All-Star Draft Value Review (Part 2 of 3)

Part 2 of 3 Draft Value Review

# 6 – Slump Chump (-230 Average Player Value)

Slump came in 2nd with 9 value picks, but 2 other numbers show why he sits here in 6th place: 10 non-value picks over 100, and ZERO value picks over 100 (the only team to pull off the goose egg). Damon was close at 98, but Blog doesn’t think Damon will be at 98 come September. Blog also has no idea how Chris Ray, despite not playing one game this year, can be ranked 478 by Yahoo. No clue. Blog still loves the Dave Weathers pick as well. You can never have enough set up guys who don’t strike people out (Rheal Cormier anyone?) If you can grab one in the 12th round, instead of say, Youkilis, Kerry Wood or Rich Harden, you have to pull that trigger. Slump may have taken some ribbing on draft night for grabbing Sox kids Ellsbury (16) and Pedroia (84) so early, but both have panned out as very nice value picks. Pedroia’s been one of fantasy’s big surprises, proved by his 37 overall ranking. Not bad at all for an 8th rounder.

#5 Swine Nine (-223 Average Player Value)

One number sticks out for Swine above all others: 4.76%. That’s what happens when you have 1 player that you drafted left on your roster. Super Impressive. Swine has shipped out 11 players via trade though, so he must have acquired some value in the draft. In fact the reason for Swine being kept out of the top 3 can be blamed on 2 players. They just happen to be the worst and 3rd worst value picks of the draft: Andruw Jones (-1106) and Josh Fields (-1024). Jones seemed like a good value pick at the time. Potential 40 homerun power in the 10th round? Sure! No one, especially not the Dodgers, foresaw Jones putting together the worst hitting season in the history of baseball. Blog understands Jones’s ranking. He stinks. He hurts your team just by being in the lineup. You might as well leave that spot open. However, Blog just doesn’t get Josh Fields’ ranking. How can Josh Fields be 1200, but Chris Ray is only 478?? Blog hates randomness, and this seems incredibly arbitrary. Boo Yahoo. Blog does have to point out Nate McLouth’s 214 value. That’s #2 overall. He and Quentin are the only picks with 200+ value. Blog highly recommends getting the 11th ranked player in the 18th round. McLouth, of course, was eventually traded.

#4 Snot on the Ball (-221 Average Player Value)

The current #1 seeded team started out with 7 pretty elite players before a pick was made, which explains why he can still be #1 with such an average draft. Of course, finding a first half MVP candidate in the 11th round never hurts either. Josh Hamilton has driven in more than a run per game so far, and appears to be the most gifted ball player since that kid Griffey showed up 18ish years ago. If Hamilton can stay healthy (still a valid question mark), he probably won’t be drafted for several years, as he’ll find his name on the pre-season keeper list somewhere. For a first place team though, there are some really painful numbers here. Injuries have derailed two pitchers in Young (-605) and Gallardo (-384). Saito’s injury now will also drive his number down. All things being equal, Snot had only one player with positive value in the first 10 rounds! Things turned right around in the 11th though, as Snot put together 3 great value picks in Hamilton (153), Gregg (82) and Rich Harden (116). Blog would certainly be amiss if Snot’s 15th round pick wasn’t mentioned. Ian Snell is currently the 2nd worst value pick in the draft, with a swollen number of -1065. Put this draft with average keepers, and you’re probably looking at an average team.

Part 3 Tomorrow.