Players I Will Not Draft This Year

[DOUGHBOYS]

WARiNING: This post will have a lot of junk. Junk, to me, is opinion. Junk is why I don't watch NFL pre-game shows.
I could give a rat's ass what Deion Sanders thinks about another football player. It's all junk.
And you may think that what I'm about to say is junk and don't give a rat's ass.
You had your warning....

There are several players we will not draft. And it's not always because we think they will under perform.
We won't draft some players because they screwed us the year before.
Last year, in a Main Event, I was tortured in my own mind. In the fifth round, the facilitator was staring at me, counting down from 15 seconds, 14, 13...
In my head was Mookie Betts and Devin Mesoraco. We now know that Betts was the pick. At the time though, Betts was a tough pick because of inexperience and a full BoSox outfield. Mesoraco, a powerful catcher. 9,8,7,6....
I'd already decided to perse my lips in an 'M' form to say Mesoraco or Mookie Betts at the count of one. The problem being that I really had no idea which name would come out of my mouth.
5,4,3,2,1..."Mesoraco."
And with that one name, my fourth place finish was cemented. Out of the money and left to wonder what could have been if I had just said, "Mookie".

I'm not the type that holds grudges though. I've already drafted Mesoraco in a league for next year. I figure that it wasn't his fault that I was stupid enough to say his name.
There are 'types' of players that I won't draft.
I won't draft 'headache' players.
These include Yasiel Puig and Hanley Ramirez.
I don't know these players personally, but they perform on the field as if we should be thankful that we are lucky enough to see them on the field.
In the meanwhile, it seems they are happier not playing, in missing so much time.
Milton Bradley was the king of headache players. Even stating to the press after a game that he was in right field, thinking of how he was wishing the season was over. There's the type of player to avoid!

I also won't take Miguel Cabrera.
Yes, I think Miguel Cabrera is a wonderful player.
Yes, he is far from a headache.
Yes, his numbers are still wonderful.
The trouble with Cabrera is that from a power standpoint, he is not the player he once was. But, he is still being taken in the first round.
Some would say I am not selecting him because I feel he is 'overvalued'.
Ugh.
I'll post another rant about 'value' during a draft soon.
The truth is, my opinion is that Cabrera's power, once elite, will never be the same. Most disagree with me and that is why he is still being taken in the first round.

I won't draft Steve Strasburg.
This is all me. And what I think.
I look at Strasburg as a Nancy.
The guy melts like the wicked witch when the weather is hot.
He seems to wilt when giving up two straight hits, sometimes a homer.
Completely anecdotal.
Sometimes he pitches great games. And his numbers look great on paper, both in how hard he throws and his peripherals.
At the same time, I believe he plays on a team full of players whose numbers are better than their actual performance.
Strasburg, to me needs somebody to turn him into a bulldog.
But going from a Nancy to bulldog does not come overnight.

I won't draft Joey Votto.
You guys knew this was coming!
Votto drives folks who own him crazy. If not watching the games, Votto's a great pick.
You'll see a 3-1-1-1 box score and find that acceptable.
What is missing from the box score is that he had an 11-pitch walk with runners on first and third and one out.
And that his rbi came from a bases loaded walk with no outs.
Nobody leaves more rbi on his shoulder better than Joey Votto.
He's a great hitter.
He's an even better walker.
I may need a walker when turning 70 years of age, I don't need one on my fantasy team.

I won't draft Brandon Belt.
This is more Numerish than anecdotal.
I love watching Brandon Belt.
I love that he has a nickname that fits. If any player LOOKS like a baby giraffe, it is Brandon Belt.
The problem with Belt is the ball park he plays in.
It kicks his ass.
Here is some Numerish from an article read about Belt...

'San Francisco is officially the whole problem with Brandon Belt. Year after year he searches for a way to combat pitching in the NL West, and being a left handed hitter in AT&T Park. Belt had the 13th best hard hit rate in baseball, and a 291ft average distance. We have reached the point where every player who played over 130 games and had a better hard hit rate averaged 37 homers. Belt hit 18. The sooner he moves, the better.'

This writer gets it. Belt could be a 35 home run hitter. But not where he hits. He has averaged four homers a year in his home ball park.
David Wright disease.
Brandon Belt at AT&T is the opposite of being clausterphobic.
AT&T called and said Brandon Belt will not be dialing many long distance calls.
In five years, Belt has 63 homers. 43 on the road.
Still, Belt is taken in the first 10 rounds of most drafts.
As if his drafters think, "This, this will be the year."
It won't.
Unless traded.

What about you?
Do you have players you will not take?
How come?
Let us know....

[Edwards Kings]

And with that one name, my fourth place finish was cemented. Out of the money and left to wonder what could have been if I had just said, "Mookie".

Yes, but think of the fine company you keep being stuck in fourth place the entire offseason....

[DOUGHBOYS]

And with that one name, my fourth place finish was cemented. Out of the money and left to wonder what could have been if I had just said, "Mookie".

Yes, but think of the fine company you keep being stuck in fourth place the entire offseason....

Indeed! The best I could ask for!

[TOXIC ASSETS]

Strasburg keeps disappointing me every year.
I'll probably gamble on him again next year --- the guys' stuff is just too good not to eventually put it all together and win 20 games.

[teflontim]

Players I won't draft...

Strasburg...the numbers never live up the hype or the draft position.

Harper...gets hurt every year.

Lackey...the guy is just a jerk. He just left my Cards for the Cubs and I couldn't be happier.

Lebron...oops, wrong sport. Hate that guy!!!

[Edwards Kings]

Players I won't draft...

Strasburg...the numbers never live up the hype or the draft position.

Harper...gets hurt every year.

Lackey...the guy is just a jerk. He just left my Cards for the Cubs and I couldn't be happier.

Lebron...oops, wrong sport. Hate that guy!!!

OK...I will give you Labron. Never thought he could hit the curve.

For the rest, all opinions matter, but...

Strasburg...For the next couple of years under Dusty, I am in. In time Dusty will wring that arm out like a wet dish rag, but with Strasburg going into is age 27/28 year....control and K's even on 185 IP...wow!

Harper...2015 National League Most Valuable Player. 153 games on a team that went nowhere spoke to a little maturity (i.e. not crashing into walls) so hopefully the injury bug is a bit behind him. 42 HR at age 22? BA. OBP (takes walks in good AB ). Certainly can steal 10 or 20. You just can't write this kid off so easily. Will not make past the top four picks this year and rightfully so.

President of Baseball Operations Theo must know a thing or two. Lackey had arguably his two worst years in Boston and still he is a Cub. I get personal preference as there are some players who I just hate on principle, You have to believe in the Cubs now, so pitchers in that rotation get a bump up. I do not know where I would pick or how much I would spend on this particular 37 year old pitcher, but yes he is more than a blip on my radar screen.

[DOUGHBOYS]

I'm adding a name to this list.
Joc Pederson.
Pederson has become a Bryan Kenny favorite. A sabr darling.
He draws the sabrs love because he draws walks.
He has power and speed, which should appeal to the fantasy player.
It appealed to me. I drafted him last year in the Main Event. For the first couple of months, the Pederson pick was brilliant.
And just as quick, he turned it into a stupid pick.

Don Mattingly, probably reading too many sabr articles put Pederson in the leadoff spot.
And he drew walks.
He had a .325 obp as a leadoff hitter. Still, he was not doing the Dodgers any favors.
There should be a percentage for sabrs as to how many times a walk actually HELPS his team.
Pederson's walks hardly mattered.
He had over 300 appearances as a leadoff hitter. Over 300.
He scored 34 runs. Which sounds ok, but he knocked himself in 16 times.
So that leaves 18 runs.
Pederson reached base over 100 times, yet only scored 18 times when needing help from other Dodgers.

Soon, Pederson found himself hitting eighth. He predictably became a walking machine hitting in that spot.
His obp rose to .365 in the eight spot.
And still, he hit .203 there.
I believe Pederson needs to be sent back down to the Minor Leagues.
He never hit over .200 in July, August, or September.
The Dodgers did start benching him.
But never did the right thing in sending him back to the Minors.

Pederson was famous for his 30-30 season in the Pacific Coast League. Which translates to a 20-20 season in the International League.
For fantasy purposes, Pederson displayed the power needed to be a fantasy star, but his speed never manifested.
Laughably, he stole four bases and was caught seven times.
In a recent draft, he was available long after he would have been taken in other drafts.
I passed.
And knew that I would not be taking him this year at all.
He is owed a trip to the minors.
I don't want to own him when he makes that trip.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Miggy, Stras, Joey, and Baby Giraffe are all flipping me off.

I was wrong and these players were right. All these players turned out to be totally draftable. All helped most fantasy teams.
Not mine.
Although Strasburg left fantasy teams when needed most. And Belt is losing millions by playing in SF.
And Votto would still drive me crazy.

There's a certain comfort level we need when drafting a player.
I can never get that with these players.
It's the little things.
I hate seeing a player of mine hit a towering drive only to be caught at the fence.
It happens with Belt in San Francisco too many times. It overshadows the road homers and good games at home.
In drafts, I'll think of those drives and bypass Belt for another.

Strasburg didn't 'wilt' this Summer. He just came up with an injury to pass the hottest weeks.
Miggy is an old clock to me. I know that he's bound to stop one day. I don't want to have that Miggy Clock on me when it does quit ticking. The cost is too much.
And Votto?
Good year, Joey!
I salute you.
But, I still can't draft you.

I will have another 'Players I will not draft' list again for next year.
Make sure you draft them!