This was the strangest draft that we have ever had, and that says a lot being as most of us have been playing together for some 12 years or so... This was so strange, in fact, that one team took on an ALL closer strategy. No kidding.

I should have immediately caught on when one of the owners of that team asked me at the start: "do we have a minimum innings pitched requirement?"

Closers became a huge commodity, so when I finished my 8 active pitcher draft and only had a $6 Heath Bell as my lonely closer (he was a keeper), I felt lousy. Then, I came back in our 11 player farm team snake draft and was able to snag Joey Devine, Fernando Rodney, and Scott Downs... and, suddenly, I salvaged the save category.

My final roster (10-team, 5x5 but with OBP instead of R and K/9 instead of K, 14 offensive players, 8 pitchers):

1B Casey Kotchman - $2: not your prototypical first baseman, but you folks who listen to the podcast know that I'm pretty certain he is a 15 HR, .300 hitter, and I'll take this at this cost.

2B Chase Utley - $25: one of my four keepers from last year. He starts the year on the Opening Day roster, and I'm one happy camper. Top 3 2B...

SS Rafael Furcal - $25: yes, you can easily argue that I am way too high on him. Career highs were all on the table last year if he did not get hurt. I don't think it was only as a result of a contract year. He has been such a disppointment for Dodger fans that I really believe he will work hard to show them that Colletti's faith in him was entirely warranted.

2/S Jhonny Peralta - $2: one of my last picks... I needed to fill 2/S, had gotten a good amount of power, and was targeting Jose Lopez for his average (because my average is my worst category). I threw out Jhonny because I was certain someone else would want him. Well, I'll take 21+ HR from the shortstop position and the Rule of 27 at this spot for $2.

3B Aubrey Huff - $18: I don't care what naysayers say about Aubrey. Last year was a career year, for certain... but it came a year before his walk year. I think he'll do NEARLY as well in his walk year... I just hope he doesn't get signed before August.

1/3 Mike Jacobs - $5: average killer... but 30+ HR power this cheap? Had to.

C Kelly Shoppach - $2: another bargain. The Indians cannot afford to not have him in the lineup.

C Yadier Molina - $1: One fantasy magazine I read predicts a .250-.260 average. I don't know how they come to that conclusion based on his .300 avg last year. Great bargain again from a position that I hate. I did try and get McCann, but when he went for $25, I bowed out of the bidding.

OF Jay Bruce - $6: keeper from last year... great power... only getting better, and I suspect will be a keeper for the next few years.

OF Ichiro - $27: hope he gets back soon from the stomach ailment and I hope it isn't somethig more serious. As long as I get him back soon, I need him for the 650 ABs of .310+ batting average. The stolen bases are needed, too.

OF Johnny Damon - $9: Quietly, one of the top 30 in all of baseball last year, according to playertrack. I know he's getting old... but he was too good last year to expect a substantial regression. Across the board, balanced stats that I need.

OF Nate McClouth - $16: For real? 20-20 real, I think... and that's good enough for me.

OF Adam Dunn - $20: As this in an OBP league, and as 40 HRs are a valuable commodity, Dunn was a no brainer. He was the last piece to my power puzzle, and he was a must have at $27 for me, so $20 was a bargain... He is a .260 hitter, not a .230 hitter.

UT Bobby Abreu - $12: Truth be told, I wanted Andre Ethier or Jayson Werth (who ended up as amazing bargains to one other team for $3/each, believe it or not... I told you this was a crazy draft). I didn't want Abreu. But, I wasn't going to let 100 RBI go for $11. So, I bid $12... and nobody followed suit.

P Heath Bell - $6: Keeper... allowed me to forget about saves for awhile... unfortunately, the all-closer pitching staff of the other team I mentioned already made it certain that my "forgetting for awhile" was a mistake (until my endgame farm draft you'll see in a few)...

P CC Sabathia - $23: My other pitcher keeper... as long as he comes close to mirroring last season, he anchors my staff that is loaded...

P Roy Halladay - $25: I intended on making people may for pitching aces. Fortunately, people wouldn't pay enough... so some 2008 aces started falling to me.

P John Lackey - $13: regression and injury, but for $13, could be an amazing bargain...

P Cliff Lee - $13: as I have said here on playertrack before, his peripheral stats do not indicate a regression... yet everybody in the world seems to think he is going to falter substantially. I can see a regression, but not one that I could pass as a #4 starter for this price. He and the Indians weren't able to come to a contract agreement, so I think that means great things for my #4.

P Ryan Dempster - $7: once again, another pitcher who dominated so substantially last season that I couldn't pass at this price. If this was my staff last season, I would have CRUSHED the competition in pitching...

P Kenshin Kawakami - $1: Before I figured out the one team's all pitching strategy, I figured this pitcher was one of the starters that this team was waiting for. So, I didn't want him, but I got stuck with him... because not only did the "Asian Invasion" (the team name that drafted closers exclusively) NOT want Kenshin... nobody else did. This is amazing value, so I was prepared to sacrifice saves... but I resolved that I had to get a final closer.

P Ubaldo Jimenez - $2: I didn't get the final closer because I was not going to let the strikeouts and the upside here go for $1. Apparently, that was all anybody was willing to spend. Again, a HUGE bargain that made it worth it to "punt saves."

FARM TEAM (11 players, snake draft... not in order... I went for closer possibilities first)

IF - Jorge Cantu: too good to not get drafted last year... worth the chance
IF - Rickie Weeks: is this the year?
IF - Jason Giambi: if he can get his OBP up ala Jack Cust, could be a good pick for this league
C - Jason Varitek: Wanted Miguel Olivo here, but the "Asian Invasion" had to take off, leaving me in charge of making their picks, and I did the honorable thing of giving them their only remaining available catcher selection that they wanted... I'll take a chance on the Captain.
OF - David Murphy: love the ballpark, the power, and the upside
OF - Juan Rivera: if you listen to the podcast, you know the story here
OF - Ryan Church: couldn't believe he lasted this long.. fortunately, my leaguemates and I don't live in New York... my gain!
P - Joey Devine: hoping that the injury is not serious, and I have my #2 closer who could be a top 10 closer
P - Fernando Rodney: the last of the slated closers who wasn't taken... have my #3 closer
P - Scott Downs: while I have drafted BJ Ryan in a number of drafts, I am now hoping that his velocity never comes back... might have my alternate closer here... and suddenly, I am not punting saves anymore...
P - Justin Duchscherer: my last pick of the draft... I thought about snagging and holding on to Seattle's Chad Cordero, who I am certain will replace Morrow when he is healthy, putting Morrow back into the rotation (some time in June, maybe)... instead, the #1 pitcher in a pitcher's ballpark was still out there, and I had to grab him

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I am very happy with this draft. Playertrack REALLY helped me all the way through... and especially in the endgame. What are my weaknesses... any suggestions as to what I should do?