With the conclusion of the football season, I decided that it was the perfect time to start running our weekly mock drafts.  This past Thursday, we held our first such event, and had a full slate of participants.  For the initial mock, I set it up as a 10 team mixed league with 25 roster slots (C 1B 2B 3B SS OF OF OF P P P P P P P P P and 7 Bench spots).  The large bench gave each drafter a chance to craft his own team as he saw fit, drafting a CI/MI combo, having an 11 man pitching staff, etc. 

The results are posted on GoogleDocs here.

As I have done the past couple of years, I will write a review of the proceedings on the weekend following the draft, putting forth my commentary on picks that I love, those that I am not enamored of and those that make me go “Huh?”  Feel free to comment, as that is the value of mock drafting, getting a sense of what to expect when our actual drafts roll around.  For convenience sake (mine, mainly), I will break up the draft into 3 sections, Rounds 1-6, 7-15 and 16-25.FGD Readers

Rounds 1-6

Nothing real surprising the first two rounds.  I did like Scott Gilroy’s back to back of Cano and HanRam.  Kind of surprised Cano lasted that long.

Braun goes early 3^rd round and that’s what I’ve been seeing.  If something happens to his suspension in a positive way, expect him to bounce up into the top of the first round.

Pedroia also lasted longer than I would have expected.  Personally, I like Kinsler more, but if you factor in the injury factor, I can make a case for Pedroia going as the 2^nd 2B.

Granderson and Napoli I believe are being overvalued currently.  My love for Granderson is well publicized, but even so, I’ve backed off picking him as my first OF.

Verlander seems to be everyone’s favorite #1 SP, but at least he went in the 3^rd round here.  Not a strategy I promote, as I prefer to get offense first, and I believe even snagging an ace in the third hurts you down the road in the draft.

Howie Kendrick going as the 2^nd pick in the 6^th was a bit of a surprise.  Perhaps last season we all saw the light snap on for him?

Jordan’s selection of Lawrie highlights the need to mock draft on your league’s software prior to your actual draft.  I took just before him, but if I had scrolled a bit, Lawrie would have been on my team, not Jordan’s.  Familiarize yourself with the draft board so you don’t suffer any nasty surprises of undiscovered gems.

Rounds 7-15

Now we get into the meat of the draft, where many leagues are won or lost.  Developing a strong pitching staff and depth at hitter are essential to compete.  Trading and waiver wire/FAAB pickups will only patch so many holes if you stumble here.

Ryan Howard, assuming he comes back in May (or earlier) is a steal in the mid 7^th round.

I feel Shane Victorino hangs around too long in most drafts.  Steady performance, nothing to knock your socks off, but good production overall.

Round 8 is where the first closer was taken, and while I like Kimbrel, I never take closers early.  Saves come into the league all season long, and with Kimbrel’s work load last season, I am being cautious.  Plus, I don’t start drafting pitchers, and SPs only, until round 10 or so (here I acted in the 9^th to assure myself of getting Ian Kennedy).  But that’s just me; YMMV.

I worry about Josh Johnson,  Drew Stubbs, Jayson Werth and Mat Latos to take them for my teams, at least until I can gather some spring training info on them.

I worry about Bonifacio, too, but Olin seems to have no such concerns, as evidenced here and in other drafts.  I do think both Cuddyer and Logan Morrison are great values here in the 11^th round.

I was hoping to take Beachy in the 13^th, but Olin beat me to him.  Love the K/9 ratio he posted last season.

Ike Davis is a nice value pick at the end of the 14^th round.  Mark Trumbo, however, worries me as that DH/1B situation is a bit crowded with Morales coming back (or so we’ve been led to believe).

Once again, I liked what Scott did at the turn, grabbing Leubke and Duda, both of whom I have as moderate sleepers. 

Rounds 16-25

I, as is my wont, took Adam Dunn.  I must be delusional, but there is NO WAY his 2012 could be as disastrous as 2011.  When we drafted in a 15 team/50 player league in Phoenix at FirstPitch this past November, I initially believed I reached when I took him in the 9^th round, but in a draft that deep, you need to take some chances.

Kenley Jansen, taken by Scott at the end of the 17^th round, is getting serious love in expert drafts.  Not that the experts don’t make mistakes, but this makes me want to wait on closers even more.

Francoeur lasting until the end of 18^th seems to say that not everyone is buying in on his career resurgence that we witnessed last season.

I hate to keep talking up Scott’s draft, but the back to back of Neil Walker and Colby Rasmus could pay huge dividends this season.  I know Rasmus stunk up the joint when he went to Toronto last year, but I feel he has too much talent to simply fall off the table again.

Albert Lang’s back to back selection of Capps and James Johnson could be brilliant, getting value at closer, or it could blow up badly. I like Capps better than Johnson to last the majority of the season at closer, I have to confess.

Some middle relievers/set-up men were selected in the 21^st-23^rd rounds.  Venters, Abreu, Adams, Reed, Melancon and Balfour all speak to the value of non-closers that give you good counting and percentage stats, with more IP than a 9^th inning guy.  I know a lot of fantasy players rail against the Hold stat, and won’t consider it as a category, but my feeling is by using Holds in a 6x6 league, you are opening up a huge source of pitching riches that are not available in a standard 5x5 or 4x4 league.  Holds are especially nice in an AL or NL-only league.

Rios is a nice risk here at the end of the draft.  Like Dunn, he has the talent to provide adequate stats for your team.

Bourjos, who Jordan took in the 24^th round, is another late value who could be considered a sleeper.

All in all, a great way to spend a February evening.  Remember, we hold these mocks for you, our readers.  I will be accommodating when it comes to scheduling the drafts (they have to be held during the evening Monday through Friday, but if we get a call for a weekend draft soon, I can arrange that, too) as well as the draft format (number of roster spots, mixed/AL-only/NL-only, positions-just don’t ask for a 2 C league, but a no C league is fine).  You just have to let me know what you would like to see and I will attempt to make it so.

I will be using Couch Managers primarily this year, although we could have a draft on Mock Draft Central, as well, if the demand is there.  Although you need to register on either site to participate, I will make certain all the drafts are free for the drafters, as a pre-season gift to you for joining in on the fun.

Info on the next draft:

Next week’s draft is up and ready to go over at Couch Managers Password is FGD2. I set it up as a 23 round mixed draft with CI/MI, 5 OF, 2 SP, 2 RP and 4 P slots. No set time yet, so let me know when you can draft if you are interested.

I check here for comments during the week, but the best way to reach me is via e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on Twitter @johnwhorfin.