Vets League Draft report

Apologies to all if this is too long, or short, and double apologies if I've insulted your team. Posted in the order that the in-draft projections finished with, the number in brackets is the draft order.



Showalter Ponies (12)

Widely predicted for yet another season in the doldrums, the Ponies surprised everybody by heading the in-draft projections. A solid enough line-up, though not the fleetest of foot, and will be competitive in most categories. Has no hitter projected to hit above .300 so a good job he doesn't have Pena or Reynolds! Took three closers and a handcuff, but just four SP, plus a stash in Johan Santana, so will need to be active to get those Ws and Ks. Has ten players currently listed as 'day-to-day', with three of them DL-bound, no mean achievement before a ball has been pitched! Work to be done but a solid foundation.


Spital Cadavers (1)

Appeared to think that having Albert meant that it wasn't necessary to bother with hitters and definitely went against the grain by taking pitchers with picks 3-7. Having two hitters apiece from Pittsburgh and Cleveland an obvious weakness! Really has to nail pitching - top 3 or 4 in all but saves - or the draft strategy will prove fatal.


Inglorious Batsters (2)

Took the drafting pitchers policy to the other extreme by not drafting an SP until the 11th round - by which time the Cadavers had taken five. Hard to knock the line-up and ought to be challenging in all five categories or will really need to hit gold with the budget pitching. Two potential stars in Hellickson and Jordan Zimmerman so not without hope on that front. Held the draft up twice and consequently REPORTED. Meltdown averted, however.


Minor Leaguers (16)

Not much minor league about this team. Went for Lincecum in the 1st round and took a well balanced team behind him. In a normal year you might consider a bench full of OF to be a handicap, but there's a genuine shortage of utility infielders this year so a lot of sides are similarly hamstrung. If Francisco resumes closing duties for Toronto before too long this team should definitely be in the shake up come season's end. Vying with the Ponies for car-parking space at out-patients as he also has ten players currently DTD!


No Donkey No Ass (10)

Complained throughout! Hummed and hawed before reluctantly taking King Felix at 25 but that may prove a blessing. A bit like the Minor Leaguers, unlikely to head too many categories but be competitive in most. Will be hoping to emulate last year's Auction League stole-it-on-the-last-day 'romp' and not without a chance based on openng day rosters.


Winning Furcal (8)

Won the most humorous team name award in a canter. The founder member of the 'Ryan Raburn for President' fanclub is another with a solid line-up but one with greater flexibility from the bench than most. Might need that flexibility since his outfield hits like girls! Decent enough rotation but will need innings from somewhere. Saves shouldn't be a problem.


Lippy Lions (3)

Gave himself a fair crack at winning by not having autodraft take A-Rod as the 3rd overall pick! Like the Cadavers, the Lions opted to take pitching early, with four SP heading their way in rounds 3-6. With no hitter projected for more than 23 HR, or 88 RBI, they'll need the pitching to deliver.


Team Rowlands (13)

I like this team. 13/17 obviously not a great position to be drafting from but has put together a decent line-up, albeit one which is unlikely to win a batting title. Should be competitive in the other hitting categories though. The rotation is made up of mostly below-the-radar types but they're probably all underrated, although we're all guessing with his one reach, Michael Pineda in the 12th round. A surprising runner-up in the most humorous team name award!


Artful Dodgers (14)

I think I like this team even more! I personally wouldn't use my first three picks on OF, and another in the 10th(!), but there is only one obvious hole in the line-up and that's at C. I've heard good things about Avila but playing time has to be a major concern. Put together a decent enough rotation too, especially if Wolf or Vazquez don't stink like last year. Could do with Bailey back closing ASAP.


Carlito Brigante (9)

Say hello to my little friend! Wrong movie? Oh well. The only team named after this year's Coral Cup winner, or indeed any winner from the festival, will not be struggling for home runs. Not only does he have last year's NL-MVP, Joey Votto, he has Prince Fielder, surely a lock for the award in 2011. Decent speed, can hit for average - not a lot to dislike about the hitting. Pitching should be average enough and this team another that could contend.


The Soggy Biscuiters (11)

Yuk! I don't just mean the team name either. This team is beat up! To be fair, these carthorses can hit but I reckon I'd beat most of them to 1st base and I smoke 20-a-day and have a beergut. The rotation might be alright but saves have been punted and it's not going to be easy for this team to challenge.


The Urban Spacemen (15)

Should really be called the Bronx Spacemen. No fewer than seven Yankees are now under the guidance of Ron Nasty so you would think that as NYY's fortunes go, so do the Spacemen's. I hope they finish behind Baltimore and Toronto - nothing personal Ron! Actually, I don't think in a roto league that it matters too much whether all you players are on the same team, it's much more of a handicap in H2H leagues. Hitting should be fine but the Spacemen opted to wait until the 12th round until taking an SP. All the experts say pitching is deep, and they're right, but this might've taken the wait for SP strategy too far.


Curve Ball Your Enthusiasm (17)

Fortunately for their GM, who turned up at 7:15, the Curveballs were last to draft and this at least saved him from entering autodraft hell. The bookend can be a great place to pick from but you know you'll be reaching a few times. He knew Ryan Zimmerman wouldn't be coming back so made a bold move in taking him with his first (or second) pick imo. Another team that will hit plenty of long balls but, fortunately for them, they don't have to fetch the balls back or it would take forever! Rotation is ok and there's upside with his RP. No way this team finishes as low as the projected 13th.


No No's Bashers (4)

Can't say I love this team but that's probably just down to preference. Has a few with 40-homer potential and a pair of genuine speedsters in Andrus and Bourn so perhaps best to not be too dismissive of the hitting. Not a big fan of the pitching either but the rotation is serviceable and there's potential with the bullpen so may do better than anticipated here too.


Halladay Is A Phillies (5)

Ante-post favourite with Fenway Bookies but only 15th on the projections. Every hitter, including the bench, projected for double-digit HR so there's plenty of pop. Alas, half of this lot will also accumulate double-digits in games missed through one niggle or another. A pretty decent pitching staff though and if the saves come their way it's entirely possible for them to be challenging across the board in pitching.


Super Adventure Club (6)

Hard to work out why this team projects to finish next-to-last. 8 of 10 hitters are slated for 20+ homers so power isn't the problem. The rotation looks fine, if risk-attached, even after Mad Max's final Spring Training debacle (2.1IP, 11ER!) but the bullpen could clearly be a weakness with at least two closers in timeshares, for now at least.


Thunder Cats (7)

I've said it about virtually every team but I like this one and find the bottom-placed prediction baffling. Decent power and speed, and the experts' current favourite sleeper, Mike Morse, on the bench. One of few teams with an extra arm, or two, and this may come in handy as a couple look like prime spot-starters. If these finish last I'm a Yankees fan!