My Main Event Draft....1

[DOUGHBOYS]

At the last minute, I decided to do two Main Event teams.
I've tried to stay away from that, but it is so hard to say no to drafts for me.
Especially Main Event drafts that just seems to bring the best out in everyone.
Last year, I decided to go with best or highest player on my sheets, no matter the position. It resulted in the rather awkward start of...
Pitcher
Pitcher
Catcher
Pitcher
Catcher

There weren't many folks that felt good about my draft. Hell, I didn't know if I liked it myself.
The end result was that I won the league by half point on the final day.
After success, you'd think I would follow the same formula this year, right?
Boring!
What fun would that be?
Besides, it's a new year and several players I liked were not as high on draft boards as I thought they should be.
So, I knew this year would not be about the names who were highest on my list, but those that, I felt, could carry me to the promised land.
Pinpointing certain players, if you will.

So, let the drafts begin.
The first draft was in Las Vegas. Toughest league there and nobody will convince me otherwise.
I had the sixth spot. It was the spot I wanted.
In almost every draft this year, I wanted my first pick to be that of the 'Four Core'.
My nickname for Kershaw, Scherzer, Kluber, and Sale.
Pitching is nabbed more and more every year and I want the best to start my staff.
I have Scherzer as the number one ranked pitcher, followed by Kluber, Sale, and Kershaw.
Risk is what factored Kershaw in sucking hind tit out of this foursome.

So, I started my draft with Scherzer.
Good, right?
Then, suckage.
I had wanted Gary Sanchez, or Freeman, or Lindor, or SOMEBODY that I liked to drop to me.
I saw the name at the top of my list and din't like it.
I thought to myself, "Do I have to take Him!?"
Maybe I should reach for Bregman. I love Bregman.
But, the gambler in me said to give in, take the player and hope for Bregman to make it back in the third round.
So I uttered the two words.
The guy who could play Herman Munster without make-up....Aaron Judge.
Hey! I'm not proud of it.
So Don't Judge!
But, I did.

Usually when something bad happens in a draft, it steamrolls.
I started making contingency plans in case I did not get Bregman.
Justin Verlander, the weapon of choice.
the draft circled back and I didn't hear Verlander's name.
I was so grateful that Pan B had worked out that I almost forgot about Plan A.
Bregman was still available.
I wanted to say, "I'll take Justix Breglander to try and get both, but thought better of it and was happy to get Bregman.
By the way, Verlander went with the next pick.
So, I've got Scherzer, Judge, and Bregman.

I really don't care about positions with my first 10 players.
And as you know, there is no such thing as 'value' on draft day.
Anyway, the two players I coveted most in this draft were going to be taken with the next picks.
I was willing to go more than a full round before their ADP to grab these two players.
Whit Merrifield and Joey Gallo.
Love 'em both for different reasons.
As expected, I got them at four and five as I was willing to pay the premium price for them.
Round six triggers the same thing in every drafters head. Do I get in on the Closer run or avoid.
I got in and took Brad Hand.
At seven, I took a drafters darling. I was surprised he was still there since he has been so coveted.
Ozzie Albies.
In my mind, it was the wrong thing to do.
Luke Weaver was still available and I love me some Luke Weaver.
I had a second baseman already and really could have used a stud arm.
Luke Weaver was the Angel on my left shoulder, Albies the devil on my right.
Sometimes, I'm just Devils Food.

At pick eight, I hated the pitching left to me. Those buzzards had taken the best and left me with the carcass of Jake Arrieta and Lance McCullers!
Blech!
So, I took a second baseman.
Relax, he also has outfield eligibility.
Chris Taylor.

I decided come Hell or High Water, I was taking my second starter with the next pick.
Last year, I had four Starters by now! This year, one.
I was all set to take Sonny Gray, the weatherman.
Then, three picks away, some sombitch picks him!
Immediately, I go to Plan B mode.
Realmuto.
The next drafter after the jerk who took Gray, takes Realmuto!
Double jerks!
I'm starting to take this personal.
Grumbling, I look to my lists for help.
All I could see was a big middle finger pointing at me.
I know it was my imagination, but there it, a big middle finger.
I looked again and it was a smiling face.
I then realized the smiling face was the facilitator who said I only had 20 seconds.
What? Wait.
I hated the Starters. Position players were meh. I almost passed.
But, I thought that I may as well give in and fill my Closer requirement (that's the way I look at Closers) and took Blake Treinen.

Pick 10 came fast and I still hated this phase of Starters that were available.
I knew Ohtani and Stroman were there for the taking, but they'd be somebody elses taking, not mine.
So when in doubt, take a player with second base eligibility.
I took Paul DeJong.
I really like the guy, but I do hate that the 10th round is a premium price to pay for him.
At the same time, I do believe in DeJong and that is what I wanted to draft was players I believed in.

Now, in Las Vegas we get a break after the 10th and 20th rounds.
The bathrooms always full.
The day before, during an auction, a drafter paid $34 for Bumgarner while half the table knew he had a broken bone.
There was a drafter throwing up behind a stall.
I thought it may be him but was told it wasn't.
I would.

I went back to the table determined that with these next 10 picks I was gonna come out with a good pitching staff.
Round 11 was Jameson Taillon.
Round 12 was my favorite Swiss Army Knife, Marwin Gonzalez.
Springer, Correa, and Altuve on that team last year and Gonzalez leads them in RBI.
Round 13, Charlie Morton.
If Morton gets rung up for 80 days for using PED's, I won't be surprised.
Nobody increases velocity at his age without help.
Here's hoping that Charlie uses the the same cloaking device as Jose Bautista.
Round 14, on with the pitching barrage.
Julio Teheran.
If he ever learns to throw in his home ball park, he could be a good pitcher.
Pick 15 is Yasmani Grandal.
I really don't care for Grandal. He thinks he's really hot shit.
I'm hoping he plays like it.
Round 16 takes me back to pitching.
I talked to KJ Duke and told him that I thought Scherzer and Kluber were the class of pitching in baseball.
He responded that he just couldn't draft a guy names Kluuuuuuber.
I get it.
He sounds like a character on 'Hogans Heroes' .
I get it.
Because the pitcher I drafted in the 16th round reminds me of a College snob.
Drew Pomeranz.
And round 17 is more Starting pitching in Jake Odorizzi.
His last name is great, it has two position players in one last name.
In round 18, I thought to myself that I have twice as many players at second base than outfield.
This is not good for a fantasy team.
I drafted Steven Souza Jr.
I never saw Steven Souza Sr. play.
But I bet he didn't go 'round hurting himself before a draft like his stupid son did.
Round 19 comes and I'm thinking, "Ok Dan, you need a Starter or Outfielder, don't take an infielder."
So, I draft CJ Cron.
His nickname in High School was 'Circle Jerk'.
I made that up.
Round 20 and we are headed for another break, I may be the one throwing up in the bathroom.
Again, "Ok Dan, you need a Starter or Outfielder, don't take an infielder.
BUT, I'm taking who I think are the best players.
I believe that Matt Davidson hits 35 home runs and bats .253 this year
I want 35 homers at pick 20.
While my one hand is wanting to high five the other, the other is slapping me upside the face.
I love drafts.

After the break, I have a talk with myself...
"Dan, quit sucking".
It would have been a longer conversation, but I get bored with myself.
Round 21, I draft Willie Calhoun.
When the Hell is the MLB gonna get rid of this stupid rule where a good rookie is made to go the minor leagues.
It sucks.
But Calhoun doesn't.
Round 22 and I take Sean Newcomb,
I am now out of bullets.
I drafted most of the players liked, but really I'm at the end of players loved except for one pitcher.
Tyler Mahle, but he was taken before I can draft him. Bastage!
I like Newcomb, but I see blowups too.
Round 23 saw me taking Mike Minor. I believe Minor will end the year as the Rangers Closer.
Round 24 will be my first drop. Dustin Fowler.
If the A's don't want to roster him, neither do I.
Round 25 and I found Nimmo.
I'm hoping he makes a small mark before Conforto comes back.
BUT, he is a Met and will probably get hurt.
Round 26 and my second Catcher, Alex Avila. meh
Round 27 Adam Wainwright meh
Round 28, 29, and 30 were Granderson, Adam Frazier, and Blake Swihart.
Dart throws.

I always see the bad part of drafts after it is over. Never the good.
I'll need to be very cognizant in my FAAB bids.
In my mind, fantasy baseball is 30 percent research and drafting.
30 percent in making meaningful FAAB pickups.
And 40 percent luck.
I'll need a shitload of that.

Main Event 2 tomorrow......

[Bronx Yankees]

That Matt Davidson pick just might work out for you. Jeez!

Mike

[DOUGHBOYS]

I have Davidson on many teams.
He was the easiest player of all for me to draft.
In every draft I was in, Chapman was taken before Davidson. A good two or three or five rounds before Davidson.
I think Davidson is the better pick.
When Chapman was picked, it was my 'alert' to take Davidson.

Davidson has great raw power. He has worked very hard in taking outside pitches up the middle and to right field.
Today was an anomaly, he had great pitches to hit. And yanked them all.
It'll show me more when he really does take outside pitches, oppo.
But, this sure is fun!

[Edwards Kings]

So, Davidson is on pace to.....

[Quahogs]

Doughie! Great seeing you in Vegas! Boy you sure do fill up a room - I mean in the verbose sense of course

How do you reconcile Dejong with your mizzou mizzou stance? See something there that makes him an outlier?
Just curious. I too cherry pick against my own rules at times - just can't help myself.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Doughie! Great seeing you in Vegas! Boy you sure do fill up a room - I mean in the verbose sense of course

How do you reconcile Dejong with your mizzou mizzou stance? See something there that makes him an outlier?
Just curious. I too cherry pick against my own rules at times - just can't help myself.

Always great to see you, Stevie Wonder!

You're right in all ways.
Every one of us breaks our own rules.
Some players just look more enticing to us, almost forcing us to re-consider those self-imposed rules.
DeJong is a player I really like in that he could deliver 24-29 homers. (25-30 may be too much to ask).
With the signing of Ozuna, that lineup gets longer and I believe he could 'fall' into more rbi/runs.
It is not lost on me, however, that Aledyms Diaz was all that and a bag of Doritos just a year earlier.
Again, great to see you again, Steve!