.

Others Considered: Austin Hedges

Summary

I absolutely loved how this team began, even with my own deviations from how I normally draft. Toward the end, however, I felt the lack of depth would hurt me. The good news is that I added enough well-balanced players early that I could afford to target “specialists” later. This was clear with the amount of home-run-or-bust hitters I eventually drafted.

Perhaps the most surprising element is that my pitching ranks as low as it does — 8th out of 15 — but this is the cost of selecting two hitters with my first three picks. In a deep league, high-end pitching is critical. I only opted against it because I made it a point to go overboard with pitching in the middle rounds, and I executed that plan.

In the end, nothing I did completely sunk me. I scored a B+, overcame some risks I felt were inherent at the time and ranked 3rd out of 15.

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Mario Mergola is a featured writer at FantasyPros and BettingPros, as well as the creator and content-editor of Sporfolio. For more from Mario, check out his archive and follow him @MarioMergola.