Fantasy Baseball 2006

It is a general rule in Fantasy and Rotisserie sports leagues that no one cares about your team except you. I'm an exception to this, in that I do like to see other people's teams now and then, to analyze the mix and what they spent in auction drafts and so on. So in case anyone seeing this blog is the same, here is the team I drafted this past weekend. This is for a very competitive 11-team standard Roto 5x5 league (BA, OBP, HR, RBI, SB, W, ERA, WHIP, SO, SV). Players with an asterisk were my five keepers from last year (allowed up to 7 each year, at +5 last year's salary). Must have players at these positions, with any mix of SP/RP allowed. All players play (no "bench"). We have a total of $260 fake $ to spend in the auction... and I managed to spend all of it (always a goal of course).

Pos	Name	$$$
C	Mike Piazza	8
C	Kenji Johjima	4
1B	Dan Johnson *	6
2B	Ian Kinsler	3
3B	Eric Chavez	12
SS	Jimmy Rollins	14
UT	Bobby Crosby	3
UT	Ryan Zimmerman	1
OF	Miguel Cabrera (3B) *	20
OF	Lance Berkman (1B) *	22
OF	Cliff Floyd	8
OF	Willy Taveras *	6
OF	Matt Murton	1
OF	Joey Gathright	1
SP	Dontrelle Willis *	13
SP	Rich Harden	28
SP	Mark Prior	14
SP	Noah Lowry	10
SP	Ervin Santana	2
SP	Daniel Cabrera	1
RP	Brad Lidge	30
RP	Francisco Rodriguez	29
RP	Huston Street	24

What jumps out at you, naturally, is the insanely good bullpen. After already having Lidge and K-Rod, I bid $24 on Street and then got stuck with him as everyone else bailed. That tied my hands from a budgetary standpoint for many rounds to come, so it was definitely a mistake. Other than that, I think I drafted OK. I don't have enough power though: Cabrera, Berkman, Floyd, and Chavez are all legit 30+ HR guys, but only Cabrera is a sure thing. Several others could hit 10-25, but I don't have any big boppers. I think I have enough speed with Rollins and Taveras, and a few others who'll get double-digit, and esp. if Gathright gets enough playing time. My starting staff is weak: Dontrelle was a great keeper, and Harden if healthy should be great (though he was expensive). As always, Prior is a big question mark. The others I am hopeful on, but it doesn't add up to a lot of confidence. At least those relievers will help my ERA and WHIP, besides dominating the league in saves.

Steals in this draft, potential keepers for next year at +5 salary? Besides Johnson, Cabrera, and Willis (keepers from last year), I like Johjima for $4, Kinsler for $3, Crosby for $3, Zimmerman for $1, Murton for $1, and maybe even D. Cabrera for $1 (he now has Leo Mazonne as his pitching coach!). Given their ages, I'm sure some of these will be flops. But if only a few of them have great years, then they are steals for next year.

Let the seasons begin!