by MoCrash » Sat May 20, 2006 6:05 am
A-Ray's advice is very sound. I would emphasize having an overall concept of the type of team I want to build and tailor it to the park I plan to use. If you're in a singles hitters park (10< BPSI, 10> BPHR), you want a greater emphasis on OBP than SLG -- and make sure your power hitters have natural HRs close to the middle lines. If it's a slugger's park, then SLG is more important than BA or OBP. I have Pujols and A-Rod in Dodger Stadium (1-1 BPSI and 1-11 BPHR), and they're both productive. In Kauffman (1-10/13, 1-2), no power hitter is going to match his stats -- although someone like Tony Clark, with a lot of natural HRs, will do best -- but Figgins has thrived. In a place like Kauffman and Petco, you can do well with a variety of pitchers: I have Clemens and Carpenter both having fine seasons, but so is Maddux at $2.52 mil. Even in a pitcher's park, though, I don't think you can go wrong with Pujols, A-Rod or Derrek Lee among your top three -- and if you don't get the super-stud SP, you can still do well if you pick guys who don't give up a lot of natural HRs (look for the differential between ERA and WHIP; a guy with a 1.40 WHIP and 3.60 ERA can be very effective since opponents will generally have to have three hits/walks an inning to score).
One more element of a live draft: don't panic. You're going to get weaseled often ... see guys-I'd-love-to-have taken go off the board before your turn ... and the temptation is often to try to nab to best statistical player out there, whether or not he fits your scheme. Realize that your second, third or sometimes even fourth choices at a position can also be highly productive if he still fits your overall concept and who dovetails into your park.