This year's Artichoke League draft
I'll include the pertinent rules of our league at the bottom of the post.
My keepers coming in to the draft were:
1B: Derek Lee
SS: Jose Reyes
MI: Clint Barmes
OF: Manny Ramirez
OF: Brian Giles
SP: John Smoltz
SP: Jon Lieber
SP: John Patterson
SP: Carlos Silva
RP: Mariano Rivera
RP: Eric Gagne
What my picks were
I had the 6th pick in the hitter's draft, and a random assortment after that.
My sole picther's pick was the 16th pick in that side of the draft.
I had the following positions to fill:
C, C, 2B, 3B, IF, CF, OF, SP
My goals going in to the draft:
I targetted one of the following 6 players for my first pick:
Pat Burrell
Chipper Jones
Jeremy Hermida
Ryan Howard
Ken Griffey
Chad Tracy
I had also made a list of 17 pitchers to choose from, with my first three choices being:
CC Sabathia
Brad Radke
Paul Byrd
I try to focus on WHIP (BRA actually) and K/BB ratio for choosing pitchers, since the ERA usually follows the WHIP long term, and with my closers, I don't need to worry as much about wins.
For hitters, I don't worry too much about steals (esp. with Reyes), and I try to focus on the three averages (BA, OBP, and SLG), and hope that the plate appearances allow for good counting stats. I'd like at least one, preferrably two young keepers to replace aging veterans.
hard choices for my keepers
We get 8 'free' keepers, and can buy additional keepers at the cost of transaction points. The free keepers come from the bottom rounds, but the additional keepers come from the top rounds, so they do come at a real cost. Last year, I definitely lost at least one place because I didn't have sufficient transaction points to fill in for injuries.
Besides the people I kept, I considered: (the first 5 were all keepers for me last year)
Bobby Crosby - a hard choice, but I could only keep 2 SS, and I chose Barmes
Adrian Beltre - 2 years ago, a sure keeper. This year? We'll see
Justin Morneau - see above
Matt Clement - faded too much last year to be a keeper
Matt Morris - too expensive to keep - I thought I'd be able to draft him again, and I could have if I wanted to.
Ryan Freel - will he get enough playing time?
Rocco Baldelli - again, too expensive, and didn't heal fast enough from his injury to be safe enough. I had picked him up last year to keep, but didn't after all.
who I drafted:
I was able to land Chipper with my first pick, and Griffey with my second pick! I filled in the rest with
Ryan Zimmerman, IF
Geoff Jenkins, OF
Rod Barajas, C
Mike Piazza, C
Adam Kennedy, 2B
I had 17 pitchers on my list, and managed to land my #2 choice, and also get my #3 choice for my reserve list, as well as a rookie also on my list of 17
my reserve list is:
Curtis Granderson (rookie CF, Detroit)
Paul Byrd (SP)
Eddie Guardado (RP) (one of only 3 sure closers left for the reserve draft)
Mike Jacobs (second year 1B, now with Florida)
Joey Gathright (rookie OF TB)
Jay Gibbons (OF/1B)
Scott Baker (SP, Minnesota)
Ray Durham (2B)
Chen Ming Wang (SP NYY)
Brad Ausmus (C)
Analysis:
My first two hitters picks are guys with some injury history, but who play great when they are on the field. I picked up Granderson as a potential replacement for Griffey. Also, Gathright might be up and playing (and hopefully CF eligible) by the time I would need him.
I am very excited about all of my starters, with the exception of Kennedy, who should at least help out with steals and average.
I drafted the top CF on my list, and the second to my reserve list. I got the top 3B, and 4th best corner infielder for my CI. I got an OF high enough not to complain about, and 2 solid catchers (not usually my strength).
My reserve list gives me plenty of flexibility, although I'm not sure I'd actually use Ausmus if Piazza got injured.
I wish I could have gotten Jeremy Hermida, but I wanted Chipper and Griffey, so there it is. I was also disappointed to lose out on Josh Barfield, but I thought he would have dropped lower than he did.
I expect to be very strong in:
SLG, HR, RBI W (actually, 2W+S-L), IP, K/BB
I hope to be strong in:
BA, OBP BRA
basic rules
The league has 12 teams
There are 7 hitting categories:
Batting Average, On Base Percentage, Slugging Percentage, Runs, RBIs, HR, Steals (SB-CS)
There are 5 pitching categories:
Innings Pitched, Wins (2W+S-L), Base Runners Allowed per 9 Innings Pitched, ERA, and Strikeouts / Walks
Rosters consist of:
C,C,1B,2B,3B,SS,MI,IF,CF,OF,OF,OF
5 starting pitchers and 2 relievers
plus a 10 person reserve list
plus 3 midseason free agent drafts of one player per team (in order of current standings)
There are seperate drafts for pitchers, hitters, and reserves.
You start with 32 transaction points. A transaction normally uses two - one to reserve a player and one to activate a player. Starting this year, DL transactions are free if they are within 2 weeks of when the player goes onto and comes off of the DL.
You get 8 "free retentions" from the previous year. You may purchase additional retentions at 4TP each. The free retentions come from the bottom rounds of the draft, but the extra ones come from the top of the draft - you get to chose whether they come from the hitter's or the pitcher's draft.