Anatomy of An Auction
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:21 pm
Before diving into my Diamond Auction team (with Mike Edelman as my partner) I just wanted to say that for those who have never done an NFBC live auction you don't know what you are missing, especially with the new draft boards. Simply awesome!! There is nothing like the rush of an auction. It is extremely strategic and unlike snake drafts with KDS (and all the complaints of getting a crappy draft spots) if you want Trout, Kershaw or any one else all you have to do is bid $1 more than someone else. I hope the NFBC Auction Championship takes another step forward next year.
On to the team. I have a different strategy than most as I do my best to not spend over $20 on any player. Of course sometimes I let my hair down and exceed that number! I spread the dollars around and many times I unfortunately leave money on the table (sometimes because of waiting to long to jump in and sometimes because of perceived bargains). It's a tough strategy to execute as you need to be BEYOND patient. I usually spend the first 90 minutes drafting maybe a player or two. I really like the Diamond Auction team but the league was stacked with great owners so the league will be ultra competitive and difficult to win. Three teams punted saves so it even made the draft more interesting Can't wait for tomorrow and opening day!!
Catchers:
Travis D'Arnaud ($9) - One of the catchers I have targeted often this year. I expect 20 homers and hope he can up his average.
Matt Wieters - ($5) - Definitely a high risk/ high reward pick. Decided to pay the $5 and hope he is good to go by the end of April. Will pickup a catcher Sunday to replace him
1B:
Morse ($5) - As i did not pull the trigger on Belt, Adams or Hosmer I felt fortunate to get Morse at $5. He is hitting in the middle of a very good lineup and if he can stay on the field should go 20-75. Felt there was definite profit there at $5
2B:
Utley ($10) -Targeted Kinsler and Dozier but they went for $19 and $23 respectively. $10 was more than I wanted to spend on Utley but he definitely looks good so far this spring so I am hoping to coax a solid year out of Utley. Definite injury risk though
SS:
Alexei Ramirez ($15) - Rock solid SS at a very reasonable price. Very good lineup, very good hitters park and offers a nice combo of speed/power with solid BA. Targeted him often as I he fits my plan.
3B:
Kyle Seager ($20) - Wanted to get either Frazier or Seager at $20 or less so mission accomplished. Seager had a really solid season and offers a nice power/speed combo from a corner position.
MI:
Marcus Semien ($17) - He was our last player and had money left hence the $17. He probably would have gone in the 5-7 dollar range so $10-12 what was left over. Oakland is a tough pitcher's park but Semien has the every day job and offers that power/speed combo that I look for. BA could be a drag but still offers nice upside
CI:
Manny Machado ($12) - Can't seem to shake my love for Machado. He really hurt me last year but was excellent when he came back from his first injury (until he got hurt again). Even with his injury risk I like him better than Sandoval and Wright who both went for more
OF:
Cespedes ($21) - Was looking for a power bat in the $20 range and was very happy to land Cespedes. Great lineup in a great hitters park. Should get 30 homers and 90 RBI (hoping for even better)
Joc Pederson ($15) - Could run away with rookie of the year or could greatly disappoint. Definitely had to pay for his upside. Tough pitchers park but outstanding lineup. He sure raked at AAA and this spring so the power/speed combo he offers is very appealing.
Rusney Castillo ($10) - Banking on that Cuban pedigree, Puig, Abreu and now hopefully Castillo. Will back fill him for the first few weeks but I am certainly expecting much more than $10 in stats
Avasail Garcia ($11) - I usually stay away from guys that burned me the year before but this guy can rake if he can stay on the field. I think it was a fair price for him
Mike Cuddyer ($10) - Continuing the theme of "if he can stay on the field" I always seem to be chasing BA and even if Cuddyer loses 20-30 points off of his average from last year he is still a .300 hitter with plenty of pop
Pompey ($7) - Needed speed and Pompey more than fits the bill. He will be playing everyday at the top of a strong lineup and can even hit 10-12 homers, so definitely not a Judy.
Pitchers:
Wainwright ($18) - Looking for an ace in the $18-20 range and settled on Wainwright. He is a bulldog and should certainly deliver across the board
Pineda ($13) - I am very high on Pineda and have him A LOT. I know he is a bit of injury risk but they way he pitched last year and this spring he looks like a strong number two
Ventura ($12) - A solid number three with a ton of upside. K's and W's should be very solid but do worry about the WHIP
Weaver ($11) - Looks like a rock solid number four. Numbers should be solid across the board
T. Walker ($12) - I am ALL IN in on Walker. He was my breakout pitcher early on and unfortunately his big spring had him zooming up draft boards. Great stuff, great pitchers park, looking forward to see what he does this year.
Archer ($7) - Can do a heck of a lot worse than Archer as a number six starter. Offers quite a bit of upside and would expect a very solid season from him
Britton ($9) - I love Britton. He was tremendous last year and I have no reason to think he will not be just as effective this year. I think he is a steal at $9
Casilla ($6) - Another closer I really like. I know all about Romo but Casilla was lights out in the playoffs and World Series and the giants play a ton of one run games. Another steal at $6
Feliz ($5) - For what I paid I can live with him as a third closer, Rangers may not win much but if Feliz has his velocity back he should be miore than good as a third closer
Bench:
Bradley and Warren - Definitely two plus bench pitchers with oodles of upside
Swiher and Ike Davis - Potential power bats off the bench
Swihart - Callup in June/July?
Peraza - Will hold him as long as I don't need the roster spot
Ackley - Will probably back fill Castillo with him for the first few weeks.
All in all I really like the team. Probably missed out on a few guys but overall a very good team with a tremendous amount of upside. The pitching should garner a lot of points so winning will come down to how well the offense performs.
On to the team. I have a different strategy than most as I do my best to not spend over $20 on any player. Of course sometimes I let my hair down and exceed that number! I spread the dollars around and many times I unfortunately leave money on the table (sometimes because of waiting to long to jump in and sometimes because of perceived bargains). It's a tough strategy to execute as you need to be BEYOND patient. I usually spend the first 90 minutes drafting maybe a player or two. I really like the Diamond Auction team but the league was stacked with great owners so the league will be ultra competitive and difficult to win. Three teams punted saves so it even made the draft more interesting Can't wait for tomorrow and opening day!!
Catchers:
Travis D'Arnaud ($9) - One of the catchers I have targeted often this year. I expect 20 homers and hope he can up his average.
Matt Wieters - ($5) - Definitely a high risk/ high reward pick. Decided to pay the $5 and hope he is good to go by the end of April. Will pickup a catcher Sunday to replace him
1B:
Morse ($5) - As i did not pull the trigger on Belt, Adams or Hosmer I felt fortunate to get Morse at $5. He is hitting in the middle of a very good lineup and if he can stay on the field should go 20-75. Felt there was definite profit there at $5
2B:
Utley ($10) -Targeted Kinsler and Dozier but they went for $19 and $23 respectively. $10 was more than I wanted to spend on Utley but he definitely looks good so far this spring so I am hoping to coax a solid year out of Utley. Definite injury risk though
SS:
Alexei Ramirez ($15) - Rock solid SS at a very reasonable price. Very good lineup, very good hitters park and offers a nice combo of speed/power with solid BA. Targeted him often as I he fits my plan.
3B:
Kyle Seager ($20) - Wanted to get either Frazier or Seager at $20 or less so mission accomplished. Seager had a really solid season and offers a nice power/speed combo from a corner position.
MI:
Marcus Semien ($17) - He was our last player and had money left hence the $17. He probably would have gone in the 5-7 dollar range so $10-12 what was left over. Oakland is a tough pitcher's park but Semien has the every day job and offers that power/speed combo that I look for. BA could be a drag but still offers nice upside
CI:
Manny Machado ($12) - Can't seem to shake my love for Machado. He really hurt me last year but was excellent when he came back from his first injury (until he got hurt again). Even with his injury risk I like him better than Sandoval and Wright who both went for more
OF:
Cespedes ($21) - Was looking for a power bat in the $20 range and was very happy to land Cespedes. Great lineup in a great hitters park. Should get 30 homers and 90 RBI (hoping for even better)
Joc Pederson ($15) - Could run away with rookie of the year or could greatly disappoint. Definitely had to pay for his upside. Tough pitchers park but outstanding lineup. He sure raked at AAA and this spring so the power/speed combo he offers is very appealing.
Rusney Castillo ($10) - Banking on that Cuban pedigree, Puig, Abreu and now hopefully Castillo. Will back fill him for the first few weeks but I am certainly expecting much more than $10 in stats
Avasail Garcia ($11) - I usually stay away from guys that burned me the year before but this guy can rake if he can stay on the field. I think it was a fair price for him
Mike Cuddyer ($10) - Continuing the theme of "if he can stay on the field" I always seem to be chasing BA and even if Cuddyer loses 20-30 points off of his average from last year he is still a .300 hitter with plenty of pop
Pompey ($7) - Needed speed and Pompey more than fits the bill. He will be playing everyday at the top of a strong lineup and can even hit 10-12 homers, so definitely not a Judy.
Pitchers:
Wainwright ($18) - Looking for an ace in the $18-20 range and settled on Wainwright. He is a bulldog and should certainly deliver across the board
Pineda ($13) - I am very high on Pineda and have him A LOT. I know he is a bit of injury risk but they way he pitched last year and this spring he looks like a strong number two
Ventura ($12) - A solid number three with a ton of upside. K's and W's should be very solid but do worry about the WHIP
Weaver ($11) - Looks like a rock solid number four. Numbers should be solid across the board
T. Walker ($12) - I am ALL IN in on Walker. He was my breakout pitcher early on and unfortunately his big spring had him zooming up draft boards. Great stuff, great pitchers park, looking forward to see what he does this year.
Archer ($7) - Can do a heck of a lot worse than Archer as a number six starter. Offers quite a bit of upside and would expect a very solid season from him
Britton ($9) - I love Britton. He was tremendous last year and I have no reason to think he will not be just as effective this year. I think he is a steal at $9
Casilla ($6) - Another closer I really like. I know all about Romo but Casilla was lights out in the playoffs and World Series and the giants play a ton of one run games. Another steal at $6
Feliz ($5) - For what I paid I can live with him as a third closer, Rangers may not win much but if Feliz has his velocity back he should be miore than good as a third closer
Bench:
Bradley and Warren - Definitely two plus bench pitchers with oodles of upside
Swiher and Ike Davis - Potential power bats off the bench
Swihart - Callup in June/July?
Peraza - Will hold him as long as I don't need the roster spot
Ackley - Will probably back fill Castillo with him for the first few weeks.
All in all I really like the team. Probably missed out on a few guys but overall a very good team with a tremendous amount of upside. The pitching should garner a lot of points so winning will come down to how well the offense performs.