Fantasy Baseball Draft #2

This time I was involved with a 14-team live draft with Bleacher Report editors and writers.

The extra teams diluted the rosters, but it should make baseball knowledge and value picks more important.

I drafted from the 6th position. My fantasy roster is as follows:

C - Chris Iannetta

1B - Derek Lee

2B - Mike Aviles

3B - Miguel Cabrera

SS - Orlando Cabrera

OF - Jason Bay
OF - Matt Holliday
OF - Adam Dunn

Util - Pat Burrell

Bench - Jason Giambi

Bench - Akinori Iwamura

Bench - Mike Lowell

Bench - Taylor Teagarden

SP - Josh Beckett

SP - Dan Haren

RP - Jonathan Broxton

RP - Matt Lindstrom

P - John Danks

P - Jair Jurrjens

P - Joe Saunders

Bench - George Sherrill

Bench - JJ Putz

Considering the amount of teams in the league and my draft position, I feel that I acquired enough superstars and value selections to have a successful year.

While my offense is a blend of seasoned veterans and young players oozing with potential, the pitching staff is comprised of virtually all juvenile arms.

Danks and Saunders are coming off of breakout seasons, and are poised to improve in their progressions. The two left-handers combined for a 29-16 record in 2006, and both exhibited excellent control.

Rookie closers Broxton and Lindstrom consistently throw 95-98 with excellent depth on their breaking pitches. It remains to be seen if they can truly stomach the pressure of the 9th inning.

I have just realized that i have only drafted a total of one Yankee in my two drafts (Robinson Cano).

Their big names usually cause them to be taken above their valued draft slots, or are chosen in the first few rounds before I am given a chance to select them.

Don't worry, my confidence is still high regarding the 2009 New York Yankees...even if my fantasy roster does not reflect it.

Fantasy Baseball Roster

I drafted my first roster of the year about a week ago in a league of OPEN Sports employees.

Some of you may not know players on my team, but likely every player you don't know is/was playing in the World Baseball Classic.

It specifically opened my eyes to some solid and unknown relievers.

I was drafting from the 9th position in a 12-team league.

Here it is:

C - Geovany Soto
1B - Kevin Youkilis
2B - Robinson Cano
3B - David Wright
SS - Troy Tulowitzki
OF - Alfonso Soriano

OF - Mark DeRosa

OF - Justin Upton
Util - Carlos Delgado
Bench - Joey Votto
Bench - Melvin Mora
Bench - Orlando Cabrera

SP - Brandon Webb
SP - Jon Lester
RP - Jonathan Broxton
RP - Joel Hanrahan
P - Roy Oswalt
P - Ted Lilly
P - John Danks
Bench - Fausto Carmona
Bench - Brad Ziegler

I am counting on the continued progression of Danks, Soto, Broxton, Votto, and Lester to develop from very good into great.

I am also expecting big bounceback seasons from former stars Robinson Cano and Alfonso Soriano.

Fausto Carmona and Troy Tulowitzki were drafted as solid value picks in very late rounds considering their 2007 breakout campaigns.

If Justin Upton can follow in his brother BJ's footsteps and fully realize the vast potential he showed during parts of 2008, he could prove to be a big wild card for my roster's success.