Last night, I posted a link to a column in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel by Kerry Patrick who reported that his APBA Wintertime Fun League (AWFL) was gearing up for their 2011 draft. I contacted Kerry and asked how the AWFL draft went.
In true reporter’s fashion, Kerry wrote an email worthy of publication. Here it is:
The AWFL draft took place Saturday. Several managers gathered for a pre-game breakfast at the Mountaineer restaurant in Parkersburg, WV.
Wore my Braves jersey underneath my spring coat just leaving enough opening at the breakfast table to show the uniform and create some food for thought. Turned out it was my Tom Glavine jersey, but didn’t reveal that until we arrived at the meeting room later that morning. Wanted to keep the guys in suspense as long as I could.
Also, neglected to bring anything San Francisco Giants related even though Buster Posey was on my mind immediately after our regular season ended.
Turns out, didn’t go with either Hayward nor Posey.
I already had a solid trio of ‘3’ outfielders with speed to boot: Scott Podsednik, Rajai Davis and Brett Gardner with Coco Crisp’s limited at bats. Planned on using Andres Torres as my designated hitter.
Had a starting catcher in place with Kurt Suzuki. Granted, not a very good arm and not the most explosive offensive numbers. Still, he was a starter and I didn’t have a second baseman going into the draft.
If I drafted Buster Posey, I was hoping Neil Walker would still be around for the first pick of the second round. With 16 picks per round, I didn’t know if that was a guarantee, so bottom line I chose Kelly Johnson. Good power numbers, plus he’s an ‘8’ second baseman as opposed to Walker’s ‘7’.
Johnson will fit right perfectly into a projected lineup which features the likes of Davis and Gardner at the top followed by David Wright, Kelly Johnson, Aubrey Huff, Andres Torres, Scott Podsednik, Cliff Pennington and Kurt Suzuki.
Ken Barth’s Villains took Posey second followed by the Josh Vaughn’s Big Red Machine’s selection of Jason Heyward third.
Filling the second baseman hole off the bat allowed me to take prospects Craig Kimbrel (second round) and Jeremy Hellickson (third round).
I feel confident about my offense and hoping my pitching holds up to get me to the playoffs for the first time in four years. Defense is suspect at third with Wright’s ‘3’ and at first base with Huff’s ‘3’.
Starting pitchers (Master Game ratings): Trevor Cahill (15); Carlos Zambrano (12); Matt Garza (10); Ted Lilly (9); Jeremy Hellickson (8); Travis Wood (8); Chris Volstad (6).
Relief pitchers: Craig Kimbrel (25); Joe Thatcher (21); Brian Wilson (20); Ed Frieri (20); Sergio Romo (16); Eric O’Flaherty (15); Matt Capps (15); Matt Belisle (13).
Crossing fingers and all that other superstitious stuff hoping that three-sided coin didn’t let me down with Kelly Johnson’s slow start to the spring and Neil Walker’s hot start.
Stay tuned.
Thanks to Kerry for the update!
After taking several years off as a member of AWFL baseball master game league, returned two years ago to many familiar faces. Last season, the 37th anniversary of the continuous league, I survived wild card and divisional rounds then won my first World Series title. It’s an honor to join all the names which appear on our traveling trophy (plaque). Several original members are still active in this league based in the Mid-Ohio Valley joining Parkersburg WV and Marietta Ohio. League is divided into 2 divisions — one for the 7 face-to-face owners and another division of 7 owners who play through the computer. One gentleman drives from Houston Texas every year for our draft.
37 years! That’s great!
I like your hybrid approach to FTF and online play.
Tom