I am in a computer sim league (something called APBA Baseball), and we have 16 teams and I have the #1 pick. Brand new league so all players are available. It isn't like fantasy baseball... it is a sim where they create the 'cards' the represent the players performance after the season is over. It is a perpetual league. We are actually replaying the 2012 then 2013 season, and so on and so forth. The pick I am thinking of is Mike Trout. Cabrera is another top thought. It is a bit hard because we have 2 years of results already, and then of course every year after that. There are also players at hard to field positions like Cano at 2B, but I think he will be a mid first rounder... not someone I could take with the first pick... but having a solid second basemen like that would be awesome. Since there are only 16 teams, there usually is a lot of good pitching available (especially relief pitching)... so I am not thinking about a starter with that first pick. What would you do with that #1 pick and why?
I was more of a Strat-O-Matic player growing up. I'd always go high OBP and power before Sabermetrics were mainstream, and save pitchers for a bit later. Of course, I could do that then, because WHIP and WARP weren't on most people's radars, and batting average was seen as more important than OPS, which is flawed in a stat-based game. I read Bill James' Baseball Abstract every offseason starting when I was 11. Trout's a great #1 pick, and his speed and defense from last year, along with his youth, make him a clear #1, IMO.
Thanks PapaG, I think I am going with Trout. For just two years in the league his numbers are amazing. I can't wait to see what he does 3-7 years from now. He may trade some of that speed for power, but that is fine with me. Cabrera is hitting over 40 HRs and with about the same on base percentage as Trout, but he is 8 years older. OF is a pretty easy position to fill though, but the sheer number of years he will produce... and the fact that he did it so young tips the scales for me.
Trout has put up two of the best seasons in baseball history at ages 20 and 21. Its possible he is only scratching the surface.
For pitching, pay close attention to WHIP for starters (way more important than ERA), and Ks/9 for relievers.
Trout, Cabrera, McCutcheon. I don't think you can go wrong with any of them. I haven't played fantasy baseball for a couple years, but I was always pretty good when I did play. I always bolstered myself with a really good pitching staff. I dunno, I might have to play again this year. My interest in baseball has been waning the last couple of years. I kinda think its a sport for retired people to follow who have a lot of time on their hands and can nap through the 3rd and 7th inning. Funny because baseball was the my sport growing up.
