The worst team of all-time.
The worst ever drafted.
How could I possibly be considered an expert drafting this team?
I heard some variance of the above in emails, in tweets, on my show on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. I heard it from everyone. E V E R Y O N E. I left money on the table (a mistake I owned up to in my review of the draft). I had a corner infielder – Derrek Lee – who didn't take an at-bat all season. I had Placido Polanco have the worst season of his career. So how did the worst team ever drafted turn out? With three days left in the season the team was tied for first place...
Wilin Rosario, who drew a ton of heat for my $8 bid, blasted 28 long balls with 71 RBIs in a dominating season.
Garrett Jones socked 27 long balls with 86 RBIs – both career bests (the runs batted in tied his total from 2010).
Daniel Murphy did exactly what I expected him to do (.291-6-65-62-10) while qualifying at multiple spots.
Rafael Furcal had 477 at-bats, a three year high. He wasn't great, but he was pretty solid (.264-5-49-69-12).
Chris Nelson, who I was made fun of mercilessly for drafting, hit .301 with nine homers and 53 RBIs.
So much for my infield being “pathetic†as most thought.
As I said after the draft, the strength of my team was always going to be my outfield. And it was.
Andrew McCutchen: Should finish near the top of the NL MVP voting thanks to his out of sight effort that included a .327 batting average, 31 homers, 96 RBIs, 107 runs scored and 20 steals.
Dexter Fowler: Hit .300 with 13 homers, 12 steals, 53 RBIs and 72 runs scored.
Alfonso Soriano: 32 HRs, 108 RBIs. I was laughed at for drafting him.
Carlos Quentin: 16 HRs, 46 RBIs. Knew he would be hurt, but 86 games was a 5-year low. If only he had gotten to 115...
Chris Young: Worst season of his career hitting .231-14-41-36-8 from a player who averaged 24 HRs, 81 RBIs, 92 runs and 25 steals in 2010-11. He was literally half the player in 2012 that he had been the previous two years.
Nate McLouth: Even though it's an NL-only league, you can hold on to players who are dealt to the other league. I held on to him all year and that really paid off in the end as he took off with the Orioles (.268-7-18-35-12 in a mere 55 games).
How was the club on the hill?
Madison Bumgarner: 16 wins, 3.37 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 191 KsTommy Hanson: 13-10, 4.48 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 161 KsWandy Rodriguez: 12-13, 3.76 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 139 Ks Gio Gonzalez: 21-8, 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 207 KsJeff Samardzija: 9-13, 3.81 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 180 Ks
Rafael Betancourt: 2.81 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 31 savesSergio Romo: 1.79 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 14 savesLuke Gregerson: 2.39 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 9 saves
Reserve picks – Two played out.
Ross Detwiler: 10 wins, 3.40 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 105 KsLogan Forsythe: .283, 6 HRs, 8 SBs, 45 runs
So how did it all turn out?
CONGRATS: Steve Moyer of Baseball Info Solutions who won the league.
FINAL RESULT: 2/13. I couldn't catch Steve but turns out the worst team in the history of fantasy baseball, the team I dubbed the Little Engine That Could, almost brought it home. So there everyone.By Ray Flowers