I'm in seven leagues, and rather than root for and against the entire player pool, I tried to create as much overlap as possible. As a result, I have Giancarlo Stanton in five, Justin Morneau and Bryce Harper in four and many other players in three and two leagues. Because the players on whom I went big aren't doing too well, most of my teams aren't either. Knowing then what I know now, I would have done a few things differently.
Keep in mind with the benefit of hindsight, there's no reason to take Miguel Cabrera or Mike Trout in the first round - I can win without them - and besides, I never had a top-three pick anyway. Let's assume I had 1.5 like I did in a couple places (and originally took Stanton).
1.5 Paul Goldschmidt - yeah I shocked the world, and I know you think I should have gone Matt Kemp.
2.10 Chris Davis - I don't even need a first baseman here, but why not fill the CI slot early? Sorry, not interested in scrubs like Josh Hamilton.
3.5 Jean Segura - Sure he would have been available 15 rounds later, but I wanted to secure my shortstop slot, and who cares what you think anyway?
4.10 Domonic Brown - love post-hype sleepers and need to start filling my OF. You think my team's a joke? Your team's a joke.
5.5 Starling Marte - OF is getting awfully thin. Need to get a second one. Yeah, you're a genius for taking Matt Cain here.
6.10 Josh Donaldson - Locking down solid corners is key in this game. Yes, I know he doesn't qualify at catcher anymore.
7.5 Michael Cuddyer - Need more OF, and besides, dude will be gold in Coors Field.
8.10 David Ortiz - so what if he's injured. Dude will be fine in May, and plus need a UT filler.
9.5 Matt Carpenter - was neglecting 2B, can't believe he lasted this long.
10.10 Everth Cabrera - could win regular PT, and plus I need SB.
11.5 Bartolo Colon - Need a staff ace, and there's no weight limit in this league, right?
12.10 Shelby Miller - Dude is a big-time prospect.
13.5 Clay Buchholz - it's obvious he has another level in him.
14.10 Travis Wood - Theo wouldn't have traded for this guy unless he knew something
15.5 Hisashi Iwakuma - I need a dominant No. 5 starter.
16.10 Patrick Corbin - have a feeling he'll make the leap.
17.5 Jason Castro - Need a catcher who can rake.
18.10 John Lackey - love Red Sox starters this year except for Lester.
19.5 Edward Mujica - Mitchell Boggs blows, and no way Motte comes back.
20.10 Kevin Gregg - he'll find a job somewhere.
21.5 Even Gattis - He has no chance to play, but I'll draft him for the story.
22.10 Yasiel Puig - Mike Trout meets Vlad Guerrero - decent 4th OF.
23.5 Nate McLouth - need a few extra bags, plus he was good five years ago
The merits of this team are:
(1) There is a 100 percent chance it would be in first place by a prohibitive margin in all my leagues;
(2) I could have made side bets up to the very limits of what my leaguemates could afford; and
(3) This would have happened after I got destroyed by every reader, colleague, competitor and troll on the entire internet.
Who's laughing now, b|STAR||STAR||STAR||STAR||STAR||STAR|?
Sadly, this is just a fantasy. My actual teams are worse than usual, a risk I took when I went all-in on Stanton.