LABR

Last updated

LABR was the first high-profile fantasy sports experts league of its kind. Formed by John Hunt, the fantasy baseball columnist for USA Today Baseball Weekly, the league was first formed in 1994 and featured such celebrities as Peter Gammons, Keith Olbermann and Bill James. [1] LABR stands for League of Alternative Baseball Reality and was given that nickname and the pronunciation ("labor") by Olbermann as a play on words with the labor strike in baseball at that time. [2] Hunt ran the league and published the results of the LABR league in the Baseball Weekly's (now USA Today Sports Weekly) fantasy baseball preview issue each March from 1994 through 2006. He opted not to return for the 2007 league and was replaced with in-house staff. The dollar values players were sold for in the fantasy league are used as a benchmark for readers in their own fantasy drafts.

Contents

The LABR has lost its early status as the premier experts' league, as in 1997 a rival fantasy baseball experts league, Tout Wars, was created by Ron Shandler, who was fed up with the lack of promotion USA Today gave the LABR league. [3]

The LABR Mixed league, [4] AL-Only league [5] and NL-Only league [6] are online and can be viewed by the general public.

The 2020 Major League Baseball season was a 60-game pandemic shortened season. LABR auctions and drafts occurred during Spring Training before the pandemic shutdown.

Scoring rules

LABR uses a Ranked, Rotisserie Based Scoring System of 5 batting categories and 5 pitching categories (5x5).

If there are N teams in the LABR, N points shall be awarded for first place in a category, N-1 for second place, down to 1 point for last place. In the event of a tie, the points will be split. Points will be aggregated over all ten scoring categories (see below). The team with the most points wins.

Example: LABR has 15 teams. Team A has the most home runs, and is awarded 15 points in that category. Teams B and C are tied for second in home runs; they split the second and third place points, and each receive 13.5 points. If a team finished first in all 10 categories, it would receive a total of 15*10=150 points. If it finished last in all categories, it would receive 1*10=10 points. In the case of ties in total points, the final places in the standings are determined by comparing the placement of the teams in the individual categories. The team ahead in a category is given a point. This is done over all categories. The team with the most points is declared the winner. Should the teams still be tied after this process, then the final result shall be declared a tie.

Batting Categories

Pitching Categories

Each team will be required to attain a minimum of 950 innings pitched in order to qualify for placement in the pitching categories of; a) Ratio and b) Earned Run Average, and a minimum of 4,200 at-bats for placement in the batting average category. If these minimum innings or at-bats are not achieved the team will receive 1 point in these categories and every team that meets the minimum innings pitched or at-bats will be ranked in the standings with 15 points for 1st place and so on until all qualifying teams have received points.

Rosters

Rosters shall consist of a lineup of 23 players and a bench of 6 reserve players.

A team's active roster consists of the following players: 5 outfielders, 2 catchers, 1 second baseman, 1 shortstop, 1 middle infielder (either second baseman or shortstop), 1 first baseman, 1 third baseman, 1 corner infielder (first or third baseman), one utility player who may be of any position and 9 pitchers (who may be either starters, relievers or both).

There will also be six reserve players on each team's roster to be selected on draft day. Players who go onto the disabled list may also be reserved on a separate list. There is no limit to the number of disabled list players that can exist on a roster.

Only members of the active roster generate statistics.

Results

Past Champions
AL-Only AuctionNL-Only AuctionMixed Draft
2024James Anderson - Rotowire [7] Doug Dennis - Baseball HQ [8] Rudy Gamble - Razzball [9]
2023Jason Collette - Fangraphs [10] Glenn Colton / Rick Wolf - Colton & The Wolfman [11] Ryan Bloomfield - Baseball HQ [12]
2022Eno Sarris - The Athletic [13] Mike Gianella - Baseball Prospectus [14] Steve Gardner - USA Today Sports [15]
2021Ian Kahn - The Athletic [16] Derek Carty - Derek Carty [17] Jeff Erickson - Rotowire [18]
2020Larry Schechter - Winning Fantasy Baseball [19] Derek Carty - Derek Carty [20] Fred Zinkie - Fred Zinkie [21]
2019Glenn Colton / Rick Wolf - Colton & The Wolfman [22] Derek VanRiper - The Athletic [23] Steve Gardner - USA Today Sports [24]
2018Glenn Colton / Rick Wolf - Colton & The Wolfman [25] Howard Bender - Fantasy Alarm [26] Derek VanRiper - Rotowire [27]
2017Steve Gardner - USA TODAY Sports [28] Steve Gardner - USA TODAY Sports [29] Jake Ciely - The Athletic [30]
2016Larry Schechter - Winning Fantasy Baseball [31] Derek Carty - ESPN/RotoGrinders [32] Todd Zola - Mastersball [33]
2015Steve Gardner - USA TODAY Sports [34] Derek VanRiper - RotoWire [35] Mike Gianella/Bret Sayre - Baseball Prospectus [36]
2014Dave Adler - Baseball HQ [37] Lenny Melnick - RotoExperts [38] Steve Gardner - USA TODAY Sports [39]
2013Larry Schechter - Winning Fantasy Baseball [40] Greg Ambrosius/Shawn Childs - NFBC [41] Fred Zinkie - MLB.com [42]
2012Brad Evans - Yahoo [43] Steve Moyer - Baseball Info Solutions [44] Jonah Keri - Grantland and Ray Murphy - Baseball HQ (tie) [45]
2011Chris Liss - Rotowire [46] Doug Dennis - Baseball HQ [47]
2010Steve Gardner - USA TODAY [48] Clay Davenport - Baseball Prospectus [49]
2009Jason Grey - ESPN [50] Derek Carty - The Hardball Times [51]
2008Jonah Keri - ESPN [52] Tristan Cockcroft - ESPN [53]
2007Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton - Rotoworld [54] Clay Davenport - Baseball Prospectus [55]
2006Jonah Keri - Baseball ProspectusBob Radomski - Sandlot Shrink
2005Jason Grey - Mastersball.comTrevor Braunig, CDM contest winner
2004Michael McMahon - Baseball HQSteve Yoder - Baseball HQ
2003Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton - RotoworldMark Allen - amateur player
2002Rick Wolf/Glenn Colton - RotoworldTristan Cockcroft - CBS Sports
2001Jonathan Mayo - MLB.comRon Shandler - Baseball HQ
2000Michael Brown - amateur playerGreg Faulkner - Owner’s Box
1999Michael Brown/Malek Shubair - amateur playersJohn Hunt - Baseball Weekly
1998Gene McCaffrey/John Menna - Wise Guy BaseballKeith Law - Baseball Prospectus
1997Bill Kulik - Forever BaseballJohn Hunt - Baseball Weekly
1996Lenny Melnick/Irwin Zwilling - Rotisserie Sports HourSteve Moyer - Stats Inc. and John Hunt - Baseball Weekly (tie)
1995Lenny Melnick/Irwin Zwilling - Rotisserie Sports HourMike Vogel - USA Stats
1994Larry Labadini - Fantasy Baseball Scouting ReportJohn Hunt - Baseball Weekly

Related Research Articles

Fantasy baseball is a game in which the participants serve as owners and general managers of virtual baseball teams. The competitors select their rosters by participating in a draft in which all relevant Major League Baseball (MLB) players are available. Fantasy points are awarded in weekly matchups based on the actual performances of baseball players in real-world competition. The game typically involves MLB, but can also involve other leagues, such as American college baseball, or leagues in other countries, such as the KBO League.

The 1972 Minnesota Twins finished 77–77, third in the American League West.

The 1977 Minnesota Twins season was a season in American baseball. The team finished 84–77, fourth in the American League West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1993 St. Louis Cardinals season</span> Major League Baseball season

The St. Louis Cardinals 1993 season was the team's 112th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 102nd season in the National League. Under their manager Joe Torre, the Cardinals went 87–75 during the season and finished third in the National League East, ten games behind the NL Champion Philadelphia Phillies. This was the final season in the NL East for the Cardinals, before their move to the NL Central for the following season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 St. Louis Cardinals season</span> Major League Baseball season

The 1971 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 90th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 80th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 90–72 during the season and finished second in the National League East, seven games behind the eventual NL pennant and World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 1939 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 58th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 48th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 92–61 during the season and finished second in the National League.

The 1931 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 50th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 40th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 101–53 during the season and finished first in the National League. In the World Series, they beat the Philadelphia Athletics in 7 games.

The 1922 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 41st season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 31st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 85–69 during the season and finished tied for third place with the Pirates in the National League. This was the first season to feature the now-famous birds on bat logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1913 Philadelphia Athletics season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 1913 Philadelphia Athletics season involved the A's finishing first in the American League with a record of 96 wins and 57 losses. The team then defeated the New York Giants in the 1913 World Series, 4 games to 1. In 2001, baseball historian Bill James ranked the 1913 incarnation of the Athletics' famous "$100,000 infield" as the best of all time in major league history.

With the roster depleted by players leaving for service in World War II, the 1943 Brooklyn Dodgers finished the season in third place.

The 2001 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 119th year in Major League Baseball, their 44th year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their second at Pacific Bell Park. The team finished in second place in the National League West with a 90–72 record, two games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks, and they finished three games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the Wild Card spot. The Giants set franchise records for home runs (235) and pinch hit home runs (14).

The 1940 Detroit Tigers season was their 40th since they entered the American League in 1901. The team won the American League pennant with a record of 90–64, finishing just one game ahead of the Cleveland Indians and just two games ahead of the New York Yankees. It was the sixth American League pennant for the Tigers. The team went on to lose the 1940 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds 4 games to 3.

The 1946 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 65th in the history of the Major League Baseball franchise and its jubilee of diamonds in the National League. The Pirates finished seventh in the league standings with a record of 63–91, and attracted 749,962 fans to Forbes Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1906 Chicago Cubs season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 1906 Chicago Cubs season was the 35th season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 31st in the National League and the 14th at West Side Park. Skippered by player-manager Frank Chance, the Cubs won the National League pennant with a record of 116–36, a full 20 games ahead of the second-place New York Giants. The team's .763 winning percentage, with two ties in their 154-game season, is the highest in modern MLB history. The 2001 Seattle Mariners also won 116 games, but they did that in 162 games, resulting in a .716 winning percentage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1917 New York Giants season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 1917 New York Giants season was the franchise's 35th season. It involved the Giants winning the National League pennant for the first time in four years. The team went on to lose to the Chicago White Sox in the World Series, four games to two.

The 1886 Detroit Wolverines had the best winning percentage of any major league baseball team to play in Detroit. They compiled a record of 87–36 for a .707 winning percentage. Nevertheless, the Wolverines finished in second place, 2½ games behind the Chicago White Stockings.

The 1977 Detroit Tigers finished in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 74–88, 26 games behind the New York Yankees. They were outscored by their opponents 751 to 714. The Tigers drew 1,359,856 fans to Tiger Stadium in 1977, ranking 7th of the 14 teams in the American League.

The 1981 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 81st season as a member of the American League. Games were suspended for 50 days due to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, causing a split season. The Tigers finished the first half of the season in fourth place in the American League East, and the second half of the season tied for second place. Their overall record was 60 wins and 49 losses, and they outscored their opponents 427 to 404. The Tigers drew 1,149,144 fans to their home games at Tiger Stadium, ranking fifth of the 14 teams in the American League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Chicago White Sox season</span> Major League Baseball team season

The 2020 season was the Chicago White Sox' 121st season in Chicago and 120th in the American League. The Sox played their home games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Mervis</span> American baseball player (born 1998)

Matthew Jared Mervis, nicknamed "Mash", is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at Duke University, and signed with the Cubs as an undrafted free agent in 2020. In 2022, he led Minor League Baseball in RBIs, and was third with 36 home runs. He played for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

References

  1. ↑ Keri, Jonah (2007). "'Tis the season to project stats". ESPN.com.
  2. ↑ Gardner, Steve (Feb 24, 2011). "2011 LABR Drafts are coming to Sirius XM Radio". USAToday.com. Gannett. Retrieved 2011-03-07. The name LABR was coined by Olbermann and it played on the unsettled labor situation baseball had at the time.
  3. ↑ Walker, Sam (2006). "Fantasyland". Viking. p. 145. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  4. ↑ "LABR Mixed". RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2021.
  5. ↑ "LABR AL". RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2021.
  6. ↑ "LABR NL". RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2021.
  7. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2024.
  8. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2024.
  9. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2024.
  10. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2023.
  11. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2023.
  12. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2023.
  13. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2022.
  14. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2022.
  15. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2022.
  16. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2021.
  17. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2021.
  18. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2021.
  19. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2020.
  20. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2020.
  21. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2020.
  22. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2019.
  23. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2019.
  24. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2019.
  25. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2018.
  26. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2018.
  27. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2018.
  28. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2017.
  29. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2017.
  30. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2017.
  31. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2016.
  32. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2016.
  33. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2016.
  34. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2015.
  35. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2015.
  36. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2015.
  37. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2014.
  38. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2014.
  39. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2014.
  40. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2013.
  41. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2013.
  42. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2013.
  43. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2012.
  44. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2012.
  45. ↑ "LABR Mixed" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2012.
  46. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2011.
  47. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2011.
  48. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2010.
  49. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2010.
  50. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2009.
  51. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2009.
  52. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2008.
  53. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2008.
  54. ↑ "LABR AL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2007.
  55. ↑ "LABR NL" (PDF). RealTime Fantasy Sports. 2007.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.