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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Last Friday, I did my last DC (Draft Challenge) in the NFBC. This Mastersball entry, as my non playing co-pilot is Lord Zola, was an express draft – all 50 rounds done in one sitting.

Sadly, this one lasted five and a half hours as we had some drafters apparently new to the system and perhaps the concept. But, the field did include former NFBC Champion Terry Haney, who managed on several occasions to nab the player who was at the top of my short list for that round's pick. But that is the nature of a snake draft and you must push past the irritation and get a good team. So here is the beginning of my draft by rounds with thoughts still stuck in my head and then the roster by position for your analysis.

I was drafting out of the 10 hole – not what you want but as they say, "When they give you lemons, make great lemonade."

1.10 - Adam Jones – A very safe 100/30/100 hitter with some steals and a good BA

2.06 - Yasiel Puig – With all of my clear targets gone, I felt it was Go Big or Go Home time

3.10 - Mark Trumbo – I had a list of the Tier 2/3 SP (Kershaw being Tier 1 and promoting Jose Fernandez from Todd’s fourth tier) and with only Kershaw, Darvish, Scherzer and Strasburg drafted in the first two rounds, I felt I would bet that one of the remaining eight pitchers in my queue would fall to me in the 4th round and preferred that bet to the fact that one drafter behind me might take Trumbo’s power (most left in draft) with one of their two picks. Didn’t happen, so…

4.06 – Craig Kimbrel – So I switched gears to take the best closer off the board and get the strikeout boost which would promote one of my pitchers up a tier.

5.10 – Anibal Sanchez – Happy to get one of the Tier 4 pitchers there

6.06 – Jose Altuve – I was actually looking for Everth Cabrera here but he went at 5.15, so taking the best MI option available

7.10 – Kyle Seager – In this round, I was nipped on Prado and Cain, so I took the best 3B available

8.06 – Doug Fister – Not sure why he fell but glad to have him as my second starter (also Tier 4)

9.10 – Jason Castro – I was looking for Frieri or Jennings but they went right before my pick, so I took the best catcher with the top-11 already gone

10.06 – Alexei Ramirez – After my Castro pick, I thought about getting my second closer or Danny Salazar, but he and Frieri and Grilli disappeared so I addressed two key needs at SS and speed

11.10 – Jered Weaver – Happy to take quite a discount on a very good pitcher (another Tier 4) and again, add Kimbrel’s extra strikeouts and see how much more attractive Weaver would be

12.06 – Jim Henderson – The closer pool was thinning far too fast but Henderson should be fine and I can add K-Rod cheaply

13.10 – Russell Martin – Before things got really ugly at the position, I chose Martin over Miguel Montero

14.06 – Jose Veras – I took Veras over Nate Jones for my third closer and it’s really hard to find saves at this point in the draft (only Hawkins/Brothers and Feliz/Soria were left)

15.10 – Avisail Garcia – Three players I had queued went in this round (Reddick, Estrada and Ventura the pick in front of me) but glad to add my third outfielder, who I think will have a big year

16.06 – Drew Smyly – This one not only for Todd but to solidify my core starting pitchers (on picks 5-8-11-16) Not sure anyone has four better here (but will check later)

17.10 – A.J. Pollock – Having lost some of my favorite double-digit HR/SB contributors, I reached for Pollock here but check the results in September

18.06 – Adam LaRoche – My third CI and some needed home runs

19.10 – Dee Gordon – IF in fact he platoons at 2B for the Dodgers, he will add a LOT of needed stolen bases and for now is my third MI

20.06 – Chris Owings – Okay, not for long as it looks like Owings has won the job in Arizona and will be a very productive hitter (and I can pick the one that does the best Down Under)

21.10 – Chris Iannetta – Wanting a third starting catcher (and hoping to pair with Conger later)

22.06 – Nathan Eovaldi – A nice NL pitcher who I think will break out for my fifth SP

23.10 – Drew Stubbs – Reports are that Stubbs has won the centerfield job for the Rockies and will lead off at least part of the time

24.06 – Garrett Jones – A two position player for roster flexibility and some added power

25.10 – D.J. Lemahieu – My second 2B and more speed

26.06 – Josh Fields – If named the closer, I will have four (at least to start the year) and some won’t have two – may not be needed to win this particular league but I want to win the overall money too

27.10 – Conor Gillaspie – Has won the third base job and gives me my second 3B plus more lineup options

28.06 – Tanner Scheppers – This may be a great two way pick as Scheppers (who has great stuff) is now in the Rangers rotation when he was thought to be in the mix with Feliz and Soria – maybe he will return there

29.10 – J.B. Shuck – A very good fourth OF for the Angels and very playable when Hamilton is on vacation

30.06 – Zach Lee – May have won the fifth spot in the rotation but if not just a call away when Maholm doesn’t work or Beckett is re-injured

31.10 – Robbie Ross – In case he wins the fifth spot for Texas

32.06 – Alex Colome – Ditto for Tampa

33.10 – Josh Collmenter – Spot starts or relief roles a valuable arm

34.06 – Eric Stults – The Padres fifth starter in a good park

35.10 – Bruce Chen – Very good spot starter, especially if the Royals are really good

36.06 – Aaron Sanchez – Tremendous prospect who has just won a Toronto rotation spot

37.10 – Chris Capuano – Would be very valuable if he gets into the Red Sox rotation

38.06 – Jordan Pacheco – Do you know who the backup catcher is in Colorado? Also behind Morneau at first base

39.10 – David DeJesus – Very good for extra outfielder/UT

40.05 – Nick Punto – Valuable like Swiss army knife – 2B/3B/SS eligibility

41.10 – Carlos Corporan – I got sniped earlier on Conger so will back up Castro instead

42.06 – Antonio Bastardo – For the name but what if the Phillies can trade Pap?

43.10 – Paul Maholm – Zach Lee insurance

44.06 – Sean Marshall – Not fully healthy or he would be in the committee while Chapman is out, but could get back there and be useful later in the season as well

45.10 – Andy Dirks – Like a second half pickup when there aren’t any

46.06 – Vidal Nuno – Yankees rotation far from stable

47.10 – Brandon Cumpton – In competition for Pirates' fifth starter or could get called up later

48.06 – Brian Flynn – One of Marlins' top pitching prospects

49.10 – Miguel A. Gonzalez – Sent down by Phillies but will be in rotation later in the year

50.06 – Juan Perez – 4th outfielder for the Giants who has played very well this spring and last year and how healthy are Pagan and Morse?

I hope you read (or skimmed) all of those, but let’s look at the roster:

C – J. Castro, R. Martin, Iannetta, Corporan

1B – Trumbo (OF), LaRoche, Pacheco

3B – Seager and Gillaspie + Punto (2B/SS as well)

2B – Altuve, LeMahieu + Gordon will qualify

SS – Ramirez, Gordon, Owings

OF – A. Jones, Puig, A. Garcia, Pollock, Stubbs

OF – G. Jones (1B), Shuck, Dirks, Perez

SP – A. Sanchez, Fister, Weaver, Smyly, Eovaldi, Scheppers

SP – Z. Lee/Maholm, Colome Stults, B. Chen, Aa. Sanchez, Nuno, Cumpton, Flynn, Gonzalez

CL – Kimbrel, Henderson, Veras

RP – Fields, Ross, Collmenter, Bastardo, Marshall

Lots of position flexibility to maximize HR and SB (hitters can be switched on Mondays and Fridays).

19 of the 25 hitters are starters or platoon.

Very good in Saves (only one other team has three).

Only three other teams have three starting catchers.

But there are six months to go with just these players so we will see who survives in addition to who produces. I want to not only win this league but have enough points to be in the overall leaders for all DC leagues – there is $20,000 to the overall winner.

Your questions/comments are always welcome here or in the Forums or on Facebook{jcomments on}