Mock Draft: Version 1 and only(plus 1)

Now that the dust has settled for a day, I will weigh in on the first round of the 2012 draft. Probably not much different than others mocks in the long run.

1. Olivet: Robinson Cano 2b
With 2 mocks having me take Gomzalez here and 1 with Cano, I figured I would even up the score. Not going to find Cano's production at 2b anywhere else. However, with Kelly Johnson on the roster and Cuddyer 2b eligible it opens up some possibilities. Who knows, maybe it was Tulowitzki all along

2. Hackensack: Adrian Gonzalez 1b
Gonzo is a solid 5 year and a perennial MVP candidate. He increased his doubles by double digits moving to Fenway, yet the HRs leveled out. Some say it was his shoulder. Regardless he'll be a big run producer. The bb's may or may not increase now that he's in a lineup with MLB players rather than the Quad A talent San Diego rolled out around him. (Side note: I could see Bautista go here)

3. South Texas: Troy Tulowitzki SS
The move of Fielder isn't too odd when you look closer. Tulo when healthy is tops at a thin(ner) position and a few years younger. Will he out produce Fielder for the next 4 years? I doubt it. But at least Berg won't have to root for a stud who scorned his lovable Brewers for greener pastures (and a butt load of Little Caesers money)

4. Atlantic: Jose Bautista 3b/OF
BJ doesn't want to be the worst Upton in the Surge lineup so he convinces the GM to select Joey Bats. Who knows, this could Cliff Lee to go with JV, Kennedy, Hudson, and Zimmerman.

5. Julian: Justin Upton OF
I think Jamie is getting excited about the options here. Either Bautista falls because of a few unknowns and apparent age (I'm 31, not old at all) Upton is probably the best all around OF in draft and ill make the token Kemp comparison now. Just stay away from Rihanna son, that bitch is poison. (Yes, I realize I claimed not to be old while calling an adult son within a sentence of each other. So what?)

6. Springfield: Mike Stanton OF
The consensus here has been McCutchen but I think in the end the idea of a 40 homer a year player is too much to pass on. I have no other logic to go on here except maybe Adam wants to pay homage to former Brave reliever and all time holds leader Mike Stanton.

7. Oviedo: Andrew McCutchen OF
He has said all along he wants one of the 3 young OFs and in this scenerio McCutchen falls. My gut still says Hanley Ramirez here, although Hamilton would fit in well with Mike's oft-injured OF

8. Dallas: Mark Teixeira 1b
Ryan Howard exits, enter another big bat to man first for the Red Birds. Average aside you can't argue with the power numbers here. Big Tex will likely be the only one in the Red Birds lineup with more than 30 hrs and less than 20 steals this season

9. Olivet: Hanley Ramirez SS(3b)
Just what the team needs, another player coming off an injury filled subpar season. At least he will fill the void at 3b unless Reyes goes down with a hyperextended dreadlock in week 1.

10. North Texas: Elvis Andrus SS
I was going to calculate the end result of Adrian trading in and out of the 1st 13 times but its Monday and my head hurts. In the end he saw Doyels mock and knew he wouldn't get Andrus 13. Truly can't go wrong with Reyes either, Berg has won me over on the comparison between the two.

11. Dallas: Jose Reyes SS
Scores a lot of runs? Check. Steals a lot of bases? Check. Won't hit 10 hrs? Check. You scored perfect on the RedBird application Jose, welcome to Dallas.

12. Michigan: Jay Bruce OF
This could go many different directions but I think Chris opts for the streaky young Red who's the last of the non injury prone power OFs. This decision was made on his way to Tigers.com to buy a Prince in the D jersey

13. Mid-Michigan: Josh Hamilton OF
The Tigers need an OF with only Jackson who's coming off a lackluster year. I presume he thought Bruce would fall here when he traded down. With a 5 year manned by Miggy the drafting of Hamilton makes a lot of sense. For the 11th straight season MidMich vies for a playoff birth and hopes that the portion of the season where Hamilton is healthy is the final couple months

14. Rochester: Cliff Lee SP
He's been secretive about his pick, denying everyone from Bruce to Pence to Jesus. I doubt he reaches for a 1b here unless he really wants Konerko or Hosmer insanely bad. Can't argue with Lee, but with hitting a premium its a steal down here.

15. North Texas: Adrian Beltre 3b
Here's a situation where best available at a position of need just happens to be a Ranger. That's what he'll say so that's what we should believe. Bet your bottom dollar he is eyeballing Moreland to complete the all Texas infield.

16. Arizona: Hunter Pence OF
Everything the Swarm touches becomes infected with greatness. Alex Avila? Melky Cabrera? Even Matt Kemp. Hunter Pence will be the next in line.

I actually mocked 6 rounds but after a round and a half it turns less into a mock and more my own ranks. So.... Here it is. Let's all get some rest Tuesday and get crackin on Wednesday.

Eagles Mock Draft: Version 1 and only

I've had time to look at things and guage others thoughts and such so I guess I can throw my hat into the Mock business here.

1. Olivet Killer Eagles: Robinson Cano 2b
This has been the pick since day one for the most part, put some major thought into it after winning the #1 pick. In the end, 5 year guy hitting in the middle of a stud lineup playing in a little league park who's been consistent as hell. What could go wrong? Adam Dunn approves

2. Hackensack Bulls: Adrian Gonzalez 1b
AGone is arguably the safest and possibly best player in the draft. At only 29 it's scary to think he's just entering his prime. The Bulls won't hesitate locking him up for 5 years

3. Michigan Miracles: Troy Tulowitski SS
Can't really say the team is in "rebuild" mode because this will be 4th time in last 5 years being in lottery. However as far as talent goes Troy is the best in the draft. If he can ever put together a complete season without injuries he would be surefire #1 player in fantasy baseball.

4. Atlantic Surge: Justin Upton OF
This is a tricky pick here as Bautista still lurks. Surge choose the young OF with a ton of upside and lock him up for a long term deal.

5. Julian Javelina: Jose Bautista 3b/OF
Contract length was never a factor for Julian as Zimmerman mans the 5 year deal. This so far is the steal of the draft considering the numbers Bautista has shown he can put up.

6. Springfield Flying Squirrels: Andrew McCutchen OF
Squirrels in major rebuild mode after going all in last season and falling short. McCutchen is a young Five Tool in the making player who is someone the team can build around.

7. Oviedo Knights: Hanley Ramirez SS(3b)
He was likely moving up for Upton or McCutchen but has to settle for the upside of Hanley Ramirez. He was #1 player in fantasy only a year ago now will be duel eligibility as 3b/SS at least for this season. I have a hard time believing Mike passes on the upside here.

8. North Texas Rangers: Mike Stanton OF
The Rangers were one of the first to jump on the Stanton bandwagon a couple years ago and I think they pass on a few Texas Rangers to get this young power hitter

9. Charlotte Orios: Mark Teixeira 1b
Seems to be the name thrown around for the Orios at this pick, but I could see Charlotte taking a look at Stanton here if given the opportunity

10. MidMichigan Tigers: Jose Reyes SS
I think the Tigers are hoping one of the young OFs fall here but that's seeming more and more unlikely. With all their 3 year contracts open and a vacancy at short this is a pretty logical pick.

11. Dallas Redbirds: Josh Hamilton OF
Knowing that the Ants are unlikely to take a pitcher, Dallas opts to go hitting. Doyel has mentioned this would be his pick if given the choice here.

12. San Antonio Fire Ants: Brett Lawrie 3b
Honestly this is an impossible selection to project. The Ants need so much. Lawrie would be a nice 5 year contract but at this point in the 1st round it's a reach. I think the Ants are in no mans land with this pick and should consider trading out.

13. Dallas Redbirds: Cliff Lee SP
Best starter in the draft by far and I think the Redbirds traded Greinke away in order to snag him up

14. Rochester Redsox: Adrian Beltre 3b
Would swap Reynolds over to 1b and give the team a nice 2 year option with a possiblity for a 3rd if he's still producing at that point

15. South Texas Heat: Hunter Pence OF
Heat are another team who could go many different directions. I think they decide its too early for Weeks and go with best available OF

16. Arizona Swarm: Rickie Weeks 2b
Beckham has been a bust so the Swarm pass on Hamels to select Weeks here

Eagles sign 1st Rounder

Sources out of Olivet have confirmed that the Killer Eagles have come to a five year contract with 2nd Baseman Robinson Cano. GM Larry Baker had been deliberating between Cano and Jose Bautista but ultimately had to come to a decision and went with the solid Yankees two bagger. "We wanted to get this taken care of now so we could focus our attention on the rest of the upcoming draft" Larry said. "We're happy to have Robinson aboard and now we will be preparing to build around him through this draft."

This news may mean that Kelly Johnson is heading out of town, however the Baker has stated he is fine with Johnson as a backup to Cano.

News, Notes, and nonsensical madness

If only a person could forget an entire season and move on, this would be the time to do it. 2011 will forever live in infamy as the Dunn-bacle. For weeks heading into the draft the Killer Eagles were playing heads and tails between selecting Adam Dunn or OF Matt Kemp. When the time came the team went with whom they thought was the safer selection and slotted him into 1B for 3-4 years. 40 Hrs? In Chicago it would be easy. In a better lineup, 120 rbi in reach. What could go wrong? Then, four picks later the team decided to reach a little and take a chance on Kendry (Or is it Kendrys) Morales. The safer selection here would have been Clayton Kershaw. Are you following the trend here? The team couldn't have gotten less out of those two clowns in 2011 even if Dunn had joined Morales in the clubhouse all season. So, for everyone involved here lets take a big deep breath.... hold it in... ok let her go and lets move on. You feel better?

There are a lot of returning players heading into 2012 and lets not kid here this team wants to win now and will do everything to win now and worry about "next season" next winter. Being in the lottery for the first time and having the 2nd pick of each round will help the cause, the highest draft pick the Eagles have ever had each round before this year was 8th.(Other than a deal here or there for a higher pick) There have been thoughts on who the team is looking at with their lottery selection and while the best player(s) available are technically blocked by incumbents it doesn't mean the team will not try to swing something during Winter Meetings in order to grab them in the draft. Obviously Adrian Gonzalez is unlikely because dealing Dunn or Morales will be closer to impossible than Doyel and Reynolds not fighting for a week in-season. Robinson Cano and Troy Tulowitski have been mentioned along with Jose Bautista. Tulowitski is blocked by an untradable Asdrubal Cabrera which will make drafting him extremely difficult but would definitely not say he's been ruled out. Baustista makes the most sense because of his overall numbers the past two seasons and the void the Eagles have at 3b. Cano is the next logical, as the Eagles will likely shop Kelly Johnson during the Winter Meetings.

Winter Meetings:
Even having four outfielders heading into the draft, the Eagles are not especially looking to move any of them. They dealt James Shields at the deadline last summer for Jason Heyward and have read positive reports that he has lost weight and in better shape. Could have been a sophomore slump as well as trying to do way too much given the massive hype. Heyward is one of the bigger keys to any success the Eagles hope to have this upcoming season. Brett Gardner will not be dealt because it'll be nice to have a high steal guy going in, and Swisher is unlikely because of his consistency that would almost for sure not be replaced by whatever draft pick / player is offered for him. GM and CEO Larry D Baker Jr was only quoted recently; "All things considered, the table will be pretty quiet for a change during the winter meetings and a [back to the basics] approach will be utilized this go-round. It's worked for us before and will work again. There's no reason why this team will not compete for the Championship in 2012 given the amount of talent in this draft and where we will be picking each round. Anything less than a championship will be a disappointment" When asked about Adam Dunn; "F%#@ off"

2012 will mark the 10 year anniversary of the 2002 Killer Eagles team that took home the inaugral eMLB Championship. Tickets are being sold for the pep rally being held March 22nd to celebrate. Scheduled to make appearances are Carlos Beltran, eSeries MVP Jason Schmidt, Roy Oswalt, and Jorge Posada