2015 Draft Analysis

Ok folks, this is the thread where we tell all. The insights provided here from the minds of sophisticated drafters about players and value are very useful for our other upcoming drafts. Share well and join in the camaraderie with your Leftover League companions.



Some Questions to keep in mind and answer when providing your analysis.

1. What was your draft strategy?
 Take multi-category players early and feel in specific cats later. I also emphasized talent over role since we drafted so early. Pitchers always seem to drop in this league below any ADP sights I use.  I invested more in SP this year and I like the value I was able to get.  


2. Who do you think was the steal of the draft?
Alexei Ramirez in Round 14 was the steal of the draft. We should be ashamed for letting him fall so far.


3. Who do you think was the reach of the draft?
Mookie Betts; enough said. For the record, Jose Abreu was given this honor last year by several of my league mates. I hope I can continue the tradition with  Mookie


4. Who do you think will finish in the top 3?
Rotoquest, Third Day, MasterX


5. The best pick that you made
 I really like Hanley playing in Boston and the OF. I hope it will keep him healthy and there is less defensive stuff to work on. Outfielders always get extra hitting. I'm expecting a renaissance *fingers crossed 


6. The worst pick that you made
.  So many.  I could say Mookie because I could have taken him later (but you never know in this league).   I'm going with Pedro Alvarez. I didn't like him when I picked him and I don't like him now. Steve Pearce could end up being a flop but I really like his skills.


7. What player is the biggest key to your success?
The players I invested picks on that have the skill but not the role..or perhaps their skills do not pan out. If Mookie Betts can get regular playing time...20, 20 is not out of the question. His 2B elig. is also helpful


8. Your team's weak points?
Category wise SB and Runs.  Postion wise RP and 3B.


9.  Your team's strong points?
Several players that contribute in multiple categories. I should be fine with the power stats which is odd because I didn't really focus on power until later. Although it wasn't planned multi-position eligibility gives me a lot of room to maneuver during the year


10. If you could swap teams with anyone else, whose would you take?  Rotoquest. Looks like he has a lot of balance

1. What was your draft strategy?

Win. Next question.

But seriously my plan was to go hitter heavy and I think I accomplished that. In 2014 I had taken 3 SP in the first 9 rounds, in 2013 I had taken 4. Normally I like to load up on bats early, but the arms I took kept falling past their adp. I thought I was making value picks, but on the whole they were failed selections. This year I went back to my roots and I'm happy with the way things turned out.

2. Who do you think was the steal of the draft?

I thought one of us would be in love with Brandon McCarthy, instead he fell to the 25th round to Oopah. A 20th round DL stash of Jose Fernandez gives MasterX an ace in the hole. Waiting 1 round too long for Mauer stung, as Nikki scooped him up in the 22nd. My personal steal I'd have to say was Salazar. Not everyday you see a guy with his K rate go in the 19th round.

3. Who do you think was the reach of the draft?

I know Chris Davis has immense power potential, but a top 50 pick on a guy who just hit below .200 is a big risk IMO. Seeing Bogaerts being take in relation to where other SS went later was quite the surprise as well. My personal reach I'd say was Leonys Martin. It was a speed grab pick, and while there is potential for a more substantial breakout, speed could have been had later. Looking at where Rajai Davis and Pagan went gave me a lot of doubt over this selection.

4. Who do you think will finish in the top 3?

Excluding myself and Nikki (who I'm close with and not to show bias) in no particular order- RBV, Rotoquest, and Third Day.

5. The best pick that you made

Carrasco. I'm all aboard the hype train!

6. The worst pick that you made

I remember spending a 2nd round pick on Heyward a couple of years ago. Kind of feels like I'm making the same mistake w/ Harper. Though truthfully I dont know who I would have taken instead. Was stuck between a rock and a hard place there.

7. What player is the biggest key to your success?

You never want your 1st round pick to bust. Stanton is obvious though, so I'll say Prince Fielder. His power was down before the injury, so I'm putting a lot of faith into a return to form. If Fielder clicks then I'll feel really good.

8. Your team's weak points?

I was the last person to take a catcher. Norris has some upside to him but I'm not thrilled about missing out on a few guys at the position. I've also got to cross my fingers that I can put forth some sort of platoon among Bourn/Morales/Granderson. A shallow bench to start the season worries me. I need to accumulate more games played this year. Shields is the only innings eater on my staff, and he's been eating innings for years now. Hope wear and tear doesnt catch up too much, but I'll need to be monitoring my innings total too.

9. Your team's strong points?

It better be my offense! Being able to say "Votto is just my CI, Kipnis is just my MI, and Braun is just my 3rd OF" tickles me.

10. If you could swap teams with anyone else, whose would you take?

I can safely say Nikki here. It would be fun to own this team because its nice to have who the defending champ thinks is good this year.

1. What was your draft strategy?

My draft strategy was to fill all ten categories, and not focus one sided on either hitters or pitchers too much as to cloud my judgment on value. In snake drafts, it’s important to get into the rhythm and flow of the draft, and not be afraid to draft against the grain. I also wanted to take some guys with multiple eligibilities.

2. Who do you think was the steal of the draft?
I’m not sure who was the steal of the draft, but it had to be a pitcher the way they were falling down the draft board because of many were focused on hitting. Speaking for myself, I know I enjoyed getting Ortiz at #68 overall, and weaver at 284 as my 6th pitcher.

3. Who do you think was the reach of the draft?
Because starting pitching is not respected as much as hitters, there was a lot of reaching going on for hitters. It sort of mirrors real life where average to above average hitters are getting 130 million dollar contracts ala “shin soo choo.” I thought bogartes and peralta went way too early…but I remember being glad when it happened.

4. Who do you think will finish in the top 3?
I’m hoping me, but I like the more well rounded teams usually. That means I like about 7-8 other teams. I would have to quantify it to be sure, but I'll hedge toward some active managers like cords, shocker, nikki, rbv.

5. The best pick that you made.  
Actually the billy butler(260) & elvis andrus(173) picks were pretty good.

6. The worst pick that you made.
Maybe billy Hamilton…I actually could have said him for the previous question too. Could be danny santana if he doesn’t get enough playing time.

7. What player is the biggest key to your success?
Billy Hamilton: when I got to pick #53, I thought to myself, ok I have a solid foundation now draft three 20-20 players. Guess what? They don’t exist anymore after the first few rounds, and for the few that are available, they are reached for about 2 rounds ahead of time. So I said, ok then lets get Billy Hamilton for 60 SB, and two 30 HR potential hitters. So my picks went Hamilton-Ortiz-Bruce. Getting these players allowed me to focus on acquiring top pitching for a while. (truth be told… bruce worries me)

8. Your team's weak points?
Just like everybody else…HEALTH. I have a good mix of younger and older players, but the dl does not discriminate based on age.

9. Your team's strong points?
I think I covered all ten categories pretty well. Hopefully a few of them will stand out.

10. If you could swap teams with anyone else, whose would you take?
There isn’t one team that didn’t drafted well. This is going to be very competitive year. Like I said above, there are about 7 other teams that I would trade with right now, and the other four are a few pickups or a trade away from consideration. Thomas, rbv, masterx, all have solid foundations for a 5x5.

1. What was your draft strategy

Nice guys finish last? Thanks to Leo the Lip, the expectations must be low. Being the perfect setting for my coronation, or at least finishing possibly in the Top 10, my draft strategy can now be revealed. I drafted who "felt" right at the time. Sure, I didn't pay attention to RP or 1B, but RP has the most volatility of any other roster spot especially early. Realistically? I wanted guys who had relatively stable floors with chance for upside.

2. Who do you think was the steal of the draft?

For me? Latos in 18th. If healthy, pitching in the NL East will be easier than the NL West.

Overall? Alex Cobb in the 8th. He should be off most boards in the 6th. He's that good.

3. Who do you think was the reach of the draft?

For me? Probably reached for Bogaerts, but I wanted a strong MI. I felt he complimented Dozier/Castro nicely.

Overall? Arenado in the 3rd? Look, I love the tools, but 3rd seems early. Yes, 3B isn't that deep but he's probably still on the board in the 4th.

4. Who do you think will finish in the top 3?

NewDadNikki, Rotoquest, cords

5. The best pick that you made

Nathan Eovaldi, electric arm, ground ball pitcher, now pitching in a much weaker AL East. Incredibly underrated.

6. The worst pick that you made

Michael Saunders, only because he blew out his knee within 48 hours of joining Team Salty.

7. What player is the biggest key to your success?

Garret Richards/Matt Kemp, if Richards is even 85% of what he was last year, he's worth a SP2 spot easily. Kemp could thrive in a change of scenery and finally relax and enjoy baseball.

8. Your team's weak points?

Not much to brag with LaRoche, who has a full time DH/1B role in CWS and the artist formerly known as Ryan Howard. I will be closely monitoring RP situations as well.

9. Your team's strong points?

I went for HR/SB category guys. I think just about every hitter can hit at least the 25 mark in either one or both categories together. I love my teams' K/9 potential.

10. If you could swap teams with anyone else, whose would you take?

cords