So here is my draft and a little insight into what was going on in my head...
It was the first weekend of the main (19th) and this was one of the online leagues.
First of all I got the 13th pick, not what I wanted but what are you gonna do!
One of my goals was to start out with a couple of high BA's with 600+ AB's. Another goal was to get a stud SP early. Round 3 is my target for that.
RD. 1 Pick 13- Matt Holiday- A solid first rounder. Ok there is some batting average with good counting stats and a guy I think will get 600+ ABs.
Was a little worried 12 was going to take him and then I would've punted and took Halladay probably. I was happy I didn't have to!
Rd. 2 -Kevin Youkilis-This was the start I had actually mapped out! I was not really surprised to get these two quality players but relieved that my plan was in tact after 2 rounds!
Rd. 3 -Jimmy Rollins- Wanted to grab a SP here but 8 were already gone including Lester & Kershaw. Those were the 2 I wanted but I didn't want to settle this early. So I changed gears and was torn...Alexei Ramirez this early? I picked Rollins late into my minute and a half. Figured Rollins will run more and will bat at or near the top of the order and maybe I'd double up on SS with Alexei in a few rounds.
Rd. 4- Justin Morneau- Really like him and wasn't sure if he was going to be around 20 some picks later! I thought for a good shot at .290-85-30-100 that was a good "risk-reward" pick. We'll see. Thought about Alexei here but Morneau was the last stud 1B left at this point IMO.
Rd. 5- Matt Cain- So much for an early stud SP. Was hoping Price, Haren, J. Johnson, Weaver, Oswalt or Hamels would make it back to me. NOT! So I go forward with Cain and feel pretty good about him. Very consistent and still young. And I heard he had a pretty good postseason last year.
Rd. 6- Shane Victorino- This is where the draft starts to get interesting always. You can go so many different ways at this point. SP's were flying off the board at such a frenetic pace I thought about getting another one here. Carpenter was still available as was Billingsley but at this point I'm hoping they might fall to me next round. I love Victorino, Always have. He's a gamer that actually translates into a good fantasy player IMO. Needed to get some speed and didn't want to "waste" the pick on just speed and BA.
Rd. 7- Neftali Feliz- Wanted a strong closer. Five of them had come off the board and I had Feliz ahead of three of them on my list so boom it was closer time. A little hand wringing for a week and a half after I made this pick thinking he might be a starter but it all ended well.
Rd. 8-Daniel Hudson- Needed to start forming a staff. I usually don't like to go back to back pitchers this early but I knew he wouldn't be here on the return trip. I also don't like pitchers that live in a launching pad but this kid seems to have a quality arm.
Rd. 9-Brian Roberts- EEK A little early and Kendrick was still on the board with his "upside" but I felt the need for speed! Hoping like heck the balky back/neck will hold up.
Rd. 10-Ted Lilly- Ok this is some kind of record for me! 4 pitchers out of 10 picks! But the way SP's were flying off the board and with a lack of a true ace I felt I needed this guy. I truly love the way he goes about his business and love him in Dodger stadium.
Ok online we didn't get the luxury of a break, which should be changed, but that's for another thread!
Rd. 11-Nick Swisher- My team was a little light in the power department and I needed a 3rd OF so I figured go with a guy hitting in a bandbox on a great offensive team. He probably won't come close to the .288 he hung last year but I've got a little room in that category at this point.
Rd. 12-Kurt Suzuki- Probably the latest I've ever gone in a draft without a catcher. He is solid and will hit 5th or 6th in that lineup so a little opportunity for RBI's and hopefully BA will rebound.
Rd. 13-Javier Vazquez- Yeah he isn't the same guy he once was but I like him in that cavernous stadium. He should get me 175-180 K's Just think he will have a solid year if the Marlins can catch the ball behind him!
Rd. 14-David Aardsma- my choices at this point for closer were Francisco (also hurt), Rodney (hurt and he sucks) or Gregg. Probably should have taken Gregg but I just can't stand him and I don't think Showalter has the stomach for him. Aardsma doesn't have a lot of quality competition so I think the job will be his when he gets back. Hopefully sooner than later.
Rd. 15-Alfonso Soriano- Yuck, but for a 4th OFer he offers some power that I still needed. I think at this point I'm like the marathon runner "hitting the wall". I'm not real happy with my last 2 picks but this was a need.
Rd. 16-Jhonny Peralta- I like the 3B/SS eligibility and I waited on 3B/CI so here he is. I think he'll do well this year. His peripherals look like they were improving, we'll see.
Rd. 17-Scott Baker- One of my favorite picks of the draft. At the time he wasn't guaranteed a spot. He now has it and I thing he will flourish. Great numbers haven't translated to fantasy dominance yet. This might be the year.
Rd. 18-Erick Aybar- Needed a solid MI with good BA and some speed. I think he will rebound from an injury filled year and give me .300 and 30 steals.
Rd. 19-Logan Morrison- My second favorite pick of the draft. A solid 5th OFer who might blossom into a RBI machine. He'll cleanup what Stanton misses hopefully. Should hit 5th or 6th and get a lot of opportunities with guys on base.
Rd. 20-Aaron Harang- A couple of years away from Baker should do his arm good. Not to mention pitching half his games in Petco.
Rd. 21-Clayton Richard- Ok this is getting embarrassing. 5th SP from the NL West. Yes I like pitchers in Petco and hitters in bandboxes. This is not by mistake. I'd rather get a 21st round pick pitching here then in Yankee stadium.
Rd. 22-David Murphy- Love him! He will get 450-500 AB's this year and he could go .285-85-18-85-18. Good player in a great lineup and a great hitters park. Did I say Love him!!!
Rd. 23-Damn I'm hungry, thirsty and I gotta pee! Why can't we get a break
but seriously, Yorvit Torrealba. Yeah he's a "backup" but he will get his AB's and should give a decent BA and some Hr's and Rbi's.Rd. 24-Carlos Carrasco-This years Jaime Garcia? Maybe. Has some experience and he is penciled in as the 3rd starter. Good K potential.
Rd. 25-Jon Rauch- My 2nd closer is questionable so I search for some saves. Everybody is hurt but him and he's closed before so we'll see. Atleast he should get some early opportunities.
Rd 26.-Jed Lowrie- This guy just needs to stay healthy and get a chance and he will be serviceable to good. I like the position eligibility.
Rd. 27-Mark "my worst pick ever" Teahen Not sure what was going through my head. Was going to take Matt Joyce here but he got snagged 2 picks before me and I went on tilt for a pick. He'll be cut April 3rd.
Rd. 28-Skip Schumaker- BA and some runs as a backup meh.
Rd. 29-Casper Wells- Fishing for "upside" he seems to have some power and speed and with old man Ordonez in the mix there will be AB's for somebody.
Rd. 30-Hisanori Takahashi- Still searching for saves and am not impressed with anyone in that pen.
So that's it...the draft lasted about 4 hours and 45 minutes with no breaks! It got a little exhausting towards the end. No excuses.
In all honesty, I like this team a lot and think it can compete. I wanted to have a solid to good BA with enough power and speed and plenty of AB's on offense. I think I accomplished that. Pitching wise I wanted guys that pitch in big ballparks that can strike someone out. Again I like what I have here too. As with any season the draft is just the start. There are 20 some weeks of FAAB and somebody that isn't on anyones roster will help them win their league.
Here is the roster in a more readable version...
C-Suzuki
C-Torrealba
1B-Morneau
2B-Roberts
SS-Rollins
3B-Youk
MI-Aybar
CI-Peralta
OF-Holliday
OF-Victorino
OF-Swisher
OF-Soriano
OF-Morrison
UT-D. Murphy TEX
Pitchers
Cain
Hudson
Lilly
Vazquez
Baker
Harang
Richard
Carrasco
Feliz
Aardsma
Rauch
Takahashi
Bench
Schumaker
Teahen
Casper Wells
Lowrie
I welcome any feedback, like I said at the start of this post I didn't watch any baseball last year so I might like this team and others may think its total garbage . I'm a big boy I can take it!
[ March 28, 2011, 07:38 PM: Message edited by: Bullgod ]