NL Only Draft (3.11.09)
5.25.09
-Michael Lins
(View Draft Results)
I ended up playing in 9 leagues total this year and by far, the one I looked forward to the most was the NL only 13 team league. I had never been in a NL-only league, but I looked forward to the idea of being in a league where reserve and role players would help make a difference on the outcome of the league championship. They do in MLB, so why not mimic that in fantasy leagues?
Unfortunately, I needed to bring my dog to the vet on the night of the draft. He had a large cyst on a toe on his middle left front paw, as well as one on his rear right leg, just above the bottom of his foot pad. They had been growing since late November/early December and tonight would also be the night that the vet looked at them and decided if he’d stay the night and have surgery the next day. He’s a 12 year old dalmation, who has had kidney failure, pancreatitis and separation anxiety – surgery was risky, but looked like the only option. I hated the idea of leaving him overnight the night before, but the previous kidney failure may have made it a requirement that he have an IV started prior to surgery. It’s a shame these two things had to happen on the same night, but that’s life.
With the #2 pick, I began to formulate my draft strategy. The draft would be held on ww.mockdraftcentral.com. I went into their draft rankings, to customize my own rankings for the draft. Twenty minutes before the draft began, I entered the live draft room, tried to upload my rankings and found out that you needed to upload before entering the room. This was a major disappointment, but I knew I had to work around it. The vet hospital was an hour away. The appointment was at 8, so I had less than 20 minutes to game plan. I only thought of one solution – quickly pre-pick players from the upper tier at each position, then move to the next tier, etc. Hopefully, I’d be back before the draft ended, but I knew I’d miss most of it.
I figured Hanley Ramirez would be the first pick taken, leaving me with a choice of Jose Reyes or David Wright. At the time, I had the two very close, but went with Wright to provide help in each category. After Wright, I loaded the top tier SS, 1B, OF, 3B, etc. Depending on the position, I would load a few for each position, then move to the next position and so on. Pitching was a little e difficult. I didn’t want to jump on it too soon, but I knew if I timed it wrong, I’d also end up with no hitting. I think I go through about 2 and a half rounds before I had to go. I had about 135 players in my queue. If the draft went beyond 10 rounds and I wasn’t home, I’d be at the mercy of the auto-pick.
I can’t hold off anymore – it’s an hour ride. I left the laptop on and the volume turned up. It’s time to call my fiancé and see if she can help me out while I am driving. Less than 30 minutes into the draft, I am hoping that we are somehow delayed somewhat. No such luck. After struggling to get her familiar with the draft software, I learn that I have David Wright, Adrian Gonzalez, Corey Hart…wow, this strategy was actually working for me!... Then I hear Adam Dunn – what??? Ok, I can live with his power, good thing I got Wright and Gonzalez. She continues reading the names…Andre Ethier…Matt Cain...Adam Wainwright.
I can’t believe it; we are already in round 7??? This is going to be a fast draft. I ask her to start looking through my list of pre-picked players. (And yes, by now, I am catching on that I am pressing my luck with her, but I need to try and build up my foundation). She keeps reading the names in order. Pitcher after pitcher. I am missing the last big closer run! Not to worry, I can still win without a closer. It will be tough, but there are the back ups who will get some saves, right? I am looking for a middle infielder, and Miguel Tejada’s name is sticking out as she reads through the list of players, but there is another player that I can’t overlook, so I tell her, “Click on Josh Johnson. He will show up in another box to the left.” She does and he’s still there in the 8th round, so with her help, I get him in round 8 and Miguel Tejada in round 9.
I am at the vet’s and have to go. I get some good news at the vet’s hospital, I found out Dobber is able to come home with me, but would have to come back in the morning and have surgery the following afternoon. Great! I didn’t have to leave him overnight. That was a huge relief.
Now, I could tell that helping me pick players wasn’t on her list of priorities, but when I leave, I call back. Yep, she’s annoyed at the thought of doing picks for the hour ride home.
After some pleading, I find out my next set of players that were selected. Oliver Perez, Hiroki Kuroda, and Juan Pierre are all now on my roster. I’m not a big fan of Perez or Pierre, but figure they are still useable players.
My fiancé has to go, has “another call.”
By the time I get home, I am obviously on “next best available” according to the draft site. What is odd and particularly annoying is that this means, after being given Todd Wellemeyer in round 13, last player from my original queue stacking, I am handed Burke Badenhop, Jung Bong and Matt Bush in rounds 14 through 16.
I am going to repeat that again for your benefit. Badenhop…Bong…Bush.
…
Badenhop, Bong and Bush…I actually have no words when I read those names, which were followed by Taylor Buchholz, Jeff Samardzija and Barry Zito in rounds 17, 18 and 19. My initial thoughts here were Buchholz and Samadzija have some value. Can Zito improve on last year’s late success?
I was home for the rounds 20 through 30. I saw my biggest needs as catching, saves, steals and middle infield help. I’d like to grab a player with multiple eligibility who could help out. In round 20, I knew saves and catchers were long gone, so I did the best with what I had available or at least I thought I did!
In round 20, I selected Willie Harris, who I hoped could get eligibility at 2B with the Nationals. I followed Harris up with Geoff Blum, who I thought could reach 400+ AB’s with minimal power and some help in the counting stats. In rd 22, I selected Chris Burke, who seemed like he could play different positions for Arizona. Obviously, they had different plans, as he would soon end up in Seattle. (Luckily? He would still be eligible in our league since he was selected before he changed leagues). I still felt like 2B and C were going to be large holes for me to try and fill out. I was even looking at the possibibility of less than 300 combined AB’s from my catching duo. In rd 23, I took Edgar Gonzalez and followed that pick up with RP Mike Adams. I figured Adams could help with ERA and Whip. In round 25, I selected Jason LaRue and hoped for some AB’s, although I knew he wasn’t someone to count on. In rd 26, I picked Emil Brown and followed him with Cliff Floyd in rd 27. Between the two, I was hoping one of them would land at least a platoon role in San Diego’s OF. That doesn’t appear to be the case! I finished the draft off with Craig Counsell (28), Matt Treanor (29), and Cla Meredith (30). I liked Counsell’s versatility and throughout he would get about 300 AB’s throughout the season, filing in for Weeks, Hardy and whoever Milwaukee stuck at 3B. Treanor was still in the player pool and in all honesty – probably desperation, I grabbed him hoping I had been wrong in my thinking and that he was still somewhere in the NL. (I dropped him for Brad Ausmus, who will receive little or no playing time behind Russell Martin). In rd 30, I was actually quite happy to see Cla Meredith. He was another nice set up man, who could help my Whip and ERA. I also thought with San Diego’s closer role being handed to Heath Bell, who was unproven, Meredith may even get the opportunity to save a few games throughout the year.