KARMA: Mid-Season Report on the Infamous Mock Draft

For all the guys that heard the Paul Greco broadcast of the Live! Mock Draft Central Expert Draft No. 3 you had to know that Paul wasn't thrilled with most of my picks. If you'd like to listen to the insanity all over again, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fantasybaseballguy/va/2008/02/26/mock-draft-centrals-expert-draft

So I thought I would do a mid-season revisit to check out how some of the players I draft were doing in particular the ones Paul noted were bad picks.

Before I go on I want to establish with the readers that one of my best skills in fantasy baseball is free agency. I've won leagues on getting Papelbon and Braun before anyone else did, so I am assured that any holes this team may present I would have filled them. It's also important to note that this draft took place on February 25th and not March 25th.

Here are the highlighted picks from the 23 round draft.

Round 1 pick 12 - Albert Pujols, 1B. Paul was hammering Pujols before and during the draft. The end result was I got him with the last pick of the first round.

First Half Stats: .350, 18 HRs, 50 RBI, 49 Runs.

Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: TTG by a landslide. This guy has been a monster this season.

Round 2 pick 1 - Ryan Braun 3B-OF. Another pick I was hammered on, but I felt quite strong on since I knew at some point he'd qualify as a OF. He would probably play 3B on my fantasy team.

First Half Stats: .286, 23 HRs, 66 RBI, 52 Runs, 8 SB.
Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: Paul said these were terrible picks. I can't see a guy who has 23 dingers and 66 RBI's at the break as bad.

Round 3 pick 12 - JJ Putz RP. This pick has been bad, but I would have had plenty of warning and even after he went on the DL the first time Brandon Morrow was available and I got him in several leagues.

First Half Stats: 2 Wins, 7 Saves, 23 K, 5.21 ERA

Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: Injuries are something we have no control over, so this bad pick has to be chalked up as bad luck since I couldn't see the injury coming.

Round 4 pick 1 Jonathan Papelbon RP. He's been absolutely dominating this year and certainly worth a 4th round pick.

First Half Stats: 3 Wins, 28 Saves, 51 K, 2.43 ERA
Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: Easily The True Guru. If there were saves available in the later part of the draft, there was also offense. I got a non-tradeable secure closer and he's paying dividends.

Round 5 pick 12 - Chone Figgins 3b. Another guy hit by the injury bug, but before he went on the DL he was awesome.
First Half Stats: .275, 0 HRs, 11 RBI, 31 Runs, 16 SB.

Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: I didn't win this one so far, but again this isn't a case of a bad player and bad pick. Its a case of another bad luck injury.

Round 6 pick 1 - Scott Kazmir, SP. All-Star. Having a solid season and worth a 6th round pick, but there is better out there.

First Half Stats: 7 Wins, 91 K, 3.04 ERA

Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: How can you knock this pick? TTG all the way.

Round 7 pick 12 - Michael Young, SS. This was my SS, and man has he paid off.

First Half Stats: .302, 7 HRs, 52 RBI, 63 Runs, 6 SB.
Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: If I remember correctly Paul said he was a one, maybe two category player. Add in RBI, Runs, and 6 stolen bases and I'd say he's more than that. Sweet pick.

Round 8 pick 1 - Fausto Carmona SP- Having a solid year till the injury bug hit him, but he will be back and strong.

First Half Stats: 4 Wins, 23 K, 3.10 ERA
Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: This was another fine pick to add to my rotation. The injury hurts, but there are plenty of pitchers like Gavin Floyd to get in free agency while he is on the DL.

Round 9, pick 12 - Jacoby Ellsbury OF. Finally I got my first true OF and he has been outstanding.

First Half Stats: .269, 5 HRs, 27 RBI, 60 Runs, 35 SB.

Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: I got speed and run production that compares too Jose Reyes in the 9th round. Paul was all over this pick and hated it beyond the draft. He's eating his words.

Round 11 pick 12 Ben Sheets SP. All-Star. Having a great year.

First Half Stats: 10 Wins, 108 K, 2.85 ERA

Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: Paul was OK with this pick, but since he thought the whole draft terrible, big win for TTG.

Round 12 pick 1 - Placido Polanco 2b. He doing what we all expected. No power, but average, and some RBI and runs to boot.

First Half Stats: .305, 3 HRs, 32 RBI, 44 Runs, 2 SB.
Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: I understand why Paul didn't like this pick, but he's the 2b I got. not bad for the weak spot on my team.

Round 16 pick 1 - BJ Ryan RP. I got my 3rd closer as a late sleeper pick. I do agree that you should get a closer late.

First Half Stats: 2Wins, 18 Saves, 33 K, 2.84 ERA
Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: Great pick for TTG. I don't think Paul was high on this pick because of BJ's surgery.

Round 22, pick 1 - JD Drew OF. He's had a fantastic season and was selected as an All-Star. I put together a nice outfield.

First Half Stats: .302, 17 HRs, 55 RBI, 63 Runs, 2 SB.

Paul Vs. The True Guru Winner: Paul hated this pick and this guy in general. What a mistake he made. Do your homework next time, and don't just look ast one season full of stats.

That's enough. Other notable solid picks were Josh Willingham, Melky Cabrera, Jason Bartlett, and Jorge Posada.

I did have some terrible picks: Dontrell Willis (R15), Phillip Hughes (R14), Josh Fields (R13), and Matt Diaz (R21). All lower round picks of course.

I took Jason Schmidt as a gamble in the 20th round knowing it was unlikely he'd be back soon. He looks to come back in August. Let's see what he does.

Overall I think I had a fantastic draft and I have a very good roto team. Maybe Paul should rethink how he evaluates other experts because it makes him look really stupid when he slams a fellow industry expert for taking Pujols with the 12th pick. The funny thing about that pick was I never saw him drop as far as he did in any other draft I was involved in real or mock. If you listen to the draft it obvious that Paul has a problem with me and was looking to shred my good name, but in the end he just made me look that much better and made himself look like a dunce. Maybe Paul should go back to his day job because if you didn't like my draft you have no idea what a good draft is. Of course In Mock Draft Central's first expert draft, which Paul was involved in the rumor is he took Ryan Garko and Kevin Kouzmenoff in the 8th and 9th rounds.

I'm happy for Paul there was a big mouth wannabe there to rip his picks. He did get laughed off the http://www.fantasybaseballexpress/ Chat box. Its all Karma.

The True Guru