Fake Teams Dynasty League Draft Results - Round 1

Thanks to dudedudedude for setting up the Fake Teams dynasty league over at Proboards. We started the major league draft earlier in the week and the minor league draft just a few days ago. I am going to provide a round by round breakdown of the major league draft results, and Jason will discuss the 5 round minor league draft.

This is a 16 team, 7 x 7, head to head dynasty league with the following position requirements:

Roster Settings

C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
OF
OF
Util
Util

SP
SP
SP
RP
RP
P
P
P

8 Bench spots
3 Disabled Lists Spots

The 7 x 7 scoring categories and First Round analysis after the jump:

Below is the 7 x 7 scoring categories:

Scoring Settings

7x7 format consisting of the following categories:

Batters:

Runs
Home Runs
Runs Batted In
Stolen Bases
Walks
Batting Average
On-Base Percentage

Pitchers:

Wins
Strikeouts
Earned Run Average
Walks + Hits/ Innings Pitched
Holds
Saves
Quality Starts

We have completed 3 rounds in the major league portion of the draft at this point, and I see I should probably pick up a starting pitcher at some point as the top starters are already off the board. Anyway, here is how the first round went:

Round 1

Oakland Athletics - Ryan Braun - OF - Milwaukee Brewers
Colorado Rockies - Miguel Cabrera - 1B - Detroit Tigers
Arizona Diamondbacks - Adrian Gonzalez - 1B - Boston Red Sox
Brooklyn Nets - Justin Upton - OF - Arizona Diamondbacks
Anaheim Angels - Troy Tulowitzki - SS - Colorado Rockies
Tampa Bay Rays - Albert Pujols - 1B - Free Agent
Carl Winslows - Matt Kemp- OF -Los Angles Dodgers
Atlanta Braves - Jose Bautista - 3B/OF - Toronto Blue Jays
Miami Marlins - Jacoby Ellsbury - OF - Boston Red Sox
Fake Teams - Evan Longoria - 3B - Tampa Bay Rays
Boston Red Sox - Prince Fielder - 1B - FA
New York Mets - Robinson Cano - 2B - New York Yankees
Texas Rangers - Joey Votto - 1B - Cincinnati Reds
Bronx Bombers - Mike Stanton - OF - Florida Marlins
Los Angeles Dodgers - Clayton Kershaw - SP - Los Angeles Dodgers
Toronto Blue Jays - Hanley Ramirez - SS - Florida Marlins

My team name is Fake Teams, obviously, and I had the 10th pick in the first round and selected Rays third baseman Evan Longoria. With Dodgers MVP candidate Matt Kemp off the board 3 picks ahead of my pick, I wanted to get a young power hitter at a position that was a bit thin, and Longoria fit the description. I pondered selecting Joey Votto or Robinson Cano here, but felt that third base was thinner than usual in 2011, and Longoria had a year similar to the 2010 Matt Kemp, where he didn't hit for a high average, but still produced in the power categories. Plus he is very young, and has yet to hit his peak years as a big leaguer.

I felt good knowing that Cano and Votto went in two of the next three picks after I picked Longoria, and am not surprised the were taken in the first round.

First Reactions

"How did Matt Kemp last until the 7th pick in the first round?"

I am not sure how Jacoby Ellsbury was picked before Longoria either, but he is young and hits in one of the better, if not the best, lineups in baseball. I just think Longoria has the better track record and plays a thinner position than Ellsbury. I also wonder whether the Red Sox will sign Ellsbury long term or not, and he may not be as productive in another lineup outside of Boston.

The last three picks of the first round also surprised me a bit, especially Hanley Ramirez. He will be a popular bounce back candidate in 2012, but I worry about the drop in power the last three seasons. Kershaw was the first starting pitcher taken, and if any young starter was taken in the first round, he would be my choice, but I am not one to take pitchers in the first round.

I can't fault the owner for taking Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton in the first round, as he could be the NL leader in home runs for the next decade, but I wonder if there were better choices to be had before taking Stanton. Nonetheless, I am a big Stanton fan, and wish he could have fallen to me in the 2nd round.