Hey everybody, baseball is here. Last week, I had my fantasy baseball draft, and it sure was a doozy. Unfortunately, this past weekend was also WrestleMania, so I didn't have time to write about it before the season started. Still, people need to know whether their draft was good, bad, or ugly, so I'll be focusing on the best picks, the worst picks, and my pick in each round. It's super simple this year, just a straight 5X5 head-to-head 10 team league with 29 rounds. Who did the best? Me, probably. Who did the worst? I don't know.
Part one was published last Monday, part two
came out last Tuesday, and now for the long-awaited, exciting conclusion.
ROUND 21
201
Jonathan Papelbon, Wsh RP
Joc Jams Volume 1
202
Hector Olivera, Atl 3B
Team Asaysian
203
Trevor Story, Col SS
The Nasty Boys
204
Eduardo Escobar, Min SS
Team GreinkMyCrank
205
Collin McHugh, Hou SP
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
206
Denard Span, SF OF
Regular Ass Joel
207
Marcus Semien, Oak SS
Team Pedigree
208
Wil Myers, SD OF
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
209
Alex Wood, LAD SP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
210
Steven Souza Jr., TB OF
Total Jocs
Best Pick: Alex Wood
I thought Alex Wood was a steal in the trade the Dodgers made last year, and although he wasn't all that impressive when he came over, I think he puts it together with a full season in the rotation.
Worst Pick: Denard Span
Although the stat nerds like him, I'm not buying an aging Denard Span to stay effective and healthy this year.
My Pick: Marcus Semien
Full disclosure: I know next to nothing about Marcus Semien. I'm pretty sure he was with the White Sox, but then got traded to the Athletics, and I'm kind of guessing it was part of the Samardzija deal. I don't know what type of year he had last year, but I saw half of the fantasy "experts" predict that he would have a breakout year this season, so I'm really hoping they're right.
ROUND 22
211
Delino DeShields, Tex OF
Total Jocs
212
Khris Davis, Oak OF
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
213
Andrew Miller, NYY RP
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
214
Lance McCullers, Hou SP
Team Pedigree
215
Justin Bour, Mia 1B
Regular Ass Joel
216
Gerardo Parra, Col OF
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
217
Vincent Velasquez, Phi RP
Team GreinkMyCrank
218
Alex Gordon, KC OF
The Nasty Boys
219
Michael Conforto, NYM OF
Team Asaysian
220
Brad Ziegler, Ari RP
Joc Jams Volume 1
Best Pick: Michael Conforto
I like the Conforto pick as a nice upside play this late in the draft. He hit well last year, and this is a point where hitters are becoming scarce, so it's a nice grab in the 22nd.
Worst Pick: Justin Bour
I'm guessing he'll be dropped before May.
My Pick: Lance McCullers
McCullers had some shoulder issues this spring, but it doesn't appear to be serious, and I'm hoping the Astros are just being extra cautious. He came up last year and was incredible, as his changeup took a huge leap forward, and he became one of the more effective young pitchers in the game. He's a little undersized, but as we all know, height doesn't measure heart.
ROUND 23
221
Sean Doolittle, Oak RP
Joc Jams Volume 1
222
Drew Storen, Tor RP
Team Asaysian
223
Shawn Tolleson, Tex RP
The Nasty Boys
224
Devin Mesoraco, Cin C
Team GreinkMyCrank
225
Joe Ross, Wsh SP
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
226
Clay Buchholz, Bos SP
Regular Ass Joel
227
Marcell Ozuna, Mia OF
Team Pedigree
228
Kyle Hendricks, ChC SP
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
229
Anthony DeSclafani, Cin SP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
230
Andrew Heaney, LAA SP
Total Jocs
Best Pick: Sean Doolittle
Getting a solid closer this late is a good get.
Worst Pick: Drew Storen
Getting a setup guy this early is not a good get. He has already been dropped.
My Pick: Marcell Ozuna
I'm a big believer in the Marlins outfield this year, because I trust in their hitting coach. He actually played in the major leagues but is not real well known, but I think the guy understands hitting, and I think Ozuna will benefit the most as he Barries balls into the stands while Bonding with his teammates.
ROUND 24
231
Roberto Osuna, Tor RP
Total Jocs
232
Juan Nicasio, Pit RP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
233
Nick Castellanos, Det 3B
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
234
Jorge Soler, ChC OF
Team Pedigree
235
Aaron Nola, Phi SP
Regular Ass Joel
236
Jonathan Schoop, Bal 2B
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
237
Santiago Casilla, SF RP
Team GreinkMyCrank
238
Devon Travis, Tor 2B
The Nasty Boys
239
Matt Holliday, StL OF
Team Asaysian
240
Mitch Moreland, Tex 1B
Joc Jams Volume 1
Best Pick: Aaron Nola
He's just a solid pitcher. He's never going to be a top pitcher, but he's got a pretty good chance to be a top 150 guy as long as he stays healthy.
Worst Pick: Matt Holliday
I've gone over this numerous times, but Matt Holliday is a traitor to this country and is likely the most reprehensible human being in all of professional baseball. He let his country down in the inaugural World Baseball Classic by faking an injury, and according to reliable sources, he's a douchebag.
My Pick: Jorge Soler
Jorge Soler is not in a great spot right now. There are four good outfielders on the Cubs, and I think they only plan to play three outfielders every day. But I have been a huge Soler fan for a while, and although he was bad last year, he did set the world on fire during the playoffs. I believe in playoffs Soler, and I think he has the ability to get more playing time than people are expecting.
ROUND 25
241
Danny Valencia, Oak 3B
Joc Jams Volume 1
242
Trevor Bauer, Cle SP
Team Asaysian
243
Joey Gallo, Tex OF
The Nasty Boys
244
Domingo Santana, Mil OF
Team GreinkMyCrank
245
Steve Cishek, Sea RP
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
246
Alcides Escobar, KC SS
Regular Ass Joel
247
Matt Moore, TB SP
Team Pedigree
248
Arodys Vizcaino, Atl RP
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
249
Phil Hughes, Min SP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
250
Kevin Kiermaier, TB OF
Total Jocs
Best Pick: Steve Cishek
I think he can keep the closer role. At this point, anybody who has that sort of role guaranteed to start the year is a good find.
Worst Pick: Danny Valencia
He's a platoon bat at best, and even that may be giving him too much credit.
My Pick: Matt Moore
I picked up Matt Moore last year, and he imploded as much as any one man could. But then he hit the minors and came back with a vengeance. His velocity picked up, and with that, so did the strikeouts. I'm betting on that latter Moore showing up, and if so, this is excellent value for this late in the draft.
ROUND 26
251
Bradley Zimmer, Cle OF
Total Jocs
252
Edinson Volquez, KC SP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
253
Kevin Gausman, Bal SP
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
254
Chris Carter, Mil 1B
Team Pedigree
255
Dexter Fowler, ChC OF
Regular Ass Joel
256
Jason Hammel, ChC SP
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
257
Tyler Glasnow, Pit SP
Team GreinkMyCrank
258
Nathan Karns, Sea SP
The Nasty Boys
259
Yasmany Tomas, Ari OF
Team Asaysian
260
J.J. Hoover, Cin RP
Joc Jams Volume 1
Best Pick: Kevin Gausman
I was a little bummed to miss out on Gausman as he provides some great upside at this point in the draft. Still, he teased it last year and didn't come through, and he's already hurting this year, so there is risk, but it's worth it for the possible reward.
Worst Pick: Bradley Zimmer
He's starting off in the minors, and this isn't the sort of talent that set the world on fire in the minor leagues where you would expect him to start dominating at the major league level. He'll probably be fine when he gets called up, but holding on to a guy for 2-3 months for a fine performance seems counter productive to me.
My Pick: Chris Carter
I like big sluggers, and I ain't worried about strikeouts. Hence, Chris Carter is one of my favorite players in baseball.
ROUND 27
261
Ian Kennedy, KC SP
Joc Jams Volume 1
262
Jimmy Nelson, Mil SP
Team Asaysian
263
Josh Reddick, Oak OF
The Nasty Boys
264
Trevor Plouffe, Min 3B
Team GreinkMyCrank
265
Jeremy Jeffress, Mil RP
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
266
Zack Wheeler, NYM SP
Regular Ass Joel
267
Aaron Sanchez, Tor RP
Team Pedigree
268
Jean Segura, Ari SS
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
269
Wade Miley, Sea SP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
270
Jerad Eickhoff, Phi SP
Total Jocs
Best Pick: Jean Segura
I'm a big Segura fan as the only real issue he had last year was a poor BABIP for a guy with his speed and hitting at the bottom of the order, so he wasn't able to rack up counting stats. Both of those may change in a more hitter friendly environment, especially with the injuries the Diamondbacks are dealing with. If certain middle infielders hadn't fallen my way, I would have been happy to add him to my team.
Worst Pick: Ian Kennedy
The Royals have infiltrated some of the Cardinals Devil Magic, but I'll say that it runs out for them, and they do look as stupid as the experts say they are for signing Kennedy.
My Pick: Aaron Sanchez
I saw that Sanchez is getting a shot in the rotation this year for the Blue Jays, and he has a lot of upside for a pitcher, and if he starts off slow, it's no big deal as I can just snag somebody off of the waiver wire.
ROUND 28
271
Jarrod Dyson, KC OF
Total Jocs
272
Andrew Cashner, SD SP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
273
Brad Boxberger, TB RP
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
274
Yan Gomes, Cle C
Team Pedigree
275
Stephen Vogt, Oak C
Regular Ass Joel
276
Rajai Davis, Cle OF
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
277
Melky Cabrera, CWS OF
Team GreinkMyCrank
278
Adam Lind, Sea 1B
The Nasty Boys
279
Jose Reyes, Col SS
Team Asaysian
280
Joe Mauer, Min 1B
Joc Jams Volume 1
Best Pick: Andrew Cashner
He was good enough to be traded for Anthony Rizzo, so that's got to mean something.
Worst Pick: Jose Reyes
I know it's fantasy and everything, but you've got to feel a little icky rooting for this guy. I know no charges are going to be pressed, and people should be innocent until proven guilty, but I don't know man. I didn't even bring this up with Aroldis, but he definitely falls in the same boat. Friends don't let friends draft Jose Reyes.
My Pick: Yan Gomes
What do you want from me? I needed a catcher. Gomes plays catcher. A couple years ago he was good; I hope he is good again.
ROUND 29
281
Ervin Santana, Min SP
Joc Jams Volume 1
282
Bartolo Colon, NYM SP
Team Asaysian
283
Hector Santiago, LAA SP
The Nasty Boys
284
Lucas Giolito, Wsh SP
Team GreinkMyCrank
285
Nathan Eovaldi, NYY SP
Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs
286
Erick Aybar, Atl SS
Regular Ass Joel
287
Tyler White, Hou 3B
Team Pedigree
288
Matt Wieters, Bal C
Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$
289
Drew Pomeranz, SD RP
Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation
290
Jackie Bradley Jr., Bos OF
Total Jocs
Best Pick: Jackie Bradley Jr.
If things had fallen differently, I may have drafted Bradley, but they didn't, so I didn't. But I wouldn't be surprised if he solved his batting average problems and became valuable fantasy contributor.
Worst Pick: Bartolo Colon
Come on, man.
My Pick: Tyler White
Due to my connections within the industry, I have it on good authority that the Astros front office is very excited about Tyler White's potential. Now, this could mean he's going to be a new age John Olerud on offense, but, admittedly, it could just mean that he is a 33rd round pick that made the major leagues which is still pretty fantastic from a front office perspective. Anyway, he's got a starting first base job, and if he continues to hit like he has at every level of professional level, he could keep it for quite a while.
OVERALL STANDINGS
After breaking everything down, its time to look at who is going to be my greatest challenger. I'll give best picks two points and worst picks negative one point. Meanwhile, my picks will always get three points, because they are better than the best. With that scoring system, here is how the final standings should look this season.
1. Team Pedigree - 97 points
2. Back 2 Take Yo Lunch $$ - 12 points
3. The Nasty Boys - 7 Points
4. Team VottoEroticAsphyxiation - 6 Points
5. Team GreinkMyCrank 6-1 - 5 Points
6. Blackmon Have McHugh Gardner Wongs - 1 Point
7. Total Jocs - 0 Points
8. Regular Ass Joel - 0 Points
9. Joc Jams Volume 1 - 0 Points
10. Team Asaysian - -2 Points
So, there you have it. After 29 rounds (expanded from 25 since we only had 10 teams, and oh god did this review make me long for a 12 team league again), my team is clearly the cream of the crop. I shall rise to the top. I'm funky like a monkey, and too cool for school. And one thing for certain, when it comes to fantasy, I'm the man to see.
