The Hardball Times Fantasy Mock Draft Results
On Sunday, Jan. 16, 2011, 12 baseball analysts from around the web mock snake-drafted a fantasy baseball team on Mock Draft Central for a 25-player team, using the standard 5×5 categories and a 1500 IP limit.
Teams were constructed to resemble team rosters with three starting pitchers, two relief pitchers, four “generic” pitchers (starter or reliever), one of each of catcher, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, middle infielder and corner infielder, five outfielders and three bench players.
Who drafted who, where and why? We have broken down this 25-round draft into four parts—rounds 1-6, 7-12, 13-19, and 20-25—and in the following weeks, on Jan. 28, Feb. 4, Feb. 11, and Feb. 18, each of the participants in the draft, in attempt to answer this question and provide you with insight as fantasy baseball drafts begin to gear up for 2011, will give their insight into each of their picks.
Below is a list of who participated in the draft and their respective teams. The draft order was random. I have asked each participant to vote on the three teams that they believe were the best drafted and have assigned point values, based on the results of that vote, in parentheses next to each participant’s name.
First-place votes were worth three points, second-place votes were worth two points, and third-place votes were worth one point. By the author’s own votes system, the three “best” perceived draft teams belonged to Ben Pritchett (Big Ben), Dave Chenok, and me. Who do you think drafted the strongest teams? We welcome everyone to civilly weigh in with their thoughts in the comments section below.
You can access a chart of the entire draft, by round, by clicking here. Below is a simplified breakdown of each team by position. Yes, in hindsight, I do realize that I forgot to draft a corner infielder. Oops. I guess I will have to put out a mock waiver claim on Chase Headley or David Freese!
Though a few teams got virtually no love (votes) from the other drafters, I usually take that as a sign of one’s prized assets flying under the radar on draft day rather than that of a bad draft…at least assuming you didn’t draft Yuniesky Bentacourt.
Remember, drafting is only 40 percent of the game. The other 60 percent is monitoring the waiver wire over the course of the season (for which Josh Shepardson and I will have you covered with analysis, weekly!)!
Draft Position No. 1: Vincent Carmela of The Hardball Times
Vote Points: 1 (11th)
Position Player Team C Geovany Soto Cubs 1B Paul Konerko White Sox 2B Rickie Weeks Brewers SS Hanley Ramirez Marlins 3B Casey McGehee Brewers MI Reid Brignac Rays CI Ike Davis Mets OF1 Shin-Soo Choo Indians OF2 Corey Hart Brewers OF3 Vernon Wells Blue Jays OF4 Nick Swisher Yankees OF5 Peter Bourjos Angels UTIL Dustin Ackley Mariners SP1 Yovani Gallardo Brewers SP2 David Price Rays SP3 Clay Buchholz Red Sox RP Joe Nathan Twins RP Kyle Farnsworth Rays P Matt Garza Cubs P John Lackey Red Sox P Ervin Santana Angels P Derek Holland Rangers BN John Buck Marlins BN Aaron Harang Padres BN Daniel Bard Red Sox
Draft Position No, 2: Josh Shepardson of The Hardball Times
Vote Points: 9 (4th)
Position Player Team C Carlos Santana Indians 1B Albert Pujols Cardinals 2B Ian Kinsler Rangers SS Alexei Ramirez White Sox 3B Alex Gordon Royals MI Eric Young Jr. Rockies CI Kevin Youkilis Red Sox OF1 Jay Bruce Reds OF2 Drew Stubbs Reds OF3 Delmon Young Twins OF4 Carlos Beltran Mets OF5 Magglio Ordonez Tigers UTIL David Ortiz Red Sox SP1 Cole Hamels Phillies SP2 Chad Billingsley Dodgers SP3 Ryan Dempster Cubs RP Joel Hanrahan Pirates RP Craig Kimbrel Braves P Jeremy Hellickson Rays P Jordan Zimmermann Nationals P Aroldis Chapman Reds P Joel Peralta Rays BN Kila Ka'aihue Royals BN Marc Rzepcynski Blue Jays BN Matt LaPorta Indians
Draft Position No. 3: Ray Flores of Fantasy Baseball Cafe
Vote Points: 7 (5th)
Position Player Team C Matt Wieters Orioles 1B Miguel Cabrera Tigers 2B Martin Prado Braves SS Starlin Castro Cubs 3B Ian Stewart Rockies MI Alex Gonzalez Braves CI Prince Fielder Brewers OF1 Matt Kemp Dodgers OF2 B.J. Upton Rays OF3 Carlos Quentin White Sox OF4 Andres Torres Giants OF5 Jason Kubel Twins UTIL Billy Butler Royals SP1 Ubaldo Jimenez Rockies SP2 Cliff Lee Phillies SP3 Roy Oswalt Phillies RP Jose Valverde Tigers RP Jonathan Broxton Dodgers P Johan Santana Mets P Javier Vazquez Marlins P Scott Baker Twins P Marco Scutaro Red Sox BN Raul Ibanez Phillies BN Johnny Damon FA BN Jose Lopez Rockies
Draft Position No. 4: Adam Kaplan of Game Of Inches
Vote Points: 6 (6th)
Position Player Team C Mike Napoli Angels 1B Mark Reynolds Orioles 2B Dustin Pedroia Red Sox SS Asdrubal Cabrera Indians 3B Evan Longoria Rays MI Kelly Johnson Diamondbacks CI Michael Young Rangers OF1 Alex Rios White Sox OF2 Jason Heyword Braves OF3 Ben Zobrist Rays OF4 Logan Morrison Marlins OF5 Franklin Gutierrez Mariners UTIL Scott Rolen Reds SP1 Roy Halladay Phillies SP2 Chris Carpenter Cardinals SP3 Ricky Romero Blue Jays RP J.J. Putz Diamondbacks RP Fernando Rodney Angels P Brandon Lyon Astros P Gavin Floyd White Sox P Kevin Slowey Twins P A.J. Burnett Yankees BN Jesus Montero Yankees BN Coco Crisp A's BN James Loney Dodgers
Draft Position No. 5: Dave Chenok, the winner of The Hardball Times “Compete Against The Experts” fantasy league competition
Vote Points: 10 (T-2nd)
Position Player Team C Jorge Posada Yankees 1B Adam Dunn White Sox 2B Chone Figgins Seattle SS Troy Tulowitzki Rockies 3B Ryan Zimmerman Nationals MI Jose Reyes Mets CI Chipper Jones Braves OF1 Justin Upton Diamondbacks OF2 Carlos Lee Astros OF3 Nick Markakis Orioles OF4 Bobby Abreu Angels OF5 Austin Jackson Tigers UTIL Vlad Guerrero Rangers SP1 Adam Wainwright Cardinals SP2 Francisco Liriano Twins SP3 CJ Wilson Rangers RP Jonathan Pappelbon Red Sox RP Francisco Rodriguez Mets P Jonathan Axford Brewers P Brad Lidge Phillies P Jair Jurjens Braves P Edison Volquez Reds BN Lance Berkman Cardinals BN Freddie Freeman Braves BN Clayton Richard Padres
Draft Position No. 6: Zach Sanders of RotoHardball and Fangraphs
Vote Points: 4 (T-8th)
Position Player Team C Brian McCann Braves 1B Aubrey Huff Giants 2B Robinson Cano Yankees SS Ian Desmond Nationals 3B Michael Cuddyer Twins MI Neil Walker Pirates CI Derrek Lee Orioles OF1 Matt Holliday Cardinals OF2 Hunter Pence Astros OF3 Juan Pierre White Sox OF4 Jose Tabata Pirates OF5 Rajai Davis Blue Jays UTIL Mitch Moreland Rangers SP1 Jon Lester Red Sox SP2 Mat Latos Padres SP3 Shaun Marcum Brewers RP Brian Wilson Giants RP Heath Bell Padres P Brandon Morrow Blue Jays P Ted Lilly Dodgers P Ryan Madson Phillies P Luke Gregerson Padres BN Brian Fuentes Athletics BN Johnny Cueto Reds BN Kyle Drabek Blue Jays
Draft Position No. 7: Ben Pritchett of The Hardball Times
Votes Points: 12 (1st)
Position Player Team C Joe Mauer Twins 1B Joey Votto Reds 2B Howie Kendrick Angels SS Stephen Drew Diamondbacks 3B Jose Bautista Blue Jays MI Juan Uribe Dodgers CI Adam Lind Blue Jays OF1 Andre Ethier Dodgers OF2 Jayson Werth Nationals OF3 Michael Bourn Astros OF4 Adam Jones Orioles OF5 Alfonso Soriano Cubs UTIL Hideki Matsui Athletics SP1 Tim Lincecum Giants SP2 Zack Greinke Brewers SP3 Jered Weaver Angels RP Carlos Marmol Cubs RP Francisco Cordero Reds P John Danks White Sox P Ian Kennedy Diamondbacks P Brian Matusz Orioles P Kevin Gregg Orioles BN Chris Sale White Sox BN Edwin Jackson White Sox BN Kurt Suzuki Athletics
Draft Position No. 8: Brett Greenfield of Fantasy Phenoms
Vote Points: 4 (T-8th)
Position Player Team C Buster Posey Giants 1B Justin Morneau Twins 2B Brian Roberts Orioles SS Rafael Furcal Dodgers 3B David Wright Mets MI Yunel Escobar Blue Jays CI Kendry Morales Angels OF1 Carl Crawford Red Sox OF2 Jacoby Ellsbury Red Sox OF3 Colby Rasmus Cardinals OF4 Shane Victorino Phillies OF5 Will Venable Padres UTIL Luke Scott Orioles SP1 Tommy Hanson Braves SP2 Trevor Cahill Athletics SP3 Madison Bumgardner Giants RP Chris Perez Indians RP Evan Meek Pirates P Frank Francisco Rangers P Jhoulys Chacin Rockies P Tim Hudson Braves P Brett Myers Astros BN Homer Bailey Reds BN Mike Minor Braves BN Rick Porcello Tigers
Draft Position No. 9: Jeffrey Gross of The Hardball Times and Game Of Inches
Vote Points: 10 (T-2nd)
Position Player Team C Russell Martin Yankees 1B Carlos Pena Cubs 2B Chase Utley Phillies SS Derek Jeter Yankees 3B Pablo Sandoval Giants MI Danny Espinosa Nationals CI NONE (Oops…) N/A OF1 Ryan Braun Brewers OF2 Nelson Cruz Rangers OF3 Mike Stanton Marlins OF4 Desmond Jennings Rays OF5 Angel Pagan Mets UTIL Manny Ramirez FA (Rays?) SP1 Josh Johnson Marlins SP2 Dan Haren Angels SP3 Max Scherzer Tigers RP Drew Storen Nationals RP Matt Thornton Tigers P Koji Uehara Orioles P Colby Lewis Rangers P Ricky Nolasco Marlins P Travis Wood Reds BN Brandon League Mariners BN Joba Chamberlain Yankees BN Takashi Saito Brewers BN Ryan Raburn Tigers
Draft Position No. 10: Tim Heaney of KFFL.com
Vote Points: 2 (10th)
Position Player Team C Chris Iannetta Rockies 1B Adrian Gonzalez Red Sox 2B Dan Uggla Braves SS Jimmy Rollins Phillies 3B Alex Rodriguez Yankees MI Gordon Beckham White Sox CI Pedro Alvarez Pirates OF1 Andrew McCutchen Pirates OF2 Chris B. Young Diamondbacks OF3 Denard Span Twins OF4 Jason Bay Mets OF5 Dexter Fowler Rockies UTIL Julio Borbon Rangers SP1 Justin Verlander Tigers SP2 Wandy Rodriguez Astros SP3 Josh Beckett Red Sox RP Joakim Soria Royals RP Huston Street Rockies P Gio Gonzalez Athletics P Jorge De La Rosa Rockies P Ryan Franklin Cardinals P Matt Capps Twins BN Bud Norris Astros BN Gaby Sanchez Marlins BN J.J. Hardy Orioles
Draft Position No. 11: Paul Singman of The Hardball Times
Vote Points: 5 (7th)
Position Player Team C Victor Martinez Tigers 1B Mark Teixeira Yankees 2B Aaron Hill Blue Jays SS Alcides Escobar Royals 3B Adrian Beltre Rangers MI Tsuyoshi Nishioka Twins CI Sean Rodriguez Rays OF1 Carlos Gonzalez Rockies OF2 Ichiro Suzuki Mariners OF3 Grady Sizemore Indians OF4 Brett Gardner Yankees OF5 Travis Snider Blue Jays UTIL Domonic Brown Phillies SP1 CC Sabathia Yankees SP2 Brett Anderson A's SP3 Dan Hudson D'backs RP Mariano Rivera Yankees RP Neftali Feliz Rangers P Jonny Venters Braves P Octavio Dotel Blue Jays P Rafael Soriano Yankees P Hiroki Kuroda Dodgers BN David DeJesus A's BN Jed Lowire Red Sox BN Cliff Pennington A's
Draft Position No. 12: Lane Rizzardini of Bruno Boys
Vote Points: 0 (12th)
Position Player Team C Miguel Montero Diamondbacks 1B Ryan Howard Phillies 2B Brandon Phillips Reds SS Elvis Andrus Rangers 3B Aramis Ramirez Cubs MI Mike Aviles Royals CI Adam LaRoche Nationals OF1 Josh Hamilton Rangers OF2 Curtis Granderson Yankees OF3 Torii Hunter Angels OF4 Tyler Colvin Cubs OF5 Ryan Ludwick Padres UTIL Omar Infante Marlins SP1 Felix Hernandez Mariners SP2 Clayton Kershaw Dodgers SP3 Matt Cain Giants RP Andrew Bailey Athletics RP David Aardsma Mariners P Jonathan Sanchez Giants P James Shields Rays P Phil Hughes Yankees P Jaime Garcia Cardinals BN Placido Polanco Phillies BN Nyger Morgan Nationals BN Miguel Tejada Giants
A great big thank you to Mock Draft Central for hosting the draft and to everyone who participated.
@Sal- I was praying that Braun would fall to me in the second round. That was unbelievable especially considering I think I’ve already dubbed him the NL MVP for this upcoming season.
As my analysis of the first round will note, I was tickled pink to get Braun in the second round. I have him ranked the #1 overall OF for 2011
Makes me feel bad for taking Ryan Braun 8th in the draft I just did yesterday, but then I don’t really feel I’m wrong for doing so. His numbers were a bit deflated due to injury yet he was still a dominant player.
@Samuel Lingle- Don’t feel bad. If you like him, eighth is definitely not too early. I also think this may be one of the few player Jeffrey Gross and I agree on. So he’s going to be huge this year.
Yeah, just cause I feel amazing doesn’t mean you shouldn’t feel good
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Is the analysis part of this going to include some round by round commentary?
Yes, check back each week for the next 4 weeks
Looking forward to feedback folks, and remember, as Jeffrey noted, we’ll be offering analysis in the coming weeks regards to our selections and the thought process behind them, so check back!
Any reason you guys didn’t make it an auction draft?
Interesting draft.
3 1B with your first 8 picks or 2 SS with your first 3 picks sticks out.
Ryan Braun in the second round and A-Rod before Zimmerman, eh?
@Will,
Because no auction mock services are available. The fine people at MDC were generous enough to set us up with a free draft service with full control over outcome (e.g., we can undo draft errors like I didnt mean to draft him oops help), so we went with them. We’ll do a mock auction sometime in a month or so.
Try CBS Sports for mock auctions
http://mockdraft.1.baseball.cbssports.com/mockdraft/auction
Derek Holland?
Chase Headley undrafted?
Adam Dunn so far down?
Choo ahead of Kemp and Cruz (and J Upton)?
@Brian,
Thanks for the link. Now I’ll never get any law work done
@Nicholl,
Justifications will be revealed in the near future (as noted above, we’re breaking the draft analysis into 4 parts). As for Headley, I’d “mock waiver wire” picked him up bc I did not draft a CI
“I think Dave’s team has too many risks and old guys for my taste”
This coming from the guy who’ll start Martin, Pena, Utley, Jeter, Fat Panda, Espinosa, Stanton, Jennings, Pagan, and Manny? Your whole team is old guys and question marks!
Strangely, I will admit that none of your picks are really suspect considering the players available and who was taken around them. Perhaps 11th is just a crappy slot?
Utley and Braun are a great 1-2 punch, but Cruz, while a good player, isn’t quite on the same level of value as the player taken right before him (Reyes, McCann, Timmy, Morneau).
You then had to take Jeter as the last of the quality SS after Rollins went and it was a long way back to you, but I think players like Posey, Santana, Rios, Lester, Ubby, and especially J. Upton are of better value.
You then took JJ right after Lee, Wainwright, and Latos went off the board, and then Haren on the turn. While they’re both good pitchers, I don’t see them as quite in the league of the previous three, and I don’t think there’s much separation from them to the guys who went after them (Greinke, Carpenter, Hamels, Price, Liriano, Hanson).
You miss out on those guys, plus Werth and Brian Wilson, and take Stanton, which I suppose you have to if you want him, especially considering Alvarez went the next pick. I’m curious if you thought RP after Soria went? Considering the questions at closer this year, and that Marmol didn’t go until the 10th, it seems like the right call to pass there.
I like Scherzer, but you went MI with your early picks, so I’m surprised you passed on Drew, Cabrera, and B-Rob there. And you still didn’t have any CIs with Reynolds, Butler, and McGehee free. I guess that explains the Panda pick, not bad for the 9th, but talk about risk/reward.
I dunno about Dez Jennings when Markakis, Victorino, and Hart are still out there, but that’s more personal preference, I think.
Like I said, a pretty good draft strategy and no questionable selections, but I just don’t care that much for the end result. If MANY things break your way, you’ll have a good team, but I don’t see you getting that lucky!
First trade: Cabrera for Longoria?
I think Dave has the best team, even if he did accidentally use his 2007 closer cheatsheet. I also would have preferred anyone over Carlos Lee. Curious why you passed over Roberts and Beckham while you still needed a 2B there?
Vince, you got some ‘splaining to do: HanRam over Pujols can be debated, but Weeks over Kinsler and Pedroia? Gallardo over Wainwright, Lee, Latos, JJ, etc? Curiouser and curiouser…
@Baltimoron-Thanks for the love!
As you’ll see when we release our draft commentary, I actually agree that my team is older than I’d like it to be. Some of that happened by accident (as you will see in my posts to be), but some was by design. There is always a tradeoff between going with the reliable-but-aging option versus the talented-but-never-done-it-before option, and I generally try to include a mix.
With specific respect to Carlos Lee: I disagree. I see Carlos Lee as being a lot like Paul Konerko 2 years ago—everyone assumed he was done, and look want happened. I like Lee to have one last good bounceback year, and I also like his dual eligibility at OF and CI.
And I seriously considered Roberts at the Lee pick, but worry about his health. I’d rather have Lee and Figgins than the “who knows” Beckham.
For the record, I drafted CHIPPER, not Adam Jones, as my first bench pick. I figure I’ll get about 12 useful weeks out of him, but those 12 weeks will be worth it. My next pick, Freddie Freeman, was designed as a sort of strategic handcuff.
No love for my team, Baltimoron? Hahaha. I think Dave’s team has too many risks and old guys for my taste (Abreu, Adam Jones, Carlos Lee, Chone Figgins, Austin Jackson, Jair Jujjens, Edinson Volquez, CJ Wilson, Clayton Richard)
Hey, Dave, I calls ‘em how I sees ‘em. I think there’s a difference between Lee in the 9th round and Abreu in the 16th. Sometimes it’s better to take the vet no one’s excited about than reach for an unproven guy, but it all comes down to value, right? I think your top 7 players are clearly the best core, and I love so many other of your value picks later (I started to cite players I liked, then realized I was just listing your entire draft-kudos!). I’m really high on Figgins and Volquez, and I like Posada as an option if you forgo the top 5 catchers early. Can’t wait to read everyone’s breakdowns in detail, but I’m wondering how you felt things went for you? Pleasantly surprised? Any heartbreak misses or desperation picks?
@Baltimoron,
I was just kidding a little. I just like to take younger risks than older ones. Youth tends to correlate better with upside and not spending time on the DL. I feel like Kung Fu Panda is going to be my Ryan Zimmerman of this year. I remember when I got Zpack in the 9th or 10th in 2009 and people thought I was stupid for taking him. Even I didn’t particularly WANT to draft him (I had Beltre, after all, sigh), but recognized all the upside. Boom or bust, I think I’m going to get Panda cheap
I* like a lot of Dave’s players but some like Carlos Lee add negative value in my eyes…even if I did rank him as a top 60 outfielder….
I’d breakdown my thoughts further, but all that effort belongs in the break down analysis
Like Jeff, I don’t want to give away what will be in the breakdown analysis, but I will admit that when I looked at my team at the end I felt pretty good about both my early and the late round picks. To me late round gambles like Chipper Jones and Freddie Freeman are one way you win—you can always find a waiver wire replacement if they don’t work out, but if they do it gives you that added oomph.