So I took a catcher with my first pick in the draft. I’m not one to bury the lead, plus you’re intrigued, no? Whether you stick around to understand my point of view or to ridicule me, you stick around the same. So before we go into my wild dynasty adventure, why don’t I do you the courtesy of explaining what exactly I’m talking about. The Rotowire Dynasty Invitational!!! It’s in the title, stupid. In case you were wondering what any of those words mean. First it’s not a Golf Tournament, though I hear Green Jackets could perhaps be involved. It’s actually a new dynasty league organized by the fair, handsome and illustrious James Anderson of Rotowire. Dynasty lesson numero uno muchacho, always talk about your commissioner in glowing terms. When you finally sucker some poor schlub into sending you Mike Trout for a washed up prospect, a back end of the rotation arm, and a kid with a name you can’t spell, who can’t legally buy tobacco products in Utah, you’re going to need that guy. So James approve my trades, I’ll say nice things. Deal? Moving on, this is a 20 team dynasty league organized by Mr. Anderson and comprised of some of the top names in prospects, dynasty, and just fantasy in general. Also the guy that played George Washington in Turn: Washington’s Spies. Don’t worry, I refer to him as “The General” 100% of the time. Anything less would be uncivilized. Plus little known fact, George Washington is my spirit animal. We both have wooden teeth!
**At the time of writing this the draft is only about 50% finished. Unfortunately this draft/team isn’t complete, but there’s a lot to talk about already, and this allows me to stretch this into multiple posts. Sue me, I’m lazy.**
The Setup
Really easy, it’s a 20 team roto league with 5×5 scoring. We start 14 hitters (C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, CI, MI, OF, OF, OF, OF, OF, UTIL, UTIL) 9 pitchers of any type, and 17 bench spots. The keeper limit is pretty high at 35 of the 40 players rostered, so not much turnover. However, that keeper number might be lower for certain teams following the initial season. See below…
The Draft Order
One of the most interesting wrinkles to this league is the way the initial draft order was handled. It was via a Invisible Hand system first popularized by Baseball Prospectus/Dynasty Guru writer Bret Sayre. The concept is based off of the idea of someone you perhaps recall from an economics class. That would be Adam Smith 18th century Scottish economist and philosopher. Smith’s idea is that each person acting in his own self interest may frequently benefit society. Okay… enough of that… Google it if you’d like to learn more! How the fantasy baseball invisible hand works is, each owner was given the chance pre-draft to blind bid for a draft slot. Your currency was your keepers. Each team started with 35, and was allowed to bid whatever amount they would like for a particular spot in the order. You could bid on multiple draft slots if you wish, but ultimately you would be awarded the higher of the two slots you won.
Still confused? No worries, let’s apply it using the actual results. For arguments sake, let’s say you’re Eddy Almaguer of Fake Teams/BP and you really want Mike Trout. You simply bid 18 keepers for the privilege of the number one pick and Mr. Trout’s services. This means going into 2019 Eddy will have Mike Trout, but will only be able to keep 17 of the players on his roster come season’s end. If you’re interested in Eddy’s perspective on this he does a great job explaining not only the invisible hand, but also his strategy in the linked article. (Click it!) I have to say, one of my favorite elements of this league has been the open and honest sharing of ideas, celebrating as well as panning of picks. It’s a very smart group.
As for my approach to the Invisible Hand, I didn’t really participate. For me, I liked the flexibility as well as the leverage it provided my club in future endeavors in the trade market. I ended up with pick 19, and call me crazy but the idea of getting the 19th best player and 22nd best player, as well as all of my keepers, sounded like an awesome deal. So maybe I didn’t end up with a 12 team first rounder, and that’s okay, I was more than happy to take the depth the sandwich picks provided. Plus I’m going to add 5 really nice players from Eddy’s team in the draft next year. Just Kidding! But seriously thanks in advance Eddy, I’m going to be like a cyclops with a monocle on all of your picks from round 18 on.
My Team (So Far)
Pick 1.19 – Gary Sanchez, C
Pick 2.22 – Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Pick 3.59 – Robbie Ray, LHP
Pick 4.62 – Jean Segura, SS
Pick 5.99 – Brendan Rodgers, SS
Pick 6.102 – Travis Shaw, 3B
Pick 7.139 – Adam Eaton, OF
Pick 8.142 – Kyle Hendricks, RHP
Pick 9.179 – Trevor Bauer, RHP
Pick 10.182 – Austin Hays, OF
Pick 11.219 – Carlos Santana, 1B
Pick 12.222 – Cody Allen, RHP
Pick 13.259 – Brad Hand, LHP
Pick 14.262 – Anthony Alford, OF
Pick 15.299 – Devon Travis, 2B
Pick 16.302 – Teoscar Hernandez, OF
Pick 17.339 – Alex Cobb, RHP
Pick 18.342 – Alec Hansen, RHP
Pick 19.379 – Francis Martes, RHP
Pick 20.382 – Kolten Wong, 2B
So why on earth did I take a catcher first? Well, because quite frankly I’ll take the entirety of Gary Sanchez’s career over anyone else available at that point. We’re talking about a potential generational power bat at catcher. We could be looking at the new Mike Piazza, but with less sexual orientation rumors, and way less hair. Sure I could have went with Jose Ramirez, Charlie Blackmon, Anthony Rendon, Alex Bregman, or Chris Sale. But come on brah you have to understand this is a 20 team league, I came away with one of the most unique talents in the draft. Oh, and he’s only 25.
This leads in nicely to a general discussion of my approach. As of right now I have the 9th oldest team in the league with an average of age of 26.1. This was a great number to see, as my goal was to draft players between the ages of 22-28, figuring I would have a nice mix of those in their primes, those entering their primes, and finally those entering their primes as O.G. prime guys become members of Rob Silver’s team. I’ve tried to fight the urge to compete with Tom Trudeau for prospects, and for the most part I have. BTW if you hadn’t heard, Tom, who writes for the Dynasty Guru, is drafting an entire team made up of the best prospects. He refers to it as his “Deathstar”, and I’d be lying if I didn’t agree. He has Acuna, Vlad Jr., Eloy, Tatis Jr., Senzel, all of them. Some people have been dragging his strategy, but allow me to be the first to say. You just don’t know. Trust me, Tom is probably the savviest dynasty owner I’ve played with, and he’s insanely aggressive, and persistent in the trade market. Don’t be shocked if he wins the league from 2020-2027. Not. A. Joke.
Takeaways: I will now proceed to badger myself with questions in order to get to the root of my insanity, never realizing how crazy it is that I’m talking to myself in the public space of the internet.
Why did I take two closers early in a dynasty draft? Easy. They not only were great value, on the younger side for relievers, but they also make great trade pieces to add prospects if your season goes belly up.
I thought you didn’t like Teoscar. Were you lying here? Okay, you got me. The value was great at pick 302 for a player in his mid-20’s with 20/20 potential.
Which pick was your best? Anthony Alford at 262. I did not expect Alford to fall this far. At this point, all we’re waiting on from the talented athlete is for the 20 homer power to come. Even if it doesn’t, we have a player with the ability to hit .280-.300 with a .375-.390 OBP, and 20+ steals. I envision Alford as a dynamic top of the order player providing tons of 5 category fantasy potential.
Which pick did you like the least? Devon Travis, I still believe in the skills, god knows why. What’s the under/over on total games played by Travis in my 2B slot over the next three seasons? 80 games total? That said, if his knees work for 140 games one of these years, he’s going to be something. In a league this deep you have to pick your spots, one of my spots I chose was 2B. My hope is Brendan Rodgers moves to second at the end of this season, and then permanently takes the job after DJ LeMahieu hits free agency after 2018. Just in case I grabbed Kolten Wong, who I like as a sneaky bounce back.
Your outfield is weird, is it as bad as I feel it is? Ouch, fair point. I waited all the way until Adam Eaton to take an outfielder in the 7th. Many of them went early, and I wasn’t into some of the value at that point. Loved the Eaton pick, and I’ll say it got the most “Expert Boner Snipe” tweets. Yeah, that’s a thing. A thing I just made up, but a thing. I then waited and took Hays in the 10th. I think Austin Hays can be awesome. Seriously, I think he breaks camp with an everyday job. I’m not sure the Orioles care about Super two, and there’s a 17% chance Peter Angelos has never heard the phrase uttered. Austin Hays has the Steamer projection of .277/.313/.458, 18 HR, 63 RBI, 6 steals for 2018. So they agree wit’ cha “boy” that he can be a productive player, and at just 22 for a majority of the season. That’s value to me. I’ve already covered Alford. So, see above. As for Teoscar, covered him too.
Reality Check Ralph: Let’s be honest, I may not have a single completely healthy starting major league outfielder in April, or May, or June. Eaton could tweak his knee, etc. Hays and Alford could end up back in the minors, and Teoscar could stink and lose his job. So it’s an area of need. We’ll see what depth I can accrue over the next 20 rounds to fortify my outfield.
You can follow the next 20 rounds here!
Find all of the 30 Minor League Previews, and Offseason Rankings on the Minor League Index
On Twitter as @ProspectJesus
Good commentary Ralph,
As you know, I have been watching with interest.
The impact of the invisible hand on next years draft class will be interesting. I wonder how much it will impact seasons 2,3,4 for Eddy – guess we’ll have to wait and see. He will always have Trout though whether he chooses to keep him or to trade him.
Am waiting to see how long it is before you start picking your sleepers.
Best wishes,
Dan
@Another Dan: He could win it all, but if he doesn’t and the team falters he’s going to be selling like crazy.
Like the faith you showed in my guy AA (Alford). That injury was a total killer as soon as he made it to the bigs. Think he can start the season as an MLB regular there and produce?
Willie C is a decent upgrade over Fisher or Barretto right? Trying to incorporate that upgrade into a deal, im incorporating yo!
@Swfcdan: Love me some Alford.
Yes, easy upgrade over those two for me. Wednesday Inc>
Most excellent insight Ralph !
Very much looking forward to part 2 .
Totally agree on the Sanchize pick !
Since we are in dynasty mode , I have a question that I also posed to Grey , for a 24 team league .
I have an OF of conforto , mazarra , Stanton and josh bell at 1b . Seager at SS and josh Harrison at either 2b/3b.
I can acquire Hoskins or Rafael Devers .
Whom would you take ????
Hoskins seems like a stud already …..
devers would fill a positional need .
@GP: Thanks GP!
I would go with Devers in that scenario.
Beat those fuckers down bruh!
@Rosscoe: I will for you kid!
The Travis Shaw pick is a head scratcher for me. You expect more than you got from him last year? Seems like you could have starter your OF a round earlier, hell Bo Bichette was still available. Defend your boy.
@Jensen: Not more, but I feel he can maintain good production. The HR/FB is high, but I like his baseline floor, and he should give me 3-4 seasons of .265/25/80. The 3B options dropped drastically after that. The next five 3B taken were Kyle Seager, Adrian Beltre, Miguel Andujar, Michael Chavis, and Eugenio Suarez.
I like Shaw equal too Lamb, Gallo, and Moustakas in 5×5, if not more than all three. So I was happy with the value based on the draft market.
It was the definitive moment of the draft where I decided I would play in the right now window. Felt I balanced youth and major league floors well.
@Jensen: As for Bo Bichette, I love him, but I will quote jay-Z.
I’ve seen the Rovers roll up with ribbons, I’ve seen them re-po’d, resold, and redriven…
Love the 1st round sanchez pick brother.
I just dealt my 2nd overall pic in the 1st year player draft for Brinson and Soroka. I think i got a steal on that one.
In my dynasty league would you deal my T. O’NEILL for Chapman?
@Sh: Thank you sir!
Love that deal was it Ohtani or Robert? Good trade either way.
Do you need a 3B? Is it OPS?
@Ralph Lifshitz:
It was Gore. And it is a 20 team head to head points league
@Sh: Nice, Soroka should be really good in points crazy consistent.
@Ralph Lifshitz:
Does Chapman have more value in a points league?
@Sh: Do they count Ks?
@Ralph Lifshitz:
Yes minus 1 per k but you get 1 pt per walk and hit by pitch
@sh: He could be okay, but his swing and miss will limit the upside.
I like Eddy’s move to bid aggressively to get Trout. He only loses the keeper slots for one year, and will be able to redraft some decent players while others are holding on to marginal keepers to stay at 35.
@Nick: I appreciate the aggressivness, and Eddy has drafted a really good team to this point. I’d be nervous about year two myself. He’s going to lose a lot of talent in the first 100 picks of next years draft, and will have to be really savvy about drafting after pick 100. He might get some nice veteran values. Let me say, I inherited the team that won Trout via Invisible Hand in the TDGX league, and it’s been a lot of work. Then again Mike built that squad very differently.
I guess I like my marginal keepers. That said my viewpoint is depth matters bro, leverage matter bro! You ain’t got all the answers Sway! (kidding)
Fun read Ralph. I like to read about the strategy of why managers choose certain players at different times of a draft. I also like to see how managers are going to piece a position together such as your outfield. Good job with the links as well. One question for you.
In a 12 team weekly, roto dynasty keep all and only 6 reserves how would you see yourself rostering those 6 reserves. I always seem to be near the top in the standings so I keep a stash of SP’s that I might stream for the upcoming week. I’m starting to think I should use 4-6 of the spots for prospects and just use the waiver wire and FA’s for replacement players. Your thoughts please.
@Packers: A mix is best, I’d only hold the prospects that really could push me over the top, but don’t be scared to add breakout players. There’s a lot of dynasty managers that added Chris Taylor, Luis Castillo, Travis Shaw, and Justin Smoak who are pretty happy with themselves. I would make an assessment of your team, and ask your self each add “how does this benefit me in the interim and the long view?”
@Ralph Lifshitz: Thank you, kind of what I’ve been doing. The current major league players were once prospects.
Props on the amount of work you putting in this offseason
@Willy Mo: No worries Willy Mo, but my off-season will not be complete until you own Tanaka on every team…
KIDDING!!!
Ralph,
What are your expectations of Francis Martes ? You picked him up in RDI but he didn’t feature in your top Houston Astros prosepcts. Will he start the season in the majors ? Is he going to start or has he been moved to the pen permanently ? What do you think ?
I am asking because I have a trade offer on the table in a 12 team dynasty where I am rebuilding. I am going prospect crazy. I would lose Sonny Gray for a 2nd round pick (#14) this year and a 1st rounder next year as well as Bobby Bradley. Since it’s 12 team I was checking the FA pool for the level of starter that is available if I did the deal. Martes, Estrada, Cahill, Fister, JC Ramirez etc are available when FA opens.
Would you do that deal ? Think I have just talked myself into it. Looked at Gray’s stats. BB/9 increased in NYY (small sample size alert), HR/9 increased. K/9 is not elite.
Best wishes,
Dan
@Another Dan: He’s over his rookie IP limits by 4 innings so he didn’t qualify. I would have ranked him 3 behind Whitley. He’s much closer to Whitley for me than he is for others. I still think there’s a frontline arm there. He’s only 22 and had a 11+ K/9, 12.4% SwStr, contact% was 71.7%, and his SIERRA was 4.02. He might be a pen guy this year, but I’m okay with that. I think he’s still a starter long term, I like that he would have gone about 100 picks earlier last year and has already popped his MLB cherry.
I do the deal, go ahead!
Another Ralph! Hahaha
@Ralph Lifshitz:
Thanks, had accepted it – sometimes I just need to work it all through.
Martes is another target then. Will add him to my ever growing list on my spreadsheet
PlayersRalphwouldlovetoown.xls
Best wishes,
Another Dan
@Another Dan: I like that town, good town.
@Ralph Lifshitz: I like Martes too. Was sitting behind the plate for his 1st start last year and another of his early appearances and got an up close look at the stuff. Obviously has some work to do but there’s some tasty stuff there.
@Steve Stevenson: Agree, someone struggles with control, and everyone forgets all of the upside.
first year dynasty, rank these please
thanks for all the great dynasty work
devers, hoskins, sano, t shaw
@jack florida: Devers, Hoskins, Sano, and Shaw. Sano and Shaw are closer than you realize.
Hey Ralph,
Wanted to get your early opinion about my keeper options. We keep 5 and my definite 4 are Correa, Arenado, Machado, and Treat Turner. My last option is between Severino and Hoskins, both who would be 10 rounders. Any thoughts? Thanks.
@G: take Severino, you have a lot of infielders.
This list looks real familiar
@J-FOH: Hahahaha? Wait, what?
@Ralph Lifshitz: you text it to me while you were drafting
@J-FOH: This is true.
Hey Ralph,
What are your thoughts on taking Trea Turner my top pick? What kind of a ceiling do you see? I know Grey’s thoughts haha
Also — Royce Lewis… Can you expand a little on what you think of him and his potential? I read through some old threads but could find anything specific. I like him a lot, but I dont know if I should like him as much as I do.
Thanks for the great offseason work!
@Bryce Krispie Treats:
Trea Turner – Also, not 1st over all. Just the first round.
@Bryce Krispie Treats: All about Trea first, love him. The ceiling is crazy high if he puts all of the skills together for 150 games.
I love Royce, and there’s a lot I’ve said about him https://razzball.com/tag/royce-lewis/
Are you happy with your Hendricks/Bauer picks at 8 & 9? I’m assuming you wanted more ‘sure things’ instead of some of the prospects on the board. Was there any names you were hoping would fall like Castillo right before your Hendricks pick or Henywell, Godley, Whitley, Kopech before your Bauer pick?
@sport: I wanted Castillo, but I like Hendricks paired with Ray and Bauer. I also feel like you’re taking a gamble with pitching prospects at that early investment. I honestly thought those prices were too high. My intent was to play the game this year and the next few too. I don’t like to have wait and see prospect squads.
Ralph, i like the combo of youth and steadiness to compete. It doesn’t look like a 20 team draft.
I am in a 12 team 6 keeper 6×6 OPS & QS k9 league and having a keeper dilemna
Locks:
Arenado
Rizzo
Bellinger
Beni
Scherzer
I have to choose one of: Marte, Conforto, Story, Darvish and Ray.
@Ghost Ride the WHIP: Ray for me. If Conforto is healthy it’s him.
What are your thoughts this year on David Dahl and Ryan McMahon and the follow-up question when do you think we see Fernando tatis jr. Playing in the big leagues
@Marti: Tatis will be mid-late 2019, no need to rush him.
I like McMahon if he gets the job and I like Dahl if he’s healthy. Both huge IFs.
16 team h2h dynasty. 6×6 with QS and k/bb. won for the 2nd time in 3 years last year. I didn’t have an ace last year and instead cobbled together a staff. this year i have good depth but am wondering if i should try a 2 for 1 trade to get an ace or keep my depth as teams use the DL to give some SPs a little rest.
My staff is verlander, price, duffy, wood, quintana, gausman, sonny gray, alex reyes, teheran, clevinger, salazar, shoemaker, peacock.
Any thoughts?
Thanks Ralph
@brian: You have plenty of pitching, keep the depth.
Alford or Margot? Seems like similar expectations
@Larry David: I’d still lean Margot, he’s younger (by 2 months lol) and further ahead.
Hey Ralph! Happy New Year!!
I asked Grey & wanted to get your thoughts as well – can you rank these 5 keepers for me in a 6×6 roto league?
– Rendon in 8th
– Cespedes in 10th
– Darvish in 14th
– Robbie Ray in 17th
– Moncada in 19th
Thanks bud
@Johnny Be Good: Rendon, Ray, Cespedes, Moncada, Darvish.
Hay Ralph great stuff i loved the review Eddy posted on faketeams https://www.faketeams.com/2017/12/27/16819158/fantasy-baseball-rotowire-dynasty-invitational-expert
Is there more for me as a dynasty owner where i can read some general stuff and debates like that ?
I can use your trade advice im thinking about Darvish. One owner offered me Odor and a 3rd rounder thoughts about that ?
@Saints: That’s seems okay, but what’s the scoring? If it’s OBP then I’m all set. 5×5 Odor should hopefully bounce back with his average a little. Then it comes down to what’s available in the 3rd round? Who went in the third last year?
@Ralph Lifshitz:
We have a strange scoring setting:
The 7 Hitter categories are: AB,HR,RBI,BB,SB,AVG,SLG
The 7 pitching cats are: W,L,IP,K,SV,ERA,WHIP
We are 14 teams and a lot of prospects are already owned (about 80 of your top 100 prospects) So if im lucky i can get a low top 100 prospect if im not its more of a top 150 prospect…
@Saints: That’s okay, guys blow up from the back end all of the time. Target some of my sleepers, particularly Jesus Luzardo and Jhailyn Ortiz.
@Ralph Lifshitz:
Have another table on the desk:
instead of odor+3rd for Darvish i can do this deal:
I give up Darvish+Carlos Santana i get Stroman+Duffy+X(could try to get another 3rd rounder or something like that) i like this trade a little bit better especially if i look at your RDI where Stroman and Duffy went earlier than Darvish and Santana your thoughts on that deal ?
Loving the Devers love. I have him as my last (of 7) keepers in a 12 team standard roto. Based on your responses above, I assume you would easily be keeping an $11 Devers over guys like a $4 Godley or $5 Rosario?
@Duda Want to Build a Snowman?: Easy peasy Baby!
Interested in your takes on the of;;wing players: Scott Kingery/Chance Sisco/Nicky Delmonico/Pat Valaika/Harrison Bader/Brandon Drury/Daniel Mengden/ Andrew Triggs.
In the 24th round of a 15 team, 50 round semi-slow draft, and am hoping to catch lightening in a bottle, though in all honesty I jumped on Kingery in the 22nd round. Actually drafted Acuna, Teoscar, and Kingery in my 1st draft of the year.
Any of these other specs stand out ? Thanks.
@True and Correct: Also drafted Amed Rosario, hoping he’s as good as Albies was for me at the end of 2017. Rosario looked pretty overmatched last year, though, while Albies certainly looked more poised and ready for the Show.
@True and Correct: Agree
@True and Correct: Go Kingery.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Any others worthy of a leap of faith ?
@True and Correct: I like some of the players listed but they have murky playing time outlooks.
Love the offseason writeups, and like Sanchez as a sneaky-good pick!
In my dynasty league (keep 20 + 8 rookies, 10×10), I was just offered JD Martinez for Pham and Robles.
I don’t know how I feel about it, but my team is pretty stacked at OF and SB is only one of ten hitter categories, so Pham’s 20/20 and Robles’ eventual 15/30 (maybe?) aren’t quite as valuable as JD’s 35+ if he’s healthy. It’d also allow me to keep one more rookie.
My team looks like this if I declared keepers today:
2xC:
1B/3B/CI: Votto/Arenado/Bour
2B/SS/MI: Kinsler/Taylor/Story
LF/CF/RF/OFx2: Ozuna/Trout/Bryant/Betts/Inciarte
UTIL: Odor/Pham
SP: Kluber/Verlander/Tanaka/Weaver/Duffy/J Monty/Cueto
Minors: Acuna, Robles, Verdugo, Bader, Maitan, Mahle and one of
Marsh/C Stewart/Kaprielian/Dustin Fowler
My one big drop would be Tapia.
Pull the trigger?
@thorbs: And something in the back of my mind is that Acuna will likely lose rookie eligbility in 2018 and Robles might as well, which would put me in a tough situation keeper-wise if I’m in contention again (I’ve finished top-4 the past 3 years).
@thorbs: I’d make the deal myself. Makes a ton of sense, especially if steals are devalued some. You already have Inciarte, Betts, Trout, Kinsler, and Odor running.
Hey Ralph,
Just joined a 30 team dynasty league and it looks like you can draft any minor leaguer that’s a free agent in the FYPD. Looks like Gabriel Arias is a FA. Where would you rank him in your FYPD ranks?
Thanks man, love the content!
@Paste: Oh and I also just noticed Danny Jansen and Peter Alonso are available too.
@Paste: Right after Pratto
@Paste: I’d list him right after Heliot Ramos. He’s a top 10 pick in FYPD for me. As long as you can stash guys for 5 years with no consequences.
@Ralph Lifshitz: Thanks Ralph!
Ralph who do you like more in dynasty Barreto and Thaiss ot Tapia and Isan Diaz.
heard that sickels podcast, 1st off
1. does bill james still live in lawrence? i’m right near there sometimes
2. how awesome the quote that he’s “lucky to have the wife he has” when what he meant with that line was that the only reason he got his start with james was that james happened to be buying furniture in the store his wife worked at at the time
3. you notice that BP’s prospect team listings all of a sudden, starting with NYY and now HOU have gone from just a top 10 list before those teams to full on super info? just awesome, it’s almost like the paywall accidentally opened up
getting late in the draft, kinda worried 2 leaguemates might be scooping me to shit (particularly as one of these owners was a likely culprit in past year(s)) j.a. garcia taken RIGHT after our last talk about him. got 2 picks left, have nabbed some good pitching depth (j.guzman, w.crowe, m.sauer (barely after missing the higher upside l.medina also NYY by 2 picks) just curious about best overall players now. couldn’t hurt to have more pitching guys of course. am WAY stronger at OF depth than any other position as far as prospects though (adell, cozens, trammell, kirilloff, mags sierra)
SP: s.jennings PIT (great athlete fairly new to pitching good tools), shore (floorbored), palumbo TEX, solis HOU
CI: j.rizzo, c.santana LAD (you had him 13th in 1B prospects), ellis ARI
MI: gray PIT, hall BAL
OF: j.martin, velazquez CUBS, pereria NYY, brannen, bishop. from the tools page at BA this looks like brannen for the OF anyway.
what order’d you have say the top 5 or so of these?
@goodfold2: scratch pereria.
@goodfold2: throw in these MI’s too: kramer, m.george
@goodfold2: went brannen as in these days of low speed a (BA given) 70 grade speed with at least minimal hit tool and (again, at BA) a 45 power sounded good even though i’m way higher at OF depth than any other position by far. so only rank the non-OF’ers left.
In a 10-team roto keeper league. Its 11×11. Keeper rules allows me to keep up to 18 players. Players are ranked as 1’s, 2’s, or non-rated (n/r’d). I can keep a combo of either 6-1’s + 6-2’s + 6 n/r’d OR 5-1’s + 7-2’s + 6 n/r’d. I can also keep less rated players and load up on n/r’d players. My team w/ rating as follows (no number is n/r). Roster slots are indicated:
C Lucroy
1B Encarnacion (1)
1B Myers
MI Segura (1)
MI Simmons (2)
3B Turner (2)
3B Healy
OF Guerrero
OF Bruce (1)
OF Eaton (2)
OF Rosario (2)
OF DeShields
OF Marwin
OF Choo
Bench: Gennett (2), Swanson, Gamel, Pirella, Kyle Tucker
P Greinke (1)
P Strasburg (1)
P Ray (1)
P Archer (2)
P Quintana (2)
P Clevinger (2)
P Godley
P J. Gray
P Kuhl
P Iglesias
Bench: Alex Reyes
Minors: Puk, Kyle Wright
Very large rosters. So my keepers currently are:
1’s: encarnacion, segura, bruce, greinke, stras, ray
2’s: simmons, turner, eaton, rosario, archer, quintana
n/r’d: myers, healy, guerrero, tucker, godley, reyes
I have a couple trade in play:
1. archer (2) for gleybar & kopeck
2. grienke for daniel murphy (both 1’s)
here are my q’s:
1. before any trades, my roster as is, who do I keep?
2. what do you think of these trades? I’m more excited for trade 1.
3. assuming i accept trade 1, who do I now keep?
1. What’s it down to? I don’t have to list all 18 guys 2. Gleybar side Trade 1, yeah
have to drop out one of my n/r’d’a healy or godley i guess or keep clevinger (who i like) and drop 2 n/r’d’s.
Grey, still seeking your advise. Bottom line:
1’s: no change
2’s: simmons, turner, eaton, rosario, clevinger, quintana
n/r: myers, healy, guerrero, tucker, godley, reyes,
to make room for gleybar & kopech:
1. decide between clevinger or quintana & drop one of the n/r players above
2. keep both clev & quint and drop 2 of the n/r players above
What option you recommend and who would you drop?
Great stuff! I need help with cuts.
I have to cut one:
Minors: Tatis Jr, Alex Reyes, Josh Hader, Mitch Keller, Forrest Whitley, Senzel, Maitain, Eloy J, Luis Robert, Gleyber Torres.
Majors: Mike Minor, Brandon Morrow, Peacock, Rodon, Jimmy Nelson
I have to cut one person from these two groups of players. Thoughts?
Hey Ralph. Interesting article. I like the idea of the invisible hand draft.
I asked Grey this before. Wondering what you think?
12 team H2H 5X5 keeper league. standard yahoo stats.We keep 10
Bats-N.Arenado, C.Seager, J.Smoak, L.Cain, M.Ozuna, AJ Pollock, R.Acuna, Mi Cabrera, M.Conforto, B.Dozier, N.Mazara, M.Olson, A.Rosario,
Pitching-C.Anderson, M.Bumgarner, A.Chapman, D.Salazar, J.Taillon, D.Duffy, K.Giles, G.Cole, Z.Godley, L.McCullers, J.Paxton, F.Rivero, C.Rodon
Man I wish I could keep this whole group but unfortunately I have to narrow it down to 10.
Agree on Sanchez, even in 1 years its him or $1 bin all the way for me for C-
With such a great group and dynasty I just cant imagine why you guys wouldn’t use an auction format though-
(*Total douchery but true statement*…… I just cant fathom any good league snakin these days)