After looking at the first ten rounds of the BaseballGB Fantasy League 2011 draft on Wednesday, we now turn to the second half: Rounds 11 to 20. And there’s the all-important review of the final draft rosters.
Round 11:
| 1. | Tsuyoshi Nishioka (Min – 2B,SS) | daebhid2 |
| 2. | David Freese (StL – 3B) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 3. | Chris P̩rez (Cle РRP) | Iron Men |
| 4. | Brett Anderson (Oak – SP) | SWAT* |
| 5. | Adam Jones (Bal – CF) | The Wright S… |
| 6. | Jonathan Broxton (LAD – RP) | Bonestalkers |
| 7. | David Ortiz (Bos – Util) | The Cheddar … |
| 8. | Ãngel Pagán (NYM – CF) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 9. | Aaron Hill (Tor – 2B) | Redbacks |
| 10. | Trevor Cahill (Oak – SP) | Weston-Super… |
| 11. | Matt Thornton (CWS – RP) | BD Yankees |
| 12. | Vernon Wells (LAA – CF) | stevenston a… |
| 13. | Adam Wainwright (StL – SP) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 14. | Neil Walker (Pit – 2B,3B) | Orpington Is… |
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The second half of the draft sees Dave take a gamble on Nishioka and more CFs and closers fly off the board. Worryingly for me, Hill is taken by Redbacks, leaving me with a real headache over what to do with my next pick, although JJ provides a laugh by taking Wainwright. It pays to do your homework, but JJ admits he is unprepared for the draft.
The highest ranking SS or 2B left is Neil Walker, and there’s a big drop off after that, so I opt for the Pirate and think about my round 12 pick.Â
Round 12:
| 1. | John Axford (Mil – RP) | Orpington Is… |
| 2. | Matt Capps (Min – RP) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 3. | Francisco Cordero (Cin – RP) | stevenston a… |
| 4. | Huston Street (Col – RP) | BD Yankees |
| 5. | Wandy RodrÃguez (Hou – SP) | Weston-Super… |
| 6. | Tim Hudson (Atl – SP) | Redbacks |
| 7. | Josh Beckett (Bos – SP) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 8. | Ted Lilly (LAD – SP) | The Cheddar … |
| 9. | Ryan Dempster (ChC – SP) | Bonestalkers |
| 10. | Adam Lind (Tor – 1B,OF) | The Wright S… |
| 11. | Hiroki Kuroda (LAD – SP) | SWAT* |
| 12. | Jos̩ Valverde (Det РRP) | Iron Men |
| 13. | Ricky Romero (Tor – SP) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 14. | Rajai Davis (Tor – CF) | daebhid2 |
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After having seen a few closers taken the previous few rounds, I decide to take my second closer here rather than risk being empty-handed in rounds 13 and 14. Axford’s the man for me, and I’m happy with my choice after seeing Capps, Cordero, Street and Valverde all go in a pitching-filled round.
Looking ahead, I’m tempted by some of the SP still available, and cross my fingers for Danks and Daniel Hudson.
Romero’s a nice pick by Margaret here, and I also like Redbacks’ choice of Tim Hudson and Bonestalkers taking Dempster.Â
Round 13:
| 1. | Joe Nathan (Min – RP) | daebhid2 |
| 2. | Daniel Bard (Bos – RP) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 3. | Matt Garza (ChC – SP) | Iron Men |
| 4. | Aroldis Chapman (Cin – RP) | SWAT* |
| 5. | Ryan Franklin (StL – RP) | The Wright S… |
| 6. | Aubrey Huff (SF – 1B,OF) | Bonestalkers |
| 7. | Denard Span (Min – CF) | The Cheddar … |
| 8. | Madison Bumgarner (SF – SP) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 9. | Alfonso Soriano (ChC – OF) | Redbacks |
| 10. | Brad Lidge (Phi – RP) | Weston-Super… |
| 11. | John Danks (CWS – SP) | BD Yankees |
| 12. | Derrek Lee (Bal – 1B) | stevenston a… |
| 13. | Jason Bay (NYM – OF) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 14. | Daniel Hudson (Ari – SP) | Orpington Is… |
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Dave begins this round with a worthwhile pick in Nathan, who should regain his closing job if he recovers well from surgery. Margaret has to leave the draft early, but nabs the set-up man she wants in Bard, who I had hoped to grab later on.
SWAT grab Chapman in the hope he will bump Cordero from the Reds’ closing job or force his way into the rotation, while the Vendors grab the highly promising Bumgarner.
Two more closers go in Franklin and Lidge while the Yankees nab Danks just before my pick. At least Hudson is still there, so I take the young D-Back.
Round 14:
| 1. | Ervin Santana (LAA – SP) | Orpington Is… |
| 2. | Mike Adams (SD – RP) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 3. | Fernando Rodney (LAA – RP) | stevenston a… |
| 4. | Jorge Posada (NYY – C) | BD Yankees |
| 5. | Drew Storen (Was – RP) | Weston-Super… |
| 6. | Jonny Venters (Atl – RP) | Redbacks |
| 7. | Ricky Nolasco (Fla – SP) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 8. | Craig Kimbrel (Atl – RP) | The Cheddar … |
| 9. | Leo N̼̱ez (Fla РRP) | Bonestalkers |
| 10. | Jose Tabata (Pit – CF) | The Wright S… |
| 11. | Hong-Chih Kuo (LAD – RP) | SWAT* |
| 12. | Jeremy Hellickson (TB – SP,RP) | Iron Men |
| 13. | Carlos Ruiz (Phi – C) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 14. | Austin Jackson (Det – CF) | daebhid2 |
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I was tempted to grab Posada here to give me some pop at C, but decide to go for Ervin Santana to give me a strong back end of the rotation.
Posada soon vanishes to theYankees, while plenty more relievers are taken, including Venters going before Kimbrel, which is a bit of a surprise.
It’s still a touch early for me to consider holds at this point, although I’m sad to see Kuo, another of my tarets for later, nabbed by SWAT.
Iron Men opt for the upside of Hellickson, which could really pay off.
Round 15:
| 1. | Javier Vázquez (Fla – SP,RP) | daebhid2 |
| 2. | Plácido Polanco (Phi – 2B,3B) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 3. | Colby Lewis (Tex – SP) | Iron Men |
| 4. | Sergio Romo (SF – RP) | SWAT* |
| 5. | Luke Gregerson (SD – RP) | The Wright S… |
| 6. | Joel Hanrahan (Pit – RP) | Bonestalkers |
| 7. | Ian Kennedy (Ari – SP) | The Cheddar … |
| 8. | Desmond Jennings (TB – OF) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 9. | Freddie Freeman (Atl – 1B) | Redbacks |
| 10. | David Aardsma (Sea – RP) | Weston-Super… |
| 11. | Carlos Beltrán (NYM – CF) | BD Yankees |
| 12. | C.J. Wilson (Tex – SP) | stevenston a… |
| 13. | James Shields (TB – SP) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 14. | Miguel Montero (Ari – C) | Orpington Is… |
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Vazquez is Dave’s pick to begin round 15, and after a pretty miserable second spell with the Yankees he should fare much better with the Marlins.
Gregerson may well inherit closing duties with the Padres if/when Heath Bell is traded, so the Stuff grab him here, while the Vendors and Redbacks go for youth with the prospects of Jennings and Freeman.
I’m not sure how much playing time Jennings will get this year, as he may be blocked by the double signing of Manny and Damon, but he could be Crawford: The Next Generation. Freeman has plenty of potential and should be an NL Rookie of the Year candidate.
With Posada off the board, I’m relieved Montero makes it to me and I finally solve my SS crisis with my next pick.
Round 16:
| 1. | Juan Uribe (LAD – 2B,3B,SS) | Orpington Is… |
| 2. | Andrés Torres (SF – CF) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 3. | Ian Stewart (Col – 3B) | stevenston a… |
| 4. | Ike Davis (NYM – 1B) | BD Yankees |
| 5. | Travis Snider (Tor – OF) | Weston-Super… |
| 6. | Carl Pavano (Min – SP) | Redbacks |
| 7. | Brian Matusz (Bal – SP) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 8. | Evan Meek (Pit – RP) | The Cheddar … |
| 9. | Jaime GarcÃa (StL – SP) | Bonestalkers |
| 10. | Jake Peavy (CWS – SP) | The Wright S… |
| 11. | Chase Headley (SD – 3B) | SWAT* |
| 12. | J.P. Arencibia (Tor – C) | Iron Men |
| 13. | Domonic Brown (Phi – OF) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 14. | Omar Infante (Fla – 2B,3B,SS,OF) | daebhid2 |
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I went back and forth between Infante and Uribe here, but opted for Uribe’s power and RBIs if he bats in the middle of the Dodger lineup.
With four picks left, I decide to take at least one more starter (maybe Peavy) one set-up reliever, another pitcher (depending on whether I like the starters or set-up options more) and a bench hitter with some versatility.
JJ opts for more outfield speed with Torres, while the Stuff add to their excellent rotation with Peavy.
Iron Men take a very worthwhile punt on Arencibia’s power while getting Brown here, despite his injury, could give Margaret some added power.
Infante goes to Dave with the last pick of the round.
Round 17:
| 1. | A.J. Burnett (NYY – SP) | daebhid2 |
| 2. | Brandon Lyon (Hou – RP) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 3. | Frank Francisco (Tor – RP) | Iron Men |
| 4. | Manny RamÃrez (TB – OF) | SWAT* |
| 5. | Chris Iannetta (Col – C) | The Wright S… |
| 6. | Brett Myers (Hou – SP) | Bonestalkers |
| 7. | Kevin Gregg (Bal – RP) | The Cheddar … |
| 8. | Mike Aviles (KC – 2B,SS) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 9. | Matt Guerrier (LAD – RP) | Redbacks |
| 10. | Logan Morrison (Fla – OF) | Weston-Super… |
| 11. | Jesus Montero (NYY – C) | BD Yankees |
| 12. | Jason Kubel (Min – OF) | stevenston a… |
| 13. | Kurt Suzuki (Oak – C) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 14. | Jhoulys Chacin (Col – SP,RP) | Orpington Is… |
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It’s incredible three closers are still available this late on, so Margaret, Iron Men and the Chasers deserve some credit for grabbing saves here while they can.
As we are getting towards the end of the draft, managers are prepared to gamble on prospects or rebounding veterans, so Manny is drafted, along with Morrison and Jesus Montero.
Chacin is my choice here, as I have been really impressed with him whenever I’ve seen him against the Dodgers.
Round 18:
| 1. | Anibal Sánchez (Fla – SP) | Orpington Is… |
| 2. | Clayton Richard (SD – SP) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 3. | Gavin Floyd (CWS – SP) | stevenston a… |
| 4. | Chipper Jones (Atl – 3B) | BD Yankees |
| 5. | Adam LaRoche (Was – 1B) | Weston-Super… |
| 6. | Reid Brignac (TB – 2B,SS) | Redbacks |
| 7. | John Buck (Fla – C) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 8. | John Lackey (Bos – SP) | The Cheddar … |
| 9. | Miguel Tejada (SF – 3B,SS) | Bonestalkers |
| 10. | Chris Sale (CWS – RP) | The Wright S… |
| 11. | Koji Uehara (Bal – RP) | SWAT* |
| 12. | Ryan Raburn (Det – 2B,CF) | Iron Men |
| 13. | Coco Crisp (Oak – CF) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 14. | Jorge De La Rosa (Col – SP) | daebhid2 |
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I decide as Sanchez is still available I will go with just one holds option later on and pick the Florida starter, but not without hovering over Chris Sale first.
Planning ahead for my final two picks, I aim to get Ryan Madson for holds and a bench hitter like Raburn or Bill Hall who can fill in at CF if Sizemore isn’t ready to start the season and also give me another option at 2B.
The Stuff gratefully snap Sale up later in the round and Iron Men take Raburn, so it’s Hall or nothing for me!
Brignac is worth a shot for Redbacks here, and I think LaRoche is excellent late-round power for the Sox. Lackey is a good option for the Chasers too.
Round 19:
| 1. | Marco Scutaro (Bos – 2B,SS) | daebhid2 |
| 2. | Asdrubal Cabrera (Cle – SS) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 3. | Johnny Cueto (Cin – SP) | Iron Men |
| 4. | Jordan Zimmermann (Was – SP) | SWAT* |
| 5. | Johan Santana (NYM – SP) | The Wright S… |
| 6. | Ty Wigginton (Col – 1B,2B,3B) | Bonestalkers |
| 7. | Edinson Vólquez (Cin – SP) | The Cheddar … |
| 8. | Tyler Clippard (Was – RP) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 9. | Brett Cecil (Tor – SP) | Redbacks |
| 10. | Sean Rodriguez (TB – 2B,OF) | Weston-Super… |
| 11. | Stephen Strasburg (Was – SP) | BD Yankees |
| 12. | Luke Scott (Bal – 1B,OF) | stevenston a… |
| 13. | Brian Fuentes (Oak – RP) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 14. | Bill Hall (Hou – 2B,CF) | Orpington Is… |
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While waiting for my final picks I realise Johan Santana is still available. I consider drafting him, putting him on the DL at the start of the season and then adding a holds option from the free agent pool, but Chris puts paid to that by nabbing him in round 19, an excellent choice. Strasburg is a similar gamble here for the Yankees.
Scutaro had a really nice year for the Red Sox last year, and although he’ll likely hit at the bottom of the Red Sox order he is still a decent SS/2B option for Dave here and the Angels grab late-round power with Scott.
Hall, ranked very far down the list by Yahoo, is my choice for a bench hitter. Not exactly a sexy choice, and there are better hitters available, but with so many injury risks on my team I need the positional versatility and take Hall.
Round 20:
| 1. | Ryan Madson (Phi – RP) | Orpington Is… |
| 2. | Octavio Dotel (Tor – RP) | Beck ‘Nams (GB) |
| 3. | Carlos Zambrano (ChC – SP,RP) | stevenston a… |
| 4. | James Loney (LAD – 1B) | BD Yankees |
| 5. | Yunel Escobar (Tor – SS) | Weston-Super… |
| 6. | Jordan Schafer (Atl – CF) | Redbacks |
| 7. | Dexter Fowler (Col – CF) | Pretzel Vendors |
| 8. | Magglio Ordóñez (Det – OF) | The Cheddar … |
| 9. | Russell Martin (NYY – C) | Bonestalkers |
| 10. | Ryan Theriot (StL – 2B,SS) | The Wright S… |
| 11. | Daric Barton (Oak – 1B) | SWAT* |
| 12. | Brandon League (Sea – RP) | Iron Men |
| 13. | David DeJesús (Oak – CF) | Okajima’s Fi… |
| 14. | Scott Baker (Min – SP) | daebhid2 |
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I select Madson to kick off the final round and another holds option who may get the odd save, Dotel, follows. Zambrano could be brilliant or awful, but the Angels take a worthwhile punt on him here.
Loney may not have much HR power, but his RBIs should come in handy for the Yankees and with Escobar gone Chris is left with uninspiring SS choices and goes for Theriot’s speed. Maggs is a nice choice here by the Chasers and Martin is certainly worth a shot for Bonestalkers. Dave ends the draft by adding to his rotation with Baker.
The 14 teams
After almost two hours of solid drafting, it’s time to look back at the teams.
Daebhid2: Plenty of power, plenty of speed, three very good starters. But relief pitching could be a problem with Nathan the only reliever drafted.
Okajima’s Fire Bet: Excellent starting pitching and very strong bullpen. Offense is fairly solid, although missing the last few rounds of the draft means an overflow of bench hitters instead of a deeper pitching staff. They’ll be hard to beat but might regret passing on a superstar hitter in the first two rounds.
Iron Men: Lots of power and enough speed to be a serious threat with the bat. Back end of the rotation may be the weakest part of an otherwise very good team.
SWAT: Lineup looks pretty good, although maybe could use a little bit more power. Bullpen is absolutely loaded with power arms, but rotation depth is a concern.
The Wright Stuff: First three picks (Longoria, Teixeira and Holliday) are about as good as it gets in my opinion. Rotation is excellent, bullpen very strong. SS is the only obvious weakness.
Bonestalkers: Plenty of speed with CarGo, Reyes, Weeks and BJ Upton. Not sure how much power Zobrist and Young will provide from corner infield spots. Bullpen has four closers, which could be useful trade bait, possibly for a power hitter.
Cheddar Chasers: Power shouldn’t be a problem, and Hamilton and Tulo should help batting average if Pena and Hill struggle again. Rotation is pretty good, bullpen too. A very well-rounded team.
Pretzel Vendors: Very strong infield, outfield very good too. May need to add to pitching staff depth, as only one closer and set-up guy.
Redbacks: Lineup has a decent blend of power, average and speed, but it is lacking a proven superstar hitter after the first round pick of Stanton. As with the Vendors, may need to add to the pitching staff’s depth.
Weston Super Sox: No complaints at all about the hitters, a very strong lineup. But the pitching staff lacks a true ace as well as depth. Does have three closers though.
BD Yankees: Putting a lot of faith into the youth of Heyward, Desmond, Alvarez and Davis and the experience of Posada and Chipper. Could maybe use another power threat. Bullpen very strong, love the starters they’ve got but may need another one or two.
Stevenston Angels: Power at the infield corners with Adrian and Zimmerman, and a very good SS/CF combo of Ramirez and Wells. No holds options, but have two closers. Rotation looks pretty good.
Beck ‘Nams: Tried and trusted veteran infield is a strength, but not sure both Bourn and Pierre are needed in same OF. Love the SP trio of Sabathia, Price and Buchholz, but the Wainwright pick is obviously costly. Saves may be an issue if Nathan takes over quickly from Capps.
Orpington Isotopes: Delighted to get Crawford and A-Rod but am gambling heavily or Morneau, Morales and Sizemore. 2B and SS not great, but should be good enough. Very happy with my rotation, but Bailey’s injury after the draft puts a cloud over my bullpen.
There are plenty of good teams here, and some team’s surplus may solve another’s weakness, so don’t be afraid to talk trades with other managers.
At this point I would say Iron Men, the Stuff and the Chasers look well rounded, but we will see what happens when the season begins.
Thanks for the recap Mark!
Apologies that the Vendors GM was in and out of the draft. I was attempting to multi-task, and so was tweaking my draft list and turning on the auto-pick at various points after the first few rounds.
I’m reasonably pleased with my team. Last year I neglected pitching too somewhat, but pitching is so deep that there is usually value to be found in the free agent pool. I may be relying on that and some key trades this year.
I was pretty surprised with how the draft unfolded. With the aforementioned depth in pitching I didn’t expect so many to go so quickly, and so had to adapt accordingly in order to pick up at least a couple of decent guys before they all went.
It was also a bit of a challenge having 14 teams, rather than the more standard 10 or 12, but I think that makes for a more competitive competition and a more absorbing draft. Bring on Opening Day!
I was kind of experimenting a bit with this draft. I decided to go heavy on elite pitching with the belief that as the season wore on, the trade demand for such players would be higher than elite hitters, and I’d be better equipped to patch holes in my lineup.