One of the best things about League of Champions (LoC) is the fact that the league maintains a "Live" draft. While on-line live drafts are fun, nothing beats a room full of grown men talking baseball and yelling out random names and getting them wrong. Or the numerous..."Gone" responses from the gallery. The LoC VI live draft took place yesterday (March 31) and I'll take a look at the first 10 rounds. The first round went as expected, with plenty of stud starting pitchers going:
Round 1
1. Justin Verlander (Det - SP) - Bulgarian Great "8"
2. Roy Halladay (Phi - SP) - Ravishing Rickybo
3. Clayton Kershaw (LAD - SP) - Fear Franchise
4. Miguel Cabrera (Det - 1B) - Braunovan
5. Albert Pujols (LAA - 1B) - Toronto Blue Jays
6. Tim Lincecum (SF - SP) - Under Ceege
7. Cliff Lee (Phi - SP) - Al Kickurass
8. Matt Kemp (LAD - OF) - Hooter Hunters
9. Jose Bautista (Tor - 3B,OF) - The Buck Martinez-ez
10. Robinson Cano (NYY - 2B) - Siba Style
11. Cole Hamels (Phi - SP) - Riverside Southpaws
12. Jered Weaver (LAA - SP) - Vancouver Canadians
13. Zack Greinke (Mil - SP) - The SituAsians
14. David Price (TB - SP) - Team Avenger
In most leagues this wouldn't be the draft order, but in LoC it definitely is the norm. 8 of the first 14 picks were pitchers, with MLBs top three taking spots 1-3. Miguel Cabrera was the first positional player taken off the board, falling with 4th overall (he is the concensus #1 pick in most drafts), so great value pick for Braunovan there. The same can be said for those drafting Kemp, Pujols, Bautista and Cano in the first round. With the exception of Verlander, Halladay and Kershaw all of the other 1st round pitchers drafted were...probably reaches.
Round 2
1. Justin Upton (Ari - OF) - Team Avenger
2. Adrian Gonzalez (Bos - 1B) - The SituAsians
3. Jose Reyes (Mia - SS) - Vancouver Canadians
4. Dan Haren (LAA - SP) - Riverside Southpaws
5. Troy Tulowitzki (Col - SS) - Siba Style
6. Dustin Pedroia (Bos - 2B) - The Buck Martinez-ez
7. CC Sabathia (NYY - SP) - Hooter Hunters
8. Felix Hernandez (Sea - SP) - Al Kickurass
9. Hanley Ramirez (Mia - SS) - Under Ceege
10. Ryan Braun (Mil - OF) - Toronto Blue Jays
11. Adrian Beltre (Tex - 3B) - Braunovan
12. Jacoby Ellsbury (Bos - OF) - Fear Franchise
13. Joey Votto (Cin - 1B) - Ravishing Rickybo
14. Jon Lester (Bos - SP) - Bulgarian Great "8"
I'll just call Round 2 the "value round", as all a majority of the players taken in this round were great value picks. Most should have gone in the first round - Justin Upton, Troy Tulowitzki, Dustin Pedoria, Ryan Braun, Hanley Ramirez and Joey Votto are all concensus 1st round picks and yet find themselves in round 2 of LoC. Joey Votto at the end of this round was a great value pick.
Round 3
1. Mark Teixeira (NYY - 1B) - Bulgarian Great "8".
2. Carlos Gonzalez (Col - OF) - Ravishing Rickybo
3. Evan Longoria (TB - 3B) - Fear Franchise
4. Craig Kimbrel (Atl - RP) - Braunovan
5. Prince Fielder (Det - 1B) - Toronto Blue Jays
6. Giancarlo Stanton (Mia - OF) - Under Ceege
7. Ian Kinsler (Tex - 2B) - Al Kickurass
8. Andrew McCutchen (Pit - OF) - Hooter Hunters
9. Ian Kennedy (Ari - SP) - The Buck Martinez-ez
10. Carlos Santana (Cle - C,1B) - Siba Style
11. James Shields (TB - SP) - Riverside Southpaws
12. Mariano Rivera (NYY - RP) - Vancouver Canadians
13. Curtis Granderson (NYY - OF) - The SituAsians
14. John Axford (Mil - RP) - Team Avenger
The draft begins to settle down at this point, with the Bulgarian Great "8" selecting a Yankee (as tradition dictates) in Mark Teixeria. The best value pick in this round has gotta be Prince Fielder who fell to the Toronto Blue Jays and Ian Kinsler taken by Al Kickurass. A big reach was made by the Vancouver Canucks and Team Avenger who traded closers after seeing Craig Kimbrel come off the board earlier in the round.
Round 4
1. Pablo Sandoval (SF - 1B,3B) - Team Avenger
2. C.J. Wilson (LAA - SP) - The SituAsians
3. Matt Holliday (StL - OF) - Vancouver Canadians
4. Jose Valverde (Det - RP) - Riverside Southpaws
5. Brett Lawrie (Tor - 3B) - Siba Style
6. Mike Napoli (Tex - C,1B) - The Buck Martinez-ez
7. Starlin Castro (ChC - SS) - Hooter Hunters
8. Stephen Strasburg (Was - SP) - Al Kickurass
9. Jonathan Papelbon (Phi - RP) - Under Ceege
10. Ryan Zimmerman (Was - 3B) - Toronto Blue Jays
11. Matt Cain (SF - SP) - Braunovan
12. Yovani Gallardo (Mil - SP) - Fear Franchise
13. David Wright (NYM - 3B) - Ravishing Rickybo
14. Heath Bell (Mia - RP) - Bulgarian Great "8"
This was a bit of a strange round. The CJ Wilson pick was probably a bit of a reach by the Situations, as were the Strasburg and Heath Bell picks. The best value pick of the round might be Jonathan Papelbon by Under Ceege. Paps may be in line for a bigger season with the transition to the National League and the Philadelphia Phillies. The biggest reach may be Jose Valverde by the Riverside Southpaws. Valverde was taken ahead of Papelbon. Like I said, it was a strange round...
Round 5
1. Drew Storen (Was - RP) - Bulgarian Great "8"
2. Carlos Marmol (ChC - RP) - Ravishing Rickybo
3. Josh Johnson (Mia - SP) - Fear Franchise
4. Elvis Andrus (Tex - SS) - Braunovan
5. Brandon Phillips (Cin - 2B) - Toronto Blue Jays
6. Adam Wainwright (StL - SP) - Under Ceege
7. Buster Posey (SF - C) - Al Kickurass
8. Ben Zobrist (TB - 2B,OF) - Hooter Hunters
9. Ricky Romero (Tor - SP) - The Buck Martinez-ez
10. Madison Bumgarner (SF - SP) - Siba Style
11. J.J. Putz (Ari - RP) - Riverside Southpaws
12. Josh Hamilton (Tex - OF) - Vancouver Canadians
13. Dan Uggla (Atl - 2B) - The SituAsians
14. Daniel Hudson (Ari - SP) - Team Avenger
With the closer rush started in round 2, round three followed the trend with Drew Storen, Carlos Marmol and JJ Putz coming off the board. Teams continue to stockpile pitching resulting in Ricky Romero, Josh Johnson, Madison Bumgarner and Daniel Hudson all going well ahead of the ADP, and allow the Vancouver Canadians to pick up Josh Hamilton near the end of the round.
Round 6
1. Sergio Santos (Tor - RP) - Team Avenger
2. Asdrubal Cabrera (Cle - SS) - The SituAsians
3. Yu Darvish (Tex - SP) - Vancouver Canadians
4. Chris Carpenter (StL - SP) - Riverside Southpaws
5. Tommy Hanson (Atl - SP) - Siba Style
6. Michael Young (Tex - 1B,2B,3B) - The Buck Martinez-ez
7. Andrew Bailey (Bos - RP) - Hooter Hunters
8. Jordan Walden (LAA - RP) - Al Kickurass
9. Michael Cuddyer (Col - 1B,2B,OF) - Under Ceege
10. Ubaldo Jimenez (Cle - SP) - Toronto Blue Jays
11. Howie Kendrick (LAA - 1B,2B,OF) - Braunovan
12. Dee Gordon (LAD - SS) - Fear Franchise
13. Joe Mauer (Min - C,1B) - Ravishing Rickybo
14. Brian McCann (Atl - C) - Bulgarian Great "8"
At this point ADP didn't seem to matter, as teams began to fill out their rosters based on positional need. With plenty of SP and Closers gone, Team Avenger choose to start the round by taking Sergio Santos. u Darvish somehow managed to fall to the Vancouver Canadians. The worst pick of the round might be the selection of Chris Carpenter who will probably be on the DL with nerve issues. Fear Franchise took a reach in Dee Gordojn, while the Toronto Blue Jays took a risk in Ubaldo Jimenez. The biggest value pick may be Brian McCann, taken by the Bulgarian Great "8".
Round 7
1. Alex Rodriguez (NYY - 3B) - Bulgarian Great "8"
2. Mat Latos (Cin - SP) - Ravishing Rickybo
3. Matt Wieters (Bal - C) - Fear Franchise
4. Hunter Pence (Phi - OF) - Braunovan
5. Matt Moore (TB - RP) - Toronto Blue Jays
6. Kendrys Morales (LAA - 1B,OF) - Under Ceege
7. Kevin Youkilis (Bos - 1B,3B) - Al Kickurass
8. Gio Gonzalez (Was - SP) - Hooter Hunters
9. Eric Hosmer (KC - 1B) - The Buck Martinez-ez
10. Brandon Morrow (Tor - SP) - Siba Style
11. Michael Pineda (NYY - SP) - Riverside Southpaws
12. Jason Kipnis (Cle - 2B) - Vancouver Canadians
13. Paul Konerko (CWS - 1B) - The SituAsians
14. Ike Davis (NYM - 1B) - Team Avenger
This was another great value pick round, started by BG8 taking Alex Rodriguez. The biggest value might be Paul Konerko in this round, but excellent seasons could also be had by Kendrys Morales and Eric Hosmer. The Toronto Blue Jays got a great value pick (given all the SP taken, in rookie phenom Matt Moore). Fear Franchise took what seems to be another reach in his man-crush Matt Wieters.
Round 8
1. Neil Walker (Pit - 2B) - Team Avenger
2. Carl Crawford (Bos - OF) - The SituAsians
3. Johnny Cueto (Cin - SP) - Vancouver Canadians
4. Lance Berkman (StL - 1B,OF) - Riverside Southpaws
5. Brian Wilson (SF - RP) - Siba Style
6. Shane Victorino (Phi - OF) - The Buck Martinez-ez
7. Cory Luebke (SD - SP,RP) - Hooter Hunters
8. Aramis Ramirez (Mil - 3B) - Al Kickurass
9. Brandon Beachy (Atl - SP) - Under Ceege
10. Desmond Jennings (TB - OF) - Toronto Blue Jays
11. Josh Beckett (Bos - SP) - Braunovan
12. Michael Morse (Was - 1B,OF) - Fear Franchise
13. Shin-Soo Choo (Cle - OF) - Ravishing Rickybo
14. Derek Jeter (NYY - SS) - Bulgarian Great "8"
It took 8 rounds for the Riverside Southpaws to draft their first positional player. Not sure if and aged Lance Berkman is the player I want as the catalyst of my offence, but that's who the Southpaws have. The "McMahon Plan" has been attempted in the past in LoC and without much success, but this could be the season it works...right? Great value picks were made by the SituAsians (Crawford), Fear Franchgise (Michael Morse) and Ravishing Rickybo (Shin-Soo Choo). The Crawford pick looks less stellar if you think that he's going to be out til May.
Round 9
1. Rickie Weeks (Mil - 2B) - Bulgarian Great "8"
2. Shaun Marcum (Mil - SP) - Ravishing Rickybo
3. Jason Motte (StL - RP) - Fear Franchise
4. Joel Hanrahan (Pit - RP) - Braunovan
5. Jordan Zimmermann (Was - SP) - Toronto Blue Jays
6. Jay Bruce (Cin - OF) - Under Ceege
7. Jimmy Rollins (Phi - SS) - Al Kickurass
8. Nelson Cruz (Tex - OF) - Hooter Hunters
9. Brandon League (Sea - RP) - The Buck Martinez-ez
10. Michael Bourn (Atl - OF) - Siba Style
11. J.J. Hardy (Bal - SS) - Riverside Southpaws
12. Kyle Farnsworth (TB - RP) - Vancouver Canadians
13. Rafael Betancourt (Col - RP) - The SituAsians
14. Alex Avila (Det - C) - Team Avenger
This is the round where the last of the closers remained...Jason Motte, Joel Hanrahan, Kyle Farnsworth, Brandon League and Rafael Betancourt represented the tail end of the closer pool. Who would have thought Bentcourt would go in the top 10 rounds. Great values in this round were had by the Hooter Hunters (Nelson Cruz), Siba Style (Michal Bourn) and Team Avenger (Alex Avila). The next offensive stud taken by the Riverside Southpaws...J.J. Hardy...
Round 10
1. Erick Aybar (LAA - SS) - Team Avenger
2. Corey Hart (Mil - OF) - The SituAsians
3. Justin Morneau (Min - 1B) - Vancouver Canadians
4. Miguel Montero (Ari - C) - Riverside Southpaws
5. Huston Street (SD - RP) - Siba Style
6. Chris Perez (Cle - RP) - The Buck Martinez-ez
7. Jeremy Hellickson (TB - SP) - Hooter Hunters
8. Jason Heyward (Atl - OF) - Al Kickurass
9. Joe Nathan (Tex - RP) - Under Ceege
10. Frank Francisco (NYM - RP) - Toronto Blue Jays
11. Matt Garza (ChC - SP) - Braunovan
12. Brett Myers (Hou - SP) - Fear Franchise
13. Kenley Jansen (LAD - RP) - Ravishing Rickybo
14. Derek Holland (Tex - SP) - Bulgarian Great "8"
The 10th round is where this draft review will likely end, but some great picks were made in this round. The Situations managed to draft Corey Hart, allowing Jason heyward to drop to Al Kickurass. Fear Franchise made a bid for one of the few closers with SP eligibility in Brett Myers. Braunovan managed to draft Matt Garza in this round despite the depletion of the SP talent pool.
The Other Rounds:
The remaining 15 rounds was a push to complete the team rosters. The best value picks of these rounds were:
Round 11:
Braunovan - Alex Gordon;
Toronto Blue Jays - Jesus Montero;
Round 12:
SituAsians - Ichiro Suzuki;
Under Ceege - BJ Upton;
Round 13:
Ravishing Rickybo - Billy Butler;
David Freese - Vancouver Canadians;
Round 14:
SituAsians - Mike Moustakas;
Round 15:
Ravishing Rickybo - Chase Utley;
Braunovan - Jayson WErth;
Round 16:
Toronto Blue Jays - Andre Either;
Ravishing Rickybo - Daniel Bard (note: Bard has been named the Red Sox's 5th starter)
Round 17:
SituAsians - Ryan Doumit;
Buck Martinez-ez - Ryan Howard;
Round 18:
Hooter Hunters - Logan Morrison;
Fear Franchise - Bryce Harper;
Round 19:
Fear Franchise - Adam Dunn;
Round 20:
Vancouver Canadians - RA Dickey
Round 21:
Ravishing Rickybo - Drew Stubbs;
Round 22:
Hooter Hunters - Mike Leak;
Round 23:
SituAsians - Devin Mesoraco;
Round 24:
Fear Franchise - Grady Sizemore;
Round 25:
Toronto Blue Jays - Francisco Rodriguez;
SituAsians - Andy Petite (Note: due to the fact that Petite was not in the Yahoo! DB, apparently the team loses him to the waiver wire). Instead the SituAsians were stuck with the decision of the league commish to place the backup of backup catchers, Jose Molina on his roster.
Good analysis Parkie!
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