I was going to list my top 30 at each position that I used in my NFBC main event draft, but considering I’m in some of those 12 team leagues…some of my preseason favorites could get dropped over there, therefore I’m only listing my top 15 computer-ranked SP. These rankings are what my custom computer application spit out after all the algorithms run. This is not necessarily the order in which I’d select the players, but it is close. Going into the main event, I mapped out my strategy and was going to select the best SP on the board in the 4th, 5th, and 14th rounds.
For SP, I really wanted Haren and Billingsly at 4/5. I ended up with Billingsly and Beckett. In the 14th, I would loved to have Cueto slip, but was also a big fan of Jurrjens. My preseason thoughts on each of my top 15SP are below. Thought it might be interesting for me to release my actual rankings. Any thoughts are appreciated.
1 Lincecum Tim
Drafted him on 1 of 8 teams.
Young stud, with off the charts peripheral numbers
2 Halladay Roy
Drafted him on 1 of 8 teams.
Consistent stud without arm problems
3 Haren Dan
Drafted him on 3 of 8 teams. Would have drafted him on more if he actually made it to me in the 4th round!!!
My preseason choice for the guy with the highest ceiling (after lincecum)
4 Billingsley Chad
Drafted him on 4 of 8 teams. Would have drafted him on more if he didn't have the preseason groin injury!!!
On the same level as Haren
5 Sabathia CC
Did not draft on any teams.
Never a CC fan because of his workload concerns. Being on the Yanks gave him 15 wins in the bank. I likely would have over-ruled my application and selected Beckett and Webb over CC
6 Beckett Josh
Drafted him on 2 of 8 teams.
Always had good whip and era #'s. On the BoSox gives him 15 wins in the bank. Could have CY Young season
7 Webb Brandon
Did not draft on any teams.
Consistent stud with arm problems
8 Liriano Francisco
Did not draft on any teams.
Tempting player based on potential. Likely would have over-ruled my application and moved him down a spot or two
9 Santana Johan
Did not draft on any teams.
Consistent stud that had decreasing K/9 rate
10 Peavy Jake
Did not draft on any teams.
Pitcher who had abnormally high BB/9 rate in Aug/Sept 08 and in the WBC 09. High probability of pitching hurt IMO
11 Vazquez Javier
Drafted him on 1 of 8 teams.
Good peripheral numbers, switching to NL
12 Shields James
Did not draft on any teams.
Good peripheral numbers, good team
13 Burnett A.J.
Did not draft on any teams.
Good peripheral numbers, great team
14 Greinke Zack
Drafted him on 3 of 8 teams.
Good peripheral numbers, bad team
15 Lester Jon
Drafted him on 4 of 8 teams.
Finally healthy. Up and comer. On the BoSox gives him 15 wins in the bank