Fantasy baseball, part the second.
One league down, one to go.
I’ve branched out this year, and joined two fantasy leagues which I plan on competing seriously in (and winning). This is the GLS league, mainly consisting of Wisconsinites in the video game studies program there. Im in cause of Sean, who apparently like losing to me, and invited me in.
This is a fifteen-person 5×5 league. So more players, fewer categories to deal with. From what Sean tells me though, most of the players are n00bs - my experience with fantasy ball should give me an immediate edge.
Anyway, second draft analysis:
C - Ivan Rodriguez, DET (1B)
1B - Adam LaRoche, PIT
2B - Brian Roberts, BAL
3B - Mark Teahen, KC
SS - Carlos Guillen, DET
OF - Alfonso Soriano, CHC
OF - Bobby Abreu, NYY
OF - Jason Bay, PIT
Util - Alexis Rios, TOR (OF)
Util - Casey Blake, CLE (1B, OF)
Bench - Rocco Baldelli, TAM (OF)
Bench - Craig Biggio, HOU (2B)
Bench - Kenny Lofton, TEX (OF)SP - Jon Garland, CWS
SP - Mark Buehrle, CWS
SP - Jeremy Sowers, CLE
SP - Jeff Francis, COL
RP - Bobby Jenks, CWS
RP - Todd Jones, DET
P - Joe Borowski, CLE (RP)
P - Justin Duchscherer, OAK (RP)
Bench - Pat Neshek, MIN (RP)
Bench - Freddy Garcia, PHI (SP)
First off - my OF is amazing. Soriano is only going to get better playing his home games in Chicago instead of Washington, and he went 40/40 last year, and 30/30 in 2005. Is 50/50 possible? Maybe. Abreu is likewise a 30/30 threat at the least, and playing in New York (an hitting 3rd for them) means he’ll collect a ton of runs and RBIs. Additionally, I think he’s adjusted to the new city and new league by now. I have a man crush on Jason Bay. He’s also a 30/30 candidate with good numbers, even while playing on the misbegotten Pirates. Three OFs representing a possible 300+ runs, 100+ HRs, 300+ RBIs, 100+ steals, and an average in the .290s makes for a happy Matt. I like Pudge behind the plate, Roberts at second, and Guillen at short. Solid IF core, there, especially in a league this size. Im not too sure about LaRoche and Teahen - I see LaRoche’s numbers dropping in Pittsburgh, and the last player on the Royals worth owning was Carlos Beltran in 2003. Rios, Blake, and Baldelli should all be okay filling the Util slot, with Blake possibly on first. I’ll play the hot bat there. Lofton is old, and only speed and average. I may try to move him. Biggio is also old, and still has some power from 2B, but that average is atrocious. Another trade candidate.
The rotation is where this team falls apart. Seriously. Beurhle, Garland, Francis, and Garcia all had ERAs over 4.00 last season. Buehrle, in particular, seems to be on the downside of his career. When Cleveland’s number 4 seems to be your staff ace, you know you’re in trouble. On the other hand, I have 3 closers, which seems to be above average. Sure, Jenks is injured, Jones is old, and Borowski is nowhere near the best man in the pen in Cleveland, they’re all starting the season closing. Duchscherer and Neshek both seem to be good in middle relief - which I really don’t need. Duchscherer could close if Street goes down again, but Neshek shouldn’t be in line for saves. He’d just be some WHIP/ERA assistance.
Obviously, the pitching on this team is terrible. Abyssmal, even. I have enough OF that I might be able to pick up some pitching in trade - and pitching is pretty easy to acquire on the FA market. What I need most is a legitimate ace - someone with a shot a 20 wins w. a sub 3.50 ERA. That and a few free agents should cover it for me. Possibly a new 1B or 3B to round out the offensive side of things.
Conclusion: not as good a draft as possible, but certainly decent with a fairly good shot at the league title.
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