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(Part 1 will include the first 6 report cards.)
Team: Twin Towers
Manager: Billy V
Infield: Right away, I feel like he got good value on Sal Perez behind the dish. Couple years ago he was considered an easy top 5-6 catcher. He fell pretty far in this one. Not in love with Edwin Encarnacion nor Chris Taylor. Gotta be pretty excited about Bregman and Machado at 3B and SS.
Infield Grade: B+
Outfield: I told Billy during the draft that I like Schwarber this year - I don't particularly know why. Just feel like he is going to put it all together. Luis Robert was a super, super upside pick. Can't argue with that "swing for the fences" at all. The defending champ knows what he is doing. Cannot question him. Conforto and Verdugo... we shall see.
Outfield Grade: B
Utility: Bo Bichette another high upside play. Didi could really like the Phillies' little league fences. Lux is currently in the minors. Hicks can obviously do some good things.
Utility Grade: B
Bench: Gotta like Andujar as a possible bounce-back candidate. Austin Hays was pretty impressive in a short stint last year. Sean Murphy & Kieboom are a couple more upside plays.
Bench Grade: B
Starting Pitchers: Gerrit Cole is the best in the game (this from a Mets fan who loves deGrom). Morton and Nola, that's monster behind Cole. Kluber at SP4 is in the right spot. His arm might be shot, but you gotta love him in that spot. No pressure on him to perform, there. Billy also got good value on Eovaldi & Montgomery.
Starting Pitching Grade: A+
Relief Pitchers: Not sure if Kimbrel will ever be himself again. I have no qualms with Iglesias nor Kennedy, where they were drafted. Fair selections.
Relief Pitching Grade: B+
Overall Grade: A-
Team: King Martin
Managers: Luciano & Marty
Infield: No complaints, here. Bellinger and Devers should be monsters. Hiura is well-liked in fantasy circles, though not as much by me. If Tim Anderson can repeat, that would be pretty spectacular.
Infield Grade: A
Outfield: I feel like Cain is kind of over the hill. Not a huge fan, anymore. Avisail never stays healthy and doesn't always find a groove vs right handed pitching. Grichuk is a headache. Strikeout machine. I like Castellanos but I don't particularly approve of this outfield.
Outfield Grade: C
Utility: Josh Bell should easily be one of the better Util players in our league. Canha was good for me last year. Buxton always seems to be more hype than substance.
Utility Grade: B
Bench: I like Smoak at Miller Park. He could really turn things around in a major way. I thought Pence was done in the past, but he came alive last year. Maybe he's on a special "workout regimen". Nimmo is a good pick down here. Alvarez a great stash at IL, just in case.
Bench Grade: B+
Starting Pitching: That Buehler news was a little weird. Why is he pitching so far down in the rotation? In a vacuum, initially, I liked him as one of the top 5 or 6 SP plays. Clevinger and Minor were good picks, where they went. Not loving Ryu anymore in the AL East. Rich Hill and Alex Wood: same guy 10-15 years apart in age. Neither can stay healthy, nor will they.
Starting Pitching Grade: B
Relief Pitching: Melancon is the lone closer. I don't think I can get behind that in Daily settings.
Relief Pitching Grade: D
Overall Grade: B
Team Name: The Rhombuses
Manager: Chris P
Infield: Not sure I've seen the double catcher strategy in the infield. This is most likely a first for me, with both Sanchez and Grandal. Wong has always sucked ass whenever I have drafted him. Lindor is a megastar and Vlad Jr. brings massive upside.
Infield Grade: B-
Outfield: Charlie Blackmon is all alone out here. Mallex Smith brings a massive amount of steals, at least. One of the best in the game in that department.
Outfield Grade: C+
Utility: Starts off quite well with Justin Turner, Andrus & Pollock. Can't really go wrong with that trio at Util. I'm not sure if Wil Myers carries any fantasy value any longer. I can't really say with any type of certainty.
Util Grade: A-
Bench: This is where old men go to retire. Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano AND Matt Kemp? What year is this?? Seager, Urshela and Bradley bring some potential value. There are still certain things to like, here.
Bench Grade: B-
Starting Pitching: Whoa whoa...Scherzer, Strasburg AND Berrios?? How ya doinnnn...awesome! No depth at all after that. It's actually kinda scary. CP is gonna be workin' that FA list. This had the potential to be an A+ staff.
SP Grade: A-
Relief Pitching: That Chapman pick was curious. Way early. Britton will begin the season as the Yankees' closer. Osuna also seems to be in deep shit. That was also way early. Who knows? He may never get the job back from Pressly. Doolittle is fine. This still has the potential to be a very good bullpen over the long haul.
Bullpen Grade: B+
Overall Grade: B- (has the potential to go up to B+ with the right roster fills)
Team Name: World Champion Astros!
Manager: Stevie Sums
Infield: Seems pretty monster to me. Surprised to see LeMahieu at first - not really traditional - but then you have Merrifield, Suarez & Story, 3 of the best.
Infield Grade: A
Outfield: What is this, my team from a couple seasons ago? Steve has both JD Martinez & Judge in his outfield - not half bad. I also like Franmil Reyes & Gurriel. This is a very Fro-approved outfield.
Outfield Grade: A
Util: Like Josh Bell mentioned earlier, Matt Chapman should be one of the elite Util players in our league. Reynolds is one of the only good Pirates. Murphy & Segura are crafty vets.
Util Grade: B+
Bench: I like both guys, but it's a short bench. Renato Nunez and Corey Dickerson. I had Nunez queue'd up for 5 rounds, then still didn't take him. Oh well.
Bench Grade: B
Starting Pitching: Yeesh. Patrick Corbin is going to have some awfully heavy lifting to do, here. Steve is looking for upside to deliver on both Lamet and Gallen. I have a hunch that Bundy will do well with the Angels. Dakota Hudson is clearly in for a regression.
SP Grade: C+
Relief Pitchers: Hand and Neris form a safe combo. I have no f'n clue who Ryan Helsley is, but I assume he is the Cardinals' closer with Gallegos possibly out.
Relief Pitching Grade: A-
Overall Grade: A-
Team Name: Overrated Fro's
Manager: Ross
Infield: Nice combination across the board here from Ross. Contreras dropped further than he should have behind the dish. Peter Alonso is the GOAT. Great speed from Albies and Mondesi. Arenado is a superstar.
Infield Grade: A+
Outfield: Not sure if Soler nor Yaz can repeat what they did last season. Benintendi still has a lot to prove.
Outfield Grade: B-
Utility: Hoskins is definitely a Ross captain. I'm just not so sure about him, at this point. Last year's BA regression was truly frightening. Maybe he has been exposed by big-league pitching. Ohtani is a surprisingly good hitter. I'd like to see him full-time as a hitter, honestly. Tauchman is already flashing some good things.
Util Grade: B+
Bench: Nothing of note on this bench. The Mariners are truly hoping JP Crawford will breakout in some kinda way.
Bench Grade: D
Starting Pitching: Why am I seeing Ohtani everywhere I turn? This feels somewhat like a weird fantasy baseball Twilight Zone. Anyway, Clayton Kershaw's kinda on his own out here. McCullers and Wheeler have potential, but we also know them. You know what I mean by that. Alcantara nice value toward the bottom.
SP Grade: B- (very close to C+)
Relief Pitchers: Workman, Robles, Britton, Ottavino. Pretty solid, all things considered.
Bullpen Grade: A-
Overall Grade: B+
Team Name: Madd Dogs
Manager: Mikey Berto
Infield: Mikey is Cub crazy with Rizzo and Baez. Of course, they are safe picks. I'm getting that feeling that Edman won't be able to repeat what he did last season. Muncy has been quite good in recent years.
Infield Grade: B+
Outfield: Acuna and Pham get your attention real quick. That is quite the Dynamic Duo. Laureano is a textbook Mike pick, and the Mets are hoping JD Davis can build off last year's surprising breakout.
Outfield Grade: A-
Utility: Nelson Cruz is one of the most underrated athletes of all time. The guy f'n mashes. He is as consistent as they come. A nice steal for Mikey there. Seager another great value. Fell really far. Too far. Votto also worth a dart throw.
Util Grade: A
Bench: Solak and Happ are the smart plays, here. Right bang for the buck. Arraez can rake, when you give him opportunities. Mazara a nice IL stash.
Bench Grade: B+
Starting Pitching: Mikey going with the young studs in Flaherty and Woodruff up top. Must be an NL Central thing, considering the Cubs in his lineup too. Oh shit. Here's another one. Kyle Hendricks is his SP3. And he has Kwang Kim, too? Wtf. This is a weird starting staff, but still pretty good.
SP Grade: B
Relief Pitching: Taylor Rogers is the lone full time closer. Ryan Pressly will begin the season as the awesome Astros' closer.
Bullpen Grade: B-
Overall Grade: A-
Tune in tomorrow for Part 2!
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