WCOF Draft

By Dalton Del Don

The season begins imminently, and I’m aware no one wants to hear about yet another draft done by someone else, but I really should talk about my “World Championship of Fantasy Baseball” experience in Las Vegas last weekend, if for no other reason so others know about it next year. WCOF is predominant throughout the fantasy football world and decided to step into the baseball pool for the first time this year. It’s a high stakes league, but it should be noted, for those unwilling to spend a $1,600 entry fee, there are also plenty of “satellite” leagues – where entry fees range from $125, $220, $500 and $1,000. Plus, those leagues are conducted online.

The whole deal was top-notch, putting me up at the Palazzo for two nights, and on draft day, there were video cameras, a full bar, lunch served and they even hired some “cheerleaders” to put the stickers on the board for each pick. As cool as that was, I must admit, they weren’t helpful, but more of a distraction. I blame them if my team fails. Anyway, onto the draft: the parameters – 14 teams, C, C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, 2B, MI, CI, OF, OF, OF, OF, OF, Util, SP, SP, SP, SP, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P. 32 rounds total (and yes, this draft took all day).

I absolutely love being in leagues like LABR and Yahoo! Friends & Family, but I mean, there’s a $200,000 grand prize for this one, so it was pretty intense. Here’s my team:

C – A.J. Pierzynski
C – Ramon Hernandez
1B – Carlos Pena
2B – Dustin Pedroia
SS – Elvis Andrus
3B – Evan Longoria
MI – Dan Uggla
CI – Aubrey Huff
OF – Ichiro Suzuki
OF – Jay Bruce
OF – Alex Rios
OF – Drew Stubbs
OF – Magglio Ordonez
Util – Jeff Francoeur

SP – Roy Halladay
SP – Johan Santana
SP – Tim Hudson
SP – Gavin Floyd
SP – Mat Latos
SP – Vicente Padilla
RP – Frank Francisco
RP – Mike Gonzalez
P – Jason Frasor
P – Mike Adams

R – Orlando Cabrera
R – Scott Rolen
R – Desmond Jennings
R – Trevor Cahill
R – Pedro Martinez
R – Drew Storen
R – Tony Gwynn
R – Pat Burrell

Some thoughts:

I waited on catchers and closers more than any other team in the league, then took five straight from rounds 14-18. I don’t hate the end result.

I keep getting a pick between 4-7 in pretty much every single one of my drafts this year, resulting in Evan Longoria being on the majority of my teams. I like to diversify, but I also need to stick to my guns. If he goes down with a big injury, I’ll be in trouble.

I didn’t have Roy Halladay, who I have ranked as the No. 1 SP and as a borderline top-15 option this year, on any of my teams before this draft, so I was happy to get him on at least one.

In a league were you need to swing for the fences more than any other (since for the grand prize, you aren’t just competing against 13 others, but rather, every participant in the main event), I was ready to take Jose Reyes in the third round, but he was swooped three picks before me. Dustin Pedroia was my consolation prize.

I have played in probably 5-10 fantasy baseball leagues in each of the past 10 years, and I’ve never once owned Ichiro Suzuki. Until now. He’s most certainly not one of “my guys.” But at pick #51 and after other outfielders such as Jason Bay, Curtis Granderson, Nelson Cruz, Shin-Soo Choo and B.J. Upton were all already off the board, I decided to pull the trigger, reluctantly. And also likely regrettably. Ichiro’s walks declined last year, as did his LD%, and he stole the fewest bases (26) of his career (while getting caught the most since 2004). He’s 36 years old, so a continued decline in stolen bases should be expected, and last year’s drop off is especially worrisome considering his OBP was .386 (which came with the aforementioned drop in LD% and BB% and a .384 BABIP (career .359)). Since batting average fluctuates so much, you want to draft the Ichiro types the year after he hits .315, not .350. I strongly considered Ben Zobrist instead. And I guarantee I live to regret it.

Neither Carlos Pena nor (especially) Dan Uggla are guys typically ending up on my teams, but in Pena’s case, he was by far the last viable 1B available, and Uggla went about 30 spots lower than his ADP (and after other 2B options like Rickie Weeks, Asdrubal Cabrera, Howie Kendrick and Jose Lopez were off the board). I applaud the aggressive drafters in this league. But also, even if it ultimately backfires, I’m OK with holding my nose and selecting guys I typically avoid if they fall so far it’s impossible to ignore. Sometimes it’s far better to take what’s given and remain agnostic as opposed to acting like you know what’s going to happen. Moreover, with Dustin Pedroia, a SP and Ichiro Suzuki among my first four picks, I theoretically should be strong in BA and was realistically short in power, so guys like Pena and Uggla kind of fit the bill perfectly.

At rounds 11 and 12, I wanted two of the following four pitchers: Tim Hudson, Roy Oswalt, Francisco Liriano and Gavin Floyd. I was happy to get two of them (Hudson and Floyd), but in hindsight, I should have went with Liriano over Hudson, especially in a league like this. Hudson is safer, but Liriano’s upside is far, far, far greater.

Alex Rios was beyond awful last season and yet still produced 17 homers and 24 steals. He now plays in one of the five best hitting parks in baseball. He’s a fine ugly pick.

In an event like this, the specific league you get put in really matters, and I happened to get placed in one with quite a few sharks, so I’m left with a team I’m not overly in love with. Nevertheless, wish me luck!