2015 Five Year Recap

Since we’ve now hit five full seasons going reverse-chronologically through Fantasy Astrology Baseball League history, I’m going to return to my astrology lineups by year document to embark on a Five Year Retrospective. (For what it’s worth, even before the COVID-shortened 2020 season, I had been counting decades as 0-9 instead of 1-10. The reasoning is primarily based on the fact that 2000 was the first year I built a primitive version of a baseball database.) In this exercise, I’ll be focusing on players who spent the most years out of these five in a sign’s starting lineup, rather than all-time greats. Although, as we’ll see in the very first sign, sometimes those overlap…

Aries - 160,822

I’ve already written extensively about the dominance of Aries during this period, but it’s possible that this five year stretch includes two All-Time Aries sluggers who made the lineup all five years: catcher Buster Posey and third baseman Nolan Arenado. (Alex Bregman is possibly on that track, but I think he needs a little more time to prove himself.)

On the pitching side, Corey Kluber and Chris Sale form quite arguably the best 1-2 punch in FABL at this time, even though they each missed making the rotation in 2019 due to injuries. While there have been several Aries relievers with tremendous seasons – Josh Hader in 2019, Edwin Diaz in 2018, Mark Melancon in 2015 and 16 – they haven’t had a lot of year-over-year consistency.

Libra - 157,685

Second only to Aries in points, Libra had three offensive cornerstones go all five years: former MVP outfielders Bryce Harper and Mookie Betts, and Aruba native shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Four-of’s include Rays/Giants third baseman Evan Longoria, and Twins/Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki. The only Scales pitcher who went five of five was 2020 world champion Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, but his former teammate Zack Greinke had four years himself.

Virgo - 154,771

I mentioned in the recap of the 2020 Virgo team that Paul Goldschmidt was the model of Virgo consistency, despite technically missing out on the 2020 starting lineup. I actually revisited the team since then, and figured out a way to sneak him in, which is reflected in my post about the 2020 FABL postseason. Behind Goldy, VIR had two other batters in the lineup four out of the five years, and they were on opposite ends of the offensive spectrum. George Springer just recently signed a big free agent deal with the Blue Jays, bringing a strong bat and center field capable defense, while Nick Hundley is a baseball player who can play the catcher position.

On the pitching side, two extremely hard throwing Virgos made the rotation four out of five years, and they are both connected to New York teams. Gerrit Cole, the recent recipient of the largest ever contract for a pitcher by the Yankees, and Noah Syndergaard, who had until recently pitched for the Mets, until requiring surgery for an ailment that he refused to get checked out by the team. Carlos Martinez also made four years, but one of those (2019) came out of the bullpen. Ken Giles was the only dedicated relief pitcher to make four Virgo teams out of these five, but it’s worth mentioning Wade Davis and AJ Ramos followed him with three apiece.

Pisces - 148,280

Let’s start with the pitchers for Pisces, because Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw make probably the best righty-lefty duo in any five-year stretch in Pisces history. Not to mention Aroldis Chapman getting all five years at closer. Two Fish batters made it all five years, but only one of them at the same position: Jean Segura stuck at shortstop, despite some real-life time at second base, while Nick/Nicholas/Nick Castellanos moved from third base to the corner outfield. It’s also worth noting that catcher J.T. Realmuto got four years, which is one less than the amount of years in the new contract he signed to stay with the Phillies.

I always thought PIsceans like Justin Verlander should have pinstripes on their uniforms, like the original Marlins. Also it’s fun to say: Pisces in Pinstripes.

Cancer - 147,725

Offensively, Charlie Blackmon was the top of two Cancerians to play in all five years. Lots of that could have to do with Coors Field, but fantasy points don’t care. Defensively, Yadier Molina could quite possibly be the best Cancer catcher of all time. No CAN pitcher had a full half-decade, with Stephen Strasburg coming closest with four. The only Crab reliever to notch even three years was Felipe Vazquez, formerly Rivero, formerly not incarcerated for sexual assault. This will actually be part of a trend involving closers serving suspensions: see Aquarius below.

Leo - 146,077

Leo has got to have the best trifecta of offensive players of any sign in this five year stretch: consensus best player in MLB Mike Trout, the most professional hitter in the game J.D. Martinez, and lefty lifeblood of the Cubs Anthony Rizzo. Add to that trio two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, and the Lions have some serious firepower.

Capricorn - 145,144

Big sluggers, both lumbering and versatile, were also plentiful for the Goats, with Edwin Encarnacion occupying first base all five years in question, despite his primary position being DH. On the other end of the defensive spectrum, primary third baseman Kris Bryant was next in line, appearing in four of five seasons, but three of them came in the outfield. No CAP pitcher reached five seasons, but three had four: 2020 Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer, 2016 world champion lefty Jon Lester, and Tampa Bay/Seattle/Chicago AL closer Alex Colome.

Scorpio - 144,694

Masahiro Tanaka was the only Scorpion to make five years, as he has been a stalwart for the Yankees since coming over from Japan. He’s followed by two pitchers with four years: the starter known as The Big Maple, James Paxton, and the mostly-effective Cleveland closer Cody Allen. Interestingly enough, SCO had one rotation spot made up of only pitchers named “Gray,” as Sonny and Jon alternated spots. Among the batters, only Francisco Lindor and Yasmani Grandal managed four out of five years, although Eric Hosmer came within two fantasy points and some positional eligibility shenanigans away from joining them.

Sagittarius - 141,848

The only Sagittarian to make their lineup for the last five years not only has an MVP award under his belt, but Christian Yelich also spent some years patrolling center field. His two runners-up with four years apiece are on the opposite end of defensive versatility  designated hitter (and sometimes outfielder) Khris Davis and catcher Gary Sanchez. The only Archers pitcher to even reach four years was Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks, and he didn’t get those consecutively. In a similar situation, Ian Kennedy made the team three years, but split between starter and reliever.

Gemini - 137,322

A full four Geminian batters reached the four year plateau, but the only one really worth devoting a lot of time to is Anthony Rendon, who joined up with another positive sign powerhouse in Leo Mike Trout when he signed with the Angels. The others are also all rather slick-fielders: outfielder Corey Dickerson, second baseman Cesar Hernandez, and Avisail Garcia, but only if you stretch to give the latter center field eligibility.

Jacob deGrom was one of the top overall pitchers of this time period, taking home two Cy Young Awards out of the full five years he made the Gemini rotation. Although he only made the team four years, Craig Kimbrel was no less dominant on the relief pitching front.

Taurus - 132,017

To say this five year stretch was a down period for Taurus would be accurate. There were some bright spots offensively, as Jose Altuve made the lineup all five years at second base, and Salvador Perez followed with four years behind the plate. Lance Lynn made the Bulls rotation four out of five years, and Marcus Stroman followed with three. In the bullpen, it was actually Sam Dyson who accrued the most years, with four years in the bullpen, even though guys like Luke Gregerson, Joakim Soria, and Mychal Givens are the ones you’d rather have closing out games.

Aquarius - 127,792

The lifeblood of the Aquarius offense for the most recent four of the last five years was Whit Merrifield. He helps the team with both his bat and his versatility: the South Carolina native’s ability to play the outfield allowed AQU to field three of the same infielders for the last five years: Jose Abreu, Rougned Odor, and Todd Frazier. 

The only pitcher to show up on the Aquarius staff all five years in question is Toronto/Houston closer Roberto Osuna. But his career is now steeped in ignominy due to domestic violence, I’d rather focus on a pair of Colombian hurlers who made the rotation four out of five years (but not the same four): Jose Quintana and Julio Teheran.

The march of time (backwards in this case) waits for no one. And thus next time, we’re plunging into the world of 2014, a very momentous year for many of us.