Who should I take in inaugural draft?

MimesisBTG · 07-23-2009, 12:36 PM

So I'm starting a new fictional league and I was lucky enough to get the #1 overall pick. I am debating over who I should pick to be the corner stone of my franchise, and I thought it might be fun to pose the question to the boards!

Here are your two options. All ratings are on a 1 to 10 scale:

1. M. McFarland, Age 21, RHP, 93-95mph, 64% groundball

Stuff: 8 (8)
Movement: 8 (8)
Control: 9 (10)

Cutter: 7 (7)
Curveball: 7 (7)
Slider: 7 (7)
Changeup: 6 (6)
Splitter: 8 (8)
Forkball: 5 (5)

Endurance: 6
Hold Runners: 4

2. J. Dickerson, Age 24, CF

Contact: 8 (9)
Gap: 10 (10)
Power: 7 (7)
Eye: 9 (10)
Ks: 10 (10)

Range: 9
Error: 5
Arm: 7

LF: 10
CF: 9
RF: 7

Speed: 9
Steal: 10
Baserunning: 10

Thanks in advance for you feedback!

bgeno · 07-23-2009, 12:46 PM

Personally, I love having that athletic batter that I can rely on near the top of the order, so I'd go with Dickerson.

Pirate Fan · 07-23-2009, 12:47 PM

I think you need to include the players' ratings for work ethic and intelligence. It is my understanding that players with high ratings for these attributes are more likely to maintain a high level of performance over an extended period of time.

MimesisBTG · 07-23-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate Fan

I think you need to include the players' ratings for work ethic and intelligence. It is my understanding that players with high ratings for these attributes are more likely to maintain a high level of performance over an extended period of time.

This I can do:

McFarland
Leader: 3
Loyalty: 5
Winning: 7
Greed: 4
Intelligence: 9
Work Ethic: 7

Dickerson
Leader: 10
Loyalty: 10
Winning: 3
Greed: 5
Intelligence: 10
Work Ethic: 2

Pronkytonk · 07-23-2009, 01:05 PM

I'll take Dickerson. This guy could be the Rickey Henderson of your league if you put him in the leadoff spot and will do very well hitting third as well.
At 24, he still is not too old to dominate your team for years to come.

McFarland is a decent pitcher, I really like that he has several quality pitches, but he is no real superstar in the making IMO.

garlasco · 07-23-2009, 01:29 PM

Pitching, pitching, pitching

Pirate Fan · 07-23-2009, 01:36 PM

I would definately go with the pitcher then because of the work ethic. I've seen several highly regarded players who were poor in this rating decline rapidly. I don't know if that was the reason, but always try to find players who have at least decent ratings in this attribute for all early picks.

modesto61ca · 07-23-2009, 01:40 PM

I would take Dickerson. He actually looks to me like he can be the Junior Griffey of the league, especially on the offensive side, and with more SB's. Plus he has a really good leader rating, compared to the pitcher. Leadership ability is a huge factor in a franchise player.

jasonn29tn14 · 07-23-2009, 01:48 PM

I was leaning towards Dickerson anyways - but the intangibles put it over the top.

MimesisBTG · 07-23-2009, 06:08 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice. I really appreciate your input.

The vote has been close to this point, which reaffirms for me the difficulty of my decision. I think that I am leaning toward McFarland though, because I have always believed that pitching wins games. I think it would be very difficult for me to pass up on someone who has the potential to be the most dominant pitcher in the league for almost the next two decades. I also like his work ethic and the fact that he is three years younger.

Hopefully, I am not making the wrong choice...

satchel · 07-23-2009, 06:32 PM

I'd take the pitcher.

Bluenoser · 07-23-2009, 07:20 PM

It depends on a lot of other things too. What type of league setup do you have? Are you the type that likes to build around pitching and defense or are you the type who likes to build around hitting?

Afino · 07-23-2009, 07:34 PM

I'd take the pitcher.

I had the same situation in my own league - the 8/9/10 21 year old SP or the 21 year old CF that does EVERYTHING well.

I took the pitcher and haven't been disappointed.

MimesisBTG · 07-23-2009, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BruceM

It depends on a lot of other things too. What type of league setup do you have? Are you the type that likes to build around pitching and defense or are you the type who likes to build around hitting?

Yeah, I guess I am asking the question sort of in the abstract. It's a small league, only 8 teams, in the modern era. I tend to like a balanced team, but I guess I feel like the selection I make will help dictate whether, as you say, my team is going to be built more around pitching and defense or more around hitting.

I probably lean more toward the pitching and defense side of things, which makes me think that McFarland is my man.

bucketsndimes · 07-23-2009, 09:15 PM

I'd go pitching. Three years younger, higher work ethic and I've always been a believer that pitching will win you games over hitting.

MizzouRah · 07-23-2009, 11:08 PM

I voted McFarland.

TavesSoul · 07-23-2009, 11:10 PM

Usually, I'm a pitching/defense sort of guy, but that CF with that sort of base-speed would make him the pick in my opinion.

modesto61ca · 07-24-2009, 02:48 AM

Yeah, you really can't go wrong with either pick, just be sure to let us know how they did after five years or so!

Mike Donlin · 07-24-2009, 10:41 AM

Dickerson's defense tips the scales for me.

He'll make the pitchers you ultimately select that much better.

jar2574 · 07-24-2009, 11:55 AM

Dickerson. He can be a gold glove CF while leading the league in OBS.

But really, the wisdom of this decision is likely to come down to injuries, which are hard to guess in an inagural draft.

View Poll Results: Who should be taken with the #1 pick in the inaugural draft?
M. McFarland	17	41.46%
J. Dickerson	24	58.54%
Voters: 41. You may not vote on this poll

07-23-2009, 01:40 PM	#8
modesto61ca Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 48	I would take Dickerson. He actually looks to me like he can be the Junior Griffey of the league, especially on the offensive side, and with more SB's. Plus he has a really good leader rating, compared to the pitcher. Leadership ability is a huge factor in a franchise player. __________________ "I looked up my family tree and found out I was the sap." Rodney Dangerfield

07-23-2009, 06:32 PM	#11
satchel Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ft Smith Ark. USA Posts: 2,681	I'd take the pitcher. __________________ JL Commish NPBL Rhode Island Reds ’33 ’34 ’35 TCBA San Francisco Railbornes ’74 ’76 ’77 ’78 FL New Orleans Black Sox ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59

07-23-2009, 07:34 PM	#13
Afino Hall Of Famer Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 3,828	I'd take the pitcher. I had the same situation in my own league - the 8/9/10 21 year old SP or the 21 year old CF that does EVERYTHING well. I took the pitcher and haven't been disappointed. __________________ GUBA: Moscow Enforcers

07-23-2009, 09:15 PM	#15
bucketsndimes Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The States Posts: 409	I'd go pitching. Three years younger, higher work ethic and I've always been a believer that pitching will win you games over hitting. __________________

07-23-2009, 12:36 PM	#1
MimesisBTG Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 104	Who should I take in inaugural draft? So I'm starting a new fictional league and I was lucky enough to get the #1 overall pick. I am debating over who I should pick to be the corner stone of my franchise, and I thought it might be fun to pose the question to the boards! Here are your two options. All ratings are on a 1 to 10 scale: 1. M. McFarland, Age 21, RHP, 93-95mph, 64% groundball Stuff: 8 (8) Movement: 8 (8) Control: 9 (10) Cutter: 7 (7) Curveball: 7 (7) Slider: 7 (7) Changeup: 6 (6) Splitter: 8 (8) Forkball: 5 (5) Endurance: 6 Hold Runners: 4 2. J. Dickerson, Age 24, CF Contact: 8 (9) Gap: 10 (10) Power: 7 (7) Eye: 9 (10) Ks: 10 (10) Range: 9 Error: 5 Arm: 7 LF: 10 CF: 9 RF: 7 Speed: 9 Steal: 10 Baserunning: 10 Thanks in advance for you feedback! Last edited by MimesisBTG; 07-23-2009 at 02:38 PM.

07-23-2009, 12:46 PM	#2
bgeno Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 14	Personally, I love having that athletic batter that I can rely on near the top of the order, so I'd go with Dickerson.

07-23-2009, 12:47 PM	#3
Pirate Fan Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 166	I think you need to include the players' ratings for work ethic and intelligence. It is my understanding that players with high ratings for these attributes are more likely to maintain a high level of performance over an extended period of time.

07-23-2009, 01:05 PM	#5
Pronkytonk Minors (Double A) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 168	I'll take Dickerson. This guy could be the Rickey Henderson of your league if you put him in the leadoff spot and will do very well hitting third as well. At 24, he still is not too old to dominate your team for years to come. McFarland is a decent pitcher, I really like that he has several quality pitches, but he is no real superstar in the making IMO.

07-23-2009, 01:29 PM	#6
garlasco Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 157	Pitching, pitching, pitching

07-23-2009, 01:36 PM	#7
Pirate Fan Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 166	I would definately go with the pitcher then because of the work ethic. I've seen several highly regarded players who were poor in this rating decline rapidly. I don't know if that was the reason, but always try to find players who have at least decent ratings in this attribute for all early picks.

07-23-2009, 01:48 PM	#9
jasonn29tn14 Major Leagues Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 320	I was leaning towards Dickerson anyways - but the intangibles put it over the top.

07-23-2009, 06:08 PM	#10
MimesisBTG Minors (Double A) Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 104	Thanks everyone for the advice. I really appreciate your input. The vote has been close to this point, which reaffirms for me the difficulty of my decision. I think that I am leaning toward McFarland though, because I have always believed that pitching wins games. I think it would be very difficult for me to pass up on someone who has the potential to be the most dominant pitcher in the league for almost the next two decades. I also like his work ethic and the fact that he is three years younger. Hopefully, I am not making the wrong choice...

07-23-2009, 07:20 PM	#12
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,209	It depends on a lot of other things too. What type of league setup do you have? Are you the type that likes to build around pitching and defense or are you the type who likes to build around hitting?

07-23-2009, 11:08 PM	#16
MizzouRah Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Troy, Mo Posts: 6,252	I voted McFarland.

07-23-2009, 11:10 PM	#17
TavesSoul Minors (Double A) Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 168	Usually, I'm a pitching/defense sort of guy, but that CF with that sort of base-speed would make him the pick in my opinion.

07-24-2009, 02:48 AM	#18
modesto61ca Minors (Rookie Ball) Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 48	Yeah, you really can't go wrong with either pick, just be sure to let us know how they did after five years or so! __________________ "I looked up my family tree and found out I was the sap." Rodney Dangerfield

07-24-2009, 10:41 AM	#19
Mike Donlin All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Life, friends, is boring. Posts: 840	Dickerson's defense tips the scales for me. He'll make the pitchers you ultimately select that much better.

07-24-2009, 11:55 AM	#20
jar2574 Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 405	Dickerson. He can be a gold glove CF while leading the league in OBS. But really, the wisdom of this decision is likely to come down to injuries, which are hard to guess in an inagural draft.