[rwperu34]

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since i think turnabout is fair play, i just drafted an 8-team 5x5 mixed league, keep 6. (i know, *yawn*). flame away, or feel free to scoff at my strategy and ignore all advice from here onward.

C Jorge Posada (24)
1B Albert Pujols (1)
2B Ian Kinsler (17)
3B Alex Gordon (10)
SS Hanley Ramírez (4)
IF Prince Fielder (9)
OF Grady Sizemore (2)
OF Jason Bay (3)
OF Adam Dunn (5)
Util Jeff Francoeur (16)
BN Rocco Baldelli (19)

SP Ben Sheets (6)
SP Jeremy Bonderman (8)
SP John Lackey (11)
RP B.J. Ryan (7)
RP Eric Gagne (13)
RP Octavio Dotel (14)
P John Smoltz (12)
P Todd Jones (21)
BN Matt Cain (15)
BN Aaron Harang (18)
BN Anthony Reyes (20)
BN Francisco Liriano (22)
BN John Patterson (23)

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I think every pick has solid value except maybe Gagne and Dotel. I'd imagine the closers were starting to disappear at that point.

I can't imagine that Cain was a bad pick in round 15, and in reality was probably a really good pick. Not only does he have the upside to become an ace this year, but if he reaches that upside, you've got a great keeper...even if he's only trade bait.

I like the starting staff you've put together but am not all that impressed with the closers after Ryan. Even in an eight team league, you might be better off putting some MR in the relief pitching spots and going with an extra starter as your utility pitcher. Gagne's probably not going to hurt you since he'll either be healthy or not, but I could see Jones and especially Dotel blowing up on you. I don't really think either pitcher has much upside, so it's proabbly not worth it to have them in the rotation.

I'm not sure what kind of a bench you have or positional requirements, but I like a lot of positional players ahead of Liriano as a potential keeper. It will be very hard to protect him in your top 6 players next year unless he comes back and shows something at the end of this season. Very long odds.

On offense, I pretty much like every player. I think the two best value picks are Hanley Ramirez in the 4th and Ian Kinsler in the 17th. I think Hanley is the steal [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img] of your draft just because of his superstar status.

You and I can now both hold our breath in hopes that Alex Gordon breaks camp with the Royals.