What the "Experts" Says...

This is in no ways my prediction for how the league standings will look.  This is simply an opportunity to see how our teams would rank based on the "Experts" projections.   The projections are based on today (April 1) without knowing if they are adjusted during the year.   These rankings will be influenced by the various roster moves made by owners, injuries to players, over and under performance by the players and hopefully not...suspensions for one stupid reason or another (looking at you Josh Hamilton).  

Methodology:  I got all of the projected scoring and created the best lineup possible based upon projected points, position eligibility (including projected eligibility - i.e. Jesus Montero will become eligible at catcher during the season).   Scoring was broken down into 5 sum - total categories - infield, outfield/utility, starting pitching, relief pitching and bench.    A rotoissary style scoring system was then applied to each of the categories to get the overall score for each team (1st = 14 points, 14th = 1 point).  So here are how the teams ranked in these categories and overall.  

Team	Rank	INF	OF/UTIL	SP	RP	BEN	Total
Vancouver Canadians	1	7	13	12	13	13	58
Braunovan	2	10	6	11	11	7	45
TBJ	3	13	14	1	1	14	43
Riverside Southpaws	4	3	8	10	12	9	42
Alkickurass	5	12	3	5	9	11	40
Ravishing Rickybo	6	9	10	14	4	2	39
Under Ceege	7	2	2	13	14	8	39
Buck Martinez-ez	8	11	12	7	3	4	37
SituAsians 2.0	9	5	11	3	7	10	36
Bulgarian Great "8"	10	8	4	9	5	6	32
Hooter Hunters	11	1	9	8	2	12	32
Team Avenger	12	6	5	4	10	5	30
Fear Franchise	13	4	7	6	8	1	26
Siba Style	14	14	1	2	6	3	26

The Vancouver Canadians in theory then had the best overall draft based upon the projections and would ultimately win LoC VI.   I'll use these rankings as a guideline when I start previewing each of the teams individually, starting with the 14th and working my way up the "projected standings".   Hopefully I'll be able to get around to all of the teams before the games start for real on Thursday.  

The Draft

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.

Some interesting facts heading into the draft...

Just thought I'd pass on a few interesting "facts" as we near the draft date...thanks to Matthew Berry (aka. The Talented Mr. Roto) for providing these.

1. Over the past three years, of all the players who finished in the top 10 on our Player Rater yet were drafted outside the top 40 (i.e., the players who greatly outperformed their draft slots), 73 percent of them were veterans coming off down seasons.

2. Since 1999, Paul Konerko has averaged 147 games played and 30 homers per season.

3. Konerko is one of two players in all of baseball to hit .300 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs in each of the past two years.

4. The other? Miguel Cabrera.

5. Meanwhile, Mark Teixeira's last .300-30-100 season was back in 2008.

6. Teixeira has an average draft position (ADP) of 24th overall.

7. That's almost two full rounds before Konerko (current ADP: 42nd).

14. Last season, Howard Kendrick had 197 plate appearances as the No. 2 hitter for the Angels, his most common lineup slot.

15. Last year, Bobby Abreu, Torii Hunter and Maicer Izturis had a combined 138 games in the Angels' No. 3 lineup slot.

16. This offseason, the Angels signed Albert Pujols.

17. Kendrick is a career .292 hitter, and he scored 86 runs last year.

18. Last season, only four players in baseball hit .295 or better and had at least 25 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 90 runs scored and 90 RBIs. They are: Matt Kemp, Ryan Braun, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Gonzalez.

19. Only one player in baseball has achieved those marks for two straight seasons: Carlos Gonzalez

20. Kemp, Braun and Ellsbury are all being drafted among the first eight picks overall.

21. CarGo is being drafted at the end of the second round.

22. Oh yeah, and CarGo is just 26 years old.

25. Last year, including the postseason, Justin Verlander threw 4,301 pitches.

26. In fact, Verlander's 4,301 pitches were the most thrown in a regular season and postseason since 2002.

27. It's also 557 pitches more than he threw in 2010.

38. In the past two years, as a starter, C.J. Wilson's home numbers look like this: 216 2/3 IP, 189 K, 76 BB, 3.70 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 7.9 K/9 rate, 16 home runs allowed.

39. On the road? Try this: 211 IP, 187 K, 91 BB, 2.56 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 10 home runs allowed.

45. In 2011, Chris Heisey hit a home run every 15.5 at-bats.

46. As a comparison, Pujols hit one every 15.6 at-bats.

47. Heisey has a chance at being the Cincinnati Reds' everyday left fielder.

48. More fun with AB/HR ratios: Allen Craig homered every 18.2 at-bats last season.

49. And David Ortiz hit one every 18.1 at-bats.

61. Over the past three seasons, Bailey has a 2.07 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 174 strikeouts in 174 innings and is 75-o- 84 in save chances (89.3 percent conversion rate).

62. Over the past three seasons, Jonathan Papelbon has a 2.89 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP and 239 strikeouts in 199 1/3 innings and is 106-of-120 in save chances (88.3 percent).

63. Papelbon is going seven rounds before Bailey in ESPN live drafts.

70. Prince Fielder hit 24 home runs at Miller Park last season.

71. Nine of those home runs would not have been home runs at his new home, Comerica Park.

86. Over the past three seasons, only one major league team has had more save opportunities than the … San Diego Padres.

87. The top five teams in save opportunities from 2009 to 2011: the Giants (197), Padres and Braves tied (194), Marlins (192) and … the Washington Nationals (191).

93. Michael Morse joined the Nationals' starting lineup on June 10, 2010.

94. From June 10, 2010, to the end of last season, Morse, who qualifies in the outfield and at first base, hit 46 home runs, had 134 RBIs and posted a .297 average over 767 at-bats.

95. From June 10, 2010, to the end of last season, Matt Holliday had 44 home runs, 153 RBIs and a .308 average over 822 at-bats.

96. Holliday is being selected, on average, in the fourth round of ESPN live drafts.

97. That's four rounds ahead of Michael Morse.

12 Days To Go...

And League of Champions resumes with the 2012 draft.   Bulgarian Great"8" have won the draft lottery and the first overall pick.   If tradition dictates the player will likely come from the New York Yankees...CC Sabathia? Robinson Cano? It surely can't be Alex Rodriguez can it?   A source close to the BG8 indicate that it could be Clayton Kershaw, Roy Halladay or Justin Verlander.   Another question that comes to mind is whether the Al Kickurass' will take yet another top prospect...just a hint...Bryce Harper has already been sent down to the minors...but chances are Stephen Strasburg won't make it past this teams first pick.  

Some predictions for 2012:

1) The Toronto Blue Jays will get into the playoffs;
2) Jose Bautista will be a 25/25 player this year;
3) Alex Rodriguez will have more than 100 RBIs;
4) Roy Halladay will not win 15 games;
5) Matt Moore will win the AL Rookie of the Year honours;
6) Tim Lincecum will win 20 games;
7) Jason Heyward hits 35 homers, 100 RBIs;
8) Micheal Bourn will steal 80 bases;
9) Matt Kemp will be a 40/40 player;
10) Johan Santana will win 15 games;

The 2011 Championship Team

It would have been a fun project to figure out how The Buck Martinez-ez (BMz)were formed throughout the 2011 season but unfortunately Yahoo! doesn't provide the transaction records from the previous season making the task nearly impossible.  What we can figure out is that BMz were built through 58 transactions (trades and waiver wire pickups), which is just above the league average for the season.  

With the 9th overall pick in the draft, Cliff Lee became the first member of the BMz.   The table below lists the drafted roster and the final roster.  

Position	Open Roster	Closing Roster
C	B. Posey	R. Andino
1B	M. Teixeira	M. Teixeria
2B	D. Pedoria	D. Pedoria
3B	M. Prado	M. Prado
SS	A. Escobar	R. Andino
OF	S. Victorino	S. Victorino
OF	C. Granderson	C. Granderson
OF	A. Jones	A. Jones
UTIL	J. Kubel	S. Rolen
SP	J. Cachin	J. Chacin
SP	P. Hughes	P. Hughes
SP	C. Lee	C. Lee
SP	J. Vazquez	J. Vazquez
SP	M. Pineda	CC Sabathia
RP	J. Venters	J. Motte
RP	J. McGee	S. Santos
BN	D. Hernandez	J. Saltalamacchia
BN	J. Conteras	A. De Aza
BN	R. Brignac	J. Keppinger
BN	B. Fuentes	J. McDonald
BN	M. Brantley	H. Takahashi
BN	J. Walden	C. Ruiz
BN	D. Johnson	K. Kendrick
BN	W. Lopez	P. Bourjos
BN	C. Utley	C. Utley
DL		J. Walden
DL		J. Williams

Not sure which two players were on the DL from the conclusion of the 2011 season.  The only significant loss that the BMz had to deal with was the loss of Buster Posey to the season ending injury. With the exception the starting infield and most of the starting rotation, the BMz went through a major overhaul.  Some of The BMz's best moves including moving Michael Pineda in the second half of the season, and adding CC Sabathia to his rotation.   Pick ups like P. Bourjos, J. Walden, S. santos and J. Motte all helped the BMz to the title.   It's too bad we can't see how these guys ended up on this roster but its sufficient to say that the BMz drafted their starting rotation well (even with the struggles of P. Hughes) and improved throughout the season to claim the 2011 LoC Championships.  

2011 Review

18 teams entered League of Champions 2011 and as always only one winner emerged.  The Buck Martinez-ez headed by Jason Ramey outpaced the rest of the league by 360.  At times the league standings were tight, but eventually there was a great deal of separation, with the Beav Sox finishing 2,573 points behind the winner.

The First Round Picks

Pick	Player	Team	2011 Pts
1	Albert Pujols(LAA - 1B)	Vancouver Canadians	505
2	Roy Halladay(Phi - SP)	9293bluejays	860
3	Evan Longoria(TB - 3B)	Al Kickurass	393
4	Felix Hernandez(Sea - SP)	Siba Style	648
5	Hanley Ramirez(Mia - SS)	The Big Units	218
6	Troy Tulowitzki(Col - SS)	Fear Franchise	460
7	Ubaldo Jimenez(Cle - SP)	Braunovan	431
8	Carlos Gonzalez(Col - OF)	Hooter Hunters	416
9	Cliff Lee(Phi - SP)	The Buck Martinez-ez	879
10	Tim Lincecum(SF - SP)	The Beav Sox	608
11	Robinson Cano(NYY - 2B)	Ravishing Rickybo	502
12	Ryan Braun(Mil - OF)	Team Avenger	579
13	Miguel Cabrera(Det - 1B)	Riverside Southpaws	544
14	Joey Votto(Cin - 1B)	Under Ceege	497
15	Alex Rodriguez(NYY - 3B)	Bulgarian Great"8"	264
16	CC Sabathia(NYY - SP)	Yonge Street Bombers	752
17	Jon Lester(Bos - SP)	The YzerJays	532
18	Adrian Gonzalez(Bos - 1B)	The Situ-Asians	506

The busts of 2011 from the 1st round can largely be attributed to injuries.  Evan Longoria, Hanley Ramirez, Ubaldo Jimenez and Alex Rodriguez produced far short of their draft positions for their respective owners.   Each suffered through injuries from the start of the season and never fully recovered.   Hopefully the owners find better luck with their 1st round picks in 2012.

Ryan Braun was the only drafted hitter from the first round who finished among the top five scoring hitters in 2011.   Jacoby Ellsbury (611 pts), Matt Kemp (570 pts), Ian Kinsler (550 pts) and Jose Bautista (548 pts) were drafted in the 4th, 4th, 2nd ,2nd rounds.     This probably makes Ellsbury (drafted by the YzerJays) one of the biggest deals from the 2011 draft.  

LoC is an active fantasy baseball league.  In total there were over 750 transactions made by the 18 teams that formed the 2011 LoC.   That's an average of 42 moves per team.   Of course, as Braunovan proved making the most moves (121) doesn't result in a top finish.   The Bulgarian Great "8" really liked the team he drafted as the team was the only team in single digit transactions with 5.   Interesting to note that the bottom four teams didn't hit the average number of transactions.   The Buck Martinez-ez made a total of 58 transactions, just above the league average.  

Up Next: A Look At the Championship Team

LOC 2012

Welcome to another season of baseball and the 2012 season of the League of Champions (LoC).  This year the LoC has been reduced to a total of 14 teams.   This should make for a much more interesting and competitive season.  Later this week, there will be a review of last season and the closer look at Jason Ramey's winning roster. 

After five active seasons and the league starting to stablize in terms of owners, it was decided that the league needed a tangible award.  The LoC Plate has been purchased and will be awarded to the LoC's first two time winner Jason Ramey at the live draft.   Congrats to Ramey. 

Next article: 2011 Season Review