Diamond League

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:02 am

I thought I'd share some thoughts about my draft in the Diamond league.

I had the 7th pick.

1-Troy Tulowitzki (SS)-I thought he was a top five player in the draft this year.

2-Joey Votto (1B)-I wanted to play the Diamond a little different than the main event. I wanted a stronger power base.

3-Ben Zobrist (2B)-I stuck to my guns from my original draft in the Fanball magazine.

4-Clayton Kershaw (SP)-I passed on Justin Verlander here. I like Verlander, but I don't like Detroit this year. I went for the upside arm. I figured he wouldn't make it back to me in the fifth round.

5-Ubaldo Jimenez (SP)-Most of the front starting pitching was off the board. I probably should have taken Cole Hamels, but I didn't like his last two starts. Going into the first weekend in the NFBC draft, I wanted Kershaw and Hamels as my number one and two starters.

6-Shane Victorino (OF)-My team was short speed through five rounds. I was debating between a power outfielder. I thought Quentin and Bruce wouldn't make it back to me at seven.

7-Alexei Ramirez (MI)-I was right that the power bats I was interest in came off the board. I thought my best option in the outfield was Jason Kubel. He has been sliding in most draft I've done the past two weeks. I'd take him at a discount, but I didn't want to pay full price. By taking Ramirez, I had another power/speed player on my team.

8-John Lackey (SP)-My middle infield was filled and I didn't want to jump any outfielders. I thought I could get a catcher in the next couple of rounds. I didn't want to commit to a closer this early. One team was punting saves for sure and another I wasn't sure which direction he was going. I took a solid third arm.

9-Kevin Slowey (SP)-This is a round I should have taken a catcher. Montero was the best catcher on the board. I decide to take Slowey to offset some of the whip risk in Kershaw and Jimenez.

10-James Loney (1B)-I've been in this position in almost every draft I've done in the 15 team format. In most drafts I was looking for a 1st baseman. It always came down to Loney, C. Davis, Cuddyer, or Garrett Jones. I think I've taken each one for different reasons on my teams. I probably needed more power, but I decided to gamble on upside. Loney was the stronger BA player and had some speed. He would also be my corner not my first baseman. I was looking to get Chipper Jones at 3B later. I missed out the catcher run.

11-Tim Hudson (SP)-When I look back, I probably should taken Vlad in the 10th. Team one drafted a closer so I got the feeling two teams were punting saves. I continued with strengthening my starting staff. Hudson has looked good and he should help protect whip and era. I wanted to avoid some risk in the front of the starting staff.

12-Chipper Jones (3B)-I haven't owned Jones in the six years I've been playing in the NFBC. I thought he has more value because of the rule change this year. In round 12 there wasn't a lot of risk in taking him.

13-Troy Glaus (DH)-I pushed him up to take some late power off the board.

14-David Ortiz (DH)-My plan was to start working on the outfield. Conner Jackson was the best player in my mind. I thought I could push him a round. By owing Ortiz I have some Chipper insurance.

15-Lasting Milledge (OF)-I missed on Conner Jackson so I decided to work on my speed.

16-Clay Buchhotz (SP)-My feelings on Buchhotz were up and down between the NFBC weekends. As my 6th starter, I thought he was a deal. I took him as my number three the first weekend.

17-Kelly Shoppach (C)-I was sitting on Cameron Maybin when he went one pick before me. Shoppach has batting average risk, but he should hit some homeruns.

18-Delmon Young (OF)-The outfielders with speed and some power were off the board. Young was the last player with a chance to give you both.

19-Ervin Santana (SP)-I didn't like the news he banged his elbow. He has some risk, but he was severely discounted here. I thought if I pasted on him he would slide to team 12 (DiDonato). I didn't want him to have a bounce back year and be the final key piece to his staff.

20-Jeff Francoeur (OF)-I was just looking for full time at bats in the outfield.

21-Carlos Santana (C)-My second catcher was going to be weak so I took the upside in Santana. He should get called up at some point in the season. Adam Moore was off the table.

22-Melky Cabrera (OF)-He isn't the ideal number five outfielder, but he has some power and speed.

23-Juan Gutierrez (RP)-I thought there was going to be an imbalance in saves in this league. I didn't want to close the door totally on that category.

24-Mike Adams (RP)-I threw another dart here. If Bell gets traded, he might get some saves.

25-J.R. Towles (C)-I needed a starting catcher.

I can't remember the last five round. I knew three of them: Cahill, Andrew Jones, and Hank Blalock.

ALL-IN JD · Post by **ALL-IN JD** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:10 am

Shawn, your starters are stacked although I think you know my feelings on Verlander/Kershaw. I absolutely that horse named Verlander and until Kershaw stops hitting 100 pitches by inning 5 I just can not roster him. I love Slowey and Hudson and Bucholz as a sixth starter is just crazy as he has huge upside. I also think you made the absolute right call going Jiminez over Hamels. As for your 1B dilemma I personally would have gone Davis as I think he is going to have a very big year but even if he does he could still hit .260 while Loney will hit .300. If you somehow pull out save from the waiver wire (depending on what closer in waiting pitchers are left) that team can easily win in it all.

Jeff

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:16 am

Originally posted by ALL-IN JD:

Shawn, your starters are stacked although I think you know my feelings on Verlander/Kershaw. I absolutely that horse named Verlander and until Kershaw stops hitting 100 pitches by inning 5 I just can not roster him. I love Slowey and Hudson and Bucholz as a sixth starter is just crazy as he has huge upside. I also think you made the absolute right call going Jiminez over Hamels. As for your 1B dilemma I personally would have gone Davis as I think he is going to have a very big year but even if he does he could still hit .260 while Loney will hit .300. If you somehow pull out save from the waiver wire (depending on what closer in waiting pitchers are left) that team can easily win in it all.

Jeff The first weekend I went with Chris Davis at 1B, but I took Vlad the next pick to protect BA.

The Mighty Men · Post by **The Mighty Men** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:17 am

Question - exactly how much do you look at the construction of another person's team? I was surprised to read your comment about keeping Santana from DiDonato. Because I never look at another team in baseball with thoughts of blocking them from getting a player.

NorCalAtlFan · Post by **NorCalAtlFan** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:17 am

i knew you loved tulo. maybe i should have taken him in the double play

as usual, solid effort shawn.

ALL-IN JD · Post by **ALL-IN JD** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:18 am

Lets face, at the end of the day we are probably rooting for half of MLB anyway!!

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:25 am

Originally posted by The Mighty Men:

Question - exactly how much do you look at the construction of another person's team? I was surprised to read your comment about keeping Santana from DiDonato. Because I never look at another team in baseball with thoughts of blocking them from getting a player. I usually don't look that close at it, but I do pick up if a player might need a key player. He took some risk - Reyes and Soriano. I looked at his team in round 15 when Danks fell to him. I thought the draft was braking right for him. Two years ago he owned Santana and I thought he would take him if he fell to him.

In live events it easier to follow other teams.

bustouts · Post by **bustouts** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:27 am

You're just lucky I wasnt picking before you because I would have swooped in and stole tulo again. Eddie said it was ok to do so!!!!

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:32 am

Originally posted by bustouts:

You're just lucky I wasnt picking before you because I would have swooped in and stole tulo again. Eddie said it was ok to do so!!!! It's nice to have inside info!

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:37 am

Originally posted by bustouts:

You're just lucky I wasnt picking before you because I would have swooped in and stole tulo again. Eddie said it was ok to do so!!!! Don't egg him on David. He really thinks that's how it went down!!

GYOZTES · Post by **GYOZTES** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:40 am

Could not agree more with your comments on Tulo, Zobrist, and Chipper. BTW-are you going to post your main event teams?

bustouts · Post by **bustouts** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:54 am

It's nice to have inside info

Don't egg him on David. He really thinks that's how it went down!!

Honestly, if thats how you really feel, im sorry. I dont choose my players by who someone else wants on their team. I pick them based on who I want on my own team. You like to share your info with everyone and anyone who wants to hear it and I like to keep my thoughts to myself . This is one of the reasons. There were actually many players who I thought we would have mutual interest in.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:01 am

Originally posted by GYOZTES:

Could not agree more with your comments on Tulo, Zobrist, and Chipper. BTW-are you going to post your main event teams? If you want them , I'll post them.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:06 am

Originally posted by bustouts:

It's nice to have inside info

Don't egg him on David. He really thinks that's how it went down!!

Honestly, if thats how you really feel, im sorry. I dont choose my players by who someone else wants on their team. I pick them based on who I want on my own team. You like to share your info with everyone and anyone who wants to hear it and I like to keep my thoughts to myself . This is one of the reasons. There were actually many players who I thought we would have mutual interest in. I'm ok with you taking Tulo. I was just having fun with you and getting a few jabs at Eddie. I didn't need to own him in every league. I took the full shot clock deciding whether to take Mauer or go in a different direction. I thought it was fun to get some insight on who you thought I should take.

Schwks · Post by **Schwks** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:08 am

Shawn,

With the caveat that I am first time main who ended up short on sp, dont you think that investing that heavily in sp/age accrues a very high percentage of risk? And then the risk factors seem compounded by excessive age in the middle of the draft with Glaus, Papi and Chipper.

Also I understand that you were punting on saves, but if you picked up a late RP...say a F Morales, K Wood, Lidge type, then you could be in a better position to buy one closer and be at 6-7 points. Now if you want to get some points there, wont it cost a huge chunk of FAAB?

Either way good luck and thanks as always for sharing your thoughts

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:20 am

C-Montero C-Weiters

C-Rodriguez C-A. Moore

C-C. Santana

1B-Loney 1B-C. Davis

2B-Zobrist (Both)

SS-Tulo (Both)

3B-Glaus 3B-C. Jones

MI-A. Ramirez MI-Rollins

CO-G. Jones CO-Glaus

OF-BJ. Upton OF-Span

OF-C. Gonzalez OF-Quentin

OF-Bruce (Both)

OF-C. Jackson OF-Milledge

OF-Maybin (Both)

DH-Francoeur DH-Vlad

SP-Lincecum SP-Grienke

SP-Beckett SP-Jimenez

SP-Slowey SP-Liriano

SP-Hudson SP-Buchholz

SP-Bailey SP-E. Santana

SP-C. Lewis SP-Feldman

SP-Chamberlain SP-Hellickson

SP-Gorzelanny SP-T-Cahill

SP-Hochevar

RP-Perez RP-Nunez

RP-Madson (Both)

RP-Motte RP-J. Rauch

RP-Gutierrez (Both)

Bench

A. Laroche (Both)

M. Cabrera ~ Jose Guillen

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:23 am

Originally posted by Schwks:

Shawn,

With the caveat that I am first time main who ended up short on sp, dont you think that investing that heavily in sp/age accrues a very high percentage of risk? And then the risk factors seem compounded by excessive age in the middle of the draft with Glaus, Papi and Chipper.

I wish I saw better young options, but there is a reason they are getting in the teen's.

I didn't think my starting staff was that old.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:27 am

Originally posted by Schwks:

Also I understand that you were punting on saves, but if you picked up a late RP...say a F Morales, K Wood, Lidge type, then you could be in a better position to buy one closer and be at 6-7 points. Now if you want to get some points there, wont it cost a huge chunk of FAAB?

All of those players were taken before round 20.

Kerry Wood is a waste of a roster spot put a fork in him.

I don't like the fact that Lidge isn't throwing over 90. I'll bet he has more of a problem than people think.

Schwks · Post by **Schwks** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:29 am

Bad communication in last post...your sps are not old. What I meant is that we all agree, at least I think we do, that the reason for hitting early is that hitters carry less risk then pitchers. In your draft 5 of your top 11 picks were sps, which I perceive to be a high risk play, because of this fact.

Then, in middle of draft, it seems like you went with some age/fade inj risk hitters: Ortiz, Glaus and Chipper.

But I am not critiquing just wondering.

Dirt Dogs · Post by **Dirt Dogs** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:33 am

Nice pick on Madson in both leagues. Based on todays news regarding lidge only hitting 87 MPH looks like you might have a late round stud closer on both teams.

Big Big Potential there

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:35 am

Originally posted by Schwks:

Bad communication in last post...your sps are not old. What I meant is that we all agree, at least I think we do, that the reason for hitting early is that hitters carry less risk then pitchers. In your draft 5 of your top 11 picks were sps, which I perceive to be a high risk play, because of this fact.

Then, in middle of draft, it seems like you went with some age/fade inj risk hitters: Ortiz, Glaus and Chipper.

But I am not critiquing just wondering. I would agree, but I can only take what they give me. I missed on the bats I had interest in and took the edge in SP.

I think Ortiz, Glaus, and Chipper have good years. I'd rather have Vlad over Ortiz, but I didn't have that option. All of these players hit in the right spot in the lineup. A clean up hitter in the 17th rounds is deal no matter what age.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:36 am

Originally posted by Dirt Dogs:

Nice pick on Madson in both leagues. Based on todays news regarding lidge only hitting 87 MPH looks like you might have a late round stud closer on both teams.

Big Big Potential there Glad they didn't release that a couple of days ago, but the information was out there before the drafts.

GYOZTES · Post by **GYOZTES** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:37 am

Nice job Shawn

I can see you like Zobrist and Tulo (as do I)

We also share Chipper and Span.

Got Mauer at #17 which shocked me. Did you see him drop that far in any leagues you have been involved in?

Good luck this year.

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:41 am

Originally posted by GYOZTES:

Nice job Shawn

I can see you like Zobrist and Tulo (as do I)

We also share Chipper and Span.

Got Mauer at #17 which shocked me. Did you see him drop that far in any leagues you have been involved in?

Good luck this year. I saw one team with the Tulo/Mauer combo. I like the edge at two positions. I wanted to draft a 12 teamer with that start. It looks even better in the 15 team event.

NorCalAtlFan · Post by **NorCalAtlFan** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 9:43 am

you could have done that in an auction