2008 Buffalo Keeper League Team Draft Analysis
“Putting the Anal back in Analysis”
Brian Gee
Cole Hamels!
History
Exp: 7th
Titles: 0
Avg Finish: 11th (13th)
Best: 4th 2003
Worst: 16th 2007
Average Moves: 66 (7th)
Average Trades: 11.4 (1st)
2007 Finish: 16th
2007 #1: Manny Ramirez
2007 #18: Homer Bailey
2006 #1: Carlos Delgado
2006 #18: Mike Timlin
Stats
Pick: 9th
Overall Rating: 2.89 (10th)
Offense
: 2.84 (12th)
Infield + Catcher: 2.69 (13th-t)
Outfield + Utility: 2.98 (5th)
Pitching
: 2.94 (11th)
Starting: 2.73 (11th)
Closing: 3.55 (6th)
TDA in a Nutshell:
Keepers: Atkins 6, Hamels 9, Carmona 10, Lilly 13
Blue Chip: None
Best Pick: Adam LaRouche 14th
Worst Pick: Ichiro 2nd
Overrated: Polanco
Underrated: Connor Jackson
Not on my team: Garland
Not on any team: Towles
Sleeper: Connor Jackson
Super Sleeper: Garland
Bust: Crawford
Major Bust: Pat Burrell
Rotation: Hamels, Jamie Schields, Lilly, Carmona, Garland
Closers: 2.25 Valverde, C.J. Wilson (.75), Marmol (.25), Howry (.25)
Overview:
Ever since he joined the league, Brian Gee has been one of the most impulsive and unsuccessful owners ever. He is known for rapid mood swings, selling off his team only to rebuild for a run three weeks later. He was originally brought in to appease the affirmative action laws. Since no one knows a black person, the best we could we was yellow.
What Went Right?
Gee brought excellent starting pitching with him to the draft in the form of keepers. With one side of his roster filled out, he was able to concentrate primarily on hitting. He went on to fill out a roster and that is about it. Maturing Bucs’ slugger Adam LaRouche was a good pick for round fourteen. Back to pitching, and the bullpen. This ate up a considerable portion of his draft. Drafting two out of three closing candidate from the Cubs, he missed out on the winner, Kerry Wood. No worry since he will shred his shoulder in no time. Marmol will eventually win the job, Gee managed to obtain him without overspending.
What Went Wrong?
Gee overspent on an expensive gadget player, Ichiro Suzuki. A singles hitter, with thirty-five stolen base potential should not have been drafted early in the second round. What was puzzling about this move is that Brian already has Ichiro version 2.0 in Carl Crawford. More power and steals, but a lesser throwing arm. Outfield assists count for nothing. Frank Thomas is an aging slugger with a good eye, ten years past his prime. He was taken in round eight. Atkins did his best to replicate his 2006 breakout season. He came close, but most likely could have been drafted near or after the sixth round keeper value gee placed on him. Especially with the position as deep as it has become.
Hitting Analysis
Gee managed to draft a fair amount of sluggers, considering he spent his first two picks on speed guys. Overall, there are four candidates to top thirty homeruns, but no stud. Aside from Crawford and Ichiro, most of the team consists of stationary players who will not run at all, let alone on a regular basis. Still, just the two will be enough to post close to one hundred bags. Atkins has reached a plateau. Frank Thomas can only be counted on for a solid OBP; he will spend some time on the disabled list this year. Carlos Guillen has been one of the most maligned players in long history of this publication, going back to his Seattle days. After a number of productive seasons it is fair to say that he is a solid five tool player. Fellow Tiger middle infielder Plocido Polanco was scoffed at when his name was announced in the draft room. Playing on a regular basis, he should soak of plenty of the Tigers’ residuals. He should also hope that Brandon Inge does not learn how to play second. Connor Jackson experienced a slight regression during 2007, but should bounce back to twenty or so homeruns. Pat Burrell is who you think he is, a thirty something homerun hitter, forty may be possible. Over the past decade there has always been a buzz over the latest Rockie catcher or Astros’ catcher. It is figured that based on the ball park configurations or thin air they are a shoe in to crush thirty dingers. Thus far, the league is batting 0-15 on these prospects. Look Towles to make it a dozen and a quarter.
Pitching Analysis
As previously mentioned, Gee has a full stable of young arms with high strikeout potential. It is actually a surprise that Fausto Carmona does not strike out more batter than the 137 he fanned in 2007. This will be remedied by the strikeouts from fellow holdovers Cole Hamels and Ted Lilly. Knocking at the clubhouse door is Ray’s hurler Jamie Schields. He possesses a similar resume’, but lacks the keeper value needed. Black listed from the club is now Halo’s start Jon Garland. For years he has made a career of eating innings, pitching like crap, yet winning.
Brian has one solid closer who is a bad week away from mid-relief duties. Couple that with two of the closers in waiting in Chicago and Gee should have enough to finish near the middle of the pack.
Overall/Prediction
Brian will make trades. Brian will frequent the waiver wire. Brian will sell his soul for one player and trade him away later that week. Brian will not win the league or finish in the money. Instead, he will grow weary of his team, find a way to squander the keepers he has away and finish near the bottom. Afterwards, he’ll regroup and start anew from the top in 2009.