Tuesday night Kyle Elfrink and I were fortunate enough to host the first of two SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio Expert Drafts (I will participate in the next draft and will review that draft when the time comes). I admit it. I was having a bad day yesterday so I was ornery. I might still be having a bad day today (it’s too early to tell). I was a bit rough on some of the guys/gals yesterday, sorry all, but since I was that way last night I might as well continue it today. Here goes.

SETUP

15-team, mixed league

5x5 scoring: AVG, HR, RBI, R, SB, W, ERA, WHIP, K, S

Weekly lineup changes

Weekly blind-bid FAAB waivers

23 starters (C-C-1B-2B-SS-3B-MI-CI-OF-OF-OF-OF-OF-U), six bench spots

FULL RESULTS ARE TO BE FOUND HERE.

COMMENTARY

Taking Carlos Correa 4th overall is very aggressive.

As aggressive is Giancarlo Stanton at #5. I’m living in the world of what is, not what could be, with my first round selection. Stanton’s never scored 90 times and has just one 80 run season in six years. He has one season of 90 RBI in six years. He’s stolen six or fewer bases in five of six years. He’s a career .270 hitter who has failed to hit .266 in 2-of-3 years. The last four seasons Stanton has missed and average of 31 percent of the games each season. #Risky For more on Stanton give this piece a read.

Clayton Kershaw fell farther than just about you will ever see all the way down to #11 overall.

Love the Lisa Ann selection of Andrew McCutchen at #13 overall.

The best duo in the first and second round was by Adam Ronis who rostered Mookie Betts and Starling Marte.

Troy Tulowitzki at #24 overall is just too early. I love the talent, but there is just so much risk involved in building your roster around him. Note that his NFBC ADP is double what the cost was here.

Kyle Schwarber in the third round… I guess that’s the prevailing wisdom. I wouldn’t be in at that cost, not with huge batting average concern and, honestly, playing time worries. ­

Joey Votto fell to 42nd overall? Wow. I know folks aren’t stocked with Votto cause of all the concerns about his power and run production, but the guy is 18th in baseball history in OPS. Michael Waldo lucked into a building block here.

In Round 4… the pitcher’s run began. Of the fifteen selections that round 10 were hurlers. Through four rounds of drafting, 60 total selections, 19 were arms.

Round 5 saw eight more arms go off the board including the first two closers. Kenley Jansen went first off the board followed by Jeurys Familia by Jody McDonald. Going back to the NFBC data, Familia comes in 5th behind Wade Davis, Jansen, Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman. I would never take Familia first out of those arms. Never. Even if you are a fan of his, you would have to note that taking him in the 5th round was a mistake given that Zack Britton was taken in the 8th round.

Miguel Sano went off the board in the 6th round. I’m not seeing that. Check out his Player Profile.

Dr. Roto took Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg in his first four selections. He then rostered closers Davis and Mark Melancon in Rounds 6 & 7. Four pitchers in seven rounds is super aggressive. Gotta get some hitters. He also took two more arms in Rounds 11 & 12 giving his six pitchers and six hitters through 12 rounds. It’s nearly impossible to catch up offensively when you go that heavy on the pitching. Michael Waldo did the same thing, 6/12 as hurlers.

I like Storen, and think he emerges as the Blue Jays closer, but we still don’t know so taking him in the 10th round seems aggressive.

I like Mike Fiers but taking him in the 11th round seemed liked a reach.

In Round 13 Joe Pisapia rostered Andrew Miller to augment his Aroldis Chapman choice in the 8th round. Nice duo.

Greg Ambrosius was the first expert to roster both his backstops when he chose Salvador Perez in the 8th round to backup Buster Posey. If I’m not mistaken, at the point that Perez was drafted there were only three catchers off the board. 

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the 2016 MLB Draft Guide which includes more than 600 Players Ranked, auction values, rookie reports, hitting and pitching targets as well as all the info you need if you’re ready to start playing DFS. 

Victor Martinez, a designated hitter, was taken in the 11th round. He’s 37 and his body is continually breaking down (he’s dealing with a hamstring issue now). A totally wasted selection to me.

Anibal Sanchez in the 17th round is just too early. He should have been taken rounds later with his health concerns. I would much rather have taken Andrew Cashner who went in the 20th round to Lenny Melnick. Trevor Bauer in the 22nd round was also a nice get by comparison.

Trea Turner in the 19th round… don’t know when he appears in the big leagues, and it’s not like he has a strong bat at the moment.

Jose Peraza in the 21st to Matt Deutsch was an upside selection. As it stands now the speedster doesn’t have a starting spot, but Billy Hamilton cannot get healthy so there’s a chance that Peraza could see time in the outfield.

Scott Engel took some big risks on the bump. He rostered Lucas Giolito (21st), Hyun-jin Ryu (23rd) and Zack Wheeler (26th). That trio might combined to make 35 starts this season.

Joaquin Benoit in the 25th round was a great pull. He could easily lead the Mariners in saves this season and went off the board 10 rounds later than Steve Cishek.

Joey Gallo in the 28th round is a risk well worth taking. His playing time is uncertain no doubt, but he’s got the game that could lead to 25 homers even if he were to get just 400 at-bats. Question is, can you waste the roster spot on him until he’s called up?

AUDIO FROM DRAFT

Howard Bender said he owned the draft.

Adam Ronis called out the King for stealing his strategy.

 

Follow this link to check out the entire Player Profile Series.

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 6 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).