TKO's 2016 Money League Team

Let's get this party started! Football is ova! Figured I'd get a first round discussion going on just like last year. Don't think I'll be so lucky as to get Arenado 15th overall this year (yes, that was a subtle pat on the back for going against the grain last year... )

Lost in the championship last year though (my Cespedes/Cano for Miggy deal backfired last July). So I'm in the 14th slot this year.

15 team, snake, points (pretty standard), weekly lineups
C (can start two instead of DH). 1B. 2B. 3B. SS. MI. CI. OF (x4). DH (20 games last year). UT (multi-position eligibility hitter)
SP (x5). RP (x2)... we draft team bullpens

In no particular order... (except my projected picks...which is very iffy this season)
Goldschmidt
Harper
Trout
Kershaw
Donaldson
Rizzo
Arenado
Stanton
Cabrera
Scherzer
Correa
Altuve
Encarnacion

...pretty confident in the first nine, ending with Miggy--in some kind of order. Gets pretty iffy after that.

So, my first thought is looking at Machado. And on the turn, coming back with a top five arm OR that group of outfielders that I'll miss out on if I don't take them. You know I love MY Pollock ... Betts is interesting. Not a McCutchen fan. Scared of Bautista.

Maybe I'll take two SP to start it off? That is a high possibility if Machado goes instead of Max/Altuve/Correa.

Love the smell of spring training!

If Machado's not there, going two stud SPs is very appealing. After the top guys, 1B is a vast wasteland/crapshoot you can fill down the road, imo. Targeting a guy like Belt in the middle rounds might work out well for ya. 3B is kinda the same, I think. Seager Sr. is another "safe" guy to snag after the studs are gone.

Maybe a top SP and OF? As for Correa, I'm not too sure I'd draft him in the first round, but someone probably will. If not the first, the 2nd for sure. I could be wrong, but I think that's still a bit of a reach.

There are a LOT of Ofs out there with potential, but I know you love Pollock. 15 team league, would he gone by the 2nd? If you think so and truly believe in him, go with your instincts.

Stud pitcher in the first, top OF in the 2nd...? at 3rd? If you don't get Machado, I'd take care of 3rd...by the 3rd. Unless you think you can snag a Sano down the road (if he's eligible) and wanna take a chance.

And yes, the smell of spring training. Smells wonderful!

Yeah, can't see Pollock getting to pick 30, let alone 44.

I agree on Correa... but someone will bite.

I love Pollock too, but he should regress a little since his ratios look too hard to continue(still a very good player)... I see him more to be a 4th rounder than a 2nd... But don't mind paying up for him since he has the SITUATION that I love...

Who do you even have as the number 3 SP?? I always fear career year players...

I am also not high on Altuve, again, he is great, but I always fear players who rely so much on BA... He doesn't walk at all, and that scares me... He declined in BA last year, and if that happens again he wont be worth what you are paying... But then again, he too is in a GREAT SITUATION... Other thing, is that you can get great speed at the end of the draft, power has always been king in fantasy...

Machado is my target guy, but you have to pay attention to see where he will bat... As of now the Orioles don't really have a lead off hitter, and may need to hit Machado at lead off... If this is true, then his RBI production would take him out of the first round IMO... They are trying to get Dexter Fowler, and I think that will solve this problem...

Donaldson is another player I think will decline... again, never trust career season players... but with that said, he is still easily a first rounder... and if he falls to you then great value... Just think he will be overdrafted...


I kind of like where you are in the draft... if you are not a top 4 pick then I would much rather be at the end of the first round... the real question is not who to take in the first, but who to take in the second... I know you love Pollock, but he will take away your advantage if you draft him in the 2nd...

My #3 SP is most likely Sale.

Agree on Altuve.

Machado batting first doesn't scare me at all. Did a lot of damage there last year in my corner slot, ups his steals/runs too.

Not worried about Donaldson making it to me.

Love Pollock, but I agree he won't go 20-40 again.... maybe. But 15-30 he can do in his sleep. What OF (or other) has you parking him in the 4th?

...yeah, the ends are easily my favorite place in a draft.

*note* - we do have draft slot choice, so technically I could move back to 15th (assuming nobody else does), or get bumped down if others take 14 and 15.

TKOSpikes said:

My #3 SP is most likely Sale.

Agree on Altuve.

Machado batting first doesn't scare me at all. Did a lot of damage there last year in my corner slot, ups his steals/runs too.

Not worried about Donaldson making it to me.

Love Pollock, but I agree he won't go 20-40 again.... maybe. But 15-30 he can do in his sleep. What OF (or other) has you parking him in the 4th?

...yeah, the ends are easily my favorite place in a draft.

*note* - we do have draft slot choice, so technically I could move back to 15th (assuming nobody else does), or get bumped down if others take 14 and 15.

Click to expand...

Forgot you said this is a 15 team league... Pollock is too good to go in the 4th, but I do think he is a mid 3... And I am talking value(that I give him), not where he will be drafted...

TKOSpikes said:

My #3 SP is most likely Sale.

Agree on Altuve.

Machado batting first doesn't scare me at all. Did a lot of damage there last year in my corner slot, ups his steals/runs too.

Not worried about Donaldson making it to me.

Love Pollock, but I agree he won't go 20-40 again.... maybe. But 15-30 he can do in his sleep. What OF (or other) has you parking him in the 4th?

...yeah, the ends are easily my favorite place in a draft.

*note* - we do have draft slot choice, so technically I could move back to 15th (assuming nobody else does), or get bumped down if others take 14 and 15.

Click to expand...

Sale is interesting... He has done nothing in his career but be great... But, you talk to any analyst, and they don't trust the guy... His mechanics are wonky and people fear he will blow out his arm... But he doesn't and just continues to be great... People are finally paying up for him, so of course, you know what that means!!!...LOL...

MilkSpiller22 said:

Sale is interesting... He has done nothing in his career but be great... But, you talk to any analyst, and they don't trust the guy... His mechanics are wonky and people fear he will blow out his arm... But he doesn't and just continues to be great... People are finally paying up for him, so of course, you know what that means!!!...LOL...

Click to expand...

Can't let injury potential sway you... everyone has something against them.

Damn... Bautista has DH eligibility to start this season. That might make me change my mind on him. It might catapult him in the middle of the 1st too.

Speaking of those SP's ....tough to rank. Where does Arrieta and Kuechel fit? What about the Mets trio? MadBum and Price have lots of innings in recent years. Cole ready to bust out for a full season and step forward?

Kershaw
Scherzer
Sale
Bumgarner
Price
deGrom
Harvey
Fernandez
Arrieta
Keuchel
Greinke
Cole
Strasburg
Kluber
Archer

This is probably my top 15. Room for debate. Little worried about Felix. Like some young guys like Rodon, Thor and Matz. Where do Wacha, Cueto and McHugh fit in? Love Carrasco and Salazar's upside. Hamels and Lester still pitching well. Wainwright believes he's still elite.

Tough crew to differentiate. If I wait until 3/4, it's unlikely that I'll see any of the top 15.

I think Lester might begin the slide. I love Thor and Matz, although I Matz is still a year or two from reaching his potential, and his health is a concern. I love Carrasco and Salazar, especially Salazar. You might be able to get Wainwright in a lower round. If so, I'd be all over that. Stras scares the crap outta me. So does Greinke. Of course, I love Harvey and DeGrom. And Keuchel.

Aw hell, you can't go wrong with most of 'em.