Draft Time...Power Failure

Prepared for everything except a power outage

The other night I drafted in the Rotoprofessor’s massive 16 team Trade Counsel League.  It consists of 2C,1B,2B,3B,SS,CI,MI,5OF,UT,9P,5Bench. Standard 5x5 scoring with weekly line-ups. That is 80 OF not including Utility spots, and 144 pitchers that will come off the board, plus any bench spots by either. As you can imagine that leaves scraps at best on the waiver wire.  One of the objects of this league is to trade often to bolster your roster.

Preparation for this draft was standard procedure, rank players, prepare for runs at positions and try to grab some insight on what other manager’s strategies would be. I had the 14^th pick and had my sights set on Fielder for round 1 with a backup plan to get Pedroia and Kinsler with my first couple of picks and dominate 2B/MI. My draft strategy for picks 1-10 was to have 8 hitters and 2SP with at least a couple of possible 20/20 OFs. As my initial plan started to come true I see Fielder on the board with my pick so I take him and hope Pedroia is available 5 picks later. It goes Tex, HanRam, Kershaw, and Pedroia…crap. New plan for pick #2 Kinsler or Reyes? I take the often hurt Reyes for BA/SB/R support. Now it’s going to be nearly 30 picks before I draft again. Time to predict what the other managers strategies/picks are going to be. The run was 9OF and 7SP since my last pick. I really thought I would have a chance at Lawrie or Jay Bruce for pick #3 at 46. Nope both gone. Best SPs on board still were CC, Greinke, Gallardo and Haren. Best OFs were Jennings, and Zobrist. Neither I thought were worth a 3^rd round pick.  I went NL SP, my favorite, and took Greinke.  After me went 4 straight pitchers, that included Kimbrel. Everyone wants an ace, or is afraid of not getting an ace. Still didn’t want Jennings or Zobrist to anchor my OF with pick 51 so I narrowed my choice to best player at a position or more SP. Carlos Santana, Napoli, or Gallardo. With 2 C league I could have a catcher with multi-position eligibility and over 500 ABs.  I took Santana and decided to take 2^nd C as my last drafted starter.

Now I know I need some quality OF for my next couple of picks. I am targeting Choo, Stubbs, Chris Young, power and speed guys. I also had Billy Butler in mind for CI or UT. It is about 4 picks away from my turn and then it happened. No matter how prepared you are for your draft you can never predict this….an act of God…at least that what it seemed like…the power went out in my whole neighborhood. I and my neighbors soon wander out our front doors asking each other if theirs is out too. Someone said they heard the whole south side of town is out.  I think this can’t be happening. Try and log into draft from my phone but that was useless. Only 1 thing to do…pop another beer and wait.

40 minutes and 6 picks later it comes back on. I see I still have no OF and ESPN was kind enough to draft me Aramis, Berkman, Alexei, Storen, Madson, and Carpenter. After filtering back and seeing who I could have taken I was a little upset but rolled with the punches. Instead of Berkman, Butler was available. Instead of Alexi Ramirez, Dee Gordon was available. I would not have taken the 2 closers this early though I do like to stock up on closers and that was part of my strategy going in. The Carpenter pick I would never have taken. Injury and all.

So now I am 10 picks in. No OF yet…ouch. No 2B yet, not worried. Once the power came back on its about 8 picks before I resume picking. Quickly glance through OF and P. I see many decent closers available but no outstanding OF or SP. I snag up both Bailey and Street. I now dominate Saves and have a great trade chip available.

From here on out it is OF and SP exclusively. The power is gone from the OF pool so I look for lead-off hitter with some speed. Hopefully to cash in on SB/R and not kill my BA. The next 5 picks went chalk with OF. De Aza, Pagan, both lead-off hitters. Next Martinez in Houston, he should bat in the 3 hole and give some modest power and RBI. A good pick at 238 I feel. Next was the Cubs LaHair. He will also get many RBI chances hitting 3^rd or 4^th. He will also qualify at 1B in April. Final starting OF was Bay. I feel he will have a better year with fences coming in and he is in much better shape. A great pick at 270 from an old top 10 OF just a few years back.

Starting Pitching and someone for my UT spot was my next task. I was able to get Floyd and Stauffer as SPs and slotted Loney into my UT spot. Happy with all three.  Next two SP were the other Japanese import up in Seattle, Iwakuma,   a risky pick but he is having a great Spring. Next was Buehrle, not a guy that flashes big Roto numbers but an innings eater on a good offensive team who will be pitching in a pitchers park.

That left me with 2B and 2^nd C. No one at 2B worth taking so I took the best available starter who is not in jeopardy of losing playing time in a platoon situation and bats high in the order. I took Ellis from the Dodgers. My 2^nd Catcher I feel is a steal.  Now that Perez is hurt in KC Pena is the man and should get Abs in 4-5 games a week.

My bench I wanted multi-positional players like Andino or Nunez but they were long gone. I took some speed in Schaffer from Houston, Crain who could end up winning the closer’s role for the White Sox and if he does another valuable trade chip for me. Then I took Collmenter as a good early year SP who I will plug in on 2 start weeks. My last pick was a compete reach. Looking for lightning in a bottle. Sogard has had a great spring and could open as Oakland’s 3B and he has SS eligibility too.

Over all I like aspects of my team. Wish list would include better OF and not having ESPN taken Carpenter for me. I guess that’s what an unexpected power outage gets ya. Hope it never gets you in a draft. Here is my team and draft selection. Let me know where I need help and you can help me propose trade scenarios with the others in this league.
14 PRINCE FILEDER
19 JOSE REYES
46 ZACK GREINKE
51 CARLOS SANTANA
78 ARAMIS RAMIREZ
83 LANCE BERKMAN
110 ALEXEI RAMIREZ
115 DREW STOREN
142 RYAN MADSON
147 CHRIS CARPENTER
174 ANDREW BAILEY
179 HUSTON STREET
206 ALEJANDRO DE AZA
211 ANGEL PAGAN\
238 JD MARTINEZ
243 BRYAN LAHAIR
270 JASON BAY
275 GAVIN FLOYD
302 LAMES LONEY
302 TIM STAUFFER
334 HISASHI IWAHUMA
339 MARK BUEHRLE
398 JORDAN SCHAFER
403 JESSE CRAIN
430 JOSH COLLMENTER
435 ERIC SOGARD