Assign a letter grade to your slow draft team HERE

[BK METS]

I would greatly appreciate insight on this squad. This is from the 11 slot

C- M Montero Castillo (Lavarnway, Thole)
1b- Hosmer Belt (H Morris, Frieman)
2b- Uggla Beckham (Roberts, Cedeno)
SS- A Escobar (Franklin, Furcal)
3b- Lawrie (Callaspo, Vitters, Morel)
OF- Cargo Adam Jones Bruce Reddick Saunders Colvin (JD Martinez, Francorer, Wells, Benson)

SP- Kershaw, Bumgarner, Sadmarja, Beckett, Lynn, Lohse, Hughes, Volquez, W Peralta, Lyles, Turner, Harang, Oswalt, Odirizzi, Humber

RP- Axford, Marmol, Santos, Brothers, Strop, Crow

Thanks in advance

Nice outfield. Short on speed. Good power. Hope for one of the backup closers to get you some saves as I dont think Marmol keeps the job very long. SP looks good. Beckett could have a huge bounce back year pitching in LA. Nice team. One pure speed guy (Revere) and Fujikawa would have given you an "A"

[Wolfpac]

I know the ADP is outdated and trends change making it just a "tool" but I set a new trend in regards to min pick and was wondering did I reach big time or is it a sign of things to come as the main event approaches...

Bobby Parnell 202nd overall pick

[Money]

I know the ADP is outdated and trends change making it just a "tool" but I set a new trend in regards to min pick and was wondering did I reach big time or is it a sign of things to come as the main event approaches...

Bobby Parnell 202nd overall pick

You are correct, he is trending as an earlier pick now with the injury situation and the fact they came out and have said he'll start the season as the closer.

[hot and cold]

Just picked Parnell myself in a DC draft at rd 17 pick 1 . Which is pick # 241 .

[Rog]

Flowers, Tyler C (d'Arnaud, Travis)
Napoli, Mike C,1B
Hosmer, Eric 1B KC
Forsythe, Logan 2B SD (Solano, Donovan )
Wright, David 3B NYM
Lowrie, Jed SS OAK
Davis, Chris 1B,OF BAL
Jennings, Desmond OF TB
Kemp, Matt OF LAD
Saunders, Michael OF SEA
Swisher, Nick 1B,OF CLE (Venable, Will )
Ramirez, Alexei SS CHW (Escobar, Yunel)
Belt, Brandon 1B SF
Youkilis, Kevin 1B,3B NYY
Hernandez, Felix P SEA
Gonzalez, Gio P WAS NOTE
Harvey, Matt P NYM
Miley, Wade P ARI
Papelbon, Jonathan P PHI
Rondon, Bruce P DET
Street, Huston P SD
Tillman, Chris P BAL
Diamond, Scott P MIN
So far I think everybody's teams look good, it is a long ,long season with no faab, good luck to all
C,B,B,B,B,B,B,B,C,B

[Powerslave66]

C- A. Avila,
C-AJ Ellis,
1b-A Rizzo,
2b-B Phillips,
3b-M Moustakas,
SS- A Cabrera,
CI- L Berkman,
MI- O Infante,
UT- D.Fowler,
OF1- J Hamilton,
OF2 G Stanton,
OF3 D Jennings,
OF4 J Willingham,
OF5 C Gomez.,
Bench Hitters- Gyorko/Nelson.....
.Pitchers.. F Hernandez, M Cain, L Lynn, J Beckett, J Mcdonald, E Jackson, H Street, B Parnell, D Robertson, S Marshall, R Detwiler, J Chacin, P Maholm...., From the 14th spot.....

I like this team a lot. Pitching depth would be the only question.. but the backups are pretty solid, considering... nice job B+ / A- (in the money)

Thanks!!!!, I think i have a 300hr/170sb team 1050r/1050rbi give or take, .273 BA with some luck, I plan to run my first 4 SPs for like 120/125 starts and then use Mcdonald/EJax/Maholm/Detwiler/Chacin into 75/80 solid starts, get 100 innings and 70 saves from 3/4 relievers and contend, might be wishfull thinking, we'll see, I'm super excited about this team and the fact that in that league($150 DC10) there's some great owners, with awesome track record in NFBC, plus MTM is there too, so I get the chance to abuse him ......, LOL...

[gpchurchill]

time to revisit this thread?...

i am on vacation in new zealand for two months. summer here. golf daily, swim in the ocean, bbq, beer, late nights...

i am 17 hours ahead of est, which means i am up late drafting, between ales, whilst everyone else is just getting started with their day.

entered seven $150 dc leagues.

first league just concluded.

The Waipu Birdies
( Waipu is a small town in the northlands, where my wife and i are members of the local golf course )

C Wieters
C Ianetta
( Conger, H Gimenez )
1B Freeman
3B Miggy
CR Wright
( Parmelee, Rendon, Gillaspie )
2B Murphy
SS Rollins
MI Peralta
( Carroll, Forsythe, Aviles, Flaherty, Hamilton )
O Willingham
O Aoki
O Beltran
O Swisher
O Crisp
O CYoung
( Mastroianni, McLouth, Cowgill, Byrd )

P Price
P Darvish
P Morrow
P Lynn
P T Hudson
P Hammel
P Bauer
( Santiago, Oswalt, Capuano, Niemann, Lackey, Corbin )
CL1 K Jansen
CL2 Parnell
( Crain, Furbush, B Morris, J Fields, Olmsted, Kontos, R Valdes )

of the seven teams, this might be the least successful. i think i am short speed, though hamilton could be a key factor late in the season. i could also be in trouble at closer, though, again, there could be some bench relief in that category. I also took on too much batting average risk, which was silly, considering such a strong start.

B-

[The Mighty Men]

Why is it that nobody ever gets an F?

[hot and cold]

Only in english klass .

[CALI CARTEL]

The Waipu Birdies

Waipu, I was in your league from the 7 spot -- I really liked what you did early in the draft, but wasn't too high on some your picks from round 10 to 20, but overall your top 10 picks should keep you in good shape if they stay healthy.

Looks like I'm at the mercy of Zack Greinke's elbow, but think this is probably my most balanced team of the 5 I did:

C: Avila, Flowers, Lavarnway, R.Hernandez, Corporan
CI: Votto, Pablo, Rizzo, Chisenhall, Loney, Vitters, Ta.Green
MI: Kinsler, Utley, Rutledge, S.Drew, Kozma, Raburn, Mercer
OF: Harper, Cruz, Hart, Reddick, Jay, Gomes, F.Martinez, Mayberry, S.Hairston, A.Castellanos, Fuld

SP: Grienke, Weaver, Bailey, Beckett, Marcum, Teheran, Smyly, Archer, Villanueva, R.DeLaRosa, Bedard, Wacha, Thornburg, Correia, Cloyd
RP: Holland, Cishek, Bailey, Melancon, Lyon

[Corleone]

Waipu and Cali - I was in your DC league also from the 9 hole

Waipu: I envy your vacation and ability to golf at will

I love your CI's, a couple of your OF's, and your SP's.

I think your MI is a bit weak and you have some PT risk in your OF (of course any team in this 15 team format is going to have to take on some PT risk).

As you say you could have some trouble with saves. With health and some luck with the closers you definitely could contend.


Cali

I really like your team overall. Your offense is solid top to bottom with the possible exception of the last couple OF's. Corner infield is really strong. You seem to have punted steals?

A bit of risk in your MI if Rutledge doesn't take off and Utley has any more injury problems.

I love your top 6 starters (Greinke's elbow could throw a wrench in as you say) and you have decent closers.


My team in this draft:

C - Perez, Molina, Kottaras, Zunino, Ross
Corner - Pujols, Longoria, Youkilis, Lind, Sano, S Rodriguez
Middle - Hill, Nakajima, Alcides E, K Johnson, Amarista, Hairston, Bloomquist
OF - B Upton, Victorino, Werth, Ludwick, Quentin, Bourjos, Snider, Gorkys H, Yelich, Francisco, Thames, Figgins (wow I drafted a lot of OF's)

SP - Gallardo, Peavy, Ogando, Cahill, Holland, Norris, Rosenthal, Beachy, C Lewis, Harrell, Diamond, Porcello, Rogers
RP - Romo, Perkins, Robertson, Casilla, Salas, Ramos, Vizcaino

Potential risk with my MI and CI - should have plenty of OF and SP depth.

[gpchurchill]

The Waipu Birdies

Waipu, I was in your league from the 7 spot -- I really liked what you did early in the draft, but wasn't too high on some your picks from round 10 to 20, but overall your top 10 picks should keep you in good shape if they stay healthy.

Looks like I'm at the mercy of Zack Greinke's elbow, but think this is probably my most balanced team of the 5 I did:

C: Avila, Flowers, Lavarnway, R.Hernandez, Corporan
CI: Votto, Pablo, Rizzo, Chisenhall, Loney, Vitters, Ta.Green
MI: Kinsler, Utley, Rutledge, S.Drew, Kozma, Raburn, Mercer
OF: Harper, Cruz, Hart, Reddick, Jay, Gomes, F.Martinez, Mayberry, S.Hairston, A.Castellanos, Fuld

SP: Grienke, Weaver, Bailey, Beckett, Marcum, Teheran, Smyly, Archer, Villanueva, R.DeLaRosa, Bedard, Wacha, Thornburg, Correia, Cloyd
RP: Holland, Cishek, Bailey, Melancon, Lyon

i've got greinke on several teams. also need him to be healthy. damn.

interesting comment on my rds 11-20. this is where most of us diverge. i start to go after players i like in these rounds and ignore adp ( swisher, crisp, lynn, kj, parnell, hammell ) while at the same time willing to take the league's leftovers, e.g. beltran in rd 11.

if i think i have covered my targets by rd 21, then i often gamble on upside. for this team, thought hamilton a fair gamble at 23, likewise bauer at 24. not crazy about the cyoung pick at 20. he likely would have lasted at least another rd or two. since he is slotted into utility, i will have no trouble shifting him out.

your 11-20 is quite solid. i think the success of your team will be hinge on the health of kinsler, panda, greinke, cruz, and utley. teheran in the 23 may be the lowest anyone ever drafts him again .

[gpchurchill]

Waipu and Cali - I was in your DC league also from the 9 hole

Waipu: I envy your vacation and ability to golf at will

golf was the source of all those 4hour 'offline' messages in the chat window. if you are an avid golfer, new zealand northlands is a must visit. several gorgeous seaside courses, most <$35. no waiting, no slow rounds. links style rip-it, go find it. helpless greens. this is my 4th visit in the last six years.

[CALI CARTEL]

Waipu and Cali - I was in your DC league also from the 9 hole

Waipu: I envy your vacation and ability to golf at will

golf was the source of all those 4hour 'offline' messages in the chat window. if you are an avid golfer, new zealand northlands is a must visit. several gorgeous seaside courses, most <$35. no waiting, no slow rounds. links style rip-it, go find it. helpless greens. this is my 4th visit in the last six years.

My parents were cruising around the world on a 42-ft sailboat and spent a few months in and around the North Island (near Russell).

[Valric55]

Would love some input on this team
Ellis/Lucroy
Pujols
Carroll
Beltre
Aybar
Revere
BJ Upton
Dirks
Dejesus
Parra
E. Cabrera
Ramirez
Frazier
Shields Scherzer Jackson Miley Vargas Volquez Axford Belfour Nathan
Scott Gusman Heisey Nieuwenhuis Dominguez forsythe Gonzales Quintanilla Lillibridge Lemahieu
Boggs McGee Coke Worley Ubaldo Harrell Wood

[gpchurchill]

Ruakaka Pukekos
Ruakaka is a small town in the northlands, nzl, a few minutes from waipu. a two minute walk to the ocean beach, on the bream bay, we spent four weeks of our vacation here.
Pukeko is a medium sized local bird, bright blue plumage, red beak and crown, spends a lot of time on the ground.

C VMart
C Doumit
(Cervelli, HGimenez )
1B Pujols
3B Wright
CR Lind
(Parmelee, Frieman, Gillaspie )
2B Hill
SS Aybar
MI Infante
(Getz, ENunez, LCruz, Franklyn )
O Cespedes
O Victorino
O Jay
O Maxwell
O Joyce
U Ortiz
( Dirks, VWells, Cowgill, Byrd, Blanks, GBrown )
P Sale
P Medlen
P Peavy
P CJWilson
P Lynn
P Cashner
P BNorris
( Niemann, KKendrick, Corbin, Lackey, Porcello, FGarcia, Slowey, Bedard )
CL1 Betancourt
CL2 Fujikawa
( Madson, JFields, Wacha, Olmsted )

There is a lot of gamble in this line-up, and a lot of injury risk. that was intentional. the plan was to draft for upside. there is a reasonable chance this roster will crash and burn. i give myself a B, mostly for adopting a risky plan and simply following through.

[gpchurchill]

Bream Bay Oystercatchers

Third team to complete, I actually like this team a lot. Bream Bay is a large waterway north east of Auckland, home to vast reserves of wildlife and waterfowl. The Oystercatcher is a very cool undersized shore bird with black feathers, orange colouring around the eyes, legs and feet, and a long orange beak. It issues a distinctly bitter warning squawk if you venture near its hunting area.

C Mauer
C Ruiz
( Kratz, Lavarnway, Conger )
1B CDavis
3B Miggy
CR Wright
( Wigginton, Gillaspie )
2B Phillips
SS Aybar
MI Altuve
( Getz, Aviles, ENunez, Flaherty, Amarista )
O Willingham
O Crisp
O Swisher
O Ludwick
O Venable
( Taveras, RDavis, VWells )
U Berkman

S Price
S Latos
S Peavy
S Hammel
S WRodriguez
S JSantana
( Collmenter, Corbin, Baker, Billingsley, KKendrick, FGarcia, Thornburg, Hochevar, SCastro )
CL1 KJansen
CL2 Parnell
CL3 Albuquerque
( RCook, Olmsted, Wacha, CCapps, Rosenthal )

I'm giving myself a B+ for this effort. I think this team has strong balanced hitting, and good potential to compete in the pitching cats. Clearly I need a couple closers-in-waiting to unseat their incumbents.

[gpchurchill]

Kaikoura Karearea

Kaikoura is a small town on the east shore, north end of the south island. Maori translation; eat crayfish. We certainly did. Vivid memories of sitting beach side near sunset at a picnic table chowing on fresh grilled crayfish and drinking a recently purchased excellent bottle of pinot noir out of plactic cups. Karearea is a New Zealand falcon.

C Ruiz
C Jaso
( Norris, Lavarnway, Fedrowicz )
1B Encarnacion
3B Middlebrooks
CR Swisher
( Reynolds, Chavez, JFrancisco )
2B Cano
SS Aybar
MI Hill
( Bogaerts, Tejeda, Getz )
O Cespedes
O Beltran
O Markakis
O Ludwick
O Span
U Veneble
( Byrd, GBrown, VWells, Cowgill, Mastroianni )

S Darvish
S Sabathia
S Morrow
S Kennedy
S Hudson
S Milone
S Gee
( FGarcia, Pettitte, JSantana, Capuano, Phelps, Corbin, Collmenter, Slowey )
CL1 Motte
CL2 Madson
( Delabar, Wacha, Olmsted, RValdes, Hembree )

This team is in danger of coming up well short in speed. Saves could also be an issue. Not a great effort. B-.

[gpchurchill]

the fifth team I completed is called The Mangawhai Moas. The Moas drafted in the 5.

Mangawhai is another small town on the east shore of the Northlands, about an hour from Auckland. Many Canadians and Americans winter here without incident. The local golf course is excellent.

Moas of course are the man-sized flightless birds quickly rendered extinct upon the first humans settling the islands.

C YMolina
C RMartin
( TCruz, McKenry )
1B Morneau
3B Sandoval
CR HRamirez
( Parmelee, Kotchman, Helton, Sizemore )
2B Cano
SS ECabrera
MI Hill
( Flaherty, RCedeno, Wong, Lillibridge )
O Cespedes
O Pence
O NCruz
O Bonifacio
O Ross
( Mastroianni, McLouth, VWells, Gentry, Calhoun )
U Ortiz
( Hafner )

S Greinke
S MMoore
S Fister
S McCarthy
S Teheran
S Bauer
S Porcello
( JSantana, Niemann, Beachy, Baker, Archer, Lackey, Slowey )
CL1 CPerez
CL2 Fujikawa
( Albuquerque, JValdez, Olmsted )

This team took on a lot of injury risk. There is potential for a really good season, but equally likely, or perhaps more so, the production will fall far short because of too many days missed.

a solid B effort.

[gpchurchill]

Team six in this series, The Whangarei Rurus.

Whangarei is a popular resort destination in the Northlands, about thirty minutes north of Ruakaka.
Ruru is the Maori word for owl.

C Rosario
C AJEllis
( Federowicz, RHernandez, HGimenez )
1B Howard
3B Wright
CR Cuddyer
( JRivera, JFrancisco, EChavez )
2B Pedroia
SS Akbar
MI Gyorko
( YEscobar, Aviles, Amarista, Franklyn )
O Trout
O Revere
O Ludwick
O Quentin
O DYoung
( Boesch, Cowgill, Heisey, VWells )
U Ortiz

S Felix
S Greinke
S Dickey
S Fister
S Hammel
S Teheran
S Bauer
( Pettitte, Niemann, Corbin, Bedard, Slowey, Hochevar, Wacha )
CL Parnell
CL Fujikawa
( Broxton, JValdez, RValdes, Olmsted, Albuquerque, Hembree )

Lots of reserve pitchers, perhaps not enough bats. I like this team. lots of high potential gambles. B+

Only one more team to complete...My flight home leaves in thirty minutes.

[James Maples]

gpchurchill this last team is my favorite. I think this is at least a league winner

[gpchurchill]

The Posh-Bogan Heros!!! are my final New Zealand team to complete drafting.

Bogan is a new term I learned whilst visiting my wife's college friend in Auckland, as in; ' you are drinking a 750ml beer direct from the bottle? that's so bogan, mate.' One thing lead to another... I stumbled upon a pop song called Bogan's Heros, and I was informed that posh-bogan was a brand new term of quasi-critical endearment. The three x-clams... that's pretty bogan, eh?

C CSantana
C Napoli
( Kratz, Conger, HGimenez )
1B Berkman
3B Wright
CR Colvin
( Kotchman, Pacheco, Gillaspie )
2B Infante
SS Rollins
MI Lowrie
( KJohnson, Dozier, Bogaerts, Cedeno, Flaherty )
O Trout
O Pence
O CGomez
O Markakis
O Ross
( Boesch, Cowgill, Gentry, Heisey )
U Joyce

S Price
S CCSabathia
S Peavy
S Fister
S Ogando
S Teheran
S Porcello
( JSantana, Bundy, Liriano, Villanueva, Colon, Collmenter, Hochevar )
CL1 CPerez
CL2 Albuquerque
( Madson, JValdez, Olmsted, RValdes, BMorris )

the bogan's are a high risk venture, lots of boom or bust on the roster. the batting average could end up just about anywhere. appears to be enough power and speed to compete. i need several pitchers to out-perform their draft slot, but then, don't we all? B-.

the dc's have become my favourite method of assembling a fantasy baseball team. deep congratulations and many thanks to greg and tom.

good luck to everyone.

[gpchurchill]

gpchurchill this last team is my favorite. I think this is at least a league winner

thanks for the feedback. hope your handicapping skills are strong