Who do you take?

by dodgerdh on Feb 7, 2007 12:19 PM EST

I'm in a keeper strato league with the draft coming up shortly. I have depth everywhere but my pitching is very thin and I have no catchers whatsoever. Do I take a chance on a pitcher (Matt Garza, Anibal Sanchez, Jeremy Sowers, Chuck James, Joel Zumaya) or go for a hitter who might be more of a sure thing (Nick Markakis, Chris Young, Carlos Quentin) or just grab a catcher (Josh Willingham-for one year anyways, Kenji Johjima)? I really have no need for outfielders and would have a difficult time flipping them for pitching, which is premium in our league.
So, who would you take?

Poll

Who do you take?

Jeremy Sowers

5 votes

Chuck James

5 votes

Nick Markakis

40 votes

Chris Young

32 votes

Josh Willingham

1 votes

Kenji Johjima

7 votes

Joel Zumaya

14 votes

Carlos Quentin

13 votes

Matt Garza

35 votes

Anibal Sanchez

12 votes

164 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Willingham shouldn't qualify as a catcher

He played 2 games (14 innings) at catcher in 06, and 8 games (31 2/3 innings) at catcher in 05.

I voted for Sanchez.

"Dying is no big deal. The least of us will manage that. Living is the trick." - Red Smith

by finman on Feb 7, 2007 1:17 PM EST reply actions

He shouldn't qualify at catcher

But he does qualify, though. In strato, as long as you play any at a position, you get a fielding rating (and eligibility) to play there. A-Rod played 2 inn. at SS in '04 and 6 inn. at SS in '05 and was eligible to play at both, which his owner smartly exploited. It's a rule I don't like, but if J-Will can play catcher, then he has a lot more value.
And Sanchez's recent arm trouble and history of arm trouble scare me a little bit.

by dodgerdh on Feb 7, 2007 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

N.Markakis

When it comes down to pitching prospects or hitting, I tend to lean towards hitting.

Both my drafts I took the following in the first two rounds....

Draft 1 - Kendrick and Pelfrey
Draft 2 - Quentin and James

If you have a shot at Markakis, I would take him, and take him only behind Delmon Young. Quentin would be my second choice because of his ablility to get on base and slugging potential.
My order
Markakis
Quentin
Sowers
Young
Sanchez
Garza
James
Willingham
Zumuya
Johjima - Got him in an APBA sim league, and Kendhal is out hitting him as my second catcher. Not exactly sure why though.

by ChrisRef19 on Feb 7, 2007 1:54 PM EST reply actions

Sowers

Not sure about Strat, but in DMB a southpaw that doesn't strike people out is going to underperform in comparison to his R/L stats more often than not. Sim managers exploit platoon advantages way more than R/L managers do. I'd move Sowers to the bottom of that list. At a minimum behind Garza.

by natsfan2005 @ Minor League Ball on Feb 7, 2007 5:18 PM EST up reply actions

people love Markakis too much

He's on track to be a pretty good player, but I don't see what the hype about a prototypical #2 hitter/corner outfielder.

by limozeen on Feb 7, 2007 1:55 PM EST reply actions

this

season he is hitting third, and he has all the tools to be much better than a prototypical corner outfielder.

Lincecum is the blood diamond.

by realityconquest on Feb 7, 2007 3:53 PM EST up reply actions

well

Doesn't really matter where he's hitting. I just don't see him gaining much power.

by limozeen on Feb 7, 2007 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

14 HR's in the second half doesn't impress you?

by Wheelhouse on Feb 7, 2007 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

+1

I was wondering the same thing. I don't know a lot of 22-year-olds who do much better than that in terms of major league power.

by bleedjaxblue on Feb 7, 2007 6:28 PM EST up reply actions

+2

He should have a Brian Giles-like peak.

by Brickhaus on Feb 7, 2007 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

Zoom

and I don't think it's that close. He's awesome right now while the others have the potential.

Arthur: "Look, you stupid bastard, you've got no arms left!" Black Knight: "Yes I have." Arthur: "Look!" Black Knight: "It's just a flesh wound!"

by pedrophile on Feb 7, 2007 2:19 PM EST reply actions

tough choices, but...

I will point out that Anibal has arguably the best SP card in the set from last year (thanks to the terrible defensive ratings the Fish fielders got). If pitching is at a premium, taking him and flipping him might be the way to go. In a lot of leagues, he'll have enough usage to get 2 starts in a post-season series, which can make a big difference. But I see him as a risk, as I am not as bullish on his future as I am on some of these other players.

Johjima seems like a very "safe" choice, but I wouldn't be able to bite the bullet and take him in the face of all the upside sitting out there.

I also wouldn't take any of: James, Sowers, Willingham, or Quentin in your situation.

by BobbyMac on Feb 7, 2007 10:22 PM EST reply actions