The IronDog Chronicles

Monday night brought out the cigars and sweat…

Yes, the night brought another Fantasy Baseball Draft to the IronDog’s lair.

Perhaps, the media keeps pounding the thoughts of picking long-term stable investments in the economy day-after-day.  Yet, after learning that vets do really pay well in fantasy formats, I went with a stable strategy in my picks this year, and I think the Jacks are positioned to make a strong run at the Yahoo! bobble-head.

Tough spot to launch from, but we recovered…In a 15 man league, the Jacks had the second-to-last pick with the #14 slot, which revolved the pick between the #14 pick on odd rounds and the #2 pick with the even rounds.  Here are the results:

1.) OF - Josh Hamilton - Shockingly, Santana, Sabathia, Berkman, and Utley all went before this pick.  However, the shock shouldn’t be too strong because the league is NYC based, which played to my advantage.  I think I pulled a gem late in the first round.   I’ve followed Hamilton closely since he was a high-schooler.  He’s very focused in a contract year.  He quit dipping, and I pulled Top 7 value at #14.  Look at his stats all last year.  He never dumped.  I’m thrilled with this pick.
2.) 2B - Dustin Pedroia - Kinsler and Teixiera went right after my pick of Hamilton back-to-back.  With Utley, Kinsler, Rollins, and the big guns at SS gone, I had to jump with consistency to fill the middle infield.  I usually go with a SP in this round, but I think you can grab the same value in later rounds.  Pedroia has started with the pulled oblique, but you know that Bill James has to be right on something this year.  Stable 2B all year…Watch.

3.) SP - Dan Haren - Took a chance on grabbing a SP late, and grabbed the best SP left with the #44 pick.  Good year, but can he remain healthy?  I’m not particulary concerned with an injury here.  There are strong options to add in the first two months of the year.

4.) 1B/3B - Kevin Youkilis - Tough start with an ankle injury, but I can’t deny the .390 OBP, 115 RBIs and 29HRs.  He’s coming into his prime, and he is a statistical beast with eligibility at both 3B and 1B.  Stretch maybe by two picks, but the solidity is there.

5.) SS - Rafael Furcal - Incredible lead-off talent with a .439 OBP.  If he stays healthy, I have a gem.  If the back falters, I have mud.
6.) SP - Felix Hernandez - I was gun-shy on this one.  I didn’t drink the juice over the last two years, but I think he’ll be a stellar #2 starter, especially, in Safeco.  The question is who shows up throughout the year.  My turn to drink the ayahuasca with Felix.

7.) RP - Bobby Jenks - I like this pick.  Scares the hell out of you with walks, but he’s still a horse with value and he’s the White Sox only viable closing option.  If he stays healthy, which he should, he’s built like a Clydesdale…This is a very good closer for the 7th round.
8.) RF/OF - Jermaine Dye - Needed an OF, and couldn’t believe that he was still around.  The age is long.  Yet, he still is going to play steady and every day. Look at the stats…96 Runs, 36 HRs, and 96 RBIs.  Not bad for a 2nd OF at all.
9.) SP - Yovanni Gallardo - I’ve owned him the last 2 1/2 years, and I’m thrilled.  Last year’s knee injury was devastating.  A true sleeper gem, he held Arizona hitless over five innings last week.  I know it’s Arizona, but the knee sounds good and he’s strong with his arm without a lot of wear from last year’s Brewer stretch run.  Think about it.

10.) 3B - Adrian Beltre - My only ‘dud’ in this class.  I wish I could flush…The fact that I have to follow the stench all year by watching his name every day haunts me.  I simply waited too long to grab a more adequate 3B.  He’s in a contract year.  Think positive, three breaths, let’s see what happens.
11.) SP - Clayton Kershaw - Woke up…And I got back on path.  After his scintillating finish in September, I think he’s going to be very strong this year.  He has a 3.52 ERA, with 14 strikeouts and three walks in 15 1/3 innings this Spring…Run, youngin’, run.
12.) 1B/3B - Carlos Guillen - Surprise here…Look at the guy’s stats and stability, and this is a nice grab.  Plus, he plays multiple positions.  I think he could be a major sleeper, and without the pressure in Detroit this year for a ring, watch the Tigers soar with him in the mix.

13.) 1B/CF/RF/OF - Nick Swisher - Hit the wall here, and I should have pushed through at this moment.  The choice could have been made four rounds later.  However, he plays 1B and the OF.  You can’t deny the multiple positions, and he should get the time.  Can you bank on a ’should’?  Disregarding the walks, he was atrocious last year in Chicago.

14.) C - Bengie Molina - I absolutely hate picking catchers…I hate them!  I grabbed Molina to be safe after pondering how bad Mike Napoli’s shoulder could be early in the year.  I figured that I could gamble on Napoli in the late rounds.  Yet, why go through the pain.  Molina supposedly will be batting clean-up, and he’s steady…Also, 18HRs last year, can you complain?  You could end up with Kenji Johjima here.

15.) SP - Joe Saunders - I loved these next three picks here.  Saunders was a innings machine and pumped 17 Ws.  His ERA was rocky with a 4.27 and he has low Ks.  Yet, he’s a Southern stronghold with his Quality Starts, and he is managed by Mike Sciosia who is the game’s best manager with pitchers.  I’ve owned Saunders over the past three years, and I adore this pick.  He’s growing into a #2 starter.   For a land at #15, not bad a’tall for the Blacksberg Bomber.
16.) SS - Edgar Renteria - Look at his stats throughout his career.  He’s terrible in the AL, but he torches the NL.  He bombed with the Red Sox, soared with the Cards, played ‘turribly’ with the Tigers, and he’s now back with the Giants.  My middle infield is not only set, but also a stable one with experience for the long haul and with competitive teams.  Could be a ’sleeper’ pick here.
17.) 1B/OF - Kendry Morales - Maybe a stretch by two rounds.  Yet, I’m happy with Sciosia’s reviews upon how he’s hitting.  He could be last year’s Juan Rivera.  Yet, without Teixiera, he’s the starting 1B.  I’m betting huge on his bat and playing time.  Yet, where’s the experience?  He’s tearing the Cactus League up right now.
18.) LF/OF - Jose Guillen - I needed an OF with LF eligibility right away.  I landed perhaps one of the game’s biggest head-cases.  He still hits dongs, and I’m riding the Royals for RBIs…I could have gone with Aaron Rowand, but I needed the LF eligibility fast.  Hello Jose…I wanted Elijah Dukes, but I have an older model of the modern day Jose Guillen…Yes, that freaky.
19.) C - Jeff Clement - I picked him up because I’m still enamored of the legend of the ‘Marshalltown Marvel’ and his potential out of USC.  With playing time, this is a nice pick at this slot in the draft.  Yeess, a second catcher…Why, oh why?
20.) RP - Jose Arrendondo - I don’t trust Brian Fuentes, and this guy guns 98-99.  They say he’s the second coming of K-Rod.  With Sciosia, I’m all on him for middle relief which he showed with 10Ws and a 1.20 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.  If Fuentes falls, which is overrated @$$ should, Arrendondo is a great pick for that damned third reliever spot in this league.
21.) SP/RP - Andrew Miller - My Carolina ties pulled me to this pick.  However, I adore his potential.  Let’s see how he starts off the year.  I think he was rushed to the bigs by Detroit and had too much pressure on him last year in Florida.  I could have a gem or the next Zack Grienke albeit with a brain.  I’m still stunned that the Marlins are calling him a #5 starter at this point.  Here’s an update on his spring...This guy was the man three years ago!

22.) RP - Scot Shields - You see what I think of Brian Fuentes, right?  Let’s see how the spring and the early part of the year flushes out.  Shields could easily be the man.  He also could be my first waiver wire slash for Neftali Feliz.

23.) 3B/OF - Dallas McPherson - I jumped on the homer reputation.  Yet, his ‘K’ rep destroyed my faith. I made my first waiver wire pick here for Joe Crede who is fully recovered and will probably make White Sox GM, Kenny Williams, bury his head in his towel for not re-signing him on the cheap.  Supposedly, Crede is diving all over the place this spring.  Yet, he’s only hitting .118 this Spring…Worth a shot.

24.) 2B/MI/OF - Blake DeWitt - Former 1st rounder…I jumped on his utility.  He had a great start last year and fizzled with inexperience and a second go-around on teams.  This is a good utility player.
25.) RP - Juan Cruz - I love this pick.  How the Cubs let this guy roam for the last five years is beyond me?  Cruz + Arredondo = 1 Great RP.  The ERA, WHIP, and Ws is undeniable.  Plus, he’s can fill in the closer role for the Royals in a jam.  When he’s on, he’s nice.

All said, other than Beltre and the Swisher reach, I’m very satisfied with the roster and the draft for this year’s Division St. Jacks.  Let’s see how the line-up plays out.  Will Kendry Morales start?  Will Carlos Guillen be the ’sleeper’ of the year?  Does Jermaine Dye have another run in his tank?…Will Josh Hamilton and Kevin Youkilis save the day for the Jacks….?

Stay tuned viewers for updates and for the best comment award this month, you’ll receive a free offer of NBA socks which I’m giving away after one wear…They’re perhaps the worst and most disappointing product that I’ve seen in years.  One wear and you have holes and a enough lint to make a Snuggie no matter the color.

Keep it up peoples, see you in the “New Comiskey/’The Cell’ often this year.

Go Jacks,

BD