Looking at past drafts

jonkiley's post got me thinking about the Amateur Draft and my picks through the first 3 seasons here in the Wonderful World of Guinness. So, I thought I'd create a post about my drafts in hopes of starting a little discussion.

Season 1

I lost a Type A and a Type B FA before the season so I had 2 supplemental picks and 2 second rounders. With 5 picks in the top 72 overall I made sure to do my homework and I think it's turning out well. My first two picks were 18 year old starting pitchers who have followed each other up through the ranks. The 21st overall pick was

Richie Fordham Tucson Two Baggers Age: 21 B/T: L/L Born: North Hollywood, CA Position(s): P (T4A) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

His partner in crime, so to speak, was the 42nd pick

Ugueth Mendez Tucson Two Baggers Age: 21 B/T: R/R Born: Mabank, TX Position(s): P (T3B) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

They've been solid in the low minors and I've moved them up slowly. My philosophy with HS players is to give them a full season at LoA and HiA after playing Rookie Ball post draft. If they're within 10 points of their overall projection I'll have them start the season at AA then promote to AAA at mid-season. If they haven't come close enough to their projections yet, I can still move them up one level at a time to maximize their potential. When a prospect repeats a level you run the risk of having their growth stall. My next pick was at number 50 and the player was

Stephen Lowry Tucson Two Baggers Age: 21 B/T: R/R Born: Pahrump, NV Position(s): SS View Hardball Dynasty Profile

He will spend the full season at AA. As an 18 year old SS he's not developing as fast as the pitchers did. He should hit righties well enough to play every day, as long as his defense gets to projected levels. Now my next 2 picks, both second rounders, are in the Bigs this season.

Bill Lane Tucson Two Baggers Age: 22 B/T: L/R Born: Baltimore, MD Position(s): 2B/1B/COF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

AND

Clay Ward Tucson Two Baggers Age: 21 B/T: R/R Born: Park Forest, IL Position(s): C/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

I think you guys must have been asleep on Ward. He projects to be a passable Catcher and has one heckuva bat. Lane is also very good with the stick, but his defense doesn't project to be a 2B so he'll get moved to a COF. I feel like I've rushed them both a bit, but I lost some offense after season 2 and needed to get them up as quick as I could. I need them to contribute if I'm going to get back to the playoffs this season.

Season 2

Didn't do so good here. My first pick was wasted on a JC LF named Ahmad Bell who did not sign. So my only selection in the top 100 was at #72

Ivan Baxter Tucson Two Baggers Age: 20 B/T: L/L Born: Newberry, SC Position(s): CF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Baxter projects as a solid CF with good speed. IF he starts in the majors, it will be in CF and he'll hit 9th. I'll be happier with him as a defensive replacement and pinch runner on my bench.

Season 3

Five more picks in the top 100 thanks to losing a Type A FA and the supplemental pick from my first rounder not signing in season 2. I went with a HS SP named Ed Sellers. He didn't sign. (can you guess who will be going 'Very Conservative' with signability in this season's draft?) My first pick that did sign was

Pedro Arias Tucson Two Baggers Age: 19 B/T: R/R Born: Rochester, WA Position(s): 3B/1B/COF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Arias should be a solid 3B and it will be interesting to see how he develops. I'll be moving him up slowly. My other sup pick was

Turner Weaver Tucson Two Baggers Age: 20 B/T: R/R Born: Mcmechen, WV Position(s): 2B/CIF/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Weaver will be a very good offensive player in Tuscon and will probably get a mid-season promotion since he was 19 when drafted. My older players won't spend a full season at either LoA or HiA. In the second round I took

Benito Palmeiro Tucson Two Baggers Age: 19 B/T: L/L Born: Camp Hill, PA Position(s): RF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Benito should hit for a high average and will find his way to my ML roster. He was a HS player so I'll move him up slowly. My other 2nd round pick was

Barry Bennett Tucson Two Baggers Age: 21 B/T: R/R Born: Hendersonville, NC Position(s): P (ClA) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Bennett will be a very good ML Relief Pitcher. As a JC player I'll bump him from LoA to HiA at mid-season.

Looking back at my drafts I seem to draft heavy on High School players and I don't take signability serious enough. I do, however, seem to get good balance in hitting and pitching. I'll adjust a few settings to try and sign all of my picks. And, just like jonkiley, I'll be hoping for a deep draft since I only have 3 picks in the first 2 rounds this season.

Did you read anything useful? Is anyone still reading? Hit the comments and talk about the draft!

Hoping for a deep draft

Considering the amount of Type A and B free agents (of which I signed one) this year, my second pick won't be until 78. In the less than 10 seasons in which I've participated, I've only ever had one supplemental pick (who didn't end up signing). I love the amateur draft, but drafting as late as I usually do (highest pick ever in either of my leagues was 14) rarely allows for me to select a top-notch pitching prospect as pitching seems far less deep than positional prospects in the draft. And considering Int'l pitching prospects are few and far between (and pricey), it's a real challenge to get any projected ML starting pitchers through the draft or Int'l market.

I'd love to see more projected ML pitching prospects in the amateur draft with L&R splits, control , velocity, and pitch quality on par with hitting prospects splits, batting eye, contact, and power numbers. Rarely have I seen starting pitchers in the draft have 80+ numbers across the board as has been the case with positional prospects.

Well Done jonkiley!!!

I knew your skills would pay off eventually! This looks fantastic! Thanks for putting in the time. I owe you a pint next time I see you.

Coach hiring or just shooting in the dark?

One of these days, I'll figure out coach hiring. Just when I think I'm getting there and hire my entire staff, I learn something new that causes me to wish I could do it over again. Lessons I think I've learned so far. Bench coaches - I'm clueless as to what constitutes a good bench coach, but probably discipline, strategy, and ratings to reflect your team emphasis. Hitting - hitting, running, and discipline needed. Pitching and bullpen - pitching and discipline, plus probably some strategy thrown in. 1B - I like a good hitting rating. 3B - discipline and running, with some hitting thrown in for good measure. Fielding - high fielding, discipline, and patience. Of course, my coaches don't reflect this thinking at all since I didn't come to this conclusion until after hiring. Anyone have some different thoughts, suggestions, or observations?

Open Admission

And I will also hearby swear that the sole vote for "100 Losses" was cast be me inre my millers. Under promise, over deliver, that's my motto.

supapimp

A Rook's First View

I've been a long-time SIM user. Originally the Dynasty Sports, baseball, football, basketball and hockey. Lately, I've began getting into the Dynasty leagues: basketball and most recently, baseball.

First off...wow...This thing is intense, addicting, and could certainly become time-consuming. Especially for a rookie. I mean, one of the first things you have to deal with is managers and coaches negotiations. With little idea of any relative pay scale, you're basically bumping along in the dark. You never deal with that in Hoop Dynasty.


Also, the roster handling aspect is certainly more nuanced. All major league sports have their unique player/contract/roster regulations and related massaging of those regulations (Keith Van Horne). But baseball, with it's multitude of drafts, player levels, years-of-service, arbitration eligible, etal, requires a rare combination of talents to manage. My congratulations to anyone who manages all this and remains sane.

On that note, can anyone tell me what the point of the Inactive List is, and why would you use it? Isn't the point of the minor leagues to get prospects to play?

Still, I'm excited to get into the league, and any input, especially concerning roster management, is certainly most appreciated.

Guinness now has a BLOG!!

Don't have much to say, yet. Just saw that WIS gave us the ability to attach a blog to the league so.... here it is.

We have a very good group of owners and I hope this can enhance the experience.