I went into the auction with a fairly simple strategy, while setting salary limits so that I could make sure I didn’t neglect anything.

The simple strategy was not to spend more than $16 between my two catchers, first base, third base and corner infielder.  All of those positions were thinned out by top tier players being kept and I did not want to overpay for who was left.  There really wasn’t a lot of a performance basement between what ended up being a $20 first baseman and a $3 first baseman, which confirmed my pre-draft thoughts.

I strategized that the depth of elite players at the middle infield and outfield spots would keep the prices reasonable, so that is where I wanted to spend a bulk of my money.  Early in the draft prices there were very reasonable, first time around the table Brandon Phillips went for $23 – I wish I would have gone a buck more – and Justin Upton went for $40.  I have never rostered two $40 players before, but Upton in my mind was clearly the best player available in the draft and I was very surprised and happy when the bidding stalled after I said forty.