It is amazing how five knowledgeable fantasy players, all of which have shared success in the hobby could come up with such vastly different draft day player choices when choosing the Top 25 players in each league. The most notable differences can be seen in the respect paid to pitching in these rounds. In his NL only and AL only picks, G-Money lists only two starting pitchers, Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez, and no relievers of the 50 players listed- a split of 48 offense to 2 pitching. Seth Trachtman, on the other hand, lists nine starting pitchers and six relief pitchers- A split of 35 offense to 15 pitching. Everyone else comes somewhere in between. The only given throughout the picks is AROD is the #1 player chosen not only in the AL, but in a mixed draft as well. Allow me to give you a little background on the fantasy owners providing picks:
G-Money-I've played with him for about seven years, he has come in 2nd about 6x, I watched him blow a 13 point lead in July last year. He trades a lot and is a good owner, unfortunately, he just hasn't won the whole thing. He'll make some nice minor league pickups that will normally give him a boost at the end of the year-not last year. Al O'Harra-Unlike so many writers on the net, in shame I must admit, yes, I have lost. I've lost due to injuries, bad pitching, no O. I've lost at the draft and been counted out by June. I've faded in August and done the fall swoon. I've lost because I thought other owners pulled a scam. I've lost because on the last day of the season I refused green eggs and ham. I've lost just because Scott Dunbar is in one of my leagues. But I have won my share of leagues as well and I am almost always top three. Seth Trachtman-A known icon in the industry, Seth has won numerous leagues. In 1999, he took 1st of 667 participants in the KMOX Homerun Derby. Seth is a strong advocate of position scarcity in his draft strategy. While I never played against Seth, his knowledge of the strategies, players and the game exceeds everyone else listed. Anthony Mezzatesta-He has played fantasy baseball for 6 years and won once. Last year was the first time I played with him and he had a strong draft. His first round pick, Ken Griffey Jr., was the first of a rash of injuries that had him buried by the All Star Break. He ended up 6th. Scott Dunbar-He plays all his teams with one stud starter and believes it is better to have a good middle reliever than a bad starter. He always wants the best player in any trade, so he'll give you two stars for a superstar and a bum. I've played against Scott in a league for 12 years and he has won 6x. He won the league the first three years I ever played fantasy baseball! Scott is very good at this. I hate Scott! Everyone who plays with Scott hates Scott! If you played with Scott, you would hate him too!
National League Only
G-Money
Al O'Harra
Seth Trachtman
Anthony M.
Scott Dunbar
1.
V. Guerrero-OF
T. Helton-1B
R. Johnson-SP
T. Helton-1B
T. Helton-1B
2.
T. Helton-1B
S. Sosa-OF
C. Schilling-SP
S. Sosa-OF
V. Guerrero-OF
3.
S. Sosa-OF
V. Guerrero-OF
T. Helton-1B
V. Guerrero-OF
R. Alomar-2B
4.
R. Johnson-SP
R. Johnson-SP
V. Guerrero-OF
R. Johnson-P
C. Jones-3B
5.
R. Alomar-2B
S. Green-OF
M. Piazza-C
M. Piazza-C
S. Green-OF
6.
B. Abreu-OF
M. Piazza-C
S. Sosa-OF
B. Bonds-OF
S. Sosa-OF
7.
B. Bonds-OF
B. Bonds-OF
B. Bonds-OF
J. Bagwell-1B
A. Jones-OF
8.
J. Bagwell-1B
B. Abreu-OF
R. Alomar-2B
L. Berkman-OF
M. Piazza-C
9.
M. Piazza-C
C. Schilling-SP
G. Maddux-SP
B. Abreu-OF
K. Griffey Jr-OF
10
S. Green-OF
J. Bagwell-1B
B. Abreu-OF
L. Walker-OF
A. Pujols-CI/OF
11.
L. Gonzalez-OF
R. Alomar-2B
C. Jones-3B
R. Alomar-2B
J. Bagwell-1B
12.
C. Jones-3B
G. Maddux-SP
L. Gonzalez-OF
S. Green-OF
B. Bonds-OF
13.
L. Berkman-OF
C. Jones-3B J.
Bagwell-1B K.
Griffey Jr-OF
R. Johnson-SP
14.
G. Sheffield-OF
A. Pujols-CI/OF
R. Nen-RP
L. Gonzalez-OF
C. Floyd-OF
15.
A. Pujols-1B/3B/OF
G. Sheffield-OF
R. Aurilia-SS
C. Jones-3B
K. Brown-SP
16.
B. Giles-OF
L. Gonzalez-OF
S. Green-OF
A. Pujols-CI/OF
L. Gonzalez-OF
17.
K. Griffey Jr-OF
L. Walker-OF
A. Pujols-CI/OF
C. Schilling-SP
B. Abreu-OF
18.
L. Walker-OF
R. Aurilia-SS
B. Wagner-RP
G. Sheffield-OF
R. Aurilia-SS
19.
J. Rollins-SS
R. Cedeno-OF
K. Brown-SP
G. Maddux-SP
K. Woods-SP
20.
R. Klesko-1B
P. Nevin-3B
J. Vasquez-SP
B. Giles-OF
R. Furcal-SS
21.
J. Kent-2B
L. Berkman-OF
O. Cabrera-SS
A. Jones-OF
J. Rollins-SS
22.
J. Pierre-OF
K. Griffey Jr-OF
R. Furcal-SS
M. Morris-SP
G. Maddux-SP
23.
P. Nevin-3B
B. Giles-OF
L. Castillo-2B
JD Drew-OF
JD Drew-OF
24.
A. Ramirez-3B
J. Kent-2B
T. Hoffman-RP
J. Rollins-SS
J. Vasquez-SP
25.
C. Floyd-OF
R. Furcal-SS J.
D. Drew-OF
C. Floyd-OF
A. Benitez-RP
American League Only
G-Money
Al O'Harra
Seth Trachtman
Anthony M.
Scott Dunbar
1.
A. Rodriquez-SS
A. Rodriquez-SS
A. Rodriquez-SS
A. Rodriquez-SS
A. Rodriquez-SS
2.
I. Suzuki-OF
M. Ramirez-OF
P. Martinez-SP
M. Ramirez-OF
I. Suzuki-OF
3.
T. Glaus-3B
Jason Giambi-1B
Jason Giambi-1B
P. Martinez-SP
Jason Giambi-1B
4.
Jason Giambi-1B
P. Martinez-SP
I. Suzuki-OF
I. Suzuki-OF
P. Martinez-SP
5.
M. Ramirez-OF
I. Suzuki-OF
M. Mussina-SP
Jason Giambi-1B
S. Stewart-OF
6.
D. Jeter-SS
J. Gonzalez-OF
D. Jeter-SS
M. Ordonez-OF
M. Mussina-SP
7.
I. Rodriguez-C
C. Delgado-1B
T. Hudson-SP
Garciaparra-SS
D. Erstad-OF
8.
P. Martinez-SP
D. Jeter-SS
M. Ramirez-OF
D. Jeter-SS
Garciaparra-SS
9.
C. Delgado-1B
T. Glaus-3B
C. Delgado-1B
T. Hudson-SP
D. Jeter-SS
10
C. Koskie-3B
M. Ordonez-OF
T. Glaus-3B
C. Delgado-1B
T. Glaus-3B
11.
J. Thome-1B
I. Rodriguez-C
I. Rodriguez-C
J. Gonzales-OF
M. Ramirez-OF
12.
M. Ordonez-OF
M. Mussina-SP
M. Rivera-RP
I. Rodriguez-C
A. Soriano-2B
13.
S. Stewart-OF
B. Williams-OF
M. Ordonez-OF
T. Glaus-3B
E. Chavez-3B
14.
B. Williams-OF
M. Sweeney-1B
K. Faulke-RP
M. Rivera-RP
C. Koskie-3B
15.
R. Palmeiro-1B
S. Stewart- OF
R. Durham-2B
M. Tejada-SS
B. Boone-2B
16.
C. Beltran-OF
T. Hudson-SP
M. Tejada-SS
M. Mussina-SP
T. Hudson-SP
17.
J. Gonzalez-OF
B. Boone-2B
N. Garciaparra-SS
F. Garcia-SP
M. Rivera-RP
18.
F. Thomas-1B
R. Palmeiro-1B
M. Sweeney-1B
S. Sasaki-RP
M. Ordonez-OF
19.
J. Dye-OF
C. Koskie-3B
F. Garcia-SP
J. Thome-1B
M. Tejada-SS
20.
N. Garciaparra-SS
M. Rivera-RP
C. Koskie-3B
E. Chavez- 3B
B. Williams-OF
21.
M. Cameron-OF
J. Thome-1B
B. Zito-SPF
B. Williams-O
M. Sweeney-1B
22.
Jose Cruz Jr-OF
R. Durham-2B
K. Sasaki-RP
R. Palmiero-1B
C. Beltran-OF
23.
Ray Durham-2B
D. Erstad-OF
J. Gonzalez-OF
R. Mondesi-OF
I. Rodriguez-C
24.
J. Damon-OF
R. Mondesi-OF
J. Thome-1B
B. Zito-SP
F. Garcia-SP
25.
R. Mondesi-OF
M. Tejada-SS
E. Chavez-3B
S. Stewart-OF
J. Gonzalez-OF
Mixed League Only
G-Money
Al O'Harra
Seth Trachtman
Anthony M.
Scott Dunbar
1.
A. Rodriguez-SS
A. Rodriquez-SS
A. Rodriquez-SS
A. Rodriquez-SS
Scott does not play mixed leagues and declined to provide a mixed league selection.
Are you starting to hate Scott just a
little bit too?
2.
V. Guerrero-OF
T. Helton-1B
R. Johnson-SP
T. Helton-1B
3.
T. Helton-1B
S. Sosa-OF
P. Martinez-SP
S. Sosa-OF
4.
S. Sosa-OF
V. Guerrero-OF
C. Schilling-SP
V. Guerrero-OF
5.
I. Suzuki-OF
R. Johnson-SP
T. Helton-1B
R. Johnson-SP
6.
R. Johnson-SP
M. Ramirez-OF
V. Guerrero-OF
P. Martinez-SP
7.
R. Alomar-2B
S. Green-OF
Jason Giambi-OF
M. Ramirez-OF
8.
B. Abreu-OF
Jason Giambi-1B
M. Piazza-C
M. Piazza-C
9.
B. Bonds -OF
P. Martinez-SP
S. Sosa-OF
B. Bonds-OF
10
T. Glaus-3B
I. Suzuki-OF
I. Suzuki-OF
J. Bagwell-1B
11.
M. Ramirez-OF
M. Piazza-C
B. Bonds-OF
I. Suzuki-OF
12.
Jason Giambi-1B
B. Abreu-OF
M. Mussina-SP
M. Ordonez-OF
13.
M. Piazza-C
C. Schilling-SP
D. Jeter-SS
Jason Giambi-OF
14.
M. Ordonez-OF
B. Bonds-OF
I. Rodriguez-C
N. Garciaparra-SS
15.
J. Bagwell-1B
J. Gonzalez-OF
R. Alomar-2B
L. Berkman-OF
16.
D. Jeter-SS
C. Delgado-1B
G. Maddux-SP
B. Abreu-OF
17.
S. Green-OF
D. Jeter-SS
T. Hudson-SP
R. Alomar-2B
18.
L. Gonzalez-OF
J. Bagwell-1B
B. Abreu-OF
L. Walker-OF
19.
I. Rodriquez-C
R. Alomar-2B
M. Ramirez-OF
D. Jeter-SS
20.
P. Martinez-SP
G. Maddux-SP
C. Jones-3B
C. Delgado-1B
21.
C. Delgado-1B
C. Jones-3B
L. Gonzalez-OF
K. Griffey Jr-OF
22.
C. Jones-3B
A. Pujols-1B/3B/OF
C. Delgado-1B
S. Green-OF
23.
L. Berkman
T. Glaus-3B
T. Glaus-3B
L. Gonzalez-OF
24.
G. Sheffield
M. Ordonez-OF
J. Bagwell-1B
C. Jones-3B
25.
A. Pujols-CI/OF
G. Sheffield-OF
M. Rivera-RP
A. Pujols-1B/3B/OF
There are no right and wrong answers to the individual players choices expressed above. During an actual draft, the owner can only be 'wrong' if he chose a player he could have picked up in a later round. If for example he chose Andruw Jones in the third round, while he could have gotten him in the fourth round. In such a case he would bypass a better player (a third rounder) along with the player he wants (Andruw Jones), for a lesser player (a fourth rounder) and Mr. Jones. But that is one of the keys to a fantasy baseball draft, trying to get the best players as late as possible without losing them. In the choosing of a player you are projecting the players statistics in comparison to other available performers. The correctness of the choice can only be evaluated at the end of the season, or in a lifetime league-over a number of seasons. Although common sense dictates at some point you are likely to view the choice in a positive or negative light. They above choices are simply opinions of projected performance. In an effort to water down the individuality of the opinions, and provide more of a universal opinion, I have below provided a composite. While player evaluation differences and agreements can be individually viewed, the composite is provided as an additional tool to show an OVERALL opinion toward the player. As all the owners did not list the same 25
players, the compostie also extends the number of
players.
To compile the composite, the first player chosen received 25 points, the second player received 24 points, etc., straight to the twenty-fifth player chosen receiving 1 point. We then added up the points provided each player by the five owners, four in mixed league. We also provided the number of owners that actually chose that player in the top 25 in parenthesis (like this).
