Draft Recap

The long anticipated Season 01 of MLB – (Mizher League Baseball) – is underway! The draft occurred on Sunday July 14, 2013, and if you overlook the numerous names missing names from the list that should’ve been on there, and the cards on the floor that shouldn’t have been available, and the failed attempt at getting hooked up via the internet, and the amount of time it took to complete that meant three of the eight owners couldn’t finish, it went off without a hitch – (“just take away all that talent and dancing ability, and she’s just like everybody else”).

Round 1

Without any surprises. Who else would go first? And the game’s historically other great hitters went in the other 7 spots. Pujols was intended to be a third basemen and Foxx a catcher when they were drafted, but later picks meant neither of those would happen.

Round 2

Started with two other all-time hitters meaning that the top 10 picks were all sticks. Then began the great run of pitchers. Five of the final six in this round will be on the mound. The Cascades did not join this run by drafting The Flying Dutchman, and sew up the best middle infield of the league by pairing him with Rogers Hornsby.

Round 3

Three of the first four in are again pitchers, meaning the run 8 out of 10 hurlers following the 10 out of 10 hitters to start the draft. The Cascades and Osos remain the only two teams without a pitcher at this point. The first surprise also comes in this round with George Foster being chosen. And for this author’s opinion another reach was Cy Young going at pick 24 – (although this can’t be counted as a surprise).

Rounds 4-6

Surprises include the fact that Hank Greenberg was still around for pick #30, Babe Ruth – (pitcher) – went as high as #36, and Jimmy Collins was taken #38. It is also surprising that the pick of Johnny Bench #40 did not start a run of the catchers – (that would come later). Nine picks were pitchers, and Fifteen were hitters, a natural mix.

Rounds 7-12

With the draft half over when this period was finished there were still some big names who had not been taken. Mattingly is chosen at #52, and while Donnie Ballgame is my favorite all-time player that is a smidge high in my estimation. The Robinsons – (Jackie and Frank) – both go within 2 picks of each other. Odd coincidence. Surprised Jackie lasted until pick #62 as he did. The catcher run begins with the Explorers’ choice of Campanella at #65 beginning a six of thirteen pick stretch that went to the signal callers. After the run was over all teams except the Cascades had a catcher. Only nine of the forty-eight choices in this stretch were pitchers, meaning that owners really concentrated on filling out the lineups and the field. One of the three contestants for “steal of the draft” came at pick #92 when the Cascades chose Mel Ott. Twenty-second all time in OPS – (and the thirteenth highest OPS in this league) – was still available at pick 92!!

Round 13-18

Another candidate for “steal of the draft” is Chipper Jones at #105. Thirty-seventh all-time in OPS – (and twentieth in this league) – means this is a bat that could’ve helped out numerous other teams that passed on him. Another run of pitchers occurred when they took eight of nine choices from #102-110. The Osos made their first pitcher choice in round 13 and began a run of eight picks in a row for them that filled out their rotation and bullpen. Overall twenty-eight of the forty-eight picks in these rounds were pitchers; a big switch from the previous 6 rounds. The Agents were the last team to complete a position, finally drafting a shortstop at pick #142 with Lou Boudreau. The final pick in this group was the last candidate for “steal of the draft” and it was Ralph Kiner to the Explorers who picked up the 23rd all-time – (and fourteenth in this league) – OPS leader at pick #144. Wow!

Rounds 19-24

Probably the best value picks go to the Hurricanes who get good value with Ron Guidry, Denny McLain, and Don Sutton who will all be reasonably active pitchers on their roster. Those are meaningful choices at a time when most were picking backups, and pinch runners/hitters.

Overall it seems that the Osos and Explorers ended up with the best lineups as they lead the league with a .903 OPS for their starting nine. The best fielding lineup goes to the Spiders, followed by the Explorers. The Explorers will probably steal the most bases with 190 available attempts for runners at 1-14 or better. The Spiders have 169 such attempts.

On the bench the Agents, Hurricanes, Explorers, Osos, and Cascades all have an OPS within nine points of each other. All teams have some pinch runners with the Cascades having the lowest 1-14 or better attempts – (25) – and the Explorers and Spiders again leading the speed category with 76 and 73 attempts respectively.

Starting pitching goes to the Warriors with the lowest WHIP – (1.10) – and lowest ERA – (2.33). The Hurricanes are second in WHIP at 1.11, and third in ERA at 2.78.

Middle relief is a tight race with 4 teams having a 1.16 or 1.17 WHIP. Lowest ERAs here go to the Explorers at 2.66, and the Spiders at 2.77.

Closers are back to the Warriors led by the all-time best Mariano Rivera. They lead in WHIP at 1.08 and ERA at 2.46, both by wide margins.

Predictions:

Hurricanes win the West and Explorers the East. Wild cards are the Agents and Osos. World series goes to St. Louis in six over New Orleans. Let the games begin!