Mail Bag

Noah from Flagstaff, Arizona writes....

I am in a 12-team 5 x 5 league and the draft is this Sunday. I have the 3rd overall pick. Who do you suggest I take. I assume that A-rod won't be available but anyone else is fair game. We start 2C, 1b, 2b, 3b, ss, mi, ci, 4 of and a flex spot. We also start 6 SP and 3 RP.

Noah,

It is safe to assume that ARod is taken first or second. It is also safe to assume that either Hanley or Reyes goes second overall. Your decision would then be between a number of players. Despite the solid spring, I advise against Pujols. With the pick you have, you might as well stay safe from any potential injury. While injuries can occur at anytime, there have been rumors of Pujols needing potential surgery. I think Hanley is in for a dropoff in power this year. Without Cabrera around, I see him hovering around the 100-105 mark in runs.

I think the two best picks would be David Wright or Chase Utley. Both provide 5 category help and neither leaves you reaching to take certain players because you are lacking in a certain area.

Utley and Wright both provide great averages. Wright's AVG has gone up consistently over the last 3 years. Wright will knock in more RBI as Utley seems to get about 103 - 105 every year. Wright will have more SB as well. Wright could steal 30 while Utley seems to have a ceiling of 20. They both provide the same amount of runs scored and homeruns.

If you want the best 5 category player that will help you in all aspects of the game, choose Wright. If you want a similar 5 category player and value position scarcity more, then go with Utley. Both of them are surrounded by 2 other first rounders in Reyes and Beltran and Howard and Rollins. Their lineups support them well.

Hanley and Reyes leave your team holes to fill.