The best way to prepare for your Fantasy Baseball drafts is competing for real money instead of mock drafts. At FullTime Fantasy, we have Scout44 and Scout88 leagues for you to play in right now. They are draft-only Fantasy Baseball leagues with no waivers, no trades, just set weekly lineups. While the strategy does change slightly, it helps you get familiar with the player pool.
Here are my thoughts on my first Scout 44 that began Feb. 16. These are 12-team leagues with slow drafts and 44 rounds. Obviously, I am going to like most of my picks, so the best picks of the round are other than myself.
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Round 1, Pick 4: Nolan Arenado (Rockies)
I don’t like picking fourth much. There’s not a huge difference between the fourth pick and the players you can get at the end of the round. Arenado doesn’t steal bases, but he’s one of the best in the other four categories. He has at least 130 RBIs in three straight seasons.
Round 2, Pick 9: Freddie Freeman (Braves)
I was ecstatic to get Freeman here. Freeman was one of the best hitters before he injured his wrist. He hits the ball hard, is hitting more fly balls and is a line drive machine. The new park in Atlanta was a big boost for left-handers last season.
Round 3, Pick 4: Stephen Strasburg (Nationals)
J.D. Martinez went one pick before me, and I would have taken him had he fell, and this was before he signed with Boston. Since there are no waiver moves, I like to get some pitching early. Strasburg comes with health risk, but he’s dominant when he’s on the mound, and every pitcher has warts. Best pick of the round: Noah Syndergaard (3.8)
Round 4, Pick 9: Nelson Cruz (Mariners)
Cruz is falling in drafts because he’s 37 or only eligible at DH. He has shown no signs of decline, and I’ll take the stats. I am not worried about locking up a utility spot. My offense has a strong power core to start. For more on Cruz, click here. Best pick of the round: Alex Bregman (4.1)
Round 5, Pick 4: A.J. Pollock (Diamondbacks)
Yes, I know about the injuries. I don’t need much power from him based on the start. I need a good average, runs and stolen bases. He has shown he can return first or second round value. Best pick of the round: Khris Davis (5.3)
Round 6, Pick 9: Aaron Nola (Phillies)
Nola was really good last season and will take a big leap this season. The average velocity on his fastball increased almost two miles per hour to 92 last season. While that pitch has improved, Nola has one of the best curveballs in the game to go with a good changeup. For more on Nola, click here. Best pick of the round: Lorenzo Cain (6.7)
Round 7, Pick 4: Wil Myers (Padres)
Myers is in my corner infield spot to start, but he will move to the outfield and eventually get eligibility there. Myers has power and steals bases. The Padres lineup is solid, and I already have a good average base. Best pick of the round: Yoenis Cespedes (7.9)
Round 8, Pick 9: Luis Castillo (Reds)
Castillo has been expensive in drafts, but I didn’t love any of the bats here and am fine with this spot as my SP3. In 89.1 innings last season, Castillo had a 3.12 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, a 9.89 K/9 and 3.22 BB/9. He has a 59 percent ground ball rate, averages 97.5 with his fastball and a 12.6 percent swinging strike rate. Best pick of the round: Yasiel Puig (8.5)
Round 9, Pick 4: Brad Hand (Padres)
Some might say it’s early for a closer, but remember there are no waivers. Hand is my sixth-ranked closer. He’s undervalued. Hand has topped 100 strikeouts in two straight seasons. The left-hander can also get right-handers out, limiting them to a .252 wOBA. Best pick of the round: Ozzie Albies (9.5)
Round 10, Pick 9: Ryan Braun (Brewers)
This wasn’t a target, but he fell really far. He had a few injuries last season but was good when he played. The Brewers have a good lineup and home park. Braun might play some first base, too. I don’t need much from Braun in this spot, too. Best pick of the round: Yoan Moncada (10.6)
Round 11, Pick 4: Ian Desmond (Rockies)
Injuries limited Desmond last season. He could go 20-20 playing in Coors Field and has eligibility at first base and outfield. Having that flexibility is helpful in this format. Best pick of the round: Raisel Iglesias (11.8)
Round 12, Pick 9: Trevor Story (Rockies)
Story strikes out a lot and batted .239 last season, but he has power and good counting stats. I don’t have a hitter that will bat under .260 in my early picks, so I can take a little bit of a hit to the average. Best pick of the round: Zack Godley (12.5)
Round 13, Pick 4: Manuel Margot (Padres)
I was all set to take Jeff Samardzija, and he went one pick before me. See why I like him here. I would have taken Margot earlier, but didn’t need to. I figured I would get the closer I want in the next round and I did. Margot was a top prospect and will steal a lot of bases. He has some power, too. Best pick of the round: Jeff Samardzija (13.3)
Round 14, Pick 9: Blake Treinen (A’s)
This was the second closer I wanted. He’s being undervalued. After being traded to the A’s from the Nationals, Treinen had a 2.13 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and a 42:12 K:BB ratio in 38 innings. He threw more first-pitch strikes and induced a lot of grounders. Best pick of the round: Trevor Bauer (14.1)
Round 15, Pick 4: Jameson Taillon (Pirates)
Taillon was a top prospect and had testicular cancer last season. Give him credit for coming back, and he was off to a good start before missing time. He wasn’t as good in the second half, but it couldn’t have been easy to come back from what he did. Best pick of the round: Johnny Cueto (15.2)
Round 16, Pick 9: Paul DeJong (Cardinals)
I had no second baseman until here. DeJong doesn’t have the best approach at the plate, but will provide power and is eligible at second, shortstop and third base. Best pick of the round: Kyle Schwarber (16.8)
Round 17, Pick 4: Dinelson Lamet (Padres)
I was ready to take Taijuan Walker and was sniped one pick before. He improved against left-handers in the second half but needs to get a good third pitch and limit the walks. The strikeouts are there. Best pick of the round: Jon Gray (17.12)
Round 18, Pick 9: Sean Manaea (Athletics)
Manaea lost velocity last season and attributed it to weight loss. Manaea was diagnosed with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) following the 2016 season and was placed on medication. He lost 25 pounds in a few months. He said he noticed it in the middle of the season and he had a difficult time recovering. He said he couldn’t eat. Manaea had a good first half with a 3.76 ERA, 8.97 K/9 and a .228 average against. Best pick of the round: Tim Anderson (18.8)
Round 19, Pick 4: Jorge Polanco (Twins)
The second half over 248 at-bats, Polanco batted .270 with 33 runs, 10 home runs, 45 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He will hit in the top five of a good lineup. Best pick of the round: Chris Davis (19.10)
Round 20, Pick 9: Patrick Corbin (Diamondbacks)
After a 4.71 ERA in the first half, Corbin had a 3.26 ERA. He improved his strikeout and walk rates in his second year back from surgery. Best pick of the round: Willie Calhoun (20.4)
Round 21, Pick 4: Yasmani Grandal (Dodgers)
This is my first catcher, and while Grandal will lose at-bats to Austin Barnes, Grandal is the starter and just hoping his average isn’t too low. Best pick of the round: Austin Hedges (20.2)
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The rest of my picks
- Marcus Semien
- Mike Clevinger
- Aaron Hicks
- Joakim Soria
- Randal Grichiuk
- Joe Musgrove
- Chris Owings
- Matt Chapman
- Alex Reyes
- Travis d’Arnaud
- Mikie Mahtook
- Reynaldo Lopez
- Jorge Soler
- Joe Jimenez
- Wilmer Flores
- Bryan Mitchell
- Joe Panik
- Bruce Maxwell
- Corey Spangenberg
- Matt Boyd
- Ben Gamel
- Dominic Leone
- Nick Pivetta
