2020 Libra Scales
During the same period of time where Aries was dominating the Fantasy Astrology Baseball League leaderboards in terms of total fantasy points scored, Libra was actually winning the championships. From 2012 thru 2016, the first five years that I ran a season-long simulation of the FABL, the Scales took home the trophy four times. Granted, the methodology of these simulated fantasy seasons was far from consistent, but it is fascinating to see this level of success from one sign under any circumstances.
Librans are born between September 23rd and October 22nd, and I’ve always wondered whether having birthdays that fall during the playoff season made them more likely to succeed in baseball. For comparison’s sake, Opening Day always falls during Aries (in non-pandemic-affected seasons), and we all know how consistently strong those teams have been. Conversely, Aquarius birthdays take place during the coldest months of the hot-stoves season, and they’ve been a perennial bottom-feeder in the standings (again, only in non-pandemic-affected seasons).
Any discussion about Libra has to start with its outfield, where two of the most exciting players in the game make up the corners. Mookie Betts (1,014 points / 18.4 points per game) won the AL MVP Award in 2018, the same year he led his Red Sox to a World Series victory over the Dodgers, which is ironically enough the team he just helped win the 2020 World Series. Bryce Harper (920 / 15.9) took home the NL MVP three years earlier than Betts, and he too just signed a massive contract with the second team he has ever known, the Phillies. I put slugging Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (784 / 15.7) between them, even though he didn’t technically have enough games there to qualify, but first alternate Starling Marte (726 / 11.9) likely would have taken down the top spot if not for a late season injury. And that’s not even counting solid backup options like Eddie Rosario (757 / 13.3), Aaron Hicks (584 / 10.8), and incumbent DH Kole Calhoun (767 / 14.2). This strong outfield mix continues a trend from Libra’s FABL dynasty years, where they featured the likes of the still-active Andrew McCutchen (696 / 12.2 in 2020), Jose Bautista, Carlos Gonzalez, and for a shorter time period, Yoenis Cespedes.
The infield was pretty stellar back then too, as evidenced by Robinson Cano (616 / 12.6), who was born exactly 10 years before the entirety of the 2020 starting outfield (1982). Xander Bogaerts (790 / 14.1, also born in 1992) is the only true superstar left in the infield, and he took over from longtime Scales stalwart Troy Tulowitzki. The only historic weak spot has been first base, where it was common practice for me to break positional eligibility rules and put Ryan Zimmerman there, leaving the hot corner for Evan Longoria (525 / 9.9). I did the same thing in 2020, but with Gio Urshela (573 / 13.3) and Hanser Alberto (573 / 10.6). If you want to break up the magic of having the corner infield spots filled by two players who scored the same amount of points last season, Colin Moran (546 / 10.5) is around to handle first. A’s rookie Sean Murphy (386 / 9.0) takes over behind the plate from another former A’s rookie Kurt Suzuki (323 / 9.8).
Speaking of A’s rookies, the Libra rotation should be anchored for years to come by the youngest Scales player, Jesus Luzardo (477 / 39.8), who seems to have bounced back from an early season bout with COVID-19. Zack Greinke (571 / 47.6) has been the incumbent Libra ace for years, although he might soon pass that mantle to Corbin Burnes (819 / 68.3) of the Brewers, if the latter’s 2020 performance proves sustainable. Lance McCullers Jr. (478 / 43.5), who looked the most surprised of any pitcher in the 2020 postseason after giving up a home run, makes for a solid SP4, even after missing all of 2019 due to injury. Tyler Mahle (460 / 46.0) earned the fifth starter spot, but the strange nature of the shortened 2020 season means it’s also worth mentioning veteran lefty J.A. Happ (446 / 49.6), solid 2020 performer Merrill Kelly (372 / 74.4), and the young Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty (362 / 40.2).
Like Greinke, Kenley Jansen (639 / 23.7) could be in the process of passing his mantle of Libra’s star closer – Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts opted not to use him for the final outs of the 2020 World Series, instead opting for a three-inning appearance from Leo starter Julio Urias. Rafael Montero (377 / 22.2) saw his share of save opportunities for a non-competitive Rangers team last year. While the return of Tyler Matzek (384 / 18.3) for the Braves, after the Rockies spent years ruining his mechanics, is a feel-good story, in normal non-COVID circumstances, the third relief pitcher slot would be filled by the closer who didn’t get the last outs of the 2019 World Series, Sean Doolittle.
Next up, we stick with the positive division to highlight the Sagittarius Archers, a team on the rise, despite their low finish in the standings in 2020.