(How's that for a rationalization)

Here's betting Valverde outperforms at least one of the 13 closers selected from 3.03-5.07. I'd rather start the second closer run than be on the back end of the 1st. Cantu was considered here if Valverde didn't make it back to me because of my injury concerns over Roberts and his 2B/3B eligibility is also a plus. Chavez and Blalock were considered as well, but were put aside as showing signs of backsliding.

What's not to like? Despite a terrible start, Giambi finished with spectacular numbers and though he's a year older, I see very little reason not to expect more of the same. While I may have jumped at Mauer too soon, I am VERY pleased to get Giambi here. I considered Chavez, as before, but the low OBP and unfulfilled expectations still worry me. Luckily, I was able to get Atkins a little later.

I may have reached a bit by taking Tom Gordon in the 6th round, but I didn't really have much choice. Almost every manager had their 1st closer already. I felt some were planning on drafting their second closers soon. There were only a few players left who were legitimate closers and I believed Tom Gordon was one of them. Sure, he's 38 years old. But the numbers don't lie. Over the past 3 seasons, Gordon has had a 2.62 ERA, 1.04 WHIP while striking out 256 in 244.1 IP. Assuming that there isn't a huge dropoff from what he was able to do last season, he should be able to get around 40 saves foir my team.

My crystal ball shows 145 games with 90/110/5/.400/.580 . . . I hope it's working well!

Not really much strategy in this pick for me. When I made my C.Lee pick (13 picks before) I was heavily considering Chavez at that time as well. I just saw Chavez as the best player available and even though I already have a 3B, I'll just fill up my CI slot early. Hoping he avoids an early slump this year... in fact heard he's done corrective messures in order to start outa the gate better this year.

Given full time playing status this year, hitting cleanup behind Helton and playing half his games at Coors, I think Holliday can easily reach 25-30 HR's, 100 RBI's and steal 20 bases.

a dodger lineup of furcal, lofton, drew, kent, garciaparra doesn't sound too shabby. I think this is Drew's year, even bigger than 2004. I believe!

I did take a close look at Iguchi and wasn't happy about passing him along but they only let you draft one player each round. taking my second SP here lets me breath a little easier when all the pitchers start flying off the charts in the mid rounds.

Three outfielders appealed to me for this pick, Crisp, Vernon Wells (picked 8.03) and Pat Burrell (8.06). Hard choice. Although Wells is perceived as having more power, Crisp actually had a higher slugging average last year. Crisp is 26 and can take a step up, while with Wells it's a question whether he'll ever return to his 2003 standards. I have some questions about how Burrell's slugging will hold up with the changes in the Phillies' home park. Crisp's manager says he will be running him this year, and the possibility of 20+ steals made me decide to have Coco Crisp stats with my breakfast this season.

Well, i wanted to fill the 3B spot with this pick, 3B was kinda deep this year and Blalock is perhaps the last safe choice out there... beside Beltre (who i prefer to let to someone else). So Blalock as 9th 3B taken, is really go bargain IMHO... Getting 100+ RBi with a 7 rounder is pretty good. Even if some say he won't hit cleanup this year, that shouldn't affect his production that much, he still plays in TEX with the Tex line-up to drive home... I'll take last year # with no problem... if he goes like 2004 or 2003, well, this my friend is going to be a major STEAL!

I have Gonzalez as the best available closer. He should strike out more than a batter per inning, an ERA of 3 or lower, and as long as he stays healthy, should have the closer job locked up in Pittsburgh. Of course, he’s never gone into a season as the anointed closer, so the “quality closer” label is admittedly based on a lot of conjecture.

As a plus he also eligible at 3rd and in the OF.

Not many high calibre RPs left now at this point, and I'll be kicking myself if I don't jump in now and grab one. Normally the Saves CAT is one that I want to try to compete in, and I can feel that it's not going to be quite so easy this year. Hoping that Steady Eddie, is in fact just that, and in a contract year, holds off the setup men that are waiting in wing.

I also considered taking a closer here (Benitez and Guardado), but I thought that one of them had a better chance to come back around to me than Nomar -- they didn't.

Another closer run was taking place here. And looking at the picks that came after this selection, I think I made the right choice of taking my 2nd closer. I had Armando Benitez as the next best closer after Tom Gordon, so I was really happy here. I'm just hoping he pitches more like his 2004 self. Unfortunately he's a year older and a bit less healthy. He did show some encouraging signs near the end of last season though. Coming back from injury, he was successful in 14 of his 16 save opportunities. As long as he can stay healthy, he should be very productive as my #2 closer.

[UNDRAFTED]. Keith Foulke. [UNDRAFTED]. [UNDRAFTED]. [UNDRAFTED]. Bobby Jenks. What do these people have in common? Obviously, the term "White Sox Closer" is dubious at best. And Jenks doesn't exactly have the greatest personality from all reports. However, to grab the closer for the World Champions in the 7th round of a 16 team draft is still pretty impressive. Hell, I've already taken Gagne, Prior, and Mauer, so it's not like my team was risk-free anyway. If [UNDRAFTED] can save 40 games on the 2005 Devil Rays, there's no reason Bobby Jenks can't save 40 on the 2006 White Sox.

I like the way that Burrell has improved since his dismal 2003 season. I expect that improvement will continue. A year with 90/120 and a .900 OPS is attainable. If he comes close to that, I'm getting great value with the 8th pick.

Following in the footsteps of last year, I'm going with a 3 closer strategy. With only 30 closers to pick from and me getting 3 of the projected closers pretty much ensures me 100 saves, and in turn about 14 or so points from the Saves CAT. Fuentes pitches his home games @ Coors, but he's got good enough stuff to get the job done. I think he's more likely to keep his job all year, which is more than I can say of most of the "questionable" closers still available.

I'm hoping for 35 saves or more from him

I was very tempted also to ditch my plan and pick up Brad Wilkerson (9.08), who I considered to be a great bargain here, but there will be OF bargains elsewhere and I regretfully decided that 3B and SS were more urgent priorities.

go royals.

I came pretty close to drafting Hermida til I came to the decision that I needed an MI. was thinking there was a slight chance he'd drop a couple rounds.

Guliien was a disappointment to his backers last year with knee injuries keeping him out of a lot of action and his power declining significantly when he was able to play. Even so, his .368/.434 was quite decent for a shortstop. He's 31, but there's at least some grounds to hope for an uptick, back toward his 04 performance of .542 slugging. If he can stay healthy and put up 75 runs and 60 rbi he'll help my team. Also on the radar as I was preparing my queue here were Renteria (taken just before him at 9.01) and Barmes (9.10)

Atkins is a fine hitter. I think his road numbers will go up this year and he'll reach the stratosphere at home. This is about how Todd Helton started, and while I can't possibly hope for that kind of production, Vinny Castilla did win an RBI title playing third for the Rockies. Though he struggled a bit last year, Atkins finished with 89 RBIs and I think he'll prove to be a cornerstone of my offense this season.

I was all ready to take John Patterson here. Unfortunately, Trip snagged him 2 picks before my turn came up. What makes it even worse is that EH offered me his draft pick, but I refused to trade up. Patterson should have been mine. Argh! I still wanted to take a pitcher here, so I took who I thought was the next best one. And that was Mark Mulder. He might not have the excellent K ratio that Patterson has, but he does have a better chance of winning 18+ games. Hopefully my 2 aces (Martinez & Zambrano) can compensate for Mulder's low strikeout numbers. If it works out like I hope it will, I should easily have 50+ wins from my top 3 starters. I would be very pleased with that.