My first mock draft of the year

[realmofotalk]

5th slot out of 12 teams

1. Tim Lincecum (SF - SP)
2. Justin Upton (Ari - OF)
3. Mark Reynolds (Ari - 1B,3B)
4. Derek Jeter (NYY - SS)
5. Jayson Werth (Phi - OF)
6. Adam Dunn (Was - 1B,OF)
7. Matt Cain (SF - SP)
8. José López (Sea - 1B,2B)
9. Chad Billingsley (LAD - SP)
10. Hunter Pence (Hou - OF)
11. Jair Jurrjens (Atl - SP)
12. Carlos Beltrán (NYM - OF)
13. Francisco Rodríguez (NYM - RP)
14. Francisco Cordero (Cin - RP)
15. Trevor Hoffman (Mil - RP)
16. Yadier Molina (StL - C)
17. Jonathan Sánchez (SF - SP)
18. Max Scherzer (Det - SP)
19. Bobby Jenks (CWS - RP)
20. Todd Helton (Col - 1B)
21. Joel Piñeiro (LAA - SP)
22. Seth Smith (Col - OF)
23. Carlos Santana (Cle - C)

Quick notes:
I took Jeter because he was the only reliable veteran shortstop left among the immediate options, but you can argue it's a reach since Yunel Escobar was still available much later. I slacked off on getting a good hitting catcher as always. I will kick myself if I let Miggy Montero slip again in a real league, but I would be thrilled to have Carlos Santana in the last couple rounds.

[Kingdom]

I take it the league places high value on saves?

[realmofotalk]

I tend to go crazy on closers in the mid-to-late rounds, but K-Rod is underrated this year just because he didn't save 50, 60 games. You got me on Coco Cordero and Hoffman, but I was surprised Jenks was ranked below names like Rodney.

[bcshorts]

My thoughts..

- I think getting Upton at 20 is a great pick. He's a lock for 20-20 with 30-30 (or at least 35-25) upside.
- Jurrjens in the 11th round also seems like an excellent value to me. I'm not too worried about his early shoulder problems, and he'll get you a really good ERA with solid K's and wins.
- Speaking of wins, though, you're not going to get enough. Lincecum and Jurrjens will get some, but Cain and Billingsley will probably hurt you in that area.
- I think you might have gone one or two closers overboard, but you'd have valuable trading pieces down the road if they all pan out.
- Your catching position is horrible. I don't understand why you would take Yadier Molina. I'm all for waiting late if you can't get one of the first four catchers at a good value, but why Molina? He's only a plus player in average, which he contributes less than other position players because of 100+ less AB's.
- Not a big fan of your late picks, like Smith and Santana (and Helton, unless there's a BB/OBP category). It would be tough to say for sure without knowing who was available, but I would think there would be some higher upside player available.

Not terrible, but I'm kinda feeling blah.. Good infield though.

[realmofotalk]

- My thoughts exactly on Upton and Jurrjens. I thought about Matt Holliday at 20 considering he was beast for St. Louis, but Upton's upside is for real.
- You can't count on wins, all the statheads would tell you that. You just hope the wins come when a pitcher's ERA and WHIP beg of them.
- About Yadier, like I said, I held out for Montero and whiffed. Catchers who were later taken were Bengie, Soto, Doumit, Baker, and Olivo. Pierzynski went undrafted. I feel Bengie has nowhere to go but down with his OBP.
- FWIW, some sexy upside players that I passed on include David Price, Gerardo Parra, and...shit, I just realized this...Martin Prado.

[Porter]

Jose Lopez might end up being 3B eligible, he's taking grounders at 3B already.

[cjkalt]

I like Santana in the last round... he's got upside, if worse comes to worse, extra closers can get ya an upgrade

[Witlon]

I feel catchers are probably a waste unless you're getting Mauer or Martinez, and you'll likely have to pay top dollar for them.

I mean, you could even have a guy like Jeff Clement(if he wins the 1B job) there and be fine, with Sandoval-esque upside, due to not actually catching.

Not a big fan of pitchers in the first, but Lincecum is about as can't miss as you can get. Would've probably passed on Helton and went after a Nick Johnson-type but, can't really argue him that much at the draft position.

Not a bad looking draft, though. Jeter is steady, Upton is a great pick. Not a K-Rod fan, but his name value makes him worth taking there, especially if you want to flip him.

[realmofotalk]

Thanks for the suggestions, Wilty. By the way, tell CS and little wiffer I said hi, if you see them.

[Porter]

Thanks for the suggestions, Wilty. By the way, tell CS and little wiffer I said hi, if you see them.

They are still around?