/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/23243439/181719969.0.jpg)
We completed the 25 round draft in the #earlymock14 fantasy baseball draft, but today I offer my thoughts on rounds 11 - 15. You can find my thoughts on the earlier rounds here:
Tommy L from Fantasy Assembly wrote his thoughts for rounds 1-5 and 6-15 in the links below:
Mock Draft Analysis: Rounds 1-5
Mock Draft Analysis: Rounds 6-15
Here is a quick look at how the picks for rounds 11 - 15 of the #earlymock14 fantasy baseball draft went:
Pick |
Player |
Position |
Owner |
11.121 |
Gio Gonzalez |
SP |
asfarfaketeams |
11.122 |
Andrelton Simmons |
SS |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
11.123 |
Mat Latos |
SP |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
11.124 |
Hyun-Jin Ryu |
SP |
FakeTeams |
11.125 |
Michael Wacha |
SP |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
11.126 |
David Robertson |
RP |
Kevin@theassembly |
11.127 |
Brandon Moss |
1B |
Alex K Fake Teams |
11.128 |
Brian McCann |
C |
Daniel Kelley |
11.129 |
Clay Buchholz |
SP |
tommyl@theassembly |
11.130 |
Jim Johnson |
RP |
peter@theassembly |
11.131 |
Curtis Granderson |
OF |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
11.132 |
Brad Miller |
SS |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
12.133 |
Sonny Gray |
SP |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
12.134 |
Chase Utley |
2B |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
12.135 |
Jered Weaver |
SP |
peter@theassembly |
12.136 |
Jed Lowrie |
SS |
tommyl@theassembly |
12.137 |
Rafael Soriano |
RP |
Daniel Kelley |
12.138 |
Kris Medlen |
SP |
Alex K Fake Teams |
12.139 |
Patrick Corbin |
SP |
Kevin@theassembly |
12.140 |
Christian Yelich |
OF |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
12.141 |
A.J. Burnett |
SP |
FakeTeams |
12.142 |
Joe Nathan |
RP |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
12.143 |
Norichika Aoki |
OF |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
12.144 |
Jon Lester |
SP |
asfarfaketeams |
13.145 |
Addison Reed |
RP |
asfarfaketeams |
13.146 |
Pablo Sandoval |
3B |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
13.147 |
Martin Prado |
3B |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
13.148 |
Glen Perkins |
RP |
FakeTeams |
13.149 |
Oscar Taveras |
OF |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
13.150 |
Doug Fister |
SP |
Kevin@theassembly |
13.151 |
Andrew Cashner |
SP |
Alex K Fake Teams |
13.152 |
Michael Bourn |
OF |
Daniel Kelley |
13.153 |
Julio Teheran |
SP |
tommyl@theassembly |
13.154 |
Matt Wieters |
C |
peter@theassembly |
13.155 |
B.J. Upton |
OF |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
13.156 |
Tony Cingrani |
SP |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
14.157 |
Danny Salazar |
SP |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
14.158 |
Joe Mauer |
C |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
14.159 |
Mike Moustakas |
3B |
peter@theassembly |
14.160 |
Casey Janssen |
RP |
tommyl@theassembly |
14.161 |
Jurickson Profar |
2B |
Daniel Kelley |
14.162 |
Brett Gardner |
OF |
Alex K Fake Teams |
14.163 |
Kendrys Morales |
1B |
Kevin@theassembly |
14.164 |
Zack Wheeler |
SP |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
14.165 |
Salvador Perez |
C |
FakeTeams |
14.166 |
Sergio Romo |
RP |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
14.167 |
Justin Masterson |
SP |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
14.168 |
Wilson Ramos |
C |
asfarfaketeams |
15.169 |
Todd Frazier |
3B |
asfarfaketeams |
15.170 |
Anthony Rendon |
2B |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
15.171 |
Brandon Belt |
1B |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
15.172 |
Chase Headley |
3B |
FakeTeams |
15.173 |
Jimmy Rollins |
SS |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
15.174 |
Jonathan Papelbon |
RP |
Kevin@theassembly |
15.175 |
Asdrubal Cabrera |
SS |
Alex K Fake Teams |
15.176 |
Jason Grilli |
RP |
Daniel Kelley |
15.177 |
Brian Dozier |
2B |
tommyl@theassembly |
15.178 |
Derek Holland |
SP |
peter@theassembly |
15.179 |
Johnny Cueto |
SP |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
15.180 |
Steve Cishek |
RP |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
Round 11
After grabbing Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro in round 10, I targeted a starter in round 11, and had to "settle" for Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu. I wanted Reds ace Mat Latos, but he was grabbed a pick before mine. Ryu was the best of the rest in my opinion, and he pitches for one of the better teams in the National League and in a pitchers park, so there is little risk with this pick.
Picks I liked
I liked the Brandon Moss and Brian McCann picks here by Alex and Daniel. Moss has shown that he can be a consistent power hitter from year to year, even though most of his production comes in the second half of the season. McCann has a chance to sign with either the Yankees, Red Sox or Rangers, and should see time at catcher and DH assuming he signs with an American League team.
Picks I didn't like
I was a little surprised that David Robertson was taken before some other established closers here in round 11. The Yankees have yet to name him their closer for 2014, so this pick is a little risky in my opinion.
Round 12
I grabbed another starter here, A.J. Burnett, assuming he will not retire. Burnett is a favorite of mine as he has put up solid numbers in Pittsburgh, yet gets no love due to his poor history in Toronto and New York.
Picks I liked
I was hoping Phillies second baseman Chase Utley would fall to me here, but that wasn't the case, as he was picked several picks before me. Utley was the best second baseman left on the table, and even with his injuries, he is still a productive second baseman.
Grabbing Curtis Granderson in the 11th round is stealing. We don't know where he will be playing next season, but he has 25-30 home run power in most ball parks. Then again, he strikes out a lot, and won't provide much in the batting average category.
Picks i didn't like
The outfield pickings were getting slim, but I think there were better options than Brewers outfielder Norichika Aoki. Guys I like more than Aoki that were still available include Torii Hunter, Will Venable and Coco Crisp, to name a few.
Round 13
I thought about not drafting a closer, but decided against that strategy and chose Twins closer Glen Perkins in the 13th round. Electing to go with the closer strategy, I wanted one top 12 closer, and Perkins is a top 12 option.
Picks I liked
I love Andrew Cashner in 2014. I think he can establish himself as a legitimate ace pitching in Petco Park for half of his starts. Cashner had a very solid 2013 season, and was under owned in most mixed leagues, so that has to change in 2014.
Picks I didn't like
Michael Bourn stopped running in 2013 and I have no idea why. I assume he had some leg injuries, but off the top of my head, I don't recall. When your one solid skill is stealing bases, and you don't do that for your fantasy owner (Me-I owned him in the Tout Wars mixed league this season), said fantasy owner doesn't like you anymore.
Round 14
I was targeting Kendrys Morales to fill my first base slot,but he was chosen two picks before me, so I decided to fill my catcher position with the best catcher left on the board, Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Perez helps you in four of the five categories and is one of the better hitting catchers in the game.
Picks I liked
Jim from Fantasy Assembly must have been happy to hear that Joe Mauer will no longer catch and will play first base on a full time basis. Mauer in the 14th round is a steal, and he could end up being the #1 fantasy catcher in 2014.
Picks I didn't like
I think there were better options at the third base position, so grabbing Mike Moustakas here before Chase Headley and Aramis Ramirez was too early for me. Moustakas has yet to reach his potential but he will still play every day in Kansas City, so there is the chance that he does break out in 2014.
Round 15
Since Headley was still sitting there in the 15th round, I couldn't pass him up, and he filled my corner spot on my roster. He had a poor 2013 season, and that is why he fell to the 15th round in this draft. He is a better hitter than he showed this season, and I can see a nice bounce back from him, although he will never hit 30 home runs again.
Picks I liked
Gotta be honest here, I wanted either Anthony Rendon or Brandon Belt here, but settled for Headley. I like them both as slightly better values than Headley in round 15, and I think Belt could have a break out season in 2014.
Picks I didn't like
I didn't have a problem with any of the picks here.
Roster
My roster through 15 rounds is as follows:
Rd.1 Andrew McCutchen
Rd. 2 David Wright
Rd. 3 Ian Desmond
Rd. 4 Alex Rios
Rd. 5 Hunter Pence
Rd. 6 Zack Greinke
Rd. 7 Alex Gordon
Rd. 8 George Springer
Rd. 9 Matt Moore
Rd. 10 Starlin Castro
Rd. 11 Hyun-Jin Ryu
Rd. 12 A.J. Burnett
Rd. 13 Glen Perkins
Rd. 14 Salvador Perez
Rd. 15 Chase Headley
I don't have any hitters who can hit 30+ home runs on a year in or year out basis, but as stated in earlier mock draft analysis pieces, have a handful of hitters who can put up 20 home runs, 80 runs, 80 RBI and 20 stolen bases with batting averages above league average. My first five hitters meet these qualifications, and Alex Gordon may not have the 20 home run power, but he scores and drives in runs and steals double digit bags.
My pitching staff is headed by Zack Greinke, with Matt Moore, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and A.J. Burnett forming a solid top four starters capable of winning 13-14 games, with low to mid 3.00 ERA and solid strikeout totals.
More from Fake Teams:
- Preliminary Top 5 National League Fantasy Pitcher Rankings
- Fantasy EPL: All-Star Team
- Fake Teams Podcast Episode 40: I feel like we've been here before
- Progress, Regress, Anyone's Guess: Josh Donaldson
- Fantasy Top 5 for 2014: Minnesota Twins
- Fantasy Baseball 2014: Early Top 30 Outfielder Rankings
- Fantasy Football: Week 11 Start Sit, Rankings, Waiver Wire and More