The first of two fantasy baseball drafts was last night in which I feel I did fairly well with along with my 10 keepers I’ve mentioned in a post previously. There’s a time in the draft where you set up players — watching them, making sure no one steals them from you. It’s not just with baseball drafts, but with all sports. All fantasy owners can relate to holding off on drafting a player a little too soon, then someone takes him right before your next pick. This happened to me at least twice in last night’s draft. Two players I wanted and didn’t get was Alex Cobb (pitcher from the Tampa Bay Rays) and also Adam Eaton (outfielder from the Arizona Diamondbacks).
My team lacks pitching and Cobb was one of those guys that I was just waiting for. I traded away two picks in the offseason that took me out of two straight rounds. As I sit waiting to draft Cobb he goes to a team right before me. Burns a tad. I had him on my team last year and decided not to keep him. He has had a solid spring thus far and like most Rays pitching as of late, they’ve been solid during the regular season. With Tampa trading away James Shields (who I also own), it leaves a clear open spot for Alex Cobb to run away with the spot in the rotation. I can always hope for a trade or at the very least, a slow start and the owner drops him to free agency.
The other player was Adam Eaton. Some may not have heard of him, but he’s on everyone’s prospect watch. He may not turn out to be exactly like Mike Trout, but he’s a supposed 5-tool player in waiting. He will give you batting average, speed for stolen bases and on base % and power for RBI’s and homers. I didn’t want to draft him too early when I can get players that will play to start the season, but I waited one round too long. There is always an opportunity to snag him during the season if he isn’t brought up right away and their owner gets impatient and releases him or acquire in a trade. Depending on how I start my season, I may take a risk and offer a good player for a potential star.
As I mentioned before, my pitching is lacking and it definitely needs work. The following players are my players on my roster to start the season:
C – Matt Wieters *
1B- Ryan Howard *
2B – Neil Walker
SS – Andrelton Simmons
3B – Ryan Zimmerman *
OF – Giancarlo Stanton *
OF – Michael Morse *
OF – Desmond Jennings
Util – Anthony Rizzo
P – Yovani Gallardo *
P – Mike Minor *
P – James Shields *
P – Tommy Hanson *
P – Jeremy Hellickson *
P – Trevor Cahill
P – Matt Garza
P – Clay Bucholtz
P – Brandon League
P – Shelby Miller
The names that have an asterisk after it are the players that I kept prior to the draft. In the hitting departments, I’ve added some players that add speed for the stolen bases that I was lacking. In the pitching department, I’m lacking closers. That was done intentionally knowing that closers change very often throughout the season. Whether it be a close that gets shelled too many times in a row or pitchers that just simply get injured and lose that job. I’m also satisfied that I got Shelby Miller who is the Cardinals young prospect pitcher that may start in the bullpen, but has great stuff and may be inserted into the starting rotation at some point this season (hopefully sooner, rather than later).
Here’s to a great baseball season and hopefully the beginning of a great, happy, not so stressful season!
therubbergame 