So, you are feeling pretty good about your draft. You picked up a few players you think will 
make a difference, and you are ready to declare yourself the new Division Favourite.
However, is it true? The fact is, every other team doesn’t stay in place as you improve do they? The question to ask is, did you improve enough over your competition? As well, some teams are playing the long game, and may pass up some older talented players, for younger players of promise.
The reality is, some team are so bad, that they could improve their teams with a 10th round draft pick, where other team are so strong there just may be a few player in the entire draft that can make an impact, and they may not get a chance to draft them.
So, how did your team do? Let’s take a look at the Post Draft Rankings:
Robinson Division
- Montreal (+16.9 WAR)
- Bristol (+9.2 WAR)
- Beaconsfield (8.9 WAR)
- Ottawa (12.0 WAR)
Montreal Menace – Division Favourite – 74.8 WAR
Montreal was able to add 16.9 WAR to their starting line-up and rotation during this draft, leap frogging Bristol in the process. What’s amazing about this, is that Montreal had no first round picks!
Their biggest fix that Montreal needed to address was their outfield and DH positions. In fact, they didn’t even need any superstars to make a difference. The Menace added rookie Chris Taylor (4.7) and veterans Brett Gardner (3.8) and Logan Morrison (3.3) to make significance impact to their offense.
They team also picked up 4 WAR from the bullpen improvements, to establish it as the strongest in the division. Strong Draft.
Bristol Wicketmen – Division Contender / #1 Rated Wild Card Contender – 67.5 WAR
All the improvement that the Wicketmen did was to their Bullpen, which going into the draft had only 1 pitcher. It was status quo for the starting line-up and the rotation.
Bristol continues to play the long game adding quality, high rated draft picks. The fruit of Bristol’s draft will be seen in the next following years. Top youngsters make this a strong draft. Not much to improve with an excellent team.
Beaconsfield Pathfinder – #2 Rated Wild Card Contender – 61.6 WAR
Where most GM’s go for youth, Brodeur goes for experience. The Pathfinders had some easy fixes on their team like Montreal, and were able to fill those spots with one youngster and two veterans giving them the increase that they needed. Cody Bellinger (4.1) has the distinction of the being the Year’s first overall draft pick and will be making an important impact for the team. Bellinger was followed up with veterans Ryan Zimmerman (3.3) and Justin Smoak (3.4). The rest of the WAR was some minor adjustments in the pen.
Ottawa Nationals – Outside Wild Card Contender – 56.3 WAR
Ottawa looked to have started the draft off with a neck and neck battle with Beaconsfield, however there was a miscalculation in the Excel spreadsheet … and they were actually 10 WAR behind. Now, don’t get me wrong, the team did improve in some much-needed areas, but there is a sense that their plan wasn’t very well formulated.
As an example, their first pick was Rhys Hoskins, which is a great pick as many pundits see him hitting close to 40 HR next season and leading the team for the next five years or so alongside Nelson Arenado (5.6) and George Springer (4.5). It what came next that made it so surprising! Their second pick was Eddie Rosario, who tragically they cut a few years ago, but there was some better talent on the board, but it was their third pick that baffled the pundits with Charlie Morton, that is 34 year old Charlie Morton. Yes, he is an improvement to the pitching staff, but again there was better talent, younger talent on the board such as youngsters Brad Peacock and Jimmy Nelson. Now, we are going to give Owner Dave Barras a bit of a break, as we believe their may have been some Mexican Pina-Coladas influencing the picks.
Jenkins Division
- North Bay (+13.7 WAR)
- Madawaska (17.3 WAR)
- Hamilton (+10.5 WAR)
- Langley (+3.3 WAR)
North Bay – Division Favourite – 67.7 WAR
North Bay went into the draft with two goals in mind. Their first goal was to improve their pen as the team realized that there wasn’t much they could do with their rotation, but there was plenty of room to improve the pen. The Trappers improved 8 WAR in the pen alone giving them the second strongest pen after Montreal. Their second goal was accomplished by adding an ace to the staff, which they did with Jimmy Nelson. Ownership was pretty transparent wondering why nobody was jumping on a 4.9 WAR pitcher earlier on in the draft, until after they drafted him they found out he was injured. Oh well.
A recent trade has further increased the Trappers fortune as they recently added Mike Trout and Y. Petit in the ben for an additional 4 WAR overall
Madawaska Mud Hens – Division Contender / #4 Wild Card Favourite – 59. WAR
If there was a Silver Bullet to claim the lives of a Division rival, it was shot by new ambitious owner Todd Kuciak when he shot it at Jordan Spoelstra with his second pick of the draft with Tommy Pham. Spoelstra, for some reason was under the impression that Pham might drop to his pick at #9. As Spoelstra was heard saying “Tommy Pham was Plan A. There is no Plan B”, Kuciak went from nobody to a dominant contender in the Jenkins Division partially. Madawaska had a draft for the ages improving themselves at all Outfield positions and all members of the rotation giving them the greatest increase in the draft. They climbed from possible third place finish to a strong second place finish, possibly even a shot at the title if their pitching can hold out.
BTW, great story about Tommy Pham here …
Hamilton Red Birds – Outside Wild Card Contender – 53.5
There was a lot of wheeling and dealing going on in Hamilton this year, and one could get the impression that if they didn’t have a draft pick through it all, they would have been quite content. The Original owner of the #1 pick, Spoelstra traded down, with several of his picks, electing for numbers over possible quality.
The team improved in several areas, but not enough to keep pace with the Mud Hens. The good news for Hamilton fans, is that they did pick up several highly rated younger player, so the Red Birds, although not exactly sitting this season out, are certainly positioning themselves to return to the top in the next several years.
Langley Spartans – Running for #1 Pick – 42.9 WAR
These guys are all about tomorrow. Nothing to see here today. Plenty of guys still on the team from the push from last season. If they recapture past glory, they may be a contender sooner than later, if not for a year or so.
Frobel Division
- Sacramento Plaid Sox – ( +3 WAR)
- Sao Paulo TriColor – Division Contender / #3 Wild Card Contender
- Yorkshire Moor Hens – Rebuilding Season – 44.7 WAR
- Nassau Sharks – Rebuilding Season – 35.2 WAR
Sacramento Plaid Sox – Division Contender – 63.2 WAR
Not a lot to improve on the defending champs team except their outfield, which this did by adding Aaron Hicks (3.3) and Marwin Gonzalez (4.1). Overall the team relies on strong pitching and even better defense. This year, some of their better defender took a down turn offensively, so we will see how the defending champs readjust.
The Plaidsox were also the victim of a bad excel error. The original predictions had them much higher than they actually are.
Sao Paulo Tri-Color – Division Contender – 60.1
Joe “Party” Rae had a strong draft, and with some deft dealing, he has put his team back in the hunt. If there is a team who can outdo WAR in this league, our bets is on him. He has put together some talent, that on the outside might not look that great, but with the right platoon situations, might garner him some extra wins.
The team boasts a solid rotation and with an improved pen, might challenge Sacramento for the crown. This much is certain, whoever doesn’t win the crown, will more than likely take a Wild Card position, given to two other weaker teams in the division.
Yorkshire Moor Hens – Rebuilding – 44.7 WAR
Just youngsters and hope for tomorrow.
Nassau Sharks – Rebuilding – 35.2 WAR
Just youngsters and hope for tomorrow.
League Predictions According to WAR
Robinson Division Title: Montreal Menace
Jenkins Division Title: North Bay Trappers
Frobel Division Title: Sacramento Plaid Sox
Wild Card Team #1: Sao Paulo Tri Color
Wild Cars Team #2: Bristol Wicketmen
First Overall Pick in Draft: Nassau Sharks