I wanted a similar pick to the first draft. I put the number seven as first on my kds.
The highly criticized randomizer listed me as being ninth in relation to the rest of the league, but I got my first choice in number seven.
THAT is how you beat the randomizer. Set your sights lower!
With the seventh pick, I took Corey Kluber.
I have him neck and neck with Scherzer and really like watching his no-expression pitching style.
If I were his catcher, I would make it a mission to make him smile.
Second round, I do NOT take Aaron Judge.
That was a rule after the first draft.
Drafters went crazy on pitching in the back half of the draft and spit out Gary Sanchez to me.
I took him.
Sometimes players drop to us and that happened in the third round. It is even sweeter when you really love a player that drops.
I love George Springer.
The same thing happened in round four as pitching seemed to be the focal point for most drafters.
For the third round in a row, a great offensive player falls in my lap.
Marcell Ozuna.
As soon as I took Ozuna, I knew that I would not get the next three players wanted.
Merrifield, Gallo, and Weaver.
I've taken Merrifield and Gallo everywhere. They have been the loves of my life this drafting season.
So, I lowered my mission and would try to get two of three of 'my' players.
Amazingly, Whitfield was not taken by 5-7.
He has been getting so much good hype that his adp has moved steadily up.
I snatched him.
At pick 6, I had a decision, both Gallo and Weaver were thereas expected, my job was to decidewho was more likely to make it back to me.
With the draft focusing on pitching, I chose Weaver.
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
but there is no joy in DOUGHville — less than mighty Kenyon has struck out.
As you may have surmised, Gallo did not make it back to me.
That bastard King of Queens took him from me.
So now, I felt like I was drafting naked. Gallo has been a part of every major team I have.
I rationalized that I had great power in Sanchez, Springer, and Ozuna, and that I would make sure to get Davidson later.
Still...Oh Poop!
Not taking Gallo at seven did have its advantage, I could take a Closer of note.
I took Brad Hand.
Hand is the first player, not one of 'my players' to be on both Main Events.
I didn't really look for him, he just sorta found me.
Pick eight is another 'dropper'.
I don't know why this guy dropped in drafts really.
He moved from one pitchers park to another and seems to be a better hitter each year.
I'll take him. Eric Hosmer.
I took JT Realmuto in the ninth round, I know that he's hurt, but I love getting my second catcher here, so I can draft a third catcher later in the draft to save FAAB money.
Pick 10, ah, sweet pick 10.
I have had several players drop to me.
This time, I was going to jump adp by many, many rounds.
Making this pick the highest this player has ever been chosen.And he doesn't even have an MLB at bat.
But he will.
I also have a bet that this kid has a better year than Ronald Acuna with several people.
My tenth round pick is Scott Kingery.
If you don't like it...tough!
Our break started after round 10.
Oh wait. We're online and onliners don't get breaks.
We don't get food and drink served to us.
On the flip side, we could be having sex while drafting and nobody would be the wiser.
I can see it now...
Drafter: (PUSHES 'HELP' BUTTON)
Admin: Can I help you
Drafter: Yes, I was pleasuring my wife and pushed the wrong button, uh, not on my wife, but the computer.
Admin: Who did you want
Drafter: I...I...I...never mind, I pass for a few minutes. Thanks!
Pick 11 is a fav of mine in Paul DeJong
Pick 12 is Justin Smoak, positional pick here. I feel that corners start disappearing around this portion of the draft.
Pick 13 is that great Swiss Army Knifeagain in Marwin Gonzalez.
It is never said, but I don't know how much FAAB money is saved with guys like Gonzalez. Invaluable.
Then, my self-run started. I would go on a run of pitching and never even look at offense.
Pick 14- Jordan Montgomery
Pick 15- Julio Teheran
Pick 16- Miles Mikolas
Pick 17- Tanner Roark
Pick 18- Jake Odorizzi
Pick 19- Cam Bedrosian
I liked the run. There are a lot of drafters who like the upper echelon of pitchers, but I really like the mid-grade pitchers here.
At least I like them now, tomorrow they may suck.
Pick 20 and I draft a player who predicted that he would become the first 50/50 player in baseball history.
Matt Kemp.
Time to make good on your prediction, Matty!
How about 30/30...25/25...how about 25/0... Sold!
Pick 21 was a gamble. I wanted Matt Davidson here.
But Matt Davidson is like the ugliest girl in a bar. All the other pretty girls are taken and only if drunk, does a man pick the ugly girl at all.
So, being the only one to adore the ugly girl, I took Ervin Santana with the 21st pick.
As expected, Davidson was waiting for me with buckteeth and a pot belly at pick 22.
Pick 23 is Ketel Marte.
Besides Davidson, I was more impressed by Marte's improvement in Spring Training more than any other player.
Round 24 and I took my favorite young pitcher this year, Tyler Mahle.
I started drafting him well before Spring Training started and those games only made me want him more.
Round 25, I take Brandon Nimmo.
I don't know what it is, but I really like this kid.
We'll see what he does with his playing time.
Round 26 is the catcher to spell Realmuto.
I was really happy I did this when learning of the Sal Perez news.
Round 27 is a guy who should be named Eddie.
Steady Eddie.
That is Nick Markakis.
Fantasy-wise, he is borrrrring.
But, he sure is a good guy to see on our bench.
Round 28 is Drew Steckenrider. I don't believe in Ziegler throwing the whole year and I couldn't roster a guy named Barraclough cuz I would just want donuts every time I saw his name.
Round 29 is JP Crawford. A dart throw
Round 30, Adam Frazier, the same.
So there you have it.
None of us really know how any NFBC team will do.
If we have 18 of 30 drafted players survive the season, we deem it a success.
Injuries are luck, both bad and good, and we have no control over those injuries.
All we can do is give every team our bestshot.
Then cringe as attrition rears its ugly head in our game.
Good luck to everybody on an All-American Holiday today.
Opening Day.
For the baseball fan, nirvana.
For the fantasy player, the beginning of a long journey.
A wretched, wonderful journey.
Good luck All!
