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0There’s a BRAN (Balanced Roster After Nine) Drafting Strategy by Rudy Gamble. Yesterday, he went over some fantasy baseball drafting hints from Heloise. You go read it. It will make you smart. There’s also a LIMA Plan (Low Investment Mound Aces) by Ron Shandler. There’s been a ZIMA Plan by Matthew Berry; it involves a lot of stumbling around and the hiccups. There’s been a Punt One Category draft strategy. There’s been a Punt Two Categories draft strategy, which was conceived by a leaguemate of Punt One Category who just couldn’t stand being upstaged. And there’s the Forget When Your Draft Is So Your Team Is Autodrafted strategy. I love when my leaguemates use that one. Then there’s my draft strategy, Performance Enhancing Draft Strategy or PEDS.
PEDS has five basic steps. If you follow these steps, you will place near the top in all of your leagues. No plan is foolproof because, unfortunately, they still have to play the games. But PEDS puts you in the best position possible to win coming out of your draft. Okay, onto the steps:
1. Never draft a pitcher with your first two picks.
No Lincecum. No Halladay. No F-Her. You abstain! They’re fantastic. I love them all. I have bedsheets with Lincecum on them… Hmm… That sounds wrong. These starters give you the value of a 1st or 2nd rounder. They do. I said it. The problem is the loss of one of your 1st two hitters is really difficult to bounce back from. You, son, are putting yourself in a hole. A hole? Yes, you are. The absence of Utley or Teixeira or Longoria or whoever is too great.
2. Never take a closer in the first tier.
This is a tough one for some people. I’m going to be you for a brief moment. Me as you, “Hey, everyone’s starting to take closers in the fifth round. There goes Papelbon, Rivera, Broxton… Wait, I have to take a closer with my next pick! And why am I not wearing pants?! For the Lord’s sake, why don’t I have pants on?!” See what happened there? You done got swept up. You did. You got swept up in a closer run. Ignore everyone who takes closers. You don’t need a top tier one. Stick to your own game plan. Grab some schmohawks later that will get saves because, as we all know, SAGNOF.
3. Have your offense squared away before the final rounds and never take an offensive bench player.
I know, you owned Josh Willingham last year and you guys got along thick as thieves. Awesome! Send him a postcard. You’re not going to hold onto these late round offense guys anyway. You’re going to get to the first week of the season and you’re going to wonder why you have Clint Barmes on your bench. Instead of an offensive bench player, grab a middle reliever who seems like he has a good chance of taking over for the incumbent closer. Or grab a starter. (Note: This rule is for 14 team leagues and shallower. If you’re in a 15 team league or deeper, offensive bench players can come in handy when there’s nothing but scraps on waivers.)
4. When deep into a position, take a flier on upside.
Nobody in the history of fantasy baseball has ever won a league by playing it safe in the late rounds. In 1995, I tried drafting Mike Greenwell as my fifth outfielder; just didn’t work. A darn fine year by Klesko wasted! You play it safe in the early rounds. You take solid contributors early. You take fliers late. You’re looking at either Juan Rivera or Julio Borbon, who do you choose? Orlando Hudson or Scott Sizemore? Valerie Harper or Sandy Duncan? You get the picture.
5. When in doubt, draft your third, fourth and fifth starters from NL teams.
Self-explanatory. No DH, pitchers hitting, weaker offenses. They bunt in the NL! Does this mean I don’t want Slowey? No, I’m saying when in doubt. Tim Hudson or Andy Pettitte? I’m taking Hudson. Billingsley or Garza? I’m going Bills. Slowey or Price? Ah, trick question. But I’d go Slowey.
If you follow these five simple steps, I guarantee you will be in the top three in your league battling for your championship. PEDS is so easy, it should be illegal. You’re welcome.
Slowey over Price, huh? That was a trick question, I’m confused.
I compare the annual PEDS post to Ellroy’s ‘The Cold Six Thousand’.
I like it more every time I read it.
I can get behind all of this except #3. I like having one or two high-upside offensive guys on my bench at least until 25 man rosters are finalized. Say, for example, Jason Heywerd needs to get the job before i guarantee him a starting spot. I’d rather have him sitting on my bench than find out in April that i need a waiver replacement. I’d also consider letting Scott Sizemore ride the pine for a couple weeks to find out if he’s for real. I might miss out on a few innings pitched, but those can be made up later.
Also, a heads up ’cause i know a lot of you ask about him:
Shaun Marcum pitched two scoreless yesterday in his debute (0 h, 1 BB, 2 K).
Thoughts on a very restrictive league that only allows 3 FA moves per year – do you agree I need to get some proven arms at both closer and starting pitcher? If early in the rounds so be it… I can’t readily replace non performing players.
So, the ultimate question is – can I go Rd 1 for a starter and Rd 3 or 4 for a closer
Does this apply to 10 team leagues??
@brett: Yeah, but this is exactly the type of player that Grey says should be manning your UTIL. You don’t need two Heywards on your roster.
I’m proud to say that thanks to all the wisdom imposed on me by Grey and all you Razzballers over the past 3 months, I’ve done every one of these steps without the help of this post!
@brett:
I’ve actually considered taking a late round flier on Heyward if he continues to dominate. If not, then Sizemore wouldn’t be terrible. And if THAT doesn’t work out I’ll just draft Strasburg!
Btw, Anyone think Chapman is going to break camp? Even if he does I don’t see myself drafting him because something screams erratic to me. Not to mention his park.
@Eddy: by “late round flier” i hope you mean ~8-10th round pick. in a keeper league, i could see someone taking him as high as the 5th or 6th round. i mean, every single day it seems he hits a bomb or goes 2 for 3 or steals a base. any chance of snagging him as a sleeper is pretty much dunzo.
as for chapman, all accounts say he was a little wild the first batter or 2 yesterday (understandable given his first game action) then blew everyone away. i’m watching to see what his control is like from here on out in the spring.
@Dean: both AL pitchers
for #5 lowe or greinke?
@brett: hes a nice late rd flier….id rather have a guy like that on my bench more than sizemore….and knowing guys like that are available late in the draft allow a manager to stock up on offense early so hopefully you wont need a rookie to start (unless braun jr shows up)
@brett: re – marcum
Ya I think chapman can be an ace in the hole Im also going to be watching marcum closely if he has a good spring I think he’s a great flier to take…grey how many starters to you like to have in the first 10 rounds?
@ThePoonTycoon:
well the thing is my leaguemates have done nowhere near the amount of research this offseason as I have. So I’m banking on that to snag guys a lot later than usual. I’m not sure what Heyward’s Yahoo rank is, I hope it’s over 200. But if it comes to deciding between him and anyone I NEED to get, such as Andrus, then by all means they could have him.
@Grey:
I posted this yesterday after Rudy’s post but it is much more relevant to your strategy. I am a big fan of it and tend to apply it except I err on the side of a safe player typically. Let me know what you think, 12 team RCL league 8 5×5. I picked 11th. Do you see any weaknesses/poor picks?
C-V. Martinez (5)
1B-Howard (2)
2B-F. Lopez (dropped for Iwamura) (25)
SS-E. Cabrera (16)
3B-Wright (1)
MI-Hardy (20)
CI-Youkilis (4)
OF-Werth (3)
OF-C. Lee (6)
OF-Borbon (11)
OF-Rasmus (17)
OF-JD Drew (18)
UT-N. Johnson (22)
BN-Swisher (23)
SP-Cain (7)
SP-Peavy (8)
SP-Baker (10)
SP-Garza (9)
SP-Burnett (13)
SP-Zambrano (21)
RP-Hoffman (12)
RP-Francisco (14)
RP-Jenks (15)
RP-Capps (19)
RP-Gregerson (24)
Grey-
I’m in a keeper, where 56 or so players are kept, and we draft our keepers in a inflation-adjusted round relative to where they were originally drafted. My keepers aren’t terrific (J-Up, B-Up, Hart, Snider, Heyward and Gallardo). Of remaining players, I have picks 11, 12, 15. The best bats available will probably be Phillips or Roberts, McCann, Berkman, D. Lee, and a bunch of OF (Bay, Cruz, etc). You get the idea. But Halladay, F-Her, and Grienke will all likely be there.
Do I take the best bats available? Or is this an instance where you’d grab the top arms, since my OF is full, and fill in my offense best I can later in the draft after I have dominated pitching? I could probably have all 3 of those arms, or Roberts, McCann, Berkman. What should I do?
Thanks!
Joe Nathan has a torn ligament in his elbow it looks like hes gonna need Tommy john who’s next in line?
@brett: yep #3 was the only one i couldnt go along with, in a daily transactions league its crucial to be able to flop guys in and out and have good options…. in my H2H league its even more crucial, in one weeks time batting a couple extra guys determines the winner…. we have deep benches and no regulations on whether your “bench players” have to be pitchers or hitters…. you could roll with 3 pitchers in my league and 22 hitters…. it wouldn’t work but its possible…
20 man league, my pitching rotation after Verlander and Johnson is a giant blackhole.
I give:
Robot Jones (currently my UTIL, would replace him with Podsednik or some other schmohawk)
Derek Lowe
I get:
Roy Oswalt
Should I pull the trigger?
@ Mikey: Oof, rough business about Nathan…
@ Grey: You mind putting these middling veteran NL 4-5 starter types in order of personal preference? Blanton, Hudson, Harang, Penny, Maholm. Net Wins, ERA, WHIP, K/9, & K:BB are the stat lines. Thanks!
Has Neshek fully recovered from his injury? He was dominant
FOLLOW UP ABOVE: NATHAN HAS TORN ELBOW LIGAMENT — DONE FOR SEASON: Twins’ Nathan has torn elbow ligament
Joe Nathan, RP MIN
News: Twins All-Star closer Joe Nathan has a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. GM Bill Smith says the plan is to shut Nathan down for two weeks, eliminate the soreness and build up the strength in his elbow before making any decisions about surgery. Nathan might get a second opinion Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon who operated on his elbow last October to remove bone chips. Nathan hurt his ulnar collateral ligament. Injuries to that ligament have led to season-ending Tommy John surgery in other pitchers. Nathan flew back to Minneapolis Sunday after feeling soreness in the elbow in Saturday’s game against the Red Sox.
Analysis: Nathan likely will need season-ending Tommy John surgery. The Twins top options to close, barring a trade, would be Matt Guerrier, Jose Mijares, Pat Neshek (coming off his own Tommy John surgery from last spring), Jon Rauch or perhaps Jesse Crain. Consider those relievers sleepers immediately in AL-only formats. We are not optimistic Nathan will avoid surgery at this point.
@sean: @Mikey boy324: and this is why you shouldnt do your drafts til late in the spring training season…. especially in $$$$$ leagues….
Question about PEDS. Is there any wiggle room if you’re in 10 team leagues?
I really like Slowey and so far so good in ST, but he’s got a metal plate in his wrist and states that he’s not sure how it will go……doesn’t that make anyone nervous?
Brutal news about Nathan. I wouldn’t doubt the guy they pick to close instead will be solid though…..the Twins know pitching.
I drafted Nathan last month after he slid to me in the 10th round of a 12 team league. Who should I pick up to replace him – Guerrier, Neshek, Mijares, or Rauch? Love the site. Thanks!
Man it just takes one overhyped owner to blow a draft apart..in a 10 team NL only I took J Reyes in the second round. Maybe I am an idiot for that move !!
But then I wanted to take ECab as Reyes insurance –but some other guy took him with the 52 pick in the 6th round..thank goodness Alcides Escobar was avail at 165 in the 17th round..
my staff is really weird.. Hamels, Oswalt and B Webb..should either be really nice or kinda crappy.
Yeah, that injury would hurt a lot of teams more than it will hurt the Twins.
But this is only the beginning. The Curse of the Metrodome is upon us.
@Bill Lumbergh: It’s a toss up…they have a lot of good arms in that pen. But I’d grab Rauch if I was speculating…he’s the only one with real “closer” experience.
12 team mock draft on yahoo preparing for my keeper league draft this weekend. Drafting 11 out of 12, I am 10 out of 11 in my real draft
My pitching keeper is Felix Hernandez, I traded my hitting keeper for a draft pick.
I know Yahoo has some questionable ratings so I was able to get some guys late that would never slip in my draft, notably Chris Davis in the 18th round. By my estimates I’m a little weak on power, but I think everything else looks ok. What areas do you think are weak?
C. Chris Iannetta
1B. Mark Teixeira
2B. Brandon Phillips
3B. David Wright
SS. Alcides Escobar
OF. Curtis Granderson
OF. Nick Markakis
OF. Josh Hamilton
UT. Julio Borbón
UT. Ian Stewart
BE. Chris Davis
BE. Garrett Jones
BE. Scott Sizemore
P. John Lester
P. Cole Hamels
P. Heath Bell
P. Brett Anderson
P. Ryan Franklin
P. Roy Oswalt
P. Jorge De La Rosa
P. Frank Francisco
P. Ervin Santana
P. Jason Fraser
@Diamondoug: my staff is weird too. you grow to appreciate it.
anyone dropping reyes in their rankings… what the update on him?
12 team H2H, 2 keepers, whats the earliest you’d take HEYWARD this year? I asked grey this earlier, seeing if any of you have an opinion.
I know you guys are big on grabbing a solid 1B. Most of them will be kept in my keeper league, but both Morneau and Votto should be availible to me at my 1st pick (but gone before my 2nd). You have Morneau ranked higher, but Votto in the Yes-Please Tier. Which would you take if you had to pick? (keeper league aside – they wont be worth it next year in our format)
Grey, who is your #1 sleeper that you find yourself targeting mostly in your drafts? This would be the one guy that you have the most confidence in him outperforming his draft position. Hitter and Pitcher?
@Diamondoug: i wind up with Hamelsand Oswalt in almost every mock, as well as Quentin and Stewart, prolly cause I follow Grey’s top 300 with a bullet.
Grey – Just utilized PEDS in a mock. Followed it to the mock, with the exception that I had to make sure that I had a back-up at each position on the bench. It seemed to work out quite well. I think that I will experiment and use your system in one of my leagues, and Rudy’s in another, and report which works out best. The problem is what to do in the Razz Commentor Draft – last year over half of the managers used your formula; if most of the participants use the same strategy, any suggestions about what to do? Its a lot easier against the muggles who follow Berry and the Yahoo and ESPN ratings…
Also, when do you suggest to draft Reyes? I don’t think that the thyroid issue is that vital, I think that it can be cleared up medically, but he is a Met, after all, and I am beginning to get vague intuitive warning signs. Should he drop from your #16 position?
Thanks again for an informative post.
BTW, your favorite 19th century referenced team, the Cleveland Spiders, had the worst record in the history of MLB. Their record in 1899 was 20-134, for a ,130%, and were 1-34 after Sept. 1. But you already knew that.
@Tony: Seems like it would be awhile before Heyward would be a top 24 (2-keeper) player, right? Heyward probably isn’t *that* valuable in a 2-keeper format. IMO. That said, I think he’s going to be out of this world…eventually.
@Mel: Ya I’m not saying he would be a KEEPER…. but where would you take him. Just consider it a 12 team H2H league then, i guess i confused you with putting my league type in there!
WHAT ROUND?
@Tony: i know, i may have a draft this sunday due to a wedding later in the month and just general conflicts. i am terrified i could lose a key player in the 3 weeks before the season actually starts.
While i generally agree with Grey’s PED strategy it does not accurately reflect his own strategy. If you read the fine print he should have pointed out that you are allowed to jump up well beyond a players ADP (based on mockdraftcentral.com or similar) if you have a man crush on him. Grey will own Ian Stewart and Jonathan Sanchez in almost any draft he participates in. This is based on man crush alone, so if you love Heyward, and he will be gone before your next pick, then take him…because no one should tell you who to crush on. Isn’t a championship better when you select a key contributor that is one of your man crushes? Cant beat it.
@Tony: yesterday someone asked about heyward, grey said around the 15th in a 1 year league, and 8-10th in a keeper league (though the shallowness of your league’s keepers might diminish that value a bit).
@Dean: Keep ya on your toes.
@Steve: Ha!
@brett: Nice
@Lou: See where Nathan went with a proven closer? I wouldn’t draft different, but obviously you need way more flexibility on your bench. So I’d have bench hitters there.
@P4P best: More so.
@Mikey boy324: 2 usually… Rauch and Guerrier should both be owned. I’m guessing on Rauch if I only have one spot.
@Cain Fan: You went heavy on corner guys huh? It’s fine, but I wouldn’t took Youk. That made you weak elsewhere — your pitching and your outfield. Cain in the 7th seems very early. Don’t like the back of your outfield through your UTIL. Drew, Johnson and Swisher are the same player. One would’ve been fine, then some upside or something.
@ichirosan: Sure, if you need Oswalt. That’s good for you.
@Tarasco’sSecretStash: Hudson, Harang, Penny…
@sean: Rauch and Guerrier should both be owned. I’m guessing on Rauch if I only have one spot.
@Frank Rizzo: Don’t own someone who makes you nervous. There’s plenty of pitchers out there.
@Bill Lumbergh: Rauch and Guerrier should both be owned. I’m guessing on Rauch if I only have one spot.
@Cashmoney: You don’t look weak on power. Your team looks solid. I wonder how good the competition was you were up against. Also, I’d want bench pitchers over hitters, but those guys you have on your bench should be owned.
@Denys: He’s fine. No reason to drop him.
@CoreyII: Depends on the rest of your team. Probably Votto.
@Back to Minors: Depends on your definition of a sleeper. I’d like Ian Stewart around pick 140.
@Paulie Allnuts: I did know that. I’m not dropping Reyes. He’s fine.
re: Everyone using the same strategy — Zig while they’re zagging.
@Grey:
I agree with what your saying. I opted for Youk knowing my AVG would probably suffer, 3B is weak and I like the all-around stats he gives. I had Phillips queued but he was taken right before me and I am not as high on Cano and at that point decided to wait til late for MI and stock up on power. In hindsight I prob should have grabbed granderson to pair with werth but whatcha gonna do. Thanks for the critiques.
@Grey: My keepers were JReyes, Longoria, Utley, McLouth, and Etheir. Morneau vs Votto there? Also – would I be dumb to pass on Grady Sizemore with this same pick if he is availible? I kept a CF, but because of his late round value not because of his elite talent.
@CoreyII: PS we play LF,CF,RF, so Sizemore couldnt just be my 3rd OF.
I draft this team over the weekend. My question is who should I give up to better my Pitching staff? Should I get another pitcher in the top 40?
1. Mark Teixeira 1B
2. Ian Kinsler 2B
3. Ryan Zimmerman 3B
4. Brian McCann C
5. Adam Lind OF
6. Nelson Cruz OF
7. Cole Hamels SP
8. Carlos Quentin OF
9. Elvis Andrus SS
10. John Lackey SP
11. Geovany Soto C
12. Ian Stewart 2B,3B
13. Ryan Ludwick OF
14. Jonathan Sánchez SP
15. Leo Núñez RP
16. Matt Thornton RP
17. Ben Sheets SP
18. Daisuke Matsuzaka SP
19. Wade Davis SP
20. Homer Bailey SP
21. Dexter Fowler OF
22. Michael Stanton OF
23. Joba Chamberlain SP
24. Phil Hughes SP,RP
25. Buster Posey
26. Joe Blanton
JT
I dislike this strategy. I’m actually shocked that you would encourage this.
Last year, I employed a similar strategy and ended up with Hamels and Webb on one team. S-C-to-the-REWED.
This is what will happen to you. So some dickhead investment advisor tells you to buy x mutual fund because it’s performed at 12% over the last 5 years. You end up putting 20% of your money in to this fund, and you lose half of your initial investment because this mutual fund pitched too many innings over the last 5 years (huh?). This is what hot pitchers are to your team… high-risk players who have the potential for screwing your team. You need a financial plan that hopes for the best and prepares for the worst, right?
Imagine what drafting Greinke and Felix would do to you if Felix ended up on the DL for half the season… It would be the same as drafting Bills and Baker in the 10th and 11th rounds, right?
Go for safety with locking up hitting early, and lock up 3 or so number 2 starters and work the wire for guys like this year’s Edwin Jackson, Randy Wolf and Brett Anderson.
@CoreyII: I’d go with Morneau there.
@grey: but why slowey over price when you have price ranked over 10 spots higher than slowey? are you saying youd rather have slowey for where they are being drafted or youd rather have slowey period?
@JT: Yeah, you do need another decent starter. I’d see what you can get for McCann.
@Dean: Slowey and Price are close, but Slowey’s over Price by a hair in the new rankings. More about them in this afternoon’s post.
***16-team H2H-POINTS keeper league***
Grey,
I have the #3 overall pick. The guy with the #7 has offered me the following:
his #7 overall and Strasburg
FOR
my #3 overall
Strasburg can be kept this year for a 14th round pick, 2011 for an 8th round pick and 2012 for a 5th round pick. Players drafted in the 1st two rounds are NOT keeper eligible.
I’m looking at A-Rod at #3. At #7, (due to players like Braun, Lincecum and Longoria being kept, and my knowledge of who will be taken at #4, #5 & #6), I’m looking at Miggy Cabrera, David Wright or Carl Crawford at #7.
Again, none of the 1st round guys could be kept. So for swapping out A-Rod for Wright for example, I get the rights to Strasburg in return for my 14th rounder.
(1) Would you do it? Strasburg may or may not be a big factor this year, but he would be great trade bait. He’s easily worth a 14th round pick in a 16-team draft, (22 rounds). But the real question is, will he be worthy of an 8th in 2011 and 5th in 2012?
(2) If so, go with Wright or Miggy?
Thanks, (and sorry for the lengthy question)
Commish
10 team yahoo mock yesterday (drafted #10). 10 teams is too small, but that is what my money league is so gotta practice. yahoo mocks are filled with yahoos, too bad this isn’t for the money:
1. Matt Kemp (LAD – OF)
2. Prince Fielder (Mil – 1B)
3. Zack Greinke (KC – SP)
4. Ryan Zimmerman (Was – 3B)
5. Curtis Granderson (NYY – OF)
6. José Reyes (NYM – SS)
7. Jon Lester (Bos – SP)
8. Tommy Hanson (Atl – SP)
9. Clayton Kershaw (LAD – SP)
10. Carlos Peña (TB – 1B)
11. Hunter Pence (Hou – OF)
12. Asdrubal Cabrera (Cle – 2B,SS)
13. Carlos González (Col – OF)
14. John Lackey (Bos – SP)
15. Jonathan Sánchez (SF – SP)
16. Billy Wagner (Atl – RP)
17. Ryan Franklin (StL – RP)
18. Trevor Hoffman (Mil – RP)
19. Geovany Soto (ChC – C)
20. Octavio Dotel (Pit – RP)
21. Jason Heyward (Atl – OF)
22. Francisco Liriano (Min – SP,RP)
23. Alcides Escobar (Mil – SS)
@Commish Cauda: I wouldn’t do it. I’d take A-Rod.
@ETMcgee: 10 teams is too small. And, yeah, too bad this team isn’t for money. 6th round for Reyes is insane. Actually, your first 23 picks are insane, except for Hanson, but if you like him, I won’t begrudge you.
Does this trade make sense in a 10 man keeper league that has 10 owners and starts c,c,1,2,3,ss,mi,ci,5-Of, 2 Ut, 7SP,3RP.
He trades me his Jason Heyward and his 12 round pick(123) for my Adam Wainwright? We are currently at pick 114. I pick at 116 & 126. My keepers are
McCann, Tulo, Longoria, Braun, Kemp, Sizemore, Hunter, Beltran-DL, Wainwright, Broxton.
My logic is-with Ubaldo, Garza, Baker, out there , I can pick up two of those 3 with my next two picks.
@Grey: yeah, i like hanson a lot. had him last year and he has started off this spring really strong.
4 closers drafted 16th round or later, SAGNOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There’s another girl here?? *hiss*
In response to Andrew Bailey.. Thanks Sean, your fear mongering worked. I will avoid Bailey at all costs in the draft and laugh at the person who is foolishly drafts him.
I guess I’ll 86 the closer strategy, especially now with Nathan out for the season. It’s just that most top SP were kept, and no closers were kept. I think Cliff Lee is the top ranked SP available. Oh well, I’ll figure it out.
I have a feeling my SP will be led by Nolasco and Jimenez again, should be a fun ride…
@johnny o: If you can get two of those, then go for it.
*******THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.*****
14 team h2h points league, my keepers are:
B.J. Upton (3rd)
Justin Upton (9th)
Matt Wieters (11th)
Mark Reynolds (17th)
Carlos Gonzalez (22nd)
we start 1 of each IF 3 OFs and 1 UTIL. 5 SP and 3 RP.
I got the 8th pick, which turns into the 4th because 4 guys ahead of me are keeping 1st rounders. The top guys on the draft board (according to ESPNs rankings) are:
Pujols
Braun
Crawford
Teixeira
Wright
Longoria
Ellsbury
Holliday
A-Gonz
If Tex is there I’m taking him, but if he’s not I’m considering taking Longoria or Wright and sliding Reynolds over to 1B. Or would you rather have A-Gonz than Longoria/Wright if position isn’t as much of a factor?
@johnny o: I wouldn’t make that move. You’re loaded at OF already but only have Wainwright to speak of at SP.
Unless there’s some quality SP still on the board, but if Ubaldo, Garza, and Baker are the best of what’s left, stick with Wainwright as your SP1.
Definitely pick up Ubaldo at 116 though. And I would probably go Garza at 126, I’m not crazy about him but he would be a good pick.
@brad: No, I’d take Longoria or Wright and move Reynolds to 1st.
*******THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.*****
@Grey:
I’m thinking of watching all the seasons of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”.
Have you seen it enough to give it a yay or nay?
And btw, I read that Guerrier would most likely be the closer, followed by Rauch. Although Guerrier’s 5.5 K/9 is nothing special.
@Eddy: The few episodes I’ve seen I thought were genius. Was actually thinking of getting all the seasons for it too, but went with Deadwood. Not loving the choice so far. But I’m only 4 episodes in.
*******THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.*****
I have first pick in 10 team 5×5 roto. What do you think about these first 5 picks – Pujols, Crawford or Ellsbury, Gonzalez, Cano, A. Ramirez? Do you think Ramirez is worth taking 41st overall? Hopefully I can add some power OF later (Lind, Dunn, Hamilton) and Andrus to round out the lineup. Am I going in the wrong direction here?
@buschfan: Looks completely wrong. Crawford and Ellsbury on the same team is superfluous speed. Crawford and Andrus later would be fine. Not crazy about Aramis, but you know that from my schmohawk post.
*******THERE’S A NEW POST FOR FOLLOWUPS.*****
In H2H leagues, I always think the right strategy in the first 100 picks is to get one ace and one proven/great closer.
Get a Felix Hernandez and team him with a Papelbon or something like that. Is that sound strategy or just wait on closer still.
@Mark: I don’t agree. I’ll have an H2H strategy post this week.
draft strategy for a razzball league……go against the grain cuz everyone has the same strategy. overall draft strategy….read razzball…..read razzball again….repeat steps 1 and 2. as a FEMALE baller, I have way more options in choosing a team name. Lovin the sideburns put me over the top!! plus—-i get to make the boys think in rounds 1 2 3 . at some point, there is value. Introducing…………………………………….MAUER MAKES ME MOIST
@madx34: That’s hilarious.
Today we found out our draft position and I am number 1 in a 14 team league, not to psyched about it. I have already planned out my first two picks (Pujols, Zimmerman), but don’t know about my 3rd? In Yahoo Greinke and F-Her are 30 and 34 so they will most likely still be around. Bad to draft an SP in the number 3 spot? After reading your post about not drafting 1 and 2, I wasn’t sure if three was too early also…
@Matt: I’d go with an OF or 2nd baseman then start looking at starters.
I’ve already got Wainwright and Hanson as keepers:
Can I wait on getting my 3rd starting pitcher until later another starter until late — say, 160th overall to focus on getting SS (Andrus or A. Cabrera) and 2B (Stewart or Weeks)?
Or should I grab my choice of Hamels or Jimenez before focusing on those MI slots?
If I weight this season at 60% and the future (next 2-4 years) at 40%, do you think Hamels or Jimenez is a better pick?
@Jeff W.: I’d take Hamels.
Thanks, Grey!
And please pardon the typos.
Took this approach for my mixed roto draft, pretty happy with the results:
C: Suzuki
1B: Gonzalez
2B: Phillips
3B: Zimmerman
SS: Alcides Escobar
OF: Braun
OF: Ethier
OF: Rajai Davis
Util: Kendry Morales
BN: Ian Stewart
SP: Cain
SP: Nolasco
RP: Cordero
RP: Gonzalez
P: Baker
P: Jurrens
P: Buchholz
BN: Porcello
BN: Wood
BN: Harden
BN: Romo
Play R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OBP / W, L, K, SV, HLD, ERA
Reluctant to drop Stewart, since he’s the next Mark Reynolds and all, but not thrilled about having an offensive player on the bench. Tempted to pick up another SP (Niemann, Harang, Cueto, Sanchez) or RP (Rodney, Lowe, Perez, Medlen, Lindstrom) instead. Any suggestions? Should I get rid of either Stewart or Harden or anyone else for one of those guys?
Thanks!
@Erock: How many teams?
12. Very few quality relievers remaining.
@Erock: Your team looks a little iffy. You look light on speed and power and there’s some real question marks on your staff. I’d lose Porcello for Sanchez immediately and hold on the rest for now.
@Grey: Ruh roh. Lighter on speed than I would like, planned to work on that as the season progressed. Was feeling ok about power, though. Thanks again.