The Draft: Part I

This week was the draft for my main fantasy baseball league. Composed of my brothers and friends, I’ve been playing for (wow) six years now, although some of them have been playing fantasy since before it was online. I can’t believe people would do that either.

This year we played with 8, with even further expanded rosters. I was 3rd pick for 29 rounds of bliss. Our league is 5x5 Roto, but instead of the conventional AVG, we play OBP (I suggest you all do the same), and an innings cap of 1650. (1650 works out to about 6 SPs and 5 RPs for the season).

Out positions: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, MI, LF, CF, RF, OF, OF, Util, Util, SP, SP, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, DL.

Just like any other draft it was unpredictable for the most part regardless of how many mock drafts you have done. Here are the first five rounds:

Round 1

1. Albert Pujols (LAA - 1B) Storm VIII/S…

2. Matt Kemp (LAD - CF) Clip Show

3. Miguel Cabrera (Det - 1B) Shooting Blanks

4. Jose Bautista (Tor - 3B,RF) DrunkDrafter

5. Robinson Cano (NYY - 2B) Toyko Rose o…

6. Troy Tulowitzki (Col - SS) Baghwan’s Ba…

7. Adrian Gonzalez (Bos - 1B) Girls Don’t …

8. Joey Votto (Cin - 1B) Uggies vs Yu…

My Pick: Miguel Cabrera. With the 3rd pick I took Miggy and couldn’t be happier. Coming into the draft I thought Miggy would be gone and I was set on Joey Bats since I love to get a strong 3B. Bautista is going to hit more HRs, but you can’t get more consistent than Miggy and since the 3B is coming, it was easy choice for me.

Hero Pick (Best): Miguel Cabrera. I promise I won’t be self-indulgent every round, but my pick of Cabrera the consensus number 1 with position scarce 3B, with the 3rd pick is the best value of the round.

Villain Pick (Worst): Robinson Cano. I just don’t trust Tulo for some reason, but the worst pick is Cano. I think he is incredibly talented and plays 2B, but in an OBP he is not nearly as deadly. He had only a .047 increase from AVG to OBP and I need more from my first pick. For perspective the best last year was Bautista at a .145 increase. If we played AVG I would Cano would have been fine.

Round 2

1. Prince Fielder (Det - 1B) Uggies vs Yu…

2. Jacoby Ellsbury (Bos - CF) Girls Don’t …

3. Justin Verlander (Det - SP) Baghwan’s Ba…

4. Ryan Braun (Mil - LF) Toyko Rose o…

5. Justin Upton (Ari - RF) DrunkDrafter

6. Dustin Pedroia (Bos - 2B) Shooting Blanks

7. Evan Longoria (TB - 3B) Clip Show

8. Carlos Gonzalez (Col - LF,CF,RF) Storm VIII/S…

My Pick: Dustin Pedroia. I took Pedroia, which was the game plan. 2B that finished 16th overall for OBP last year. He is a safe choice was happy to get another scarce position. Last year he was better than J. Upton, but at 2B instead of the outfield.

Hero Pick: Ryan Braun. This is the same owner that took Cano in the first round, redeemed himself with Braun who should have gone in the first round. If you flip his picks, his team looks like it should.

Villain Pick: CarGo. I’m not a huge J. Upton fan, but Carlos worries me too much. He has the chance to be a 1st rounder, but I don’t want to gamble with my 2nd pick. Also with so many OFs I would rather wait.

Round 3

1. Hanley Ramirez (Mia - SS) Storm VIII/S…

2. Jose Reyes (Mia - SS) Clip Show

3. Curtis Granderson (NYY - CF) Shooting Blanks

4. Ian Kinsler (Tex - 2B) DrunkDrafter

5. Clayton Kershaw (LAD - SP) Toyko Rose o…

6. Cliff Lee (Phi - SP) Baghwan’s Ba…

7. Roy Halladay (Phi - SP) Girls Don’t …

8. Mark Teixeira (NYY - 1B) Uggies vs Yu…

My Pick: Once again according to plan. It was tough to pass up on pitching, but Granderson finished 3rd overall in OBP leagues last year. No I’m not expecting him to duplicate, but he doesn’t have to get my money’s worth. Great OBP compared to AVG, and even if the power numbers aren’t there again, he’ll be a leader in Runs. Next year, he will be taken in the first round.

Hero Pick: Roy Halladay. Although I thought Curtis would be the pick of the round, but Halladay slipping to the end of the round is the steal. Potential to be the overall number one player. Done.

Villain Pick: Reyes. I am a big fan of HanRam to rebound, but I’m not with Reyes. I’ve been happy to never have gambled on him in previous seasons. Yes, he is a SS, but he’s too much of a risk for a 3rd pick.

Round 4

1. Andrew McCutchen (Pit - CF) Uggies vs Yu…

2. CC Sabathia (NYY - SP) Girls Don’t …

3. Mike Napoli (Tex - C,1B) Baghwan’s Ba…

4. Tim Lincecum (SF - SP) Toyko Rose o…

5. Adrian Beltre (Tex - 3B) DrunkDrafter

6. Felix Hernandez (Sea - SP) Shooting Blanks

7. Giancarlo Stanton (Mia - RF) Clip Show

8. Jered Weaver (LAA - SP) Storm VIII/S…

My Pick: Felix the Cat. I wanted to get a stud SP and did. My I would have preferred CC for the guaranteed wins. I consider taking Weaver, again for more wins, but you can help but want the consistency of Ks from Felix. Other than Ws he’ll be a stud.

Hero Pick: Beltre. As long as he can stay healthy, he will be a steal. Per games numbers were sick last year. He’s still in a great TEX park and potent lineup. Also 3B talent jumps off a cliff soon.

Villain Pick: Napoli. I’m a Napoli fan, especially in OBP, but he could have been taken next round and should have.

Round 5

1. Paul Konerko (CWS - 1B) Storm VIII/S…

2. Carlos Santana (Cle - C,1B) Clip Show

3. Matt Holliday (StL - LF) Shooting Blanks

4. Josh Hamilton (Tex - LF,CF) DrunkDrafter

5. Hunter Pence (Phi - RF) Toyko Rose o…

6. Pablo Sandoval (SF - 1B,3B) Baghwan’s Ba…

7. Cole Hamels (Phi - SP) Girls Don’t …

8. Ryan Zimmerman (Was - 3B) Uggies vs Yu…

My Pick: Holliday. If you play OBP Holliday is a name that you know. I didn’t really want to have another OF already (even though we play 5), but I feel very good about him playing value. Even with El Hombre gone, I am a lot happier taking him in front of Hamilton and Pence.

Hero Pick: Cole Hamels. Again I like my pick, but Hamels has the potential to beat the Felix, pick I made a full round earlier. Hamels is also the default winner. The OF picks are okay. Paul, Carlos, and Sandy were early. Zimm I like this late, but he has had his injury problems.

Villain Pick: Sandoval. I don’t like Konk or Santana either, but I am not a Sandoval fan. Sandy is injury risk, has terrible OBP, and might not hit in the heart of a weaker lineup. Sandy has to be passed on, especially with Zimm still there.