SOSH Real Fantasy Draft 2014: Draft Order, Rules, and Draft Thread

[Galway Sox Fan]

This was a tough choice.
 
I wanted a position player but couldnt justify not going with pitching for another 50 odd picks.
 
It was down to two youngsters who project as middle rotation starters and the guy I have finally chosen will act as my long man/6th starter
 
His strengths as a pitcher are his above-average command and control, which help all three of his pitches play up. He possesses a low-90s fastball, slider and changeup.
He has a fighting chance of making the rotation with the mets this year.
 
RP1 Rafael Montero

 

[Curll]

Charlie Blackmon BP
 
I'll skip a bit write up, but a versatile OF'er with a decent bat and glove. I'm passing on a few other players that I really like because I think Blackmon is a better bet for sustained performance. 
 
I'll be able to stick Charlie at LF, CF, or RF and allow Cuddy to move from LF/RF to 1B when needed. 
 

 
PM sent

 

[Jaylach]

Car repairs. Going to be a few hours.

 

[Toe Nash]

While not to the level of someone like Iglesias, this player should be a plus defender at short. His bat is a question but showed signs in AAA before he tore up his knee and he has always had a decent batting eye, if little power. Hopefully he can recover the speed and stolen base ability he showed in the minors. At worst he should be a solid utility infielder, which is key for the left side of my infield, and he has upside to be a starter.
 
Hak-Ju Lee, BP1
 
pm sent

 

[Galway Sox Fan]

Hak Ju Lee - that was my positional player. Good pick up. Back to the drawing board for me.

 

[StabMastaArson]

Might have been able to wait on this guy for another round but I won't risk it.
 

 
Drew Hutchison, RP
 
Was kind of a hotshot prospect (#42 on Law's preseason list in 2012) before blowing out his elbow the same year. Now coming off of Tommy John surgery, had a good AFL stint and reportedly has been touching 96 in spring training. Only 23 years old. Will compete for the 4th and 5th slots in the rotation alongside Morton, Butler and Chatwood.
 
Sending PM

 
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

While not to the level of someone like Iglesias, this player should be a plus defender at short. His bat is a question but showed signs in AAA before he tore up his knee and he has always had a decent batting eye, if little power. Hopefully he can recover the speed and stolen base ability he showed in the minors. At worst he should be a solid utility infielder, which is key for the left side of my infield, and he has upside to be a starter.
 
Hak-Ju Lee, BP1
 
pm sent

 
Was my next pick. Good grief.

 

[Jaylach]

Wait. Is it not my pick? Just got a message from RGB saying it was. Probably an app mess up as we don't seem too close to me haha.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

It's dm than me, so you're only a couple picks away.

 

[Curll]

Medlan, "Strained right forearm"
 
hurrz a sawwse: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/braves-medlen-leaves-start-strained-forearm-22839806

 

[Rich Garces Belly]

Wait. Is it not my pick? Just got a message from RGB saying it was. Probably an app mess up as we don't seem too close to me haha.

I did not send you a message, I pick after you

 

[dylanmarsh]

Miguel Montero may have to switch to DH wit ph his back issues, so it's nice to get a top catching prospect this late:

Austin Hedges, Bp1

 

[PrometheusWakefield]

Hedges was the guy I assumed I would eventually get for catcher for most of this draft. His upside is better than Vazquez but I went with CV because he seems closer to the big leakages and because his framing ability is better documented (there aren't public stats for single A yet, although Hedges looked good in a very tiny sample at AA)

 

[Curll]

I went with CV because he seems closer to the big leakages and...

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I've been debating between 3 guys. 2 pitchers and a bench guy. Ultimately, I think having a solid bench is going to be more difficult than putting together a bullpen so....
 
The Wonderbeards select Tommy Medica, BP
 

 
Finding power off the bench can be difficult, but I think I've got it with this kid. Average, on-base, power the kid does it all. He can play 1B, corner OF and he can catch a little. He was primarily a catcher earlier in his career but due to a shoulder injury was moved from behind the plate before he reached the majors. The injury didn't affect his hitting which is evident by his .900+ .OPS at the minor league level. So far through ST (I know, it's only spring) He's OPSing 1.411 in 24 plate attempts. He's blocked by Alonso at the big league level but has been taking more reps in the OF to try to get his bat in the lineup. Although, any slip from Alonso could make things interesting if Tommy continues to hit. I already have 3 guys who can play 1B, and no lack of RH power in the OF or the rest of my lineup for that matter, so I'm not sure he's a great fit but I do know that you can never have enough offense. I may need it if my rotation doesn't come together.

 

[terrisus]

Just a heads-up, but, I'm going to be out until around 7PM tomorrow. So, if my spot comes up before then, I'm not going to be able to pick until then (and, unless we get much closer in the next 4 hours, it's too far away from my spot right now to figure out a proxy)

 

[Jaylach]

I did not send you a message, I pick after you

 
Yeah, I think the SoSH app got messed up when I reset the data/cache on it (Android). 

 

[MakMan44]

Well you're up now so...

 

[Jaylach]

I wasn't sure I'd actually pick him, but whatever. I've like this kid since he came up but I really wish he'd walk a few less guys. He's still fairly young (26) so still has time to develop. 
 
The Mad Crappers select ...
 
Ryan Cook, RP2

 

[Scoops Bolling]

Ah, damn it. Great pick, much better than most of the pitchers that went in front of him. I was starting to think I might even get a shot at him...no such luck.

 

[Rich Garces Belly]

I have a solid catcher in Wilson Ramos, unfortunately he has a bit of an injury history so I want to make sure I get a capable backup.
 
RGB selects Dioner Navarro, bench player, Toronto Blue Jays

 
Navarro had a 132 OPS+ in 2013 in 89 games played for the Cubs, he also drastically improved from the right side of the plate and is only entering his age 30 season.  Fangraphs had him at a 1.7 WAR last season and if he can maintain the improvements from the right side he can continue to put up good numbers.  Ill probably regret not taking another pitcher, but I wanted to to secure a capable backup catcher.  
 
Sending PM now

 

[Scoops Bolling]

About goddamn time someone took Navarro.

 

[terrisus]

I was considering him with my other catcher pick when I picked Ruiz back in the 13th round.
The main factor was I still associate Navarro too much with the Yankees, and so by association am inclined to think he sucks.

 

[MakMan44]

I mean it depends on what you're looking for. Hedges & Vazquez are potential picks, not really 2014 picks. Suzuki is probably where I'd rank Navarro and it's sort of hard to ignore his 3 straight seasons of negative fWAR. I think he'll be an excellent back up catcher and is a near lock to out produce the two prospects I mentioned for a couple years but I can see why he fell this far. Ironically though, he's sort of the exception to the "people are looking heavily at 2013" trumpet I've been blowing. 

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

Time for another piece of the run-prevention puzzle: a catcher who is also an expert framer. When in doubt, copy the Rays. Ryan Hanigan, C. Can someone PM?

 

[MakMan44]

Sent

 

[Frank Fenway]

I'm going to be gone from about 2 tomorrow until Wednesday night. You good for a proxy, Mak? Obviously I'll be around till then if the two sox fans both make their picks. 

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Matt Wisler, SP - SD Padres

 

[MakMan44]

I'm going to be gone from about 2 tomorrow until Wednesday night. You good for a proxy, Mak? Obviously I'll be around till then if the two sox fans both make their picks. 

One down but yeah, of course. 

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

3 out of the last 5 picks are Padres... Not that it means anything. Just an observation.

 

[SoxFan58]

Skip will pick in the AM

 

[Jaylach]

Ah, damn it. Great pick, much better than most of the pitchers that went in front of him. I was starting to think I might even get a shot at him...no such luck.

I was shocked he made it to me tbh. Once I saw he did I decided he was my pick.

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

My list going into this round was basically Lee and then Cook. Hanigan was a distant third. Maybe could have waited for him?

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

My list going into this round was basically Lee and then Cook. Hanigan was a distant third. Maybe could have waited for him?

 
Probably not, with all the catching coming off the board. 

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

I figured with the increased attention to framing he'd be a popular target.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

What do you guys think of Medica? I've read both sides of the arguments on him, that he's been old for his respective levels and he's been favored by hitters parks but on the other hand he hasn't shown any drop in performance while moving up including his cup of coffee last year.

 

[PrometheusWakefield]

Skip will pick in the AM

I like your style.
 
More of this from people. At this point in the draft the field is so wide open that the chances of it mattering whether you drop a couple spots are pretty low.

 

[MakMan44]

What do you guys think of Medica? I've read both sides of the arguments on him, that he's been old for his respective levels and he's been favored by hitters parks but on the other hand he hasn't shown any drop in performance while moving up including his cup of coffee last year.

It's hard to say. I think his walk rate is a little too high and his ISO a little low. I think he's a guy who'd play better if he wasn't on the Padres. 
 
EDIT: Seems pretty comparable to Darin Ruf TBH. Take that as you will.

 

[Frank Fenway]

ah jesus, I better take somebody to play third base before it's too late. This is literally the last guy that has a chance to play a full season there.
 
Luis Valbuena, 3b. Move Sano to the DL. 

 

[terrisus]

Well, it got close enough to my pick where I could at least decide on a couple of proxy picks. So, I sent them to MakMan to pick when my slot comes up. 
If both the guys I sent to him get picked before then, he can say so and in that case my pick can be skipped and I'll pick when I get back tomorrow evening.

 

[terrisus]

ah jesus, I better take somebody to play third base before it's too late. This is literally the last guy that has a chance to play a full season there.
 
Luis Valbuena, 3b. Move Sano to the DL. 

 
Yeah, pickings at 3rd aren't that great. Hence why I ended up with Mark Reynolds.
Valbuena probably would have been a better pick, but, ah well.

 

[Frank Fenway]

 
Yeah, pickings at 3rd aren't that great. Hence why I ended up with Mark Reynolds.
Valbuena probably would have been a better pick, but, ah well.

 
I had him picked for two rounds past, since I heard Sano was down for the count. I did the same thing with McCarthy, just glad this didn't blow up in my face. 

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

It's hard to say. I think his walk rate is a little too high and his ISO a little low. I think he's a guy who'd play better if he wasn't on the Padres. 
 
EDIT: Seems pretty comparable to Darin Ruf TBH. Take that as you will.

I'm guessing you mean k rate is too high which it was at the major league level but not awful at the minor league level, and the ISO in his 19 games is not something I'm concerned about. He's going to hit for power. I'll take the Ruf comparison considering he was drafted a few rounds ago.

 

[MakMan44]

No, I meant his walk rate. Check his AA & 2012 A+ numbers, I don't buy that he'll sustain a jump in walk rate that high if he's extended playing time in the majors. As for the ISO, I really think that it's going to be lower than you'd expect from his MiL numbers. Petco is going to suppress it, which is why I said he'd play better if he wasn't on the Padres. FWIW though, I think he'll be better than what the projection systems are churning out for him, I like the pick. 

 

[SumnerH]

Chart questions:
 

Time for another piece of the run-prevention puzzle: a catcher who is also an expert framer. When in doubt, copy the Rays. Ryan Hanigan, C. Can someone PM?

 
Does this mean to move Jason Castro to the bench, or do you mean Ryan Hanigan, BP? I put him on the chart as the latter.
 

Matt Wisler, SP - SD Padres

Who out of the rotation are you moving to relief?  Or is Wisler an RP for you? I assumed the latter.
 
You're still missing a DH, right?

ah jesus, I better take somebody to play third base before it's too late. This is literally the last guy that has a chance to play a full season there.
 
Luis Valbuena, 3b. Move Sano to the DL. 

 
There's no such thing as DL picks.  Moved Sano to BP.
 
 

Skip will pick in the AM

 
Do I have your positions messed up, or are you still looking for an RF?

BoredViewer, you're still missing an RF?

dylanmarsh, you're still missing a DH?

 

[Curll]

Luke Hochevar out for season

 

[MakMan44]

Hey Frank, you PM the next guy?

 

[BoredViewer]

SumnerH - My RF is Ludwick. 
 
 

Luke Hochevar out for season

 
Oh well... if it had to be someone, at least he's probably the most expendable guy I've drafted to this point.
 
* oops!

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

SumnerH - My RF is Ludwick. 
 
 
 
Oh well... if it had to be someone, at least he's probably the most expandable guy I've drafted to this point.

 
What is he? Stretch Armstrong? Mr. Fantastic?  :lol:

 

[Yelling At Clouds]

Sumner - Hanigan is BP2.