Starting Pitching... (cont.)

Yesterday I pondered the depth of the Starting Pitching pool this year, concluding that you shouldn't have any trouble acquiring more than enough to win your league via draft, even if you wait until late to begin taking arms.


Well, I completed my first draft of the season, run by Yahoo!'s own Andy Behrens, including three Fantasy Baseball Cafeexpert players, Pat Dahl from Rotoworld, Derek Carty from Hardball Times, Tim Stuart from North Side Baseball, and Cary & Aaron from East Windup Chronicle.  Definitely an All-Star cast of characters here -- so how did I stack up?


The (Starting) Pitching


 


5.4 - John Lackey, 7.4 - Felix Hernandez, 9.4 - Roy Halladay, 11.4 - Ben Sheets, 19.4 - Randy Johnson, 20.9 - Ervin Santana, 21.4 - Shaun Marcum 


Well? What do you think? I intended on waiting until Round 6 to take my top pitcher, but I am a huge fantasy fan of Lackey and wanted him. However, had I taken a bat in Lackey's place and waited until Pick 6.9 (where I took Larry Jones) to take a SP, I would've had my choice between John Smoltz, Carlos Zambrano, and Roy Oswalt -- not bad for the 81st overall pick in the draft, eh? 


Other arms of note who were available super late include Tim Lincecum (7.8), Daisuke Matsuzaka (8.1), Yovani Gallardo (9.9), Rich Hill (9.12), Kelvim Escobar (10.10), Javier Vazquez (11.5), AJ Burnett (11.8), James Shields (11.10), Pedro Martinez (11.12), Jeremy Bonderman (13.1), Adam Wainwright (13.8). Are you kiddin' me? Every single one of these guys could out-earn their pick this year.Be patient, and wait to take your Starting Pitching -- you can get potential #2 Starters as late as Round 11 - 13. Wow. 


So, let's take a look at who else I pulled...


Jose Reyes (1.4) - The 4th pick rolled around to me and I was stuck between David Wright and Jose Reyes -- having never owned Jose, and generally hating drafting a SS, I figured I'd take the 70 SB and grab Larry at 3B if he was around for possibly the steal of the draft... more on that later.


Vlad Guerrero (2.9)- Is this where Vlad has fallen to this year? 21st ovrall? Going into the draft I had anticipated a Wright-Teixera-Upton first 3 picks for me, but when Vlad was sitting on the board, I had to take him; and I recommend you do the same if he falls to you in the 2nd. 


Mark Teixeira (3.4)- As I said, I had anticipated taking Teix in Round 2, but ended up with Vlad, and actually felt confident at that point that he'd make it back to me, and he did. If you read Split City (Part 2) that I wrote not long ago, you'll see why I like this guy so much.


Picks 4 - 7- Nick Markakis (4.9) I love in the 4th and Chipper Jones I love in the 6th. In retrospect, I probably should've drafted another 3B late in the draft, anticipating injury, but in my opinion, of Larry stays healthy, he could be the steal of this entire draft at #81. 


Picks 8 - 11- Here's where I took my Closers. Billy Wagner (8.9) and Rafael Soriano (10.9) along with the two Starters. 


Picks 12 - 15- Got my third Outfielder here in Johnny Damon (12.9); a pick which made this Mets fan sick to his stomach. Also got Pat Burrell (15.4) as my Utility player but not before filling my 2B hole with Jeff Kent (13.4), and grabbing a huge upside risk pick in BJ Ryan (14.9). 


Picks 16 - 21- This is where my draft got a little hairy. I reached for Pudge Rodriguez (16.9), but I can't get over Detroit's lineup. Then I grabbed Joey Votto as the best player available at 17.4. In the 18th I went with another player you kno I love, Michael Bourn, who I could see unseating Johnny Damon as my #3 OF. I went with 3 SP with my final picks in Randy Johnson, Ervin Santana, and Shaun Marcum; all of whom I have mixed feelings about. 


Overall, I'm thrilled with my team and like my chances of competing in this league.  I'll provide periodic updates on the goings on of the league, and so on and so forth.


What's the moral of the story?  Starting Pitching can wait... the first 4 to 5 rounds, go with bats, and be glad you did.