Fantasy Baseball 2012: 15-Team Mock Simulation with Slot No. 8

Here's the first dry run of draft expectations when holding the No. 8 slot in 15-team mixed roto leagues, specifically working off the Average Draft Position report from our friends at Mock Draft Central.

With a draft this deep and 15 slots between every pick, my initial plan calls for waiting on shortstops before landing Dee Gordon and Zack Cozart in the latter rounds.

For the sake of brevity, we'll stop at Round 19: 

Round 1, Pick No. 8 Overall: Motive—Best Overall Player

1st option: 1B Joey Votto, Reds
2nd option: 2B Robinson Cano, Yankees
3rd option: 1B Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox 

Round 2, Pick No. 23 Overall: Motive—High-end Middle Infielder or Outfielder

1st option: 2B Ian Kinsler, Rangers
2nd option: OF Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
3rd option: OF Andrew McCutchen, Pirates 

Round 3, Pick No. 38 Overall: Motive—Best Starting Pitcher or Outfielder

1st option: SP Zack Greinke, Brewers
2nd option: OF Hunter Pence, Phillies
3rd option: SS Elvis Andrus, Rangers 

Round 4, Pick No. 53 Overall: Motive—Best Corner Infielder or Starting Pitcher

1st option: 3B Brett Lawrie, Blue Jays
2nd option: 1B Eric Hosmer, Royals
3rd option: SP Matt Cain, Giants 

Round 5, Pick No. 68 Overall: Motive—Best Starting Pitcher or Power-Hitting Infielder

1st option: SP Ian Kennedy, Diamondbacks
2nd option: 2B Rickie Weeks, Brewers
3rd option: 3B Aramis Ramirez, Brewers (might have been 1st if third base was a priority) 

Round 6, Pick No. 83 Overall: Motive—Best Outfielder or Starting Pitcher Available

1st option: OF Brett Gardner, Yankees
2nd option: SP Ricky Romero, Blue Jays
3rd option: 1B/OF Mike Morse, Nationals

 

Round 7, Pick No. 98 Overall: Motive—Best Outfielder or Starting Pitcher

1st option: OF Jason Heyward, Braves
2nd option: OF Cameron Maybin, Padres
3rd option: SP Michael Pineda, Yankees

 

Round 8, Pick No. 113 Overall: Motive—Best Player Available

1st option: 1B Freddie Freeman, Braves
2nd option: SP Jeremy Hellickson, Rays
3rd option: OF Chris Young, Diamondbacks

 

Round 9, Pick No. 128 Overall: Motive—Best High-End Middle Infielder

1st option: SS Dee Gordon, Dodgers
2nd option: 2B Dustin Ackley, Mariners
3rd option: SP Cory Luebke, Padres

Round 10, Pick No. 143 Overall: Motive—Best Starting Pitcher or Middle Infielder

1st option: SP Max Scherzer, Tigers
2nd option: SP Ubaldo Jimenez, Indians
3rd option: 2B Jemile Weeks, Athletics

 

Round 11, Pick No. 158 Overall: Motive—Best High-End Closer or Outfielder

1st option: RP Andrew Bailey, Red Sox
2nd option: OF Austin Jackson, Tigers
3rd option: RP Carlos Marmol, Cubs

 

Round 12, Pick No. 173 Overall: Motive—Best Starting Pitcher or Corner Infielder

1st option: SP Brandon Morrow, Blue Jays
2nd option: 1B Ike Davis, Mets
3rd option: SP Hiroki Kuroda, Yankees

 

Round 13, Pick No. 188 Overall: Motive—Best Closer or High-End Infielder

1st option: RP Huston Street, Rockies
2nd option: 2B/3B Ryan Roberts, Diamondbacks
3rd option: OF Josh Willingham, Twins

 

Round 14, Pick No 203 Overall: Motive—Best Corner Infielder or Catcher

1st option: 1B/OF Brandon Belt, Giants
2nd option: C Wilson Ramos, Nationals
3rd option: 1B Kendrys Morales, Angels

 

Round 15, Pick No. 218 Overall: Motive—Best Outfielder or Corner Infielder

1st option: OF Lorenzo Cain, Royals
2nd option: 3B Mike Moustakas, Royals
3rd option: OF Brennan Boesch, Tigers

 

Round 16, Pick No. 233 Overall: Motive—Best Pitcher or Middle Infielder

1st option: SP Vance Worley, Phillies
2nd option: RP Javy Guerra, Dodgers
3rd option: 2B Aaron Hill, Diamondbacks

 

Round 17, Pick No. 248 Overall: Motive—Best Outfielder or Pitcher Available

1st option: OF J.D. Martinez, Astros
2nd option: RP Matt Thornton, White Sox
3rd option: 3B Mat Gamel, Brewers

 

Round 18, Pick No. 263 Overall: Motive—Best Player Available

1st option: SP Chris Sale, White Sox
2nd option: 2B Jose Altuve, Astros
3rd option: OF Jose Tabata, Pirates

 

Round 19, Pick No. 278 Overall: Motive—Best Player Available

1st option: SS Zack Cozart, Reds
2nd option: OF Denard Span, Twins
3rd option: OF Ben Revere, Twins

Jay Clemons can be reached on Twitter, day or night, at @ATL_JayClemons.