Veterans' League Draft Analysis ...

I have received a message from the other side ... the misty veil has lifted and the spirits tell me ...

McNabb Midgets

Hitting is balanced without being spectacular. Plenty of SBs, enough HRs to be competitive although perhaps not enough to top the charts. RBIs and runs won't be a problem, the ba will be ok, I don't need to say how key Arods performance will be! Ocab will be a passenger on the team, and the util spot will be unproductive as it stands unless Fox manages to find some playing time. Pitching is nice though, 4 upper tier starters....with questions marks, but still nice. 2 closers will keep you hanging and a couple of nice setup guys that could vulture some saves. Volstad probably got found out the 2nd half last year, and I dont see why that will change.
Grade B+....good all around, a couple of holes

Lippys Lions

I gotta start with the pitching for once. Controversially decided to ignore 2 categories! Ws and Ks will be dead last, era and whip will be near the top, but with a few hundred fewer innings than everyone else....if a couple of the RPs are terrible, it will be hard for the others to even the balance. Saves "should" win, but 2 of the closers are shaky. Bold, but I think it'll backfire. To get away with that, you have to have top drawer hitting to make up for 2 cats you ignored.....and Lippy dont have that. Reasonable power output, I do like Blanks as one of my breakouts. Its a competitive batting, I'm not sure you can rely on 2 people for SBs and win out that either.
Grade E....you'll realise why nobody ever tried this tactic, epic fail

Halliday is a Philly

Kiester, I expect nothing less than something good. Hitting wise, I like it a lot, with a few gems that see as breaking out or just great value. Choo, Jones and Stubbs is a great looking OF. Weeks if healthy will be a nice pick, pity you don't have anywhere to fit him! Desmond is ermm, well, who knows, could be good, probably espns projection is about right, tempered. Loved the C, 2b, 3b combo. BA will be good, plenty of HR, RBI...possibly a little light on sb though. I nearly like the pitching, 3 good upper tiers, a few decent arms to complement, well maybe not decent but serviceable. However 1 closer and Madson...and I see Feliz as way overated so I'm sure you overdrafted him.
Grade C+.....just a few cats you might struggle in

Yorkshire Cubbies

Is this gonna be Dunnys year? Its about time it is! There's actually a nice balance with the hitting. I dont like Roberts, Byrd or the bench much at all...but the rest I like them. Have enough steady BA to make up for Reynolds, should be competitive in HR, probably a little short in RBI. 1 closer and an injury prone, not looking good. 3 good SPs in Verlander, Demp and EJax...the others, aren't terrible. There isn't really anything to hate hear, just not really enough to excite me....making some progress but probably falling just short.
Grade C.....average

Self Cleaning Vagrants

Some nice hitting, but the thing that strikes me first is lack of RBIs, as theres only 1 cleanup hitter, well 2 if you count Butler. I do really like Butler, but how often Kendall and co infront of him will be on base is not going to be enough to get to 100 - even if he does hit 35 dingers. Not really enough sbs or runs. Just a couple too many hitters that just won't do enough for the team. Good to see 2 solid closers, a couple of upper tier starters. I'm not sold on the rest of the pitching though, DAvis has upside, but the others I'm not expecting much from. Could have done with a couple more reliable arms.
Grade C-.....not enough ooooommmmmpphhhh

Zee's Zombiez

Z really should rename his team so "I love Randy Wolf", as he owns him every year. He loves him more than wolfs wife does! The hitting is very good, zs old favourite Bradley surfaces for a 3rd year. Plenty of RBI, HR and runs, no real killer ba either. Speed isn't great, but pods could steal 50, I mean, not like KC have anything better to do. 3 closers, all pretty solid too apart from Aardsma who I dont like. Usual rags to riches pitching for Z. No aces, but a bunch of guys that probably won't kill him, but probably won't be great either. He does have 3 of my sleepers though, so thats gotta be worth extras in the grades.
Grade B+....really good hitting, pitching the only problem, but we all know Z will trade his way to that later, glory awaits!!

The Bum Ho Less (isn't that joke a bit old now?)

Boasts the best bench in the league! Some large holes to fill with trades though. SS and 1b obviously with the 2b being a whoknowswhat! Other than that, a lot to like about some of the hitting put together (apart from Rios - if he gets to 20/20 I might buy westlifes greatest hits). Not really enough, or any speed. Probably a hitter short from completing the puzzle. Obviously starting pitching isn't important, as there only appears to be 2....well Kawakami might be serviceable, but I dont buy into Bailey. 3 closers, even if they are shaky is a good sign. Bedard, who knows when he'll come back and if he can last more than 5 games when he does.
Grade D.....hitting isn't balanced enough and the pitching, in short, sucks

Charlie Hustled

I'm a big fan of Morales and Jupton, a nice base for the hitting. Kinsler and Gordon will start on the DL, not sure when Gordon is back or if he'll be any good, so you'll need to fill that gap. Having 2 SS and 2 1b means your good to trade, but I'm not a fan of drafting that way as your kind of forced to trade to fill the gaps you didn't draft. Its a nice hitting lineup though, plenty of speed, runs and ba will ge fine, not quite enough power, but its hard to get a speed/power balance. No closers, which means theres pressure to to hit the tops in other cats. Should be fine in Ks, but I'm not convinced with the pitching outside of Carpenter are high enough tier to make up for the lack of closers.
Grade D+.....if your punting a category, you need to make sure your winning at least 2 others to compensate, I don't see that

I Predict Theriot

No Ryan Theroit again! Yuck, I hate the hitting here. Severe power outage and no speed, sooooo thats not good. Yep, me and the world love Tulo, but after that ermm....I love Freese as an uspide guy, one of my top sleepers him. Damon I Predict TheBust! Expect a big regress from him. At least the ba should be solid/tops. I was hoping for better pitching considering the hitting, you got an ace and 2 good supporting arms in Kuroda and JJJ, but the other 4 are just kinda fillers that I don't think much of. 2 dominant closers is all good, but paying for those 2...and injury and your screwed. Healthy and they'll keep you in the race for saves. Just think the pitching is too light.
Grade D-....horrible hitting and patchy pitching means the future isn't orange here

Welsh Dragonsox

The dragonsox always draft picthing well! So I'll start there. Got the elite as usual in Lince, a couple of good supporting cast that could be upper tier, 2 closers....I would see solid, but capps looks awful right now (watch this space Bruney). I don't see CJ lasting well as a starter, but he might I guess. I prefer Medlen and Slowey for upside, even if I dont like either much, they can easily outperform there DP. Having my favourite sleeper in Matt LaPorta helps your hitting case. Has 30 HR in him, should be 1b eligible soon too. However, not enough power, outside of Lee and Votto you won't be seeing many HRs on your live scoreboard every night. Not enough speed either! Take out Pierre and it doesn't look promising. RBIs likely to fall too short too.
Grade C+......pitching goooooood, hitting baaaaaad

Minor Leaguers

The hitting isn't that bad, got some guys I really like...AGonz, Aramis, Drew, Kemp...then some guys I don't like Ramon, Manny, Span, Vlad - so it kinda evens itself out. Enough power to hang in there, not enough speed though to do the same. Relying on kemp to forefill that promise we all know he's got. Just Marmol for saves, he's a good bet to top the most BS this year, although he doesn't have much competition so should be ok. I really like Gallardo, but not Mad Max (potential ace that organisation trades away? I think not). The rest of the SPs are a ragamuffin bunch, each chipping in in some way, but I don't like them much.
Grade D.....not lighting up the charts anywhere, just fading out

Last Draft Saloon

Fens got some of my favourite hitters. Wieters will be a stud C, LaRoche will have a great year cleaning up in AZ, Headley will see a tonne of pitches with Agonz being walked infront of him so could rack up the RBIs, Grady will go 25/25 minimum, Kubel will hit over 30. Plenty of power, solid ba...speed it a problem, as Fowler is overated...and wont get over 40. That said, oustide of SB its a very nice hitting lineup. Pitching is hmmmm, alright. Cains an upper tier, AJ, Porcello I think will have fine years. Strasburg when he arrives could be the new Lince! 1 closer isn't promising but you got a couple of guys that are likely to vulture a few. Lowe and Feldman I'm not into.
Grade B-....almost there, bit of speed, bit of luck in pitching - and a good trade, lol just kidding

Robs Wreckers

What happened here! Rob forgot to draft anyone that can hit HRs, sorry he has a couple. But wayyyyyy down on power, going to be tough to catch up there. Runs and ba should be fine, and loads of steals, loads of them. Nobody I particularly like hitting wise, I am firmly off the Josh Hamilton bandwagon though. PItching is a lot nicer...apart from Bronson Arroyo, where did he come from! Zachs the ace, Wandy is upper tier, Hudson could join him if he's fit for 180+ innings, Floyd was one of the 5 guys I've starred for the year. Penny would be back to his best with the pitching coach in STL having turned around worse pitchers fortunes than his. Only 1 closer, again a worry, Storen should be closing by september, so one to stash.
Grade E.....too many missing pieces, especially power

Wreck Rangers

The better half of the wrecking crew is the Rangers. How much time Posada clocks in is a gamble, but I like most of the rest. Pujols if healthy will be a beast, and he seems intent to play through niggles. Lind will hit for power and average, I love him. Stewart, Everth, McCuthchen and Venables offer a ton of upside. I don't like Conor Jax and would probably use one of the other OFs. Probably a tad light on speed. 1 closer is a problem as with a lot of teams it seems. 2 aces in JJ and CC though, with Garza (one of my 5 starred) and Buerhle are good arms to back up. Chapman will need to be stashed as he's off to the minors. The other arms could work out, but its nothing to get excited about.
Grade C+....just a couple of guys away from being a top contender

Halo Express

Santo missed the draft, and unfortunately picked up all the injured guys! 4 of your best guys all starting on the DL. I don't like David Wright, just dont see the power evolving or him hitting 300 (his babip was sick last year). Seem to have plenty of 3b eligible guys! Doumit with a healthy season of at bats is elite - he just always gets injured. Not nearly enough power, but plenty of speed. Unfortunately another year with the hitting in the basement beckons. Pitching, in may this rotation is the best in the league. However, 2 of them have to get back healthy and pitch well. No saves a problem again and Ohlendorf looks the first drop of the season for Santo.
Grade D-.....another bottom half finish in store for Australias new brightest light

Home Run Darby

Some good balance in the hitting, Steals shouldn't be hard to come by (although Raja Davis steals under 35, easily), solid ba and the power numbers will be respectable. The util spot looks ropey so some FA will need to plug that with Diaz again platooning. I like Alexie, Vics and McLouth as part of the multi talent brigade, they will help. Pitching is not so good, Johan is boom or bust at his DP, Lilly has ?s when he gets back. The other arms looks average, 2 backend houston innings eaters doesn't inspire much. 1 closer, pretty ropey one at that too and Street who has a big setback this week. Pitching will kill any chances this team has, too weak and no depth
Grade C-.....pitching the achilles heel, the hitting is good, but not that good!

Knnillssonns Knnigghhtss

Plenty of power here, everyone likely to chip in with the HRs and RBIs to a big tune. Cano and BigMig will anchors the BA to make up for the power bums dragging it down. SB is the major problem with dead last looking booked. 1 closer again, a good one, and a couple of vulture saves with some reliable RP arms in the mix. The starters though, wont be dragging you out the bottom 3, Danks is fine, HArang has seen better days and Pineiro will keep the ball in the park to not kill his era but is just a filler. Smoltz is unlikely to pitch anywhere this year and if he does, he's likely not going to be any good.
Grade D+.....All power and nothing much else, big ask to avoid bottom 5

Wait this isn't FantasyFootball

This might not be football, but its a decent baseball team drafted. Plenty of potential here, how much the aging arms of Young, Molina and Ibanez still have in them is the key. Morneau needs to refind that pre injury form, but Braun and Pedroia can anchor the rest of them to put up some respectful power and speed numbers. Doesn't look like it has the potential to top a caegory but should be high enough in all of them to keep the team competitive. 1 closer, 1 injured closer, a few rag bullpen arms to vulture a few saves will be ok considering how few teams have more than 1 closer. 2 upper tier arms in JVaz and Lackey will anchor the staff and Harden, Kaz and DiceK really have upside to give this team 5 potential fine pitchers. Put it all together, and this team could be up there.
Grade B......solid team, title aspirations

Then the spirits seem to flag somewhat, and the message became unclear. This last analysis may be right off beam therefore ...

Uncle O

The hitting is pretty bad, take out Prince and its horrible. Soto, Papi, Reyes, Soriano are all complete gambles. I dont mind one gamble, but thats why O is a great poker player! Reyes could be awesome, but his value is with his sb, health? Team doesn't have enough SB, HR, RBI in it and with no 300 hitter the average wont be stellar either. 2 legitimate aces will anchor the pitching, a couple of 2nd tiers and a few absolute rammal. 1 closer + 1 part timer is a start.
Grade D...will need some career numbers and crazy trades to get in the mix