Backyard Baseball 2001 Draft: Complete Draft and Analysis

You guys have been waiting for this for a while. The BYB Draft is complete. I'm sorry to keep you all waiting for this project to be completed. But here it is. This is going to be a long post. If you are interested in breaking it up and not reading it all at once, you can find the other eight rounds elsewhere on this blog. But I figured I should also post the whole thing together for those who just want to scroll through and find out stuff quickly. Also, I should add, you guys are very important in this blog project. You guys will be casting your votes for who has the best team. The owner and team that receives the most votes is going to be the champion of our league, and the winner of our first ever Backyard Sports Draft. If this is successful, maybe there will be a Backyard Football Draft in the future. We'll see. But as for the draft, first, let's meet the GM's (if you haven't yet. if you have, go ahead and skip this and go straight to the draft). Also, if you aren't sure what this is all about, please check out my article entitled "The Backyard Baseball Project". We had our Backyard Baseball Draft Lottery to determine the order of the draft. Here are our GMs:

The first pick of the Backyard Baseball 2001 draft is going to GM of Little 500 All-Stars (formerly known as The Pink Wombats), Connor Boehm. Boehm was a dominant force last year for the New Trier Trevians basketball team, and took his talents to the Ivy League to play at Dartmouth. After a great freshman season, Boehm told me about how much he missed baseball. He played New Trier Feeder ball up through 8th grade, but didn't try out for the New Trier baseball team. He felt he still has something to prove, so he will be drafting and managing a Backyard Baseball team. "As a manager, I swing for the fences. All power hitters, all power pitchers. I live for the fireballs and aluminum bats. Go big or go home. Chicks dig the long ball."
Home field: Tin Can Alley

The second pick of the draft belongs to GM of The Kingston Bunt Smokers, and speedy wide receiver Will Fitzgerald. Fitz spent all four years of high school playing on the New Trier football team and simply couldn't get himself to stop. He now plays and studies at John Carroll University in Ohio. As you can see, Fitz is also an avid Eminem fan and he plans to bump someShady at his team's home park before, during and after games. He is also a big time baseball fan and when I asked him how he plans to manage his team, he told me, "It's all about FUNDAMENTALS! My lineup isn't swinging for the fences, we're swinging for the gaps. Base runners on base runners. Don't even try to stop us on the base paths. We execute with speed. We are the Patriots of the BYBL. Charlie Tilson came to one of our Spring Training games and said he was amazed how well we run the bases. Small Ball wins close games." 

Home Field: Dirty Yards

The third pick of the draft belongs to GM of The Grand Salamis, Tommy Mantice. Tommy studies at Ball State University and describes himself as an aggressive manager. "We're gonna steal bases and have a lot of sacrifices and squeezes."

Home Field: Steele Stadium

The fourth pick is going to GM of the Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars, Eric Benjamin, former high school football and basketball star. Eric currently studies at Indiana University and he is a Backyard Baseball whiz. When I asked him how he plans to manage his team, he told me, "I'm a Jerry Jones-type GM. Not afraid to spend some green to get stars on my team. I'm after players who aren't afraid to get their uniform dirty. Pete Rose-types without the gambling issues. I'm all about that charlie hustle."

Home Field: Cement Gardens

The fifth pick belongs to GM of The Crazy Fishes and former pitcher for the New Trier pitcher, CJ Revis. CJ played freshman and sophomore year, quitting after sophomore year to focus on basketball. CJ played a pivotal role on a very good New Trier basketball team last year which was led by teammate and now rival GM Connor Boehm. CJ is currently studying at Lawrence University and hopes to return to his basketball career after he graduates, as he hopes to play professionally overseas, preferably in Greece. I should also add that this isn't the only team CJ will be managing this summer. Along with his Backyard Baseball team, CJ will be managing a 13 and under New Trier feeder team. For his BYB team, CJ has wasted no time getting his team ready. He has announced Mr. Clanky as his assistant coach, saying that "The guy throws the best batting practice around." He also added that he has signed network contracts so that Sunny Day and Vinnie the Gooch will commentate all of his team's games. When I asked him how he plans to manage his team and what their strategy will be, he told me, ""My team will put the WE before the ME. They'll show up ready to play everyday. No mental errors. When we take the field, we mean business."

Home Field: Sandy Flats

The owner of the sixth and last pick is the GM of The Orange Wombats, Grant Smith. Grant helped lead the New Trier Boys' Swimming Team to multiple state titles. Grant is currently studying and swimming at Davidson University. Grant, like the other five GMs, also used to be a dominant baseball player, however he quit before tryouts freshman year at New Trier so he can focus on swimming. He's happy to be returning to the game as a manager. When I asked him about his team, he told me, "The original backyard baseball field is what we call home, Playground Commons. Except, we don't just play, we live baseball. Intense work ethic and exceptional passion for winning is what will define this team."
Home Field: Playground Commons

Now that you have met the GM's, let's dive right into the draft.

Round 1

1) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)-Pablo Sanchez
No big surprise here. Pablo is a five-tool player a perennial number one overall pick. Pablo can do it all, he can field, throw, run, and hit for power and contact. He's not the best pitcher available but if you need him to give you an inning, he can do just that. Another great thing about Pablo is his size. His small stature proves to be a small strike zone that is tough for pitchers to hit. Be careful, because you might just give him a piece of meat. Don't let his size fool you. In the words of Bill Walton, "he may be small but he has the heart of a giant" (can't you just hear Bill Walton saying that in your head?). Not only does he has the heart of a giant, but he has the bat of one. Pablo could very well lead the league in Home Runs, RBI's, and stolen bases. The dude can flat out fly. This is a great pick and he's the type of guy you want to build a franchise around. He certainly is getting paid like a franchise guy- Boehm told me he's agreed to a $113 million contract over 7 years, with $64 mil. guaranteed with the team.

2) The Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)- Curt Schilling
This is an interesting pick and I was honestly a little surprised by it. Curt is a future Hall of Fame pitcher, however I thought he might still be available in the second round, so this might have been a bit of a reach. Regardless, Schill's a great pitcher and will go out and give you 5-6 great innings each day. He's also versatile. He's a much better runner and hitter than Randy Johnson, the other pro pitcher in this draft. He can field well and play another position after he's done pitching for the day. I guess the question is how much do you value pitching? Fitz seems to really value pitching and he got his guy here. This wasn't a bad pick by any means. I'm really interested to see what he does next.

The Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)-Sammy Sosa
Growing up as a kid in Chicago, Sammy Sosa was a must-have for anyone's Backyard Baseball roster. We loved watching him hit home runs and bunny-hop to first base, followed by him pounding his chest with his fist, kissing his fingers and then pointing them up to the sky. Yes, Sammy was a hero then. I won't bring up what happens next and let's just focus on Sammy Sosa 2001. Sosa's a great hitter. He can hit for power and contact, and he can run the bases very well. He's got a cannon for an arm so he can hurt any opponents that dare to tag up and score, when he's manning right field. He's also a quality pitcher if you need him. This is a good pick. However I do think Ken Griffey Jr. is falling lower than he should. Griff will be a steal to whoever gets him, which I could see Benjamin going after him with the next pick. But Sosa's gonna help this team in many ways. Good pick.

4) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Ken Griffey Jr.
Yes, I guess I just did call a pick correctly for the first time in this draft. KGJR is a flat-out beast. He can hit and he's speedy. He's basically Sosa, only a better fielder. He has one less batting skill point than Sosa, which really doesn't make any difference. Griff's got a lot of pop in his bat. I once saw him hit one out of Tin Can Alley (with no Aluminum Power Bat mind you). He's got great character and he's a great leader. He'll be a great captain commanding things in center. Like Sosa, if you need him to contribute as a pitcher, he can come out of relief. However there are better pitching options than the both of them. Nevertheless this is a great pick.

5) The Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Pete Wheeler
CJ told me before the draft that he plans to play Backyard Baseball the way he did as a kid. And that means no pros. Yes, CJ only used the Backyard kids and he refuses to go back on that now. Pete Wheeler is the fastest guy in the league. He can fly. He's also a very good hitter. His speed and athleticism can help teams in more ways than just on the base paths. He can do the little things with his speed. If he's in the infield and someone makes a bad throw over to him, he can run over to pick up the ball and run back to the base before the runner can get there. Pete's gonna help your team win. My one concern with Pete is awareness. Many times Pete will be caught daydreaming in the field and that can make for some costly errors that can hurt a team. If Pete can keep himself focused, he'll be a great pick for this team. Seeing that Pete is the second Backyard kid taken, raises the question of whether or not he is the best BYB kid on the board. I'm not sure. I think an argument could be made for Kiesha Phillips or maybe even Achmed Khan. But Pete's a good pick here.

6) The Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Barry Bonds
Barry isn't quite the monster he was in real life this season. Barry belted a record-breaking 73 home runs during the 2001 season. Why Bonds isn't more of a power hitter in this game is beyond my knowledge. However, he makes up for that as a great contact hitter and base runner. He's exceptionally fast and he can field the ball well. Also not a bad option to use as a pitcher. Don't get me wrong, Bonds will hit some home runs. Barry's a solid player and a good pick in this spot. It will be interesting to see what Grant does with his next pick, as he is drafting back-to-back and the second round will go in reverse order.

Round 2

1) (7 overall) Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Kenny Lofton
It's a good thing that Jeff Kent wasn't ever in a Backyard Sports game and that Grant didn't draft him, as he took Barry Bonds with his last pick. It's clear that Grant is looking to acquire speed, and with Pete Wheeler gone, Kenny Lofton is the next best option. Does the grass even bend when these guys step on it? That's how fast they are. Kenny's a great centerfielder and lead-off hitter. Appears to have some solid pitching ratings too. With Lofton and Bonds, this team is looking strong. Let's see what their next move is.

2) (8 overall) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Kiesha Phillips
Kiesha is the perfect power and speed combination. She hits bombs and runs extremely well for her size. She's not a bad fielder. This is a great pick because CJ got both of the Backyard kids he coveted most (aside from Pablo of course), because no one else has taken a Backyard kid since Pablo went at number one. So CJ's gotta be feeling pretty good about his draft so far and he's probably feeling optimistic about his upcoming picks too.

3) (9 overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Achmed Khan
The first non-Pablo Backyard kid taken by a commissioner other than CJ. CJ was not pleased to hear of this pick, dropping an "f*** you" on Benjamin for ruining his plans to have Achmed catching and Amir pitching. This is a good pick for Eric and I can see why CJ would be disappointed. Achmed's got a lot of pop on that bat and he's not slow either. Achmed's a great addition to any team and a good catcher. Another good pick here.

4) (10 overall) The Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Frank Thomas
Something that has always been a mystery to me is how Frank Thomas has a full ten-ball rating on his player card for pitching, and how he has a better pitching rating than hitting one. I'm not going to lie, I just looked up to see if he ever pitched in high school or anything and didn't find anything. Maybe the game makers thought it would be fun to give a couple pros talents that we were unaware of. Anyway, The Big Hurt is a great addition to any team. He's a great pitcher and hitter. He isn't very fast and he's an average fielder. He will knock in a lot of runs for your team while shutting down your opponents on the mound. Good pick here. These managers know what they're doing.

5) (11 Overall) The Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)- Derek Jeter
Yes, Fitz is going with the captain Derek Jeter with his second round pick. DJ is a great pick here. Jeter's got a lot of speed and is one of the best fielders you can find. Jeter is also a high character guy and a great leader. He's got the intangibles. No doubt he will lead your team when he's playing shortstop. Not only that, but he is a great addition to your top of your lineup. Jeter will likely lead your team in batting average and OBP. He gets on base and he's perfect for Coach Fitzgerald's system.

6) (12 Overall) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)- Mark McGwire
Big Mac is probably the best power hitter out there. He hits monstrous home runs. But it's tough with Macdaddy. Because if he doesn't hit a home run, he will likely strikeout. And if he puts the ball in play and it isn't a home run, then there's a good chance he'll get thrown out at first. He doesn't any speed. Mac's a good fielder and not a bad pitcher. Boehm told me he lives for the long ball and that the "chicks dig the long ball." He wants to play a risky game and he lives by the motto "go big or go home." So Mark makes sense for Boehm. Not a bad pick by any means. As I said before, these GMs know what they're doing.

Round 3

1) (13 Overall) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)- Chipper Jones
Chipper's got a good bat and he's gonna help your team win. He also has a great attitude and brings a lot to a team. Decent speed and a great glove. Good all-around player that knows how to win. 

2) (14 Overall) Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)- Carlos Beltran
Fitz took Derek Jeter with his last pick, and now he's taking Carlos Beltran. Beltran's kind of similar to Jeter in this game. They have the same batting stance, both are good hitters, runners and fielders. However Jeter is a shortstop and Beltran is a centerfielder. Jeter's OBP is gonna be higher. Beltran's not a bad pick here.

3) (15 Overall) Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Jose Canseco
No Way Jose is a good power and speed combination who can also chip in and pitch. I think Canseco was hoping that Boehm would reunite The Bash Brothers and bring him to the Little 500 All-Stars so he can play with Mark McGwire. But Canseco will be fine playing along with Sosa and Frank Thomas... a lineup with a lot of power. In addition to playing baseball, Jose also told me he is working on a book in his free time. I like this team's lineup so far, a lot of firepower. Will they continue to load up on power hitters or go out and try to get more speed and base runners? We'll see.

4) (16 Overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Randy Johnson
We knew it was only a matter of time before The Big Unit would be selected. Randy's a great pick here. He's the best pitcher in all of BYB and he can shut teams down. His Arizona Diamondbacks won the World Series this season. So he knows how to win and he's in his best form here. His weakness is that he won't get on base a whole lot. But that's not such a bad thing, because then he won't tire himself out running around the bases and he can save it for the mound, where he will be throwing some junk. Randy's a good building block for this team.

5) (17 Overall) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Luanne Lui
CJ REALLY wanted Luanne. I think this is the biggest reach we've seen in this draft. I understand what he's trying to do, drafting a team of only Backyard kids and trying to get his pitcher now, as well as another speedster. But I think he could have waited at least another round or two to get Luanne. If I was in this spot and I was getting my pitcher now, I would have gone with Angela Delvecchio. Angela is as good a pitcher, if not better and she's a great hitter. I guess Luanne is more versatile and she can play second base for you too. While I wouldn't have drafted the same way here, I don't want you to think that I think lowly of Luanne. I had Luanne written down as a late round sleeper/steal. But if he had Luanne at the top of his draft board he made the right choice in not gambling and hoping that she'll be around later. His lineup has a lot of speed. Like a lot. Pete Wheeler, Kiesha and Luanne? Man they're gonna burn you on the base paths. Curious as to what he does next.

6) (18 Overall) Orange Wombats-Vladimir Guerrero
Vlad is a bit of a sleeper. I think he might be a little overlooked because of the other flashier stars. But Vlad's got some game. He can hit for power or contact, and he runs the bases very well. Also a great outfielder and can play infield for you as well. Also doesn't have bad pitching ratings. He's got a great arm from the outfield and he has a knack for throwing runners out at home plate. Solid pick.


Round 4

1) (19 Overall) Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Nomar Garciaparra
Nomar is very versatile. He can hit, field, he's fast and he's a good pitcher too. It was only a matter of time before he'd be off the board. I like this pick. Wondering if or when Grant is planning to draft some backyard kids and non-pros, but he's building up a good-looking squad so far.

2) (20 Overall) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Angela Delvecchio
This is the second time where I've said that maybe CJ should have gone with someone else with a pick and then he's gone and nabbed them in the following round. CJ knows what he's doing. He's drafting very well. Very well-rounded team. With Angela and Luanne he has two great pitching options that can do more than pitch. Angela's a great hitter. I recently watched her hit three home runs in a game. One was using an aluminum power bat, but still. The one thing Angela lacks is a good glove. But she won't have to make too many plays when she's on the hill.

3) (21 Overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Cal Ripken Jr.
Benjamin was amazed that Cal Ripken Jr., the iron man, was still on the board in the fourth round. Cal's never gonna miss a game. He is Mr. Durability. You can count on him day in and day out, and you can count on him in the clutch. He's another great fielder with a bat and good speed. I'm liking this team.

4) (22 Overall) Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Mike Piazza
Piazza's a good player. And he hits a fair amount of home runs. But this team already has three big power hitters in Thomas, Sosa and Canseco. I was thinking it was time Tommy to get himself some more speed and base runners. Otherwise he'll be hitting a lot of solo home runs and striking out a lot. Piazza's a good player and a good bat but I don't know if he's a good fit or a good pick at this spot for this team.

5) (23 Overall) Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)- Alex Rodriguez
A-Rod would have been a perfect pick for Tommy. Instead he goes to Fitz, who is looking to build a team made of speed. I like this pick. Bringing A-Rod and Jeter together won a World Series. It could work to this team's advantage here as well. A-Rod can hit field and run. He's got great fielding range. Watching him and Jeter together will be a lot of fun for us fans at home.

6) (24 Overall) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)- Stephanie Morgan
I like this pick here. Stephanie isn't the best at one particular thing. But she's a good all-around player that can play wherever you need her to. She's a great fielder and she's very versatile. Great at shortstop, catcher or centerfield or wherever else she's needed. She has a great attitude and has great passion for the game. No other backyard kid loves baseball as much as she does. She's a hard worker and a good leader. She'll definitely do a good job bringing this team together and being the glue that holds them together. Because of her tough work ethic, she could develop into an even better player. She has a lot of potential and she could get even better over the course of the season. I really like this pick for Boehm's team.

Round 5

1) (25 Overall) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)- Juan Gonzalez

I think Juan-Gone is a little underrated. He's a great hitter, he's got decent wheels and he's a great fielder. He's basically a poor man's Sammy Sosa, and I think there are a couple other of these models still available in this draft. Gonzalez is a very good player and a great pick-up for this team. 

2) (26 Overall) Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)- Jeff Bagwell

I figured it was only a matter of time for Will to take Bags, being an avid Houston Astros fan. Bags is a perfect first baseman for any team. And also, props to him for playing baseball the way it should be played. Yes, Bags wears eye black, something I did very often when I played little league. Bags will be a great fit for this team, and I know Fitz will love managing him. Bags also hits very well and has alright speed. Good pick.

3) (27 Overall) Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Barry Larkin

Barry's a good option and good pick here. One of the last shortstops left on the board. He's a good hitter, he's fast, and he's one of the best fielders around. Good pick here. 

4) (28 Overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Jocinda Smith

CJ accused Eric of employing the "screw CJ" strategy after he made this pick. Jocinda's a good hitter, but I think she's a little overhyped. CJ also said he thinks her ratings lie, and I think there is some value to that statement. She's a solid fielder and a solid hitter, but not a whole lot more than that.

5) (29 Overall) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Mikey Thomas
Mikey's all bat. He's a good hitter but not a great runner. Not a bad option here though. He's a good fielder and he has a very strong arm. My biggest concern with him though is the fact that he's always sick, and if I'm CJ I have to take precautionary to keep him from infecting the whole team. But Mikey's a decent player and this isn't a bad pick.

6) (30 Overall) Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Annie Frazier
I'm not crazy about Annie either. Annie has good ratings but whenever I have her on my team, she seems to fail me. Maybe I don't know how to manage her, or maybe she's not as good as her ratings suggest. But I like that Grant is finally drafting a backyard kid. That will create some diversity and a better blend of talents. But I think he could have gone with someone better here. Where is Tony Delvecchio? And why hasn't he been taken yet? This isn't a bad pick, however I am skeptical.

Round 6

1) (31 Overall) Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Sally Dobbs
Sally Dobbs is a great all-around player. She can do a lot of things. She excels in all areas. She might be a little annoying to coach though. She's very bossy and she likes to take charge. If she can channel that mother in her and use it as a leader and be encouraging to her teammates- instead of nagging them and acting like a know-it-all- she will help this team big time.

2) (32 Overall) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Dante Robinson
I like Dante Robinson. There's something about the guy that just makes me laugh. He's a funny guy and I like his attitude. He's a good fielder and he's incredibly fast. If you're an opposing pitcher and he gets on first, you have to be scared because he could quickly steal second and third. Good fit for this team that has a lot of speed and is now looking for fielding. Stretch also isn't a bad hitter. Not a bad bad to have at the bottom of the order. He might be a little underrated in that regard and he also has potential to improve. I like this pick a lot.

3) (33 Overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Jason Giambi
Jason Giambi is more versatile than you might expect. He's obviously a good hitter and he can play first base very well, but he's actually a pretty good pitcher. Not a bad option for this team. Good late round pickup. The only thing Benjamin has to worry about with Giambi is if he leaves in free agency, and then having to replace him. If this does happen? Does Benjamin follow the Moneyball model? Who knows.

4) (34 Overall) Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Shawn Green
Shawn Green is another good versatile late round pickup. He can hit, he's fast and he can even pitch a little. Tommy still has yet to draft a backyard kid. How will the team chemistry be with a team full of pros? Can they put their egos to the side and play together? We'll see. It would be good for Tommy to pick up at least one or two backyard kids in the final three rounds.

5) (35 Overall) Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)-  Tony Gwynn
I like Tony Gwynn a lot. He's such a great contact hitter, and he should be in anyone's top three in their batting order, because he gets on base. He also has the clutch gene. He will knock in runs and get on base when you need him to at the end of games. He can also be the first to start a late rally. Great pick here, and I'm a little surprised Tony fell this far.

6/1) (36-37 Overall) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)- The Webber Twins
With back-to-back picks, Boehm decided to draft the Webbers together. And how could you not? When paired together, the sisters are a nasty combination. Ashley's a good hitter and Sidney's a great pitcher. These are great value picks here. When the two are on the same team, their ratings drastically increase. They simply play very well together. They are good for team chemistry. Unlike a lot of sets of twins, these two don't seem to fight very often. One Webber is this round's pick and the other is Boehm's next round pick (he has the first pick of the next round). I wouldn't normally put one pick from another round in a separate round but I had to. How are you going to separate the Webber twins? I'm glad he didn't take just one of them. He did the right thing in drafting both and I had to include them together. Anyway, I love this pick.

Round 7

2) (38 Overall) Kingston Bunt Smokers- Ivan Rodriguez
Pudge is a good option here. He's a good hitter and isn't too slow for a catcher. He can even pitch for you in relief. He's also a Gold Glove catcher, so he can obviously field and throw runners out that dare to steal on him. Good pick.

3) (39 Overall) Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Kenny Kawaguchi
Don't let the fact that Kenny is in a wheelchair deceive you. Kenny is a decent player. While he isn't the best by any means, he's a good pitcher and he's got good speed. Even better, Tommy is drafting his first backyard kid, a good sign. I'm still scratching my head as to why Tony Delvecchio still hasn't been taken yet. Maybe the GMs know something about him that I don't. But Kenny's not a bad late round pickup.

4) (40 Overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall is a very athletic catcher. He's got very good speed, which is good for a catcher to have, especially in the BYBL. Something I've believe is how important speed is to have in Backyard Baseball. Having a fast catcher certainly is a good thing. Jason's not going to hit a lot of homers but he will get on base pretty often. I like this pick, good value in the seventh round.

5) (41) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)-Dmitri Petrovic
When CJ picked Dmitri, Eric commented on the move, saying "Kid can't play but he'll raise the team GPA." Yes, Dmitri is a smart kid. Probably the smartest in the league. Dmitri is an absolute beast in Backyard Football, dominating on O and D-line and nailing every field goal attempt he's given. Some might say this isn't his sport. But Dmitri can hold his weight in baseball. He's a good hitter and a surprisingly better runner than you would think. He's not a great fielder. CJ is picking him to play catcher, which isn't a bad spot for him to be. Another good late round pickup.

6) (42 Overall) Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Larry Walker
I love this pick. Larry might be the most underrated player in the game. Whenever I watch him play he never fails to impress me. He has a knack for getting on base each game. He's faster than you expect. He's a great outfielder. He'll also clear the bases for you. He hits homers and will always knock runners in. This is a great pick. I expect him to fall, but maybe not this far. Larry's a great addition to any team.

Round 8

1) (43 Overall) Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Raul Mondesi
Raul Mondesi is another great value pick. I always looked at him as another underrated player. He's another guy I thought would fall, but I didn't think he would fall this far. A guy with great power and speed in the eighth round? Are you kidding me?! He's a no-brainer here. Adding him and Larry Walker with Grant's last two picks will make this already good lineup, better. Raul's kind of like a poor man's Sosa. I would always draft him when I would be playing a pick-up game and he would nearly always deliver. I love this pick and he's a great fit for this team.

2) (44 Overall) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Amir Khan
I was expecting that Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars' GM Eric Benjamin was hoping to grab Amir in the later rounds after already picking up his big brother Achmed. Much like the Webber twins, when paired together the two play great. Benjamin commented on the pick saying, "the carpool situation for those parents is going to be heinous." Moments later him and CJ broke in to trade talks, with CJ hoping to acquire Achmed. Benjamin proposed a deal of Achmed for Pete Wheeler, which CJ laughed off and declined without any hesitation. We'll see if they are able to get a deal done but as of right now, they seem to be very far from it. As for the pick itself, I think Amir is another late round gem. CJ plans to use him in the closer role which will be perfect for him. He's got a lot of pitching. Amir also has some pop on that bat. Amir's a good pick also considering his age. He's one of the younger kids out there and given time and experience he could develop into one of the better hitters in this league.

3) (45 Overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Mo Vaughn
Mo Vaughn is a big kid. He's another pro I expected to slide. But he's not a bad pick, especially in the eighth round. He can hit, he can field, and he can even pitch. He has average speed. Mo Vaughn's another good late round pickup. However, I think this lineup could use a little more speed. Good player, but maybe not the best fit. But if you're drafting in terms of best talent available, he's right up there.

4) (46 Overall) Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Tony Delvecchio
Tony Delvecchio is the stud. Basically he's just the coolest kid ever. Is he the absolute best player? No, but he's not bad. Tony is definitely my favorite of the backyard kids and I am happy that he got drafted. I wonder how he feels about being picked four rounds after his little sister. Ouch. But in all honesty, Angela is one heck of a player. Tony's not bad and he did fall a little further than I thought he would. This is a good pick. He's a good hitter and he's got a great arm. Also glad to see Tommy going with another backyard kid here. Tony will help this team win, and inspire his teammates with his swagger.

5) (47 Overall) Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)- Alex Gonzalez
Well, Fitz is sticking to his formula of only drafting pros. With only three pros left before making his pick, this could be the last round for him to do that. Keep in mind that this isn't the same Alex Gonzalez that screwed up a potential inning-ending double play in the Bartman Game for the Cubs, a play that would have likely put them in the World Series (*sigh*). This Alex Gonzalez is better. He's a good fielder and he's got good speed. As I've been saying, speed is very important and I think any time you can pick someone up that's fast and has some other skills this late in the draft, it's not a bad pick.

6) (48 Overall) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)- Marty Cordova
Marty Cordova isn't the first pro you're going to pick. He's one you'll often forget. But he's sneaky good. He's a better hitter than you expect. He's got solid speed and he's a good pitcher too. This is a great pickup at this point in the draft and he will help your team win.

Round 9

1) (49 Overall) Little 500 All-Stars (Connor Boehm)- Jeromy Burnitz

I had a feeling after the Cordova pick that Boehm would finish his draft off with the last two pros available. Not a bad pick.

2) (50 Overall) Kingston Bunt Smokers (Will Fitzgerald)- Ernie Steele

As much as this kid used to annoy me with his bad jokes, he's not bad. He's a great fielder. He will have some web gems for your team that will be shown on Backyard Baseball Tonight. This is a good value pick. While Fitz was probably hoping another pro would be available here so that he could have an all-pro team, this might have been a blessing in disguise. Having a backyard kid will help balance things out, and Ernie might have some tricks he can teach the pros.

3) (51 Overall) Grand Salamis (Tommy Mantice)- Ronny Dobbs

Ronny Dobbs is another kid that annoyed me. While he's no superstar, he's not a bad pickup in the last round of the draft. It's a good thing he's not on the same team as his sister. He plays better without her. Ronny's one of the younger kids in this draft. Give him a couple years and he could really develop in to a better player. One plus to having him on your team is that he has a very small strike zone, and he will draw walks and get on base, especially late in games when a pitcher is fatigued.

4) (52 Overall) Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (Eric Benjamin)- Marky Dubois

I think Benjamin might have been making this pick to have some fun, as he referenced the song "Good Vibrations" by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch shortly after making the pick. I don't think Marky's that good of a player. He's not a bad fielder, but he's not much more than that.

5) (53 Overall) Crazy Fishes (CJ Revis)- Vicki Kawaguchi

CJ had been eyeing Vicki Kawaguchi for a long time. I knew he wanted her. Getting her in the last round is great value. Not only can she field exceptionally well, but she's also incredibly fast. While she's not a very strong hitter, she can lay down some bunts and get on base. She also shows good plate discipline, and can work the count. 

6) (54 Overall) Orange Wombats (Grant Smith)- Jorge Garcia
How fitting that the "Mr. Irrelevant" in this draft is Jorge Garcia. Jorge is one of the most boring people you will meet. There's not a lot of excitement in his life. He's not a very good player. He has improved his hitting a little bit since 1997, but he hasn't shown great baseball skills. He's a very smart kid, but I honestly don't know a lot about his baseball knowledge. On one hand, he could be a stat guy. He could know every little ounce of information about everyone. He could help his team find the right matchups, whether it be righty-lefty or whatever. He could almost be a solid assistant coach. But on the other hand, he might not know much about baseball at all, and "bat boy" may be a more fitting title for him. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he's a stat guy and good assistant. There's not much else Grant could do with this pick, so I wouldn't say that it was a waste.

And with that, the draft is complete. 54 players have now found there new teams, and are excited for another summer of baseball. However, 7 other kids weren't so lucky, and went undrafted and will not be playing baseball this summer. Who are they? Here's the seven other kids that didn't get picked:

Billy Jean Blackwood
Lisa Crocket
Kimmy Eckman
Gretchen Hassellhoff
Ricky Johnson
Maria Luna
Reese Worthington


So now the ball is in your court, America. The draft is complete, and let's take a final look at the final rosters. Cast your vote on the here. Simply vote and like the fan page for this blog and vote for the owner you believe has the best team.The owner with the most votes is the champion of the Backyard Baseball 2001 Draft. Here are the final rosters:

Little 500 All-Stars (managed by Connor Boehm)
Home field: Tin Can Alley
1) Pablo Sanchez
2) Mark McGwire
3) Chipper Jones
4) Stephanie Morgan
5) Juan Gonzalez
6) Ashley Webber
7) Sidney Webber
8) Marty Cordova
9) Jeromy Burnitz

Kingston Bunt Smokers (managed by Will Fitzgerald)
Home field: Dirt Yards
1) Curt Schilling
2) Derek Jeter
3) Carlos Beltran
4) Alex Rodriguez
5) Jeff Bagwell
6) Tony Gwynn
7) Ivan Rodriguez
8) Alex Gonzalez
9) Ernie Steele

Grand Salamis (managed by Tommy Mantice)
Home field: Steele Stadium
1) Sammy Sosa
2) Frank Thomas
3) Jose Canseco
4) Mike Piazza
5) Barry Larkin
6) Shawn Green
7) Kenny Kawaguchi
8) Tony Delvecchio 
9) Ronny Dobbs

"I said I was going to play small ball, but I lied. I went into this wonderful draft knowing that my team was going to be a bunch of cheaters. I know people will be mad at me, but I look at this as a strategy. The most electrifying and exciting era of baseball was played during our young lives and I say embrace it. 
The steroids era revived the game that we know and love. It brought lovable characters like Sammy and Mark, it brought the most homeruns of any era, it brought unbelievable pitchers like Clemends and Pettite and made baseball as exciting as NFL games on Sunday afternoons. 

The team that I have drafted is filled with strength and power. Speed, I believe is overrated, especially in the steroid era. My plan was to get a few guys who could get on, but most could hit the ball a country mile. Frank Thomas is a huge help cause he can hit and is arguably the best pitcher in the league. Sammy was an easy first round choice, cause he was my hero growing up. I also had to pick the kid in the wheel char, because I had never picked him before.
My lineup may look different than most, but I think it works better than lineups used today. My strategy is to use two or three guys who could get on base, then slam a two or three-run homerun. I try to avoid the solo homers as much as possible. Kenny is leading off, because he may be our fastest player."

-Tommy Mantice, Owner of The Grand Salamis

Vinnie the Gooch's All-Stars (managed by Eric Benjamin)
Home field: Cement Gardens
1) Ken Griffey Jr.
2) Achmed Khan
3) Randy Johnson
4) Cal Ripken Jr.
5) Jocinda Smith
6) Jason Giambi
7) Jason Kendall

8) Mo Vaughn

9) Marky Dubois

Crazy Fishes (managed by CJ Revis)
Home field: Sandy Flats
1) Pete Wheeler
2) Kiesha Phillips
3) Luanne Lui
4) Angela Delvecchio
5) Mikey Thomas
6) Dante Robinson
7) Dmitri Petrovic

8) Amir Khan

9) Vicki Kawaguchi

"My team is full of experienced backyard sports players. They know how to get it done. We have the best team chemistry in the league."
-CJ Revis, owner of The Crazy Fishes

Orange Wombats (managed by Grant Smith)
Home field: Playground Commons
1) Barry Bonds
2) Kenny Lofton
3) Vladimir Guerrero
4) Nomar Garciaparra
5) Annie Frazier
6) Sally Dobbs
7) Larry Walker

8) Raul Mondesi

                                                         9) Jorge Garcia