Who to take with #3 pick - but a rules twist

[Iguana]

I have the third pick in a league that drafts soon. It is 6X6 with OBP and Holds as the extra categories. Pujols and Hanley will definitely go 1-2. Normally I would just take A-Rod or Utley and not worry about it. However, with both OBP AND Average as categories, I'm strongly considering taking Joe Mauer - I know he had a huge year and is likely to regress, but he was #1 in all of baseball in average and #2 in OBP. Doesn't adding the OBP category in with Avg increase his value significantly?

Not to mention you get a guy who is just light years ahead of everyone else at his position, a position where after the top 4-5 guys you are looking at players who would be not just a wash, but a net NEGATIVE on your OBP and AVG, where as Mauer would be a huge positive.

I have no plans to take Mauer in any of my regular 5X5 leagues this year, but I think even with the #3 pick he's worth considering in a league with both OBP and AVG.

[Rounders]

I'd stick with ARod. If you knew for a fact Mauer was going to repeat, you could think about him, but last year's power numbers were out of the norm for his career. You know what you're getting with ARod. Can't go too wrong if you chose Utley.
Our league also uses OBP, and Mauer can be kept in the 2nd round. So, I just acquired him from the guy that had him at the 2nd pick in the 2nd round because I have the last pick in the 2nd round. But I wouldn't have kept him if I had the 1st or 2nd pick in the 2nd round.

viewtopic.php?t=403234

[jake_twothousandfive]

3rd is too high for Mauer. ARod will draw as many if not more walks than Mauer. OBP helps Mauer's value but it doesn't send it through the roof. This is just too much of a reach. If you want Mauer you should trade down.

[rayfan4life]

I'd be inclined to do this. Adding OBP puts more distance between Mauer and the field at the Catcher position, and further diminishes the risk if he isn't quite as good as he was last year - he's still gonna walk, and his OBP will remain high, even if his power doesn't repeat. Think about what kind of trade value he's gonna have about 1 month after the draft. you could move him and possibly fill in 2 or 3 holes in your roster.

I'm not usually a proponent of drafting a guy in the first round with the intention of trading him, but I think in this case it's worth it.

The only wrench to me in this equation is the fact that depth at 3B sucks, so giving up ARod is tough. But I like to take calculated risks.

[ayebatter]

Take Mcab

[Iguana]

Also, for those who think Mauer's power will decline, let's say his HR and RBI's on a per month basis drop by 20% - well Mauer missed 17% of the season (April) last year, so it is kind of a wash - his overall numbers would look similar. Obviously the AVG and OBP will likely go down, but I'm thinking they will still be SO high - top 3-5 in both for the whole league. The gap between Mauer and, say, the #7 catcher in AVG and OBP is much, much bigger than that same gap between Pujols and the #7 1B.

[kmoneybags]

Compelling argument for Mauer...but I do think A-Rod is still the more likely player to be able to repeat huge seasons than Mauer. I'd go with A-Rod.

help?
viewtopic.php?t=403149