Almost everyone is going to hate this post, so the rest will be after the jump:
The categories in the rotisserie-style 12-team league I'm in are standard: AVG/R/HR/RBI/SB for hitting, ERA/WHIP/W/S/K for pitching. Each team has one player at each position and two "Util" spots which can be anybody; 7 active pitcher spots; and a total of 22 players on the roster, plus two disabled list spots (which aren't available until the season is about to begin). I had the third overall pick in the draft, which I wasn't too thrilled about, but it worked out pretty nicely in the end:
Hope the formatting there is okay. Anyways, as you can probably guess, I have the strongest pitching as of now, with four quality closers (nobody else has more than three closers, let alone quality ones) and a very solid starting rotation anchored by Johan Santana. I plan on putting Josh Johnson on the DL when I am able to, then picking up and DLing Cliff Lee, then picking up Jake Westbrook. (I'm not biased, really, even if that means I'll have four Tribe starters. :) ) Apparently, when we drafted, only 2-3 guys knew that Johnson had just gotten hurt. Oh well. Harang will likely start almost exclusively on the road (2.98/1.26), Westbrook at home (2.88/1.28). My hitting isn't as strong as I'd like to be [and I was forced to go against my 'draft hitting, pick up pitching' mantra], but it's still solid all-around. I think Josh Barfield (.319 outside of PETCO, now playing in a much better lineup) may be my biggest steal, while I don't think people realize just how good Lopez and Teahen are, even if they know they're good. By biggest worry is Ryan Garko getting at-bats, though they should be able to find a spot for a top prospect who had 45 runs batted in in just 50 games last year... after having just one previous major-league at bat. Johjima was as good as anyone else once Martinez and Mauer were picked; Bay and Holliday are stars to count on; and I'll probably start three of the Alou/Wigginton/Feliz/Byrnes/Thames group every day based on matchups, or pick up other people. Wigginton especially gives me plenty of flexibility.
(Note: I drafted Willingham thinking he was still C-eligible; as he is not, I dropped him for Thames.) Nu? Any holes, steals, etc. that you see or know of? Anyone I should think about getting if they're still available (and don't say "Albert Pujols" please). Who did I grab too early?
You've been surprisingly silent on Ohio State in the Final four. Wouldn't it be something if they beat Georgetown and then got spanked by Florida, just like in football?
Jewboy - LOL. Sha! I think it would be hilarious if they were huge underdogs and then spanked them in return...
I picked OSU to win it all. I'm just annoyed about the UNC-Georgetown game for two reasons: Had UNC won, then Ohio State gone and beat Florida in the final, I'd have won TWO pools, AND, OSU would have avenged all three of their losses - two wins against Wisconsin, and wins against UNC and Fla. Now that's sweet.
Anyway, about your team: I have Santana on one of my teams, obviously the best starter in baseball, no need to talk there.
I took Teahen on both teams. I love the guy, and no one seems to notice he's putting up solid numbers. He's going mad late in all drafts: 166 overall? What a pick!
Wiggy has tons of eligibility and he's a decent player. 243 overall means you got great value.
Aaron Harang is massively underrated. I took him one team quite late. He's very solid.
Not a fan of Byrnes. I would not have taken him at all, let alone at 171. I also don't like Bay all that much, and I think he's pretty overrated and going too high.
You took two of the best closers in the game (Nathan and Putz), which means your relief pitching is ridonculous, but I'm loath to take two closers in sequence, especially since relief pitching isn't really the most crucial postition. You really only need one solid closer to be competitive, and considering you wound up with Papelbon as well, I'd reccomend making a trade IMMEDIATELY. You can majorly upgrade anywhere and still have AMAZING relief pitching.
Toward the end of drafts, I like to pick young studs instead of "decent" players. I figure if a guy is sitting in my bench, I don't need a "safe" pick. I'd rather have a guy who has potential to become one of my starters by mid-year, or who will amass value and be trade eligible. Besides, worst comes to worst, there will be plenty of decent players on waivers. So I go with the upside. Here are some players you should keep an eye on:
Edwin Encarnacion (although I'm sure he was drafted) Homer Bailey Adam Lind Carlos Quentin Chris B. Young (OF on Arizona) Akinori Iwamura David Ross Fernando Rodney (could be Detroit's closer by mid-year) Jeremy Hermida Jonny Gomes Dustin Pedroia Chris Duncan Kevin Kouzmanoff
Also watch out for Braden Looper and Jon Rauch, who may be inserted into starting roles. However, my number one youngster is Chris Iannetta, a catcher on Colorado. He's won the starting job, and has HUGE potential, not to mention he has an added bonus of playing at Mile High. He's on both my teams.
Taz - I got a bit burned on Bay two years ago, but he always ends up putting up huge numbers. Hard to dismiss those... Byrnes I'm not a fan of either, but there wasn't much around, and he does get all-around numbers. Always tradeable.
I'm not trading a closer too fast simply because our league always has major competition in saves thanks to free-agent pickups. Plus, Putz is a bit hurt and Papelbon may only close for half a season (and can't handle the stress too well on his body), so it's worth waiting a bit. If I get a nice lead, I can always trade in June. As long as I hang close in hitting, I can actually swing a closer AND starter later on for hitting and still stay tops in pitching.
A bunch of those young studs were grabbed (Rodney and Duncan pretty early), and so were a bunch you didn't mention. Kouzmanoff could be a great one - there's a reason the Padres were willing to give up Barfield for him... and the Indians loved him, but he was almost out of options and they have too many 1B/OFs, and really needed a 2B. Don't get too excited on Rodney though - Zumaya is ahead of him in line, and neither will actually get it. The Tigers love having Rodney/Zumaya/Jones going from the 7th to 9th, because it lets their starters just focus on going 6.
laaaaaaaaaaaame.
ReplyDeleteYou know, instead of wasting your time with these worthless posts, you can be chatting it up with me and keep me company :D
You've been surprisingly silent on Ohio State in the Final four. Wouldn't it be something if they beat Georgetown and then got spanked by Florida, just like in football?
ReplyDeleteJewboy - LOL. Sha! I think it would be hilarious if they were huge underdogs and then spanked them in return...
ReplyDeleteI picked OSU to win it all. I'm just annoyed about the UNC-Georgetown game for two reasons: Had UNC won, then Ohio State gone and beat Florida in the final, I'd have won TWO pools, AND, OSU would have avenged all three of their losses - two wins against Wisconsin, and wins against UNC and Fla. Now that's sweet.
Go Bruins!
ReplyDeleteNo need to worry about OSU losing in the Finals.
ReplyDeleteThey won't make it.
Go Hoyas!!!!!!!!!
Stupid bitter Irish fans. :)
ReplyDelete"Stupid bitter Irish fans. :)"
ReplyDeleteFeh.
Anyway, about your team: I have Santana on one of my teams, obviously the best starter in baseball, no need to talk there.
I took Teahen on both teams. I love the guy, and no one seems to notice he's putting up solid numbers. He's going mad late in all drafts: 166 overall? What a pick!
Wiggy has tons of eligibility and he's a decent player. 243 overall means you got great value.
Aaron Harang is massively underrated. I took him one team quite late. He's very solid.
Not a fan of Byrnes. I would not have taken him at all, let alone at 171. I also don't like Bay all that much, and I think he's pretty overrated and going too high.
You took two of the best closers in the game (Nathan and Putz), which means your relief pitching is ridonculous, but I'm loath to take two closers in sequence, especially since relief pitching isn't really the most crucial postition. You really only need one solid closer to be competitive, and considering you wound up with Papelbon as well, I'd reccomend making a trade IMMEDIATELY. You can majorly upgrade anywhere and still have AMAZING relief pitching.
Toward the end of drafts, I like to pick young studs instead of "decent" players. I figure if a guy is sitting in my bench, I don't need a "safe" pick. I'd rather have a guy who has potential to become one of my starters by mid-year, or who will amass value and be trade eligible. Besides, worst comes to worst, there will be plenty of decent players on waivers. So I go with the upside. Here are some players you should keep an eye on:
Edwin Encarnacion (although I'm sure he was drafted)
Homer Bailey
Adam Lind
Carlos Quentin
Chris B. Young (OF on Arizona)
Akinori Iwamura
David Ross
Fernando Rodney (could be Detroit's closer by mid-year)
Jeremy Hermida
Jonny Gomes
Dustin Pedroia
Chris Duncan
Kevin Kouzmanoff
Also watch out for Braden Looper and Jon Rauch, who may be inserted into starting roles. However, my number one youngster is Chris Iannetta, a catcher on Colorado. He's won the starting job, and has HUGE potential, not to mention he has an added bonus of playing at Mile High. He's on both my teams.
Good luck!
Taz - I got a bit burned on Bay two years ago, but he always ends up putting up huge numbers. Hard to dismiss those... Byrnes I'm not a fan of either, but there wasn't much around, and he does get all-around numbers. Always tradeable.
ReplyDeleteI'm not trading a closer too fast simply because our league always has major competition in saves thanks to free-agent pickups. Plus, Putz is a bit hurt and Papelbon may only close for half a season (and can't handle the stress too well on his body), so it's worth waiting a bit. If I get a nice lead, I can always trade in June. As long as I hang close in hitting, I can actually swing a closer AND starter later on for hitting and still stay tops in pitching.
A bunch of those young studs were grabbed (Rodney and Duncan pretty early), and so were a bunch you didn't mention. Kouzmanoff could be a great one - there's a reason the Padres were willing to give up Barfield for him... and the Indians loved him, but he was almost out of options and they have too many 1B/OFs, and really needed a 2B. Don't get too excited on Rodney though - Zumaya is ahead of him in line, and neither will actually get it. The Tigers love having Rodney/Zumaya/Jones going from the 7th to 9th, because it lets their starters just focus on going 6.