Creation and the Expanding Universe, Part II

And on the 7th day...

...

...we looked at more potential franchise cornerstones for our creation.

Phatsnapper

Player	W	L	SV	K	ERA	WHIP
Madison Bumgarner (21)	0	0	0	10	1.80	1.10
Neftali Feliz (22)	1	0	2	39	1.74	0.68
David Price (25)	10	7	0	102	4.42	1.35
Player	R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG
Kyle Blanks (24)	24	10	22	1	0.355	0.514
Jack Cust	88	25	70	4	0.356	0.417
Yunel Escobar (28)	89	14	76	5	0.377	0.436
Brad Hawpe	82	23	86	1	0.384	0.519
Matt LaPorta (25)	29	7	21	2	0.308	0.442
Casey McGehee (28)	58	16	66	0	0.360	0.499
Nolan Reimold (27)	49	15	45	8	0.365	0.466
Travis Snider (22)	34	9	29	1	0.328	0.419
Rickie Weeks (28)	28	9	24	2	0.340	0.517
Michael Young	76	22	68	8	0.374	0.518

Much like the O.N. Thugs' roster, there are all sorts of goodies available here. We don't know much about Madison Bumgarner, other than he looked solid last year getting his cup of tea w/ the big leaguers, and that he's young. Normally, you don't think about non-closing relievers, but Feliz is really young, and appears to be a closer in waiting. On offense, Hawpe is probably the most stable production, and Young is probably the most established player. LaPorta, Blanks, and Snider are all pretty highly regarded youngsters. I think that Michael Young's move to 3B will extend his stay w/ Texas. My opinion? I'm tempted by Price, though he hasn't shown enough to lock him down in my top 12, I don't think. The Moneyball approach probably says to go w/ Hawpe, since he's proven, plays in Colorado, and still only 31. But I've always had a soft spot for Michael young, plus his production at SS this year, and 3B in the future should count as a bonus.

Quick aside: I just don't know about those 24/25 year old prospects who haven't proven it, yet. I'm of the belief that true elite sort of players make an impact in the majors by 22/23. This is a bit of an old school, scout's approach. But it just seems that the guys who get to the majors late don't have the otherworldly ability to extend their careers. Basically the theory is that everyone learns on the job, that the learning increases your overall production, but that you can only learn so much. The phenoms don't really make use of the things they learn until they slow down, and then are able to maintain their dominance. On the other hand, the players that make an impact in the show late have already done their learning, and have maxed themselves out. Once their skills take them down, it's hard for them to learn more to keep themselves on top. So, in that sense, guys like LaPorta seem like they could make an impact for a few years, as they hit their peaks, but it's hard to see them extending this into their peaks into the mid-30's.

Black Sox

Player	W	L	SV	K	ERA	WHIP
Zach Duke	11	16	0	106	4.06	1.31
Frank Francisco	2	3	25	57	3.83	1.11
Jason Marquis	15	13	0	115	4.04	1.38
Player	R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG
Mike Cameron	78	24	70	7	0.342	0.452
Jorge Cantú (28)	67	16	100	3	0.345	0.443
Chris Iannetta (27)	41	16	52	0	0.344	0.460
José López (26)	69	25	96	3	0.303	0.463
Nyjer Morgan	74	3	39	42	0.369	0.388
Cody Ross (29)	73	24	90	5	0.321	0.469

Here, it appears that the choices are Jose Lopez, Chris Iannetta, and Frank Francisco. It's hard to pass up 25 HR and 96 RBI from 2B, particularly with a relatively young guy. But that .303 OBP is scary to me. Iannetta is worth considering, since he's a C, and has the Coors Field thing going for him, and is relatively young. But my recommendation is to go closer again w/ Frank Francisco. Texas seems to always have high SV guys, and even if his rate stats are only OK, he'll be a trade piece, if needed.

MuddyMushHeads

Player	W	L	SV	K	ERA	WHIP
Johnny Cueto (24)	11	11	0	132	4.41	1.36
Tommy Hunter (24)	9	6	0	64	4.10	1.30
Player	R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG
Casey Blake	84	18	79	3	0.363	0.468
Rafael Furcal	92	9	47	12	0.335	0.375
Felipe López	88	9	57	6	0.383	0.427
Grady Sizemore (28)	73	18	64	13	0.343	0.445

Ordinarily, you'd be estatic with the chance to add someone like Cueto to your roster, since he's young, definitely improving, and seems to have all-star potential. But then you look down the list and see Grady Sizemore, who was dinged up last year, but is still a Yahoo! Top 25 player, and even if you discount his 2009 season off of his career numbers, still figures to be a Top 50-60 sort of player. Makes this an easy choice.

Also, as I was talking w/ CJ, one of our resident White Sox fans. She starts laughing and says something to the effect of, "He knows that Dye still isn't signed, yet, doesn't he?" When the team drafting first makes fun of your keeper choices, you may be in for some mocking and/or a long season.

JimmyDixLongballs

Player	W	L	SV	K	ERA	WHIP
Mark Buehrle	13	10	0	105	3.84	1.25
Kevin Millwood	13	10	0	123	3.67	1.34
James Shields (28)	11	12	0	167	4.14	1.32
Edinson Vólquez (27)	4	2	0	47	4.35	1.33
Player	R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG
Michael Cuddyer	93	32	94	6	0.342	0.520
James Loney (26)	73	13	90	7	0.357	0.399
Alexei Ramírez (29)	71	15	68	14	0.333	0.389
Colby Rasmus (24)	72	16	52	3	0.307	0.407
Nick Swisher	84	29	82	0	0.371	0.498
Ryan Theriot	81	7	54	21	0.343	0.369

Here, we see some more options. Volquez ordinarily would be the way to go, but he's coming off of surgery, and may not be right until 2011. Buehrle, Shields, and Millwood are established, solid vets, w/ limited ceilings. Chances are, one of those players will be available in the 2nd round of expansion, so I let them pass, especially since there's so much other SP available. On offense, there's some attraction to Rasmus, since he's only 24, and Loney is this very athletic player who just can't seem to hit at home, nor has he developed the power that you'd expect from someone his size. But I think that the money play here is Cuddyer, who's 31, and appears to be playing at the level that they were expecting of him 5 or 6 years ago.

Hats For Bats

Player	W	L	SV	K	ERA	WHIP
Erik Bedard	5	3	0	90	2.82	1.19
Derek Lowe	15	10	0	111	4.67	1.52
Jeff Niemann (27)	13	6	0	125	3.94	1.35
Player	R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG
Corey Hart (28)	64	12	48	11	0.335	0.418
Nick Johnson	71	8	62	2	0.426	0.405
Ryan Ludwick	63	22	97	4	0.329	0.447
Bengie Molina	52	20	80	0	0.285	0.442
Juan Rivera	72	25	88	0	0.332	0.478
Marco Scutaro	100	12	60	14	0.379	0.409
Vernon Wells	84	15	66	17	0.311	0.400

Here, you've got a couple interesting choices. Bedard's the best pitcher, but he's hurt, an dmay not be back until this summer. Derek Lowe's the brand name, and will probably be solid in ATL. Niemann's the younger, less proven, but probably option. On offense, Vernon Wells is probably the most talented. Juan Rivera is the safest bet to put up solid numbers. Molina gives you 20 HR and 80 RBI at C. Scutaro should score 100+ runs this year playing everyday in Boston. And Nick Johnson is a high OBP guy who should get some counting numbers in that Yankees lineup. You probably want to gamble with Bedard or Wells, or go with a relatively safe, relatively young pitcher in Niemann. I think that I go with Niemann here.

Benver Droncos

Player	W	L	SV	K	ERA	WHIP
Brian Fuentes	1	5	48	46	3.93	1.40
Hiroki Kuroda	8	7	0	87	3.76	1.14
Jarrod Washburn	9	9	0	100	3.78	1.19
Kerry Wood	3	3	20	63	4.25	1.38
Player	R	HR	RBI	SB	OBP	SLG
Marlon Byrd	66	20	89	8	0.329	0.479
Franklin Gutiérrez (27)	85	18	70	16	0.339	0.425
Brandon Inge	71	27	84	2	0.314	0.406
Garrett Jones (29)	45	21	44	10	0.372	0.567

Keep it simple. Fuentes. Anytime you can dig up the SV leader for all of baseball? You take him. He may not be in your long term plans, but there are a number of teams that would trade a legit position player for him.

So what does the roster look like now?

SP - Jurrjens, Lilly, Oswalt, Niemann,
RP - Wagner, Fuentes, Francisco
1B - Butler
2B/SS - Cabrera
SS/3B - Young
OF - Sizemore, Cuddyer

This is starting to look like a pretty decent team, and a top half finish starts to look like a legit possibility. You've got a couple relatively young arms (Jurrjens and Niemann) to go with a couple vets (Oswalt and Lilly). You have 3 closers, who you can hang on to, or trade for legit talent. You could look for one or two more SP, and looking for potential closers could make for trade pieces. But you've got the core of a nice pitching staff.

On offense, you have a potential superstar (Sizemore) some established talent (Young, Cuddyer) to go with some youth (Butler and Cabrera). Most teams are going to be scrambling for a C and a middle IF position, anyway, so you're not really missing out. Now, you need to round out the lineup with another OF, and maybe a couple potential production guys at UTIL.

Some of the rosters will still have some strong players left after the next 6 protected players, so you'll get some more help there.

And on the 8th day? Well, now it's time to prep for the next round of keepers, and get ready for the draft.

In any case, we'll see what the Milwaukee Whiffers choose to do (whose bright idea was it to place a 2nd UPL team in Milwaukee, anyway?).

-Chairman (aka O.N. Thugs)