I'm new to the 5x5 format and I draft tonight! (1 Viewer)

[Green94]

I've been an H2H point guy for my fantasy "career" and I just recently found out that there is another H2H league where you win categories? Anyways, I thought that was Roto, but I guess I'm mistaken.

So, I've been moderately successful at H2H and feel like diving into a new experience. Any tips or helpful hints would be appreciated. A few of the questions I have:

1) First, who is my best option at #2? I'm thinking Reyes, but Hanley and D Wright seem like good options as well.

2) When do pitchers typically go in Roto drafts?

3) What is an overall sound strategy for drafting in Roto leagues?

Again, just looking for some insight before my draft tonight. Would appreciate any feedback.

Guru/AB - feel free to chime in

 

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Best options at #2 IMHO:

Matt Holliday - OF

Emerging 5 Category Stud... 35HR / .320-.330 / 100+ / 100+ / 10+

Only downside is he's at a position with depth (OF)

Jose Reyes - SS

SB / R Machine... won't hurt you in any categories.. scarce-ish position

Hanley Ramirez - SS

Emerging pop (30HR upside) - Great AVG / Speed... scarce-ish position

You really can't hurt yourself with any of those guys... IMHO I'd prob consider reyes since HRs are easier to pick up at other positions and his presence alone will all but assure you a top finish at SB (assuming you pick up a couple other decent guys). Assuming Ramirez could reproduce last year's numbers or improve he earns a better chance at consideration.. for some reason I feel like he's gonna regress a bit but that's pure opinion.

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Pitchers.. depends on the league. In casual leagues some yahoo will grab Santana in the 1st round. IMHO I'd consider getting one stud early.. maybe 3rd thru 5th round.... then full up with high upside emerging guys later on.

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IMHO the primary difference between roto / H2H from what little I know is that roto allows a bigger tolerance for streaky guys, or guys who have stronger first/second halves...

Just MHO... don't claim to be any sort of expert

 

[Green94]

Best options at #2 IMHO:Matt Holliday - OFEmerging 5 Category Stud... 35HR / .320-.330 / 100+ / 100+ / 10+Only downside is he's at a position with depth (OF)Jose Reyes - SSSB / R Machine... won't hurt you in any categories.. scarce-ish position Hanley Ramirez - SSEmerging pop (30HR upside) - Great AVG / Speed... scarce-ish positionYou really can't hurt yourself with any of those guys... IMHO I'd prob consider reyes since HRs are easier to pick up at other positions and his presence alone will all but assure you a top finish at SB (assuming you pick up a couple other decent guys). Assuming Ramirez could reproduce last year's numbers or improve he earns a better chance at consideration.. for some reason I feel like he's gonna regress a bit but that's pure opinion.

Thanks Icon, agreed with Hanley, plus he is losing Miggy which I'm sure will decrease his run potential a bit.

 

[Green94]

IMHO I'd consider getting one stud early.. maybe 3rd thru 5th round.... then full up with high upside emerging guys later on.

Good to know.

 

[guru_007]

Can't go wrong with Wright or Ramirez at pick 2, imo. Holiday is a big red x at #2. Guy is good, but OF is deep and he isn't hitting 50 homers per year. I hate picking Reyes, because I just feel his hammy's are going to pop at any time. But if they don't, and they haven't for a few years now, he is good at 2 too. I prefer to play it safe.

Honestly, drafts aren't won or lost in the first 2 rounds. Last year in one draft my first three picks were Ortiz, HanRam, Holiday. I came in second

On pitching, I kinda zip and zag. If pitchers are going early, I wait. If no pitching is going early, I have no problem drafting a few pitchers in the first few rounds. I target a few guys that I like but are coming off mediocre years (last year I had CC, Peavy and Beckett.....this year I am looking at Bedard, King Felix.....few other guys, don't want spill all my beans). If you're in a strikeout league, obviously target guys with good k ratios. If not, target guys with good whips, and top end middle relievers are good too.

 

[Green94]

Guru

 

[cobalt_27]

If Utley goes .320 / 125 / 30 / 115 / 15, couldn't a case be made pretty easily that he could go 2nd?

I don't believe in Brandon Phillips this year. I think Upton is being taken too high and won't come near the BA/R/RBI numbers of Utley. And, following those folks, you get even more pedestrian stats.

To me, the Wright-Ramirez-Holliday-Utley decision is so up in the air, taking the guy with far fewer options beneath him would be the solid play. As it was said before, you don't win/lose the draft in Round 1. Seems like an Utley-Guillen (.315 / 210 / 50 / 215 / 30) combo would, arguably, be just as good as (if not better than), say a Ramirez-Cano (.310 / 210 / 45 / 170 / 55) tandem.

 

[Bobcat10]

I think the safest pick this year at #2 is Wright. He'll be very similar to Holliday, a tick less power but a bunch more SBs. The other guy I would consider is Reyes. While it might pay out to take Hanley here, I'm not risking it this year.

I don't take too many pitchers early on unless somebody falls that shouldn't. You gotta be in the draft to get a feel on how pitching will shake out. Usually, the top guys usually go too quick, but then you probably will see great value on some guys (Hamels, F. Hernandez, Harang.....could be anyone, somebody will fall into your lap at a nice spot). Don't sleep on, or be scared of, the youngsters.

On a side note, don't worry about 2B, unless this is a 20 team league. Very good 2B's in the 10-15 range (although I'd never argue with a person if they took Utley early in the 1st round).

 

[Angry Beavers]

I agree that the safest pick is Wright, but there are a few good 3b this year and the dropoff after Reyes is huge IMHO;

I would see the other thread started byGuru(?). As you need to score in 10 different categories you don't need to worry about hitter who strikeout alot as that will only hurt average. Think Willy Mo Pena late - he will mash this year.

I would not worry too much about saves. There are always guys that become available. I was able to get Sherrill, and CJ Wilson very late in a draft I did last night. Get yourself one decent ( top10) closer and let the rest fall.

Try to keep your team fairly balanced. Winning the HR category by 100 bombs is worth just as much as winning by 1 HR!

 

[Green94]

Try to keep your team fairly balanced. Winning the HR category by 100 bombs is worth just as much as winning by 1 HR!

Very good point.

 

[Green94]

I think the safest pick this year at #2 is Wright. He'll be very similar to Holliday, a tick less power but a bunch more SBs. The other guy I would consider is Reyes. While it might pay out to take Hanley here, I'm not risking it this year.I don't take too many pitchers early on unless somebody falls that shouldn't. You gotta be in the draft to get a feel on how pitching will shake out. Usually, the top guys usually go too quick, but then you probably will see great value on some guys (Hamels, F. Hernandez, Harang.....could be anyone, somebody will fall into your lap at a nice spot). Don't sleep on, or be scared of, the youngsters.On a side note, don't worry about 2B, unless this is a 20 team league. Very good 2B's in the 10-15 range (although I'd never argue with a person if they took Utley early in the 1st round).

Good post Bobcat.

 

[Pnishthm]

Can't go wrong with Wright or Ramirez at pick 2, imo. Holiday is a big red x at #2. Guy is good, but OF is deep and he isn't hitting 50 homers per year. I hate picking Reyes, because I just feel his hammy's are going to pop at any time. But if they don't, and they haven't for a few years now, he is good at 2 too. I prefer to play it safe.

Honestly, drafts aren't won or lost in the first 2 rounds.

Tell that to the guy who drafted A Rod 2nd overall last year while most others were taking Soriano or Reyes. His 2nd round pick of M. Holliday wasn't too shabby either

 

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So how'd it go?

 

[Green94]

So how'd it go?

Took David Wright. I was actually shocked at some of the picks, like Santana going 3rd.First few picks were as followsavid WrightCarl CrawfordMark TeixeiraJosh BeckettDerek JeterMy lineup is ok, hitting could be much better but my pitching staff looks pretty solid expect for saves.BeckettHalladayHarden (huge question mark, took him very late)Bobby JenksFrancisco Liriano (took him a little after most draft averages)Carlos Marmol (hopefully he is the closer, took him late)Oliver PerezIan SnellJavy VazquezC - Salty1b - Tex2b - Uggla, K. JohnsonSS - Jeter3B - David WrightOF - CrawfordOF - ####udomeOF - IbanezOF - Chris YoungU - KonerkoDelgado on the bench.Let me know how I did. Already know that the HR's are going to be lacking.

 

[Angry Beavers]

How many teams?

 

[Green94]

How many teams?

10 - Standard CBS League

 

[Limp Ditka]

Like you said, you'll be hurting for power, but you should have enough speed to move for some power later in the season.

You're possibly screwed at catcher. There's a good chance Salty doesn't break with the team as there have been reports that they want him as a catcher and only a catcher. If he can't wrestle the everyday job away from Laird in ST, they might leave him in AAA since he still has options and that will allow him to see everyday action at C.

I like your pitching, a lot. I don't foresee both Harden and Liriano crapping out on you so if one of them can pitch the whole year, and there's no reason to think the Liriano can't, you're in really good shape there.

 

[Green94]

Like you said, you'll be hurting for power, but you should have enough speed to move for some power later in the season.You're possibly screwed at catcher. There's a good chance Salty doesn't break with the team as there have been reports that they want him as a catcher and only a catcher. If he can't wrestle the everyday job away from Laird in ST, they might leave him in AAA since he still has options and that will allow him to see everyday action at C.I like your pitching, a lot. I don't foresee both Harden and Liriano crapping out on you so if one of them can pitch the whole year, and there's no reason to think the Liriano can't, you're in really good shape there.

Agreed, love my pitching. I'm trying to pick up Buck on the waiver wires as well. We'll see :(

 

[guru_007]

Sorry Green, I hate your team Looking real bad in average, rbi's and homers. So-so in runs and SB's.

I don't like your pitching staff all that much either. 1 1/2 closers in a 10 man league is not adequate. You have a ton of K's, but your ratios have a chance of looking ugly. You're going to need a whole lot of things to go right this year for that pitching staff to dominate (Harden healthy, Liriano come back to top form, OP to not be awful, Snell to get more than 7 wins). Not saying that it can't happen, I just don't think it will happen. You are probably going to need to move a pitcher to address a few glaring weaknesses. Hopefully your guys start off strong and you can make it work.

g'luck

p.s. you drafted too many white sox.

 

[Green94]

p.s. you drafted too many white sox.

I only took 3 And I really wanted Swisher. Oh well. Sucks that you hate my team, hopefully they over perform, it's a learning experience!!! Plus most of my money will be made capping games anyways.

 

[Green94]

I'm liking my Javy Vazquez pick more and more. He has become the ace of this staff. I know Guru thinks I may have taken way too many White Sox (although you may have been joking?), only 3, but I think I got the right ones.

Javy is due to have another good year (ERA down, WHIP down, Wins up last year), Paulie should bounce back, and Jenks will be fine.

Now Harden , Liriano , and Oliver Perez :X ........ that's a different story.

 

[guru_007]

BeckettHalladayHarden (huge question mark, took him very late)Bobby JenksFrancisco Liriano (took him a little after most draft averages)Carlos Marmol (hopefully he is the closer, took him late)Oliver PerezIan SnellJavy VazquezC - Salty1b - Tex2b - Uggla, K. JohnsonSS - Jeter3B - David WrightOF - CrawfordOF - ####udomeOF - IbanezOF - Chris YoungU - KonerkoDelgado on the bench.Let me know how I did. Already know that the HR's are going to be lacking.

Since I already told you I wasn't that fond of your team.....I'll show you my team in a similar 10 team formatC-J BuckC-J Mauer1B-L Berkman2B-K Johnson3B-C FigginsSS-J RollinsOF-K ####udomeOF-J CustOF-J WillinghamOF-S VictorinoOF -M OrdonezU-D OrtizU-K Youkilis SP-J BondermanSP-T LillySP-A.J. BurnettSP-J VazquezSP- Jered WeaverRP-C.J. WilsonRP-J.J. PutzRP-T SaitoRP-R SorianoI'm pretty sure my offense will be solid, as I should be near top of the pack in runs, sb's, and average. HR's and RBI's I'm going to have to keep my eye out, but I should be o.k.Pitching, I think I grabbed three very solid relievers who should do fine. My starting pitching has a few questions, but all are decent k guys without being WHIP killers. So long as they stay healthy I should be competitive. I even grabbed 1 White Sox What do you think?