The Buzz: What would a fantasy baseball draft look like today?

Usually the Yahoo Friends & Family Baseball Draft is a March endeavor, but when scheduling became impossible this year, a novel idea hit me.

Why not have the F&F draft in-season? We can make it a fun exercise about market correction and how to pivot with the fresh season.

So on Monday night, I assembled friends and colleagues and we made a collective statement, selecting 338 players. Below is a detailed audit of the results, with a keen eye for rising and falling players and draft nuances and strategies.

We’re using 5×5 scoring, and everything to this point is merely an audition — the league scoring begins Tuesday, April 30. Managers were asked to fill 13 offensive players (one catcher, otherwise standard slotting) and nine pitchers. You’re also allowed four bench players and two IL slots. Free agents will be distributed via twice-weekly FAB offers. There are no volume caps or restrictions.

Meet the managers and their draft slots:

• 1. Michael Lazarus, Fantasy Industry Vet, USC WR historian

• 2. Dalton Del Don, Yahoo, intrepid drafter and tireless TV critic

• 3. Steven Psihogios, Fantasy Industry Vet, unpronounceable last name

• 4. Scott Pianowski, Yahoo, reasonable guy, Rushmore alum

• 5. Jorge Martin, @FamiliaFBB and various, man of wisdom

• 6. Mo Castillo, Yahoo, rock of Gibraltar, Yankees fan

• 7. D.J. Short, Rotoworld, man of reason, indie rock fan

• 8. Fred Zinkie, various outlets, Canadian trade overlord

• 9. Andy Behrens, Yahoo trash talker, outrageously healthy

• 10. Eric Samulski, NBC Sports (first year in F&F), pitch-mix master

• 11. Jeff Erickson, Rotowire lefty, retired soccer coach

• 12. Frank Schwab, Yahoo, Rounders aficionado, Brewers fan

• 13. Scott Jenstad, Rotowire, defending champ, recently traded golf for tennis

And away we go:

Round 1

• 1.01: Lazarus — Mookie Betts (LAD – 2B,SS,OF)

• 1.02: Del Don — Bobby Witt Jr. (KC – SS)

• 1.03: Psihogios — Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL – OF)

• 1.04: Pianowski — Shohei Ohtani (Batter) (LAD – Util)

• 1.05: Martin — Elly De La Cruz (CIN – 3B,SS)

• 1.06: Castillo — Kyle Tucker (HOU – OF)

• 1.07: Short — Juan Soto (NYY – OF)

• 1.08: Zinkie — Corbin Burnes (BAL – SP)

• 1.09: Behrens — Fernando Tatís Jr. (SD – OF)

• 1.10: Samulski — Julio Rodríguez (SEA – OF)

• 1.11: Erickson — Gunnar Henderson (BAL – 3B,SS)

• 1.12: Schwab — Freddie Freeman (LAD – 1B)

• 1.13: Jenstad — Aaron Judge (NYY – OF)

Acuña drops to third overall after a full spring at the top spot. I can’t fault Lazarus for wanting…