2012 Blog Wars Fantasy Baseball Draft Recap

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By Jordan Hall
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The world runs on flash and sizzle. Fantasy baseball has never been the exception to that rule. In a sport based on consistency and reliability, hype more often then sensibility, runs drafts.
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In my first expert draft experience, I went in looking to get the most bang for my buck with each selection. A deep league, 15 teams with two catcher spots, the Blog Wars rumble figured to test each of our limits and it didn’t disappoint. However, time after time, I found myself going for old reliable instead of glitz or glamour.
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Given the success of last year’s Lester’s Legends squad, I was given the last pick in the first round, which was accompanied by the turn.
As the first round progressed, pitchers dropped heavily. I was worried that I was going to be stuck with Verlander and Halladay as my best options but by the time I was up Hanley Ramirez and Ian Kinsler were left on the board.
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Despite the fact that Ramirez had an absolutely abysmal season last year, I am banking on a rejuvenation this year playing for Ozzie Guillen and with Jose Reyes. I expect the Marlins to have a potent offense this year, with Hanley right in the middle of it.
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I was able to get my first sleeper of the draft with Kinsler in the second round. Always a threat to get to 30-30, he is entering this year completely healthy for the first time in ages. The Rangers will be great and Kinsler could lead the AL in runs scored.
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My next breakout candidate, Jay Bruce got sniped from me at 27. I wasn’t happy but there was no chance of him falling to me at the bottom of the third. From there I got proven run producers Mike Napoli and Nelson Cruz. I’m definitely buying the Rangers offense this year, can you tell?
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In rounds 5 and 8 I let myself get sucked in to the high upsides of Matt Moore and Jordan Zimmermann. I decided to let my pitching go a little bit after a run on pitching in the 4th round but when Matt Moore was sitting there I couldn’t help but to pounce. Moore very well may lead the league in strikeouts someday. While I have no delusions that this is the year, there is no reason he can’t deliver 16 wins and around 200 strikeouts. If he can do that for me, I will definitely be pleased.
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Zimmerman is one of my major sleepers this season. He’s overshadowed in DC by Strasburg and Bryce Harper but he very well may be the most valuable National. He’s got a big arm and can miss bats with ease.
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I snagged David Ortiz at 105. He’s not sexy but he’s almost a lock for 30 homers and 100 RBI’s. There aren’t a ton of players out there like that.
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By rounds 13 and 14 I was looking to fill my outfield with reliable, under the radar guys. At this point I’m looking not for guys who will help me win the league, but rather not lose it. To my good fortune Angel Pagan and Ryan Raburn were sitting there waiting for me. These are two guys I absolutely love. Pagan will be leading off for the Giants. He’s got great wheels, a decent average, and plus pop potential.
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Raburn on the other hand is my favorite pick of the draft. He’s a masher ready to explode, though I will most frequently use him at second base. He’s had a spring to remember and has teetered on the brink of a breakout for a couple years. With regular at-bats and the Tigers lineup around him, 30 home runs and 100 RBI’s aren’t out of the question.
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From this point, I really just started to target guys to fill specific needs on my team. Value more or less went out the window. I was able to get Jed Lowrie who I absolutely love this season. A much ballyhooed prospect coming up the system with Boston that never panned out, he’s been given new life in Houston. There will be no threat to his playing time and I really expect his power to develop.
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David Murphy fell to me with my next pick. With Hamilton manning center most days, I expect between 400 and 500 at bats for Murphy. He’s a bit of a stat sheet stuffer as he does a little bit of everything. He should provide double digit home runs and steals.
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At 315 I got the steal of the draft in Henderson Alvarez. While the experts think he has limited strikeout potential, I strongly disagree. He has great velocity, sitting around 94 and a sharp slider that breaks not only away from righties but down as well. Couple that with a plus change up and I think he will be missing plenty of bats. He will have to face the Yankees and the Sox plenty but he has the electric arm to keep the potent Jays lineup in the game. This guy is a stud.
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I was able to get Ty Wiggington for his versatility. He figures to start everyday at first for the Phillies until Ryan Howard gets back and is a proven run producer when he gets playing time. I grabbed Angel Pagan clone Andres Torres in hopes of replicating the magic from a couple years ago.
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At this point, everybody is a lottery ticket. Eduardo Nunez was my last starter taken. While he gets no love, Nunez is going to play a lot this year. Jeter and A-Rod will be taking plenty of siestas during the dog days of summer this season. When they are out, Nunez will be in and he will be running. I would be surprised if he didn’t give me 25 stolen bases.
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I decided to use two of my bench spots as holding spots for two potential breakout rookies. Trevor Bauer has the potential to take over the 5th starter spot in the desert at any moment. He has the best stuff in the organization, he just needs a chance. When he comes up he will dominate. It’s only a matter of time.
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Mike Trout was my other rookie choice. I love how multidimensional he is. If he comes up he could easily slide into my outfield equation.
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While my team garnered no applause or made anybody jealous, it has great potential. While having the most popular or sexy name on your team is fun, winning is even more fun.
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I will keep you posted on my progress and you can check out the entire story with this link to the league office http://games.espn.go.com/flb/leagueoffice? leagueId=121660.
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Feel free to drop me a line with comments at www.twitter.com/lefthandsmoke23




Looking for a possible power option late in your draft? I’m sure that’s a situation many of us are going to find ourselves in. I know from experience, sitting there at the tail end of my draft just trying to find a name who can provide some power after I didn’t quite get enough in the early rounds. Well, here are 5 names that are likely to be had after the 18th round who have the potential to significantly help your team in power:








