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The thing about the Podcast Listeners League, now in its 13th year, is that the participants ... well, they listen to the podcast (i.e., Fantasy Baseball Today). They know what we're looking to do in drafts, and they clearly take it to heart.

It ends up being my most frustrating draft every year because I'm trying to outmaneuver myself. It's like fighting Link's Shadow at the end of Zelda II, the surprise final boss at the end of my drafting saga, and it's every bit as painful. I can't expect to get my usual players where I usually get them, which forces me either to reach for them or to settle for someone else.

In this one, I did a little of both. Max Scherzer isn't who I expected to take with the eighth pick in Round 1. It's the first team I've led off with a pitcher all year. But when six hitters are selected in the first seven picks of a Head-to-Head points draft, what else are you to do? Bryce Harper and Mike Trout are the last of the obvious first-round bats in that format -- one that doesn't put nearly as much emphasis on stolen bases, as you may already know. It's also the format that most elevates starting pitchers, especially those who provide volume, which is why a reliable innings-eater like Scherzer might be preferable to someone like Corbin Burnes.

It's the first time I've drafted Scherzer this year, though, and the same is true for my second-round pick, Bo Bichette, who's of course an obvious first-rounder in 5x5 leagues. The listeners were kind of enough to leave me my most coveted player, Salvador Perez, toward the end of Round 3, despite some pregame chatter to the contrary. And with starting pitchers flying off the board, I decided to reach a little in Round 4 for one of my favorites, Charlie Morton, whose ADP has been on the rise since the start of spring training.

All in all, it wasn't the worst experience, though I felt like many of my picks (aside from Bichette and Perez) were a round earlier than I'm used to. There were a few frustrating moments, which I'll get into in a minute, but first let me introduce you to those lucky listeners who'll be playing out this league with me (as well as Frank Stampfl and Chris Towers):

1) Kevin Richardson, XanderDu 
2) Frank Stampfl, The Wandering Eye (@Roto_Frank)
3) Niko Waters, Julio The Jet Rodriguez
4) Joel Woods, Kokomo Friday
5) Ante Juricin, Curtis Mead More Cowbell
6) Scott Wolf, Outfield Defense
7) Chris Towers, My Morning Jack Flaherty (@CTowersCBS)
8) Scott White, White Noise (@CBSScottWhite)
9) Jamie Campbell, Kyoto Kokeshis
10) Garett Hoff, Twist 'n Trout
11) Elliot Freeman, Offer Me Trades
12) Mary Wilkes, High Cheese Sandwich 

A few notable things that happened:

  • Second-tier third basemen Austin Riley (Round 3), Alex Bregman, Kris Bryant and Nolan Arenado (all Round 5) were drafted on the early side, which I knew meant I'd be slumming it at that particularly thin position. It's why I would have been willing to take Rafael Devers ahead of Bichette in this format (one where, again, steals aren't a priority), but I clearly wasn't the only one who felt that way.
  • Morton isn't the only one-time discounted ace who no longer appears to be so. Justin Verlander also went in Round 4. Carlos Rodon, who isn't as old as those two but has also alleviated health concerns this spring, went in Round 6, 64th overall..
  • I was prepared to take Fernando Tatis as early as Round 8 in the hope of first-round numbers from June on, and I would have done so if not for Kyle Schwarber, a favorite of mine, still being there. I thought maybe Tatis would last another round, because he has in other drafts, but in a league where only nine hitters are started and the waiver wire is abounding with fill-in possibilities, the wait doesn't figure to be as painful. Chris Towers recognized it as well and selected Tatis exactly one pick later, which filled me with immediate regret.
  • Bobby Witt, who appears to have the third base job locked up for the Royals, went later in Round 8 to Frank Stampfl, and seeing as I still needed a third baseman, by golly, it should have been me. Witt isn't eligible at third base yet, which makes him easy to overlook as an option there, but he will be by Week 2.
  • Witt has always been drafted on the early side, but other top prospects who appear to be closing in on big-league jobs continued to move up the draft board. Among them were Julio Rodriguez (Round 13), Hunter Greene (16), Bryson Stott (18), Spencer Torkelson (18), MacKenzie Gore (18), Riley Greene (18) and Nick Lodolo (18). Meanwhile, Oneil Cruz, who has already been optioned to the minors, slipped to Round 17.
  • More than the players who go early, the telltale sign of a listeners league might be the players who go late, presumably because we've been talking them down for so long. Randy Arozarena in Round 13 is a perfect example of that, as are Ryan Mountcastle (13) and Jared Walsh (18).
  • It's always fun to look at some of the starting pitchers who go late in these Head-to-Head points drafts, where most people prefer to stock their bench with pitchers. Among those selected in the last two rounds were Nick Martinez, Matt Brash, Elieser Hernandez and Taijuan Walker.
Round By Round
Round 1
Pos Team Player
1 BayesianBall
2 White Noise
3 Mom's Arrighetti
4 Uncle Wax
5 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
6 Jackson Marill
7 Benny and the Jets
8 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
9 I'm That Dude
10 Hats for Bats
11 Eternal Buzz
12 They Took Our Jobe
Round 2
Pos Team Player
13 They Took Our Jobe
14 Eternal Buzz
15 Hats for Bats
16 I'm That Dude
17 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
18 Benny and the Jets
19 Jackson Marill
20 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
21 Uncle Wax
22 Mom's Arrighetti
23 White Noise
24 BayesianBall
Round 3
Pos Team Player
25 BayesianBall
26 White Noise
27 Mom's Arrighetti
28 Uncle Wax
29 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
30 Jackson Marill
31 Benny and the Jets
32 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
33 I'm That Dude
34 Hats for Bats
35 Eternal Buzz
36 They Took Our Jobe
Round 4
Pos Team Player
37 They Took Our Jobe
38 Eternal Buzz
39 Hats for Bats
40 I'm That Dude
41 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
42 Benny and the Jets
43 Jackson Marill
44 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
45 Uncle Wax
46 Mom's Arrighetti
47 White Noise
48 BayesianBall
Round 5
Pos Team Player
49 BayesianBall
50 White Noise
51 Mom's Arrighetti
52 Uncle Wax
53 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
54 Jackson Marill
55 Benny and the Jets
56 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
57 I'm That Dude
58 Hats for Bats
59 Eternal Buzz
60 They Took Our Jobe
Round 6
Pos Team Player
61 They Took Our Jobe
62 Eternal Buzz
63 Hats for Bats
64 I'm That Dude
65 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
66 Benny and the Jets
67 Jackson Marill
68 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
69 Uncle Wax
70 Mom's Arrighetti
71 White Noise
72 BayesianBall
Round 7
Pos Team Player
73 BayesianBall
74 White Noise
75 Mom's Arrighetti
76 Uncle Wax
77 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
78 Jackson Marill
79 Benny and the Jets
80 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
81 I'm That Dude
82 Hats for Bats
83 Eternal Buzz
84 They Took Our Jobe
Round 8
Pos Team Player
85 They Took Our Jobe
86 Eternal Buzz
87 Hats for Bats
88 I'm That Dude
89 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
90 Benny and the Jets
91 Jackson Marill
92 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
93 Uncle Wax
94 Mom's Arrighetti
95 White Noise
96 BayesianBall
Round 9
Pos Team Player
97 BayesianBall
98 White Noise
99 Mom's Arrighetti
100 Uncle Wax
101 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
102 Jackson Marill
103 Benny and the Jets
104 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
105 I'm That Dude
106 Hats for Bats
107 Eternal Buzz
108 They Took Our Jobe
Round 10
Pos Team Player
109 They Took Our Jobe
110 Eternal Buzz
111 Hats for Bats
112 I'm That Dude
113 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
114 Benny and the Jets
115 Jackson Marill
116 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
117 Uncle Wax
118 Mom's Arrighetti
119 White Noise
120 BayesianBall
Round 11
Pos Team Player
121 BayesianBall
122 White Noise
123 Mom's Arrighetti
124 Uncle Wax
125 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
126 Jackson Marill
127 Benny and the Jets
128 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
129 I'm That Dude
130 Hats for Bats
131 Eternal Buzz
132 They Took Our Jobe
Round 12
Pos Team Player
133 They Took Our Jobe
134 Eternal Buzz
135 Hats for Bats
136 I'm That Dude
137 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
138 Benny and the Jets
139 Jackson Marill
140 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
141 Uncle Wax
142 Mom's Arrighetti
143 White Noise
144 BayesianBall
Round 13
Pos Team Player
145 BayesianBall
146 White Noise
147 Mom's Arrighetti
148 Uncle Wax
149 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
150 Jackson Marill
151 Benny and the Jets
152 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
153 I'm That Dude
154 Hats for Bats
155 Eternal Buzz
156 They Took Our Jobe
Round 14
Pos Team Player
157 They Took Our Jobe
158 Eternal Buzz
159 Hats for Bats
160 I'm That Dude
161 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
162 Benny and the Jets
163 Jackson Marill
164 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
165 Uncle Wax
166 Mom's Arrighetti
167 White Noise
168 BayesianBall
Round 15
Pos Team Player
169 BayesianBall
170 White Noise
171 Mom's Arrighetti
172 Uncle Wax
173 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
174 Jackson Marill
175 Benny and the Jets
176 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
177 I'm That Dude
178 Hats for Bats
179 Eternal Buzz
180 They Took Our Jobe
Round 16
Pos Team Player
181 They Took Our Jobe
182 Eternal Buzz
183 Hats for Bats
184 I'm That Dude
185 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
186 Benny and the Jets
187 Jackson Marill
188 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
189 Uncle Wax
190 Mom's Arrighetti
191 White Noise
192 BayesianBall
Round 17
Pos Team Player
193 BayesianBall
194 White Noise
195 Mom's Arrighetti
196 Uncle Wax
197 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
198 Jackson Marill
199 Benny and the Jets
200 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
201 I'm That Dude
202 Hats for Bats
203 Eternal Buzz
204 They Took Our Jobe
Round 18
Pos Team Player
205 They Took Our Jobe
206 Eternal Buzz
207 Hats for Bats
208 I'm That Dude
209 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
210 Benny and the Jets
211 Jackson Marill
212 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
213 Uncle Wax
214 Mom's Arrighetti
215 White Noise
216 BayesianBall
Round 19
Pos Team Player
217 BayesianBall
218 White Noise
219 Mom's Arrighetti
220 Uncle Wax
221 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
222 Jackson Marill
223 Benny and the Jets
224 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
225 I'm That Dude
226 Hats for Bats
227 Eternal Buzz
228 They Took Our Jobe
Round 20
Pos Team Player
229 They Took Our Jobe
230 Eternal Buzz
231 Hats for Bats
232 I'm That Dude
233 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
234 Benny and the Jets
235 Jackson Marill
236 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
237 Uncle Wax
238 Mom's Arrighetti
239 White Noise
240 BayesianBall
Round 21
Pos Team Player
241 BayesianBall
242 White Noise
243 Mom's Arrighetti
244 Uncle Wax
245 Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
246 Jackson Marill
247 Benny and the Jets
248 Bailey Falter and Two Sons
249 I'm That Dude
250 Hats for Bats
251 Eternal Buzz
252 They Took Our Jobe
Team by Team
BayesianBall
Rd Pk Player
1 1
2 24
3 25
4 48
5 49
6 72
7 73
8 96
9 97
10 120
11 121
12 144
13 145
14 168
15 169
16 192
17 193
18 216
19 217
20 240
21 241
White Noise
Rd Pk Player
1 2
2 23
3 26
4 47
5 50
6 71
7 74
8 95
9 98
10 119
11 122
12 143
13 146
14 167
15 170
16 191
17 194
18 215
19 218
20 239
21 242
Mom's Arrighetti
Rd Pk Player
1 3
2 22
3 27
4 46
5 51
6 70
7 75
8 94
9 99
10 118
11 123
12 142
13 147
14 166
15 171
16 190
17 195
18 214
19 219
20 238
21 243
Uncle Wax
Rd Pk Player
1 4
2 21
3 28
4 45
5 52
6 69
7 76
8 93
9 100
10 117
11 124
12 141
13 148
14 165
15 172
16 189
17 196
18 213
19 220
20 237
21 244
Betty you can call me Albert Suarez
Rd Pk Player
1 5
2 20
3 29
4 44
5 53
6 68
7 77
8 92
9 101
10 116
11 125
12 140
13 149
14 164
15 173
16 188
17 197
18 212
19 221
20 236
21 245
Jackson Marill
Rd Pk Player
1 6
2 19
3 30
4 43
5 54
6 67
7 78
8 91
9 102
10 115
11 126
12 139
13 150
14 163
15 174
16 187
17 198
18 211
19 222
20 235
21 246
Benny and the Jets
Rd Pk Player
1 7
2 18
3 31
4 42
5 55
6 66
7 79
8 90
9 103
10 114
11 127
12 138
13 151
14 162
15 175
16 186
17 199
18 210
19 223
20 234
21 247
Bailey Falter and Two Sons
Rd Pk Player
1 8
2 17
3 32
4 41
5 56
6 65
7 80
8 89
9 104
10 113
11 128
12 137
13 152
14 161
15 176
16 185
17 200
18 209
19 224
20 233
21 248
I'm That Dude
Rd Pk Player
1 9
2 16
3 33
4 40
5 57
6 64
7 81
8 88
9 105
10 112
11 129
12 136
13 153
14 160
15 177
16 184
17 201
18 208
19 225
20 232
21 249
Hats for Bats
Rd Pk Player
1 10
2 15
3 34
4 39
5 58
6 63
7 82
8 87
9 106
10 111
11 130
12 135
13 154
14 159
15 178
16 183
17 202
18 207
19 226
20 231
21 250
Eternal Buzz
Rd Pk Player
1 11
2 14
3 35
4 38
5 59
6 62
7 83
8 86
9 107
10 110
11 131
12 134
13 155
14 158
15 179
16 182
17 203
18 206
19 227
20 230
21 251
They Took Our Jobe
Rd Pk Player
1 12
2 13
3 36
4 37
5 60
6 61
7 84
8 85
9 108
10 109
11 132
12 133
13 156
14 157
15 180
16 181
17 204
18 205
19 228
20 229
21 252