2022 Capricorn In-Depth Look
With the 2022 World Series now complete, let’s continue our in-depth look at all 12 signs in the Fantasy Astrology Baseball League. Call this a coincidence if you must, but the last time Capricorn won the FABL points crown was exactly 30 years ago in 1992! And while I’ll continue to use fantasy points to evaluate players, this year, I’ll frame my offensive analysis through the lens of a projected batting order.
Capricorn had a trio of impact rookies enter the league this year, which could be a good sign of things to come. At the top of the pack (and also of the lineup) is Julio Rodriguez, the presumptive American League Rookie of the Year winner. J-Rod bat leadoff and played center field for the Mariners, helping Seattle reach the playoffs for the first time in two decades. Brendan Donovan probably won’t garner as much awards recognition, but he had a strong season for another playoff-bound team (the Cardinals), and his eligibility in both the infield and the outfield, as the inaugural Utility Gold Glove Winner, gives this sign some flexibility when setting its lineup. The third rookie also helped his team to the postseason, as right fielder Oscar Gonzalez was part of a Guardians team that had the youngest average age of any team in MLB.
After bouncing around the league, first baseman C.J. Cron seems to have found a home in Colorado, as the lynchpin of a not-quite-good-enough offensive core, which for some reason has won the undying loyalty of the Rockies front office. Albert Pujols had a triumphant farewell season, returning to his original team in St. Louis, and storming past 700 home runs in the process. When Kyle Tucker bat fifth for the World Series Champion Astros, he did so behind such sluggers as Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman. Based on numbers alone, he should probably hit fourth here for the Goats, but I think Phat Albert deserves one final shot to bat cleanup.
Catcher William Contreras exceeded his rookie eligibility in 2021, so he doesn’t have the track record of his big brother Willson, who just hit free agency. But the pair was able to make history by starting in the same All-Star game, with Willson behind the dish and William the designated hitter. Eduardo Escobar holds down third base for his sign, and figures to continue to do so, with Kris Bryant slated to move to left field full time, if/when he gets healthy. Shortstop J.P. Crawford got elevated to Capricorn’s starting job when Fernando Tatis Jr. was lost for the year due to an injury/PED suspension combo. Although Crawford too might remain in the Goats starting lineup in the future, if Ha-Seong Kim pushes Tatis to the outfield upon his return.
Based on positional eligibility, Brendan Donovan would slot in at second base with Oscar Gonzalez taking right field. But if you want to maximize fantasy points, Donovan would move to the grass, with shortstop Jose Iglesias moving to the other middle infield spot, a move justified by my primary ground rule that any shortstop eligible player can also handle second base. On another injury note, second base will absolutely belong to Ozzie Albies, once he returns. As far as depth options, Garrett Cooper is the biggest bat available off the bench, despite the fact that he didn’t break 1,000 fantasy points. Austin Nola and Jacob Stallings are starting-caliber catchers, with Mitch Garver also an option behind the plate once he gets healthy. And Vaughn Grissom could be a big part of the Braves infield picture moving forward, especially if Dansby Swanson leaves via free agency.
Regardless of how Capricorn does in the standings, they always seem to have a plethora of pitching depth, and things were no different in 2022. Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah could get some AL Cy Young Award consideration, although I don’t see anybody beating out Justin Verlander on that score. Dylan Cease led the sign in both ERA and strikeouts, but also walks, while rocking a cool moustache on the White Sox. Lefty Max Fried has emerged as the ace of the Braves staff, despite a rough start in the 2022 ALDS. Most of Tyler Anderson’s fantasy point boost came from wins, as the lefty went 8-0 to start the season, not losing his first game until the end of June.
Manoah’s Blue Jays teammate Kevin Gausman might be frozen out of the Capricorn top four “playoff rotation,” despite reaching the 200 strikeout plateau. Jordan Montgomery was somewhat surprisingly dealt from the Yankees to the Cardinals for Harrison Bader at the 2022 trade deadline, but given how Bader performed at the plate in the postseason, it’s hard to argue with the results. The halcyon days of Jon Lester, Cole Hamels, and Dallas Keuchel are behind this sign, but Alex Wood and Michael Pineda still serve as some decent depth rotation options.
Capricorn didn’t have a strong closer in terms of fantasy points, as Raisel Iglesias moved to a setup role behind Kenley Jansen upon his trade from Anaheim to Atlanta last season. Another rookie, Jhoan Duran, has flashed incredible stuff in his rookie season with the Twins. Andres Munoz has been described as Seattle manager Scott Servais’s “silver bullet,” although he wasn’t able to get some of the highest leverage outs of his career in the Mariners’ playoff collapse. Chase De Jong and Reynaldo Lopez were both middling starters for the beginning of their careers, but they’ve developed into nice long relief weapons for the Pirates and White Sox, respectively.