All posts about our RR AL-only Founders League belong here!

Awesome!!! Thanks BookieBob for starting this. I'm looking forward to following the progress of all of our Founders Leagues.

Wow, lucky me, ending up with A-Rod. Gonna have to check my Powerball ticket in a seck. I was on track to get home from work early, perhaps missing only the first few rounds, but got held up by everything possible on the way home and I ended up missing the entire thing. Not complaining, though. You guys are going to fleece me on trades - man, I've never heard of some of these guys! This is going to be fun...

The draft based on the order randomly determined before the draft:

jumphook14
1. (1) Álex Rodríguez
2. (22) Bobby Abreu
3. (23) Chone Figgins
4. (44) Scott Kazmir
5. (45) Hideki Matsui
6. (66) Francisco Liriano
7. (67) Jacoby Ellsbury
8. (88) Clay Buchholz
9. (89) Iván Rodríguez
10. (110) Curt Schilling
11. (111) Jeremy Guthrie
12. (132) Richie Sexson
13. (133) Eric Chávez
14. (154) Shaun Marcum
15. (155) Travis Buck
16. (176) Matt Guerrier
17. (177) Kenny Lofton
18. (198) Luis Mendoza
19. (199) Juan Rivera
20. (220) Freddie Bynum
21. (221) Ramón Santiago
22. (242) Jim Hoey
23. (243) Jonathan Albaladejo
24. (264) Radhames Liz
25. (265) Jamie Burke
26. (286) Justin Huber

STICK MAN
1. (2) Grady Sizemore
2. (21) C.C. Sabathia
3. (24) Robinson Canó
4. (43) Paul Konerko
5. (46) Nick Swisher
6. (65) Huston Street
7. (68) Raúl Ibañez
8. (87) Todd Jones
9. (90) Joe Borowski
10. (109) Mark Ellis
11. (112) Jack Cust
12. (131) Ian Kennedy
13. (134) Aubrey Huff
14. (153) Maicer Izturis
15. (156) Boof Bonser
16. (175) Carlos Gómez
17. (178) Jon Garland
18. (197) Frank Catalanotto
19. (200) Brandon Morrow
20. (219) Adam Everett
21. (222) Manny Delcarmen
22. (241) Tony F. Peña
23. (244) Dan Wheeler
24. (263) Wladimir Balentien
25. (266) Brandon League
26. (285) Gregg Zaun

Mohair Club for Men
1. (3) Miguel Cabrera
2. (20) Justin Verlander
3. (25) Torii Hunter
4. (42) Bobby Jenks
5. (47) Jermaine Dye
6. (64) A.J. Burnett
7. (69) Jarrod Saltalamacchia
8. (86) Billy Butler
9. (91) Aaron Hill
10. (108) Yuniesky Betancourt
11. (113) Jon Lester
12. (130) Daric Barton
13. (135) Scot Shields
14. (152) Luke Scott
15. (157) Jerry Owens
16. (174) Brad Wilkerson
17. (179) Mark Grudzielanek
18. (196) Justin Duchscherer
19. (201) Mike Napoli
20. (218) Bobby Seay
21. (223) Mike Mussina
22. (240) LaTroy Hawkins
23. (245) Dan Johnson
24. (262) David Dellucci
25. (267) Aaron Laffey
26. (284) Tim Byrdak

TBone's Vipers
1. (4) Carl Crawford
2. (19) Travis Hafner
3. (26) Nick Markakis
4. (41) Édgar Rentería
5. (48) Jorge Posada
6. (63) Joba Chamberlain
7. (70) Dustin Pedroia
8. (85) Michael Cuddyer
9. (92) Joe Blanton
10. (107) Jeremy Accardo
11. (114) Akinori Iwamura
12. (129) Joe Crede
13. (136) Jonny Gomes
14. (151) Scott Baker
15. (158) Jake Westbrook
16. (173) Carlos Quentin
17. (180) Ryan Raburn
18. (195) Marcus Thames
19. (202) John Bale
20. (217) Scott Linebrink
21. (224) Masa Kobayashi
22. (239) Craig Monroe
23. (246) Gavin Floyd
24. (261) Fernando Rodney
25. (268) Alberto Callaspo
26. (283) Robb Quinlan

Postman's Postals
1. (5) Ichiro Suzuki
2. (18) Derek Jeter
3. (27) Carlos Guillén
4. (40) Vernon Wells
5. (49) Roy Halladay
6. (62) Adrián Béltre
7. (71) Josh Hamilton
8. (84) Ryan Garko
9. (93) Zack Greinke
10. (106) Pat Neshek
11. (115) Asdrubal Cabrera
12. (128) B.J. Ryan
13. (137) C.J. Wilson
14. (150) Adam Jones
15. (159) Lyle Overbay
16. (172) Milton Bradley
17. (181) Kevin Slowey
18. (194) José López
19. (203) Ervin Santana
20. (216) Dioner Navarro
21. (225) Ben Francisco
22. (238) Daniel Cabrera
23. (247) Wilson Betemit
24. (260) Gerald Laird
25. (269) Kyle Farnsworth
26. (282) Jack Hannahan

Radiohead
1. (6) David Ortiz
2. (17) Manny Ramírez
3. (28) J.J. Putz
4. (39) Michael Young
5. (50) Jim Thome
6. (61) Daisuke Matsuzaka
7. (72) Alex Gordon
8. (83) Kevin Youkilis
9. (94) Josh Fields
10. (105) A.J. Pierzynski
11. (116) Rocco Baldelli
12. (127) Gil Meche
13. (138) Hideki Okajima
14. (149) Bobby Crosby
15. (160) Joey Gathright
16. (171) Chris Ray
17. (182) Joel Zumaya
18. (193) Garrett Olson
19. (204) Virgil Vásquez
20. (215) Emil Brown
21. (226) Jay Payton
22. (237) Esteban Germán
23. (248) Luke Hochevar
24. (259) José Veras
25. (270) Carl Pavano
26. (281) Shawn Riggans

BACK BACKBACK
1. (7) Erik Bedard
2. (16) Josh Beckett
3. (29) Jonathan Papelbon
4. (38) Delmon Young
5. (51) Mariano Rivera
6. (60) Orlando Cabrera
7. (73) Dustin McGowan
8. (82) Evan Longoria
9. (95) Hank Blalock
10. (104) Melky Cabrera
11. (117) Jason Varitek
12. (126) Scott Rolen
13. (139) Mark Buehrle
14. (148) José Vidro
15. (161) Brendan Harris
16. (170) David Eckstein
17. (183) Matt Stairs
18. (192) Cliff Floyd
19. (205) Ben Broussard
20. (214) Shelley Duncan
21. (227) Tim Wakefield
22. (236) José Contreras
23. (249) Kevin Millwood
24. (258) Jarrod Washburn
25. (271) Juan Rincón
26. (280) Nathan Haynes

Moneyball
1. (8) Vladimir Guerrero
2. (15) Brian Roberts
3. (30) Joe Nathan
4. (37) Gary Sheffield
5. (52) Javier Vázquez
6. (59) Johnny Damon
7. (74) Jered Weaver
8. (81) Jeremy Bonderman
9. (96) Garret Anderson
10. (103) Troy Percival
11. (118) Rich Harden
12. (125) Andy Pettitte
13. (140) Ramón Hernández
14. (147) David DeJesús
15. (162) Melvin Mora
16. (169) Jacque Jones
17. (184) Al Reyes
18. (191) Brandon Inge
19. (206) Juan Uribe
20. (213) Josh Barfield
21. (228) Mike Hessman
22. (235) Jesse Crain
23. (250) Jon Huber
24. (257) Dan Meyer
25. (272) Guillermo Quiroz
26. (279) Brian Buscher

We Need a DH?
1. (9) B.J. Upton
2. (14) Álex Ríos
3. (31) Carlos Peña
4. (36) Joe Mauer
5. (53) Howie Kendrick
6. (58) Kelvim Escobar
7. (75) Phil Hughes
8. (80) Chien-Ming Wang
9. (97) Frank Thomas
10. (102) Gary Matthews Jr.
11. (119) J.D. Drew
12. (124) Jason Giambi
13. (141) Coco Crisp
14. (146) Reggie Willits
15. (163) Joaquín Benoit
16. (168) Rafael Pérez
17. (185) Dennys Reyes
18. (190) Scott Downs
19. (207) Jon Leicester
20. (212) Scott Moore
21. (229) Donnie Murphy
22. (234) John Buck
23. (251) Octavio Dotel
24. (256) Dennis Sarfate
25. (273) Jordan Tata
26. (278) Darnell McDonald

Fence Swatters
1. (10) Magglio Ordóñez
2. (13) Víctor Martínez
3. (32) Francisco Rodríguez
4. (35) John Lackey
5. (54) Mike Lowell
6. (57) Fausto Carmona
7. (76) Plácido Polanco
8. (79) Jhonny Peralta
9. (98) José Guillén
10. (101) Dontrelle Willis
11. (120) George Sherrill
12. (123) Rafael Betancourt
13. (142) Casey Kotchman
14. (145) Kurt Suzuki
15. (164) Erick Aybar
16. (167) Nate Robertson
17. (186) Jason Michaels
18. (189) Chris Denorfia
19. (208) Gio Gonzalez
20. (211) Reed Johnson
21. (230) Justin Speier
22. (233) Ross Gload
23. (252) Jamie Walker
24. (255) Nick Punto
25. (274) Chad Gaudin
26. (277) Brandon Wood

BBB Bashers
1. (11) Curtis Granderson
2. (12) Justin Morneau
3. (33) Ian Kinsler
4. (34) Félix Hernández
5. (55) James Shields
6. (56) Kenji Johjima
7. (77) Joakim Soria
8. (78) Julio Lugo
9. (99) Mark Teahen
10. (100) Matt Garza
11. (121) Casey Blake
12. (122) Jason Bartlett
13. (143) Franklin Gutiérrez
14. (144) Jason Kubel
15. (165) Marlon Byrd
16. (166) Kevin Millar
17. (187) Kazuo Fukumori
18. (188) Andy Sonnanstine
19. (209) Mike Lamb
20. (210) Brian Bannister
21. (231) Ryan Sweeney
22. (232) Miguel Batista
23. (253) Danny Richar
24. (254) Alan Embree
25. (275) Greg Aquino
26. (276) Adam Loewen

BBB Bashers
1. (11) Curtis Granderson
2. (12) Justin Morneau
3. (33) Ian Kinsler
4. (34) Félix Hernández
5. (55) James Shields
6. (56) Kenji Johjima
7. (77) Joakim Soria
8. (78) Julio Lugo
9. (99) Mark Teahen
10. (100) Matt Garza
11. (121) Casey Blake
12. (122) Jason Bartlett
13. (143) Franklin Gutiérrez
14. (144) Jason Kubel
15. (165) Marlon Byrd
16. (166) Kevin Millar
17. (187) Kazuo Fukumori
18. (188) Andy Sonnanstine
19. (209) Mike Lamb
20. (210) Brian Bannister
21. (231) Ryan Sweeney
22. (232) Miguel Batista
23. (253) Danny Richar
24. (254) Alan Embree
25. (275) Greg Aquino
26. (276) Adam Loewen

I didn't have a set plan going into this draft. I had an insanely busy week and wasn't able to do much more than research. So as the draft went on I was basically trying to fill positions and categories. Didn't know about Granderson's injury until Sunday so that hurts.
The bookend pick was tough because a couple of the teams were on autodraft. (See Radiohead drafting Baldelli in the 11th and Chris Ray in the 16th) Guys that might have fallen back to me got picked automatically sometimes. Plus the guy I had invited into the league was picking 11th so he has some insight into my thought process. For instance, I was about to grab Sherrill. Drew(Fence Swatters) knows that I'm an O's fan and would be all over Sherrill as he was the last named closer available. So he grabbed him.
I like my Soria pick. I grabbed RR favorite, Sonnanstine. I think I'm short in steals and saves. Seems to be a theme in my two leagues this year. I'll have to take a look at that for my other draft that is coming up.

Round Pick Player Position
1. (5) Ichiro Suzuki OF
2. (18) Derek Jeter SS
3. (27) Carlos Guillén 1B,SS
4. (40) Vernon Wells OF
5. (49) Roy Halladay SP
6. (62) Adrián Béltre 3B
7. (71) Josh Hamilton OF
8. (84) Ryan Garko 1B
9. (93) Zack Greinke SP,RP
10. (106) Pat Neshek RP
11. (115) Asdrubal Cabrera 2B,SS
12. (128) B.J. Ryan RP
13. (137) C.J. Wilson RP
14. (150) Adam Jones OF
15. (159) Lyle Overbay 1B
16. (172) Milton Bradley OF
17. (181) Kevin Slowey SP
18. (194) José López 2B
19. (203) Ervin Santana SP
20. (216) Dioner Navarro C
21. (225) Ben Francisco OF
22. (238) Daniel Cabrera SP
23. (247) Wilson Betemit 1B,3B,SS
24. (260) Gerald Laird C
25. (269) Kyle Farnsworth RP
26. (282) Jack Hannahan 3B

I suppose one advantage of being a stay at home dad is that I can spend time doing research in drafts but your attention is divided when it comes draft time. Coming into the draft I was aiming for expensive speed and a good SS. Otherwise I just went with filling out my roster. Looking at my ranks put into tiers, there was a dramatic drop off of productive SS eligible guys so I knew I need to pay the bucks for some decent SS. What I didn't expect was Carlos Guillen lasting to me in the third round but his 1B, SS was great as a uber CI/MI player if need be. I know the Neshek pick was likely too high but this was before I knew a deal was almost in place for the Twins and Nathan. I know getting Overbay meant that I was getting three 1B but I like Overbay to rebound this year. Anyhoo, that was what I was going for in this draft.

Good god! Who are some of these guys on my roster. Guess this is what happens with another fine auto-draft... at least I have a catcher this time.

We'll see how this all plays out.

During the later rounds of the draft, I noticed that Yahoo had a lot of MR ranked together which autodraft started picking through. That left the rest of us able to grab some fliers and find somewhat useful guys while the autos were filling the rest of their roster with Middle relief.

I can see that. This is how I end up with Scott Moore and Donnie Murphy as my starting 3B/SS respectively. I also enjoy my 3-man rotation of Wang, Hughes, and an already injured Kelvim Escobar. This will sure be a challenge.

This is my first mono league ever so I am not even sure if my team is good or not...

1. (2) Grady Sizemore OF
2. (21) C.C. Sabathia SP
3. (24) Robinson Canó 2B
4. (43) Paul Konerko 1B
5. (46) Nick Swisher 1B,OF
6. (65) Huston Street RP
7. (68) Raúl Ibañez OF
8. (87) Todd Jones RP
9. (90) Joe Borowski RP
10. (109) Mark Ellis 2B
11. (112) Jack Cust OF
12. (131) Ian Kennedy SP
13. (134) Aubrey Huff 1B,3B
14. (153) Maicer Izturis 2B,3B
15. (156) Boof Bonser SP
16. (175) Carlos Gómez OF
17. (178) Jon Garland SP
18. (197) Frank Catalanotto 1B,OF
19. (200) Brandon Morrow RP
20. (219) Adam Everett SS
21. (222) Manny Delcarmen RP
22. (241) Tony F. Peña SS
23. (244) Dan Wheeler RP
24. (263) Wladimir Balentien OF
25. (266) Brandon League RP
26. (285) Gregg Zaun C

I hade pick #2 which I really hated having. A lot of the guys I was targetting went 1-4 picks before my turn. I tried to have a decent middle infield. Hopefully Izturis ends up the LAA SS otherwise I know I have a deficiency there. It was really hard for me to figure out where a guy should be drafted in a mono league and as a result I didn't follow my usual mixed league draft strategy.

I will state that I knew going into the draft that the AL OF isn't all that deep this year. Even knowing this I ignored the OF. Yet another lesson for me to take into my next AL Only draft on Friday.

I keep trying to improve my roster somehow but there is just nobody out there. Every guy is NA or dead, and I already have eight deadbeats on my roster. I thought about putting this team in my sig, but what a waste of time. Maybe I can get lucky somehow and finish in the top half...

I hear you jump. Autodraft really did a number on my team and I'm buried so far under a rock it'll be nearly impossible to escape using free agency. Here's to holding out hope and to stop making excuses...

Somehow I've been able to make a few FA moves this week, but the innings cap in this league is also 1250 so I held off on a couple of servicable starters that could have helped me under "normal" settings. Auto-draft, low innings, no closers and weekly moves seem to me the most challenging of settings... If I finish in the top half I'll be ecstatic...

Forgot to make my roster changes on Monday. I keep forgetting that I can't make my changes prior to the start of games on Tuesday. I'll try again next week. Weekly changes are tough to get used to.

<bump>

Not a lot of action lately on this thread, just wondering how you guys are doing and what are your thoughts on this league so far. I was feeling pretty good there a week or so ago when I was knocking on the door for 5th but I came back to reality. Hoping to finish in the top half, gonna need some luck if that's going to happen.

This is my first ever mono league and I don't think my draft strategy was that effective.

Of course CC and Cano as my 2nd and 3rd rounders haven't helped!

Also, the FA list is too shallow for my liking and I think that is why the league activity has been minimal.

PS. If anyone wants to make a deal, send me an offer. I am willing to take on some poor AVG hitters that help in other cats because I am pretty sure my team AVG is not going to rebound.

Can we just go ahead mail Postman the trophy right now? It's only June but I'm gonna go ahead and bet the farm on his team. The interesting part is that positions 2 through 11 (last) are only 20 points apart as of today and it's going to be a fun scramble to the medal stand for the silver and the bronze... Anything can happen, lots of time left.

Oh, and I'll trade Sexson (in either league) for a roll of TP if anyone is interested. Doesn't matter what kind of TP it is. How the hell did I get stuck with him?

Yeah, he's running away with the league. Pretty impressive if I do say so myself.