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So the draft happened about a week and a half ago, and it got us thinking. What other fun stuff could we draft ? The possibilities are/were endless, but we decided on drafting the obvious: other drafts. The goal was to build the best possible 25 man major league roster using only players selected in the first round of each draft between the years 2000 – 2011. We decided to exclude this year’s draft and last year’s draft on account of it’s way too early to even judge what those players are. We decided to include 2011 since it’s actually produced a few major leaguers already. Also, our rosters must include one designated hitter, two catchers, five bench players, three relievers, six starters, and a closer. But we got creative. To the picks!
- 1st PICK (JAKE): 2005 draft
This was an easy pick, as it remains the most loaded first round we’ve seen in a long time. Jake immediately receives four of the best players in baseball in Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, Andrew McCutchen and Justin Upton. Not to mention Jay Bruce, Jacoby Ellsbury, Alex Gordon and Ryan Zimmerman. It was a crazy year on the position side, but this round definitely lacked pitching. The best pitchers taken were probably Matt Garza and Ricky Romero, neither of which made Jake’s final squad.
- 2nd PICK (JORDAN): 2010 draft
Once Jake took the absurd amount of veteran proven talent from 2005, I decided to go as young as possible and aim for up and coming talent. 2010 was a good start. Obviously Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are nice building blocks, but many people that Matt Harvey was taken only a few picks later. This was a good start for my staff. I decided to slot Chris Sale into my closer slot and take top Miami outfield prospect Christian Yelich for my bench. Yasmani Grandal was a good get for one of my catcher spots.
- 3rd PICK (JORDAN): 2006 draft
I took advantage of the snake draft format by using this second pick to get some established stars. 2006 seemed to be the most logical year, netting me Evan Longoria and Clayton Kershaw. Max Scherzer, Ian Kennedy and Timmy Lincecum were a nice bonus. While Drew Stubbs might have some of the worst plate discipline out there, he’s one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball and I value that.
- 4th PICK (JAKE): 2007 draft
A very solid year, as Jake gets up and coming studs in Madison Bumgarner and Jason Heyward, as well as an established ace in David Price. Matt Wieters might not be Mauer With Power, but he’s pretty great. Jake also got his second catcher here in J.P. Arencibia.
- 5th PICK (JAKE): 2002 draft
2002 was The Year of Bryan Bullington, and while Jake shockingly didn’t want Mr. Bullington for his team, this first round netted him some big names like Prince Fielder and B.J. Upton, as well as some much-needed impressive arms in Matt Cain, Zack Greinke and Cole Hamels. Nick Swisher is intolerable but a good bench option. Sergio Santos is a solid reliever.
- 6th PICK (JORDAN): 2008 draft
This was a tough pick, as most of this class has already crashed and burned, but it was very hard to pass up Buster Posey. I liked the idea of putting Andrew Cashner in my bullpen, and getting Eric Hosmer and Pedro Alvarez for my bench isn’t the worst thing in the world. I’m also way too in love with Justin Smoak (still). #AGGRO Brett Lawrie still has the potential to be something more than whatever it is he is right now, so I’ll take him and put him at second base.
- 7th PICK (JORDAN): 2009 draft
Oh hey, Mike Trout and Stephen Strasburg. What are you still doing available? The rest of this round was kind of awful but Trout and Strasburg made this easy. Shelby Miller is suddenly awesome again so I’ll take him for my bullpen. Dustin Ackley can be on the bench :(
- 8th PICK (JAKE): 2004 draft
Jake was shocked when I didn’t take 2004 with the pick before, so he happily took this blah year that happened to include Justin Verlander. Neil Walker, who I can’t believe was drafted almost TEN YEARS AGO, is a nice second base option. Jered Weaver has declined noticeably this year, and is a pretty big injury risk, but a great pickup nonetheless.
- 9th PICK (JAKE): 2011 draft
Can’t blame Jake for going with the huge amount of upside here. He basically used it to put some crazy big but inexperienced arms in his bullpen, in Gerrit Cole and Dylan Bundy. This is the kind of draft, much like 2005, where we might look back in five years and be like “holy actual crap that was an amazing year”. For now, it’s just a bunch of dreams.
- 10th PICK (JORDAN): 2000 draft
Not a ton to choose from at this point, but I desperately needed a good first baseman at this point so I picked up Adrian Gonzalez here. Oh and there was Adam Wainwright. That helps.
- 11th PICK (JORDAN): 2001 draft
Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer Joe Mauer
- 12th PICK (JAKE): 2003 draft
To quote Jake: “I don’t even care. I don’t need it.” Delmon Young, basically.
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OUR FINAL TEAMS:
TEAM JAKE
TEAM JORDAN
Who won?
