Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: A Review

Here is the squad from this morning. You be the judge. Yahoo gave me a C+, but that happens frequently when I “punt” pitching in the early goings. Here’s the Twitter thread if you’re interested:

Note: There were 12 teams mocking, and we each drafted 23 players. That’s 276 total, if you’re like me and you have a love/hate relationship with math.

1. Trea Turner (Was - SS)

I was really hoping to start out with Trea/Altuve, but someone actually took Altuve in the middle of Round 1. Apparently rumors of his demise have been exaggerated. This is why I like drafting with real people and not computers...

Also, if Turner is there at the end of Round 1 consistently, I guess I’ll have 100% Turner in 2019.

2. Paul Goldschmidt (StL - 1B)

3. Starling Marte (Pit - OF)

4. Whit Merrifield (KC - 1B,2B,OF)

5. Yasiel Puig (Cin - OF)

6. Blake Treinen (Oak - RP)

No starters in the first six rounds. Nope. I still think Goldy can be a top five overall player. As a Braves fan, I love Freddie Freeman. But why do that when I can get Goldy’s pop—or when I can take Votto rounds later?

7. Justin Turner (LAD - 3B)

8. Mike Clevinger (Cle - SP)

I was tempted to go Clevinger and Taillon back-to-back, but I thought Turner’s value was too good to ignore. Taillon went 96th, 10 picks after Clevinger.

9. Travis Shaw (Mil - 1B,2B,3B)

Shaw is underrated right now in multiple places. He can be an elite second baseman and the eligibility in three spots is awesome.

10. Andrew McCutchen (Phi - OF)

I labored over Cutch or Michael Brantley. In the end, I’m buying the narrative of Cutch finally having a permanent home in the best hitting environment he’s ever had (sans the short stint with the Yankees). He’ll likely bat second in Philly, which is very much an improved lineup. I know Brantley is going about 25 picks ahead of Cutch per NFBC data, but I don’t believe in that gap between the two.

11. Carlos Martínez (StL - SP,RP)

12. Stephen Piscotty (Oak - OF)

C-Mart and Piscotty were picks I wasn’t sure of. I don’t think they are bad, but it was a bit of an odd spot in the draft. If I hadn’t taken C-Mart I could have snagged Corey Knebel or Wade Davis, but I didn’t see the point since I knew Cody Allen would be around later.

13. Yasmani Grandal (Mil - C)

Just an absurd advantage at the catcher position, with his power and that home park.

14. Eduardo Rodriguez (Bos - SP)

15. Andrew Heaney (LAA - SP)

16. Cody Allen (LAA - RP)

I’m taking the major discount on Allen right now.

17. Franmil Reyes (SD - OF)

18. Josh James (Hou - SP)

@JoeGentileFT, are you happy?

19. Ian Happ (ChC - 3B,OF)

I compared Happ to Baez during Second Base Week. I like the growth he showed in O-Swing% (he chased way less last year) and the spike in his walk rate. He also makes a lot of hard contact and is a powerful dude. He only needs to make more contact. I’ll bite at this price.

20. Ross Stripling (LAD - SP,RP)

He’s buried, I assume due to playing time concerns. This is a case of drafting the talent and banking on that to win out.

21. Miguel Sanó (Min - 1B,3B)

I didn’t really need him, but I thought this team lacked some power and he can fill-in at both corners. Quality bench bat.

22. Garrett Hampson (Col - 2B,SS)

He sure is buried in Yahoo’s draft applet. This is a stupid amount of upside in Round 22. This ADP should rise.

23. Joe Musgrove (Pit - SP)

150+ innings of a sub-4.00 ERA with my last pick? Yes please! I considered Michael Wacha, too. Also, Max Kepler was drafted in Round 23, at pick 270. That is awesome value and I’ll have a ton of Kepler on Yahoo if that ADP holds steady.

What do you guys think? Should I have gone with a starting pitcher earlier, or do you like this staff enough?