My 12TO NL Team - HDID

[Big Tymer]

Following the lead of others, figured I'd put my team out here for feedback as well. Really strong keeper list / FARM team to start so had a stars and scrubs strategy as my going in plan as this is a league that does a lot of trading and rebuilding (and thus can fill holes thru trades). RotoLab did me very well in both this league and RJEL (with my custom settings to adjust for how inflation dollars would get allocated) as prices were in general as I expected. I had pre-auction inflation calculated around 45% (blended rate) with history saying that more of the inflation gets allocated to hitting. Last year, top closers were in the low 30s and top pitching went there as well (e.g. Gallardo went for $33 last year) so when prices started out a little low I jumped right in and spent all my money in the first 30 minutes (not something I generally do).

C: AJ Ellis $2 (keeper)
1B: Ike Davis $15 (keeper)
CI: Anthony Rizzo $5 (keeper)
3B: Eric Chavez $2
2B: Neil Walker $10 (keeper)
MI: Brandon Crawford $5
SS: Ian Desmond $23 (keeper)
OF: Jay Bruce $15 (keeper)
OF: Jason Heyward $15 (keeper)
OF: Justin Upton $43
OF: Angel Pagan $30
OF: Travis Snider $10
UT: Alexi Amarista $5
UT: Gerald Laird $1

BN: Reed Johnson $1 (hedge against injury for Upton/Heyward)
BN: Alex Presley (hedge for Snider)

Comments: I decided pre-auction to punt 3B so Chavez was as good as I hoped for. With McCann out, I figured Laird would give me ABs until I make a trade.

P: Kris Medlen $2 (keeper)
P: Marco Estrada $2 (keeper)
P: Mat Latos $24
P: Tim Hudson $14
P: Antonio Bastardo $1
P: Eric O'Flaherty $1
P: Drew Storen $6
P: Brandon League $1 (keeper)
P: Jonathan Papelbon $25

BN: Daniel Hudson $4
BN: Jordan Walden $1
BN: Jeremy Hefner $1

Comments: I have Teheran to promote which will give me 5 SPs until Daniel Hudson is ready. Acquiring a top-SP will be a priority but several other contenders need SPs too so should be interesting.

FARM: Billy Hamilton
FARM: Julio Teheran
FARM: Jameson Taillon
FARM: Brian Goodwin
FARM: David Dahl (just drafted)
FARM: Kolten Wong
FARM: Brett Jackson
FARM: Lucas Giolito (just drafted)

[Hornsby]

Looks to be strong overall, you've spread the risk well. Great Power, should be enough speed if Amarista get some regular AB's, and good BA as well. Really well done. Pitching is more than good enough if estrada can repeat last year, and your reserves are more than adequate in a mono league. With at least 2 guys ready to come up and play full time, your minor league system looks ready to pay off.

All in all, you should be the leader of the pack, I can't imagine that another team has the horses to keep up with you. And you have enough trade fodder to get what you may need during the season...

[Fresno Bob]

I like your team better than Frae's, plus you've got the trade chips to fill holes

[Sharky]

Ridiculous keepers (and minor league squad). Auction looks fine. Better to spend big, given your starting point. You'll probably take some good ribbing from your league-mates if you don't at least medal.

[Judge Jude]

Yes, this is a good example of what to do with an excellent keeper list - add some more studs to the pile, plus you have broad power and not shortchanged, really, either at SP or the 'pen....

and of course the farmhands are another resource to exploit as the season goes on

[JudeBaldo]

plus you've got the trade chips to fill holes

I concur. You should have a huge lead in Saves so trade from there. I love Upton as the offensive centerpiece.

[Big Tymer]

Thanks guys! I fully expect Frae to give me a good run for my money as this league is always super competitive and thus I also wouldn't be surprised to see some more horses emerge. Adding Dahl & Giolito yesterday was a best case scenario for me in the minor league draft and now I just have to hold back from getting too attached to these shiny new toys.

FWIW, I had Dahl rated #1 on my board but drafted 3rd (Puig & D'Arnaud went 1 and 2). I've been burned too many times by latin players to go in on Puig and with this being a 1-catcher league I'm not as bullish on D'Arnaud as others. We've only seen a small sample of Dahl but reports have been very strong and I'm buying in on that kind of talent who gets to play half his games in Coors.

[frae]

Thanks guys! I fully expect Frae to give me a good run for my money as this league is always super competitive and thus I also wouldn't be surprised to see some more horses emerge. Adding Dahl & Giolito yesterday was a best case scenario for me in the minor league draft and now I just have to hold back from getting too attached to these shiny new toys.

FWIW, I had Dahl rated #1 on my board but drafted 3rd (Puig & D'Arnaud went 1 and 2). I've been burned too many times by latin players to go in on Puig and with this being a 1-catcher league I'm not as bullish on D'Arnaud as others. We've only seen a small sample of Dahl but reports have been very strong and I'm buying in on that kind of talent who gets to play half his games in Coors.

I think you have a pretty good edge on me when you take into account assets to trade. Outside of trading my major league contracts my two farm toys are Taveras and Rendon. Not bad, but not nearly as deep as you. I also don't get to make my first farm pick for another 10 plus picks. Anyway, I like what you did and I imagine if we both stay healthy I will be chasing you most of the time. Anyway, good luck!

[Stephen]

I like the balance of your roster as well and you have a lot of guy that I have targeted this year in leagues plus a healthy number of Braves.

Nice work!

[Big Tymer]

Yeah, it's funny I'm not a Braves fan but have lived in Atlanta on and off since 1995 so I think through osmosis I have a unconscious desire to roster Braves Kimbrel didn't look 100% to me this spring so I decided to try and buy their set up men in the oft chance he becomes human this year.

[Stephen]

If you have a Braves fan that you could sell Medlen to for a stud pitcher that was bought in the auction or was kept at a higher price I'd look into it.

I think he'll be a solid arm, but not a true ace and this might be the last chance to unload him for a true stud level player.

[Big Tymer]

Agree on Medlen. We don't much dumping before May but trading him to a rebuilding team for a SP + more is definitely something on my radar.

On Dahl, the Coors factor is really just a bonus. Definitely more of a speed guy but in general I like to have those guys on the FARM as I prefer to not have to pay for steals as I did this year. I'm an offense-first prospect guy and just like him more than Almora and the latin guys who I admit to having a bias against for reasons I cannot or will not even try to substantiate.