2012 Draft

Updated - 04/03/12

This is a list of my actual 2012 Draft.. with subsequent adjustments and one trade. Like playing baseball. Learning to adjust quickly is one of the most valuable skills we can develop.

1. Kemp - For the first time .. I had the first pick. Promptly took Kemp.
2. M Stanton - Granderson and Ellsbury lasted until the two picks before       my last pick in the second round. See trade below**
3. M Teixeira - Beltre was gone too. So I took marquis power for a trade.
4. B Lawrie - I went all in on Lawrie's athleticism at 3B. Took no chances losing him.
5. M. Cain - in the 5th I wanted consistency. Cain has eastablished just that.
6. Wainwright - Wanted this guy badly. Luckily he was still the at pick # 72.
7. H. Kendrick - I battled this pick all week. I played the Pujols effect.
8. Beckett - He looked very good this spring. Wilson and Johnson were gone.
9. C. Hart - provides late power value. Out the first 6 weeks of 2011.. Hart has great upside in 2012.
10. D. Holland - Pitchers were getting snapped up. Holland was 10-1 wirh 3.05 ERA after the All-Star break in 2011. Texas team adds wins with run support.
11. Morrison - No one wanted him. I did. Power value in a revamped line up.
12. E. Santana - The more I looked.. the more I liked. Add the Pujols effect to the miserable run support the hapless Angels line up produced in 2011.
13. Aybar - Again.. the Albert effect. Hated this pick. Needed a SS with SBs.
14. Fister - Sneaky effective sinker.. very good Tiger team. 2.83 ERA in 2011
15. Trumbo - Abreau's poor spring means ABs. Big power in a big line up.
16. K. Jansen - Dreaded this pick but RPs were going fast. Jansen's Ks in the NL West parks like SF, SD and LA play well for me.
17. Buchholz - Marquis value.. good numbers for a potent Boston line up.
18. W Ramos - Wanted to be safe with a solid catcher. ** S Perez injured.
19. J Mayberry - Every opportunity to play LF.. stay in Phils line up.
20. S Marshall - Still there. Very good numbers. Now the closer in the Nati.
21. A Chapman - If he throws strikes.. pitches any inning of any game.
22. L Cain - Looking for a late round break out.
23. F Salas - STL set up man. Good numbers in 2011
24. Aceves - Solid RP numbers. Closer for now in Boston.

I made a significant move the first week of the season trading Teixeira, C Hart and C Buchholz for Ellsbury and A-Rod to a team that failed to get enough pitching. A-Rod looked like he was in great shape and running well.. and I don not like Teixeira's swing at all. This move didn't add much as Ellsbury was hurt all year.
I added  Adam Laroche, Mike Trout and Allen Craig in April and early May! Also dropped Ramos and added Montero who was dropped in our league to get far more ABs as the DH.
Dropped Hollands and Santana early and picked up Jake Peavy, Mike Minor, Jarrod Parker, Santiago Castilla, Ernest Frieri, Tom Wilhelmsen and the crowning jewel of my FD pitchers. . Kris Medlen.
Kemp and Ellsbury were on the DL for an entire season combined.. so this was a challenge. Mike Trout, Allen Craig and Paul Goldschmidt saved the day.. all FA additions in our 12 team league. I also picked up Trever Plouffe for 10 of his HRs.. and added Kendry Morales in late July off waivers.


Players to avoid in the 1st Round:

• Jose Bautista - Jose has had two.. back to back.. break out years. However, he struggled the final 8 weeks of 2011. Why? They stopped throwing him strikes on the inner half.. or at all. He walked.. and walked some more - 132 times. Post All-Star BA = .257. Toronto thus far has done nothing to give him more protection in the line-up. Avoid in the 1st round unless you consider Lawrie that protection. We do not.
• Albert Pujols for 2 months. Albert will have to adjust to AL pitchers and montsrous expectations. Pick him up in a June trade.
• Prince Fielder - Prince is facing a great deal of uncertainty.. Oops.. he signed with Detroit!! He's 27 years old.. emotional.. and it will take time for him to get comfortable in new surroundings in Detroit. This signing is not favorable to Fielder's fantasy production. Detroit is cold and windy 45-60 days per year.. and Comerica is not a hitter's park. He will not hit 40HRs.. drive in or score 100 runs. 2nd round pick at best.
• Dustin Perdroia - A great little baseball player who bubbles with determination and competitive energy. And like everything that bubbles.. yours will burst if you draft him in the 1st round. Yes. He's moving up into Top 10 status in some of the rankings. Really? No. Not really. Good pick in 2nd or 3rd round.
• Pitchers - We don't need a pitcher in the 1st round. Let some one else take that fodder while you take the cream of the hitting crop. 5 Tools .. or monstrous potential for RBI and Runs. OPS is great.. but don't forget the runs.. and total ABs.

Team Focus
When possible.. draft players surrounded by other good hitters.. on high scoring teams. In order to maximize RBI and Runs, pass up the isolated good hitter in a weak line-up when another player of similar value is available.. especially at the top of the line-up. Kemp has been exception.. but his lack of strong line-up support makes him a higher risk. Mattingly must get Loney and Ethier tuned up for 2012.
In 2011, the top 3 offenses scored roughly 100 more runs than did the teams in the next group. Makes a difference as the season progresses. * We believe Arizona and KC will move up this list in 2012. The Angels will score more runs in 2012.. if some one can protect Pujols in that order. If Kendry Morales is back strong.. and/or Trumbo can produce at 3rd base.. look out!

1. 875 - Boston
2. 867 - Yankees
3. 855 - Texas
4. 787 - Detroit
5. 762 - St. Louis
6. 743 - Toronto
7. 735 - Cincinnati
8. 735 - Colorado
9. 731 - Arizona*
10. 730 - Kansas City

24 Round Work Sheet as of 12/22/11

We'll shoot for two of these 5 in the first two rounds. Massive run production is the goal.. and SPEED on the bases. Gotta score to win. Jose Reyes instead.

1. Kemp - A. Gonzalez

2. C. Gonzalez - C. Granderson - Reyes

If Beltre is still home.. you could take him here and get a very good hitter.. but the grand prize here.. if available: I think the BIG Buck (Reports out that he's drinking again?) rolls again this year.. and we can probably get him late 3rd round. ;!)
3. Beltre - Hamilton

Now we need the best starting pitcher available in round 4! Look at BAA.. and WHIP. Hamels will win more games.. the other two will lead in Ks/9. All good. Big Ks.. high innings pitched.. on a good defensive team. Strasburg should be outstanding.. but they may shut him down in September at 175 innings.
4. Hernandez - Hamels - Strasburg

In the 5th round I'm after a middle infielder with power and RBI potential. Utley would be nice.. but Cabrarra may hang with him. Depends on who's there in the 5th. Definitely want one of these!
5. Cabrerra - Utley

Back to starting pitching in the 6th. Need another power pitcher here. Wainwright.. and Grienke or Cain if not. Wilson should be good in LA's bigger park and cool damp air. Wainwright is the best here.. even if we have to wait 2-3 weeks for him to be ready. Josh Johnson? .. looks good on the surface. Power fast ball.. but seems to lack the killer instinct in putting hitters away with strike 3. Don't forget.. that's a shoulder he's dealing with.. so I won't touch him here.
6. Wainwright - Grienke - Cain

I'm back at the hits and RBI trough here in the 7th-8th. Looking for value. Either Beltran.. now in STL.. or Hart looks good here. Let some one else bite on Jennings.;) any earlier than this. Choo in the 8th.. very good value. No 3B - 25 SB!. Any of these guys are good in these two rounds.
7. Hart - Choo - Beltran - Jennings
8. Lawrie - Sandoval if he's around this deep and you didn't get Beltre.

Morrison could be a big surprise this year. He is a polished hitter.. but NO wheels. Any of the above if they're still home. 1B/OF also has value.
9. Morrison - Kendrick

This pick stinks.. but you gotta have one if you don't have them yet. This is why it's important to get Utley in rd. 5. If you did.. go to plan A. The other side of the middle IF you drafted in the 5th.. and you get the run scoring potential of Albert driving these guys in to score. Just grin and bear it. If you got Reyes and Utley.. blow this popcorn stand and go to the next pick. ;)
10B. Kendrick - Aybar

Another SP. Get a good power pitcher right here. Either of these guys fit the bill. Or.. wins from Fister will blister AL Central hitters with his deep sinker. 
10A.  Beachy - Zimmerman- Fister 

Let's keep an eye on K. Morales.. his health and his role on the team. Can Trumbo play 3rd?? We'll see. Goldschmidt.. if he sticks with the approach he took to the plate in the post season.. will be a monster. If no one in this group makes a definitive move .. I'm picking Goldschmidt here.
11. Morales - Goldschmidt - L. Morrison? Is he still there?

Sizemore for one year and $5M? He should be highly motivated. Mayberry paced 25-30 HRs last year based on more ABs in 2012. I'm taking Mayberry. Allan Craig if they're gone.. or Kubel could get a nice pop in Arizona. But either could get under 500 ABS.
12. Mayberry - Sizemore - Kubel - Heyward - Craig or Daniel Murphy if you need another INF.

From here .. we're looking for upside value at a position.. and couple of closers. Gotta have 'em. I don't like picking closers early. Wilson isn't the best pitcher.. but he has been the best closer.. of these.
13. Wilson - Nathan - Storen - Feliz?

I like Leubke in SD. Check his numbers last half of 2011. Moore.. 19 innings total? Buchholz could be outstanding if his back/core stays strong. Ervin Santana gets more run support.. more wins.
14. Buchholz - Moore - Leubke - Ervin Santana

Catcher/1B. Two good ones if Montero slips this far.. take him. Moreland should have a very good year as well.  If Montero gone.. go to Moreland at 1B. Skip C position until Perez.
15. Montero - Moreland 1B - Alonso 1B.. in San Diego? .. but he can hit.

Get a 2nd line closer now.
16. Farnsworth - Guerra

 Another Infielder/OF.. Bryce Harper. Get him if he makes the team.. but wait until late.
17. J. Kipnis - A. Craig.. or If you need another OF.. Jose Tabata fits nicely this round.

I think everyone has forgotten that Aroldis Chapman.. is a starter. If this guy can learn to repeat his throwing motion.. to deliver 3 pitches from the same arm slot.. with the same arm speed.. he will take his place as one of the best pitchers in baseball. His talent is so considerable. Can he become consistent? If he ever does.. Ka-Boom. Bedard is cheap insurance.
18. Chapman - E. Bedard - B. McCarthy is now a #1

19. S. Perez-C: Absolutely raked the last 8 weeks of 2011. Or take 1B Alonso of SD if you got Montero.

Our league is 6x6 .. we score Holds.. so we need two set-up men in the 21th-22nd rounds.
20. Salas - Clippard = wins too RP
21. K. Jansen - Peralta - Beniot - Broxton RP
22. Doumit - C
23. A. Reed - RP
24. D. Hernandez - RP or Jason Burgeois if you need 30 - 50 cheap steals



1. OF - We want a 5 tool player in the first two rounds - Kemp.. Hamilton or Ellsbury
2. OF - 5 Tools:  - Gonzalez, Granderson or Hamilton


Projected Draft - 4th pick in a 12 team 5x5 Rotisserie League
We want a 5 tool player in the first two round - Kemp.. Hamilton or Ellsbury


1. Kemp - A. Gonzalez
2. Josh Hamilton
3. Reyes
4. Strasburg
5. A. Cabrerra/Utley/Sandoval
6. Wainwright - M. Cain
7. Youkilis - Lawrie
8. Beltran
9. Morrison - Hart
10. Beachy - Zimmerman - Wilson
11. Goldschmidt
12. Nathan - Wilson
13. Mayberry
14. Leubke
15. Moreland - Alonso
16. Farnsworth - Guerra
17. Kipnis - Craig
18. Bedard - McCarthy
19. Salvador Perez
20. Salas
21. Chapman
22. Jansen
23. B. Harper - A. Reed
24. Doumit - Burgeois - M. Trout

Projected Draft - 8th pick in a 12 team 5x5 Rotisserie League

1. J. Ellsbury - CarGo- Granderson
2. Josh Hamilton
3. Reyes
4. Strasburg
5. A. Cabrerra/Utley/Sandoval
6. Wainwright - M. Cain
7. Youkilis
8. Beltran
9. Morrison - Hart
10. Beachy - Zimmerman - Wilson
11. Goldschmidt
12. Nathan - Wilson
13. Mayberry
14. Leubke
15. Farnsworth - Guerra
16. Moreland - Alonso
17. Kipnis - Craig
18. Chapman - Bedard
19. Salvador Perez
20. Salas
21. Travis Hafner
22. Jansen - Salas
23. Doumit
24. A. Reed

*Projected 2012 Draft*

C	S. Perez - 19	SP	Strasburg - 4
1B	Goldschmidt - 11	SP	Wainwright - 6
2B	Utley - 5	SP	Beachy - 10
3B	Lawrie - 8	SP	Luebke - 14
SS	Reyes - 2	RP	Nathan - 13
IF	Morrison - 9	RP	Guerra - 16
LF	Granderson/Hamilton - 3	RP	Salas - 19
CF	Kemp/Ellsbury/Gozalez - 1	P	Bedard - McCarthy - 18
RF	Hart - Beltran - Choo - 7	P	Jansen - 20
OF	Mayberry - 12	Bench	Chapman - 21
Util	Moreland - 15	Bench	A. Reed - 23
Bench	Craig - 17	Bench	Hernandez - 24
Bench	Doumit - 22