Twelve managers, 240 players to draft in about two hours. It’s time to see what happened in the BaseballGB Fantasy League draft.
With Yahoo randomly drawing the draft order half an hour before we are due to begin, I log in to find my team, the Orpington Isotopes, picking sixth. I had done three mock drafts in 12-team leagues, picking 11th (probably the worst mock I’ve ever done), second and sixth. Having been really pleased with the other two mocks, I consult my notes and start to formulate my plan for the draft.
I had been a lot more aggressive in filling my hitting lineup in those two mocks, and wanted to go for six hitters and four pitchers in the opening 10 rounds. I knew I could afford to wait until round four of five for my first pitcher, and had drafted my first closers anywhere from rounds nine to 11. I was concentrating on landing three top bats with my first three picks and had found it a good idea to fill SS and 1B early if I could. I also planned to fill my infield before my outfield. I had taken two outfielders early in the disastrous mock and had really regretted it when I was left with a weaker infield.
With 11 managers ready to go (Swindon unavailable so left to autodraft) we would see if the opening round contained any surprises.
If the top five had gone in order, I would have been left with Acuna Jr, which I would have been very happy with but the RBIs opt for a Yankee (what a surprise!) with the fourth pick. Joking aside, I can understand why you would want Judge’s power and I would have ranked him much higher than Yahoo did, although maybe not quite this high. I would have taken JD Martinez over him.
The Slugs waste no time in picking up JD so I am left with the chance to draft Yelich, who did so well for my team last year. Tough to turn down Acuna, but welcome back Christian. That’s the CF spot filled early. Two aces go in the opening round as the Chasers and Maltsters take Scherzer and Sale respectively. Bunting For Britain’s first pick in the league lands Harper.Â
In my mock picking sixth I grabbed Machado in the second round and I had hoped to do the same here, only for the Bombers to beat me to it. With Bregman and Lindor going too I wonder about switching to a first baseman like Goldschmidt or I could go for Javier Baez. But with Trevor Story surprisingly still available, I grab him while I can. I think Stanton’s a good pick for Norwich here to go with Trout.
I come close to abandoning my plans and taking a second outfielder here as Soto is still available. I hover the mouse over his name, but stung by the previous poor mock I stick with my plan for a first baseman and take Rizzo. Soto could well have a better year than Rizzo, but Anthony fills the greater need. Beckenham snap Soto up. Eight pitchers in total have been taken with the first 34 picks but I will wait until the next round.
I had hoped to land Bauer but the Maltsters spoil that plan. I wonder if Syndergaard makes it to me but Beckenham get there first. I’m hoping for one of Carrasco and Buehler and am relieved to draft the Cleveland pitcher. Had they both gone before my turn I really don’t know what I would have done here as many of the hitters left in this part of the draft seem to be first basemen or centre fielders, positions which I have already filled. The first closer flies off the board with Durham taking Diaz while the RBIs take a punt on Cano. Norwich go for the monster HR power of Davis.
The plan is to get Suarez to fill third base and it works. Another third baseman, Vlad Guerrero Jr is taken by Norwich. Although he could well miss the start of the season either through injury or the daft service time rules, there’s no doubt that he will be fun to watch. And if he hits anything like his dad… Some speedsters go this round with Gordon, Segura and Mondesi all drafted. The sons of Vlad Sr and Raul Mondesi. I feel old.
I have my sights set on filling up my infield with Matt Carpenter at second base but I’m left cursing Beckenham for taking him a few picks before I can. The consolation is that there are some good starting pitchers still available in Greinke, Paxton and Flaherty. The Arizona man joins my rotation behind Carrasco. Durham are obviously confident that Gary Sanchez can rebound after a rough 2018 while another highly-coveted catcher, Realmuto, lands with the Chasers. Paxton and Flaherty don’t last long after my pick while Happ finds himself joining the Yankee-filled RBIs.
The signs are that Corey Seager is making good progress in his return after surgery, so Norwich stand to benefit from that if all goes well. I’m torn with my options this round. I don’t need Villar’s pure speed as I feel Yelich and Story have that covered. I still have a gap at second base but taking Gennett would be a bit of a reach here. I’m very tempted with Aguilar’s 30 HR 100 RBI potential here but just can’t ignore Puig. I wish the Dodgers hadn’t traded him but I think he will have a big year in Cincinnati’s stadium and heading into free agency, so I take a punt on Yasiel. Aguilar is snapped up by Durham. Gennett next time around, hopefully.
The Maltsters are the first team to take a punt on a pitcher here, choosing Kimbrel in the hope that he will sign soon. It is a risk, especially if he waits a few months but he is still an elite closer. The Chasers hope that Kershaw can return to form after injury problems and if he does this could be the steal of the draft. I happily grab Gennett to complete my infield. That gives me six hitters from eight picks. Time to switch focus to my pitching staff.
David Price would have made an excellent third starter for my team but Swindon get to him first. I consider Tanaka or reaching a bit for Morton but opt for taking a closer slightly earlier than I had planned in Osuna.
Round 10 sees Durham grab Peralta, who I had drafted in multiple mocks so I stick with my plan for another arm. Tanaka and Morton are both available so I opt for the higher strikeout potential with Tampa Bay’s new boy. The Chasers take a very promising young closer in Leclerc while the Slugs will benefit from Shaw’s power and flexibility. The run on starting pitching continues with Tanaka, Mikolas, MadBum and Ray all going this round.
I still have a gap in my outfield and at UT. The thought of taking Moustakas appeals but he is taken by Norwich. I switch to Brantley who offers decent numbers across the board and I think he will do really well in Houston. Bunting For Britain take a punt on a healthy Darvish returning to his best after a miserable first year in Chicago.
I still need a catcher and could do with picking up a second closer before too long. I think about Grandal but decide to get another reliever first in Iglesias. Durham draft Paddack, who is one of the most intriguing stories of the spring while the Slugs take the rookie Kikuchi.
This round really stung. I’m all set to take Grandal only for him to go the pick before. Bother. Molina’s not a bad alternative but I really like Grandal’s chances of a big year in a hitter-friendly stadium and he also has a point to prove if he is to get the big free agent bucks he wants (and turned down from the Mets). The Bombers bank on top White Sox prospect Jimenez making an impact while the Knights take a sneaky good relief option in Alvarado.
I still have a hole at UT in my lineup and the hitting options are starting to get a little thin. It looks like the other managers feel the same, with nine pitchers being drafted. Piscotty is the hitter I like the best out of the options on the board but the Chasers nab him one pick before me. After the Grandal disappointment in the previous round, this one stings too.
With the other UT options I am considering much further down the rankings, I decide to play it safe and add Porcello as my fourth starter instead. This round features a number of pitchers with uncertain roles as Stripling could be a starter or a reliever and Martinez could be a starter or come on in relief. Smith and Bradley are frontrunners for saves but face challenges from other relievers. The Knights take a flier on Cabrera staying healthy.Â
I still need two starters and go back and forth about whether to take Ryu or Eovaldi. Both are an injury risk and I may have slight buyer’s remorse with this pick. Six relievers go this round and I need to get two more in my remaining five picks, along with another starting pitcher, someone to fill that pesky UT spot and a bench hitter. But I have some options for relievers I would be very happy with…
If Ryu was still available here I would have gone for him but Beckenham nab him first. I have four relievers on my wish list. The Cubs duo of Strop and Morrow (saves on a contending team), Ryan Pressly (huge strikeout numbers, would be a good backup to Osuna) and Seranthony Dominguez (could get saves in Philly, good strikeout stats). The only one likely to start the season as a closer is Strop with Morrow still recovering from injury. Even though Strop has a mild leg injury I take him here but see that Norwich nab Dominguez later that round. I wonder if anyone else has Pressly lined up. Allen’s a pretty nice round 16 pick for the Bombers.
My heart sinks when Pressly is taken by the Slugs one pick before I can grab him. I think about adding Morrow instead but with that UT spot still on my mind, I opt for Escobar over Nimmo, who is later taken by Bunting For Britain. Lester’s a nice pick this late by the Maltsters.
Mallex Smith’s speed is a nice addition by the Riverkings. I had drafted Smith in a couple of Mocks in the 14th round, so he’s good value here for a team needing steals. Beckenham take a punt on Keuchel signing soon which is worthwhile this late in the draft. I decide I can’t afford to let my last relief target slip through my fingers, so I add Morrow, knowing that he will likely need a DL stint at the start of the year. If so, Strop will get saves and I will add a set-up reliever for holds from the free agent pool. Domingo Santana, a potential bench bat I had on my queue is nabbed by Norwich.
With two picks left I need a starting pitcher and a bench bat. I have four starters I am considering (the other three went undrafted so I won’t name them) and opt for Anibal Sanchez. If he does well, great. If not, I won’t feel too bad about dumping a 19th round selection. There’s some nice late-round power here in Pederson and Smoak. Another possible bench target, Bader, is drafted by Durham.
I have a list of five players for my bench spots (the other four went undrafted) with a mix of raw power and positional versatility. I usually favour a flexible player here who can fill in at multiple positions but decide that Grichuk’s everyday gig in the heart of the Toronto lineup just edges it. Alfaro’s a nice pick by the Knights as I think he’s a good player. He should relish the everyday job in Miami. Norwich end the draft by taking a punt on McMahon winning the share of the playing time at second base in Colorado.
After almost two hours, the draft is over. Here’s my team:
I like the spread of power throughout the lineup and I should be OK for steals too. Grichuk is the only hitter who was under .261 last year so average should be decent. Escobar at UT is a potential weakness and I would have felt much happier with Grandal instead of Molina, but overall I can’t grumble too much. On the mound, I’m happy with my rotation although I am counting on a full season from Eovaldi and Sanchez continuing his resurgence. But the top four of Carrasco, Greinke, Morton and Porcello is pretty decent. The bullpen is hardly full of big names but I believe it can be effective. Having Pressly to back up Osuna would have been nice though.
What does Yahoo think?
| Rank | Team | R | HR | RBI | SB | AVG | OPS | W | SV | K | HLD | ERA | WHIP | Total |
|---|
| 1 | The Bath Bombers | 968 | 236 | 869 | 183 | .277 | 2.530 | 65 | 108 | 1026 | 7 | 3.17 | 1.10 | 105.5 |
| 2.5 | Cheshunt Maltsters | 754 | 213 | 720 | 130 | .261 | 2.492 | 92 | 117 | 1478 | 42 | 3.09 | 1.14 | 94.5 |
| 2.5 | Orpington Isotopes | 784 | 263 | 873 | 96 | .287 | 2.328 | 87 | 86 | 1257 | 11 | 3.24 | 1.11 | 94.5 |
| 4 | Durham Riverkings | 791 | 227 | 745 | 139 | .259 | 2.557 | 54 | 75 | 1098 | 44 | 2.70 | 1.06 | 94 |
| 5 | Swindon Devil Rays | 969 | 272 | 937 | 115 | .270 | 2.571 | 64 | 26 | 885 | 5 | 3.24 | 1.08 | 89.5 |
| 6 | The Cheddar Chasers | 723 | 187 | 668 | 106 | .273 | 2.523 | 100 | 23 | 1489 | 82 | 3.26 | 1.12 | 85 |
| 7 | Richie’s RBI’s | 603 | 193 | 680 | 68 | .263 | 2.545 | 84 | 81 | 1145 | 40 | 3.20 | 1.15 | 69 |
| 8 | Beckenham A&E Dept | 680 | 170 | 573 | 79 | .271 | 2.522 | 114 | 60 | 1680 | 36 | 3.31 | 1.15 | 66.5 |
| 9 | Newcastle Knights | 745 | 201 | 598 | 85 | .277 | 2.429 | 63 | 31 | 1298 | 79 | 3.49 | 1.20 | 65 |
| 10 | Mighty Slugs | 832 | 276 | 825 | 63 | .270 | 2.363 | 39 | 32 | 813 | 45 | 3.57 | 1.15 | 63.5 |
| 11 | Bunting for Britain | 681 | 192 | 598 | 129 | .272 | 2.464 | 64 | 60 | 952 | 69 | 3.47 | 1.19 | 62.5 |
| 12 | Norwich No II | 621 | 234 | 659 | 59 | .266 | 2.336 | 59 | 66 | 1203 | 42 | 3.62 | 1.21 | 46.5
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This projected table is to be taken with a pinch of salt as it doesn’t take into account moves to replace injured players.
Here’s my brief summary of each team:
Norwich – Defending champs certainly have a powerful outfield and a hot prospect in Guerrero. Average may be an issue. Should be fine for saves between Hand, Knebel and Dominguez but no starter won more than 13 last year.
Knights – Plenty of pop throughout lineup and if Muncy puts up those power numbers again he will be a boost at second base. No player knocked in more than 80 runs last year, although a healthy Bryant should change that. Could do with Miller and/or Hader getting some saves and rebounds from MadBum and Archer.Â
Devil Rays. Auto draft has left them with a surplus of hitters which could be used as trade bait. Strong infield. Four top starters in Kluber, Buehler, Price and Mikolas but no saves or holds.
RBIs – Decent spread of power and average but no 30 HR/100 RBI bats (although Judge could have got there without his injury). Decent rotation should be competitive in ERA and WHIP.Â
Slugs – Loaded lineup should be productive although five of the starting nine hit under .250 last year. Rotation depth may be an issue, a could starters’ ERA.Â
Chasers – Pretty solid lineup although an upgrade may be needed over Dozier at UT. Strong pitching staff includes Scherzer-Kershaw top two and a good-looking bullpen.
Bombers – Nice offensive punch with Machado and Ramirez anchoring the infield plus should hit for good average and be fine for steals. Surplus of bench hitters mean pitching depth is thin. Three decent closers but could do with a holds option.
A&E Dept – Pair of exciting outfielders in Acuna and Soto could dictate how the offense goes. No hitter knocked in more than 85 last year. May suffer from Gordon and Andrus not hitting for much power. Very deep rotation led by Verlander-Syndergaard combination. Keuchel still to sign and injury doubts over Severino and Foltynewicz. Two good closers but could use a holds option.
Riverkings – Counting on Sanchez, Abreu, Moncada and Devers to improve. If they don’t average could be a struggle on the same team as Gallo. De Grom and Snell is a fine way to start any rotation and the closing duo of Diaz and Yates is impressive too. Could use more rotation depth though.
Maltsters – Decent spread of power throughout lineup but may come at a cost of average. Speed shouldn’t be an issue either. Sale and Bauer in same rotation is impressive and has Jansen and Kimbrel (when he signs) to close so looking very good there. Just a question whether rest of the staff can stay healthy and produce. Carlos Martinez a big X factor here.
Bunting For Britain – Really nice combo of Harper and Bregman provides a pair of 30 HR, 100 RBI bats straight away. Hoskins four RBIs from joining them, Cruz three RBIs away, so good run production here. Average may be an issue though. Merrifield and Cain have steals covered. Rotation banking on Wheeler and Taillon taking step forward and the health of Darvish. May have overloaded on set-up relievers.Â