Ahh ... the allure ... of the Pujols.
With my fourth pick, I decided to drink the necessary poison of the 1903-22 era by snagging the 1907 team which did have one decent SP to go with three pieces of garbage. However, I then looked ahead with fear.
I have two picks left from 83-02 and 03-22 and there were no less than the possibility of 7 picks in that 03-22 era before it returned to me. And that terrified me as I had one team identified among all the rest, including the 83-02 group, that I wanted more than any: the 2020 Cardinals.
This team will basically provide all my key bullpen pieces. From the left side, set up specialist Tyler Webb with 61 ip and a 161 ERC+ and King Kwang Kim and his 106 IP at 202 ERC+ and the auxiliary numbers to be a closer or a spot starter ... able to go up to 5 innings. Then on the right side, I get 109 IP at 181 ERC+ from Dakota Hudson, who can also pitch up to 5 innings a game, and fireballer Giovanny Gallegos who has elite numbers across the board ... albeit for just 42 innings ... plenty for a closer.
So for the past 24 hours, I've been watching each pick roll by as the allure of the Pujols continued to protect my golden child ... the 2020 Cardinals.
But alas ... I shall not be picking them ... at least not with my fifth pick. No, since everyone after me has already chosen their 03-22 team, I'll be choosing with my fifth pick the 1999 Cardinals (netting me the historic McGwire season to pair with Gibson's 68 dazzler) and then leapfrogging the competition to take the 2020 Cardinals with my sixth and final pick.
Before I sign off I'll add this: After starting this tournament with 2 teams and barely surviving round one and two with one of those two teams, I felt REAL confident after the draft in round 3 ... and went on to make the playoffs. I feel much more confident with this team. You turkeys are going down ... and it's that bullpen that will make the difference.
Thank you Albert.
(mic drop, exit stage left)