Well heading into the draft I had the following keepers: Joey Votto, Billy Butler, Matt Wieters, Ubaldo Jiminez, Jayson Werth, and Rick Porcello.  So I had my 1B, C, UTIL, OF, and 2 SP slots used. I also was short a 5th and 10th round pick in results of a trade last season that helped me land the championship. Despite the lack of a headlining keeper, I had 5 guys who would not have fallen past round 7 or 8 in our draft. I had the 8th position in a 12 team league, and with my post last Friday the first round looked pretty similar: (my prediction in ())

(1) Winnersville Winners – Albert Pujols 1B (Pujols)
(2) Nick Punto – Alex Rodriguez 3B (Lincecum)
(3) Edge of the  Cliff – Tim Lincecum SP (Braun)
(4) Boston Red Sox – Ryan Braun LF (Cabrera)
(5) TPSC net – David Wright 3B (ARod)
(6) Not sure what I am doing – Roy Halladay SP (Halladay)
(7) Team Cyle – Miguel Cabrera 1B (Sabathia)
** (8) Bloodthirsty Uber Giraffes – Felix Hernandez SP (Felix)
(9) The  Benchwarmers – CC Sabathia SP (Jeter)
(10) The Beane Team – Adrian Gonzalez 1B (Tulo)
(11) Twins Fever Twins Fever – Troy Tulowitzki SS (Wright)
(12) Team Cyle – Derek Jeter SS (Kemp)

I thought I had it close, but A-Rod got taken by the guy who eventually drafted the youngest team by a long shot anyway, and with that David Wright got taken early, Kemp got left out. Otherwise the first round was fairly predictable. The 2nd round begun with Wainwright, Haren, and Verlander all going in order knocking the pitchers pool down a whole tier.  My pick came up and Matt Holliday was easily the best player available. Hopefully that new contract doesn’t go to his head.

In the 3rd round I really had to struggle making a pick, it was down to picking BJ Upton’s upside versus another strong pitcher in Johan Santana, Javier Vazquez, Cole Hamels, or Yovanni Gallardo.   I was actually ready to take Johan, but I ran out of time on the draft table and took Upton. Which was a great pick, and was my gut feeling, but filling in my OF slots so quickly made me uneasy and I was unsure if those pitchers would fly off the board, or not. I did get Gallardo in round 4, and I could have had a Johan or Hamels plus Granderson versus Upton and Gallardo, but I’m not sure which pair would be better. I like Upton to do better, but he’s far from reassuring.

The fifth round I did not have a pick, so I watched Ricky Nolasco go in my spot, Torii Hunter, Carlos Pena, Manny Ramirez, Adam Jones, Hunter Pence all follow, so I didn’t really miss much as I had all those positions relatively full. Round 6 comes around, I need an infield and relievers, could use a SP if its right.  My pick arrives and Chipper Jones is available. While Chipper’s health is a concern, his bat while he is playing is not, and I consider this a steal of the draft. A hitter than can put up monster weeks for me at discounted price. I need a backup 3B to make sure I don’t get left hanging, but that’s not a problem. Rounds 8 and 9 see me taking 2B Dan Uggla and SS Asdrubal Cabrera.  Both decent picks for the spot and availability, Uggla is a great 2B at the spot, if his bat declines more I’m in trouble, but if he can even bounce back some I’ll do back flips.

In the 9th round I had to make sure I didn’t get left behind in the closer race and Brian Wilson was available, because I had him last year and I considered keeping him, I snagged him before another run on closers left me hanging. Round 10 I didn’t have a pick again, so I missed out on Brad Hawpe, James Shields, Strasberg, Liriano, and Soriano. While none of the players would have been hugely missed on my team, the depth issues may come into play later in the season. (Still happy I won last year and made the trade, my team without the trade this year would have been even better though =/)

Round 11, 12, 13, 14, saw the Uber Giraffes run on pitchers taking, Rafael Soriano, Billy Wagner, Rich Harden, and David Aardsma in that order. With those rounds the starters portion was finished, and the rest of the draft became about filling the bench and prospecting. Here’s how I did there:

14 C – Chris Ianetta (extra pick)
15 3B – Alex Gordon (fills in for Chipper nicely)
16 OF – Seth Smith (if he gets playing time, he’s an All-Star)
17 OF – JD Drew (when he’s healthy he’s an All-Star)
18 SS – Ian Desmond (Might hit gold here, might not.)
18 2B – Aki Iwamura (another extra pick, fills in for Uggla)
19 OF – Josh Willingham (hoping for trade bait)
20 SP – Jordan Zimmerman (this is our free keeper round, since he sits on the DL until he plays I don’t burn a roster spot on a prospect, huge!)

That was it, I have a free roster spot after the players clear waivers, not sure who I’ll add, my roster looks pretty sexy by my eye. A lot of players who have upside on top of their talent, only injuries stand in the way of a repeat championship here.