OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - "The System" (Part II): The Pitching Revolution

Prodigal Son · 06-09-2018, 03:10 AM

Inaugural Draft Results

Round 1, Pick #23 - RF Aaron Judge

With all the elite young SP's off the board, it hardly seemed worth it to use a first round pick on an arm from the next tier down of pitchers. Instead, the Braves grabbed a big-time power hitter who is only a little over a year into his MLB service time. He plays a respectable RF. The downside is that he struck out over 208 times last season, and it's hard to believe that he'd repeat his .284 batting average if he does that again. So he's no Mike Trout, but I'm happy with the pick.

Round 2 - 1B Cody Belinger

Again, with SP's going fast, this seemed like a perfect opportunity to pick up a very good all-around player. While I would have preferred to scoop up someone higher on the defensive spectrum than 1B, Bellinger was simply too good with the bat to pass up. With RHB Judge already drafted, Bellinger's lefty bat was perfect. He even handles LHP well, posting over a .900 OPS against them in 2017.

Round 3 - ML / SP Shohei Ohtani (RHP)

With star hitters gone and with the established SP's remaining looking like a mix of expensive veteran #2 / #3 types, the Braves decided they couldn't pass up the opportunity to draft two-way player Ohtani, who will be classified as a ML or SP. He will get regular work on the mound, in right field, and also pinch hitting. While I would have preferred to land a better long arm (traditional SP) in this spot, the talent simply wasn't available. This pick had its advantages. Ohtani's versatility should work great in The System, and that should help make up for the "reach" for him in terms of pure talent (there were much better hitters and pitchers available than Ohtani's ability at either).

Over the next rounds, most teams continued to make runs at the above-average and average starting pitchers, giving Atlanta the chance to load up on position players (from good to serviceable) and quality relievers. The team did pick up its second traditional SP, but it was able to hold off until Round 10 and still get a decent arm in Brandon McCarthy. With many teams drafting top prospects, I missed out on all of the blue chippers (4.5+ star SP's or position players), but I managed to nab four-star OF prospect Juan Soto, who is getting close to being ready for the show.

LF Kris Davis
CF Ender Inciarte
HL Ken Giles RHP
3B Ian Happ
HL Sean Doolittle LHP
ML Alex Claudio LHP, double play specialist
SP Brandon McCarthy RHP
2B Jed Lowrie
SP Pat Neshek
C Evan Gattis
ML/HL Michael Feliz
RF Juan Soto (prospect)
SS Starlin Castro
ML Darren O'Day RHP
3B Maikel Franco
ML Brad Ziegler RHP, double play specialist
ML Dan Otero RHP, double play specialist
ML/SP Juan Nicasio RHP
ML Jerry Blevins LHP
3B Jonathan India (prospect)
SP David Peterson (prospect)
(then autodraft)

The team didn't nab any five-star prospects, but it did fill out the minors nicely with solid prospects. The lineup is well-balanced, although the catcher spot looks to be a bit of a problem. Most importantly, here are The System assignments for the pitchers who project to see regular MLB time:

HL
Giles
Doolittle
Feliz
O'Day (ML/HL)

ML / Specialists
Blevins
Claudio
Ohtani
Ziegler (ML/LL)

LL
Bleier
Fiers

SP
McCarthy
Otero
Ziegler / Neshek (injured for 3-4 weeks)

And the lineups:

vs RHP

1. Inciarte CF
2. Bellinger 1B
3. Judge RF
4. K. Davis LF
5. Castro SS
6. Happ 2B
7. Gattis C
8. Lowrie SS

vs LHP

1. Inciarte CF
2. Judge RF
3. K. Davis LF
4. Bellinger RF
5. Franco 3B
6. Happ 2B
7. Gattis C
8. Marrero SS

Top bench players:
Ohtani RF
Andujar 3B
Swihart C

06-09-2018, 03:10 AM	#3
Prodigal Son All Star Starter Join Date: May 2006 Location: Iahiodo a.k.a. the flyover Posts: 1,635	Inaugural Draft Results Round 1, Pick #23 - RF Aaron Judge With all the elite young SP's off the board, it hardly seemed worth it to use a first round pick on an arm from the next tier down of pitchers. Instead, the Braves grabbed a big-time power hitter who is only a little over a year into his MLB service time. He plays a respectable RF. The downside is that he struck out over 208 times last season, and it's hard to believe that he'd repeat his .284 batting average if he does that again. So he's no Mike Trout, but I'm happy with the pick. Round 2 - 1B Cody Belinger Again, with SP's going fast, this seemed like a perfect opportunity to pick up a very good all-around player. While I would have preferred to scoop up someone higher on the defensive spectrum than 1B, Bellinger was simply too good with the bat to pass up. With RHB Judge already drafted, Bellinger's lefty bat was perfect. He even handles LHP well, posting over a .900 OPS against them in 2017. Round 3 - ML / SP Shohei Ohtani (RHP) With star hitters gone and with the established SP's remaining looking like a mix of expensive veteran #2 / #3 types, the Braves decided they couldn't pass up the opportunity to draft two-way player Ohtani, who will be classified as a ML or SP. He will get regular work on the mound, in right field, and also pinch hitting. While I would have preferred to land a better long arm (traditional SP) in this spot, the talent simply wasn't available. This pick had its advantages. Ohtani's versatility should work great in The System, and that should help make up for the "reach" for him in terms of pure talent (there were much better hitters and pitchers available than Ohtani's ability at either). Over the next rounds, most teams continued to make runs at the above-average and average starting pitchers, giving Atlanta the chance to load up on position players (from good to serviceable) and quality relievers. The team did pick up its second traditional SP, but it was able to hold off until Round 10 and still get a decent arm in Brandon McCarthy. With many teams drafting top prospects, I missed out on all of the blue chippers (4.5+ star SP's or position players), but I managed to nab four-star OF prospect Juan Soto, who is getting close to being ready for the show. LF Kris Davis CF Ender Inciarte HL Ken Giles RHP 3B Ian Happ HL Sean Doolittle LHP ML Alex Claudio LHP, double play specialist SP Brandon McCarthy RHP 2B Jed Lowrie SP Pat Neshek C Evan Gattis ML/HL Michael Feliz RF Juan Soto (prospect) SS Starlin Castro ML Darren O'Day RHP 3B Maikel Franco ML Brad Ziegler RHP, double play specialist ML Dan Otero RHP, double play specialist ML/SP Juan Nicasio RHP ML Jerry Blevins LHP 3B Jonathan India (prospect) SP David Peterson (prospect) (then autodraft) The team didn't nab any five-star prospects, but it did fill out the minors nicely with solid prospects. The lineup is well-balanced, although the catcher spot looks to be a bit of a problem. Most importantly, here are The System assignments for the pitchers who project to see regular MLB time: HL Giles Doolittle Feliz O'Day (ML/HL) ML / Specialists Blevins Claudio Ohtani Ziegler (ML/LL) LL Bleier Fiers SP McCarthy Otero Ziegler / Neshek (injured for 3-4 weeks) And the lineups: vs RHP 1. Inciarte CF 2. Bellinger 1B 3. Judge RF 4. K. Davis LF 5. Castro SS 6. Happ 2B 7. Gattis C 8. Lowrie SS vs LHP 1. Inciarte CF 2. Judge RF 3. K. Davis LF 4. Bellinger RF 5. Franco 3B 6. Happ 2B 7. Gattis C 8. Marrero SS Top bench players: Ohtani RF Andujar 3B Swihart C Last edited by Prodigal Son; 06-20-2018 at 03:25 AM.