new team in a ridiculous league

[haveacigar535]

I'll post the team once we draft. wanted to get some input on draft strategies and such.
20 teams, 25 roster spots

C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, IF, IF, LF, CF, RF, OF, Util
4 SP, 2 RP, 3 P
4 bench
5 DL

categories are also crazy:
Hitting: R, H, 2B, 3B, HR, RBI, SB, BB, K, E, AVG, OBP
Pitching: IP, W, L, SV, BB, K, SVOP, HLD, ERA, WHIP, K/9, QS

if anyone has any deep sleepers to suggest or late round bargains, i'd love to hear them. this league will be insane

[AUAlum06]

are there even enough starters available for that league to fill every team??

[sprtnbrn]

Originally Posted by AUAlum06

are there even enough starters available for that league to fill every team??

It actually is. I'm in a 12 team 23 starter AL only keeper league. The last few spots aren't fun but it's doable.

[sprtnbrn]

As for some sleepers, here are some deep ones that I can think of from the AL at least:

Andy Sonnanstine
Wladimir Balentien (keep him on your bench until he's ready)
Frank Catalanotto
Erick Aybar
Rafael Perez
Justin Speier
George Sherril (would've been a bigger secret if he was still in Seattle)
Daric Barton


Basically, you need to look for one of two things late. Either overlooked veterans (Catalanotto) or rookies with upside.

[haveacigar535]

do you know when balentien might start getting PT?

my strategy is to just go best player available for the first 10 or 12 rounds, and make sure i don't reach on any sleepers early. in a league like this, getting a bad season from the top 3 or 4 picks would kill the team. then i'm just going to draft all sorts of rookies and minor leaguers with upside. hopefully i'll catch a few that fall through the cracks.

[sprtnbrn]

Originally Posted by haveacigar535

do you know when balentien might start getting PT?

my strategy is to just go best player available for the first 10 or 12 rounds, and make sure i don't reach on any sleepers early. in a league like this, getting a bad season from the top 3 or 4 picks would kill the team. then i'm just going to draft all sorts of rookies and minor leaguers with upside. hopefully i'll catch a few that fall through the cracks.

That sounds like a smart strategy. As for Balentien, I have no idea. My best guess would be once Wilkerson gets hurt. Seattle's outfield is extremely thin. That's why I would draft him for your bench. Once he makes the team, there'll be a feeding frenzy for a guy with upside in a deep league like yours.

[haveacigar535]

Originally Posted by AUAlum06

are there even enough starters available for that league to fill every team??

i actually thought it out. there are 150 starting IF spots in major league baseball. the league will start 140 infielders on a given day.

90 outfielders. 80 are started by the league.

14 DHs. 20 utility spots in the league.

254 starters on offense total. 240 league starting spots. so basically everyone except the occasional awful 2B or C will be on a league.

at least pitching will be more forgiving.

[sprtnbrn]

BTW, it goes without saying but when choosing marginal pitchers; all things being equal pick the one on the better team. The last thing, you want to do is take a Ranger starter over a similar valued starter from the Mariners or Indians.

[haveacigar535]

ok here's my team, draft finished tonight.

c: Carlos Ruiz
1b: Ryan Garko
2b: Rickie Weeks
3b: David Wright
SS: Carlos Guillen
IF: Yunel Escobar
IF: Andy LaRoche
LF: Manny Ramirez
CF: Josh Hamilton
RF: Matt Kemp
OF: Moises Alou
Util: Franklin Gutierrez
Bench: Frank Catalanotto, Felix Pie

SP: John Smoltz, Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson, Kyle Kendrick
RP: Matt Capps, Tom Gordon
P: Chris Capuano, Pat Neshek, Andy Sonnanstine
Bench: Jair Jurrjens, Fernando Rodney

[ComeClarity]

Deep leagues are fun, good luck.