Mock Draft

I like drafting teams using Yahoo fantasy baseball, just to see who people like as players to grab.  Granted most don’t know allot or who even some of the young guys are to watch for.  I try too weed through most of that and come up with some interesting things that will help me in my real drafts I take part in were money is involved.

For those of you who have never used Yahoo Fantasy Baseball, it is a great place to play for free and have some fun.  You can choose Head To Head, Point or Rotisserie based leagues.  I have done about 14 draft thus far and plan too do a few more and this is what i have found interesting so far.

People are taking a chance earlier than I would have thought with the following players.

Eric Gagne, Joe Borowski, Jermey Hermida, Jim Edmonds, Gerald Laird, Rod Barajas, Troy Tulowitzki, Placido Palanco.

I can see most of that, but Palanco?  I have seen him drafted way ahead of even Howie Kendrick and that amazes me.  Even the average laymen who likes fantasy baseball should now about Kendrick.

Players I have seen fall way too far.

Ian Kinsler, Jose Lopez, Dustin Pedrioa (has yet to be drafted by anyone but me?) Conor Jackson, Chad Tracey, Nick Markakis, Ryan Zimmerman

Anyone who knows about Zimmerman can tell he should prove too be one of the top Thirdbaseman in the game.  Lets put it this way, his rookie year compairs to that of Albert Pujols on many levels.  Conor Jackson, yet another player who has only been drafted by me, usually as my backup Firstbaseman, but still is a solid number one when looking for average with pop potential.  Chad Tracey had the Sophmore slump, look for him to rebound this year.  I still don’t understand why he is not being drafted until some time after the 15th round is extreme.

There also is allot of debate for some reason that Alfonso Soriano is overrated and should not be a top 5 pick.  Who cares about fielding this guy has 30-30 stuff every year. If Pujols and Santana were gone I might pick Soriano at 3 then again Jose Reyes would be a nice pick as well.

My Top 10 In Order For Draft day:

Albert Pujols 1B Stl.

Johan Santana SP Min

Jose Reyes 2B Mets

Alfonso Soriano CHC

Ryan Howard 1B Phillie

Miguel Cabrera 3B Fla

David Ortiz DH Bos

Alex Rodriguez 3B NYY

Carlos Beltran OF Mets

Chase Utley 2B Phillie

Breakout Players NL

Here is a team by team look at the NL players too watch for.

Braves:  Chuck James while going 11-4 last year, after being in the bullpen and on the DL for a good part of the season.  James is a pitcher who could show number one starter stuff this season.  Given the nack of the Braves to get great pitchers in there system maybe this is not too far a stretch as a breakout player.  Kelly Johnson after 2006 was lost to Tommy John  surgery Johnson is back to start over again at a new position.  The good thing is he will be preasured to produce with a glut of good young second baseman on his heals in the minors.

Marlins: Taylor Tankersley should emerge as the closer out of spring training and be a steal and under the radar of most fantasy baseball leaguers.  Jeremy Hermida after his 2006 seaason was lost to injury Hermida should return to form and live up too the hype tost his way last year.

Mets: Moises Alou could have a decent rebound year as a bat for any format fantasy league.  I know he is too old for a breakout player, but for bats he is as close as your going to get with the Mets this year.  Joh n Maine the key player in the trade for Kris Benson should be the number three starter and produce some wins this season.

Phillies:  Rod Barajas should beat out Carlos Ruiz as the everyday catcher in Philly.  I have always been a firm believe that AL bats can do even better in the NL and Barajas who hit almost .260 with 15 homers should improve on that mark.  .280 with 25HR should not be out of reach for Barajas.  I am reluctant to put this guy on my breakout list, BUT! If he can stay healthy Cole Hamels has the arm, too bad his back is crooked and that is not a joke.  Hamels has an abnormal curve in his spine and is the reason he has so much trouble staying healthy.  If healthy Hamels is still one you should take a chance on.

Nationals: Kory Casto will be another in a line of players to come up with the Nationals over the next few years following Ryan Zimmerman of last season.  Casto is the real deal and even if not with the club out of spring, it will be hard not to get him to the majors as soon as they can.  Matt Chico who has not pitched above Double-A may break camp as the clubs number 4 or even 3 starter.  The key player in the Livan Hernandez deal last year, Chico struck out 125 in 152 innings spread between 3 levels in the minors last year.  This kid can pitch and could be ready NOW!

Cubs:  Rich Hill should break camp as the clubs number 4 or 5 starter and will continue what he started last season with the Cubbies.  I had this kid on my top 25 NL pitchers to watch out for last year.  He came ready to show everybody what I had been saying the last 2 years about this kid.  He is no ace but a solid number 3 starter for years to come.   I would have loved to talk about Felix Pie right here, but with the addition of Alfonso Soriano the time may never come in Chicago for Pie.

Reds: Homer Bailey may break camp as the number 5 starter this year instead of the popular pick of Elizardo Ramirez.  If so, Bailey could be ready to start the career we all will remember when we are old and grey and don’t even remember our kids names.  Bailey is a number one starter much the like sof Felix Hernandez with the Mariners. Todd Coffey should this year make his mark as the closer for the Reds.  He had his chances last year and shot himself in the foot more than once.  But we all know Dave Weathers is not what is needed there and Coffey has the stuff to do it.

Astros:  Is this Luke Scott’s year the answer should be yes.  This is a good time to do it with Carlos Lee taking the heat and allowing him to settle into his role in Right Field.  Matt Albers may not be in the rotation at the start of the year, but should be in it soon.  He is one fo the future key pieces for this club and should be there before you know it.

Brewers: Ryan Braun will emerge as the starter at Third by mid season and could be a valuable call up.  Francisco Cordero will make all the nay sayers go hide this year.  He will remaine as dominate as he did last year in the NL.

Pirates:  Jose Bautista will the main role player on the team this year able to play in the infield and outfield.  Bautista wiull get more than 400 AB’s and put up some really good numbers.  Tom Gorzelanny will start the season as the number 4 starter but should be the ace of the staff by years end.

Cardinals:  A veteran team, there are not allot of places to see someone having a breakout year that everybody does not already know about.  Chris Duncan should continue to improve and could be a nice cheap or late pick up in a draft. 

Diamondbacks:  With Chris Young CF, Carlos Quinten RF and Stephen Drew at SS take your pick and you will be happy with whatever one you get.  Keep an eye on Edgar Gonzalez he was a highly touted prospect who was rushed to the big leagues way too fast.  He is out of options and should be the clubs number 5 starter this year.  I like his stuff and he could prove he still has what it takes, I mean he is only 23 years old.

Rockies: Kaz Matsui could finally produce thanks to the Colorado’s thin air.  Don’t laugh stranger things have happened take a flier on him you should be pleasently suprised.  I hate pitchers in Colorado so stay away from them unless there a closer.  Troy Tulowitzki will be at SS everyday and will whoever drafts him be happy.  This is an All-Star in the maing and the kinda kid you build a team around.

Dodgers:  Andre Either, WHO? what about Matt Kemp?  Well Kemp who is a Centerfielder lost out with the sighning of Juan Pierre.  Ethier will be starting everyday in Right Field and could be a solid and cheap player too pick up.  Jonathan Broxton will be the closer in L.A. before years end this year.  The emergence of Takashi Saito just slowed it down a bit, don’t expect Saito to repeat what he did last year.

Padres:  Kevin Kouzmanoff will be the everyday starter at Third and will be a cheap or late pick you can be happy with.  Look for a .290 BA with 20+ homers from the player who was once considered washed up in high school for having a drinking problem.  This is a kid you can have your kids look upto and say know matter how bad you mess up you get a second chance.  Scott Linebrink could be the clsoer by years end, don’t be suprised when Trevor Hoffman is delt this year.

Giants:  Noah Lowry should bounce back from a rough 2006 and be the monster we all hoped for last year.  Tim Lincecum could start the year in the pen, but quickly be moved to the rotation, this is Matt Morris time to have an injury what it has been 2 years he is due.  If Barry Bonds ends up in jail the Giants have a youngster I like in Eddy Martinez-Esteve ready and able to take his spot, by atleast 08 for sure.

Breakout Players AL

Here is a team by team look at who will this years break out players…..

 Angels: Howie kendrick with a full year to play will have a year to remember in his sophmore season.  Jose Arredondo will come in late in the season and provide some great stats and a starter who can help a team for years to come.

Orioles:  Adam Loewen had his ups and downs last year, but look to his play against the Yankees last year massing himself a 2.63 ERA against one of the better lineps in teh league.  Daniel Cabrera after being humbled with his return to Triple-A last year he returned to the Orioles ready to fullfill the hype that surrounded him at the begining of last year.  Cabrera is primed for a solid season this year.

Red Sox: With a list of great young players were do we begin?  Well how about with an older guy, Joel Piniero seems to be the closer the Red Sox have wanted and it is a role Piniero could do very well at.  Dustin Pedroia the new starting second baseman for the Red Sox has the tools and now has the chance to be the player I have seen him be in the minors.

White Sox: Jerry Owens this base stealing machine has the tools to make the club out of Spring training, taking over for a dissapointing Brian Anderson.  Gio Gonzalez the much touted Starting Pitcher has his shot to make the club and help a fantasy pitching staff as well.

Indians: Josh Barfield moves from one fo the worst hitters parks in baseball to a lineup that helps him see the pitches he wants.  Adam Miller could make it out of Spring with a job, if not he will get the call fast if anyone gets hurt or struggles.

Tigers: Curtis granderson had a decent rookie year with 19HR and 6SB, look for him to improve of that this year, with if you can believe it a better lineup than he had last year around him.  Andrew Miller the 2005 draft pick could make the club out of Spring and be a solid 4 or 5 in his first season.  That should not be a suprise since he has number one stuff to work with.

Royals: Ryan Shealy with a set job and firmly entrenched at firstbase look for him to compile even better numbers this year.  Octavio Dotel has a closers job again, and after bouncing from team to team as a set up man he is ready to show all what he has said for yers, that he is a MLB closer.

Twins: Denard Span when Torii Hunter gets delt and he will.  The twins have a young gun waiting in the wings who is more than ready and able to take the job in the Outfield.  With Francisco Liriano out for the year Boof Bonser has some big shoes to fill.  He may not put up the same numbers as Liriano, but look for him to impress none the less.  Bonser is the real deal and if he can keep his control batters will look stunned like after watching a Liriano fastball going by them.

Yankees: Nothing to really spek of as the season begins mroe so when rsoter expand for the Yankees.  Philip Hughes will be a starter by years end and live up to the hype.  Humberto Sanchez will be put into position to be the closer of the future with Mariano Rivera most likely headed out at years end.

Athletics:  Dan Johnson will bounce back after a fustrating up and down season last year. 

Mariners: Felix Hernandez had a season that did not live up to all the hype.  this year will be his year the sad thing it wil be on a losing team.

Devil Rays: Johnny Gomes had a monster season started before his hsoulder cut the year short look for him to return on fire again this year.  Seth McClung will have the closer role handed to him, if he can keep his cool he could be a big suprise for fantasy owners this season.

Rangers:  Brandon McCarthy will be a full time starter this year and should live up to the hype that has surrounded him for the last few years.  Gerlad Laird with the catchers job his for this season look for Laird to have a break out year.

Blue Jays;  Adam Lind a full time job and a chance to show his talents the Blue jays and fantasy owners will both be happy. 

With Drafts Drawing Near

I thought I would take a quick look at some players names you need to know for the 2007 season,

Josh fields The WhiteSox converted this Thirdbaseman to the Outfield whe Joe Crede placed his feet solidly at that position.  Fields has a nice window opening up here to show what he can do with Scott Podsednik hurt for a good part of spring training.

Evan Longoria The 1st round draft pick in last years amature draft has a solid chance of making the club as the starting short stop.  This kid can hit and run the pads, If you can grab him do it you will be pleased for a long time with him in keeper leagues.

Cameron Maybin Still a year away from breaking into the big leagues this is a player who will make you think of Ken Griffey Jr. He is that good.  The Tigers also have a stud at SS who will make some fantasy owners wet there beds in expectation of when he makes the big leagues Tony Giarratano.

Tim Lincicum Could make the club out of spring to help the bullpen.  however his talents will thrust him into the rotation rather quickly, think of F. Liriano Twins of last year.  My worry is the arm trouble will go with it as well.

Scott Thorman Now has the job at firstbase for the Braves and if he holds to expectation wil lmake the Braves forget about Adam LaRoche fast.

Adam Miller Indians and Andrew Miller Tigers both should make an impact this year for there respective clubs.  After looking at everything I would say hands down the AL has the best batch of prospects on the rise.

Humberto Sanchez Yankees the key player in the deal that sent the Tigers Gary Sheffield, gave the Yankees there closer of the future.

Alberto Callapso  This kid sighned out of Venezuela 4 years ago he will make for a good util guy to help fill the wholes in your lineup as needed for the Diamondbacks.

Joe Koshansky, Todd Helton is the only thing stopping this kid from being in the Rockies heavy hitter.  Think Ryan Howard when you talk about Koshansky this kid is a omnster in the waiting.

Yovani Gallardo The 2006 Minor-League strikeout leader with 188.  When he gets the call from teh Brewers your talking about an instant ace in a big league club.  Think Mike Mussina when you talk about Gallardo.

Kory Casto With the departure of Alfonso Soriano, Costa has his chance to be on the Nationals roster and look for him to make an impact similar to that of Ryan Zimmerman last year.