411 Expert Slow Mock
Hey everyone,
It’s official, the mock draft season is in full gear. Yesterday, we started up a 13-team, 30-round expert mock with many familiar names participating. I’ll be updating the results here on a regular basis so stay tuned. Here are the picks so far. Feel free to chime in with any questions or comments you might have, general or mock draft related.
On a side note, I’m sure a lot of you are wondering when Yu Darvish will come off the board. It won’t be anytime soon, but in the meantime check out Siano’s MLB.com article on Darvish. It’s a must-read!
-Zach
MOCK DRAFT RESULTS
ROUND 1
Jeff Erickson – Matt Kemp
Zach Steinhorn – Albert Pujols
Lawr Michaels – Miguel Cabrera
Cory Schwartz – Troy Tulowitzki
Ray Flowers – Robinson Cano
Steve Gardner – Jose Bautista
Todd Zola – Joey Votto
Joe Sheehan – Justin Upton
Will Carroll – Jacoby Ellsbury
Derek VanRiper – Carlos Gonzalez
Paul Sporer – Evan Longoria
Jason Collette – Prince Fielder
Eno Sarris – Hanley Ramirez
ROUND 2
Eno Sarris – Dustin Pedroia
Jason Collette – Ian Kinsler
Paul Sporer – Jose Reyes
Derek VanRiper – Adrian Gonzalez
Will Carroll – Curtis Granderson
Joe Sheehan – Clayton Kershaw
Todd Zola – Andrew McCutchen
Steve Gardner – Justin Verlander
Ray Flowers – Mark Teixeira
Cory Schwartz – Josh Hamilton
Lawr Michaels – Ryan Zimmerman
Zach Steinhorn – Mike Stanton
Jeff Erickson – Roy Halladay
ROUND 3
Jeff Erickson – David Wright
Zach Steinhorn – Matt Holliday
Lawr Michaels – Felix Hernandez
Cory Schwartz – Carlos Santana
Ray Flowers – Cliff Lee
Steve Gardner – Adrian Beltre
Todd Zola – Mike Napoli
Joe Sheehan – Ryan Braun
Will Carroll – Cole Hamels
Derek VanRiper – Elvis Andrus
Paul Sporer – Jay Bruce
Jason Collette – CC Sabathia
Eno Sarris – Brett Lawrie
ROUND 4
Eno Sarris – Hunter Pence
Jason Collette – Pablo Sandoval
Paul Sporer – Brian McCann
Derek VanRiper – Alex Gordon
Will Carroll – David Price
Joe Sheehan – Carl Crawford
Todd Zola – Jered Weaver
Steve Gardner – Starlin Castro
Ray Flowers – Kevin Youkilis
Cory Schwartz – Desmond Jennings
Lawr Michaels – Tim Lincecum
Zach Steinhorn – Michael Bourn
Jeff Erickson – Shin-Soo Choo
ROUND 5
JE – B.J. Upton
ZS – Alex Rodriguez
LM – Ben Zobrist
CS – Eric Hosmer
RF – Nelson Cruz
SG – Buster Posey
TZ – Brandon Phillips
JS – Craig Kimbrel
WC – Stephen Strasburg
DVR – Rickie Weeks
PS – Jason Heyward
JC – James Shields
ES – Jon Lester
ROUND 6
ES – Dan Haren
JC – Matt Wieters
PS – Dan Uggla
DVR – Zack Greinke
WC – Drew Storen
JS – Joe Mauer
TZ – Jimmy Rollins
SG – Paul Konerko
RF – Shane Victorino
CS – Drew Stubbs
LM – Matt Cain
ZS – Asdrubal Cabrera
JE – Miguel Montero
ROUND 7
JE – Alex Avila
ZS – Mariano Rivera
LM – Erick Aybar
CS – Jonathan Papelbon
RF – Adam Jones
SG – Brett Gardner
TZ – Yovani Gallardo
JS – Chase Utley
WC – Ichiro Suzuki
DVR – Aramis Ramirez
PS – Lance Berkman
JC – Corey Hart
ES – Mike Morse
ROUND 8
ES – Joel Hanrahan
JC – Cameron Maybin
PS – John Axford
DVR – Brian Wilson
WC – Ryan Howard
JS – Matt Moore
TZ – Michael Young
SG – C.J. Wilson
RF – Howie Kendrick
CS – Madison Bumgarner
LM – Andre Ethier
ZS – David Ortiz
JE – Michael Cuddyer
ROUND 9
JE – Dee Gordon
ZS – Ian Kennedy
LM – Nick Swisher
CS – Jayson Werth
RF – Mark Reynolds
SG – Billy Butler
TZ – Chris Young
JS – J.J. Hardy
WC – Ryan Roberts
DVR – Ike Davis
PS – Peter Bourjos
JC – Derek Jeter
ES – Adam Wainwright
ROUND 10
ES – Logan Morrison
JC – Martin Prado
PS – Matt Garza
DVR – Brandon Beachy
WC – Dustin Ackley
JS – Mike Moustakas
TZ – Ryan Madson
SG – Andrew Bailey
RF – Alexei Ramirez
CS – Jason Kipnis
LM – Jordan Walden
ZS – Jemile Weeks
JE – Kenley Jansen
ROUND 11
JE – Brandon League
ZS – Jose Valverde
LM – Nick Markakis
CS – Jason Motte
RF – Ricky Romero
SG – Danny Espinosa
TZ – Chris Carpenter
JS – Jesus Montero
WC – Yadier Molina
DVR – Neil Walker
PS – Dan Hudson
JC – Michael Pineda
ES – Freddie Freeman
ROUND 12
ES – Lucas Duda
JC – Sergio Santos
PS – Huston Street
DVR – Brandon Belt
WC – Yu Darvish
JS – Joakim Soria
TZ – Rafael Betancourt
SG – Mat Latos
RF – Josh Beckett
CS – Edwin Encarnacion
LM – Carlos Marmol
ZS – Gio Gonzalez
JE – Paul Goldschmidt
ROUND 13
JE – Kelly Johnson
ZS – Austin Jackson
LM – Coco Crisp
CS – Jordan Zimmermann
RF – Wandy Rodriguez
SG – Carlos Beltran
TZ – Cory Luebke
JS – Brandon Morrow
WC – Emilio Bonifacio
DVR – Josh Johnson
PS – Jeremy Hellickson
JC – Matt Joyce
ES – Tommy Hanson
ROUND 14
ES – Josh Willingham
JC – J.J. Putz
PS – Carlos Pena
DVR – Ubaldo Jimenez
WC – Heath Bell
JS – Justin Morneau
TZ – Adam Lind
SG – Angel Pagan
RF – Alex Rios
CS – Anibal Sanchez
LM – Mike Trout
ZS – Ervin Santana
JE – Joe Nathan
ROUND 15
JE – Max Scherzer
ZS – Jhonny Peralta
LM – J.P. Arencibia
CS – David Freese
RF – Chris Perez
SG – Johnny Cueto
TZ – Torii Hunter
JS – Derek Holland
WC – Bryce Harper
DVR – Colby Rasmus
PS – Gaby Sanchez
JC – Daniel Murphy
ES – Wilson Ramos
ROUND 16
ES – Frank Francisco
JC – Jeff Francoeur
PS – Jaime Garcia
DVR – Grant Balfour
WC – Geovany Soto
JS – Dexter Fowler
TZ – Carlos Lee
SG – Stephen Drew
RF – Melky Cabrera
CS – Brennan Boesch
LM – Jonathan LuCroy
ZS – Shaun Marcum
JE – Vernon Wells
ROUND 17
JE – Trevor Cahill
ZS – Russell Martin
LM – Justin Masterson
CS – Brandon McCarthy
RF – Ryan Doumit
SG – Kyle Farnsworth
TZ – Marco Scutaro
JS – Neftali Feliz
WC – Clay Buchholz
DVR – John Danks
PS – Chris Heisey
JC – Mark Trumbo
ES – Zack Cozart
ROUND 18
ES – Ben Revere
JC – Sean Rodriguez
PS – Alcides Escobar
DVR – Adam Dunn
WC – Scott Rolen
JS – Yunel Escobar
TZ – Ted Lilly
SG – Jason Kubel
RF – Kurt Suzuki
CS – Ramon Hernandez
LM – Jhoulys Chacin
ZS – Kendrys Morales
JE – Jed Lowrie
ROUND 19
JE – Michael Brantley
ZS – Matt Capps
LM – Gordon Beckham
CS – Matt Thornton
RF – Carlos Quentin
SG – Hiroki Kuroda
TZ – Yoenis Cespedes
JS – Lorenzo Cain
WC – Yonder Alonso
DVR – Jarrod Saltalamacchia
PS – Chris Iannetta
JC – Colby Lewis
ES – Addison Reed
ROUND 20
ES – Tim Hudson
JC – Devin mesoraco
PS – Edwin Jackson
DVR – Vance Worley
WC – Dayan Viciedo
JS – Ian Desmond
TZ – Ryan Raburn
SG – David Robertson
RF – Scott Baker
CS – John Mayberry
LM – Alexi Ogando
ZS – Bud Norris
JE – Aaron Hill
ROUND 21
JE – Doug Fister
ZS – Mike Minor
LM – Jair Jurrjens
CS – Ricky Nolasco
RF – Alejandro DeAza
SG – Miguel Olivo
TZ – Tim Stauffer
JS – Julio Teheran
WC – Ivan Nova
DVR – Salvador Perez
PS – Roy Oswalt
JC – Jim Johnson
ES – Chris Sale
ROUND 22
ES – Mitch Moreland
JC – Gavin Floyd
PS – Lonnie Chisenhall
DVR – Nolan Reimold
WC – Grady Sizemore
JS – Jonny Venters
TZ – John Buck
SG – Javy Guerra
RF – Ryan Dempster
CS – Luke Hochevar
LM – Aubrey Huff
ZS – Delmon Young
JE – R.A. Dickey
ROUND 23
JE – Mark Buehrle
ZS – Carlos Ruiz
LM – Mike Carp
CS – Jose Altuve
RF – Jonathan Sanchez
SG – Ty Wigginton
TZ – David Carpenter
JS – Tyler Pastornicky
WC – Johan Santana
DVR – Chad Billingsley
PS – Jake Peavy
JC – Matt Harrison
ES – Chase Headley
ROUND 24
ES – Ryan Hanigan
JC – Nick Hundley
PS – Denard Span
DVR – Justin Smoak
WC – Rafael Furcal
JS – Chipper Jones
TZ – Daniel Bard
SG – Allen Craig
RF – Pedro Alvarez
CS – Aroldis Chapman
LM – Cliff Pennington
ZS – Jose Tabata
JE – Edinson Volquez


Seems early for the Carlos Santana pick.
Hi 411, interesting to see Cory take C Santana before McCann even though both were available. See B-Mac’s top of your catcher rankings, so any reason for the change here? D Wright and King Felix should look good value in the 3rd too.
Wondering about the draft day cost of Jay Bruce, is he worth more than $25? I’ve got an option of keeping him, 1 yr for $25 or 2 yrs for $28, would you do either? I was kinda expecting him to breakout this year but reading some articles on his last years underlying stats im not so sure, sounds like this could be as good as he gets.
Thanks.
Dan
@Dan, I took Santana over McCann because I think he has 30-35 HR upside this year, which McCann does not, and that his low AVG last year was a BABIP fluke and will rise back into the .270′s this year. Plus he’ll steal a few bags. McCann has a proven track record to warrant the #1 ranking, but I like Santana’s upside this year so I made the more aggressive pick.
I see where you have Kemp (1) and Fielder (12). I have an interesting trade evaluation.
It’s Kemp for Fielder straight up. I am in a keeper league 6×6+1. (offensively it is HR, R, RBI, SB, R, OBP). We have a $400 salary cap with 1, 2 and 3 year contracts. We field 8 positions, 1 DH, 3 UT (pitcher or hitter), 3 RP and 4 SP. We have 34 roster spots (Players must have MLB experience to be on the roster – Harper is grandfathered in) with 6 taxi squad players. The player pool is closed after our live auction draft day. with each team only able to select 1 additional player throughout the season.
In 2012 Kemp will be in the 2nd year of a 3 year deal and will be $27 then $30. Fielder is a free agent at $21 and will be signed for 3 years at $26, $30 and $33.
I am the team with Kemp. Here are my other players I’m keeping: Wieters, Gaby Sanchez, Kinsler, Jose Bautista, Hardy, Adam Jones, J. Upton, Bruce, Choo, Miguel Montero, Stanton, Bryce Harper, Mesoraco and Bourjos. I rarely keep any pitchers as I prefer to buy them on draft day.
Here is my thought process. I’m not comfortable going through the season with Sanchez as my primary 1B. Miggy, Pujols and Tex will be available on draft day but will all cost in excess of $40 and some possibly $50. I have a great depth in the OF. I know Kemp is the class of the lot. By trading my depth for 1B I save myself $40 on draft day that I can then spend on any position and pitching. The team I am in talks with is equally as strong if not stronger offensively. He has Votto and Fielder at 1B. The other thing is he’ll be going after pitching the same as I will. I view this as locking a position and preserving money. Let me know your thoughts please.
@pmr,
All things equal, Kemp’s the guy to keep, but your reasoning is sound. I too am very down on Sanchez and 20 homers from a first baseman is simply unacceptable. The main downside of making this trade though is that it really hurts your speed and, as of now, you’re a lot deeper in power than you are in speed. That said, the considerable $ savings and resulting flexibility makes the deal worth it.
Zach
Quick contrast/comparison on LoMo and Gardner… I know we’ll see both of these names pop in a few rounds further into the draft, but can you guys give me an idea of who you with has the higher ceiling and your thoughts on this season?
I’m singling down my final keeper spot and have Brett in the 14th and LoMo in the 15th. Thoughts?
Eric,
I’ll update this soon but Gardner was taken in the 7th round and LoMo was selected with the first pick of the 10th round. 7th round is a bit too early for Gardner in my opinion, but I agree that he should definitely be taken before Morrison. Brett dominates in a category while LoMo doesn’t. That’s what makes the difference. Gardner for a 14 is outstanding value. Morrison might have the slightly higher all-around ceiling but the fact that Gardner can carry you in steals gives him the edge.
Zach
Hi Zach,
Keeper question for you (12 team vanilla, we keep 5). I have Longoria, Stanton and Texeira, so am sorted for power. I have Andrus, who I’m keeping because of positional scarcity and SBs. My last choice is between 2 OFs – Hamilton (power but a health risk) and Bourne (SBs) – the issue is how often Bourne will get the green light in ATL. I managed to get the data on team SB attempts in 2011, and ATL ranked 27th. Do you think they’ll give him the green light, or will his SB opportunities shrink compared to HOU? Appreciate your thoughts.
Cheers,
Daff
Daff,
Well, if last season was any indication, I’m not concerned at all about Bourn’s SB attempts. He swiped 39 bags in 105 games with Houston before racking up 22 steals in 53 games with the Braves. In fact, proportionally he stole more with Atlanta. In a scratch draft, Hamilton will be taken a couple of rounds before Bourn, but given your situation I’m not opposed to keeping Bourn. I’m not a Hamilton fan due to the injury-risk, so I’d rather he be someone else’s headache. But that’s just me. Bourn gives you the more balanced keeper group.
Zach
Has the 2012 list of 12 come out yet?
Luke,
We’re aiming to have it up on the blog sometime today.
Zach
Thanks Cory, will have Santana down as a sleeper.
Any chance you can give me your thoughts on Jay Bruce too (question above)? Know you’re a big fan of his so interested to know your thoughts particularly! Do like his upside at a fairly weak position this year but wanna make sure I’m not overpaying for him.
Feel free to answer too Zach, any opinion is welcome
Dan,
I like Bruce and do believe he’ll get better (how much better I don’t know) but the strikeouts and inconsistent AVG still worry me. On Mock Draft Central, he’s the #13 OF on the expert ADP rankings (#38 overall) and I just don’t see a ton of upside in taking him at that spot. I’d sooner go with a guy like Hunter Pence who is more proven. Pence is ranked #52 on the MDC expert list and was taken a few picks after Bruce in the above mock draft. $25 is about as high as I’d go for Bruce, so I’d opt against keeping him. If you can get him back for $25, that’s fine. But if someone else is willing to pay more (and someone probably will), that’s fine too.
Zach
Hey Big Z, good work on the blog as always.
Any chance of including players auction values for standard leagues sometime? Would be very useful for my auction keeper league, where im often in talks with teams about possible trades, and knowing how much players with roughly cost next year would be a great help.
Hey BB!
It’s very hard to do auction values, particularly for keeper leagues, as they are heavily dependent on your individual league format. The MLB.com Fantasy Preview will be up on the site sometime in the next week or so, and we put auction values on there. But be warned that they tend to be too low for my liking. And that’s not even taking into account the keeper factor. Feel free to ask me about certain players though. Personally, I have yet to find a set of dollar values, whether they be ESPN, CBS, etc. that satisfy me!
Zach
@pmrlcomm – Also note the importance of OBP in this league. Prince has been over .400 in each of the past three seasons and has a career .390 OBP, while Kemp’s .399 last year was a career-best but he has a career .350 mark. That edge gives Prince a little more value and helps outweigh the loss of the SB’s.