In Part 1 of the recap, I hit on the format of the league and some of my thoughts during the first six rounds of the draft; in this article I am going to hit on some of my thought process over the next eight rounds (Rounds 7 through 14).
For Part 1 of the NFBC Draft Champions Recap, click here
Current Roster:
C:
CI: Jose Abreu (1)
MI:
OF: Ryan Braun (2), Starling Marte (3)
SP: Cole Hamels (4)
RP: Kenley Jansen (5), Mark Melancon (6)
7.07 – Josh Harrison (3B/OF/PIT) — I was targeting Alexei Ramirez (SS/CWS) with this pick, but he was selected two picks in front of me, causing somewhat of a scramble for me at this pick. Harrison is not the safest of picks, as he is a big candidate for regression this year after performing at a level that was not indicative of his minor league track record. That being said, third base is a shallow position this season and I felt that with the loss of Ike Davis at 1B, Pedro Alvarez would become a permanent piece on the rightside of the infield, leaving the full-time 3B job as Harrison’s to lose. Rounds 7-9 are tough ones to navigate in 15-team formats this season, I may have been better off grabbing a Catcher such as Salvador Perez (KC) or Yan Gomes (CLE) in this spot.
8.09 – Javier Baez (2B/SS/CHC) — This was a (pun intended) “Swing-for-the-Fences” pick; there is a good shot at a 25/20 type of season out of Baez, however there is also a good shot at a sub-Mendoza line batting average season and a return trip to AAA. With this draft occurring so early in the draft season, I felt the gamble was worth it as I would need some good breaks in order to compete in the Overall Competition, and Baez is up there as one of the top gamble options in the draft this season. Had this draft occurred closer to the season I probably would have opted for a safer option such as Alex Wood (SP/ATL) or Hisashi Iwakuma (SP/SEA).
9.07 – Masahiro Tanaka (SP/NYY) — Sometimes in life (and Fantasy Sports) when you make mistakes you start to compound those mistakes by trying to correct your initial error. In this case I took Javier Baez were I may have been better off taking a safe SP, and because I missed out on the safe SP I went with the next best remaining pitcher who carries a great amount of injury risk. The thing I do like about Tanaka was his ability to return at the end of the season last year, had he not returned to make two September starts, I doubt he would be on my team at this spot. Tanaka flashed ability to be a Top five SP option, so with some of my gambles up to this point, I felt he fit my strategy well. There was a large run of Closers following this pick, but since I was setup with two elite Closer options, I was glad to see this run occur.
10.09 – Andrew Cashner (SP/SD) — If you have not noticed a recurring theme here, I will let you in on the secret…I am shooting for the moon on this team, lots of risk, but lots of potential reward. Cashner was actually the player I was debating between taking with Tanaka at my previous pick, so I was ecstatic to see him make it back to my 10th round selection. The San Diego Offense has been greatly improved and I feel the extra run support should provide Cashner with a chance at a career best season should he be able to stay healthy. Cashner was an automatic choice for me in this spot, but had he been selected, I would have been looking at Michael Wacha (SP/STL), Drew Smyly (SP/DET), Shin-Soo Choo (OF/TEX).
11.07 – Wilson Ramos (C/WAS) — One of my yearly favorites, Ramos provides a good bat in a good lineup at a premium position, and usually at a good draft price due to some injury risk. I felt Ramos offered the best batting average help out of the remaining Catcher options and batting average at this point was something I was trying to protect. I was hoping Pablo Sandoval (3B/BOS) would survive until my 12th round pick, but he was selected immediately after my Ramos pick — if hindsight is worth anything, I would have taken Sal Perez or Yan Gomes in the 7th and Sandoval here instead of Harrison/Ramos — but that is why I do these early drafts, practice for the real deal in March.
12.09 – Brandon Moss (1B/OF/CLE) — Another risky pick due to injury, but Moss was playing at an All-Star level prior to a nagging hip injury that required postseason surgery; however, it was determined he did not need the more serious Microfracture procedure. Moving to a better hitters park and division, if the hip injury does not become a chronic issue there’s .260/40 hr potential here; with multiple position eligibility, I felt that was worth the gamble in the mid-12th round. Sandoval, Howie Kendrick (2B/LAD) and Eric Hosmer (1B/KC) were my other targets at this pick, but all went after my Ramos selection in the 11th.
13.07 – Cliff Lee (SP/PHI) — Risky upside, how do I love you? Lee is fairly safe in terms of production in ERA/K/WHIP, but health and with Philadelphia in a rebuilding mode, there are run support issues to be concerned with when two of your top three SP are from that team. I am hoping one or both are traded before midseason; if they do not get dealt, I will likely have some Win deficiencies to deal with. A speed OF was on my wish list in this range as well, Adam Eaton (OF/CWS) was my top option that I passed on for Lee.
14.09 – Carl Crawford (OF/LAD) — Eaton was selected around the turn, so I settle for my next choice, Crawford. Lots of injury risk and issues with hitting LHP, but a return to All-Star form in the 2nd Half of the season gave me optimism to give him a shot here. A.J. Pollock (OF/ARI) would have been my next choice had I missed on Crawford, but had I gone elsewhere I was looking at Francisco Liriano (SP/PIT), Jose Quintana (SP/CWS) and Neftali Feliz (RP/TEX).
In the next article, I will highlight my selections from Rounds 15 through 22.
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