The Draft
Many consider the month of February to be the most dismal of months. There it is, year after year caught between Winter January and March Break. In fact, February was considered so glum, despite the 28 ¼ days per year that the government recently provided for it a Holiday – Family Day – just to remind you to remember to love the ones that are driving you crazy during this depressing month.
However, that describes February for most people. BDB Owners are not “most people”. We are told that we are the “Fringe Minority” because we love February. We are called “misogynist”, because BDB is an All-Boys Owned Baseball league. (Rumor has it that Nassau Sharks owner once tried to lure his daughter into loving baseball, but she decided pool side activities were more her thing). BDB owners are called “racists” because they mostly hail from predominate white communities, however in their defence, BDB Owners will tell you they either allow English speaking owners, or French Speaking owners in, depending on what owner you talk to … so they have that going for them. There is First Nation representation, by a multi-lingual owner, so we do have that as well. The Ownership in Nassau, tries as he might to tan, will never be mistake for a native Bahamian, and our former Dominican Republic Rep, yeah he is white too.
So why is February such a special time for BDB Owners? Quite simply, it’s the DRAFT. The draft represents the greatest thing about baseball to the BDB owners. The DRAFT is that special time of year that by making some selection, perhaps a trade for a pick, of a pick, will propel the team into the upper echelons of BDB mastery — multiple seasons BDB Championships. Everybody wants, it, everybody strives for it, but we’re really not sure everybody knows how to do it.
Some years, drafts are stocked with rich career HOF potential players, other years, owners would be happy to find a player who will make next season’s roster. However, every draft, if owners are truthful about themselves is, somewhere, in the next 15 rounds, there is a Mike Trout, a Justin Verlander or some other HOF player just waiting to be discovered.
Owners will scour the internet for every little nugget … searching for words like “dark horses”, “best players you’ve never heard about”, “top sleepers, “Position battles”, “Five Tool Player”, “blue chip rookies” … some owners will purchase the rights to read Baseball America’s Top 100 Rookies, others will shell out the money for “Baseball Prospectus”, or “Keith Law” or some others expert opinion. Others will remain on the fringe, soliciting TMZ, Deadspin and any other rumor mill rag trying to sell Franchy Cordero as the next Albert Pujols. Lazy owners will simply let MLB tell them who the best players are coming up and just look up MLB.com For every owner, there is a different way about doing things. There is actually a rumour that one owner has direct ties to the Dominican Republic Scouting Bureau, but like I said, those are just rumours.
What most people won’t tell you is that BDB owners have the thickest of skin during February. Like dogs who grow thicker coats in the fall to help them fend off wintertime, the BDB Owners grows skin that allows him to endure the “divorce” threats their wives throw at them during this month, or the “dad doesn’t love me anymore”. During no month will any BDB Owners hear more incessant words from their spouses – “what are you doing?; “ I don’t see why you have to say up all night looking at spreadsheets, “What do you mean, you don’t play anything?” Then of course, the comment “What do you get if you win? A trip to Spain? Because of the amount of time, you’re taking away from me and the kids, we’d better be going to Spain”.
But as well all know, the wives in the end understand. Some will ask, “How is your team doing?”, “Why do you keep cursing that guy Corbin?”; “How was the trade talk with the guy from Beaconsfield who keeps texting you every two hours?” “Did you make any good trades?” Some will even experience their kids looking over their shoulders, asking about a certain player. Asking their dad – “what does WAR mean?” “Why does that one owner keep bragging he knows every Latino player in baseball?” “Why do you hate Sacramento so much?” “Let’s look at the stats together dad!”
Those are the days that you walk a little taller, you’re able to ask your son or daughter who should the next pick be… you know you’ve made this 20-year investment for a reason. A chance, to one and for all say – I am a BDB Champion. Word is this year; Janet was the one who was proud of her David! She is still waiting for the Nationals Jersey to be mounted on the wall.
So, here is ode to February. The month where owners cut out of meetings, skip doctor appointments, step away from funerals, pull over to the side of a busy freeway, non-smokers will take smoke breaks, others will find internet cafes in third world countries while on vacation, some will even petition to work from home from their “stressful” government job so won’t be too stressed with the honking … and can get their scouting done in peace and get ready for the draft.
So, lets lift our proverbial mugs together and say “here’s to the draft” and pray that your once in a lifetime player, is available when you finally get to pick in the fifth round! So, to celebrate the draft, I tried to figure out a way to find out who is the master draftsman? Who, of all the legendary owners in BDB has made the most of the draft and managed to use it for success? Of all the owners, which one stands out above everyone else as the king of the draft?
To determine this, for the next week or so, the Commish’s office will post a multi part series on teams and the draft. The ground rules will be as follows:
The analysis will begin from the 2005 season. Why? That is when consistent records were kept. Older records may show up, but since 2005 they have been regularly backed up. There will be two ways to measure success. The first being, the highest percentage of players taken in the first three rounds of every draft who lasted five years or more. Any player taken in the first three rounds is considered skill. The only players that will be counted will be those who were drafted in their first year of eligibility. So, Free Agents will not be counted as a pick. As well, relievers will not be counted either. Players taken after the third round will be noted. Some of the results may surprise you! For players that performed longer than five years, their best five year will be counted.
The second measurement used, will be the percentage of players selected that went onto become “All-Stars” or significant producers in BDB. Hitters who have over 300 Runs Created in 5 years, and 50 quality starts will be considered significant players.
Some trades of top round picks will also be looked at and weighed using same criteria is those trades were really “worth it”.
The goal is to find the owner who routinely was able to identify the best players in the draft and commit to keeping them or turning them over for other needed talent. Identifying a player but dropping him the next season doesn’t count for that team. As an example, players like Jose Ramirez, JD Martinez and a few others were drafted and subsequently dropped and picked up by another team. In these cases, neither team gets the credit for identifying the talent when it first appeared.
As well, players who were drafted after 2015 are not always included into the point system as many of them have not reached their top 5 seasons, but appear well on their way will be included.
500 RC = HOF Career
400 RC = Some All-Star Seasons
300 RC = Serviceable Players
Quality Starts
100 QS = HOF Career
75 QS = Some All-Star Seasons
50 QS = Some Good Years
So, the next posts will be divided between the four teams that are below 50% on the drafting skills. The second group will be the 50% – 70% and the third group 70% and up. Enjoy