Projected Finish: 13
Overall: 2.45
Offense: 2.92
Infd + C: 3.38
Of + Uti: 2.35
Pitching: 1.98
SP: 2.52
Closers: 1.24
Keepers: Glaus 7, Capuano 9, Kendrick 10, Utley 16
Pick: 1
Blue Chips: Pujols, Utley
Best Pick: Tim Hudson
Worst: Raul Ibanez
Underrated: Capuano
Overrated: Magglio Ordonez
Not on my team: Kendrick
Not on any team: A. Cook
Rotation: Dice-K, Capuano, Hudson, Snell, Jennings
Closers: 1.0
Avg Finish: 15.0
Titles: 0
2006 #1: Jimmy Rollins
2006 #18: Chad Qualls
Eric entered the league with a poor rookie season resulting in the number one overall pick. In his second season he hopes to end with a single digit finish in the standings, but that may be asking too much.
Team Hall submitted the winning bid for highly sought Daisuke Matsuzaka, first pick of the third round. A good value for a player with such hype. Scott Rolen remains a solid figure at third, which was opened up by Glaus qualifying at short. Tim Hudson experienced an off 2006, but was a great draft day value in the seventeenth round.
While this comes with some prejudice, Raul Ibanez is not a second round pick. Period. Magglio's stats continue to erode. Hall drafted the name in the fifth round, not the player he was. Not to be topped, Chris Young, the outfielder went in the sixth round. Needless to say it was a tough day for the Hall franchise. Howie Kendrick is also a questionable keeper.
Even with AJ Pierzynski as the catcher, this may be the best fantasy infield. Scott Rolen is the worst of the four infielders and he was a fourth round pick. If you have not surfed over to Hall's team to browse, he has Pujols, Utley, Rolen and Glaus. Four studs. Thus allowing for a second tier outfield with Mag's, Ibanez and Roberts. Look for Roberts to get off to a hot start before he strains a quad/hammy/groin and he is dumped into the free agent pool. Such an impressive infield also gives Eric the luxury of benching his fifth round pick, Chris Young. Kendrick remains a sub par keeper and poor utility man. He could have been drafted a few rounds later with far less risk.
Dice-K reminds many onlookers of Kaz Ishii a few years ago. Hard to hit but seems to walk batters regularly. Regardless he is easily the ace of the staff. Capuano is still flying under the radar of many fantasy owners despite stringing two strong seasons with plenty of strikeouts together. As for Snell, Robertson, Jennings and Hudson, one never has a good feeling when you draft/whore Robertson or Jennings. And they are always the first to go when a shiny new whore/prospect come along. Snell has a promising upside and Hudson may be a potential keeper if he rebounds. Izzy is the lone closer.
Eric has put together an unbalanced team, pro-offense anti-pitching. This should be good enough to get him to the middle of the pack before he is gang raped for Pujols, Utley and Dice K, only to be left hemorrhaging in the basement.