What's in a Strategy?

There are so many strategies that can take place during a fantasy baseball draft. Do you draft knowing that there are only 3 "studs" at shortstop? Or do you wait on starting pitchers til the end of the draft hoping you find a few diamonds in the rough? Or perhaps not draft any closers until your last rounds, like all the experts tell you to do with kickers in football? Well I will leave you all with another thought, how bout you take the best player available all the time.

If you are given enough knowledge about your league, you can draft the best player available in every round and end up with a superior team. Why is Dustin Pedroia drafted in the mid-2nd round? People believe the need is for a strong 2nd baseman and shortstop, the "weaker" spots in fantasy. I'm going to lead you all in another direction.

Don't reach for players if you decide to "tier it up." Just because Jose Reyes is the last shortstop in your top tier does not mean that you should fret and go after Jimmy Rollins early because you missed out on Reyes. I'm providing you some options at each position that you can rely on with your last few picks so that you have the availibility to draft the best player available.

Catchers:

Don't worry if you don't get Joe Mauer. He's completely replaceable. Go after A.J. Pierzynski 18 rounds later and get a perennial .290 hitter with power numbers even slightly better than Mauer's.

Others: Kelly Shoppach, Cleveland; Chris Snyder, Arizona.

1st Basemen:

When looking at getting players late, you must realize there will be deficiencies. At the first baseman position, it will typically be big power numbers with little else (.250 batting average).
If you miss out on elite options, go after .300 hitters like Conor Jackson, James Loney, Carlos Guillen or Casey Kotchman. If it is power you need, look towards Mike Jacobs, Jason Giambi, or Paul Konerko to provide 30 home run power late in the draft.

2nd Basemen:

While people believe this is an extremely thin position, there are options here. Players like Mark DeRosa, Kelly Johnson, and Mike Aviles can provide valuable depth at a position thought of to be shallow. Unless I'm grabbing Kinsler or Utley, I'm waiting. The difference between Dustin Pedroia and Mike Aviles is not as vast as you may believe.

Shortstops:

Let's be honest, Ramirez and Reyes are on a planet of their own with shortstops. If Rollins can get back to 2007, he will be joining their ranks. But after those guys, you can afford to wait. Players like Yunel Escobar, Ryan Theriot, and don't scoff, but Edgar Renteria, can be of valuable service at the end of the draft. Even though Renteria has lost a step, it is no surprise that he is a much better player in the NL.

3rd Basemen:

Very similar in terms of gettin production late in the draft, you will have to focus on the weaknesses of your team. 20-25 HR potential players include: Joe Crede, Jorge Cantu, Edwin Encarnacion, and a possibly healthy Troy Glaus. If you're looking for steals, it is best to look elsewhere from these bashers.

Outfielders:

Don't count out forgotten players like Eric Byrnes, Hideki Matsui and Jeff Francouer. If given an opportunity, all three of these guys could shine like they used to in fantasy leagues all around. There are so many talented outfielders that many get lost in the mix, don't forget that each of these guys have ceilings higher than many ranked ahead of them.

Starting Pitchers:

I know I've mentioned starting pitchers to target late in drafts in a previous post. Reports out of A's camp say that Trevor Cahill might capture the 5th spot in that rotation. If that is the case, this talented stud could be on the fast track to fantasy magazines. Keep track of him throughout Spring Training. Ubaldo Jimenez had an amazing WBC, and can definitely be relevant in fantasy talks.

Any pitchers worth drafting late are probably also worth picking up in the first few weeks of the season. Don't put too much into pitchers doing great or struggling in Spring Training. Keep early tabs on starters through their first round or two of the season and pick them up accordingly.

It is important to notice that you don't have to reach for catchers early if a run starts on them. You should be the person dictating the pace of your draft, not somebody else. Don't reach for players unless they are a must-have for your roster. There are comparable players at every position, you just need to stay ahead of the curve. Don't be afraid to take a risk, because it is known that there are valuable commodities on your waiver wire at every turn. How many people drafted Ryan Ludwick last season?

Until next time,
Peace, Love, and Fantasy

Pick 'Em

McCann vs. Martin vs. Mauer:  Options of this sort come down to extreme preference.  Questions like these are the exact reason why I'm going to focus on the much tougher decisions in fantasy baseball: Who should be your last few picks in a draft?  McCann has the best power potential, Martin has the best stolen base number, and Mauer has the best batting average.  Depending on which you like and what you need will be how you make your decisions.  My pick is McCann because of his 3-4 category production, but nonetheless let's focus on the task at hand.

Catchers

Chris Iannetta vs. Ryan Doumit:  The differences between the two are power and average.  Iannetta is superior in the home run category while Doumit has the upper hand in average.  My thought is, in the bandbox that Iannetta plays in, he will trump Doumit in 3 out of the 5 categories, and is enough to give him the boost ahead of Doumit.  The 15 or 20 points in average that Doumit gives you will typically not make or break you, especially in a Rotisserie league.

1st Basemen

Conor Jackson vs. James Loney:  Besides the fact that Jackson also plays the OF position, I think that Jackson will have a far greater year in production.  These guys are typically ranked around the same, but I think Jackson has the better upside of the two picks.  It's not to say that I dislike Loney, but these NL West foes are both young up-and-comers at their respective positions.  As of today, I take Jackson about a round ahead of where Loney is going.

Shortstops

J.J. Hardy vs. Michael Young vs. Jhonny Peralta vs. Miguel Tejada:  Around fantasy circles Michael Young is always the first pick out of these guys, but why?  He does everything well and nothing spectacular.  Why not make your life easier as a fantasy manager and draft a guy who has the potential to hit 30 jacks in a given season?  J.J. Hardy is my pick out of these four to have the best fantasy season, with a very young and solid lineup, expect his numbers to be around .280 with 30 jacks and 85 RBI.  Rank:  Hardy, Peralta, Young, Tejada.  Unless you know you will be deficient in batting average (see: Dunn, Adam; Reynolds, Mark; Young, Chris B.), Young is probably not the best pick out of these four shortstops; although he will give you your best shot at a .300 average and 200 hits.

Outfielders

Torii Hunter vs. Raul Ibanez:  Why do people have the obsession with believing Torii Hunter is a fantasy stud?  In actuality, this is a player I don't want to touch with a 10-foot pole.  Unless robbing Barry Bonds in an All-Star game is one of your categories, Raul Ibanez is better at 4 of 5 categories.  While he may not be very flashy (or flashy at all), he is the definition of consistency, and falls into a perfect situation with a great lineup surrounding him and a great park to hit in.  You can find those 12 stolen bases that Hunter will beat Ibanez in somewhere else, just draft Martin over Mauer.  But with your pick if you're deciding between the two, take the former Royal and Mariner.

I hope this will answer a few of your most important questions relating to the wide world of fantasy baseball.

Until next time,

Peace, Love, and Fantasy