- DRAFT TOURNAMENT POWER RANKINGS -
Written by: Duck Martinez
It's that time of the year again — the 3rd official ETSL Draft Tournament!!! One of the most exciting events that we host and this year promises to be no different. We have star-studded players, seasoned veterans, and even some fresh new faces. The captains are well-balanced, ensuring a more fair and thrilling tourney ahead. Action kicks off at Legacy Park at 1pm on Saturday July 27th! We will be playing all the preliminary games and playoff games there on both diamonds before we head down to Reesor (Cedar Grove Park) for the finals. I have been itching to talk about something so let's have a look at how my rankings look ahead of the big day.
- Hit Em Up (Team Shawn) - Coming off back-to-back tournament chips and and routinely outsmarting the other captains for better picks or trades...this team looks like the one to beat once again. They boast one of the better defenses and have a balanced offense. They have a mix of line drive hitters and players who can cash them in. Captain Shawn, who is also the starting pitcher for back-to-back Tier 1 champions, will bring a significant advantage to his team by having pitched to most of the guys in this draft. Now, add in the fact that the count starts off 1-1...the Masai of ETSL Draft Tournies is looking to do some damage once again. 'We keep on comin, while we runnin for yo jewels, steady gunnin, keep on bustin at them fools, you know the rules'.
Offense - A-
Defense - A
Speed - B-
Experience - A-
Best Pick - Aaron Ramcharan
- EH BUDS (Team Cory) - At number 2, we have Big Mac's team. This team has a lot of weapons including boasting a ton of homerun power which could be the difference in low-scoring games. Cory had to give up some draft capital for the number 1 pick but with the way Oso is playing, it could be well worth it. In terms of experience, this team might be at the top of the rankings — they know what it takes to win and they will not be intimidated by the moment. Defense could be better but with P pitching at Legacy where he made a living there...they should be plenty fine. However, the only downfall with that much experience is that their legs might take a hit during a long tournament. The Commish has done an incredible job condensing the schedule and so they should be fine for the most part. Prashanth's pitching and IQ will certainly help the infield defence but we shall see if the guys will make the plays around him. Nonetheless this team definitely has what it takes to go all the way!
Offense: A
Defense: B-
Speed: B-
Experience: A
Best Pick - Neil Douglas
- Not Like Us (Team Kish) - At number 3, we have Team Kish. This team has some big names but with big names comes big expectations. They look solid on the defensive side. While their offense might not match up to the top teams, it's softball — if players come through and get on base then this team can definitely compete with the best of them. Shay and Diluxan can cover lots of ground at the big Legacy Park and they can run for days which will help them on the basepaths. Kish and Haran have had some big years on that field offensively and so it will be familiar territory for them and they will be counted on heavily in this tournament. George is one of the best pitchers in ETSL and so they got all the pieces necesary to take this down.
Offense: B
Defense: A-
Speed: B-
Experience: B+
Best Pick - Shanthan Rajah
- (Team Steve) - Coming in at number 4, we have Steve and the crew. This team looks elite on the defensive side with defensive anchors Ryan, Hamza, Jonny and Bahee. Looks like Steves strategy was just to shutdown the opposing hitters with his first 3 picks. Their offense could use some work however. They'll have to rely on their heavy hitters to deliver, or it could be a long day for them. Captain Steve will have to shoulder alot of that offensive pressure but he is more than capable on that field. It is always good to build drafts with defence as the priority and I think Steve hit that out fo the park. If the bats start clicking then anything can happen and they will be a force in the tourney. Roshan is the wildcard as he is coming off injury but if he can be a legit power threat on Saturday then look out for this squad.
Offense: B-
Defense: A
Speed: B
Experience: B
Best Pick: Roshan Jeyakumar
- Rebels (Team Nesan) - At number 5, we have Team Nesan. It was difficult to rank this team at this spot given the talent on the squad, but every team is pretty close from 3-6. If runners can get on base for the three-headed monsters — Stevie, Neil, and KLO — this team will battle it out with anyone. Speed might be an issue, but if they're hitting it out of the park...then obviously that won't matter (unless they get maxed out). Thannojh, Niru and Kajen will track balls in the outfield and Nesan is a crafty pitcher. All in all, this team has the experience and veterans needed to lead them to a deep run.
Offense: B-
Defense: B-
Speed: C
Experience: A
Best Pick - Niru Murugathas
- (Team Derek) - Last but not least, we have Team Derek at number 6. This team looks like Derek threw a bunch of darts at a board and went with whatever stuck. Didn't care about where guys would be selected generally...how well they hit...or what position they played (heck, he even picked a pitcher when he is a goddamn pitcher himself). Good thing there is a mercy rule lol. Although ranked last, this team has speed and can play small ball. When some of the power teams max out on home runs, this team is set up to try and chip away using their speed and line drive hitting. They may lack the experience that some of the other teams have, but perhaps the fountain of youth can help them in a long tournament. Worst case they get to go home early on a Saturday afternoon.
Offense: B-
Defense: B-
Speed: A
Experience: C
Best pick: Michael Manansala
