In Which We Get to Mock My Fantasy Draft

It's a 14-team league this year, 25 roster spots, start the standard 8 positions(LF, CF, RF specific) and a utility spot and 9 pitchers (4 SP, 3 RP, 2 P). It's a points-based system, with the only real difference from a roto league being that SB's aren't that big of a component. Essentially if you're high on the OPS or wOBA scale, you're a good offensive player  or VORP for a pitcher with closers and relievers really helping your points per innings (1500 IP limit). You must keep 6 keepers on your roster and they are assigned a draft round depending on their performance from last year.

It was a standard snake-style draft, I had the 11th pick based on reverse standings from last year (finished 4th).  So 4-4 means 4th round, 4th pick. I then listed the next 3 non-keeper picks to go and next 3 at the position I went for with my pick. (K) is of course for keeper.

1st-11: Pujols (K) - Duh! Winning!

2nd-4: Cliff Lee (K) - prefer not to carry over too many pitchers but trading was down this offseason

3rd-11: Josh Johnson (K) - worried about him staying healthy, but too good to put him back in the universe.

4th-4: Starlin Castro - shortstops are weak this year past anyone that wasn't already a keeper. I didn't think he'd last to my 6th round pick and also a total homer pick.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): Alexi Ramirez(4-7), C. Billingsley(4-9), Corey Hart(4-10)

(next 3 Shortstop non-keeper picks): Alexi Ramirez(4-7), S. Drew(6-13), R. Furcal(7-1)

5th-11: Alex Rodriguez (K) - can't trade him away to save my life

6th-4: Ben Zobrist - looking for a 2b-men here and also like Zobrist's versatility (1B, CF, RF eligible as well). It was between him and Aaron Hill.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): Chris Young (DBacks) (6-5), J. Valverde(6-8), Chris Perez(6-9)

(next 3 2B non-keeper picks): Aaron Hill (7-2), Neil Walker(9-8), Brian Roberts (10-7)

7th-11: Torii Hunter - looking at CF here, Hunter's also eligible at RF. Consistent if anything. Was also looking at Vernon Wells at this point.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): J. Axford(7-12), W. Rodriguez(7-14), C. Kimbrel(8-2)

(next 3 CF non-keeper picks): G. Sizemore(8-4), V. Wells (9-4), A. Torres (10-3)

8th-4: Grady Sizemore - too early, but need some upside on this team. He'll open up a roster spot when he goes on the disabled list.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): M. Napoli (8-5), JJ Putz(8-6), B. Abreu (8-7)

(next 3 CF non-keeper picks): . V. Wells(9-4), A. Torres(10-3), Pagan (11-3)

9th-11: Fernando Rodney - the closer run was winding down, had to make my move.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): JP Arencibia (9-12), D. Hudson (10-1), D. Storen (10-2)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): . D. Storen (10-2), R. Franklin (10-4), L. Nunez (10-10)

10th-4: Ryan Franklin - few remaining closers left

(next 3 non-keeper picks): JP Arencibia (9-12), D. Hudson (10-1), D. Storen (10-2)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): L. Nunez (10-10), B. Lyon(11-6), F. Francisco (11-11)

11th-11: Frank Francisco - pays to research and I did not. Francisco is off to see Dr. Andrews and will not be ready to start the season.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): J. Hanrahan (11-12), Carlos Lee(11-14), D. Aardsma (12-1)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): J. Hanrahan (11-12), D. Aardsma (12-1), B. League (12-3)

12th-4: E. Volquez - probably should be scared by the wildness, but I've always had good luck with guys on their 2nd year of TJ recovery.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): L. Gregerson(12-5), R. Nolasco(12-7), B. Myers(12-8)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks):R. Nolasco(12-7), B. Myers(12-8), C. Lewis (12-14)

13th-11: R. Ibanez - I was hoping A. Soriano or Manny Ramirez would have lasted this long,  but LF was picked apart by this point. Here's to a contract year.

(next 3 non-keepr picks): M. Minor(13-13), J. Vazquez(13-14), J. Motte (14-1)

(next 3 LF non-keeper picks): W. Venable (14-3), J. Kubel (14-10), A. Gordon (15-13)

14th-4: A. Harang - I'm counting on the the Petco bounce back year.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): R. Soriano(14-5), K. Farnsworth(14-6), J. De La Rosa(14-7)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks): J. De La Rosa(14-7), T. Cahill(14-12), J. Jurrjens(14-13)

15th-11: J. Shields - was hopefully a victim of bad BABIP luck last year.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): E. Jackson (15-12), A. Gordon(15-13), P. Polanco(15-14)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks): E. Jackson (15-12), J. Peavy(16-8), CJ Wilson (16-9)

16th-4: B. Hall - wanted 2B back-up so I can move Zobrilla around and like Hall's chances with the short porch in left, plus he's LF, CF, and RF eligible so at the very least a good guy to throw in there if a regular gets the day off. I was hoping for Howie Kendrick in one of the earlier rounds, but once he was taken(13-5), I held off and picked up pitchers. I was also considering O. Infante here.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): R. Madson(16-5), Y. Escobar (16-6), J. Peavy(16-8)

(next 3 2B non-keeper picks): O Infante (17-9), J. Uribe (17-10), D. Espinosa (21-6)

17th-11: K. Wood - wanted to fill out my relievers and the set-up men were starting to go. A bit surprised he lasted this long to be honest.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): D. Fowler(17-12), J. Lackey(17-13), J. Santana (17-14)

(next 3 2B non-keeper picks): M. Adams (19-2), J. Rauch (19-4), M. Wuertz (19-12)

18th-4: B. Hawpe - we get small points for assists and he's RF eligible, which can get him some garbage points. One of the first I'm sure to give up on waivers. I was hoping Lackey would last the 6 picks from here to my previous pick, but alas, it was not meant to be. Was deciding between him, Ordonez, JD Drew and Fukudome.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): G. Sanchez(18-5), J. Pierre(18-7), A. Cabrera (18-8)

(next 3 RF non-keeper picks): R. Doumit (18-10), M. Ordonez (18-13), K. Fukudome (19-11)

19th-11: K. Fukudome - Mr. April!!! Worked for me last year when I took him just for the first month...see if it works again.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): M. Wuertz(19-12), Chipper(19-13), H. Takahasi (19-14)

(next 3 RF non-keeper picks): D. Murphy (20-1), D. Brown (21-1), G. Jones (21-9)

20th-4: JJ Hardy - wanted a back-up shortstop and if healthy at least Hardy has some power

(next 3 non-keeper picks): S. Downs (20-5), AJ Burnett(20-6), Adam LaRoche(20-7)

(next 3 SSnon-keeper picks): Peralta (21-2), Theriot (21-7), A. Gonzalez (21-12)

21st-11: T. Clippard - one of the last set-up men left

(next 3 non-keeper picks): A. Gonzalez (21-12), J. Niese(21-13), J. Jaso (21-14)

(next 3 RP non-keeper picks): C. Hensley (22-1), A. Ogando (22-2), K. McLellan (22-6)

22nd-4: R. Wells - between him and Scott Baker and I went with my Cubs heart.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): J. Duchscherer(22-5), K. McLellan (22-6), A. Escobar (22-7)

(next 3 SP non-keeper picks): J. Duchscherer(22-5), B. Arroyo (22-14), JA Happ (23-1)

23rd-11: H. Matsui - left field back-up for now, first guy I'll dump most likely. Totally forgot about L. Morrison.

(next 3 non-keeper picks): H. Bailey (23-12), K. Jepsen (23-13), J. Contreras (23-14)

(next 3 LF non-keeper picks): L. Morrison (24-10), J. Rivera (25-12)

24th-4: J. Posada (K) - 24th round starter at catcher who will be DH'ing and playing most everyday.

25th-11: P. Alvarez (K) - take a utility spot for now and trade bait as I already have A-Rod.

UPDATE: I did trade A-Rod and Josh Johnson away for Evan Longoria and Matt Garza today. I had been eyeing Longoria for a long time as a perpetual keeper and generally hate myself when I have to root for Rodriguez. Not the wisest trade for this year, but such is the price of youth.

Overall I kind of hated my draft this year, but I've really liked it in year's past and that hasn't worked out any higher than 3rd place, so we shall see.

Final Roster with Trades:

Likely Starters: Posada, Pujols, Zobrist, Castro, Longoria, Ibanez, Hunter, Fukudome, Alvarez

Pitchers: Cliff Lee, M. Garza, A. Harang, E. Volquez, J. Shields, R. Wells, R. Franklin, F. Francisco, F. Rodney, K. Wood, T. Clippard

Bench: Sizemore (will take over CF with Hunter moving to RF most likely), B. Hall, JJ Hardy, B. Hawpe, H. Matsui