From There to Here

It’s that time of year — fantasy baseball season is upon us.

After my numerous blog posts here lauding Tony Romo, cursing Drew Brees and chastising that injured ass Larry Johnson, I finished first in my football league’s regular season thanks to basically Romo, Greg Jennings, Wes Welker and the Minnesota defense. But then I dropped my semifinal match and my consolation match to finish a disappointing fourth in the playoffs thanks to i) Romo disappearing and ii) Brees continuing his suckage.

But a new fantasy season is here, thankfully. A study showed that fantasy football costs employers $1.1 BILLION PER WEEK in lost productivity by employees who update their teams. That’s insane. It’s $18.7 BILLION PER SEASON lost because of fantasy football alone. At least we’re in baseball season…

My fantasy baseball team conducted its draft this weekend, and it’s time for the overhauling to begin. I’m making moves, rejecting trades and trying to win a 16-team league. I’ve won a 12-person league before — a plus league, mind you — but never a 16-team league. It’s also a keeper league, and four teams didn’t play in the league last year. Basically, 12 guys got keepers and the rest of us are drafting from scratch. Hence, my first round pick.

My draft, with some quick notes, where I took the guy, why, my round, overall pick.

Round 1 (5th overall): Carlos Beltran: It was between Beltran and Carl Crawford for me. If I knew the way my draft would go later (and you’ll see why), I probably would have taken Crawford. I wanted Beltran because his two year averages for the Mets tell me he’ll be good for 100 runs, 100 RBIs, 30-35 homers, 20 steals and a .275 average. Crawford would have gotten me probably about 50 steals and hit about .040 higher, but I can’t be upset with Beltran in that Mets lineup.

Round 2 (28th): BJ Upton: Position flexibility. A second baseman/outfielder who has the real potential to be a 100-run, 30-homer, 100-RBI, 30-steal, .300-average guy in only his second full season. Only played about 130 games last year and hit about 25 homers with about 20 steals. Real potential.

Round 3 (37th): Victor Martinez: Best offensive catcher in the game. Can play first base if necessary. Hits for power and average, should have an OPS around .900 and add 25-plus home runs with 100-plus RBIs. Very happy with this pick at a traditionally weak position.

Round 4 (60th): Joe Nathan: Best player available, also a closer, and the run had started. Paps/Putz/others off the board. I’ll grab Nathan and hope he goes to a better team at some point. Either way, he’s proven in his role.

Round 5 (69th): Chris Young: Good, young outfielder with upside. Horrible average and strikes out a lot, but the steals and homers drew me in. If he’s honestly a career .240 hitter, he’s going to drag my average way down, but I love his power/speed, which is a combination I tried to build around in the earlier rounds (Upton, Beltran, Young).

Round 6 (92nd): Miguel Tejada: Best SS available at the time and I’m hoping he rebounds in 2008. He’s the starting player I like the least. I don’t know why I took him here, to be honest, but the draft board looked empty and he was one of the best available at the time. Missed a large chunk of games last year after playing 162 every year. I’m pretty sure he’ll be a little more rested, thrive in a new city and be back to producing 25 HR and 100 RBI while hitting .300.

Round 7 (101): Brad Hawpe: This guy has been on my team the last two years, and I went out of my way to draft him again. He’s late 20s and getting better every year. 30 homers and 120 RBI in Colorado isn’t a stretch for him this year, I think. Plus, he hits for average, and should get close to, if not over, .300.

Round 8 (124): Paul Konerko: Has lost about five homers a year from the 40 he hit in 2005 (35 in 2006, 31 in 2007) and is getting older. But he should still be good for 100 or so RBI. His average, uncharacteristically low at .259 last year, should rebound and be closer to his career .281.

Round 9 (133): Pedro Martinez: Total homer pick, but I’m a homer. Pitched well at the end of last season, and looks good so far this year. Could win 15 games with a lot of help on the Mets team, and he’ll be helped by the NL. I really have always loved Pedro — thrilled to get him at 133 overall.

Round 10 (156): Phil Hughes: I hate taking Yankees, but he was the best pitcher available and the kid has shown flashes of brilliance. Both Buchholz and Hughes were on the board at this point. I took Hughes. Buchholz was going to be my round 11 pick, but he was gone by the time the draft got back to me, unfortunately.

The rest, much quicker…

Round 11 (165): Jim Thome: Old, but gets the job done as my DH. Can’t play a position, which sucks, and could break down, but still puts up good stats.
Round 12 (188): Derek Lowe: Another homer pick. It’s like I’m reforming the 2004 Red Sox. Lowe’s been dependable in the NL. I hope it keeps up.
Round 13 (197): Randy Johnson: Steal of the draft at this spot for me. I’m hoping for big things. Or more dead birds. Either way, go me.
Round 14 (220): Troy Glaus: I hate this pick. I hate it. He will be off my team by May. He’s horrible. I think I ran out of time on this one. Big mistake.
Round 15 (229): Pat Neshek: He’s on the Twins. I love their bullpen now. Plus he’s an awesome guy. He collects baseball cards. I may get fantasy points for this. Fun times.
Round 16 (252): Kerry Wood: Another steal of the draft for me, if you ask me.
Round 17 (261): Joel Zumaya: Forgot he was out until midseason. Already dropped him. Added Mike Gonzalez.
Round 18 (284): Octavio Dotel: 283 people had been picked before him. That’s why.
Round 19 (293): Gary Matthews Jr.: Um, see above. Dropped him for Brendan Harris, as I needed a backup middle infielder.
Round 20 (316): Jason Schmidt: I’m honestly not really sure myself. Maybe he’ll have a sick bounceback year? Either way, he’s tucked away nicely on my bench.
Round 21 (325): Casey Blake: Total position flexibility pick as he can play 1B, 3B or OF. Plus, the guy put up 18 homers last year, had about 80 runs and RBIs and hit .270. Great spot in the draft to try this.
Round 22 (348): Coco Crisp: I had closed the draft window at this point. I dropped him for Lee Garnder from Florida. Middle relief is fun.

So the team as it stands:
C Victor Martinez
1B Paul Konerko
2B BJ Upton
SS Miguel Tejada
3B Troy Glaus
OF Carlos Beltran
OF Brad Hawpe
OF Chris Young
DH Jim Thome
Bench Casey Blake
Bench Brendan Harris

SP Pedro Martinez
SP Randy Johnson
SP Derek Lowe
RP Joe Nathan
RP Pat Neshek
P Kerry Wood
P Octavio Dotel
P Mike Gonzalez
P Lee Garnder
Bench Phil Hughes
Bench Jason Schmidt

I really like this team, but especially my offense. If all the guys do the same as last year — no better, no worse — this is what I’d get out of my offense.

704 runs scored (a little weak but not odd, considering I have mostly middle of the lineup guys)
247 home runs (astronomical, especially when you consider I’m averaging 27-28 homers per guy)
821 RBIs (very good, I think)
74 SBs (very weak, but whatever)
.277 average (fair enough)
.866 OPS (pretty ridiculously good)

After that analysis, I’m worn out. Needless to say, I dig this team.