I ended up keeping Chase Utley ($30), Andre Ethier ($8), Cliff Lee ($18), and Adrian Gonzalez ($15).

Here is my final roster from yesterday, and the prices (10 team multi, 5x5 - except OBP instead of R - $260 salary cap - 3 IF, 3 OF, 1 C, 4 P in serpentine farm draft at the end).

For the first time in the 15 or so years that I have been playing in this league, I saved a ton of dough. $27. I'm not sure whether to rejoice or cry on this one... The reason: I got amazing bargains on some pitching longshots (they will make or break my season) and in my entire outfield.

I couldn't believe getting old-man Ibanez for $5 early in the draft. Sure, he is old. Sure, he could regress. But, how much at Citizens' Bank? And, I thought I got a bargain with B.J. And, Victorino and Kubel for $12 total? I could not have predicted that.

Active

1B: Adrian Gonzalez $15
2B: Chase Utley $30
SS: Yunel Escobar $6
MI: Ian Kinsler $30
3B: Casey McGehee $1
CI: Lance Berkman $8
  C: Russell Martin $11
  C: A.J. Pierzynski $4
OF: Andre Ethier $8
OF: Raul Ibanez $5
OF: B.J. Upton $15
OF: Shane Victorino $8
OF: Jason Kubel $4
UT: Derrek Lee $15
  P: Cliff Lee $18
  P: CC Sabathia $25
  P: Javier Vazquez $14
  P: Ben Sheets $1
  P: Brandon Webb $3
  P: Billy Wagner $6
  P: Brian Fuentes $4
  P: Mike Gonzalez $2

Farm

IF: Garrett Atkins
IF: Maicer Izturis
IF: Kelly Johnson
  C: Yorvit Torrealba
OF: Travis Snider
OF: Ryan Ludwick
OF: Austin Jackson
  P: Aaron Harang
  P: Madison Bumgarner
  P: Joe Saunders
  P: Franklin Morales

Positives: I got almost all of the gambles that I wanted to snag (Atkins, Johnson, Webb, Wagner, Harang, Snider, and Ludwick). I was hoping to get Leo Nunez or Octavio Dotel (both undrafted in the active draft) in the serpentine farm team draft. Unfortunately, it didn't happen because I picked #10 of 10 teams out of the hat, and selected last.

$12 for three pretty decent closers and 90+ saves was amazing... and it came about by sitting on closers and letting others come out and get bidded up. This league just changed from K/9 to K, which devalued closers... and I was hoping to get 80+ saves on the cheap. I added Franklin Morales into the mix as my very last pick. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

My big money went to 2B, which - at first - I thought was an error... but I have cornered the market on the best 2B in the league (in my view), and because I was able to get one of my sleeper picks in Kelly Johnson in the farm, I have great trade bait as the season progresses for those who have a gaping hole at 2B.

Negatives

The problem with running a site like this is that I have discovered my tendency to get "stuck on potential." So, I ended up drafting Russell Martin, Brandon Webb, and Ben Sheets on what could be... I lost out on the bidding for Francisco Liriano, or the potential wound could have been worse. :)

I'm in a hole at the start, because I will need to play Harang and Saunders to start the season because Webb and Lee should be out... this will really hurt me in April, I suspect... but, truth be told, I do prefer being behind the pack and climbing through the course of the season.

It is possible that Harang could be a pretty decent pitcher once again... but, like I said, this is a "wishful thinking" prospect and not anywhere near a done deal.

I'm hurting in SBs (will need a resurgent year from 26-year old B.J. Upton, who could surprise many with a better power output and 50+ SBs. Again, maybe a case of "wishful thinking").

How'd I do?