are pitchers worth drafting in the 1st round?

[orangecrushv]

I'd take hitters the 1st 2 rounds, same rankings as everyone else: Arod, Pujols, Soriano, Vlad, Beltran. For 2nd pick (16th) I'd target perhaps Boone and then start looking at pitchers with pick #24.

[birty74]

It does depend on your scoring system.

That being said, I operate strictly on a positional scarcity approach in my straight drafts, and I typically avoid taking any pitchers in the first ten rounds of the draft (out of a total of 25 rounds). You may not believe me, but I won my league last year by waiting on pitchers and outfielders and focusing on C, 2B, SS, and 3B first. I try to grab at least one OF in the first ten rounds along with one closer. My remaining picks in the first ten rounds will be spent on a first baseman and any extreme values that fall to me (in extreme cases, that could include a starting pitcher).

You've got to know your stuff to do this well, however.

Good luck.

Matt

[Amazinz]

It does depend on your scoring system.

That being said, I operate strictly on a positional scarcity approach in my straight drafts, and I typically avoid taking any pitchers in the first ten rounds of the draft (out of a total of 25 rounds).

This is normally my strategy also except that I normally try to grab one stud SP between picks 3 - 5 and then fill out the staff after the tenth round. In 5x5 I think pitchers are too risky for the first round although I think an argument can be made for the #11 and #12 picks this year due to a lack of obvious 1st rounders.

I agree with Madison's 1 - 4. I'd definitely grab one of these guys at the fourth pick.

[hooligan1]

Arod
Pujols
Soriano

Toss up: Beltran and Vlad
All about personal feeling, vlad could be better if he's healthy the whole season but he is an injury risk whereas for the most part beltran isn't plus beltran will get like 35hr 40st vlad will get at best 40hr, 35st.

so its all about draft strategy in regular roto or head to head i would take one of these five

Vlad WILL get better power numbers than Beltran, when healthy. However, I think it's a stretch to expect any more than 10-15 SB's out of Vlad this year, or possibly maybe ever again......

[red sox rule!!!]

that's my strategy too. I always focus on the positions first and grab a rp in about 4th round.

However I find that waiting late to start selecting pitchers you end up getting at the most good pitchers because most up the aces are gone

[ramble2]

hey guys,

i got a draft coming up tomorrow night. i have pick #4 and it seems like the last 4 drafts ive been in i have gotten this pick. anyways is it worth taking a pitcher at #4. the only 2 pitchers i would consider is schilling or gagne. any comments??

i dont want to end up taking a pitcher when i could be missing an opportunity at vladdy or beltran

Madison's top 4 looked good to me.

Assuming this is a 10-12 team roto league, I'd take a hitter with the #4 pick. Then you gotta go by who's been taken in your draft. I'd look to target Tejada with your 2nd pick, or, if you want a pitcher there, see if Schilling, Pedro or Halladay slips to you. Heck, with Halladay's start you might be able to steal him in Rd. 3.

[AcidRock23]

I had Prior pegged late in the first round...but the news re the ankle first hit a couple of days before our draft and shot that down in flames. He still went #11 in a 10 team H2H. The guy who picked him also has Schilling so he could be REALLY tough if Prior comes around...

I like Prior a lot but w/ the injuries that seem to be question marks for all of the top pitchers, I am much happier (***furious knocking on wood...my desk, not Kerry!!***) to have grabbed Vazquez in the 5th round for my 'ace'.

[thetongueofire]

yup no pitcher worth drafting in the first round (unless its a pitching oriented league of course)... you gotta go with hitters cos they contribute a lot more comletely to their cats than pitchers do