Howard Chen AKA Mr. Fantasy's Blog

Here is how Mr. Fantasy drafted in his 2 baseball leagues for 2008 over the weekend.

First, for my 12-team league...

1. (1) Álex Rodríguez 3B 2. (24) B.J. Upton 2B,OF 3. (25) Justin Verlander SP 4. (48) Carlos Peña 1B 5. (49) Travis Hafner 1B 6. (72) Chris Young SP 7. (73) Corey Hart OF 8. (96) Fausto Carmona SP 9. (97) Josh Hamilton OF 10. (120) James Shields SP 11. (121) Jhonny Peralta SS 12. (144) Jason Isringhausen RP 13. (145) Garret Anderson OF 14. (168) Oliver Pérez SP 15. (169) Kenji Johjima C 16. (192) C.J. Wilson RP 17. (193) Jon Garland SP 18. (216) Felipe López 2B,SS 19. (217) Jason Marquis SP 20. (240) Aaron Hill 2B 21. (241) Michael Bourn OF

Next, for my 8-team league...

1. (6) Alfonso Soriano OF 2. (11) Ryan Braun 3B 3. (22) B.J. Upton 2B,OF 4. (27) Justin Verlander SP 5. (38) Travis Hafner 1B 6. (43) Carlos Peña 1B 7. (54) Dan Haren SP 8. (59) Hunter Pence OF 9. (70) Chris Young SP 10. (75) Corey Hart OF 11. (86) James Shields SP 12. (91) Francisco Cordero RP 13. (102) Josh Hamilton OF 14. (107) Yovani Gallardo SP 15. (118) John Maine SP 16. (123) Jhonny Peralta SS 17. (134) Matt Cain SP 18. (139) Rich Harden SP 19. (150) B.J. Ryan RP 20. (155) J.R. Towles C

As you can tell, there are similarities with both teams, and I'm a fan of those players.  There's a lot of depth in starting pitching, but not for elite sluggers, so pick those first.  Closers come out of the woodwork during the regular year due to performance issues, injury issues, whatever.  So basically, closers are to baseball what place-kickers are to football.  Well, maybe a tad more important.  Some gambles toward the end with Bourn, Harden, Ryan, and Towles.  Bankin' on the Astros' new GM knowing what he's doing.  Bourn stole a lot of bases considering the very limited time he got in Philly, and now he'll be starting for Houston.  Towles showed he could just flat out rake it last year, and it's continued in the spring.  Harden's always had the stuff, but he's coming back from a few injury-plagued seasons.  IF he can stay healthy, and that's a big IF, he's a great pitcher.  Same goes for B.J. Ryan.  If he's healthy, count on 35-40 saves with a good number of K's.