Love and Didn't Love - Mike's Draft Recap

It’s nice having instant feedback after a draft. Here are my favorite and least favorite picks. 

Chris

Love: Charlie Morton at 70th overall and Francisco Alvarez at 97th overall. Morton has pitched at least 160innings the last 3 seasons with at least 180 strikeouts. The Braves are also very good. Alvarez hit 25HRs in 382ABs last season. Why can’t he hit 35 this year?

Didn’t Love: Nolan Gorman at 100 overall. I would have took Torres (119) or Paredes (105). Gorman strikes out a ton, Torres is going to bat behind Judge/Soto and is in a contract year. Paredes went 31HR 98RBI last year and plays 1B,2B,3B. 

Bobby

Bobby’s Favorite Pick: Nolan Arenado 48th overall. I agree with Bobby here. 3B isn’t deep in fantasy this season and grabbing a 25HR 90RBI floor here was nice. He also should be a great mentor to Bobby’s babies Jackson Holliday and Jackson Chourio. I also have to mention Bobby grabbing Mason Miller at 110 overall. Potentially the A’s closer and Yes, I know the A’s suck but Trevor May still had 21 saves for them last season. 

Bobby’s Least Favorite Pick: Don’t really have one

Didn’t Love: I thought Shota Imanaga was a reach at 38th overall. The first pitcher Bobby selects is a question mark. I would have took Gavin Williams here. 

Anthony

Love: Christian Encarnacion Strand 104th overall. CES hit 13HR 27RBI .270 once he got the call last season. Votto is gone and he plays in the second best hitters ballpark. Most projections have the 24 year old hitting 26HRs 90RBI .265AVG

Didn’t Love: Kodai Senga at 41 overall. Huge risk/reward here. Senga was terrific as a rookie last year but there’s no time table for his return. Going to sound like a broken record but give me Gavin Williams here. Senga 31 years old and Williams 24 years old.

Dave

Love: Eloy Jimenez at 130overall and Byron Buxton at 129 overall. There’s upside here if healthy. BIG IF! Both have tremendous power and play well to OPS.  

Didn’t Love: DeGrom at 118 overall. At 35 years old and coming off another Tommy John, I just don’t see the upside. He’s projected to return after the All Star Break. He hasn’t thrown 100innings since 2019. I would have went Christoper Sanchez (123) or Taj Bradley (140).

Adam

Adam loved George Springer 63 overall and Jose Berrios 61 overall. Springer went 20/20  and Berrios threw 189IP with a 3.65ERA. 

“Had a 2nd round grade on both of them, thrilled to get both!”

Didn’t Love: Jung 79th overall. 

“Good value, but there were other guys eligible at that position that were probably better and still available.  I’m just not a big Jung guy, thankfully I have Muncy who I really like. :) “

I don’t have an issue with the Jung pick. He hit  23HRs and I think there’s room to grow. 

Mike

Love: Bailey Ober 44th overall. I’ve bought the hype. 

Didn’t Love: James Outman 116th overall. I should have went pitcher here. Christoper Sanchez (123) was the pick. 

Tom

Tom’s Favorite pick is Paul Skenes 90th overall. Top pitching prospect in the game should be up during the summer. 

Tom’s least favorite pick: Noveli Marte 92nd overall. “I should have taken William Contreras” 

Tom trading up for Skenes was time consuming but brilliant. He left the draft with arguably the best hitting prospect and pitching prospect.  

I thought the Marte pick was fine. There’s a ton to like with Marte who should be a good source of stolen bases from 3B. 

Catcher Cal Raleigh went in the waiver draft and he hit 30homeruns last season.  

Josh

Love: There was a lot to like with Josh’s draft. Spencer Torkelson at 35. I know Josh regretted this pick but Tork hit 31HRs 94RBI last season and should only get better. 

Didn’t love: Evan Phillips and Alexis Diaz project as Top 10 closers but I don’t think he needed both after drafting Hader and Clase. Jazz Chisholm (pick 19) would have fit perfectly here.

Glenn

Glenn’s favorite pick-Sean Murphy 163 overall “maybe best catcher”

Mike’s Love: Zack Gelof 87th overall. Gelof went 14/14 last year in 270AB’s. 20/20 has to be the floor for this season. 

Glenn’s worst pick-Shane Baz 60th overall “crapshoot”

 **Right after the draft Baz tweaked his oblique and will miss time**

“Alan took the 4 pitchers I was eyeing before my Baz pick (Kelly, Rodon, Javier, Woo)” 

Matt 

Matt’s favorite pick was Realmuto  53 overall. 

Mike’s Love: Nick Castellanos 39th overall. 29HRs 106RBI last year. Hitting behind a full season of Harper ahead. 

Matt’s least favorite pick: taking Christian Walker over Justin Steele. 

I’ll agree with Matt because he already had Pete Alonso at 1B. He could have went with Steele who was terrific last season. 

Alan

Love: Bryan Reynolds 69th overall. J/K. I wanted to be like Bobby’s app. 

It sounds silly but I loved Logan Gilbert at 4th overall. The only pitcher Alan kept was Devin Williams. He needed a big arm and has to be thrilled he got one. 

Didn’t Love: Nick Lodolo 62nd overall. Lodolo has said his left leg still doesn’t feel right. I would have went Brandon Pfaadt. Young SP with upside. 

Cyrus 

Cyrus liked: “I loved getting Nick Pivetta in the 10th round. After his 2nd half adjustments he might be close to a 200k pitcher with good ratios.”

I agree and told Cyrus this was a steal. 3.27ERA over his last 80innings last year. 

Cyrus didn’t like: Alex Bregman 29th overall. “I should have taken another closer or maybe ober.”