Help with draft strategy: 7th overall

[Ed Whitson]

Just drew the 7th overall selection in a 10 team mixed league snake draft, non-keeper. Categories are standard 5x5 plus OBP and total bases for hitters and blown saves for pitchers. I need 2 starters at each infield position, 5 OF, 5 starters, and 2 closers. I project Helton, Tejada, Johan, and Abreu all will be available with first selection. Which should i go with, and what should I do with next couple of picks. I was thinking possibly Gagne in round 2. Any suggestions.

[pat1999]

well if your thinking about taking gagne with your 2nd pick your gonna want to take a bat with your first. if soriano slips i would jump on him, otherwise your lookin at a pool of helton,tejada,abreu,bonds...i think a lot of people are putting abreu too high on their lists. i would take helton if hes there. helton has been the most consistent fantasy producer out of your options...since obp is in the mix you might want to consider taking bonds since he will have a lot of games with 1.00 avg and obp..which is great for making up the slack from guys who hurt those categories.

[cannonarm21]

Just drew the 7th overall selection in a 10 team mixed league snake draft, non-keeper. Categories are standard 5x5 plus OBP and total bases for hitters and blown saves for pitchers. I need 2 starters at each infield position, 5 OF, 5 starters, and 2 closers. I project Helton, Tejada, Johan, and Abreu all will be available with first selection. Which should i go with, and what should I do with next couple of picks. I was thinking possibly Gagne in round 2. Any suggestions.

I'd take Tejada. He plays a position which is more scarce than Helton.

[Pogotheostrich]

With the 2 extra cats being OBP and total bases, Helton is the easy choice IMO.

[Cornbread Maxwell]

because of your scoring Id say you must take a hitter. Its a 7x6 league with the 6th pitching cat a negative cat that only applies to closers. Grab Helton or Tejada. Id do the same in the 2nd - hitters aer much more valuable than Ps simply because they count 2 more cats than the Ps.

[Ed Whitson]

Let me be a bit more specific. The extra pitching category is actually save percentage, not blown saves. Sorry. And pitching categories count for 1.25 pts each as opposed to 1 point for each offensive category. Does this change any of the thinking?

[CrimeDog]

Helton for sure with pick 1 and look for another big bat with pick 2.

[Cornbread Maxwell]

Let me be a bit more specific. The extra pitching category is actually save percentage, not blown saves. Sorry. And pitching categories count for 1.25 pts each as opposed to 1 point for each offensive category. Does this change any of the thinking?

yes - thanks for the clarification. Thats a pretty strange setup for the pitching cats to literally count more, but it does make sence given the cat imbalance.

Id still say Tejada or Helton, but I would hope that Gagne falls back to you in the 2nd. It seems with the extra closer cat - especially a % based one instead of a counting cat that the elite closers would be worth that much more.

[jeff926]

gotta take tejada in that situation, but don't be surprised if randy slips or even bonds slips into your hands. the draft projections look weird this year

[tvv44]

here's my list

1 - Bonds
2 - Helton
3 - Tejada

If you can get Gagne in the 2nd round, I would definitely take him. If not, I would take another big bat.