Fantasy Baseball 2012: Handling the No. 4 Slot

Beating the mock-draft drum once again, I experimented with the No. 4 slot on Wednesday (12-team mixed roto), in hopes of building a club that's heavy on ERA and strikeouts for pitchers...and full of up-and-coming power and speed at the plate. Can it get a little monotonous doing a mock draft every 36 hours during this crucial time? Absolutely. But there is no substitute for experience.

12-Team Mixed-League Mock Draft (March 7)
Round 1 (No. 4 overall): 3B/OF Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
Rationale: The easiest slot in the draft. Just take whoever remains from Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols, Matt Kemp and Bautista.

Round 2 (No. 21): SS Jose Reyes, Marlins
Rationale: Another no-brainer pick. Reyes currently has ADP value in the teens.

Round 3 (No. 28): SP Jered Weaver, Angels
Rationale: My top-ranked pitcher for 2012, although he'll probably be the fifth hurler off most draft boards.

Round 4 (No. 45): OF Hunter Pence, Phillies
Rationale: A virtual lock for 24 HRs, 94 RBIs, 85 runs, 13 steals and .297 BA. A solid Round 4 investment.

Round 5 (No. 52): SP Matt Cain, Giants
Rationale: The No. 11 starting pitcher on my board...in a hotly contested duel with David Price.

Round 6 (No. 69): 3B Aramis Ramirez, Brewers
Rationale: The 1B/3B slot is sealed shut with a top-10 third baseman at a reasonable price.

Round 7 (No. 76): SP Stephen Strasburg, Nationals
Rationale: The Nationals are understandably taking a conservative tack with Strasburg. That said, his indicators for strikeouts, WHIP and ERA are off the charts.

Round 8 (No. 93): OF Jason Heyward, Braves
Rationale: Heyward gets a relative free pass for enduring the 2011 season with a shoulder injury. Too much upside to ignore.

Round 9: C Joe Mauer, Twins
Rationale: No-brainer pick for Round 9—next!

Round 10: OF Desmond Jennings, Rays
Rationale: I'm having tinges of regret for passing on Chris Young. Jennings is a bold wild card for Round 10.

Round 11: 1B Freddie Freeman, Braves
Rationale: Mark the bulked-up Freeman down for 24 HRs, 74 runs and 86 RBIs—respectable numbers for a Tier III first baseman.

Round 12: SS Dee Gordon, Dodgers
Rationale: Jennings and Gordon should amass 85 combined steals. Gordon is the better contact hitter, though.

Round 13: SP Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays
Rationale: The No. 36 starting pitcher on my board. I'm a sucker for strikeouts.

Round 14: SP Wandy Rodriguez, Astros
Rationale: Rodriguez isn't flashy, or coveted by everyone in fantasyland. But he's still a dependable source for ERA, WHIP and strikeouts.

Round 15: 2B Jason Kipnis, Indians
Rationale: In terms of value and upside, the best second baseman left on the board.

Round 16: RP Carlos Marmol, Cubs
Rationale: The potential for a high ERA and WHIP will always be there...but saves are the real prize.

Round 17: OF Carlos Quentin, Padres
Rationale: A change of scenery probably won't transform Quentin into a .270 hitter. A two-category factor.

Round 18: RP Javy Guerra, Dodgers
Rationale: Guerra possesses a blazing fastball and terrific upside. A sturdy second closer.

Round 19: 1B Justin Smoak, Mariners
Rationale: Smoak has the makeup to be a top-15 force at first base someday. Will a breakout occur this year?

Round 20: OF Austin Jackson, Tigers
Rationale: A-Jax is a cinch for 95 runs and 25 steals in the Tigers' potent lineup.

Round 21: SP Vance Worley, Phillies
Rationale: I'll happily take my No. 59 pitcher in Round 21.

Round 22: SP Homer Bailey, Reds
Rationale: The fastball-toting Bailey has all the indicators of a breakout season at age 25.

Round 23: OF Mike Trout, Tigers
Rationale: I have successfully landed Trout, MLB's No. 1 prospect, in 21-of-21 mock drafts—but seldom in Round 23.

Round 24: OF Jose Tabata, Pirates
Rationale: The ideal power-speed flier pick at this stage. There are not 300 better assets than Tabata in fantasy.

Round 25: RP Matt Thornton, White Sox
Rationale: A third closer to round out the draft. Easy as pie.