Fantasy Baseball Advice

Milwaukee Brewers 2009 Minor League Review
Overall farm ranking via Baseball America (2009)
2009 (10) | 2008 (21) | 2007 (5) | 2006 (5) | 2005 (3) | 2004 (1)

Record of Major and Minor League Teams
MLB: [80 – 82] NL Central
AAA: [75 – 69] Pacific Coast League
AA: [63 – 75] Southern League
A+: [79 – 48] Florida League
A: [58-81] Midwest League
R: [25 – 31] Arizona League
R: [32 – 44] Pioneer League

The Run Down
In terms of rankings, 2008 was so low because they gave up some top chips to rent CC Sabathia for a couple of months. What’s impressive though, is how they rebounded within a year to jump eleven spots. Honestly, this article was one of the more challenging to write for how many lower level prospects the Brewers have stocked piled. Everyone knows of the Alcides Escobar sleeper post; 2010 shortstop rankings; and Top 300 overall rankings – 186) and Mat Gamel has been mentioned more than enough. Thus, I will withhold comments and analysis about those two players unless asked in the comments. Further, there are several players who are in the low(er) minors that deserve mentioning, but due to space will get a shout out. For example, Wily Peralta (ranked #22), a reliever this past year, had the following rates, 10.2 K/9, 4 BB/9 in 103 IP at Class-A ball. Eric Arnett is one of the Brewers top prospects (just drafted this year) but just finished rookie ball. Cody Scarpetta (ranked #15) has tremendous upside, yet is just finished Class-A.

In short, their farm system is heavy down in the low(er) minors. Most of this talent is going to be moving up another level. I will be mentioning more names in “Honorable Mentions” due to the fact that many won’t see the majors until a couple of years down the road.

Graduating Prospects
(LHP) Chris Narveson; (LHP) Mitch Stetter; from Boston (C) George Kotteras

Arizona Fall League Players – Peoria Javelinas
Pitchers – (RHP) #19 Omar Aguilar; (LHP) #12 Zach Braddock; (RHP) Josh Butler; (RHP) Robert Wooten
Hitters – (C) #10 Jonathan Lucroy; (3B) #8 Tyler Green; (CF) #6 Lorenzo Cain

Players of Interest 2010
Hitters
#3 Brett Lawrie | 2B | A | 19 | .274/.348/.454 | 372 AB | 36 XBH | 13 HR | .180 ISO | 19/11 SB/CS | 70:41 K:BB | .308 BABIP | 43.8 GB% | 15.6 LD% | 40.6 FB%
The only question about Lawrie from scouts, farm directors and analysts is “What position should he play?” Drafted as a catcher, suggested to play third or right field, the Brewers placed him at second. Lawrie is the top power hitting prospect for the Brew Crew, even more than Mat Gamel. At the end of the season he was given a call up to Double-A where he struggled, slashing .269/.283/.308 in 52 AB Given his age and small sample size, this brief appearance shouldn’t worry anyone. His stick is solid, with 30 homer potential, he should also hit for decent average (.275 to .290) as he has a good eye at the plate, but does become pull conscious which can cause prolonged slumps. Nevertheless, Lawrie is on the fast track to the majors. As we all know, with Rickie Weeks often injured, this could be sooner rather than later. Still don’t hope for anything more than a September call-up this year or, more likely, a June call-up in 2011.

#5 Angel Salome | C | AAA | 24 | .286/.334/.412 | 283 AB | 22 XBH | 6 HR | .127 ISO | 55:23 K:BB | .328 BABIP | 48 GB% | 23.8 LD% | 28.2 FB%
Prior to the 2009 season, Salome was considered the Brewers catcher of the future. However, after a rather disappointing season – league average OPS and an injury – Lucroy has leapfrogged him on the depth chart. Salome has a plus arm from behind the plate, gap power, strong plate discipline, and hits for decent average. His career slash line is .316/364/.483 and this was his first “poor” year. He may be destined for a backup role in the majors. The skills – good plate discipline, good average and gap power – are in place where he could have value in deep leagues, or two-catcher leagues, in 2011 if he has a starting job. With Lucroy on his heels, the signings of Gregg Zaun and George Kottaras, it seems like the Brewers have given him the finger and told Lucroy to improve upon his great year.

#10 Jonathan Lucroy | C | AA | 23 | .267/.380/.418 | 419 AB | 43 XBH | 9 HR | .150 ISO | 66:79 K:BB | .294 BABIP | 36.7 GB% | 17.3 LD% | 45.6 FB%
Speaking of Lucroy … Although his power was a disappointment this past year (had 20 homers in 2008), his plate discipline and control of the strike zone was impressive as were the 32 doubles. The GB, LD and FB rates correspond well to developing and continuing power trends towards high teen power potential. His arm isn’t as strong as Salome but his defense is better overall (fewer passed balls and errors). Lucroy will need to repeat last year’s overall production to continue as the catcher of the future. One thing to note, his OPS has decreased at each level/promotion besides rookie ball to Class-A (R: .871; A: .897; A+: .846; AA: .800). His ETA is no sooner than a September call-up and a 25 man roster spot in 2011.

Pitchers
#12 Zach Braddock | LHP | A+/AA | 21 | 13.8 K/9 | 1.6 BB/9 | 40 1/3 IP | 1.79 ERA | 2.18 FIP | .87 WHIP | .9 HR/9 | 6.2 H/9 | .300 BABIP | 36.3 GB% | 13.2 LD% | 47.3 FB%
The positive:  his walk rates were greatly reduced from his career norms. The negatives:  he was pushed to the bullpen, his mechanics predict more injuries in the future, and he’s already had Tommy John surgery to go along with elbow and shoulder problems.  Braddock’s fastball is gunned between 90 and 94 mph with decent movement, a hard, biting slider and a decent changeup. However, as a reliever, he is able to use his fastball-slider combo effectively against lefties (.174 average). He was also able to reduce his walk rates from nearly 5 BB/9 in the past to 1.6 BB/9 in 2009. This could be due to a small sample size, or the fact that his new role better suits his talent. If he stays a reliever, his ETA is much higher than as a starter. Nothing to wage a bidding war over, but Braddock could supply a MR. B with some cheap ratios or holds in the future.

Josh Butler | RHP | R/A+/AA/AAA | 24 | 7.3 K/9 | 3.3 BB/9 | 118 1/3 IP | 2.97 ERA | 3.60 FIP | 1.30 WHIP | .3 HR/9 | 8.4 H/9 | .317 BABIP | 45.8 GB% | 25 LD% | 18.8 FB%
Not a ranked prospect by Baseball America in 2009 due to a poor 2008 season. However, after recovering from a few nagging injuries in 2008, Butler pitched well in 2009. He spent most of his time predominately at High-A and Double-A (44 IP at A+ and 50 IP at AA). Although his groundball rate isn’t very high, his GO/AO is 1.9, which is pretty spectacular. Having a 90 to 95 mph sinking fastball is why this rate is so high. Also, he throws a “solid” curve and slider. He projects as a number four starter (upside) or bullpen depth. If he starts the year off well and the Brewers have an injury or two in their rotation — *cough Dave Bush/Jeff Suppan cough* — he could be called upon for a spot start or two. Let’s all forget his terrible Arizona Fall League performance and blame this due to fatigue after a long season.

#4 Jeremy Jeffress | RHP | A+/AA | 21 | 10.4 K/9 | 8.2 BB/9 | 60 1/3 IP | 4.62 ERA | 4.59 FIP | 1.61 WHIP | .4 HR/9 | 6.3 H/9 | .282 BABIP | 55.5 GB% | 8.5 LD% | 24.4 FB%
I am obligated to place Jeffress on this list as he has tremendous amounts of talent but probably won’t make an impact in 2010. However, his high prospect ranking (#4 for the Brewers and #100 overall) and notoriety keep him in the first list.
Having already been suspended twice for an illegal substance (i.e. marijuana), Jeffress is squandering an arm that can easily hit 98 to 100 mph on the radar gun. If Jeffress gets another violation, whether PED’s or drugs, the hits he’ll see will be only from his blunt. Yes, that’s right, he’ll be kicked out of the league after his next violation. Nevertheless, unless he can start to control his pitches (fastball and potential plus-curve) his future in the majors will stall out before then. He threw 33 IP at High-A and 27 IP at Double-A. While at Double-A his rates were as follows; 11.2 K/9 and 10.9 BB/9. His future is definitely in doubt, especially with April twentieth just around the corner.

Rob Wooten | RHP | A+/AA | 23 | 12.2 K/9 | 3.5 BB/9 | 57 1/3 IP | 2.67 ERA | 3.44 FIP | 1.20 WHIP | .5 HR/9 | 7.4 H/9 | .333 BABIP | 41.6 FB% | 13 LD% | 41.6 FB%
Not the most talented guy out there. John Sickels called him a “junk baller” and Baseball America doesn’t even rank him. Wooten may be a lot like Mitch Stetter, gets by on pitching brilliance but is only a reliever at best. Nothing special here, but if injuries in the bullpen becomes an issue, Wooten may get his chance if he pitches well at Triple-A next year.

Honorable Mentions
Hitters
#27 Eric Farris | 2B | A+ | 23 | .298/.341/.385 | 473 AB | 26 XBH | 7 HR | .087 ISO | 70/6 SB/CS | 46:29 K:BB | .323 BABIP | 54.8 GB% | 17.2 LD% | 27.3 GB%
At this point, Farris is a player that can hit for good average and steal a ton of bases. His walking skills are mediocre at best, but he utilizes his speed by bunting and playing “little ball” well. Defensively, Farris has a solid glove. Oh, and SAGNOF, especially when you steal 70 bases in 76 tries.

#14 Caleb Gindl | RF | A+ | 20 | .277/.363/.459 | 394 AB | 35 XBH | 17 HR | .182 ISO | 18/4 SB/CS | 92:57 K:BB | .329 BABIP | 40.8 GB% | 15.9 LD% | 43 FB%
The men over at The Hardball Times believe Gindl is the Brewers third best prospect going into 2010, behind Alcides Escobar and Brett Lawrie (Mat Gamel has graduated their list). Scouts don’t like his “unathletic” body and his “poor speed,” however, all his numbers (like Total Zone) point towards him playing average right field with an average to above-aveage arm. Baseball America compares his body to Brian Giles. Take that with a grain of salt as current perceptions of Giles don’t elicit greatness or optimism. He may strikeout a lot (274 times in 1109 AB) but he walks at a decent rate (140 walks in 1109 AB) showing pretty good judgment of the strike zone. Not great, but sufficient. His upside is 20 homers with 20 steals. However, the steals are a product of reading the pitchers and not high end speed. His upside could be a Shin-Soo Choo circa 2009. Still a year or two away from the majors.

#29 Logan Schafer | CF | A+ | 22 | .313/.369/.446 | 457 AB | 43 XBH | 6 HR | .133 ISO | 16/8 SB/CS | 53:38 K:BB | .346 BABIP | 47.3 FB% | 15.1 LD% | 37.1 FB%
His defense is Gold-Glove caliber, but his hitting is destined to make him a fourth outfielder. Nothing he does, besides defense, is noteworthy. However, there is time for him to improve enough where he supplies sufficient stats when playing hot.

Pitchers
Evan Anundsen | RHP | A+ | 21 | 8.1 K/9 | 2.8 BB/9 | 130 1/3 IP | 2.69 ERA | 2.91 FIP | 1.09 WHIP | .1 HR/9 | 7 H/9 | .284 BABIP | 51.9 GB% | 13.8 LD% | 28.4 FB%
If his 2010 season is like his 2009, you’ll see him jump up some prospect boards. He is able to eat innings and gobble up batters by inducing an amazing ground ball rate (58.2 GB% for his career – 402 IP). His career numbers don’t look all that impressive (402 IP | 7 K/9 | .312 BABIP | 58.2 GB%), but any pitcher who can keep the ball in the park (.1 HR/9 in 2009) and get outs will eventually make their way to the majors. Think Aaron Cook. Not exciting but serviceable.

Dan Merklinger | LHP | A/A+ | 23 | 9.2 K/9 | 3.2 BB/9 | 91 1/3 IP | 2.56 ERA | 3.32 FIP | 1.14 WHIP | .5 HR/9 | 7.1 H/9 | .287 BABIP | 44.7 GB% | 11.4 LD% | 37 FB%
The strikeout rate is nice as is his homer rate (.5 Hr/9). Double-A will prove whether he’ll be able to develop.

#26 Amaury Rivas | RHP | A+ | 23 | 8.3 K/9 | 2.9 BB/9 | 133 IP | 2.98 ERA | 3.76 FIP | 1.14 WHIP | .7 HR/9 | 7.4 H/9 | .276 BABIP | 51.4 GB% | 12.7 LD% | 31.5 FB%
Rivas projects to be a number three or four starter. His stuff is better than Merklinger’s (90 to 92 mph fastball topping out at 94 to 95, a slider and a change up that isn’t always consistent). Aided by a low BABIP (.276), Rivas will need to keep up his ground ball rate for success at the next level.

Caleb Thielbar | LHP | R | 22 | 9.2 K/9 | 1.5 BB/9 | 47 IP | 1.53 ERA | 2.84 FIP | 1.11 WHIP | .2 HR/9 | 8.4 H/9 | .319 BABIP | 50.3 GB% | 13.1 LD% | 29.7 FB%
As with every Brewers review I’ll do, there will have to be a shout out to my former teammate in high school. Back in August, I wrote a Scouting the Unknown mentioning his drafting by the Brewers in the introduction. I don’t have any specs on his pitches currently. It is important to note that he should be moved up to Low-A and or High-A next year and start down the same path as Amaury Rivas or even Braddock without the injuries. You can never have enough lefties in your farm system. I wish all the best for this small town prospect.

I’ve mentioned a few times in the course of the rankings about guys I’d actually own.  In the 2010 fantasy baseball top 100, I say there’s 20 guys I’d actually own.  I’ll even pull the quote for you.  In the F-Her blurb, I said, “If I were to only talk about the guys I would actually own, this top 100 may only be 20 guys long.”  See, I did say it!  So, I lied.  I’d own everyone in the top 100.  I’d own Lincecum, but he’d have to fall to me in the 3rd round; I’d own Mark Reynolds, but he’d have to be around in the 4th round; I’d own Mauer, but he’d have to be around pick 28.  And so on and so forth.  What I mean by there’s only 20 players I’d own is those are the only guys I could actually see myself getting in a draft considering where they’re being drafted and how I assemble a team.  I’d draft Nathan in the 90s, but his ADP is 75, so it doesn’t seem like it’s happening.  This also does not include the top 22 guys overall.  I’d own them all, except Lincecum.  Anyway, here’s the players from ranking 22 to 100 in the top 100 for 2010 fantasy baseball that I’d own:

24. Justin Upton

29. Ryan Zimmerman

30. Kevin Youkilis

33. Joey Votto

34. Curtis Granderson

35. Jayson Werth

36. B.J. Upton

37. Brandon Phillips

40. Robinson Cano

47. Josh Hamilton

54. Carlos Quentin

55. Nelson Cruz

56. Adam Jones

71. Cole Hamels

72. Josh Johnson

73. Cliff Lee

74. Ubaldo Jimenez

76. Ricky Nolasco

77. Josh Beckett

78. Clayton Kershaw

85. Gordon Beckham

86. Raul Ibanez

96. Wandy Rodriguez

97. Chad Billingsley

100. Ian Stewart

And it came out to 24 guys.  Well, I did say, “…this top 100 may only be 20 guys long.”  Turns out I underestimated.  This becomes interesting if you look at how the names break down.  (And by “interesting,” I mean rather pedantic.) In the beginning, I shoot for the cornerstones with Zimmerman, Youk and Votto.  Then I briefly look at 2nd basemen before stocking my outfield with Grandy, Werth, Upton, etc.  Once I have my corners and outfield in good shape, I look at pitchers.  After pitchers, I round out the top 100 with upside and personal favorites.  Now I say I’d own these guys.  Obviously, I wouldn’t own all of them on one team.  Also, who you have in the top 22 dictates who you take later.  Hehe, I said dictates.

The other day in the comments someone asked that I give some pairings for my first two rounds of the 2010 fantasy baseball drafts.  I was going to do this anyway (you’re not the boss of me!), but sometimes I need a gentle nudge in the right direction.  Not a noodge, thank you.  What I’m hoping to lay out to you is who do you draft 2nd if you’ve drafted so and so first.  I think it might be helpful to go through pairings for your 5 outfielders, all your middle and corner infielders and pitchers too.  We’ll go through those on another post.  For easy reference, the Royal We will be using the top 10 2010 fantasy baseball rankings and the top 20 2010 fantasy baseball rankings.  I’m going to assume you’re in a 12 team, 5×5, MI, CI, 5 OF, 1 Utility, 1 Catcher league.  Anyway, here’s some pairings for the first two rounds of 2010 fantasy baseball drafts:

Albert Pujols – Could really team him up with anyone, except another 1st baseman.  Preferably, I’d like to have Pujols and a 3rd baseman (Zimmerman).  Then on the turn you can grab an outfielder.  So Pujols, Zimmerman and Upton.  Yeah, that would be nice.

Hanley Ramirez – Again, you want just about anyone but Tulo, Reyes or Rollins.  Ideally, you want a big bat.  I.e., not Carl Crawford.  Someone that is going to get you 30+ homers.  Howard and Fielder will be gone, but A-Gon, Morneau, Zimmerman or even Votto should be there.  I’d consider J-Upside, but if I went that way I would definitely want another 30+ hitter sooner vs. later.

Chase Utley – No Kinsler or Phillips.  Since Utley is a power threat at a normally weaker position, I’d take a speed outfielder (Crawford), speed shorstop (Reyes, Rollins) or a power/speed outfielder (Sizemore, Upton).  He could work with a 1st baseman or a 3rd baseman or even Tulo.  Shoot, Utley works with everyone.  Love you, Utley.  Write soon!

Alex Rodriguez – No 3rd basemen.  A-Rod is similar to Utley since he also gives you a decent amount of steals, you can put him with just about anyone.  Someone like Holliday would give you a nice balance.

Ryan Braun – I wouldn’t draft an outfielder next and I’d hesitate to draft a 1st baseman.  Ideally, I’d try for a shortstop (Tulo or Rollins), 2nd baseman (Kinsler, Phillips) or a 3rd baseman (Zimmerman).  The reason I’d hesitate on a 1st baseman is because it’s a deeper position and so is outfield, so you’d have two deep positions covered and no shallow ones.  I wouldn’t kick Braun and Votto out of bed, but Braun/Zimmerman looks better.

Mark Teixeira/Miguel Cabrera/Prince Fielder/Ryan Howard – Similarly to Braun, I’d avoid a 1st baseman and hesitate on an outfielder.  Ideally, you’d have some combo of one of those 1st basemen and Wright, Longoria, Kinsler or Tulo.

Matt Kemp – Since he’s not as safe with the power as Braun, I’d take a 1st baseman with Kemp.  I’d also look at taking a bat at a weaker position (Tulo, Kinsler, Wright).  I’d avoid guys who bring their value with speed (Reyes, Crawford, Ellsbury).

Evan Longoria – Anything but a 3rd baseman.  Since his speed’s a little wonky, I’d have no problem pairing him with Sizemore.  Holliday would also work nicely since Longoria’s average is a bit weak.

Tim Lincecum – You have to have a big bat at 1st base if you’re going to take Lincecum.  If you can’t get Howard, Fielder, Miggy or Tex, skip Lincecum altogether and go for Wright as your first pick.

David Wright – Since he hit, what, 2 homers last year, I’d want a power guy at a weak position to be paired with Wright or a power guy at 1st base.  Think Tulo and Wright.  That’s nice.  Think Wright and Howard.  That sounds like the best pairing since my tilapia, Mad Dog 20/20 pairing last night.

Here, friend, are some catchers that I will be targeting at my 2010 fantasy drafts after the top options are gone.  I’m not going to get into the strategy of punting catchers.  Been there, half-drunkenly wrote that.  Click on the player’s name where applicable to  read more and see their 2010 projections.  This is a supplement to the top 20 catchers of 2010 fantasy baseball.  Anyway, here’s some catchers to target for 2010 fantasy baseball:

Ramon Hernandez – He’s unexciting³.  But so is losing your league.

Chris Iannetta – He’s exciting, but has Hacky McHackstein breathing down his neck.  For Iannetta’s upside, I’m grabbing him in a few leagues.  Playing time be damned!  The nice thing about going for upside at catcher is no one wants to own more than one (in one catcher leagues), so if you don’t like the catcher you have, there’s plenty more on the waiver wire.

Geovany Soto – Punting doesn’t mean you want to avoid getting value at catcher.

Carlos Ruiz – He just missed the cut for the top 20 catcher post.  It wasn’t easy to leave him off after his bit torrent 2nd half last year.  In less at-bats, he doubled his homers from the first half and added forty points on his batting average.  Unfortunately, his first half was like watching someone suck a boba through a regular-sized straw.  In the 2nd half, he hit 6 homers and batted .276.  So better than the first half, still not incredible.  He has a good lineup for RBIs, so he could be a very minor surprise.  Think 45/14/65/.260/3.

J.R. Towles – Here’s what I said last year in the preseason with added notes in parentheses, “In 2008, I was off him like black off rice, but I haven’t mentioned him much, if at all, in 2009 (or in 2010).  You just need to throw out 2008 (and 2009).  Pretend like it never happened.  Or pretend like the only part that happened was when he hit .304 in almost 50 games after his callback from the minors (in 2008.  Then ignore his .188 average in 2009, because he had a .233 BABIP).   He has speed and some slight power.  The absolute best case scenario seems to be Russell Martin.  In the so-late-it-doesn’t-matter-anymore round, you turn your head to the East and you see no catchers by your side.  Then you turn your head to the West, still nobody in sight.  So you turn your head to the North, swallow that pill that they call pride and draft Towles.”  And that’s me amending me, quoting me and paraphrasing T.I.!

Jarrod Saltalamacchia – This guy is even more frustrating than Towles because I have to spell his stoopid name every time I want to write about him.  Saltymochachino is somehow still only 25 years old though it feels like he’s been hyped forever.  If he pans out, he could give you top ten catcher numbers.  Think 60/17/75/.250, but those are Boras speculative numbers when he’s trying to get Salty a contract.

Mike Napoli – This always drives me flippin’ crazy about ESPN.  They’ll rank someone (Napoli at 219) very low.  They’ll rank him after Doumit, Yadier Molina et al (<– Not the Israeli airline) then say Napoli’s a sleeper.  They’ll say he’s better than Molina, Doumit, etc.  Everyone knows this and ranks Napoli above those guys so he’s not a sleeper.  Once again, ESPN’s in the monkey house too long.

Jeff Clement – Looking for this year’s Inge?  A guy that plays another position while rocking the sweet, sweet eligibility of catcher?  Yeah, I don’t know if there’s one of those guys this year, but Clement’s the closest we have.  His upside is 20 homers and solid RBIs from playing every day.  His downside is not playing every day.  I’d conservatively put his 2010 projections at 55/15/65/.255.

Last week, I participated in my first real draft.  I believe drafting the day pitchers and catchers report is a sign that you’ve lost your marbles.  So, when I heard this draft was for all the marbles, I figured those marbles will cancel each other out.  Nothing better than a good marble canceling to get the blood flowing.  And by blood flowing and marbles, I’m not talking Viagra or testicles, but you can continue to think that.  This team has a yet-to-be-determined nickname.  I’m thinking “Super Sizedmore.”  Or “Did A Coked-Up Tom Sizemore Draft This Team?” Or “Two Sizemores Too Big.”  Or I’ll just go to the fantasy baseball team name generator and let that think for me.  This team is very shallow.  Why ‘perts are drafting in such a shallow league?  No idea, I gave up trying to figure out the answer to that question for Lent.  The league is 12 team, no bench, 9 Ps, 5 OFs, MI, CI and one utility.  Anyway, here’s my first 2010 fantasy baseball team, done auction-style:

C:  Chris Iannetta — $5
C:  Carlos Ruiz — $1
1B: Carlos Pena — $17
2B:  Robinson Cano — $19
3B:  Ian Stewart — $9
SS:  Jose Reyes — $27
MI: Scott Sizemore — $1
CI:  Chipper Jones — $3
OF:  Justin Upton — $29
OF:  Curtis Granderson — $25
OF: Grady Sizemore — $24
OF:  Josh Hamilton — $15
OF:  Jason Heyward — $2
UT: Russell Branyan — $1
P:  Tim Lincecum — $29
P:  Zack Greinke — $24
P:  Chad Billingsley — $10
P:  Neftali Feliz — $1
P:  Joba Chamberlain — $1
P:  Marc Rzepczynski — $1
P:  Jose Valverde — $7
P:  Kerry Wood — $6
P:  Brandon Lyon — $3

My Outfield is Better Than Your Outfield

Um, yeah, it’s stacked.  I count 120 homers and 70 steals and that’s not including Jason Heyward, who I’ll probably drop.  ¿No queiro Heywardo? No, random Spanish italicized voice.  It’s just the league’s so shallow that you really need production from everyone and there’s bound to be an unexciting Kubelish-type vet on waivers that would fit on my team better.  I’m holding Heyward for now because his upside is tantalizing and he’d have some trade value if he starts the season well.  Carlos Ruiz wasn’t as lucky.  He was dropped right after the draft for Ramon Hernandez.  Yes, in a two catcher league Ramon Hernandez was on waivers after the draft.  If you want to know why I didn’t draft him to begin with, read the next sentence.  I was down to $5 for 5 players so if I nominated players I really wanted, I would’ve lost them if someone bid $2.  So I hoped some guys were just ignored.  They were.

Three Starters For Starters

As mentioned before, this league is Ms. Teen South Carolina shallow.  I almost wish I would’ve just took Lincecum and 8 scrubs in the staff so I would’ve had more money to spend on hitters.  Yeah, didn’t do that.  Instead, I have a top three staff with little to no effort given to the bottom half of my staff.  If you think I didn’t need Greinke after getting Lincecum, you’re right, but I’m not letting someone else get him for $23.  The Price Enforcer –> Getting kittens outta trees and making sure Chad Billingsley doesn’t go for nine bucks.  You need to be more free form in an auction setting than a straight draft.  Would I have ever drafted this team in a straight draft?  No, it’s impossible.  As for Rzepcynski, I like him, think he has some good upside appeal wrapped in an incredibly hard to spell name, but, alas, he didn’t stay on my team either.  I needed a proven vet to counterbalance the rest of my staff.   So I dropped The RZE for Mark Boring Buehrle. (Actually, Rudy joined me for the morning after waiver process.  So Rudy dropped The RZE for Buehrle, but I agreed.)

One Sizemore Fits All

Scott Sizemore didn’t last very long on my team.  I love me some Scott Sizemore, but this team needed a more trustworthy Runs/Average threat so Scott Sizemore got *pinkie to the mouth* downsized.  To replace him, I grabbed Kelly Johnson.  I also strongly like Kelly Johnson.  Really don’t feel he’s getting the attention he deserves.  Don’t think I’ve seen him on one single mock team done by a commenter.  Don’t make me send The Random Spanish Italicized Voice, The RZE and The Price Enforcer after you.

We’re In First Place

For what it’s worth, the calculations have us in 1st place at 78 points.  Oh, and I already dropped Branyan for David Ortiz, who was on waivers, who Rudy then dropped for Milledge, who fit better on our team.  Told ya, it’s shallow.