Daily Dr. Roto—January 29, 2020
Rounds 9-10 of FSGA Fantasy Baseball Experts Draft
Rounds 1-2 | Rounds 3-4 | Rounds 5-6 | Rounds 7-8 | Rounds 9-10 | Rounds 11-17 | Rounds 18-23
Last week, I began my quest to win the 2020 FSGA Fantasy Baseball League. I had the fifth pick (out of 14 teams) and am competing against some of the top Fantasy Baseball experts in the industry. Although we are drafting in January, this draft unofficially “kicks off” the Fantasy Baseball season.
The first eleven rounds were completed last week in Las Vegas. The remaining rounds will be completed by slow draft over the coming weeks. You can follow the draft along here.
Round 9
- 9.1 Ken Giles, TOR (RP)
- 9.2 Michael Brantley, HOU (OF)
- 9.3 Trey Mancini, BAL (OF)
- 9.4 Raisel Iglesias, CIN (RP)
- 9.5 Rhys Hoskins, PHI (1B)
- 9.6 Luis Robert, CWS (OF)
- 9.7 Mitch Garver, MIN (C)
- 9.8 Oscar Mercado, CLE (OF)
- 9.9 Dinelson Lamet, SD (SP)
- 9.10 Marcus Semien, OAK (SS)
- 9.11 Malex Smith, SEA (OF)
- 9.12 Tim Anderson, CWS (SS)
- 9.13 Edwin Diaz, NYM (RP)
- 9.14 Hansel Robles, LAA (RP)
My pick: Rhys Hoskins PHI (1B)
I knew going into Rounds 9-10 that most teams would take a closer. I turned out to be right as four of them went in Round 9 and two more went in Round 10. However, to win in Fantasy Baseball, I think that owners need to make a stand on saves. In years’ past, I used to be the owner who drafted not one but TWO closers in the first 10 rounds. Almost all the time that turned out to be a mistake. The closers who I thought were “safe” and would keep their jobs all season invariably got injured, pitched poorly, or just had subpar seasons. This year, I consciously decided not to take a closer until the later rounds and instead focus on my hitting and starting pitching.
I don’t often go into drafts wanting a certain player. I often find when I do that I think more about when I am going to get that player and less about my roster construction. However, going into this draft I knew I had my heart set on Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins. I think that the Fantasy community has given up too early on Hoskins and I see a huge season on the horizon. Last year, Hoskins was HBP in early August and could barely hold the bat for the last two months of the season. This year, the Phillies have added more offense (Didi Gregorius) and they still play in one of the best home run parks in the league. I think a 40+ Home Run season for Hoskins in not out of the question and I am thinking I might have a steal here.
Round 10
- 10.1 Amed Rosario, NYM (SS)
- 10.2 Danny Santana, TEX (OF)
- 10.3 Hector Neris, PHI (RP)
- 10.4 Lance Lynn, TEX (SP)
- 10.5 Zac Gallen, AZ (SP)
- 10.6 Miguel Sano, MIN (1B)
- 10.7 Robbie Ray, AZ (SP)
- 10.8 Jorge Polanco, MIN (SS)
- 10.9 Frankie Montas, OAK (SP)
- 10.10 Max Fried, ATL (SP)
- 10.11 Gavin Lux, LAD (2B)
- 10.12 Taylor Rodgers, MIN (RP)
- 10.13 Yuli Gurriel, HOU (1B)
- 10.14 Eduardo Escobar, AZ (3B)
My pick: Max Fried ATL (SP)
One of the goals of any Fantasy player is to draft a player in his breakout season. If an owner can do that on multiple occasions, there is a great chance that team will win the league. It was with that in mind that I selected Braves SP Max Fried here in Round 10. Fried has all the ingredients I am seeking for a potential breakout: last year was his first throwing 160+ IP which means he can handle more innings this year, he had a K/BB ratio of 173/47 which shows his solid control for a young pitcher, he also had a .240wOBA which means that hitters were not getting on base much when he was pitching. If those things are not good enough, I love the fact that he plays on a winning team which could help him get 15+ wins to go along with 200+Ks. If Fried breaks out this season, just know you heard it here first.
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