Let the obsessing begin…
Initial thoughts - this draft went really well. It was probably the best we’ve had in the several years we’ve done it. Just over 2 hours for 425 picks is an incredible pace. The picks themselves were all solid - there were just a handful of slips and reaches, but nothing gratuitous. (Nothing like someone taking V. Castilla and Burnitz back-to-back in the 5th and 6th in my $ league.)
Winnowill’s Winners
Infield: Extremely solid. Broussard was a very good value pick, and shows how well this infield was selected. Figgins provides some good flexibility.
Outfield: A couple question marks in Gonzo and Bigbie, but some excellent multi-tool players in Abreu and Coco.
Starters: So that’s how Winno got such a good infield! To be fair, her starters were all great value picks, Drese especially. But this staff will struggle, and a careful eye will need to used with these guys.
Relievers: One of the teams with 3 closers. Easy Eddie may lose some chances, but these 3 will finish in the top 5 in saves. Cormier will crank out the Holds.
Bench: Capable in a pinch, but nothing special.
Intangibles: Other than Figgins, not a very flexible team. A lot of buy low, sell high guys (Broussard, Glaus, Drese) that will flourish in this league.
Grade: B+ (I can’t give an A with that pitching staff)
Tazmanian Devils
Infield: Very solid - covered the K category well with Loretta and Pierz. I don’t know a lot about Peralta. But if he can’t do it, Everett can.
Outfield: The old and the young. Holliday was a great pick, Lane was picked a bit early (but should produce at that level), and it’ll be interesting to see what Alou will do without Bonds in SF.
Starters: Top notch starters. Lilly’s been shaky this spring, but Taz has the luxury of having the depth to actually drop someone!
Relievers: 1 closer, 1 top holds guy, 1 possible late season closer (Hermanson). Not this team’s strong suit.
Bench: Buck and DeJesus, while Royals, are excellent bench players. DeJesus could turn into Podsednik, and Buck could turn into Bob Boone (circa. 1990). Gathright was a slip, but there are FA options.
Intangibles: Lot of growth potential on this team. Avoided the Ks fairly well. If the Big Hurt comes back healthy, could be a contenda.
Grade: B
Dale Sveum Revisited
Infield: Ugly. Freel’s not starting, Lugo was a misclick (according to your comment in the draft), Hatteberg is so-so, and Crede is questionable. Luckily Ortiz is your anchor, or this ship would drift away.
Outfield: Barry Bonds. This team’s success will revolve around BALCO Barry. Because this is a solid outfield even without Bonds, and with Bonds, will carry the load. It has to.
Starters: Very good picking here. Right down the line it’s solid - top starters, young high potential arms, the works. Well done.
Relievers: 3 closers, 1 potential closer in Riske, and a couple Holds guys. Very competitive.
Bench: It’s all about the pitching, eh? Not my cup of tea, but I think should provide excellent trade fodder for overall improvement.
Intangibles: I think this team is all about the development of the pitching staff, and Dale’s ability to trade it off for upgrades to his infield. Do that, and he has a solid chance.
Grade: B+
Harvey’s Wallbangers
Infield: Top notch, one of the best in the league. Quite a few Ks, but Pujols and Estrada should balance that out.
Outfield: Lotta question marks (will Mags be back in force? how will Burnitz do away from Coors? Can Biggio last a full year at 2B and off the DL?).
Starters: Injury risk, injury risk, injury risk.
Relievers: 1 closer, 1 holds. Not a lot to work with.
Bench: Yowza! 6 offensive bench players! That’s my kind of bench.
Intangibles: Lots of available flexibility with that bench, which really helps out, and it’s not all scrubs. Could be paralyzed with choices from that bench.
Grade: C+ (injury risks really hurt this grade)
The Chimera
Infield: If McPherson comes back strong, this is a great, solid infield (except for the Ks).
Outfield: Will have a hole in it beginning the season with Dave Roberts injured, and no backups. Could be a liability.
Starters: Nothing overpowering, but some good consistency. Except Contreras, who shouldn’t be near the word “consistency”. (FTR, I like Contreras, he’s just shaky sometimes). A good rotation for this league.
Relievers: 3 closers, 1 potential closer. Not a lot of holds, but you can’t have everything.
Bench: 1 player in the minors, one on the DL, and one named Royce. Needs to move someone for a RF to replace Roberts.
Intangibles: Didn’t go easy on the Ks, not too flexible, no overpowering pitchers. Just a lot of players that go out and play everyday - which is something teams need, but maybe not across the board.
Grade: C+
Vikingerne
First off, we all need to give Vikingerne a big round of applause for showing up for the whole draft from friggin’ Denmark. I thought a midnight endtime was tough, but that’s dedication. He should be given a 5 point headstart.
Infield: Another top infield, probably the best in the league.
Outfield: Damn, a solid infield, *and * a solid outfield. Stewart and Wilson are injury risks, so there may be hope for us yet.
Starters: Uhhh…damn. Well done (except for Trachsel). Best Top 4 pitchers not taken with your first 4 picks.
Relievers: 1 closer, 2 holds. His weakness is revealed!
Bench: I don’t know who the hell Restovich is, but having Hillenbrand and LeCroy just sitting there on the bench say this team is dangerous.
Intangibles: Not a lot of stolen bases, quite a few Ks. Nice bench for flexibility.
Grade: A
LowLifeWhiteSoxFan
Infield: Very well suited to this league. Very good depth, very good flexibility.
Outfield: Exactly the same as above. LLWSF stole several of my picks.
Starters: Lotta questions here. I like Wood, and I like Livan (he’s great in a deep league). But after that…?
Relievers: LowLife picked Rich Ankiel. But beyond that Hoffman/Madson/Ayala will produce.
Bench: He likes guys named Gonzalez, apparently. Very good infield flexibility.
Intangibles: I don’t think enough attention was given to pitching on this team.
Grade: B-
Isotopes
Infield: The Isotopes took a look at the K category, and scoffed at it. Jason Kendall may have only struck out 41 times, but he could never see Strike Three this season and lose the K category. Regardless, this infield rocks, because chicks dig the long ball.
Outfield: Mr. Marlin! Conine is the only chink in this armor, and will still provide some decent support. A very good crew.
Starters: I don’t like Ishii, Milton or Ponson, but this rotation is good without them. Won’t dominate the categories, but will finish solid in all of them.
Relievers: 2 closers, and Justin Frasor. Not the best of the bunch.
Bench: A couple NAs on the board, but I like Wiggy and Randa. Could use another bat.
Intangibles: This team has heart, a desire to win, and desire to go down swinging. I see a low finish in several categories, a high finish in a couple others, and average scores in the rest. Middle of the pack.
Grade: C
Petelin
Infield: A healthy Giambi could mean trouble here - a very solid crew.
Outfield: How could you take Mench? How?!? Mench, Wilkerson and Bay will produce similar numbers, and Huff will put up very good numbers.
Starters: Not a lot to work with. Pineiro’s hurting, Morris was hurting, Brown felt good for a day. For 20 minutes. In 1960. Thomson could produce, could tank. We’ll see.
Relievers: 1 closer, tons of other guys. Could very well surprise with all that relief.
Bench: Snow and Choi, both 1B. No flexibility, no guaranteed production.
Intangibles: No SBs, lots of Ks, couple guys with big potential. Can’t rate highly at this moment, but reserve the right to re-evaluate.
Grade: B-
Continued on next post…
Crunkin’ Mully Style
Infield: Shaky. Castilla’s out of Coors, Iguchi’s out of Japan, Valentin’s in LA, and Bagwell’s a year older. Needs some flex options.
Outfield: Lee, Guillen and Berkman (when healthy) are a very solid core. Jenkins is underrated. Good value picks in there.
Starters: Ouch. Look at all those wins! Only guy not in double digits is Prior.
Relievers: Affeldt and…? Not good. But the thing about holds is, they always materialize out of the FA pool. Still, not good here.
Intangibles: Will he trade off the pitching or will he be content to just dominate? Interesting fact: only 1 of his pitchers has an ERA below 3.50., and only 2 have a WHIP below 1.25.
Grade: B