Mock Draft

[PopTop]

Without getting into too many details about keepers in our 16-team league, here's my list of the top 16 players in our draft ... How would you pick 'em?

Roberto Alomar
Craig Biggio
Barry Bonds
Mark Buehrle
Jim Edmonds
Nomar Garciaparra
Brian Giles
Ken Griffey Jr.
Derek Lowe
Greg Maddux
Magglio Ordoñez
Curt Schilling
John Smoltz
Jim Thome
Mike Williams
Kerry Wood

I'm thinking Bonds-Schilling-Thome are the top 3, in one order or another ... But it would be helpful to hear what others think before I put the finishing touches on my fantasy baseball guide. Thanks.

[Special_K19]

I wouldn't go after Thome right away. He is notorious for having horrible springs and the fact that he is changing leagues will be worse on his production. I would say wait on him and try to trade when his value goes down.

[rockin500]

agreed on Thome.

Griffey Jr is kinda in the same boat, he's going to probably start slowly due to it being cold in cincy.

I do agree that Bonds/Schilling would be 1-2 on that list.

[Baseball Guru]

Roberto Alomar--11
Craig Biggio--16
Barry Bonds--1
Mark Buehrle--14
Jim Edmonds--12
Nomar Garciaparra--4
Brian Giles--3
Ken Griffey Jr.--6
Derek Lowe--13
Greg Maddux--8
Magglio Ordoñez--5
Curt Schilling--2
John Smoltz--10
Jim Thome--9
Mike Williams--15
Kerry Wood--7

[WestsideHimself]

"Roberto Alomar--11
Craig Biggio--16
Barry Bonds--1
Mark Buehrle--14
Jim Edmonds--12
Nomar Garciaparra--4
Brian Giles--3
Ken Griffey Jr.--6
Derek Lowe--13
Greg Maddux--8
Magglio Ordoñez--5
Curt Schilling--2
John Smoltz--10
Jim Thome--9
Mike Williams--15
Kerry Wood--7"

Exactly that but the other way around....cause to be honest all of thee guys will be top players this year....so it wont matter to much.

[rockin500]

more indepth here.... thats my outlook on it really. :)

Roberto Alomar 13
Craig Biggio 16
Barry Bonds 1
Mark Buehrle 14
Jim Edmonds 12
Nomar Garciaparra 5
Brian Giles 10
Ken Griffey Jr. 9
Derek Lowe 11
Greg Maddux 7
Magglio Ordoñez 2
Curt Schilling 3
John Smoltz 6
Jim Thome 4
Mike Williams 15
Kerry Wood 8

[SlushyBOB]

what about gurerreo and suzuki?

[awefullspellare]

and A-Rod

Roberto Alomar-11
Craig Biggio-10
Barry Bonds-1
Mark Buehrle-12
Jim Edmonds-9
Nomar Garciaparra-8
Brian Giles-7
Ken Griffey Jr.-16
Derek Lowe-4
Greg Maddux-13
Magglio Ordoñez-6
Curt Schilling-2
John Smoltz-15
Jim Thome-3
Mike Williams-14
Kerry Wood-5

[PopTop]

A lot of the nice players you don't see are being kept, or signed to contracts as it were, in our league ... Thanks for all the input so far ... It's interesting to see Thome not draw as much interest as I thought he might on that list.

And it's also funny that Biggio's name was the 16th one I added, and that's just where the group thinks he rates on this list.

[awefullspellare]

Originally posted by PopTop
A lot of the nice players you don't see are being kept, or signed to contracts as it were, in our league ... Thanks for all the input so far ... It's interesting to see Thome not draw as much interest as I thought he might on that list.

And it's also funny that Biggio's name was the 16th one I added, and that's just where the group thinks he rates on this list.

:banghead :banghead i thought you were takling about something esle. Now I understand.

[jdog402001]

Roberto Alomar-13
Craig Biggio-16
Barry Bonds-1
Mark Buehrle-15
Jim Edmonds-14
Nomar Garciaparra-10
Brian Giles-5
Ken Griffey Jr.-8
Derek Lowe-11
Greg Maddux-7
Magglio Ordoñez-9
Curt Schilling-3
John Smoltz-2
Jim Thome-6
Mike Williams-12
Kerry Wood-4

I think Wood will contend for the CY Young Award this year. Closers like Smoltz are hard to get. I have Giles ahead of Thome because he will not lag to far behind in any Offensive stats and he will also steal Bases...Look for Griffey to have a nice bounce back this year....285 40HR's 115 RBI's

[Baseball Guru]

I'm thinking Griffey will bounce back as well this year...On another site I predict he will be the comeback player of the year....Just a feeling I have...

Willie, I think more helpful to rank these players is to know who you kept for yourself in this keeper league???

For example, if you already didnt have a quality closer I would rank Smoltz higher than 10th.....I forgot you already had some players....I'd rather rank knowing what positions you are already solid at....

[amag]

I don't see how Biggio is so high on the list

[PopTop]

Originally posted by amag
I don't see how Biggio is so high on the list

Not sure what you mean since Bidge is consistently ranked last (#16) among the players on this list? ... There are other players who I'd take in front of Biggio in our draft this year, but I do think he will draw some early interest in most drafts, especially those leagues who include fielding stats since he will qualify at 2B and be playing in the OF.

Guru, safe bet on Griffey as comeback player ... If he hits 35+ flies and drives in 100, he's probably a lock ... My pick for the NL I Had A Horrible Year Last Year & Came Back Strong This Year Award is Moises Alou ... Ol' Aches & Pains Alou will laze his way through about 135 games and hit .300+ with 27 HR and nearly 100 RBI to play a key role in the Cubs' turnaround.

[amag]

Good as Biggio is, he's simply not in that tier of players. Ranking him last among those players and counting out other better players is ranking him too high

[awefullspellare]

How is Griffey recovering? If hes healthy he will be good, but i dunno how healthy hes gonna be. Plus, theres the chance heel be reinjured. :umm

[jdog402001]

Supposedley he is in excellent shape and has gauranteed a return to past numbers... He has worked out with Larkin,Kearns and Dunn all Winter long in FLA. And Dunn and Kearns have been staying with him at his house! Injuries are a possibility but if he is healthy is what I base my opinion on...

[jdog402001]

I put Biggio at 16. I have no idea who else is available? Plus I agree with the Guru,we need to know who he has protected and even who the other teams have protected to make a true list....
I do agree with Alou also,but I still think Griffey will put up better stats,if Alou can put some SB's up he could rank right with him,but given his age,that would be a stretch I think...

[PopTop]

Ok, I didn't list the players kept in the league since I thought that would get too involved ... And ours is not a conventional fantasy league: 16 teams, AL/NL combined, nine categories (AVG, HR, RBR [RBI + Runs], SB, Errors, W-L%, ERA, KBB [Ks minus BBs] and Saves), and a draft order that isn't officially determined until 24 hours before our draft (sort of use an NBA draft lottery system).

I was trying to list at least a couple of players at each position, thus the Biggio showing ... With our league tracking errors, and Biggio qualifying at 2B while apparently headed for the OF, he will be of more value in our league than in others.

But here are the keepers anyway, in an approximate draft order:

OUTLAWS- Bagwell, Piazza, Abreu, Burrell, M.Rivera
BLACK CATS- Hoffman, J.Jimenez, R.Palmeiro, Nevin, Konerko
COYOTES- M.Morris, Mesa, J.Julio, Tejada, Durham
VOODOOS- Glavine, Hudson, Percival, J.Hernandez, I.Rodriguez
SOX- Moyer, F.Garcia, A.Rodriguez, Casey, Rolen
PANTHERS- Clemens, Nomo, J.Schmidt, Pierzynski, Sosa
SHARKS- Benson, Klesko, Boone, Hinske, L.Gonzalez
MOGULS- Halladay, BH.Kim, Guardado, Glaus, L.Walker
ORCAS- R.Johnson, Oswalt, C.Delgado, Kent, G.Anderson
ROADRUNNERS- Prior, Mi.Sweeney, Jas.Giambi, E.Chavez, M.Ramirez
FIREFLIES- Posada, Sexson, Soriano, Jeter, T.Hunter
BRAVES- Mulder, K.Sasaki, Nen, Vizquel, I.Suzuki
LEGENDS- W.Miller, Zito, Helton, Vidro, A.Jones
CLAMDIVERS- L.Castillo, Berkman, Sheffield, V.Guerrero, Gagne
NIGHT OWLS- P.Martinez, Pettitte, C.Beltran, B.Williams, S.Green
FATCATZ- Mussina, Wagner, Koch, Pujols, Rollins

[Baseball Guru]

Which team is yours Willie??

[PopTop]

Fatcatz, defending champs of the Weekend Steinbrenners Baseball League ... At least Id do know that I'll be picking at the very end, 16th, in round 1 ... It's the price we champs must pay, I reckon :hmm:

I lost 4 players to other teams this winter (due to our rule of only having 5 under contract): Burrell, Halladay, Konerko and Julio. Also had Erstad, Jacques Jones, Michael Barrett and Buehrle on the team last year ... Made two moves all year long, and not one DL move which I thought was most amazing (lucky?)

[Panzram]

Originally posted by SlushyBOB
what about gurerreo and suzuki?

I was about to ask about Suzuki.

[awefullspellare]

Braves nad Clamdivers

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by PopTop

FATCATZ- Mussina, Wagner, Koch, Pujols, Rollins

Roberto Alomar--10
Craig Biggio--16
Barry Bonds--1
Mark Buehrle--7
Jim Edmonds--8
Nomar Garciaparra--11
Brian Giles--3
Ken Griffey Jr.--6
Derek Lowe--12
Greg Maddux--8
Magglio Ordoñez--5
Curt Schilling--2
John Smoltz--14
Jim Thome--9
Mike Williams--15
Kerry Wood--4

This is how I would rank them based on what you have.....
You have 2 good closers so I wouldnt waste an early pick on Williams or Smoltz.....
Obviously picking last you wont get a chance at probably the top 10 or so...You may be able to sneak a Buehrle, Lowe or Alomar in the 1st round....Maybe even Edmonds......I think a steal if everyone else is still down on him will be Griffey....By some chance if he gets passed because no one want to take a chance on him, I would make him my #1.....

I cant believe whoever had Bonds, Smoltz or Schilling did not protect them...:umm

Actually, going over your list I dont see a MAJOR pitcher (and it is possible I am missing him on someone's list) but does anyone have Jarrod Washburn protected???

This is a pitcher that carried me in 3 leagues last season....This kid is getting better every season and I fully expect 18-10 wins from him this season....

As far as other sleepers (not really sleepers but may be forgotten) I also also like Joel Piniero, Paul Byrd and watch out for Hampton who should be revived in Atlanta and I fully expect nothing less than 15-18 wins from him.....

I also dont see Colon listed anywhere???
He's another I would snag...

Sorry, just started rambling there.....I'll let someone else cover the hitters...
:D

[PopTop]

Guru --- Some good ideas ... No doubt I screwed up putting Biggio on my original list ... I've conducted a few mock drafts on my own in the last 10 days, and Biggio is consistently a Round 3-4 pick.

Griffey will probably make it to the latter part of the opening round ... I've taken Buehrle with the #16 pick for my team in these mock drafts ... I think Smoltz will go in the first 8 picks on our opening round.

The reason you don't see some players protected while others are under contract is we have some very hard rules on contracts: Maximum of five (5), the longer the contract the more the per season costs ... And there are no renegotiating or extending of contracts ... In other words, I have Pujols under contract through the 2005 season ... After that, he has to go back in the draft ... If I trade him the new team has to accept the current contract ... No exceptions on this.

It keeps a pretty steady flow of top players going into the drafts year-after-year since the average contract in our league is about 3 years.

Another arm I like, though not in the top 10-15 or so, is Randy Wolf in Philly ... You have any gut feelings on him?

[Baseball Guru]

Originally posted by PopTop

Another arm I like, though not in the top 10-15 or so, is Randy Wolf in Philly ... You have any gut feelings on him?


Ahhh, interesting way you do the keepers in your league...I actually really like it....Sounds neat.....

As far as Wolf goes, I like him also as he would be a good 3-5 pitcher for ya and should be able to draft him a little later.....
He has had a good couple of seasons now keeping the REA in the 3's and his hits to IP are pretty good.....He's a young pitcher who seems to be on the rise and will benefit in the W's catagory from the improved total team status IMO.....

[jdog402001]

Plenty of pitching it seems is available....I would tend to fill my Position players 1st...Griffey,Matsui,Walker,Floyd,ETC....
A lot of pitchers like Odalis Perez,Vincente Padilia,Clement,Lawerence,Byrd,Hampton... Heck there is pitching that can go on and on....Plus unless it is a Johnson,Martinez,etc....I think there are plenty of pitchers you could get in rounds 5 thru 8.....People tend to forget them until later rounds....Get your offense set 1st is my advice...SB's ands Power are the hardest to come by..

[SlushyBOB]

I like your league setup. Very cool, could you forward me a list of your rules. I have a couple of keeper leagues and I'd like to set one up with some of your ideas in mind. Once again, your my hero POPTOP!:D

[SlushyBOB]

First of all I agree with JDog and try to grab some power or SB's at first. You've got good pitching so I'd get some hitting and on SP's.

I think Randy Wolf would be exactly what Guru said. A decent 3-5 starter, but one that can definitely wait a couple of rounds. Just my thoughts.

[Panzram]

Pierzynski-16
Sweeney-4
Mussina-15
Glaus-12
Tejada-7
Soriano-3
Suzuki-2
Ordonez-11
Erstad-14
Schilling-1
Prior-6
Percival-10
Sasaki-13
Thome-9
Pujols-5
Oswalt-8

-KoZ