"You Took Him Too Soon"

[DOUGHBOYS]

Anybody who has played fantasy baseball for a long period of time has heard it. And if they haven't heard it, they've seen it on their computer screen.
'It' in this case is, "You took him too soon."
I had it said to me a draft or two ago.
Knee jerk reaction is to defend your pick and say, "Screw you and return my socks, willya? There under your wife's side of the bed".
After anger passes, fear comes in to play. I start doubting myself. I go through a bunch of scenarios with other players in my drafted players place to see if my team looks better. This exercise usually ends with anger re-appearing and wanting to tell the drafter if he could wash those socks before returning them to me.


"You took him too soon" is a dumbass thing to say. Not just because somebody said it to me once.
It actually goes back to ADP or Greg and Tom's favorite word, 'value'.
ADP assigns a price point in drafters minds. Those that follow ADP think that each pick should be in the same ball park as that players ADP.
Which is fine....if the name of our game was 'Beat ADP' and not fantasy baseball.
Last year, if we had chosen Josh Donaldson in the 18th round instead of the 20's, he would have been told, "You picked him too soon."
In reality, this drafter trusted Donaldson to have a better year than most third basemen at the bottom of the draft. The same guy that ridiculed the Donaldson drafter, cheated ADP and got Brett Lawrie at a bargain price, a round or two after his ADP.
And yes, the first thing he does is brag about the 'VALUE' he received.
So tell me, who got the REAL value?

After the season begins, we forget when we drafted most of our players. They all simply become, our players.
Nobody called John Buck a 'value pick' in any single draft held in the world.
That could be an under statement, I don't know.
But, when the season began and Buck put up an incredible April, Buck owners were all realizing real value. The round drafted meant little compared that he was rostered.

"You took him too soon".
There is no way around it. It pisses me off just writing those words. Worse, is hearing them.
I picture the drafters saying that line as we buy Microsoft stock early, while they wait to but it after the price balloons.


Why would they say this?
Lets take a name that goes around the 10th or 11th round of most drafts, Billy Butler.
Lets also say, I take him in the eighth round and hear those five godforsaken words, "You took him too soon."
There are three reasons why a drafter would say this.

1. He's a 'by the rules' type of guy. You know the type, he has a stick so far up his ass that he spits leaves.
His draft rotates around ADP. He thinks that every drafter should color in the lines. When they don't, he lets them know.
He has to. He's the ADP Policeman.

2. He wanted Billy Butler. He's pissed he didn't get Butler. So he chides the drafter for taking Butler before him.
Agitating him by saying he took him too soon, knowing that if he has another draft with this guy, that he may not take Butler as quickly. At least, that is the hope. Some call this 'Gekkoing'.

3. The 'know it all' drafter. He'll tell you that Butler could have been picked much later. He may even give you his ADP. Then, he'll give you a draft by draft update in where Butler went in all of his prior drafts.

There are four words to counter, "You took him too soon."
"I WANTED BILLY BUTLER". And not typed, but in my head is, "SO SCREW YOU!"
The one thing I love about draft day, whether it is a DC, a Main Event, or a Diamond is that everybody is wrong and everybody is right.
The season has not begun.
We can say Billy Butler was a stupid pick in the eighth round or that, "You took him too soon", but that guy doesn't know.
He THINKS he knows....but he doesn't know.

"You took him too soon".
It joins the list of things men don't want to hear.
It's annoying to hear, yes, but thankfully, does not rank near the top, such as these...

"We are auditing you"
"Let's watch figure skating"
"Is it in yet?"

[Edwards Kings]

"The ceiling needs a coat of paint."

"I think heard a noise downstairs."

"We've been invited to a Miley Cyrus concert. Her dad is the opening act."

"Let's winter in Wisconsin."

"Dan Kenyon is on the phone and says you stole his Doritos."

The socks pun made me remember. The Mother Superior was walking toward the chapel. A novice squeaked "Looks like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, Mother Superior!" "Why do you say that, my child?" "You have on the Bishops' shoes!"

I don't know Dan. I think you posted this too soon. Yeah, Yeah...I know...screw you!

[Walla Walla]

When your a crappy drafter its more likely to hear comments like Wow Walla Walla you actually made a good pick there. Granted it doesn't happen but during a blue moon. But it happens.

[Quahogs]

nice compilation Wayne! some other don't wanna hears:


"Lindy's got 1st pick"

"He's day to day"

"Massotto's in the OTHER league"

[DOUGHBOYS]

More.....

15th drafter, Four picks are in your head...
11th drafter- 3 picks
12th drafter- 2 picks
13th drafter- 1 pick
14th drafter- 0 picks
"You're on the clock!!!"
And the realization hits you that fantasy baseball has no 'four corners defense'....

"Lets go to the cabin for the weekend. Peace and quiet. No access. You always seem so tied to the computer on Sunday's"

"After (insert your players name here) got ripped his last three starts, I'll bet he was on a lot of fantasy benches this week!" (He was)

"And (insert your players name here) is hit with the pitch and that doesn't look good!"

"And (insert your players name here) is forced out at second base."

"And (insert your players name here) is robbed of a home run on a spectacular above-the-fence catch by (insert your players name here)!"

"And (insert your players name here) will be charged with all three of those runs. The bullpen couldn't hold the win."

After buying a scalped ticket..."Excuse me, I believe you are in my seat..."

[Bronx Yankees]

Let's not forget the paternity leaves that are announced on Tuesdays after your lineup has been set. How about some heads-up for your fantasy owners? (We get no respect.)

Mike