MLB.com Fantasy Rankings: First Look
The terms “positive” and “negative” have some pretty strong connotations in our society. If you complete a task well, you might get positive feedback. But if something goes wrong, there might be negative consequences. However, there are situations where these terms are not attached to a value judgment: a positively-charged magnet is not “better” than a negatively-charged one - they just attract different things. And this is how these terms are used in Astrology.
When we talk about polarity in astrological terms, we are talking about opposites. Fire and Air signs are not “better” than Earth and Water signs, simply because the former two are in the positive polarity and the latter two are negative. It just depends on how their energy is focused. And when you look at the MLB.com fantasy rankings heading into 2022, it is actually better to be negative than positive: 7 of the top 10 ranked players are members of negative polarity signs.
BREAKING: In a still-developing story, news just dropped yesterday that MLB’s formerly top-ranked player, Fernando Tatis Jr., fractured his wrist and will miss roughly half the season. I know misfortune tends to befall those who recently appear on the cover of a sports video game, but this is on another level for the star Capricorn shortstop, who just earned outfield eligibility last season. In MLB.com’s updated rankings (which changed literally as I was writing this on Monday morning), Cancer Crabs middle infielder Trea Turner advances to the top spot, with his unique blend of power and speed.
I’ve heard some people compare Scorpio outfielder Juan Soto to the legendary Ted Williams, and while I haven’t watched enough Red Sox baseball from the 40’s and 50’s to weigh in on the subject myself, it’s clear that Soto is one of the league’s best pure hitters. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has started living up to his prospect projections at the plate, once the Pisces power hitter moved across the diamond to first base. Jose Ramirez shows every indication of staying at third base, despite the Virgo infielder showing some versatility earlier in his career. Bo Bichette - Guerrero Jr.’s teammate on both the Blue Jays and the Pisces Fish - slots in as the #3 overall shortstop in the top 6.
The top-ranked pitcher in the league is also a Virgo: former sticky stuff user Gerrit Cole. But after that, we have a run of three positive polarity signs. Libra starter Corbin Burnes won the NL Cy Young Award last season, despite only pitching in 28 games. His astrology teammate Bryce Harper also got some hardware, with his second NL MVP award. And Ronald Acuna Jr. makes the top 10, despite the fact that he’s still recovering from a torn ACL - the Sagittarian outfielder hopes to return in May.
In the #10 spot goes to defending AL MVP Shohei Ohtani, but only on the offensive side - as a starting pitcher, Ohtani clocks in at #91. The Cancer Crabs star will appear on the cover of MLB The Show 22 (which hits shelves and digital downloads on April 5), so let’s hope that the legendary two-way player in the making doesn’t suffer the same injury fate as Tatis Jr. this time next year…
Above is a visual representation of how the Fantasy Astrology Baseball League depth charts currently shape up, counting only the top 20 ranked players (and the recently bumped Tatis Jr.). Aside from Aries and Taurus, the only signs with no top 20 players, there is a reasonable amount of parity here. No sign has more than two top-20 batters, and only Leo has two top-20 starting pitchers. (There were no relievers within the first 55 spots, with Aries closer Josh Hader leading the pack at #56.)
Tune in next week as I continue to fill out this chart with more players. But next time, on Flashback Friday, I’ll return to my All-Time Since 1980 project, profiling the Water Signs!