7 Keepers (5 anybody, 1 pitcher, 1 rookie)

[LARS929]

Taking him over a proven commodity (with upside) in Pablo is a mistake imo.

By that logic, you would also be keeping Sandoval over Harper then? Another 20 year old, who put up a good partial season? Harper's season was VERY similar, though over more ABs. Sure Harper is more highly touted, but Machado hasn't been all that far behind in terms of upside and potential.

I guess we just have different strategies; I will take the younger guy in Machado who could turn into a phenom over Sandoval who has virtually no chance to be an elite player. Especially when I look at this guys keepers and they are extremely good and he could set himself up for a long term dynasty.

[GiantsFan14]

Taking him over a proven commodity (with upside) in Pablo is a mistake imo.

By that logic, you would also be keeping Sandoval over Harper then? Another 20 year old, who put up a good partial season? Harper's season was VERY similar, though over more ABs. Sure Harper is more highly touted, but Machado hasn't been all that far behind in terms of upside and potential.

I guess we just have different strategies; I will take the younger guy in Machado who could turn into a phenom over Sandoval who has virtually no chance to be an elite player. Especially when I look at this guys keepers and they are extremely good and he could set himself up for a long term dynasty.

Machado is nowhere near the prospect Harper is, had nowhere close to as good of a year as Harper did, and didn't do it over near as big of a sample as Harper did. Your logic is flawed.

Sandoval has a much better chance at being an elite player this year than Machado does.

[LARS929]

Taking him over a proven commodity (with upside) in Pablo is a mistake imo.

By that logic, you would also be keeping Sandoval over Harper then? Another 20 year old, who put up a good partial season? Harper's season was VERY similar, though over more ABs. Sure Harper is more highly touted, but Machado hasn't been all that far behind in terms of upside and potential.

I guess we just have different strategies; I will take the younger guy in Machado who could turn into a phenom over Sandoval who has virtually no chance to be an elite player. Especially when I look at this guys keepers and they are extremely good and he could set himself up for a long term dynasty.

Machado is nowhere near the prospect Harper is, had nowhere close to as good of a year as Harper did, and didn't do it over near as big of a sample as Harper did. Your logic is flawed.

Sandoval has a much better chance at being an elite player this year than Machado does.

Nowhere neat the prospect? MAYBE...But their seasons? Compare their first 51 games, because Machado played 51 games.

Player A: 7 HRs, 11 Doubles, 32 Runs, 20 RBIs, .280 BA, .361 OBP, 7 SBs
Player B: 7 HRs, 8 Doubles, 24 Runs, 26 RBIs, .262 BA, .294 OBP, 2 SBs

Player A is clearly Harper; and yes he's the better prospect and more potential. But when you look at the starts to their career, they were VERY similar. There are certainly more in depth Saber stats saying Harper was a better hitter; but Machado will have the entire off-season to improve. Had Harper not been one of the best players in baseball the last month of the season, he would be so highly regarded going into 2013.

[GiantsFan14]

That sample is incredibly small, and ignoring all the other games Harper played is flawed. Harper had an objectively much better season than Machado did over a larger sample and is a better prospect. Comparing them doesn't make sense.

[LARS929]

That sample is incredibly small, and ignoring all the other games Harper played is flawed. Harper had an objectively much better season than Machado did over a larger sample and is a better prospect. Comparing them doesn't make sense.

Comparing them IS flawed yes, I am doing it as an exercise; that looking just at Machado's half year and saying "oh he won't be all that" is incredibly shortsighted and flawed. Because people could've said the same about Harper after a partial season, but it's shortsighted. Look at the big picture; Machado is expected to be a force for the O's for years to come. He showed in a short time-frame the ability, at 20 year's old, to hit at the big league level. Do most prospects fail? Yes they do, but Machado has already had mild success at the bigs, so ignoring him is shortsighted.

Sandoval is a good player, but in 4 full seasons, he has hit 20 HRs twice, never hit more than 25. He's had more than 70 RBIs once. Doesn't score many runs. His AVG isn't reliable either, considering he's hit .268 in 2010, and .283 last year (not bad, but for a guy who's value is strongly from AVG, he needs to be above .300, and really above .310). So tell me why Sandoval, who is really just decent across the board, except steals no bases, is so valuable? His upside even seems limited.

[ayebatter]

For a guy that hit 7 homers 2 of which were in his second game and another 2 that were hit in a game 45 days later both in games that were not even close (7-1 & 12-2) and had an average of .235 at home in about 100 at bats you're expecting a lot to keep him over Sandoval. I be willing to bet that if you drop Sandoval he's drafted in your 1st round after the keepers but if you dropped Machado you can redraft him at your leisure.

Keep Sandoval.

[SLBarnes]

Wow thanks for all the feedback. I am not sure if I want to keep Sandoval, but I definitely would not keep Machado over him. I am thinking about keeping Jackson over Panda though, my OF would be looking good with Upton (reunited with BJ in ATL along with Heyward), Jackson, and Kemp. Thats a lot of R's and SB's with good AVG.

As it was alluded to I believe I could get Machado back in the draft, I finished 9th last year so I would get the 3rd overall pick, not that I'd pick him then but i'd probably be able to get him on the way back (snake draft) if I was so inclined.

I've had Pablo for a couple years now and I can't get past the injuries, I like him but I think it would be more beneficial to keep Jackson over him. Then again it'd be hard to fill 3B.

[SLBarnes]

I may be over thinking this... but what about keeping Doc over Sandoval/Jackson/Machado? Or is Doc past his prime and on the way down? Keepers would be:

Option 1
Justin Upton
Matt Kemp
Ian Kinsler
Hanley Ramirez

Mike Olt

Zack Greinke
Roy Halladay

Option 2
Justin Upton
Matt Kemp
Ian Kinsler
Hanley Ramirez
Austin Jackson

Mike Olt

Zack Greinke

Option 3
Justin Upton
Matt Kemp
Ian Kinsler
Hanley Ramirez
Pablo Sandoval

Mike Olt

Zack Greinke