MLB 2005 Draft

Alright Boys and Girls, here is the day we have all been waiting for, the draft for my XBOX 2005 MLB Baseball Draft. I will of course be playing as the Yankees. This year I hope to construct a solid team that will take me to new heights. Here we go with the Draft:

(1st pick, 1st Overall) Alex Rodriquez, 3B- I know the conventional wisdom says Pujols, but to give you an indication of this draft, Pujols went 9th to the Mets. He is the ultimate 5-Tool player. He can play SS or 3B and will give me a dominant player. It also allows me to see who develops and plays better, Reyes or Figgins.

(2nd Pick) Joe Mauer, C- He is a solid pick. Power hitting catcher who plays great defense. Very happy to get him this early and very satisfied with investing in him long term.

(3rd Pick) Roy Halladay, SP- Cy Young Candidate every single year. Heavy fastball, and a multitude of breaking pitches makes this SP one of the best in the game.

(4th Pick) Ted Lilly, SP- I decided to go with Lilly here because he is a lefty and he was best available pitcher on the market. A solid off-speed guy who is on the upswing in the game.

(5th Pick) A.J. Burnett, SP- A fireballer who doesn't yet have injury issues in the game. He has over-powering stuff and is very inexpensive. I am very pleased with this pick.

(6th Pick) Rocco Baldelli, CF- This was before he got severely sick and injured. He is a lightning bolt in this game. He has speed and power and fields extremely well. It shows why people compared him to Joe Dimaggio when he came up.

(7th Pick) Matt Holliday, LF- Now he hasn't excelled yet like he does in real life. A very under the radar pick and player in the game. He will hit for solid average and massive power. He will "continue to blossom into one of the best players in the game" according to the scouting report.

(8th Pick) Brandon Webb, SP- I am very surprised he was available. But I took him knowing that he is young in the game and will continue to develop his Cy Young ability.

(9th Pick) Jason Giambi, 1B- I needed a first baseman with some power and it was either Giambi or JT Snow. Snow plays better defense but Giambi will hit many more home runs. Interesting thing here, he actually is the exact player he is currently. Terrible average with pretty good power. Also, I will look to find a solid defender later in this draft.

(10th Pick) Chone Figgins, 2B- Speed and contact make this 2nd basemen a steal.

(11th Pick) Jose Reyes, SS- In a later version of the game Reyes will be gone way higher in the draft. But in this game he is young but still has great speed and surprisingly strong power, especially to right field, which is good for Yankee Stadium.

(12th Pick) Daniel Cabrera, SP- Can't beat this power pitcher. He has a great fastball and nice curveball. And the best part, you can be the one who harnesses his control, making his dominant.

(13th Pick) Julio Franco, 1B/DH- Some might question this pick, but after his first game I got rewarded big time. He went 3/5, 4 RBI's, and 2 Homers. He makes great contact especially to the opposite field. He plays solid defense and will give me great flexibility in the field.

(14th Pick) Chase Utley, 2B- A good backup to Figgins. He is like Reyes as well; would be good in later versions of the game. But he will become a strong player and I can move Figgins to the outfield.

(15th Pick) Grady Sizemore, OF- Needed to complete the outfield and got this young speedy outfielder. Not great with the power or contact but he will develop. Gives me a sturdy defensive presence as well.

(16th Pick) Danny Haren, SP- Another player like Holliday, so undervalued in this game. Strong breaking stuff but not too much power in his arm. A satisfying pick but I am not thrilled with his lack of velocity on the fastball.

(17th Pick) Damaso Marte, RP- Needed to compile some relievers. He is a strong arm and a lefty. Thank god he was available.

(18th Pick) Ryan Howard, 1B- Considered a Top 100 Prospect (According to Baseball America, a nice addition to the game). He will develop nicely, even if he has to spend some time finding his stroke in Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre.

(19th Pick) Xavier Nady, OF- A good backup who provides some power. He will definitely be a late inning defensive replacement.

(20th Pick)Steve Karsay, RP- I am making him the closer. He throws 96 MPH in this game and has good breaking stuff. Love the fact that his career hasn't taken a nose dive in the game yet.

(21st Pick) Randy Choate, RP- Classic example of being a video game pitcher. He has filthy slurves and curves and a decent fastball that keeps hitters off balance.

(22nd Pick) Brandon Phillips, 2B- Solid backup for Figgins, Utley, and Rodriguez. He can play every infield spot and hit for decent average in the event of a long-term injury.

(23rd Pick) Dionner Navarro, C- Best available catcher left...I will probably trade for John Flaherty for nostalgia.

(24th Pick) Brandon League, RP- Throws 97 MPH and has a good curve for a side-armer. Will eventually serve as closer in future years.

(25th Pick) Jose Capellan, RP- This guy throws 101 MPH. You got to take a guy with that kind of power with the last pick. Superior set-up guy.


Players I want to trade for:

(1) John Flaherty, C- I want him because he is actually surprisingly good in the game. He sprays the ball to all fields and will be a very suitable replacement for Mauer on off days. Furthermore, he very well excel in the DH spot if need be.

(2) Mark Wohlers, RP- Power arm. Brings solid heat and I want to give his career a rebirth in this game. I want all fireballers in the pen, aside from Choate. If I acquire him for a Triple-A player then I would have Capellan, Karsay, Marte, and Wohlers in the pen.