Team Name: Orphaned Cubs 02 26 55 87 16
Ballpark: Cubs Park
Salary: $119,666,318 (10th, AL West)
Draft Position: 4

Round 1 - 2016
When I drew pick #4, I had assumed 2016 would be gone. I had made up my mind to take either 1945 or 1992. 1945 has 5 very strong players, including 2 SPs. 1992 isn’t quite as strong as 1945, but is easily the best of a very weak Group D. I hadn’t decided which way I was going when my turn came up. I did not expect to have the choice of all three. I almost talked myself out of 2016, but I couldn't pass up getting three SPs (nearly 600 innings) plus two very good hitters. Kyle Hendricks (190 ip, 2.14 erc#), Jake Arrieta (197, 2.40) and Jon Lester (203, 2.41) represent three of the top eight non-deadball pitchers in Cubs history. Anthony Rizzo (.296, .388, .528, A-/A+) is a top 7 first baseman. Kris Bryant (.296, .389, .539, C+/B) is a top 7 third baseman. How did this season not get taken in the top 3? The only downside is that the 1B and 3B positions are very deep in this draft. I’m going to have to pass up some good Ron Santo seasons.

Round 2 - 1902
At the start of the draft, I thought that there might be a chance that 1908 or 1909 might last until my second round pick due to the fact there isn’t much offense from those seasons. 1909 went at pick #2.01 but 1908 lasted until just two picks before my turn…. so close. All along, I wanted a good deadball pitcher in round 2. Since picks 1 and 2 took offensive seasons (1929 & 1930), I thought it likely that they would take a good deadball pitching team. (I was wrong). While I was waiting for my turn, I figured I would end up taking 1918, since this season provided a usable SS (Hollocher) along with Hippo Vaughn and a good short-inning Pete Alexander. But as I dug into things more, Vaughn didn’t fare well in the first Cubs draft. In general, lefty pitchers don’t fare well vs all the Cubs right-handed hitters. So, I flipped from 1918 to 1902. The big prize is Jack Taylor (384 ip, 2.16 erc#). I was planning on taking lefty pitcher Alex Hardy (42 ip, 2.74) but later needed to add a fourth hitter. Jimmy Slagle (.317, .395, .389, C+/A+) will start at CF and is one of my few lefty bats. Davy “Daydream Believer” Jones (.305, .399, .379, C/A) only has 349 PA but is another lefty bat and backup OF. Frank Chance (.290, .405, .403, C/C/C) will platoon at catcher. The fourth hitter I added late is going to be my starting DH and leadoff hitter, switch-hitter Sammy Strang (.298, .398, .396). I am very satisfied with my first two picks… but now comes the long wait for my round 3 pick.

Round 3 – 1955
Here’s the dilemma that I had - I wanted to roster a good Ernie Banks and a good Ryne Sandberg to lock up SS and 2B. I was all set to take 1959 since that season gives me the best Ernie Banks season left and provides some pitching depth. That year made it all the way to one pick before me before pedrocerrano crushed my soul. I should have pivoted to 1989 (Sandberg, Grace, Dw.Smith and some decent RPs) and settled on a weaker Ernie Banks late (1956 didn’t even get drafted). But I panicked and took 1955 in order to get a really good Ernie Banks season (.295, .346, 583, B+/A-). There really isn’t much else. I added 2B Gene Baker (.268, .323, .380, C-/A+) just in case I didn’t get Sandberg. He can’t hit a lick, but his RRF-2B is 6.13. Ted Tappe (67 pa, .260, .413, .527) is a lefty pinch hitter. Bob Rush (248 ip, 2.87 erc#) is certainly usable and will make the rotation as I use one or two of my 2016 SPs as my main setup relievers. Bill Tremel (41, 3.05) has a "Performance Review" sample size of 1 season with a 10.20 ERA in that season. He won’t ever pitch for me.

Round 4 – 1926
Now, I could still have drafted 1985 or 1990 here (for a good Sandberg season) or even 1999 or 2000 (for a good Sosa season). But 1926 was screaming to be taken here. Pete Alexander (211 ip, 2.57 erc#) was one of the only decent SPs left from Group B. Guy Bush (166, 2.91) adds bullpen depth. But just as important, I get a pretty good Hack Wilson (.312, .401, .537, C+/B+). Riggs Stephenson (.328, .399, .454, D/D) may play some OF vs lefties. Gabby Hartnett (.266, .347, .467, C/C/A+) is the other half of my catching platoon. I don’t regret this pick. I regret my 1955 pick.

Round 5 – 1987
I was the last person to take a Group D season, and most of the remaining options mostly suck. It makes me wonder how my roster would have looked like had I taken 1992 with my round 1 pick. Ryne Sandberg (.294, .367, .442, B+/C) is marginally better than Gene Baker although I do like Baker’s A+++ range. Jerry Mumprhey (.333, .400, .534, A/D-) will platoon in RF. He’s my team’s second switch-hitter. Andre Dawson (.287, 328, .568, B/D) had an iconic MVP season in 1987. For those who don’t remember, he was a free agent going into 1987. He had bad knees and nobody wanted to sign him. His preferred destination was the knee-friendly grass of Wrigley Field. He made a unique offer where he gave the Cubs a blank check contract and said fill it in with whatever you want. They paid him a below-market value price of $500K with $150K in incentives. He went on to win the MVP with 49 HRs and 137 RBIs. He is the last NL MVP winner that played for a last place team. The two pitchers, Dickie Noles (65, 3.21) and Steve Trout (76, 3,40) are slotted for mop-up roles.

Overall Comment:
After a really strong start, one drafting mistake will probably cost this team a chance to advance. If I take 1989 in round 3 and 1956 in round 5, this team is way better (i.e., 90+ wins). I have just seven usable pitchers… all starters. I plan on using Arrieta and Hendricks as my top long setup relievers. Guy Bush will be the long reliever that comes in when we’re losing. My team has too much HR power which will get muted vs all the great deadball pitchers. The defense is above average but not excellent. Feels like an 84-85 win team.