Matt Modica & Eddie Gillis Win $1300 AL Auction Titles

[Greg Ambrosius]

For the first time in the NFBC's history, we ran two NFBC $1300 AL Auction Leagues in Las Vegas this season and we came away with a pair of worthy champions. Matt Modica of New York, New York won the 10 am AL Auction League title and $7,800, while Eddie Gillis of Jamestown, Rhode Island won the 4 pm AL Auction League title and $7,800.

Matt finished with 92 points, 2 1/2 points ahead of David Lightfoot. David won $3,000, while Phil & Greg Glukhovsky finished third to win $1500. Here's the final standings:

NFBC Las Vegas March 31st 10 am PT $1300 AL Auction League Final Standings:
ctm al auc 92
Team Ottawa 88.5
Worst Russians Ever 83.5
Team Sask 79.5
Will Dingerbrooks 76

Like many other auction league champions, Matt did a great job in the auction portion with his top bids, but it was the later rounds that won it for him. He got Aaron Judge for $2 and Whit Merrifield for $1, while grabbing Justin Smoak in the Reserve Round. He built his team around Mookie Betts for $44, Brian Dozier $27, Jose Quintana $23, Alex Colome $20, James Paxton $21 and Kevin Gausman $17. But that $2 bid on Judge was the difference-maker.

Eddie Gillis joined Shawn Childs as a four-time champion in the AL Auction League when he won the 4 pm Auction. Eddie had a dominating performance as his team finished with 93.5 points to win the $7,800 league prize. Daniel Ostas finished second with 82 points to win $3,000 and Dave Smith finished third to win $1500.

Here's the final standings:

NFBC Las Vegas March 31st, 4 pm PT $1300 AL Auction League Final Standings:
Ultimate Warrior Killebrew 93.5
Oklahoma Sky 82
High Hopes 79
Glenneration X 76.5
AL Auction 4pm 69

Eddie built his championship team with only two offensive players at $20 or higher: Mookie Betts ($42) and Adam Jones ($20). The pitching staff consisted of Ervin Santana $5, Aaron Sanchez $21, Lance McCullers $18, James Paxton $16 and Dellin Betances $6. Getting Trey Mancini in the Reserve Round was a big plus.

Great job everyone and we'll open two time slots for the NL Auction again in 2018. Let's do this again.