Introducing the Legendary Hillbillys III



Catcher: Joe Mauer
1st base: Carlos Delgado
2nd base: Brandon Phillips
3rd base: Chipper Jones
Shortstop: Stephen Drew/Jhonny Peralta
Outfield: Grady Sizemore, Adam Dunn, Coco Crisp, Ken Griffey Jr., Milton Bradley
Corner Infielder: Eric Chavez
2B/SS: Jeff Kent
Utility: Todd Helton

Starting Pitchers: Chris Carpenter, Carlos Zambrano, Chien-Ming Wang
Closers: Mariano Rivera, Chad Cordero, Takashi Saito, Armando Benitez, Dustin Hermanson

Analysis: I don’t know how I feel about this team. I want to fall in love with my picks but if anything I feel like there is a bit too much age and fading stars filling my fantasy roster this spring. While I landed guys that I really like who are sure to be stars in this keeper league for years to come (Sizemore, Stephen Drew, Mauer, Zambrano), I just feel a little uncomfortable with some of the picks overall, where as in years past draft night I looked at the roster and felt like I had the winning team. Maybe it is a good thing that I don’t feel that way, because I haven’t won my league or finished in the top 3 for that matter since 2002.

I got my guy Grady Sizemore (and Dunn as well) with the 3rd overall pick in the draft. It went Pujols, Ryan Howard, Sizemore. Surprisingly Johann Santana who I wanted no part of went 7th to my uncle and cousin Joe’s team. I went on to get Carpenter, Mauer, Delgado, Rivera, and Zambrano from there.

When talking about age, I feel like I picked an All-Star team from 5 years ago, if that. Griffey, Helton, Kent, Benitez, Delgado, Chipper Jones, Hermanson, even Rivera and Carpenter who are established stars, are older. All of those guys are in the mid 30’s at least, and at least one of them if not more is sure to sustain an injury.

I am at my best at fantasy baseball when it comes to picking up a hot player before the rest of the league does. I think I am as good at having that ‘gut’ intuition as there can be a fantasy baseball owner. I’m going to need it likely with this plethora of retirees in my lineup.

In years past, I have went for all homeruns and RBI, just raw power early and often in the draft. I have not had success with that theory, so I switched it up this season. I thought this would be the year that I didn’t pick my captain Adam Dunn. Then Dunn turned it up with a big, big spring and that coupled with the fact that he is in his contract year basically (playing for a $13 million option next season), and I had to give him one more year because I believe in the guy. I have a nice mix of speed and power, and unlike years past, I’ve got some good arms as pitchers and not just guys I’m picking up off the waiver wire every night.

With no mega stolen base stud, I’ve got plenty of guys who I think will offer a decent amount of steals. Sizemore, my boy Brandon Phillips, Coco Crisp, Stephen Drew, Milton Bradley and Chipper Jones all offer some steals. I wanted Ryan Freel badly but he was nabbed just before I got to take the little smurf.

Oh I’m going to win it. There is no doubt in that. However, we’re going to have to work hard to do it this year. Legendary Hillbillys III will be a team to remember one way or another.