Comments on: Looking Back at an Expert League 2008 Draft

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:18:26 +0000

@Rudy Gamble: @BigFatHippo: Was it only a month carrying Howard? As a Howard owner, it felt like a lot longer...

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:01:21 +0000

@OrleansCardinals: Good point on Frenchy AVG as everyone hated his fundamentals (he won’t walk)…I think Jason Bay was the better call there for a rebound season…

@BigFatHippo: Damn. Must’ve been from carrying Ryan Howard that first month…or from boning hookers (http://razzball.com/top-20-2nd-basemen-for-2008/)

By: BigFatHippo

BigFatHippo — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:31:37 +0000

@Rudy Gamble: Utley's having hip surgery, could be out 6 months. The injury happened on May 5th according to Deadspin. This would explain his gradually getting worse as the season wore on. I like the fact he didn't use it as an excuse and just kept playing unlike some players,cough, Drew.

By: OrleansCardinals

OrleansCardinals — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:11:01 +0000

Posada and Francouer definitely hurt – but at the beginning of the year, it’s impossible to know.

Posada’s season was pretty miserable and no one would have expected that. As far as Francouer, I might have avoided him only because you knew Dunn was already going to hurt BA and two guys like that are tough to overcome.

By: Rudy Gamble

Rudy Gamble — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:03:27 +0000

@Doug Ault: I do too. And he keeps smiling in my dream - really irritating... @Jeff: Sounds like a crazy year. Putz definitely schtupped a number of teams.... @Tim the glue sniffing other guy: You deserved the plug. Utley for Santana was a totally fair trade that was worth the gamble to jumpstart my offense. But, everything equal, wouldn't have done the trade. Santana definitely panned out as a 1st round pick so not second guessing that (he was more valuable than Utley...) but just frustrating how a couple of coin tosses can tank your team....

By: Eric W

Eric W — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:52:07 +0000

i am a huge wainwright fan i expected big things from him last year. just if he didint hurt his finger he would of put up great numbers. i still cant believe the cards signed him so cheap

By: Tim the glue sniffing other guy

Tim the glue sniffing other guy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:26:21 +0000

Nice analysis Rudy, and tks for the plug, appreciated. I was rather fortunate in having Kinsler in my mid-infield so the trade of Utley was a good fit for both of us. My pitching was struggling and you needed a boost in offense. Who would have guessed at the time that Utley would have such a terrible second half? In my site league I went your route and drafted Johan early as you did and ended up with the same results, mid-bottom pack. I’ve been for years a believer in drafting pitching late and this past year has done nothing to change my opinions on that strategy.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:24:44 +0000

I feel your pain Rudy. My top five were all solid, but then got Putz in the sixth, Furcal in the seventh, Andruw Jones in the 11th and Kelly Johnson in the 12th. Blech… just writing that makes me throw up in my mouth a little.

Still, made up for it with Abreu in the eighth, Lincecum in the ninth and Soria in the 13th. Also picked up as FAs Nolasco, Derek Lowe when some donkey cut him in May, JD Drew right before his June hot streak, and Alexei Ramirez (who took me from a tie for third to a solo second place finish in the Tigers-Sox makeup game with his grand slam!). One crazy year.

By: Doug Ault

Doug Ault — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:19:01 +0000

I still wake up screaming when I dream about my drafting of Juan Pierre