by J.J. Cooper
March 16, 2006

DREAM DRAFT

BA staffers try their hand at team-building

Round-By-Round Round 1 Round 6 Round 2 Round 7 Round 3 Round 8 Round 4 Round 9 Round 5 Round 10

Teams J.J. Cooper John Manuel Aaron Fitt Chris Kline Alan Schwarz Will Lingo Will Kimmey Alan Matthews Matt Meyers Jim Callis

By The Numbers

Vote For Your Favorite Draft

Pick	Player, Position, Organization (Age as of April 1, 2006)
1.	Albert Pujols, 1b, Cardinals (26)
2.	B.J. Upton, ss, Devil Rays (21)
3.	Ben Sheets, rhp, Brewers (27)
4.	Miguel Tejada, ss, Orioles (29)
5.	Brian McCann, c, Braves (22)
6.	Ryan Howard, 1b, Phillies (26)
7.	Chris Young, of, Diamondbacks (22)
8.	Hank Blalock, 3b, Rangers (25)
9.	Joel Guzman, of, Dodgers (21)
10.	A.J. Burnett, rhp, Blue Jays (29)

My Philosophy: I wanted a team that would be competitive throughout the span we were targeting. Along with that, I preferred position players, as there seems to be a lot more certainty among young hitters than young pitchers.

My Draft: It worked out relatively well. I wanted players who will still be in their primes in 2011, and the core of my team will still be young then.

Best Draft: Will Lingo's team is the closest thing to a sure bet to me, with a number of young stars who are pretty sure bets to produce and only a couple of fliers.

Worst Draft: No horrible teams in my view, but I think Jim Callis' team has a lot of high-risk, high reward guys.

Best Pick: C.C. Sabathia is a No. 1 starter who is still only 25. To get him in the eighth round was a coup for John Manuel.

Worst Pick: Chris Volstad. Taking a high school pitcher who has yet to pitch in full-season ball seems like a high-risk, low-reward pick, as at best he'll be a contributor in 2008.

He Wasn't Taken?: Chris Carpenter hasn't had many great seasons, but it's hard to believe the National League Cy Young winner went unpicked.

That Hurt: I really wanted Michael Young or Victor Martinez in the fourth round, but both were taken.