Fantasy Baseball Analysis Draft: Round 19

February 16, 2012 @ 12:40:27

By KFFL Staff

Rnd: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
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1) Torii Hunter, OF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Team: Steve Gardner, USA TODAY/Sports Weekly | Roster

The veteran could see a few extra days off with the Angels outfield as crowded as it appears to be heading into spring training. But his skills are holding up fairly well for someone who will turn 37 after the All-Star break. Austin Jackson, Colby Rasmus and Angel Pagan were all taken a few spots earlier, but I have Hunter rated higher because he has more power and he should get a boost with Albert Pujols hitting in front of him.

2) Brennan Boesch, OF, Detroit Tigers

Team: Ray Flowers, Baseball Guys/SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio | Roster

It was Boesch, Matt Joyce or Vernon Wells for my fifth outfielder. Couldn't see any of them being around the next time I made a pick.

3) Matt Joyce, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Team: Joe Hamrahi, Baseball Prospectus | Roster

Gardner respecting his elders

I was pleasantly surprised to see Matt Joyce still on the board this late in the draft. I really think Joyce could surprise a lot of people this year and post his best numbers to date. Twenty-five home runs, 80 runs, 80 RBI and 10-15 SB is not out of reach...and for a 19th-round pick, that's a steal.

4) Doug Fister, SP, Detroit Tigers

Team: Pasko Varnica, Mastersball | Roster

I was after Brennan Boesch but had to settle for my team's fifth SP. Fister may not give me many K, but I expect from him a low ERA and WHIP and close to 14 wins.

5) Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Oakland Athletics

Team: Howard Bender, FanGraphs | Roster

He signed his deal with the A's about 30 seconds before it was my pick, so this was an easy call for me. A risk? Maybe a little, but this guy looks like a beast. He's 27 years old, has strong 20-20 potential and will get the playing time. The A's didn't pony up $36 million to let him start in the minors. He'll learn on the job and that won't take him long.

6) Devin Mesoraco, C, Cincinnati Reds

Team: Mark Chamberlin, Baseball Sharks | Roster

My notes said take Salvador Perez right after someone else takes Mesoraco. Whoops! Unlike many, I believe Mesoraco is a year out from his breakout, but he still should be good for at least 50/15/60 and a decent average.

7) Matt Thornton, RP, Chicago White Sox

Team: Nicholas Minnix, KFFL | Roster

I've rarely considered other players for long. Here, I did, because to pick a reliever is to pull my tooth. No others stood out to me, although Brandon Belt loomed. Thornton is the early favorite on the South Side, he has the skills to close, and better fortune should net him 20 to 25 saves. Addison Reed - my target with my next pick, and whom I considered taking instead - has excellent skills, but he's likely to be brought along as a setup man pre-break.

8) Ted Lilly, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Team: Bill Macey, Baseball HQ | Roster

Entering his age-36 season, Lilly is by far the oldest player on my team, but the crafty lefty doesn't show many signs of slowing down. There's little upside here, but his consistently good WHIP will help absorb any damage I take during the season if I find myself chasing wins and strikeouts at the expense of the ratio stats.

9) Grant Balfour, RP, Oakland Athletics

Team: Josh Shepardson, The Hardball Times | Roster

Balfour should probably go into spring training as the favorite to close games for the A's. Solid ratios and decent strikeout totals will be nice, but his value is dependent on saving games.

Hitting in Detroit. Yummy!

10) Lorenzo Cain, OF, Kansas City Royals

Team: Doug Anderson, RotoExperts | Roster

In an improving Royals offense, this guy has a chance to replicate Melky Cabrera's numbers from last year. I'm thinking a 15-15 year is reasonable.

11) Dayan Viciedo, OF, Chicago White Sox

Team: Tim Heaney, KFFL | Roster

Acquired speed and BA last time, took titanic pop potential at this one. Plus, his batting average won't hurt; he hits the ball hard and plays in a bat-friendly park. Vernon Wells stared at me again, but I ignored his pitfalls and aimed higher.

12) Clay Buchholz, SP, Boston Red Sox

Team: Jeff Paur, RTSports | Roster

Buchholz is a big potential guy but an injury risk after last season. It isn't like he was dealing with arm issues, though. I think he can bounce back and regain his '10 form. I was kind of surprised to still see him on the board at this point.

Rnd: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28
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