For two straight years, I was fortunate enough to win the Tout Wars alternate league, which uses innings instead of wins, saves plus holds (SOLDS) instead of saves, and on-base percentage instead of batting average. It can skew how the competition values players and force tough draft decisions. Because of the format, building a strong base of starting pitchers has fueled my success. As a participant and previous winner of the head-to-head points league, I have three wins in the last four years in Tout Wars contests.
Before the draft, I was provided my choice of draft position and selected first. There is a saying: you cannot win your league in the first round, but you can lose it. After much apprehension, I was nervous about Shohei Ohtani pitching this season, so I opted for Aaron Judge. This could have been a disaster, since he played only 66 games this season and produced 18 home runs, 41 RBI, and a 36 percent on-base rate. He was supposed to be an anchor for home runs, RBI, and OBP, but that didn’t materialize.
I also selected two pitchers in my first five picks, Hunter Brown and Freddy Peralta, plus Jarren Duran. On the surface, my start in this draft was less than spectacular. Middle-round picks are often overlooked. However, in this league, they were paramount to my success. Cam Schlittler in the tenth round and Zack Wheeler in the eighth provided better production than my first two pitchers. Schlitter’s 0.92 WHIP over 193.2 innings more than made up for the rough first half by Peralta, though his rebound in Tampa Bay made sticking with him worthwhile. Wheeler as a perfect fill-in with Brown missed time, and the team also benefited from Shane McClanahan’s bounce back until he was shut down.
This team’s offensive MVPs were Miguel Vargas (17th round) and Gabriel Moreno (13th round). Vargas’ breakout season yielded 106 runs, 33 home runs, 93 RBI, and 22 stolen bases with a robust .363 OBP, third among all third basemen. Moreno hit a career-best 18 home runs, scored 72 runs, drove in 83 runs, and posted a .388 OBP, first among qualified catchers.
For the second straight season, my relievers at the end of the season weren’t the ones I drafted. Pivoting during the season in a SOLDS format plays to one of my strengths. Louis Varland was an early FAAB target and helped my team finish fourth in the category. Mason Montgomery was a ratio eraser in the second half, racking up 17 saves in his last 28 appearances while posting a 0.768 WHIP, 42 strikeouts, and seven walks over 27.1 innings.
It was not all roses and sunshine; I had Jared Jones and Cade Cavalli also on the roster, and cut each after rough outings that came back to haunt me when they both finished 2026 with aplomb. I have to be more patient when a pitcher or hitter goes through a rough patch. I committed this same mistake last year, cutting Trevor Story before his tremendous finish in 2025.
As for the league’s categories, aside from on-base percentage, my team was very balanced. Heeding lessons from 2025, targeting power during the draft and early in FAAB paid off. On offense, my team was ranked accordingly in our league:
- 1,025 runs, second (14 points)
- 284 home runs, second (14 points)
- 1,009 RBI, first (15 points)
- 167 stolen bases, fourth (12 points)
- .319 OBP, 13th (three points)
On the pitching side:
- 1,293.2 innings, third (13 points)
- 3.53 ERA, second (14 points)
- 1.18 WHIP, third (13 points)
- 1,377 strikeous, second (14 points)
- 84 saves plus holds, fourth (12 points)
When preparations begin for next year, many of my past practices will remain in place. Many hitters get taken well ahead of average draft position because of their on-base percentage, and though it has been a weakness in the standings for me, a more balanced offense remains more important than chasing one category. For pitching, relievers get taken later in this format since SOLDS are more bountiful than saves. Not necessarily at the top end, but as this chart illustrates, overpaying for a closer when talented relievers with strong ratios and strikeout upside are more productive does not work in this format:
Link: https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/KseUL/1/
At this time, I would like to thank the Tout Wars committee for their time and efforts running the leagues. Hopefully another recap like this will happen in 2027.
Thanks for being a part of the Closer Monkey community. Stay safe and be well.
Statistical Credits: