So the title has a bit of superlative in it. What was I gonna say, the most kinda good fantasy baseball team? You’ll get over your scoffing, I have faith in you. This is the best 2014 fantasy baseball team that I can put together when drafting from my top 100 for 2014 fantasy baseball and top 400 for 2014 fantasy baseball. Honestly, I could draft another 25 teams from those lists, and they’d all be different, but equally terrific… Well, one of the twenty-five would only be almost terrific, but it would be really hard to tell which one that is. If I took Adam Jones in the 1st round, everything after would change. For this exercise, I’m taking Mike Trout first, because, well, I have him first overall. Until pick 100, I’m taking one guy somewhere in every twelve picks. It would be nice if I was in a league where someone drafted Darvish and Kershaw in the first round and I was able to take Prince Fielder in the 2nd round (which is likely), but since Trout and him are in my first 10 picks, according to the rules I’ve set up for myself, I can’t take them both. Then, as we all know, once you get into the 100’s, there’s wide gaps between ADP and where players are actually taken. People tend to look at team need over value. So for this exercise, once I get to pick #101, I’m going to pick two players every twenty picks. Finally, because there is so much latitude in the last 200, I gave myself free reign to fill up my team. Throughout the draft, I also gave myself the ability to reach to a lower draft pick, but not reach forward. It should still be my ideal team… Or not. Let’s see, shall we? Bee tee dubya, this team is 5×5, one catcher, 5 OFs, MI, CI, 1 UT, 9 P, 3 bench, just like the Razzball Commenter Leagues that are signing up still. (Yes, we need commissioners. I’m shooting for 70 leagues, but we need your help! Wow, I just sounded like FDR.) Anyway, here’s the best 2014 fantasy baseball team:
C: Salvador Perez (212)
1B: Joey Votto (13)
2B: Jedd Gyorko (88)
SS: Jean Segura (28)
3B: Nolan Arenado (120)
MI: Brad Miller (142)
CI: Anthony Rizzo (60)
OF: Mike Trout (1)
OF: Shin-Soo Choo (39)
OF: Billy Hamilton (80)
OF: Avisail Garcia (170)
OF: Kole Calhoun (176)
UTIL: Khris Davis (219)
P: Gio Gonzalez (68)
P: Sonny Gray (101)
P: Danny Salazar (122)
P: Kris Medlen (132)
P: Sergio Romo (145)
P: Hiroki Kuroda (181)
P: Zack Wheeler (191)
P: Rafael Soriano (202)
P: Casey Janssen (203)
Bench: Fernando Rodney (229)
Bench: Neftali Feliz (239)
Bench: Matt Lindstrom (258)
SO, THIS TEAM IS THE BOMB DOT ORG, BUT IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF ACTUALLY GETTING IT?
I guess. I doubt it though, if I’m gonna be honest. But why do I need to be honest? It’s so boring! The ones that really stick out to me as unlikely are Salvador Perez and Billy Hamilton that late. They fit into my exercise rules so I took them where I have them ranked. I could’ve also said Rizzo and Gyorko are going much later than I have them ranked so I’m not going to take them that early, but that would’ve been cheating so I think that evens things out for this exercise. So, yes, Billy Hamilton will be gone by pick 80 in most leagues, but Gyorko would be around for an extra 5 rounds, so that’s a wash. We’re even. I’m not even sure Billy Hamilton is the most ideal guy for this team because this team already looked heavy on speed and light on power. I did want to use this opportunity to point out something Rudy told me about Billy Hamilton. His words, “Using the historical Player Rater shows since 2000, there have only been 4 outfielder seasons (excluding guys with more valuable positions like 2B/SS) of top 100 value where an OF hit less than .280, 50+ SB and less than 5 HR:
Juan Pierre 2010 CHW ($18.5 – 96/1/47/.275/68)
Michael Bourn 2010 HOU ($10.6 – 84/2/38/.265/52)
Juan Pierre 2005 FLA ($17.0 – 96/2/47/.276/57)
Willy Taveras 2008 COL $10.7 – 64/1/26/.251/68)
Using this draft pick to money converter to justify drafting Billy Hamilton in the top 100 picks ($12+), you have to expect him to go bonkers in SBs (80+) or over-deliver somewhere (e.g., Pierre’s decent RBIs thanks to some luck and 650+ ABs).
While Hamilton may give you a massive SB contribution (upwards of $20 based on 2000-2012 results), he’s likely giving back $8 in inferior HR/RBI. It’s not like drafters are undervaluing HR/RBI guys, except those who are awful in AVG, and Hamilton’s blah AVG is going to put you in a hole. So the question you have to ask is whether you want to be playing catch-up in HR/RBI or SB?” While no one will confuse the historical Player Rater with the Hysterical Player Rater, it is a great point and why you shouldn’t go reaching for Hamilton.
HAVE ANY OVERALL THOUGHTS, GREY ‘FANTASY MASTER LOTHARIO’ ALBRIGHT? I’D LOVE TO HEAR THEM. MY BREATH IS BATED.
Sure, Subheading Man. By pick 100, have your offense squared away. You don’t want to piece together an offense. See what I did with my team? By pick 101, I had seven of thirteen hitter picks done. I left Catcher, 3rd Base, MI, 2 Outfielder slots and UTIL. I’d shoot for exactly the same leaving the top 100. Maybe a 3rd baseman instead of a SS or 2B, but not much else different. From pick 100 thru 199, you can fill hitters that are good value (except your utility guy. Leave your utility slot for your favorite late round hitter.), but your real focus from picks 100-199 is your pitching staff, otherwise you’re gonna sound like a Masshole screaming ‘focus’ at your team.
CAN I TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR TEAM AND SEND IT TO MYSELF OVER ELECTRONIC MAIL AND PUT A RED FLAG ON THE EMAIL INDICATING IMPORTANT?
Yes, be my guest. The only thing is you don’t want to get too caught up in trying to replicate my draft because if someone else takes a guy you want, you’re gonna start scrambling and then sweating and then shart your gotchies. Just build the best team you can and use my example as a guide. For s’s and g’s, go to my top 400 and put your best fantasy baseball team into the comments below.
