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We completed the 25 round draft in the #earlymock14 fantasy baseball draft, but today I offer my thoughts on rounds 16 - 20. 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
What I like to do in mock drafts is to try out different draft strategies, but in this mock, I decided to use the wait on pitching strategy. My strategy didn't go as planned, as I ended up drafting five pitchers ( four starters and a closer) in the first thirteen rounds, so you could say I veered off course from my original strategy.
Mid-draft I decided to go with what I felt was best value in each round. It may not have turned out that way, but I didn't want to reach for a first baseman like Brandon Belt, who I like, when Matt Moore was on the board in the ninth round.
Here is a quick look at how the picks for rounds 16 - 20 of the #earlymock14 fantasy baseball draft went:
Rank |
Player |
Position |
Owner |
16.181 |
Bobby Parnell |
RP |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
16.182 |
Michael Brantley |
OF |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
16.183 |
Dan Straily |
SP |
peter@theassembly |
16.184 |
Rex Brothers |
RP |
tommyl@theassembly |
16.185 |
R.A. Dickey |
SP |
Daniel Kelley |
16.186 |
Jim Henderson |
RP |
Alex K Fake Teams |
16.187 |
Leonys Martin |
OF |
Kevin@theassembly |
16.188 |
Coco Crisp |
OF |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
16.189 |
Grant Balfour |
RP |
FakeTeams |
16.190 |
Torii Hunter |
OF |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
16.191 |
Ubaldo Jimenez |
SP |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
16.192 |
Alexei Ramirez |
SS |
asfarfaketeams |
17.193 |
Will Venable |
OF |
asfarfaketeams |
17.194 |
Neil Walker |
2B |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
17.195 |
Lance Lynn |
SP |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
17.196 |
Mark Teixeira |
1B |
FakeTeams |
17.197 |
Aramis Ramirez |
3B |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
17.198 |
Corey Kluber |
SP |
Kevin@theassembly |
17.199 |
Jeff Samardzija |
SP |
Alex K Fake Teams |
17.200 |
Fernando Rodney |
RP |
Daniel Kelley |
17.201 |
Alejandro De Aza |
OF |
tommyl@theassembly |
17.202 |
Victor Martinez |
DH |
peter@theassembly |
17.203 |
Yovani Gallardo |
SP |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
17.204 |
Ernesto Frieri |
RP |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
18.205 |
Nolan Arenado |
3B |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
18.206 |
Corey Hart |
1B |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
18.207 |
Darin Ruf |
OF |
peter@theassembly |
18.208 |
Matt Dominguez |
3B |
tommyl@theassembly |
18.209 |
Dexter Fowler |
OF |
Daniel Kelley |
18.210 |
Howie Kendrick |
2B |
Alex K Fake Teams |
18.211 |
Chris Johnson |
3B |
Kevin@theassembly |
18.212 |
Joaquin Benoit |
RP |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
18.213 |
C.J. Wilson |
SP |
FakeTeams |
18.214 |
Ivan Nova |
SP |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
18.215 |
Chris Archer |
SP |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
18.216 |
Danny Farquhar |
RP |
asfarfaketeams |
19.217 |
Huston Street |
RP |
asfarfaketeams |
19.218 |
Matt Garza |
SP |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
19.219 |
Erick Aybar |
SS |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
19.220 |
Martin Perez |
SP |
FakeTeams |
19.221 |
Taijuan Walker |
SP |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
19.222 |
Carlos Quentin |
OF |
Kevin@theassembly |
19.223 |
Nick Markakis |
OF |
Alex K Fake Teams |
19.224 |
Jhonny Peralta |
SS |
Daniel Kelley |
19.225 |
Bartolo Colon |
SP |
tommyl@theassembly |
19.226 |
Bruce Rondon |
RP |
peter@theassembly |
19.227 |
Kole Calhoun |
OF |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
19.228 |
Adam Eaton |
OF |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
20.229 |
Alex Wood |
SP |
DanS.@RotoBanter |
20.230 |
Zack Cozart |
SS |
JimF FantasyAssembly |
20.231 |
Ryan Cook |
RP |
peter@theassembly |
20.232 |
A.J. Griffin |
SP |
tommyl@theassembly |
20.233 |
Joakim Soria |
RP |
Daniel Kelley |
20.234 |
Colby Rasmus |
OF |
Alex K Fake Teams |
20.235 |
Tyson Ross |
SP |
Kevin@theassembly |
20.236 |
Jonathan Villar |
SS |
Paul@FantasyAssembly |
20.237 |
Alexander Guerrero |
2B |
FakeTeams |
20.238 |
John Lackey |
SP |
Jeff Q RotoWords |
20.239 |
CC Sabathia |
SP |
BrianC@FakeTeams |
20.240 |
Evan Gattis |
OF |
asfarfaketeams |
Round 16
Since I had strayed from my wait on pitching strategy in the first ten rounds, I decided to go with the pitching heavy strategy, as I drafted a closer in the 16th round, followed by two more starting pitchers in 18th and 19th rounds. As a result, I had to grab a second closer, and chose Grant Balfour here. Balfour is a free agent this offseason, but should be able to land a closer job this due to his success in Oakland last season.
Picks I liked
I liked several picks in this round, specifically R.A. Dickey, Coco Crisp, Ubaldo Jimenez and Torii Hunter. All four should outperform their 16th round value in 2014. Crisp might be one of the more underrated outfielders in the game, as he is old, but still puts up solid power and speed totals for his fantasy owners. I am not sure he can hit 20 home runs again next season, but he is good for double digit home runs and 20+ stolen bases.
Picks I didn't like
Rex Brothers was the Rockies closer in 2013, but there are rumors that the Rockies are targeting a closer this offseason, which would result in Brothers moving back to a set up role.
Round 17
In round 17, I grabbed my first baseman Mark Teixeira. I have to say I am surprised he lasted this long, but he is coming off a wrist injury that kept him out most of the 2013 season. I assume he will be fully healthy next season, and if he can return to the 30 home run hitter he was before the injury, he represents solid value here in the 17th round.
Picks I liked
Will Venable had a breakout season in 2013, and anytime you can draft a 20 home run, 20 stolen base hitter in the 17th round, it is a great value pick.
How did Jeff Samardzija last until the 17th round? I think some teams whiffed on not picking him sooner, including me. He is better than he showed us in 2013. Nice pick by Alex, who happens to be a Cubs fan.
Victor Martinez will lose catcher eligibility in 2014, but he is still a very good hitter.
Picks I didn't like
We will learn whether Corey Kluber is for real in 2014. He pitched better than his 3.85 ERA, and owns a very good K/BB rate over 4.00.
Round 18
I drafted Angels starter C.J. WIlson in the 18th round and was surprised he was still available so late in the draft. Wilson won 17 games with a 3.39 ERA in 2013, so how did he last this long?
Picks I liked
I really like outfielder Dexter Fowler in the 18th round here, assuming he does not get traded as has been rumored recently. If he is ultimately dealt, his value will drop somewhat. Otherwise, he is a solid outfield choice this late in the draft.
Picks I didn't like
There is a chance that Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf is a fourth outfielder in Philadelphia this season. They recently signed Marlon Byrd to play right field, and with Domonic Brown and Ben Revere manning left and center field, he looks like he will be a back up outfielder and possible platoon partner with Ryan Howard.
Round 19
Sticking with my heavy pitching draft strategy, I chose Rangers starter Martin Perez here in the 19th round. Perez had an excellent rookie season, winning ten of his twenty starts, with a 3.62 ERA. His 6.08 K/9 rate is not desirable, but he keeps the ball on the ground at a 48% clip.
Picks I liked
Bartolo Colon is another pitcher that somehow fell through the cracks in this mock draft, as he won 18 games with a sub 3.00 ERA last season. If his name was Justin Verlander, he would have been picked about 16 rounds sooner.
Diamondbacks outfielder Adam Eaton was a preseason Rookie of the Year candidate, but an elbow injury kept him out 90+ games in 2013. He scored 40 runs in 66 games this season, and could approach 100 runs scored in 2014. He will be a sleeper in 2014 drafts.
Picks I didn't like
I am not a fan of Carlos Quentin as he is always injured and has played in less than 90 games in each of the last two seasons.
Round 20
I filled my second base spot with recent Dodgers international signee Alexander Guerrero. Guerrero is playing some shortstop in the Dominican Winter League right now, and should hit for some power with solid plate discipline at the keystone or shortstop in 2014.
Picks I liked
Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia lasted until the 20th round? That tells you how much his value has dropped after his horrific 2013 season. Can he return to the ace that he was prior to 2013?
Padres starter Tyson Ross had a bit of a breakout in 2013 as he was one of the best starting pitchers in baseball in the second half. The question is whether he can do this over a full season or not.
Picks I didn't like
Will Braves pitcher Alex Wood be a starter of reliever in 2014. If he is a starter, this is a decent pick here. If not, I am not a fan of this pick here.
Roster
My roster through 20 rounds is as follows:
Rd.1 Andrew McCutchen, OF
Rd. 2 David Wright, 3B
Rd. 3 Ian Desmond, SS
Rd. 4 Alex Rios, OF
Rd. 5 Hunter Pence, OF
Rd. 6 Zack Greinke, SP
Rd. 7 Alex Gordon, OF
Rd. 8 George Springer, OF
Rd. 9 Matt Moore, SP
Rd. 10 Starlin Castro, MI
Rd. 11 Hyun-Jin Ryu, SP
Rd. 12 A.J. Burnett, SP
Rd. 13 Glen Perkins, CL
Rd. 14 Salvador Perez, C
Rd. 15 Chase Headley, CI
Rd. 16 Grant Balfour, CL
Rd. 17 Mark Teixiera, 1B
Rd. 18 C.J. Wilson, SP
Rd. 19 Martin Perez, SP
Rd. 20 Alexander Guerrero, 2B
More from Fake Teams:
- The earliest of early mock drafts: Rounds 11 - 15
- 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