Slow offline draft starting. Who should I pick first?

[illmatic]

Hey guys, my league is starting our 2nd year of a keeper league and the draft has just begun. My 4 keepers from last year were A-Rod, Soriano, Peavy and Crawford. I also have the 7th pick in the draft. It's a H2H league and here's the categories we use:

Hitters: Hits, runs, stolen bases, homeruns, RBI's, doubles, walks, strikeouts, average

Pitchers: wins, losses, saves, ERA, strikeouts, WHIP

So I was just wondering if I could get some advice about to go for with my first pick. Here's some of the more notable players available. My pick is 5 picks away so some of these guys might be gone by the time I'm up.

Kerry Wood
Derek Jeter
Mark Mulder
Barry Zito
Mariano Rivera
Edgar Renteria
Ivan Rodriguez
Jim Thome
Mike Mussina
A.J. Burnett
Oliver Perez
Keith Foulke
Brad Lidge
Richie Sexson

Who do you guys think I should look to grab based on the league settings and my current roster? I'd like Wood or Jeter but I'm pretty sure they'll both be gone.

[J35J]

Grab Jeter

[chris8]

I'd go for a hitter...

Thome
Jeter
Renteria

in that order.

If they're all gone, either Irod or Wood, depending on whether or not you like drafting catchers early (I don't!)

[Cornbread Maxwell]

draft a hitter. With a 10/6 offense/pitching cat split in a h2h league I probably wouldnt draft a pitcher unless one fell ridiculously far. Take Jeter or Thome.

Am I missing something? Why would you even consider a P at this point?

[red_sox_fan2004]

Definetly go for Thome. He'll give you a lock for 40+ home runs and a decent amount of RBI's.

[raiders_umpire]

10/6 offensive, pitching split.......easy choice



go with jeter or thome in that order........

[Rico The Retard]

ya ditto with everyone else Jeter then Thome

if your going to consider a pitcher later try to nab ollie p

[Wyatt]

Thome or Jeter

[acsguitar]

Thome Jeter or Lidge I'd say

[ukrneal]

Has to be a hitter with only one negative hitting cat. I'd pick Thome first.

Jeter and Renteria would be next and they are about even in my book. Both are being picked too early in general. I really don;t like Irod so early in the draft.

If I was to even pick an SP, I'd take Perez over Wood. Wood is always a disappointment as well as an injury risk.