The Draft

The Indians drafted 20th and got the 3rd best position player on their board. I was surprised to say the least. My thinking was that I would maybe get my 4th or 5th ranked players at best, both of them actually fell all the way to the supplemental round. The first two position players on my board went in the top 10, so it wasn't a case of poor ranking.

The best starting pitcher on my board went #1. I didn't think he would go that high, but did expect him in the top 5 or 6. After my first 5 position players I had 12 pitchers, 7 of them starters. I had actually expected to get one of the starters drafting 20th. I was surprised that only two were off the board when my turn came around. The rest went late first round to early 2nd round. That left me with the relievers that I wanted with the second and third picks though.

The biggest reason the players on my board fell where they did was the High School players. All the other drafts I have been in had been somewhat light in this area. Since the others had been light, I kind of expected the same here.

As for the formula builder, several of us have come to the conclusion that its purpose was to rank position players or pitchers but not both at the same time. Even tickets sent in has kind of eluded to same the conclusion. I have used the formula builder one time for the draft, it had very weak pitching so it was simple to put them back where they belonged but other than that, the old way is easier to me.

After studying the top 25 players in each of my drafts this go round I have come to some conclusions. For one, each teams draft board is actually geared for organizational needs whether you like it or not. All you have to figure out is which player is the best, especially in the first round. That is why most go with the best player available, but (always one) you must make sure he is.

As for scouting, it is personal choice. They say High School players advance more rapidly than college players. That is actually a smoking mirror, as their projections usually have a bigger disparity, the system is designed to close the gap and to do that bigger increases are needed. After the first three seasons, chances are a High School player and a College player with the same projections will probably look identical. The College player will have a slight advantage in maturity where the High School player will play longer at the ML level, though his first couple seasons could be underachieving.

I have wondered how a GM could draft a good player without spending much on scouting. After much contemplation and heavy use of a calculator I have found the answer and can now do it by sight. Though, the answer could be for naught, as they have figured out how it is done also and may close that hole. Then again if they do that, you might as well close yours eyes and guess.

Power Rankings

1. Durham Bulls - Over the 1st 43 games they have managed to score almost 100 more runs than anyone else in the league. Impressive.

2. Cincinnati Reds - Can we get some sort of fake fantasy plane accident that takes out the Reds?

3. Houston Astros - Impressive start, but you have to wonder how the loss of ace Omar Elcano is going to effect the team.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates - Finally living up to the hype. Damn good team that I expect will eventually over take the mighty Reds in the NL north.

5. Monterrey Corn Dogs - Unfortunate for the Corn Dogs that they play in the same division in the Bulls. Very good team though that has a nice combination of great pitching and hitting.

HOF Voting

Hall Inductees:

• Roosevelt Stevenson - 15 votes - 79%
• Britt Swindell - 7 votes - 37%

Maybe Next Season:

• Ramon Dong - 5 votes - 26%
• Mitchell Ray - 4 votes - 21%
• Bryan McDowell - 2 votes - 11%
• Dwight Johnson - 2 votes - 11%
• Kinney (sorry never could find a link) - 2 votes - 11%
  

It Is That Time of The Seson Again

The Draft Pool cometh!!! Has everyone looked over their minors to see what the needs are to complement your Major League team? I have and with the 20th pick it is highly doubtful the player I need will be there. If this draft pool is like the last four I have had, it will be a rude awakening to everyone.

I have been through three drafts and four draft pools (think the last pool was undrafted players from the previous three) so far since the big change. Everyone has gotten a good first pick, but after that there just isn't much. Since they changed the OVR for pitchers, they didn't fix the draft pool to compensate is the biggest problem. Have you ever seen a draft with just one pitcher taken in the first 10 picks? I have seen it twice now. Middle relievers have had better ratings than starters for the most part. The Starters haven't really been all that good even for the old middle first round picks. The good Setup/Closers have been relegated to the third and fourth rounds as opposed to late first round, supplemental, and early second round if you can even find a decent one.

Most don't like the Formula Builder either as the old way is more preferred. It takes some tinkering to find the right mix with the formula.

Happy Draft Pool everyone!

HOF Nominees - Position Players

Position Players:

Ramon Dong
Career:
BA - .332
Hits - 2132
HR - 242
RBI - 1123
Runs - 1393
SB - 128

Accomplishments/Awards:
1 WS Ring
6 Time All Star
2 Time Silver Slugger
1 Gold Glove
3rd All Time Hits
3rd All Time Runs

Roosevelt Stevenson
Career:
BA - .302
Hits - 1972
HR -530
RBI - 1479
Runs - 1325
SB - 27

Accomplishments/Awards:
3 Time All Star
2 Time Silver Slugger
2 All Time HR
1st All Time RBI

Andrew Spencer
Career:
BA - .319
Hits - 1534
HR - 418
RBI - 1188
Runs - 1045
SB - 0

Accomplishments/Awards:
1 All Star

Posiedon Warden
Career:
BA - .324
Hits - 1945
HR - 237
RBI - 1006
Runs - 1396
SB - 212

Accomplishments/Awards:
2 WS Rings
4 Time All Star
1 Silver Slugger
2nd All Time Runs

Javier Santayana
Career:
BA - .313
Hits - 1889
HR - 253
RBI - 1039
Runs - 1249
SB - 457

Accomplishments/Awards:
4 Time All Star
1 Gold Glove
1 Silver Slugger
3rd All time SB

HOF Nominees - Pitchers

Pitchers:

Britt Swindell
Career:
Starts - 294
W - 158
L - 54
ERA - 3.53
K - 1767

Accomplishments/Awards:
4 - WS Rings
3 Time CY Young
6 Time All Star
4th All Time in Strikeouts
2nd All Time in Winning Percentage

Dwight Johnson
Career:
Starts - 353
W - 166
L - 79
ERA - 3.73
K - 1685

Accomplishments/Awards:
2 WS Rings
1 CY Young
1 ROY
5 Time All Star
3rd All Time Wins
5th All Time Strikeouts

Bryan McDowell
Career:
Saves - 352
Save % - 89%
W - 24
L - 28
ERA - 2.94
K - 510

Accomplishments/Awards:
1 WS Ring
6 Time Fireman of the Year
7 Time All Star
2nd All Time Saves

Bruce Shelley
Career:
Saves - 232
Save % - 84%
W - 48
L - 47
ERA - 4.09
K - 557

Accomplishments/Awards:
1 Fireman of the Year
4 Time All Star

Mitchell Ray
Career:
Saves - 359
Save % - 89%
W - 25
L - 30
ERA - 3.29
K - 537

Accomplishments/Awards:
3 WS Rings
4 Time Fireman of the Year
7 Time All Star
1st All Time Saves

The Fire Preseason Rankings

NL
North
1. Cincinnati Reds
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Milwaukee Brewers

Will be very tight race and 2 wild cards again?

East
1. Atlanta Pork-N-Beans
2. Trenton Ball Hogs
3. Cleveland Indians
4. New York Mets

With the early season injury in Trenton the Injuns could take 2nd agian.

South
1. Houston Astros
2. El Paso Czars
3. Florida Marlins
4. Texas Rangers

The merengue could out duel the two steppers before it is over!

West
1. Kansas City Royals
2. Vancouver Canadians
3. Oklahoma City Kevin Durants
4. Los Angeles Duffers

The crown could actually head north of the border this year.

AL
North
1. St. Louis Barracudas
2. Toronto Blue Jays
3. Detroit Detroit
4. Salt Lake City Multiple Spouses

A real fight is brewing between the top 3 teams in my estimation.

East
1. Dover Dung Beetles
2. Philadelphia Athletics
3. Washington D.C. Senators
4. New York Yankees

A Yank-less playoff for the first time last year, it looks bleaker for them this year as the rest are getting better.

South
1. Monterrey Corn Dogs
2. Durham Bulls
3. Tampa Bay Rays
4. Austin Fightin' Armadillos

The meek shall inherit the crown, yet again.

West
1. Omaha Lancers
2. Las Vegas 51s
3. Helena Hot Pockets
4. Anaheim Angels

Have a boil? Omaha is ready!

Best Playoff Guess with surprises!
NL
1. Atlanta Pork-N-Beans
2. Houston Astros
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Vancouver Canadians
5. Cincinnati Reds
6. Trenton Ball Hogs

AL
1. St. Louis Barracudas
2. Monterrey Corn Dogs
3. Dover Dung Beetles
4. Omaha Lancers
5. Toronto Blue Jays
6. Durham Bulls