Traditionally I've failed to perform as well as I had hoped in the K-BAD league. Don't know why that is exactly (I gave some thoughts on why this is in the preseason report on the draft which you can link to below). Things changed, and in a bug way in 2014. I didn't win the 15 team mixed league, but I was very pleased with my effort. Just how well did team Flowers turn out? Read on to find out (hint: well. I already said though though didn't I?).
OPENING DAY ROSTER
(click on this link to see the preseason write-up).
C: Jonathan Lucroy, Derek Norris
1B: Justin Morneau
2B: Howie Kendrick
3B: Ryan Zimmerman
SS: Elvis Andrus
MI: Jhonny Peralta
CI: David Freese
OF: Andrew McCutchen, Justin Upton, Alex Rios, Desmond Jennings, Austin Jackson
UT: Adam Dunn
PITCHERS: Kris Medlen, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto, Jim Henderson, Corey Kluber, Taijuan Walker, Ubaldo Jimenez, Joaquin Benoit, Tyler Clippard
BENCH: Ike Davis, Geovany Soto, Cameron Maybin, Cody Allen, Vic Black
WHAT WENT WRONG
Zimmerman had 214 at-bats. Sure he's always dinged up, but never to this level.
Andrus had his worst overall season (.263-2-41-72-27). He had scored at least 85 runs the previous four seasons with at least 60 RBIs the previous three years.
Freese had some nice runs but a .260-10-55-53 line is barely passable as a middle infield option in a 15 team league. It doesn't work at all at the corner infield spot.
Rios had four homers, 54 RBIs, 54 runs scored and 17 steals. What a tank job in the second half. Jackson stunk. Jennings was hurt and rather ineffective. Dunn was just blah.
Medlen blew his arm out and didn't throw a pitch.
Bailey made only 23 starts.
Henderson had no saves.
Walker was injured and threw only 38 innings of pitches.
Ubaldo had a 4.81 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 125.1 innings.
Davis, Soto, Maybin and Black were useless bench adds.
WHAT WENT RIGHT
Smoking catcher duo.
Morneau crushed it.
Kendrick was good as always.
McCutchen is a superstar. Period.
JUp always gets put down but I'll take .270-29-102-77-8 all day.
Cueto was amazing. That's an apt adjective when you note that he won 20 games with a 2.25 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 242 Ks. If not for Clayton Kershaw everyone would be talking about Cueto.
There's my boy Corey Kluber. Speaking of excellence: 18 wins, 2.44 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 269 Ks. Also had Mr. Allen on the bench again (6 wins, 24 saves, 2.07 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 91 Ks in 69.2 IP). Seems like I was on point with that Indians' duo in a couple of leagues.
ADDS
($1,000 FAAB)
Week 1: Tyler Flowers $11, Kevin Siegrist $11, Ryan Doumit $14
Week 2: Pedro Strop $34, Jonathan Broxton $34
Week 3: Conor Gillaspie $11, Gonzalez German $11
Week 5: Marcus Stroman $69 Ian Stewart $18, Tom Koehler $11
* I bid $39 on Tanner Roark. The winning bid was $45.
Week 6: Aaron Loup $38, Eduardo Escobar $19
Week 7: Drew Stubbs $27, Sean Doolittle $9
* This is the week that nailed it for me. $36 spent for a .289, 15/20 guy and an RP with 22 saves, a 0.73 WHIP and 89 Ks in 62.2 IP.
Week 8: Bronson Arroyo $11
Week 9: Josh Rutledge $89, Juan Carlos Oviedo $26
Week 10: Joba Chamberlain $16, Josh Harrison $17
* How about that Harrison bid?
Week 12: Jesus Montero $19, Jeurys Familia $17
Week 13: Robinson Chirinos $19, Logan Morrison $13, John Danks $13
Week 17: Josh Fields $9, J.P. Arencibia $53
Week 18: Juan Uribe $27
Week 19: Will Middlebrooks $29, Collin McHugh $23
Week 20: Vance Worley $14
Week 21: Justin Turner $9, Carlos Carrasco $19, Ender Inciarte $7
Week 23: Eric O'Flaherty $49, Rene Rivera $4
Week 25: Tyler Flowers $17, Josh Fields $29, T.J. House $29, Chris Young $8 (OF)
Week 26: Miguel Gonzalez $33, Jared Burton $29, Brandon Crawford #29
WINNER: Ryan Bloomfield, BaseballHQ
FINISH: 2nd out of 15 teams. I was one of two clubs with 100 points but my 102 was well behind the huge 120 posted by Ryan. My squad led the league in batting average and ERA. It was second in WHIP and saves. Overall my pitching was slightly more effective with 53.5 points, only three points behind Ryan (offense 48.5). A top-2 finish in a 15 team league always has to make you feel like the season was a success. I hate finishing second though. Second place is for losers...