2/15/2008 2:35:58 PM

This is always the point in which I draft gets interesting. It's right about the 6th or 7th rounds where you have to start asking yourself lots of questions. D

Do I draft for category or position need? Would I prefer to go with a younger, less proven, talent, or take a veteran who might be on the downside? When should I start filling in my rotation? It's alwasy interesting to see how guys handle those questions.

For myself, I really wasn't on this round. I needed a couple of positions filled, 1B being one of them. I also had a huge need for power numbers. So I decided I would try and fill both with one shot. Gonzalez has the 30+ HR potential I needed, at the 1B position which I also needed to fill before the talent ran completely out.

However, if I had been paying more attention (I was trying to attend to my screaming 5-week old daughter at the time), then I would have seen that my man Brad Hawpe was still available at my selection.

I am secure in my manhood and have no problem saying that I have a mancrush on Hawpe. I think he's one of, if not the best, values in fantasy this season. And I could've/should've had him.

So it wasn't a disastrous selection, but not a comfortable one either.

Jeremy Fischer

2/15/2008 3:33:01 PM

I needed to add a bat after nabbing my first closer in Round 6 and snagged Astro's OF Hunter Pence. He was a leading candidate for the Rookie of the Year before getting hurt last season, but should be ready to tear it up this year.

It's entirely possible that he'll never hit .322 again. Look for 25 homers and strong RBI numbers. The Miguel Tejada acquisition probably means he'll hit sixth initially, costing him in the runs category. However, that shouldn’t last all year. Throw in 15-20 base swipes and he's a solid pick here.

From here on out, I will look to build my staff and fill in the holes in the line-up.

Dan Clasgens

2/15/2008 4:26:50 PM

thanks to Jim Humbert for pointing out my best pick this draft. Roy Oswalt is one of the most consistent SPs in baseball. I was gonna take him in Round 6, but passed and thought he'd be gone. You gotta love when you get both guys you coveted. I loved the Victorino and Hawpe picks. They were the best available OFs and if I didn't have 3 OFs already, I would've chosen one of them. I almost took Hawpe over Abreu last round. I did not like either Chris Young picks at this point. Both are good, but better options were sitting (Victorino/Hawpe in the Young OF case) and Oswalt or Carmona over the YOung SP). But in this round strange things can happen. Please keep taking RP everyone so I can get my guys.

Jimmy Dinsmore

2/15/2008 4:58:30 PM

I took Hawpe cause he's a stud. Do I need to elaborate?

Ben Bolton

2/15/2008 5:45:20 PM

Thanks Jimmy for "racking" me here! (I hate Jim Rome by the way!) I like the pitcher, Chris Young's upside. He only had 9 wins last season but he had more Ks, a lower ERA and a lower WHIP than Oswalt in almost 50 less innings. I debated on drafting Oswalt and Carmona this round actually, but I feel Young was the better option. I've liked him ever since his rookie year a few seasons ago in Texas.

Oswalt will finally have a lineup that can put some runs on the board for him (assuming Tejada is able to play) but that still doesn't guarantee anything. I like my pick of Young here and I like your pick of Oswalt when you took him.

Oswalt used to be one of the first pitchers off the board. To see him last this long and everyone pass on him till you snagged him here tells me that I'm not the only one that thinks he's slipping down the board in fantasy baseball. Young is on his way up. Oswalt is either going to just hold steady where he is or start to decline I feel. Another reason why I felt Young was a good option at this point in the draft.

I have made my case and a damn good one if you ask me. I'm out! Seriously, I hate Jim Rome!

Chris Murdico

2/15/2008 11:29:17 PM

that was Chris from the Nati, dropping some knowledge on all of us.
Seriously, it's about risk. I know what I'm going to get with Oswalt and what his ceiling is. Young is younger and has more upside, I agree. In fantasy baseball I take consistency over risk every time. But that's just me.

Jimmy Dinsmore

2/16/2008 9:05:20 AM

I usually like to go with the known or proven rather that the unknown and unproven. In this case I just felt like Young has the potential to have a great season, possibly better than Oswalt. He pitches in spacious Petco Park too, so that aided in my decision. In this case it was just to each their own. I don't think either pick was bad, just different strategies. One good, mine, and one not so much, yours. Ha! Just kiddin...maybe. Rack me!

Chris Murdico

2/16/2008 10:34:51 AM

I like to have a solid mix of proven veterans and young diamonds in the rough. More often than not I go with a young, unpoven player with upside of a veteran in his twilight, but then again that is just the gambler in me talking.

Dan Clasgens