Enough of Spring Training. Lets get this season going.... not so fast Bobby Hill, you're going to Iowa, not Wrigley. That little diversion is one of a few 'oops' registered by owners in this years draft. Dont worry, Andy, you are not alone. Last year I had sportsline rank the teams based on 3 year historic averages. My 1st place team on paper finished 10th. Mazins were picked for 11th, they take top honors, and Tamales were supposed to finish 2nd. Sobo forgot to tell his team...they were in the basement. There was ONE accurate pick.... Willo took next to last, 12th, just as predicted. Will history repeat itself? In this case, I say yes. Enough of last year, this time, I'll comment on each team and put the teams into three groups: top being the contenders, middle being the pretenders, and bottom being the offenders. He we go: Sobo: tells me he didnt like drafting at the corner. Well, if you finish last again this year, you can pick 6th. Loading up on Pirates, Giles and Ramierez is an interesting move. Your pitching staff looks like swiss cheese - alot of holes. Ankiel? Wolf on the DL wasnt expected, and Trachsel will get shelled. Other than A Rod and Shannon Stewart, not too many players I had on my lists. Offender Willo: sorry Mr. Beantown, another shitty draft. Helton is a stud, Koskie will do well and Oswalt would be a strong pitcher on any staff. Otherwise.... pitching is very suspect, starting with Burhle, the White Sox supposed ace - he is at best a #4 pitcher in any other organization - he will disappoint you. Hidalgo is over the hill, Cabrera is a good #20 pick, not a #10 pick.... and where are your Red Sox? another Offender Terry: Actually, a respectable team. not great, but not too bad. Based on the Cub factor - loveable losers, you cant win since you have 4 on your roster (yes, I know that Alfonseca was a fish when you drafted him - that may be worse) Pitching will be your strength and you've got more speed than my boys, (which isnt saying much), but this should be competitive... maybe..... Pretender Hans: Looks like I fell in love with history again, and ignored the up and coming superstars. well, I did try to get Sean Burroughs and helped uncover Foxgate where the commissioner didnt even know his own rules. And drafting while in the Big Apple was a gas even if it did mean I would have 100's of emails when I returned. My pitchers will suprise everyone, and we have some power and no speed. top of the Pretendors John: First, you were a great draft buddy. kept it moving. Only changed your provisional pick once - what was that? Your 3,4 and 5 picks, Glaus, Rolen and Thome are all excellent. Pitching sucks. Is it Ben Sheets, or Ben Shit, we'll see. No rookie stretches that I see - stay healthy and middle of the pack - another Pretender. Jack - I cant believe you screwed me with that Eckstein pick. I cant believe that I care about a guy named Eckstein. Many will say a pitcher as the first pick is foolish. You will prove them all wrong - The Big Unit guarantees top spots in K's and most likely ERA and W's. After a few years, it looks like you have finally given up on drafting Reds. For that reason alone, I like your team as a Contender. But whats with the Mark Grace as Utility in round 20? c'mon. Prep: I want to know whether you or Mel were the brains behind this years draft. This is a Contender team - no doubt, except that Farnsworth pick since you thought he was the Cubs closer. and then there is the Zimmerman pick - no saves for him for a while, and oh yes, that Kevin Brown pick.... watch for him on the DL list early and often. so despite some questionable pitching, a solid team. first 6 picks are solid. Gabes - the King of the Fantasy Magazines. my question is how many of them were on baseball? Dunn will be a stud.... in three years. Round 4??? And Mark Prior wont even see Des Moines when he starts. ok, so he'll get to the Cubs by the 4th of July... by then half the season is gone. its good that you've got a decent team to carry your catchers - look for another garbage year for Todd Hundley, and Hollandsworth would be worthless if he played anywhere other than Colorado. a Contender Fox: Commissioner, last year you waited on pitching till the end and it paid off. Same plan in 02, but this bunch of sorry ragged arms will disappoint. And I was pleased to see someone else get stuck with Carl Everett this year. The over / under on his first tirade is April 25th. Was Johnny Damon a one year wonder? and how old is R Palmiero? Only one move snaked me - LoDuca, who will again be a stud. I have learned not to doubt the Commish - a Contender Albert- (or is it Anthony) : starting with Piazza has been done many times before, and no one has ever won doing it. the streak will not be broken. 4 of your first 10 picks are hometowners - both sides... and unlike drafting Cubs, taking players from the Big Apple actually does work. looks like a reasonable speed, but your normal emphasis on power is missing. Sure, you do have a couple of studs - Sheffield, Gonzalez and Nevin, but not like in years past. I think you will regret changing your strategy. Pretender. Andy - Lets hear it for last years winner..... boooo. No, we should really applaud you for drafting such a sorry lot. I've already commented on the Hill pick. and no, Iowa stats dont count. Is that Mookie Blalock at 3B? Who is Duckworth? and what is an Ainsworth? Kerry Wood will have a great season, but he is a Cub, so watch out. I know you enjoyed your stay at the top, and good for you, it was earned with Ichiro and Pujols, among others last year. now, back to your normal bottom third. Mags - OK, so you'll win the SB category, and your pitching will be good, but not better than most....so it will be interesting to see how this draft strategy pays off. Last in HR's is my prediction. and Albert will remind you that 1 HR also means 1 R, and 1 RBI, not to mention help with the BA. 1 SB doesnt help anywhere else. time will tell. I predict Mags will take over from Sobo as the trading king of this season. Offender. Ikey - We should cut you some slack because you moved right at the start of the draft and you had to leave on beer and Dominos Pizza for most of the month of March. but guess what, we're not gonna do it. too bad. Pedro was a great pitcher. He is, and will continue to be injured. Pujols and Sweeney are studs. Mo Vaughn sucks. Furcal may never return to his peak as a rookie. Pitching will be above average, power is MIA, and speed is almost as bad as my team - and that is really bad. Offender. there you have it. now, lets get hoops out of the way and PLAY BALL!