Roto Savants was invited by to join an expert mock draft by Fantasy Phenoms, and I had the pleasure of drafting for our site. The setup was 5x5 roto, with CI, MI, 4 OF, DH, and 9 P. I picked second overall. Here is my in-draft commentary; my pick each round is bolded.
Rd 1: Had the second pick. Albert Pujols went first. I gave serious consideration to Hanley Ramirez or to a 3B. But Hanley’s stats have been so variable, even though he’s elite. And the best 3B didn’t seem to compare to Miguel Cabrera’s ability to put up 35+ HR, get 120+ RBI, and have a high AVG to boot.
Carlos Gonzalez (R1P9) and Josh Hamilton (R1P11) before Ryan Braun (R2P1)? CarGo I could justify due to 5-category ability, but Hamilton needs to be healthy to be worth a first-round pick.
Rd. 2: First SP off board is Roy Halladay (R2P5).
Ryan Howard too early (R2P8)? I would've taken Ryan Zimmerman, Prince Fielder, or Jose Reyes here (all three went after in R2).
Zimm fell to me (R2P11), and I had to take him due to 3B being so shallow, plus the CI requirement.
Rd. 3: Lots of options here, and I have to wait a long time to next pick. I opted for the consistent power at 2B, taking Dan Uggla. Again, considering we have to draft MI as well, it made sense to lock up the infield positions early in this draft. I also wanted to establish a lot of power before I worried about speed.
Rd 4: Buster Posey (R4P5) before Victor Martinez. Not necessarily bad, but a sophomore slump could hurt the value of this pick. V-Mart went with the very next pick, and Brian McCann shortly after. The usual tier-one catcher run.
Andrew McCutchen went right before my pick. Doh.
I ended up with Alexei Ramirez. Didn’t fully mean to, but I accidentally turned on Auto Select. Even so, it gives me my infield. I like Alexei after the top guys are off the board; a 20/15 year seems possible. Jimmy Rollins was still out there, but injury risk makes me steer clear. I wanted a healthy team for this draft.
Rd 5: Took Jon Lester. Need an ace before they're all gone. (And seven SP went between my R5 and R6 picks.)
Kendry Morales and Rollins go early in this round. Good risk-reward picks here.
Pedro Alvarez in fifth round. A little early maybe, but potential is still nice.
Rd. 6: Jered Weaver went, and I was thinking of taking him; great buy for 2011. Dan Haren went right after, and I had him queued too.
Jay Bruce (R6P4) still has great potential, but Drew Stubbs seems like a close value, less HR though, and he went later quite a bit later (R9P4) .
Wanted Andre Ethier, but he’s gone before he got to me.
I got Jayson Werth with R6P11. Big decrease in value because of WAS?
Rd. 7: Roy Oswalt seemed like a nice #2 SP to me. Cole Hamels and Clayton Kershaw were out there too, but for 2011 there’s nothing wrong with the older guy.
Aramis Ramirez (R7P1) seems like a gamble. Health issues, and the Cubs offense won’t be good.
Carlos Marmol first closer at R7P4.
Matt Cain (R7P9) seems like he’s always undervalued. He’s been a nice value the last two years, when Tim Lincecum has overshadowed him.
Rd. 8: Prado went here, and I would’ve taken him had he got to me.
I grabbed Soria. Other decent RP out there (almost took Bell), but I like Soria’s GB% in 2H.
Some nice SP in this round: Liriano, Gallardo, Wandy.
Rd. 9: Max Scherzer and Wandy Rodriguez were the sandwich picks before mine, so I grabbed Ryan Dempster (R9P2). Guy can reach 200 K but never seems to get the love.
Rd. 10: Chad Billingsley fell this far? Whoops. Still has ace potential, or at least strong #2.
Geovany Soto in round 10 seems like a safe gamble.
Stephen Drew went; had him queued for MI.
Corey Hart for my pick at R10P11.
Three RP went in this round: Heath Bell, Jonathan Papelbon, Neftali Feliz. And Mariano Rivera went the round before.
Rd. 11: I went with Andrew Bailey. Injury risk, but I’ve got Soria already. I’m the first manager to grab two RP, but both guys have a shot at being top-5 RP, so I could dominate in SV.
Mike Napoli and Matt Wieters were both available here in round 11. Just hoping one of the catchers will make it back to me, but long wait. I like to grab a decent catcher, hate waiting until dregs are left and it “doesn’t matter” who you pick. (Wieters went R11P11.)
Rd. 12: Asdrubal Cabrera--as primary SS, not MI--is not sexy in this round. Or any round, for that matter.
As I looked at 3B for some possible CI options, I’m amazed at how crappy the position looks. I’m very glad I nabbed a top-3 guy.
Shaun Marcum went R12P5. Had my eye on him. Nice potential value in MIL now.
Neil Walker, Aaron Hill went this round. People picking up MI options. Had both guys queued.
Went for Rafael Furcal instead. May not be lock for 500+ AB, but a chance at a .300 AVG with 25 SB this round is nice.
Rd. 13: Needed SB and OF, so I grabbed Rajai Davis. Here’s hoping TOR gets him lots of R.
Madison Bumgarner in this round a worthy risk. Guy had CC Sabathia, Tommy Hanson, Phil Hughes already.
Juan Pierre went here. SB and R potential makes him valuable. Just not sure how he's still getting full-time AB.
Carlos Pena went. I forgot we need DH on top of CI/MI, otherwise I would have taken him over Rajai.
Rd. 14: Brett Gardner went. Late round for a big SB guy, but there’s warning signs on him too.
Grabbed Mike Napoli here. He fell farther than I thought, but I’m glad I waited to get him. Most HR from catcher last year despite limited playing time? Yes, please.
Rd. 15: I took Desmond Jennings here, to be my #4 OF. Chance of Crawford lite in the 15th round.
Craig Kimbrel(R5P3) potential closer in ATL with bright future.
Closers going in this round. Three guys grabbing their #2 RP, one getting his first RP. Despite the fact that I already have mine, I might go for a third RP.
Adam Lind went, reducing my DH possibilities.
Jeremy Hellickson went this round too. The TB prospects both off the board in this round.
Rd. 16: Lot of my queued players went this round: Gavin Floyd, CJ Wilson, Derrek Lee. Grabbed Ricky Romero here.
Rd. 17: Took Dernard Span to get some more SB help on my team. Kinda surprised he fell this far. People either seem to like him or ignore him.
Gaby Sanchez a nice gamble here. Same with Adam LaRoche. Lance Berkman too. All the CI slots being filled.
Jhoulys Chacin a nice pick here too; high K potential worth it.
Rd. 18: Cuddyer and Dan Hudson went this round. They were my next two picks.
Axford, de la Rosa in this round good.
Took Shields, will have to take CI in next pick.
Rd. 19: Jhonny Peralta as CI. Not happy with it. Other options I wanted went in the long wait between my R17 and R18 picks. I waited a little too long to get my guy.
Rd. 20: Scott Baker went, one of last SP I really liked. Don’t know if other two (Johnny Cueteo, Clayton Richard) will make it to me.
Nick Swisher went this late. Amazing. Guy could hit 25+ HR and he’s in the NYY lineup.
Richard and Cueto made it to me. I grabbed Cueto for more upside. (Richard went undrafted.)
Rd. 21: Took Joel Hanrahan with my last pick. Though it’s PIT, it gives me another closer to help out in case Bailey gets hurt. The 100 K potential is great here. I stole this pick out from the guy right after me.
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