Last year.
It doesn't seem like it was that long ago, but then you begin to look back at old draft results.
Here are a few things the collective "we" thought last year:
Carlos Gomez wasn't a sure-fire first-round pick. Bryce Harper was.
Justin Verlander was still an ace. (NFBC ADP: 42.13)
Adam Jones belonged ahead of Giancarlo Stanton, by at least 15 picks.
Dustin Pedroia was a top-30 player.
Felix Hernandez was available approximately 30 picks later than he is now.
You probably wanted Joe Mauer (ADP: 60.42) over Jose Abreu (83.12)!
Everth Cabrera could bring you just as much value as Elvis Andrus (58.76), but he was available 30 picks later.
Anthony Rizzo was a great fallback option at first base (ADP: 100.26) if you were snaked on Abreu.
The following players did not crack the Top 200 in ADP:
- Anthony Rendon
- Michael Brantley
- Corey Kluber
- Corey Dickerson
- Charlie Blackmon
- Devin Mesoraco
- Tyson Ross
- Kolten Wong
The player pool changes quickly, and for further illustration, check out this 2014 Fantasy 411 Slow Mock compared this one that was completed over the past couple of weeks. (The latter is a 12-teamer, while the former was a 15-teamer, but the overall positioning of players is interesting to look back at nonetheless.)
If nothing else, it's humbling reminder #3,341 that player projection is a difficult business, and that we as fantasy players still have a very long way to go in our ability to master the player pool in any given year.
Tuesday's Barometer
Rising
Joey Votto fully participated in Tuesday's team drills. Physically, he seems to be fine. Mentally, he suggested that he's still working toward the point of not thinking about the quad injury that slowed him throughout 2014.
Manny Machado has reported to Orioles camp without restrictions this spring.
Salvador Perez is in line to have a reduced workload. On the surface, this seems bad, but he faded in the second half (including a 170-point drop in OPS) and has been overworked by manager Ned Yost to the tune of 288 regular season games played over the past two seasons.
Carlos Beltran has been throwing from 150 feet, and he expects to be ready to play the outfield when the regular season begins.
Shane Victorino and Allen Craig are full-go for Wednesday's workout.
Brandon Moss ran sprints and participated in agility drills Monday.
Josmil Pinto is in the mix to back up Kurt Suzuki for the Twins. Pinto can hit (.828 OPS at Triple-A last year) and should be considered a viable endgame option for leagues that require two catchers.
Carlos Quentin will receive work at first base during spring training. Barring a trade to the American League, it may be his only path to playing time.
Angel Pagan is 100 percent healthy following September back surgery.
Falling
Adam Wainwright is flying back to St. Louis to be examined for abdominal soreness. There's no timetable for his return to Florida, but more details will surface after his visit with a specialist Thursday.
Lucas Duda received a cortisone shot due to an oblique injury, and he's been unable to take swings for the past couple of weeks.
Etc.
Zack Greinke threw a 23-pitch bullpen session Tuesday without any discomfort. As a reminder, the lubricating injection he received for his elbow over the weekend was routine maintenance.
Trevor May will not immediately be moved to the bullpen if he fails to win the Twins' fifth starter job this spring. Alex Meyer is a candidate to shift roles and remain with the big club as a reliever if he doesn't break camp as a starter.
Daniel Norris will begin the year in the rotation at Triple-A Buffalo if he fails to win the No. 5 starter spot.
James Paxton is on schedule to resume full throwing workouts next week after he hurt both of his wrists during a fall in agility drills recently.
Trevor Cahill is throwing from a new arm slot this spring.
Joba Chamberlain returned to the Tigers on a one-year deal Tuesday.