I had the option of choosing whatever position I wanted, and it would have been nice to have Hanley. I just hate drafting on the ends. 6th seemed like as good a spot as any.

Originally I figured on getting Sizemore here, but with ARod's injury, I figured Sizemore would go top 5 ( shows how much I know ). My very short list consisted of Braun and Cabrera. So, Cabrera goes 5th, Sizemore is available, and I take Braun ;)

Struggling with a rib cage injury last September, Ryan still managed 106 RBI's and 92 runs. His OPS was .888, down from a gaudy 1.004 his rookie year. Considering he's only 26 and played through an injury last year, I see plenty of room for improvement.

1.14 Carlos Beltran OF NYMNot much hype here. I usually use my 1st rounder to build the strength of my hitting. But the elite players are long gone. I'd like to have a 4- or 5-category player here. Among the "proven player", I was considering about Beltran and Berkman. I thought that Berkman might fall back to me, so I just pulled the trigger on Beltran.

I was think about A. Rod and Longoria. The uncertain returning time of the former makes me wonder. Besides, I was afraid it could be worse, something like avascular necrosis of femoral head - a common complication stemming from steroid use, which might need total hip replacement surgery. So I went with the more sure one.

"Eeeeexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxccccccccelllllllent!!"

I was there rubbing my hands together like good old Burns on The Simpsons when I woke up and found that I had nabbed Upton with this pick. Statistically, by the numbers I am using as my guide, Upton could have merited my pick at 1.12. But after looking at other drafts, and of course knowing that Upton no longer qualifies at 2b, I rolled the dice and took Howard in Round 1 hoping specifically that Upton would fall to me in Round 2, and he did.

But I think Markakis is solid value. He seemingly took a step backward in some counting stats from his first full season, but improved in both % cats, particularly OBP, helped by a patient approach and 99 walks. A year more experienced, I'm looking for a positive progression in power and SB's.

There were plenty of great pitchers to choose from with Sabathia, Halladay, Webb, Hamels, and Peavy on the board. I needed someone to anchor my pitching staff and I felt like the top tier starters would be gone by the time the draft got back to me at the end of the 4th round. My gut told me that Hamels was the guy to pick since he’s young and really started to blossom at the end of last year. I really think he has a chance to be a top-20 player this year. In the end, though, I couldn’t pass up Sabathia because I expect him rack up a ton of Wins and Ks.

I had Pena, Brian Roberts, and several stud SP on my shortlist as3rd round targets. When Roberts went, I decided to secure my 1B.

I have no idea if Pena would have made it back to me for 4.13 in this draft, although he has survived to round 5 in the AAA RIBC drafts. I suspect this is because he lacks hype in AVG leagues, and so people are just not used to seeing his name this high on draft lists. In any case, I wanted a big bat and felt Pena provided most things I look for in an anchor 1B.

Pena occupied the elite in 2007 (600 SLG, 1000 OPS) but also in the 2nd half of 2008 (550 SLG, 955 OPS). I don't know exactly how to project Pena for 2009. I don't put his upside at the 2007 levels, but the halfway stats from 07-08 put him at about 380-570 which would be fantastic.

Wrong.

Phillips has been a mainstay in the Cincy lineup the past three years, averaging 23 HR's, 27 SB's, 82 RBI's and 84 runs. His OBP % isn't quite where I'd like but I'll live with it. Obviously.

I had CC or Hamels penciled in here with Peavy or Webb at the next level. Looks like those in front of me had the same ideas. So rather than get passed by on an SP run, I figured I better get in on the action. I’m still excited to have Webb. 18-20 wins, 180+ K’s, The WHIP is a tad high at 1.20, but the sub-3.20 ERA makes up for it.

Except for steals, I project him with similar numbers as Holliday. I almost went for a catcher here, and figured that either VMart or RMart would be available for my next pick (they were taken just before!!).

Derrick has slid a long way from his near MVP season in 2005. The power isn't there as it once was, nor is the speed. None the less, he still is capable of putting up some solid numbers, just not Derrick Lee numbers.

I think he is still capable of runs and RBI's in the mid 80's, decent %'s, and maybe sneak up on someone and swipe a few bases.

But make no mistake, a closer run had started. Maybe I helped it along, maybe not, but I'd rather be in at the onset than at the end.

Papelbon had been taken a round earlier, but Nathan and Mariano went in the few picks before me. I've always liked KRod and although he might have lost a little off his fastball he always seems to find a way to get the job done. If I hadn't had Soria last year , I might have taken him ( call me superstitious ), but KRod is the man.

I think playing for the Mets will give him plenty of save opportunities, especially with Putz there. The Mets bullpen was notorious for blowing leads in the 7th and 8th innings.

Checked out MI's with speed. There was Weeks, but he was what I would call terrible last season. Not really a good hitter. Kendrick and F.Lopez looked OK but would be huge reaches here (I ended up getting Kendrick in rd 9). I could have had Figgins but I kind of have this rule that says guys with a .318 SLG% don't get anywhere close to my starting lineup.

The Upton pick was based purely on potential. To me, he’s the only player left that has the obvious potential to be a first-rounder next year. The former #2 overall draft pick slugged .460 as a 20-year old last year. Hopefully this is the season that he begins to reach his superstar potential.

He fits right into the 80-80 R/RBI track, and I project about a .370ish OBP and 460ish SLG. He even stole 10 bases last year. Thing is, the OBP is almost a lock, as he's done it all 3 years. The SLG has upside, and if the power blossoms, then he's a very valuable piece. The floor stats here are acceptable enough to risk the potential that he breaks out.

I was hoping that Lackey would be available, but he went a few picks earlier. None the less I think King Felix is excellent value at this juncture. I picked up on waivers a couple of years ago when he burst into the bigs, and he was a big reason for my success that year.

I really had no idea where I wanted to go at this point. I needed a thirdbasemen, but felt a decent one would be there with the next round. I was tempted by Nolasco, but figured a comparable SP could be had later.

So I took Cordero. He saved 44 and 34 for the last two seasons, so I'm expecting something right in the middle, better than a K/inning and solid %'s.