Kelder’s Corners Wallet

Back when I was in college in the cornfields of northwest Iowa, there was a prank called “snipe hunting.” Basically, you find a city slicker, tell him that you are going to a field to hunt snipes, give them a bag and send them out in the field, then the car you are in drives back, leaving the city slicker to find their way home. Yes, I was once that city slicker. I also learned on that same night that cow tipping isn’t real.

Snipe hunting is still better than being sniped in a draft.

When your queue is empty but one player, and that one player is picked, it is a devastating experience. I had this and panic picked as a result (more below). Have you ever had that sniping feeling? Tell me in the comments below!

Spring training battles are about finished. Prospects are prospecting. Established guys are putting in work. Who rose in the corners for spring training?

Spring Training Corners of Interest:

Cam Smith, Houston: After just half a season of minors, none of which was over AA, Cam looks to be the starting RF for Houston. He does have 3B eligibility, though, so what to make of Cam? Well, he’s probably going to struggle, quite predictably! He has feasted in spring on lesser arms and will be playing a new position, so there’s a lot to fade here in a redraft. In a dynasty, get him everywhere you can. He has superstar potential. But for this year, think .220 with 20 HR and be happy with it!

Curtis Mead, Tampa Bay: He finally made the team! I wouldn’t rush out and grab him due to the Rays Rays-ness, I need to see how the playing time shakes out here. He’s a talent, we just don’t know in a redraft if he’ll get the reps.

Jac Caglianone: A minors guy, but with a 117 exit velocity is a bat to watch, possibly this season. The Royals need some pop. Only nine players at the MLB level hit the ball this hard. It’s a special skill, one that could pay dividends if you have an empty prospect slot.

There, that’s enough current content.

There’s just been so much great preseason content on this site, I’m actually honored you clicked on this article and hope that it’s helpful. There’s been two games that count, and the season starts this Thursday, so it’s prime accountability time. As the Corners Guy here, time to get into what one man did on his several teams at this position so you can make fun of it, or tell me the geniusness of the ideas.

TGFBI: I’m in with Eric Karabell, formerly of the Athletic Ian Kahn, guys from PitcherList and Fantrax, and it was a really fun slow live draft.

1B: Vlad Guerrero at pick ten in the first, CI Bryce Harper in the second, backup Alec Burleson as OF/1B eligible Round 13, Colt Keith for my 2B in round 14 but will be 1B eligible

Takeaways: Love getting Vladito at ten. Was sniped on my next pick, so did the Harper stack and then I could just ignore the position later on. Not stoked about Burleson, but hey it’s a 15 team league and he does do some helpful things. Boring production.

3B: Josh Jung in round 13

I wrote about Jung somewhere in here

Look, I know I did this last season but hear me out. Before he was hit by a pitch in the wrist, he was hitting over .400. No I don’t care that it was only in four games, that doesn’t fit my narrative. Where we really should look is September, after the rust was shaken off. .286/.355/.464 for that month was the total. Look, I know caveats apply, but if you liked Jung last season there’s ample reason to regurgitate the feeling again in 2025.

And I acted on it!

Overall, was happy with my corner positions in this league. While I did stack the top two guys, they do give me two guys with MVP level upside.

Razzslam:

1B: Bryce Harper round 2, Cody Bellinger round 5, Nolan Schanuel round 27, Kyle Manzardo Round 33

3B: Jose Ramirez pick 4 overall, Austin Riley round 3, Junior Caminero Round 4

Takeaways: Ooops, all third basemen! To be honest and transparent, I was doing two slow live drafts at the same time and got a little bit confused. Probably wouldn’t have taken Caminero if I had remembered that I took Riley and Ramirez first. Not upset, though, since they all should be good players that were taken.

LOL, I just realized my first five picks were corner infield guys! Perhaps I spend too much time on them and not other positions.

The Home League: 14 team 6 by 6 roto

It’s fun to look at random leagues to me. This one, my 73 year old dad got stuck on the pitcher page and couldn’t figure out how to change it, so his first 8 picks were SP and jacked up all the strategies. It did not go great for me on the corners

1B: Freddie Freeman round 2, Cody Bellinger round 6, Ryan Mountcastle round 18, Vinnie Pasquantino round 8

3B: Junior Caminero round 7

Takeways: Draft was done before the Cubs-Dodgers Japan games that nobody watched because it was before the sun came up. I was sniped on my first three picks (thought Vlad was a sure thing at 8 in the first round, he went at 7, also Harper went one pick before my second round) and while Kyle Tucker is a solid consolation prize, Freddie Freeman was a whiff on my part in the second. It was before the Japan series, where he sat, and at 35 I think they’re going to give him NBA level rest. Don’t be like me and take Freeman in a panic move in the second, ya hear? Vinnie P. has a leg issue and will miss the start of the season as well. Still love Mountcastle as a late starter with potential for 25-30 HR.

In round 7, Caminero is a good pick I hope with a chance to be in the top 50 by the end of the season. I wouldn’t want him too early in a redraft (please don’t go back and look at Razzslam, that’s best ball) but the upside here was too good to not take. I didn’t take a pitcher in rounds 1-8 either so the roster could handle a little risk at the end of my epic hitting run.

Home League Keeper: 10 team 6 by 6 with OPS

My Keepers: Vladimir Guerrero, Bryce Harper, Triston Casas

New Acquisitions: Matt Shaw, Josh Jung

Focus here on Matt Shaw. Jakkers did here, better than I would, so just read this. I will mention he’s 2B, SS, 3B eligible and is a quite useful plug and play possibility in any spot. His bat and eligibility for this year will be nicely valuable.