Fantasy 40/40: Dynasty Draft: Results and Thoughts
So after starting our draft on February 24th on an email chain, it finally came to a close nearly three weeks later. Half of our league on the east coast. Half on the west coast with some sprinkled in between. We all have different schedules and sleeping patterns. Some have begun families. Some still live with theirs (yeah you S. Paul). Some of us in law meetings with judges, texting picks in the bathroom. Some running around baseball complexes washing jocks and uniforms for potential major leaguers (nope, sorry, getting cut Sport, yeah I’m talking to you there number 84). Some pouring drinks while making picks. To sum up, dedication. Dedication to a hobby that we all love. Ok, we’re losers. But whatever. I’m okay with it.
It’s a 12 team, 40 man roster, dynasty format, h2h, points scoring league. We get 1pt for a single, BB, RBI, RUN or SB. 2pts for double, 3 for a triple, 4 pts for a HR. For pitchers, 1 pt for an out or K, 8 for a win, 4 for a save, -4 for a blown save, -3 for an earned run and -1 for a BB or HBP. You have a 40 man roster and depth chart. We start a regular starting 8 with a DH, 5 SP and up to 3 RP. On off days for your starters, the backup would then accumulate the points for your team. Whichever starter pitches for you that day, you get his stats for that “game”. Hope you followed that.
Here’s what my squad looks like. The numbers in the parenthesis represent the round.followed by the pick number overall.
SCOTTSDALE 40/40 CLUB
- C – Doumit PIT (22.261)
- 1B – Votto CIN (3.31)
- 2B – Utley PHI (1.7)
- 3B – Stewart COL (7.79)
- SS – Tulowitzki COL (2.18)
- OF – Markakis BAL (4.42)
- OF – McCutchen PIT (5.55)
- OF – Bruce CIN (8.90)
- DH – B. Phillips CIN (6.66)
- SP – W. Rodriguez HOU (12.138)
- SP – Dempster CHC (20.237)
- SP – Wolf MIL (21.250)
- SP – Cueto CIN (17.202)
- SP – Floyd CHW (26.306)
- RP – Wagner ATL (19.226)
- RP – Dotel PIT ( 25.295)
- RP – Motte STL (32.378)
BENCH
- R – C – Shoppach TB (35.415)
- R – C – A. Moore SEA (40.474)
- R – C – C. Santana CLE (15.175)
- R – 1B – D. Lee CHC (10.114)
- R – 1B – Freeman ATL (24.279)
- R – 1B – Allen ARI (33.391)
- R – 2B – Young Jr. COL (23.268)
- R – 2B – S. Rodriguez TB (30.354)
- R – SS – Andrus TEX (11.127)
- R – SS – E. Cabrera SD (27.319)
- R – 3B – Wood LAA (16.186)
- R – 3B – Alvarez PIT (9.103)
- R – 3B – Liddi SEA (39.463)
- R – OF – Victorino PHI (13.151)
- R – OF – Stubbs CIN (18.213)
- R – OF – N. Morgan WAS (34.402)
- R – OF – R. Davis OAK (38.450)
- R – SP – Harang CIN (31.367)
- R – SP – Marquis WAS (36.426)
- R – SP – Bumgarner SF (14.162)
- R – SP – Friedrich COL (29.343)
- R – SP – M. Moore TB (37.439)
- R – SP – S. Miller STL (28.334)
STRATEGY
My strategy going into it was simple. Fantasy 40/40 type of guys. Power/speed. I was going to secure a lineup using young, established players with upside at all positions with legit backups at each position. I didn’t want to draft starting players over 30 with the exception for pitchers. Also, grab a couple prospects throughout I have been in love with over the past couple years. This is my team forever and there is only 1 draft so I wanted to take players that I liked and that would stick around for a while. “They” say not to draft with emotion, “I” have said don’t draft with emotion. There was a little emotion in some of my picks – and the result is a team full of players that are good and players I like watching play ball. I’m just saying if the pick came down to 2 players in the same tier, all things being equal, I chose the guy I liked better. There. I said it.
Also, I tried to focus on NL pitchers only if possible. They pitch in the easier league and historically, the NL ERA is lower than the AL in comparison. I have never drafted in a dynasty format – so I told myself to see which direction the draft went and react to picks as they came.
START OF DRAFT AND MY STRATEGY – INFIELD
I drafted Utley at #7 – over Matt Kemp – I know, I know. But Utley represents such an advantage at 2B, I had to. Kemp is 25 and would have been around longer. However, I am still playing for this year and Utley, I thought, was a better starting piece to build around. I would have taken Lincecum if he was there, but taken one pick before me at #6. After taking Utley, I wanted a top SS – Reyes or Tulo to partner with him. I grabbed Tulo (healthy) over Reyes at #18. Utley and Tulowitzki are my starting MI for years.
I later took Phillips at #66 because he was the best value available on the board. I could play him at DH or he’s insurance for Utley. Also (trade bait later in the season with Phillips and possibly a 3B to someone who missed out on a top tier 2B – to secure a top end 3B I wanted and missed out on). I then scooped up Elvis Andrus and E. Cabrera of San Diego for my SS behind Tulowitzki. They both offer the same skill sets, 60-80R with 30-40 SB. I also noticed that other teams are lacking SS talent as well (trade options). This now gives me 2 of the TOP 5 2B and 3 of the TOP 15 SS moving forward. Eric Young Jr. and Sean Rodriguez round out 2B for me. Again, two established starters with Utley and Phillips. Two young prospects to backup and develop. Rodriguez was traded in the Kazmir deal from LAA and I see good things in his future – and hope he gets the starting 2B job in Tampa (fingers crossed). I have the best MI in the league.
THIRD BASE
I wanted Wright, Longoria or Zimmerman at 3B, but the cards didn’t play that way. Since I missed out on them, I waited a bit and took I. Stewart at #79. Some say I may have reached, but I noticed younger players were valued more than their older statesmen and being taken earlier. So I moved in on Stewart over Beltre. I really do like Stewart and see him hitting 30 HR in 2010 and beyond. Later, I acted on emotion and drafted Pedro Alvarez, Pirate prospect, with the #103 pick right after my man crush Jason Heyward went ONE PICK BEFORE. I also added Alex Liddi, Italian Stallion from the Seattle farm system, late in the draft. Brandon Wood is my number 2 behind Stewart – I’m hoping for a “Kendry Morales” type breakout from the Angel corner man. He’s out of options and Figgins is in Seattle. If it’s not the Angels, then somewhere else. We’ll see. Potential for 30 HR.
FIRST BASE
Derrek Lee is my backup 1B. Solid – hits for avg., 25 HR and 35 doubles help; I can also rotate him in with Phillips at the DH spot. Also, grabbed two 1B prospects in Freddie Freeman and Brandon Allen, both of whom may have a permanent job come late 2010 and most definitely in 2011 – their road blocks in the majors are running on 1-yr contracts (Glaus and LaRoche).
CATCHERS
Catchers, like defenses in football, can be taken either real early or very late. I missed out on all the top dogs so I made sure to grab a stud prospect eventually to make up for it. I took Doumit with the #261 pick, pairing him with Kelly Shoppach later – a C with power upside if he gets +300 AB’s. Great value for both I thought. I kind of see Shoppach as a Mike Napoli type. Anyway, I took four catchers with Adam Moore being my 40th round pick as my Mr. Irrelevant, who may start for Seattle and prospect Carlos Santana (my catcher of the future) from Cleveland being my “minor leaguers”.
OUTFIELD
Re-visiting my strategy, I wanted young studs at all positions. Fantasy 40/40 style players. Power/speed guys. The 40/40 CLUB outfield consists of Nick Markakis, Andrew McCutchen and Jay Bruce. All three are young. All three were hyped coming up. All three have showed or flashed brilliance on the MLB level. Markakis is 26 and continues to rake. With all his doubles counting for points, 20HR, 100RBI and a young lineup should fair well for me for the next 5 years. McCutchen, I have been following for a couple years and wanted to grab him no matter what (round 5). Man crush. And then Bruce to fill out the trio. Coming off of surgery. He’s 23 and should hit 30 HR annually for the next 10 years. Bandbox field. Thank you. Rounding out my outfield backups are Victorino (#151), Stubbs (#213), Morgan (#402) and Rajai Davis (#450). I drafted OF as value came across the draft. Outfield is real deep this year and players can be found everywhere. I know speed isn’t valued very much in head to head leagues, but Morgan at #402 and Rajai Davis at #450 is absurd, ridic value. I mean come on. These guys are some of my sleepers this year and I was thrilled to grab them in rounds late into the 30’s, after discussing about taking the 10 rounds earlier.
STARTING PITCHING
Pitching, I thought, I did a good job in scouring the bargain bin for. Wandy is my ace, but I’m ok with that. His trends and peripherals are better than what people see on the back of his Topps Card. Also, Dempster, Cueto and Wolf are all NL guys with good K/9 rates who will provide serviceable starts for me. Rotate in Harang (hope he bounces back and finds some molo), Marquis (might win some games with a better Nats team) and Gavin Floyd who I stole at pick 306 (did I just say “a better Nats team?”)
Starting staff: Rodriguez, Dempster, Wolf, Cueto, Floyd or Harang.
RELIEF PITCHING
Relief was easy. Don’t pay too much attention and grab a closer or two along the way. Closers are so fickle that it’s pointless to waste a pick on someone who probably won’t be there in 3 years, maybe even 3 months. Matt Lindstrom or Brandon Lyon? Jason Frasor or Kevin Gregg? Plus, it’s a dynasty league so a wasted pick on a closer not named Rivera, Papelbon or Nathan…Oops, sorry Peterson. That’s why you don’t take closers early. Peterson took Nathan at #92. The day after he busted his elbow, everyone and their mother got drafted as closers from the Twinkies. But, they’re stupid too. Almost like NFL running backs – a dime a dozen and the lifespan of 3 1/2 years – you can always find saves on the waiver wire. I took Wagner in round 19 and Dotel in round 25. Flame-throwing Jason Motte is the closer in waiting in St. Louis if he could ever find the plate and I took him in the 30’s.
Overall, I thought I was very successful in executing my plan. I was really happy with the end results and the look of my squad. I drafted all young talents, with Utley being my oldest regular (31). I think I have a deep team and legit shot to compete. I’m sure all 11 other owners are saying the same thing right now too. Honestly, 34 out of the 40 guys I drafted, I had highlighted on my list of 860 players – the exceptions being prospects and pitchers I finally grabbed who were just sitting there (Harang, Liddi, Miller, A. Moore and M. Moore). What do you think? Thoughts? Would this team compete in your 12 team h2h league? Please comment… I’ll keep you updated on how I’m doing in this league throughout the year.
To see a final spreadsheet of all the picks, here is a link to the 2010 Fantasy Baseball Dynasty Draft. A couple of the picks are missing, sorry, I wasn’t able to fill out everyone else’s picks.
TITO
One Response to “Fantasy 40/40: Dynasty Draft: Results and Thoughts”
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Danny Peterson says:
At least I got Zimmerman
