I’m going to take a new approach with this post. No, not because I’m typing with my elbows, but becooooze I’mmmm ryping–Okay, I am typing with my elbows. On the heels of drafting my third team, I realize there’s some players I absolutely would draft and some I just won’t. It’s not that I don’t like these players. Well, some of them, but there’s just some players I won’t draft due to their ADP and where I’m looking to draft at any given moment. It occurred to me when I was about to draft Carlos Carrasco (prayer hexagon, please) in the fifth round. Top guys on the board at the time from my 2017 fantasy baseball rankings were Polanco, Myers, Segura, Kyle Seager, Arrieta and deGrom. I already had two outfielders, so that eliminated Polanco for me; I called Jake Arrieta overrated; I wouldn’t draft deGrom, per my top 20 starters, and I really needed a starter. I wish I had three picks at that point, because I like Myers and Seager and don’t fully hate Segura, though that price is high. So, if this is how the 5th round shakes out, how can I draft Myers, Segura, Seager or Polanco this year? It just seems like it’s not happening. No matter if I like them or not. Then, I thought deeper about my situation like I was KRS-One, and realized there were dozens of players I could’ve chosen at that point. Hundreds of players, really. I mean, only 60 players were off the board. Couldn’t I have drafted so many other players? Actually, no, I couldn’t. Or, I guess better, I wouldn’t. In my top 100 for 2017 fantasy baseball, there’s approximately 20 players I’m drafting after the top 25 overall and before we’re out of the top 100. Why after the top 25? Because in the top 25, I’d take anyone. Technically, I won’t draft Kershaw where I have him ranked because he’ll be drafted already, but now you’re quibbling, you quibbler! Anyway, here’s twenty players I’m drafting in the top 100 for 2017 fantasy baseball:
1B
Jose Abreu
Hanley Ramirez
Carlos Santana
2B
Jonathan Villar
SS
Addison Russell
3B
Anthony Rendon
Evan Longoria
OF
Nelson Cruz
Ryan Braun
Mark Trumbo
Jackie Bradley Jr.
Adam Duvall
Stephen Piscotty
Andrew Benintendi
SP
Justin Verlander
Corey Kluber
Carlos Carrasco
Danny Duffy
Kenta Maeda
Danny Salazar
YOU SWORE TO ME THAT YOU WOULD DRAFT BYRON BUXTON?! (MARCUS SEMIEN, JONATHAN SCHOOP, CHRIS ARCHER, TOO MANY NAMES TO MENTION.) I’M UPSET WITH YOUR LIES. WHY DID YOU LIE? WHY?!
I didn’t lie as much as the reality of drafting some guys shifted as drafts began to take shape. I still love those guys. I’m gonna cut out a picture of Buxton, and snuggle-bunny him. He’s also going around pick 140 overall. I’m all about drafting my team and not worrying about how others are drafting, but, let’s be real, you don’t need to reach over 40 picks. If you were to wait until around pick 120, you’d still be fine grabbing Buxton. Then there’s guys like Archer or Semien. They are either being drafted too early or at an inopportune time. Archer, for unstints, is going right after I will have drafted Verlander, Kluber, etc. I’m not taking another starter where Archer is going. Same with Cueto. A guy like Corey Seager is going too early for my taste. If I’m drafting Trumbo (or Yoenis), there’s just no way I’m taking a guy like Pollock. And so on and so forth. Damn, I sound smart.
IS IT ME (IT’S YOU) OR ARE THERE ABSOLUTELY NO CORNER MEN TO DRAFT? I COUNT FIVE. FIVE!!! I’M HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN!
I wake up at night with the shakes about getting out of the 3rd round without a corner man yet. I didn’t list Beltre here or Wil Myers, because I just don’t see reaching for them in the 3rd. But check this scenario: I got Bryce Harper in the 1st — woohoo! 2nd round and my mustache hair is blowing in the wind and I’m jive-turkeying on some Trevor Story! Things are good! I wanna make love to my much older wife! 3rd round hits and Giancarlo’s fallen to me! I must, I must, I must touch his bust! So I grab him! I’m cooking with gas! Or I’m just farting, but I’m so high I can’t tell the difference! 4th round comes and I really need to grab a pitcher. Eff it, I’m grabbing Verlander. 5th round is here and I want jump out a window because I have no corner men. GeroniNOOOOO!!! That’s a recurring dream of mine. Am I thrilled with Abreu or Hanley? Do I love Rendon and Longo? I think those are the only legitimate cornermen I can own between the 2nd and 7th rounds, and I’m scared.
OH MY JESUS, I JUST SAW THERE’S ONLY TWO MIDDLE INFIELDERS. MY CHEST IS CLOGGING, I NEED AN EMT!
And you were wondering why I was drafting Rougned Odor in every league. Speaking of which, these are players that fall outside of *my* top 25. If you can get Odor in the 3rd or 4th rounds, then technically there’s another middle infielder to draft after the top 25 and before the top 100 ends. If you can get Cano where I have him ranked, then there’s another one. If you can get Dozier at a discount, more power to you. If you can get Story or Lindor in the 3rd, great! But, according to my top 100, I will realistically grab one shortstop and one 2nd baseman from picks 25-100. Yes, God help us all.
DID YOU JUST DRAFT DEE GORDON IN THE TOP 100 IN A LEAGUE AND NOT EVEN LIST HIM IN THE TWENTY NAMES YOU SAID YOU’D BE DRAFTING? I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO BELIEVE, AND THAT’S UPSETTING. I’M GOING TO PUT A SAD EGGPLANT EMOJI ON THIS POST AND LEAVE NOW.
I did draft Dee Gordon, because it was an NFBC league (15 teams, no waivers) and I felt like I wanted safe speed and runs. I’d also draft Adrian Beltre if he fell a round from where I see him being taken. I’d draft Darvish in a heartbeat, but he’s going in drafts before I’m taking pitchers. I’d even draft Corey Seager if he fell. These are twenty players that I see myself drafting if things play out as they have been, but each draft carries its own Choose Your Own Adventure for you to navigate. If I could have my druthers, all of the players I listed I’d own, but I have no idea what druthers are and if they’re even any good.
