Comments on: St. Louis Cardinals, Minor League Review

By: Peoria

Peoria — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:26:28 +0000

@Adam: Wow, send that guy to my league.

By: Peoria

Peoria — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 05:24:36 +0000

@brad: I like the 6 you kept.

By: brett

brett — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:02:46 +0000

@GopherDay: Really? Who's their fifth, Wakefield?

By: Grey

Grey — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:27:20 +0000

@GopherDay: Trades look good.

By: GopherDay

GopherDay — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:16:05 +0000

@David: It isn't looking like Bucholz will make the starting rotation...Gosh dangit! Why won't the Red Sox trade him and whoever else they want to SD for Gonzalez??? That would make all the Red sox fans happy and all fantasy baseball players!!

By: David

David — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:05:48 +0000

@Grey: Thanks for the input! I actually have Cueto and Buchholtz on my bench, but I got tired of typing I guess. I definitely feel a little light in power, but I can probably pick something up for cheap on the waiver wire or hope that one of my many outfielders breaks out in power. Thanks again for the help.

By: GopherDay

GopherDay — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:58:23 +0000

@Grey: @Stephen: @Anyone who cares: I have been involved in 3 trades in my dynasty league...10 team 6X6 (OPS, HLDS) I've given: Ben Zobrist, Nelson Cruz, Huston Street, Edwin Jackson I've received: Carlos Quentin, Curtis Granderson, Cole Hamels (Plus some random dude I pick up off FA) Each individual trade: Zobrist for Hamels Cruz and Jackson for Granderson Street for Quentin I think I've done very well, but I want to know what y'all think. Thanks!

By: Grey

Grey — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:53:09 +0000

@David: I think you did well. No idea what you're going to do with 7 outfielders. Maybe you can have a yard sale. Would've preferred you grabbed another starter somewhere along there. They are solid upside outfielders though, so there's that. As long as you get 40 steals from Reyes you'll be fine on speed. You look light on speed, but that could change if you bench Borbon and one of your upside outfielders breaks out for power. The pitching staff you do have is nice.

By: David

David — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:45:29 +0000

@Grey: Just drafted and wondered what you thought of my team. 12 team mixed.

C-Soto
1B-Pujols
2B-Stewart
SS-Reyes
3B-Zimmerman
OF-Sizemore
OF-A. Jones
OF-Pence
OF-Borbon
OF-Snider/Rasmus/Reimold

SP-Johan (picked over Lester which I’m kicking myself for)
SP-Hamels
SP-Hanson
SP-Oswalt
SP-Sanchez
RP-Aardsma
RP-Thornton
RP-Rauch

Tried to go with upside for my bench guys. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Indeeeed.

By: Grey

Grey — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:33:24 +0000

@arussell1983: Jones

By: arussell1983

arussell1983 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:24:51 +0000

7×7 H2H league, 6 keepers per team, minimum two have to be pitchers. first 5 are locked in but am a little confused on number 6….

Lincecum
Haren
A-Rod
BJ Upton
Sandoval

then one of:

Adam Jones
Chone Figgins
Carlos Quentin
Wandy Rodriguez
Heath Bell
Billy Butler

By: manfromearth

manfromearth — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:05:08 +0000

I hear what you’re saying in regards to regretting, later in the draft, having filled so many OF slots when someone you want has no room on your roster. In my most recent mock, I got Braun, Holliday, Phillips, and Bay, in that order, and then took Pence in round 9. I’m not feeling as secure in my drafting ability as I hope to become, but I do target certain players that I feel good about getting in the later rounds, like Pence (maybe reached a bit early), Konerko (19), and Chris Davis (20). Also, great points made on being willing to trade if you have a glut of OF’s.

By: Maitland

Maitland — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:31:11 +0000

@manfromearth: I think it depends on how you perceive your ability to make trades. I think you should take three outfielders in the first three rounds if you know you can deal one. I've seen tons of dudes sit on lack of roster flexibility all season thinking they could make a deal, but, then being really stubborn about it.

By: GopherDay

GopherDay — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:25:13 +0000

@manfromearth: What I have found from taking many outfielders early is that I usually regret it around round 10 or 11 when I see that someone like Pence is hanging around, I want to draft him, but I need to fill in my infield.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:03:15 +0000

@manfromearth: You lose some roster flexibility, but I am definitely in the boat about picking the best talent available. If a quality third baseman is available in the third round that is whom I would personally target. Three outfielders in a row isn't necessarily a "kiss of death" just a potential quandary in terms of roster flexibility.

By: manfromearth

manfromearth — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:39 +0000

Is taking three OF’s in a row a kiss of death. I’ve done a couple of mocks where I’ve gotten Braun in round 1 and Holliday in round 2 (usually happens when I have the 5th, 6th pick, or so). Do I always look for an infielder in round 3, even if my highest ranked player on the board is another outfielder? Thx

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:36:57 +0000

@magicterp: In a keeper league ... that changes things a wee bit. How many minor league roster spots do you have? If none, than I would wait until the end of the season and see what he accomplished.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:34:41 +0000

@magicterp: I agree with Grey. Jenrry Mejia will get a Scouting the Unknown article on him during the summer. He just reached Double-A this past year and will need another season of, well, seasoning in the minors until he's ready to pitch in the majors. The New York Mets Minor League Review has a blurb about him. Here is what I said about him there: "Dominating competition at both High-A (44 1/3 IP) and Double-A (50 1/3 IP) with a mid 90’s fastball, a curve and an awesome change-up. Rarely does a power pitcher produce high ground ball rates, but Mejia induced a drool worthy rate (59.3 GB%). For comparison sake, Joel Pinero had a rate of 60.5 GB% in 2009. Mejia has an extremely high ceiling, and probably is the Mets best pitching prospect. Although he struggles repeating his delivery, he is on the fast track. He should return to Double-A in 2010."

By: Grey

Grey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:13:59 +0000

@Adam: Looks great for you.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:09:05 +0000

Pulled off a big trade last night…10 teams 5×5 roto league

Get: Teixeira, Napoli, Brian Wilson

Give: Dunn, McCann, Marmol, Scherzer

Are you as high on this trade as I am?

By: Grey

Grey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:49:48 +0000

@magicterp: I think he'll be solid, but he's at least a year away from helping for fantasy. @brad: I'd go with who you have. @infamy707: Trade him for anything if you're not keeping him as long as you're not making a great team better.

By: infamy707

infamy707 — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:43:04 +0000

In a 5 keeper league, so far keeping tulo, kemp, votto, lind, and cano. I have Hill, should I trade him for a 15 round pick if offered or for anything?

By: brad

brad — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:42:41 +0000

Looking for any and everybody’s keeper thoughts 16 team roto league. I keep any 6, and my initial thought are to go with these guys:

Jimmy Rollins
Justin Morneau
Cole Hamels
Jay Bruce
Carlos Quentin
Carlos Lee

Would you swap any of the below for any of the above?

Chris Davis
Jason Kubel
José López
Jair Jurrjens
Francisco Liriano

By: magicterp

magicterp — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:17:07 +0000

Oh Jennry!
Anyone have thoughts on Jennry Mejia as a late round flyer in an NL-only keeper league?
Thanks!

By: peter

peter — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:03:48 +0000

@Stephen: Thanks, Stephen.. good feedback. I share your concerns. Especially about being in a 10 team league. But what can I do? I was asked by a good friend, and, well, the dude abides. In future drafts I'll watch what's happening w/ the WHIP, definitely. Batting avg, too. Although it's a h2h, so I'm not as concerned with average. Because, regardless, some weeks you'll eat the bar and some weeks the bar eats you. Since it's a 10 team, my plan was to try and grab a top player at each of the shallow positions - rather than just throwing, say, SS and grabbing E. Cabrera at the end. 3B, SS, 2B. Rather than worrying about OF and pitching early.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:56:07 +0000

I see good power-speed combo but a lack of a consistent average. Your starting pitching has good strikeout potential but a tendency to lean towards a higher WHIP; similar comments about your closers as they have strikeout rates to drool over but WHIP issues, namely Marmol, as well as injury history (Soriano namely). I haven’t participated in a 10 team league, but I think you have some good talent and potential, I would just be worried about the amount of upside risk you have taken with some over your pitchers and with Stewart and Chris Davis.

By: peter

peter — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:50:15 +0000

Blech. I’ll be looking at Freese in late rounds, this year. But it doesn’t look like I’ll be tracking any of these guys in the near future.

Just completed a 10 team, 5×5 mock (I’m doing a 10 team this year for the first time in forever). I had the 9th pick. Here’s what happened (# is the overall pick in the draft):

C – Chris Iannetta (212)
1B – Mark Teixeira (9)
2B – Brandon Phillips (32)
3B – David Wright (12)
SS – Jimmy Rollins (29)
OF – Curtis Granderson (49)
OF – Carlos Quentin (69)
OF – Nick Markakis (89)
Util – Michael Bourn (129)
Util – Ian Stewart (149)
Bench – Chris Davis (229)
SP – Jon Lester (52)
SP – Ubaldo Jimenez (72)
SP – Chad Billingsley (92)
SP – Matt Garza (112)
SP – David Price (169)
SP – Johnny Cueto (172)
SP – Clay Buchholz (189)
SP – Ervin Santana (192)
RP – Carlos Marmol (109)
RP – Rafael Soriano (132)
RP – David Aardsma (152)
RP – Octavio Dotel (209)

Some of my quick thoughts: I’m not happy with the Michael Bourn pick. It was one of those situations where you’re not thrilled with the top players on the board and you kind of freeze. Ian Stewart at #149 – I could have had Alfonso Soriano, instead, but I didn’t do it. Also not thrilled with Price at #169.

Overall, I was trying to get guys who had power and speed. I’m guess in 10-teams with fewer positions, it’s preferable not to waste a spot on a one category guy (I’m looking at you, Bourn). I would be happier if I had guys with higher batting average; one can’t expect Tex and Wright to make up for everyone else.

Thoughts? Weaknesses? Fears? Aspirations?