Rockem Sockem

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

The same feeling SPD had when finding his red folder on the draft room table after thinking he left in the taxi.

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed? 



Probably Felix Bautista. Wanted him and didnt’ have to reach. Maybe Christian Walker. Might have reached there.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

Bird’s. Impressed he has a somewhat competitive team.

4) How much does the commish like music?

As much as Billy Squire likes to Stroke!

5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

Ricks Cabaret! They’ve been sponsoring the draft for at least 15 years!

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

Many….many….wonderful meals. Ees a Boat sushi will never be topped….perhaps not for the food…….but it did feel like something special was starting with a great group of friends. 2nd place for “Experience” would probably be Jeff buying me and everyone in Key West Wendy’s.

The last 2 dinners were solid and probably the best food wise.

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

You’re getting old???

Commish Take:

Bull comfortably ate for free last year and from the size of him he looks like he comfortably ate a lot last year….Hey-O! With this beer gut commish is the last person who should be making fat jokes, but that is how we start off the preview! So it goes…

Thanks for supplying the beer on draft day Bull (my back still hurts from carrying the cases down stairs). Along with the brews you had a clear plan and that was, don’t screw it up and just take Ohtani…Honestly, if Ohtani goes 50/50 again we can just give Bull the title, he just might be a one man Rockem championship. I don’t think he quite gets there, but with Duran, Walker, and Bregman in Boston he might not need a ton from Shohei on offense and if Marte has another amazing year living up tio this draft spot, Bull should be all set on O.

His arms are solid as well even if Ohtani doesn’t pitch. Cease Sasaki Kirby are a pretty sick top three and his bullpen may just be the best in the league with Bautista Pressly and Estevez if he ends up closing full time. Hmm, looks like Bull may be picking out where we all pay for his eats…

Prediction: Top Third. Scary how good Othani is and Bull gets both kinds of Ohtani, Country and Western.

Commish’s Take:

Is Fatty still in the league? Haven’t seen him in a while and his team was playing managerless since I think August…but hey maybe he is just trying a new technique to finally get over the Rockem hump. A complete hands off approach…

I keeed, I am glad he could join us on the video chat and wish we were all closer. As for this team though…woof could use some coaching up! Witt Jr. over Judge was a small surprise as Fatty went for more well rounded and on the offense he will need Wiit to be MVP because there isn’t a whole lot there. Machado, Reynolds, Cowser, Suzuki, Arraez, Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the lucky 13th?!? Woof. Fatty needs Mike Trout to think it is 2012 again for him to have much of a chance…

HOWEVER! Fatty surprised everyone and went Pitcher heavy, did this work out? Results inconclusive, check back later…Wheeler is as solid as SP come, Snell can be dynamic and Framber is the real deal. A pen of just Diaz and Foley? Hmm, and a back end of Woo,Baz Berrios? Donny needs the stars to shine big time…

Prediction: Bottom Third…all that said, think it will be dark times in Dogzilla land…

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

On a scale of I asked ChatGPT - This is a very savvy, upside-laden team that will be dangerous if the rookies deliver and pitching health holds. You may need to monitor the waiver wire for steady SP depth and keep an eye on the infield power, but the flexibility and upside are fantastic. If you like to manage actively, this team is a great foundation to win with.

Want me to suggest some early trade targets or waiver wire stashes to patch a couple of those holes?

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed?

I clearly thought pick 1/2 was going Otani/Judge so I had already penciled in Witt. I guess I was stoked about getting Judge, but only because I thought it was a no brainer for Fatty. Punting on SP was a risk but getting Schwellenbach as my first SP in 11th felt good. Clase in the 5th was early but started an early closer run and disrupted some draft strategies.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

Vig - only 4 Yankees in the first 12 rounds. I think that's a record. Must mean he knows something. Also we made a side bet. Mostly trying to jinx him.

4) How much does the commish like music?

According to his LinkedIn he's been writing music reviews for over 20 years. I don't think he gets paid for that, so must really like music.

5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

I've been lobbying for AZ spring training for years. Cactus league here we come!

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

I'll start working on my questions for next year's draft today.

Commish’s Take:

No team is golden this year and as I said mid draft, I got no idea about Moon’s squad. It seems all over the map. Let’s look at P first.

Going closers first may have been a slight coup as Mike went pitch pitch, Birdies sheet favored P’s and Fatone fell in love with arms for the first time ever…Clase, Miller and err maybe Hendriks will be pretty strong on the back end and even waiting for starters he made out OK. I wouldn’t toss a top three of Castillo, Schwellenbach and Lugo out of bed…Unless we weren’t having an orgy, then beat it. Wait, poor choice of words. I think overall his arms are fairly legit in a bizarre way.

On the O side, Power shouldn’t be an issue with the Incredible Hulk, err Judge, Vinnie Badabing Pastquatch and Eugenio. He shows some speed with Turner and Crews while the most exciting part of Moon’s team is his young OF stars with Churo and Langford. If those two put it all together this could be a very very tough squad…jesus christ did I just talk myself into liking Moon’s team?!?!

Prediction: Top third… I guess I did. Weird.

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

On a scale of best MLB names to use on the Immaculate Grid with Rusty Kunz being 1 and Urban Shocker being 10, I think my draft was a solid Lil' Stoner

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed? 



“Stoked” is really not the word for either of these guys but I think both Paredes and Clay Holmes are good value for where I got them. One I didn't love but I guess is fine is George Springer. I was taking Wallner there when Eben grabbed him. I didn't have a backup plan there and there had to be a better pick.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

Taking a deeper look at the draft results I'm pretty certain that everyone's team is garbage. This might be the first year that there is a 12 way tie for last place. Eben has a shot at figuring out how to finish in 13th, though.

4) How much does the commish like music?

- Boy, does the Commish love music! How much? So much that he even likes a band called the Hold Steady and bamboozled several unsuspecting friends into seeing them live! Some more than once.

- How much does the Commish love music?! The Commish loves music so much that one time he was listening to the twelfth straight hour of a Dead Europe '72 show (a span of three songs) and got so distracted that he misplaced his favorite pen in the cold cuts!

- This Commish…lemme tell ya', this guy really likes music. He likes music so much that he is still friends with Eben despite the fact that he unironically listens to the Counting Crows, The Spin Doctors, and Eric Carmen.

- The Commish likes music so much it is rumored that he saw the Doobie Brothers live. On purpose.

- You know how much The Commish likes music? When he tells someone he wants to blow their flugelhorn, it's not a euphemism!

- The Commish likes music so much that he has written about it for over 20 years despite being unpaid and a functional illiterate

5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

Arizona spring training is a good idea. I don't think I need to be in Houston for any reason. I think NOLA is a swell idea. Let's do that.

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

The dinner we have at next year's draft in New Orleans

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

They say we're young and we don't know,
we won't find out until we grow.
Well, I don't know if all that's true,
'cause you got me, and baby, I got you.

Babe,
I got you babe,
I got you babe.

They say our love won't pay the rent,
before it's earnt, our money's all been spent.
I guess that's so, we don't have a pot,
but at least I'm sure of all the things we got.

Babe,
I got you babe,
I got you babe.

I got flowers in the spring,
I got you to wear my ring.
And when I'm sad, you're a clown,
and if I get scared, you're always around.

So don't let them say your hair's too long,
'cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong.
Then put your little hand in mine
there ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb.

Babe,
I got you babe,
I got you babe.

I got you to hold my hand,
I got you to understand.
I got you to walk with me,
I got you to talk with me.
I got you to kiss goodnight,
I got you to hold me tight.
I got you, I won't let go,
I got you to love me so.

I got you babe!

I got you babe …

The Gatorade is still green.

Commish’s Take:

Tommy Boy had the 4th pick and he went fairly safe. Jose Ramierz, maybe he didn’t want to put his bad baseball juju of recent years on Juan Soto…admirable as a Mets fan. JRam is as reliable as they come, the rest of his squad? Not so much…Like Tom in in general…

Which Olsen will he get? 50 bombs from two years ago or a barely top 100 player last year. Is this Oneil’s time to shine or will he bat .187 and strike out a thousand times? Can Hunter Greene finally pull it all together? Is Jordan Romano really a top closer? Who knows is the answer to all of these? Not me…

To be honest, I was stretching the theme a little bit up there because outside of those players, his team is pretty together, if a touch underwhelming with the likes of Santandar, Webb, Garcia, Springer and Paredes. As usual I think some of Tom's risks pay off, some crap the bed and some are inbetween…what does that add up to?

Prediction: Middle third. I think the middle feels about right with this squad.

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

Same as it ever was…only this time it was a little different. I spent draft day with a head full of cold medication staring at Tom on a 13-inch computer screen for 8 hours. This was gracious of Tom. I wouldn’t want to spend a day repeating picks that shouldn’t be spoken the first time. But the thing is, while David Byrne was right about a lot, he didn’t know everything. He never warned: “And you may find yourself with norovirus; staring at an Irish guy on a computer; on the other side of the world; And you may say to yourself: “MY GOD, what have I done?”

The last time I was hit that hard by anything, I wasn’t staring at Tom on a screen; I was standing next to him at Madison Square Garden, and so was covid. So while this draft was different, on a broader level it was the same as it ever was. Forget David Byrne. To experience actual once in a lifetime challenges, go see Tom.

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed? 


Like the Mets, I can't win without Pete Alonso (and like the Mets, I've tried). Meanwhile, that Jazz Chisholm pick gives me the blues.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

Moon and BK both stole a lot of my picks. Moon always does that. But the arrival of BK into this particular fray surprised me, and I'm still mad I didn't take Brenton Doyle one round earlier. Doyle is a big reason BK is going to come in second place this year.

4) How much does the commish like music?

Beyond writing probably 2 million words related to music, the Commish was still sending compact discs to introduce us to new bands even ten years after the iPod was ubiquitous. That's love for music.

5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

Ski house. We haven't done a ski house in nearly two decades, and skiing is declining even faster than baseball. So this is the opportune time.

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

Minetta Tavern

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

See you at Ski House 2026…and thank you, for everything.

Commish Take:

Don’t you just love Wilson’s drafting style? Defaulting to Yanks, Mets, Nats, and O’s, whoever is on the cover of the fantasy mag Jeff tossed in the pool. Hell, it worked in LA so why the hell not try it every year? Soto, Jazz, Polar Bear, before dipping to DC for James Woods. Staying local might have done his team some good as that is pretty solid.

If the draft was only four rounds I would be high as a kite on Neezer’s team, unfortunately things didn’t go so hot the next 20. Sure, I like Yamamoto and Nola on his hill, but is a broken Kenley, a drunk Finnigan (I am assuming with that name) and the lead singer from Coldplay really the way you want to stock your pen? Joining his top two starters are of course more NYC, Rodon and Sengai. Those could actually turn out OK.

What won’t turn out OK? The rest of his offense. Roberts, Yellich, Gleyber Torres and Colt Keith? Hmm…Maybe some late grabs like Winn and Wallner help out, but unless there is a Subway series on the backs of Soto and Jazz I think Wilson is in for a long season.

Prediction: Bottom Third. Here’s hoping I am wrong and Soto is lights out…

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

If I were using the Likert Scale… I would select “disagree”.

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed?

I was stoked about Vientos (that hasn't aged well) and I don't know why I drafted closers.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

St. John's, baby!!! (also didn't age well)

4) How much does the commish like music?

I recuse myself based on an ongoing musical endeavor with the Commish.

5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

Maybe Jay Vig can find a back room at a bar in Houston during Spring Training?

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

2 AM bags of Wendy's in Key West… almost each night.

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

I love you all… but my son thinks you are all c*nts.

Commish Take:

Since I am writing this in draft order as well, I can compare McNally to Wilson, where the Campbell soup looking kid went with what he knows, Donny went adventurous…

My initial sense from Tangled Upton Blue is all or nothing. If De La Cruz is the deal, Ju-Rod keeps it kosher, Swaggy V is the superstar we all want him to be and Crochet is a CY Young winner…woof. All of that is possible, but I am not sure it is likely. After the top three on Offense, he has some dependable, if not super exciting bats (Naylor, Siemen, Perez, Castellanos, Nimmo O’Neil) should be stable. If Arozarena gets it together that could be a great pick. Truly though the offense runs through the up and coming superstars for Don, they deliver and watch out.

On the Pitching front, he backed up Crochet with Burnes, Bibee and Perralta. Very solid. I have buried the lead here though as for the first time ever (not checking if that is accurate) McNally drafted 2 closers!!! Iglesias and Duran are top notch and Yates will def sneak a few SV’s….hmm don’t look now but Don’s team could be sneaky good.

Prediction: Top Third. If it all comes together Donny may win his first title.I think my head just exploded.

SPD:

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

On a scale of how much I like music with 1 being Jefferson Starship “We Built This City” and 10 being Bob Dylan’s “She’s Your Lover Now” I feel my team is “Personality Crisis” by The New York Dolls.

It made this year's draft playlist, is a pretty great tune, but goes on a bit too long and would be better about 40 seconds shorter (like this preview). Could be considered a stone cold classic if the mood is right though.

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed? 



I was shocked in Rockem both deGrom and Spencer Strider were around when I was looking to take starting pitchers, upside is unreal.

One pick I would change, I probably shouldn’t have picked deGrom and Strider as both are huge risks and one probably would have been enough. Say switch deGrom for Yamamoto or Perralta or Kirby instead of Strider.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

Read the preview!

4) How much does the commish like music?

As much as Jay Vig hates Chinese food.

5) Where are we drafting in 2026, Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

I am open to it all. The fact that WBC could work out again feels like a great fit.

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

So many good dinners, but the best food related experience in Rockem is clearly the first fork drop.

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

Yeah, about 17,000 words. Read the preview!

Guest Preview from Jeff Winston:

First and foremost, a brief moment to thank our esteemed Commish. It cannot be said enough – this gift we call Rockem, our Commish is the backbone and driving force behind it all. For two and a half decades! Ponder that for a moment. His enthusiasm for this league, as well as his patience in dealing with all of us, are both seemingly boundless. Hats off.

Rockem Sockem – “Our Commish is better than yours.”

Anyways, seems I’ve been tapped to write the Commish’s team preview. Some might say, he asked me to do his Dirty Work. Luckily, I would never say that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcZRyuiefjE

Things I might say about being tapped for this task…

External monologue (said like McNally, perhaps doing an impression of his mother):

“He’s such a nice Commish, it’s the least I could do.”

Internal monologue:

YARN | I have to deal with that! | Deadwood (2004) - S01E01 ...

First up – bats. Let’s take a look at the Commish’s first few rounds.

Yordan is a milkshake. A beef milkshake.

a group of people are sitting at a table with a man holding a straw in front of them .

Steady Freddie Freeman is about as consistent as it gets these days. Can he still do it at 35? Will he just keep raking for another 15 years? Austin Riley is a beast. Coming off a “down” year, potentially a steal in round 3. Toss in Seager in round four and it feels like the Commish was setting the foundation for another championship year.

AD_4nXeMNw2sylGwdwAMumD2YGOSdbsgYkJtKXnRZ_rY06LFeR4g_HQk3TE6_P9yZ7q2ogsK81E1qvghAMZDCoAqYtEomh2GJfStW79opzf2cYAYIHIOAY5i5GRaMXmtHrSfz1Gq-58CxwtiI0Rd7BO4BUo

(Editor’s note: Shawn made a shocking pick in Round 5. More about that later). My favorite part about the 5th pick is that it seemingly shook the Commish to the core and brought him back from methodical drafting to his old, sexy ways. Freeman and Seager? Great foundational picks, but it kind of feels like watching Shawn shopping for life insurance. But Caminero and Butler in the 6th and 7th? As Mr. Cheeks would say “Dim the lights and turn up the Jodeci.”

a group of men in white suits are dancing together on a stage in a dark room .

Shawn dipped back into pitching in rounds 8 - 11. Very solid 1st six offensive picks, but the second half of his offense would have to filled from the back end (tee-hee) of the draft and those picks are a complete mixed bag.

Some (Hoerner) fit like a warm glove, erm.. bra.

YARN | A bra's gotta fit right up against a person's skin ...

Some (Austin Wells – he’s going to bat leadoff all year, right??) have intriguing upside. And others (Nolan Jones, Robles), well it just feels like we’re filling holes. (editor’s note: We all got holes to fill. Them holes are all that's real.). Poetry aside, it leaves me wondering if there’s enough meat on the bones here offensively to carry the reigning champ to another podium finish. There’s no Shohei here to carry the team, that front four will have to stay healthy all year. Any cracks in that foundation (an analogy I keep beating to death), might have one wondering:

Me: Say something once, why say it again?

Shawn (in June):

a man in a suit and bow tie asks how did i get here

Speaking of great questions, let’s pivot to the pitching side of the equation. Well one thing we can say is that the pen is strong. Shawn was drafting closers like Wilson drafts catchers. Early and often. I count 5 closers / closer handcuffs. Munoz, Tanner Scott, J Martinez, Joyce, and Treinen. Outstanding bullpen. However… There is a famous scientific theorem (now called “Dotel’s Rule”) where A = the number of closers drafted and B = how high a 3 year old can count to before fucking up and having to start over. Dotel’s Rule: If A > B = YOU LOSE.

Rockem Sockem member reading math in a team preview:

a man with curly hair and glasses is making a funny face .

The Commish may dominate saves, but at what cost? Luckily his rotation is rock solid. Right? deGrom, Ober, Strider, Gray, Houck. Right.

deGrom in the fifth round? Nobody saw that one coming. Not even the Commish. If he stays healthy for a year, then some might say that was a good pick.

And some might say that Daryl Hannah is good looking.

Daryl Hannah as Darien Taylor in Wall Street

Editor’s note #1: These people think yellow Gatorade (it’s fucking YELLOW!) is green.

Editor’s note #2: The transitive property therefore tells us that Neil Young loves green Gatorade.

In a vacuum - Ober & (the chronically underrated) Sonny G are a solid to great 2/3 or 2/4. If the stars align and deGrom and Strider stay healthy / deliver the goods, exactly none of my words here matter and Shawn will run away with pitching, and potentially the league.

I just don’t see that happening, but I am also not the one playing with house money.

In summary - What could possibly go wrong…? The Commish loves music, so…

Queue Heartbreak Hotel: https://youtu.be/Kk9A6E1EXjI

Prediction: Bottom third.

And I’m out!

timothy omundson brom garrett gif | WiffleGif

Glove, erm… bra.

Commish Prediction: Bottom Third. Eees A Boat looks great docked on the Westside of Manhattan…

too bad it is sinking this year.

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

My plan was to go Pitch-Pitch (fingers crossed for Skenes-Skubal, but would have been happy with any 2 of Skenes-Skubal-Wheeler) and then go to Hotlanta for as many bats as I possibly could (I would have stayed until Olson, Riley, Acuña, Albies, & Ozuna were all gone. I think all have the capacity to go off in big ways in 2025).

This was an all or nothing kinda year for yours truly. And while I don’t think I got all, I also don’t think I got nothing. So let’s call it a 5 or 6 out of 10 stars draft.
2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed? 



Not sure if you guys watch that there Yellowjackets on Showtime – fantastic show if you were a fan of Lost or if you just like creepy, cannibal, girl soccer team programs – but there is a maniac by the name of Misty Quigley, played by Christina Ricci. She is possibly my favorite character in all of fiction. And she was my spirit animal on draft day.

Misty specializes in what I would characterize as “Dangerous Improvisation” and that’s what guided me during this process. Not everything is going to make sense. Trust your chaos instincts and embrace the perils of impulse.

That notion led me to Cody Bellinger in the 5th round. Very early. Very dangerous. But I was very stoked.

I should have passed on Kevin Gausman in the 10th and loaded up on another, more firmly entrenched, closer. Possibly smarter. More safe.

But, if anything, hopefully my Dangerous Improvisation created some nice opportunities for you fellows in the form of players falling farther than they should have.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

I like Jay Moon’s! Maybe because he snaked me on a bunch of picks?!?! From that far away?!?!?!
4) How much does the commish like music?

Does the Commish like music? First I am hearing of this.
5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

Surprised that “At a $1,600 room with a refrigerator that Shawn finds” wasn’t a pre-loaded option.

But seriously, a wonderful time, with wonderful people, in a WONDERFUL SPACE, the 2025 draft was. I just think that NYC drafts used to be the cheap years to make the travel years more reasonable. But if folks want every year to cost a minimum $190 for the day, that is fine. I would say there still needs to be a way for any of us who can’t swing that to be able to participate in our online fantasy baseball league.

Speaking of travel! While I have your ears! (Or eyes) Here is the other thing we should seriously consider a new perspective on…

We like Airbnb’s now, not hotels. That’s cool. I get it. More time together. More time crashing on couches together. More time cooking and eating together. Has merit. But the notion that everyone pays the same for Airbnb’s is a little off. As a guy who paid for a full weekend and was in Key West for 24 hrs. As a guy who paid for a full weekend and NEVER WENT to Miami. I am sure others have similar stories.

We should think about a shares system. Someone is going for 3 nights? 3 shares. Someone is going for 2 nights? 2 shares. Not going at all? No shares. Divide total cost by total shares, so people pay for the actual time they will be staying at a given property.

Now, of course, if you SAY you are going and then bail, you should still be responsible for your shares! That is why I am unequivocally saying I will not be traveling anywhere next year, I will not be paying anything next year, so don’t let me hold you fellows back from some fun times and great memories in Arizona or Houston. There is no world where I will be able to afford that vacation for myself. And, unfortunately, I won’t be able to help pay for a vacation for all of my friends either.

But thank you for always letting me express myself. Love each and every one of you tremendously. And see you in the Goo Goo doc.

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

I gotta give it up for the Rock’em DRAFT sit-down dinners.

What was the restaurant we all went to in Fort Meyers? Seafood place maybe? I don’t recall what I ordered but I remembered it being special for all of us sitting down together at the beginning of the year vs. the end.

I would also put that first dinner night in The Barn up there for being super intimate and awesome. Post-Covid. Emotions running high. Folks running drunk. Beautiful stuff.

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

I loved this year when Bull called me into the kitchen to make fun of the “air-conditioner” our spot was utilizing – a box fan awkwardly jammed into the kitchen wall – and as we were laughing and ripping on it, that Italian manager lady came in outta nowhere and we both switched gears so seamlessly? Haha. So she had no idea what we were talking about.

Of course, was it actually smooth? Or maybe she was just being nice? Maybe she was just being nice.

Commish Take:

Ahh the old pitch-pitch!! Of course when the league zigs, Mike zags. The one year Rockem waited on pitching Mike grabbed the two top starters off the board. The weird thing is…I am not sure he has the best staff…baseball is so weird.

Sure on the arms Skenes and Skurbal may be all he needs but Gausman was down last year, May and McClanhan are coming back from injuries (EDITOR'S NOTE: SMc is hurt already pre season) and is Gore the real thing? His bullpen is also suspect with a shaky Diaz, but a solid Helsely… Is this staff better than Fatone’s, Bird’s top three, BK‘s staff or even Bull? I am not totally sold…

The first bat off the board is a recovering Acuna? Mike’s plan was certainly different this year, but if Acuna is in form, if Albies is back and if Bellinger and Bichette both smoke some herb and hallucinate themselves as MVP candidates again maybe Mike can make a run. But wow, that was a whole lot of ‘if’s”. As this team stands I don’t think all of them hit the board. Mike goes for all or nothing these days and looking much more probable one way than the other at this point…

Prediction: Bottom Third. Nothin from Nothin is Nothin’.

Ferrari:

About as good as the quality of this video ages ago…

https://youtu.be/1M5D4jR_QGU

Glad to have gotten tucker and harper.

Jeff's team looks solid all around. think he will be in the running by end of year

See Answer 1

Lets do it right for 25 years….somewhere warm

the last dinner was the best, that pork chop was insane! lets go back mid season! Although the lunch of Jager Bombs in Vegas was great too.

While it was a bold strategy to start a new trend of letting someone else draft your team, would have been better in person to see everyone. Good luck all.

Commish Take:

Unfortunately coaching his daughters team in a volleyball tourney forced Birdie to miss the draft. He became the first participant that drafted from a list, and thankfully answered a few texts. If he hadn’t there would be a whole heaping amount of SP’s and C’s on this team, so thanks for checking your phone Ferrari.

It is hard for me to say much here. We went by the list except when we could chat so Birdie jumped on Jackson Holliday early which could be a major surprise. He also has a really strong starting staff with Gilbert, Ragans and Miller, who could all be in the top ten of SP’s when the year ends. Having one real closer in Bednar hurts, but that is where the list gets you as the closer run was so early this year.

One-two of Tucker and Harper give solid offense and if Merrill is the real deal I could see Birdie doing all right with all around contributors. Harris II and Rutschman can put up big numbers. With some managing I think John could possibly make a run….

Prediction: Middle Third. I like this team more the further we get from the draft room….

Winston:

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

On the scale of bottles (3) of brown consumed at the draft - my draft was a Redbreast 12. Thoroughly enjoyable.

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed? 



I did not anticipate Gunnar falling to me. Hoping his early season injury issues do not linger and hoping to enjoy watching him produce daily for the season. Drafting Casas again after having him last year was not a good feeling. I panicked a bit with the lack of 1B. We shall see.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

BK always. Co-mish took some interesting pitching gambles with the house money. If they pay off, he could be repeating easily. I think I like D-Mac’s team too….

4) How much does the commish like music?

He likes it.

Like a fat kid likes cake.

5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

I’ll go anywhere with you all.

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

The last two years the dinners have been insanely good. Hard to top those. I love the arc of relatively humble sushi boat borough beginnings to the lavish dinners of today, with many stops along the way. The history is rich and vivid. Amazing really. What a run.

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

Good luck. It’s a pleasure. Love you all.

Commish Take:

In doing this preview in order I see a lot of similarities between McNally and Winston’s squads. It is not just because they were sitting across from me sloshing Whiskey, discussing train rides from Westchester, and fatherhood…well maybe it is because of that.

I kind of feel though if things fall into place Jeff has a shot, but I think his players ceilings may be a bit lower. Gunnar and Carroll are two of the most exciting players and we all saw Rooker do it proper last year. Are Abrahms and Casas about to take that next step? Does he have enough power? Are King and SHota established as Ace's now? Will Suarez and Fairbanks put up elite closer numbers?

I am not sure, like most teams in Rockem history with this many questions, things rarely all work out…but you never know…

Prediction: Middle Third. With possibility for much more if stars align.

BK:

1) How would you rate your draft (feel free to create your own scale)?

Well, somewhere in the late-mid-rounds, Vig and I took a break outside after the back-snake, where I stated:

“Gotta tell you, I really don't like my team.” The bluntness of which got a legit guffaw out of Jay. So, the drafting was as tasty as the Heineken.

2) One pick you were stoked about, One you should have changed? 



Stoked: Justin Steele in the 13th. A rare case of a player on my pre-draft radar that wound up on the team – and later than I expected.

Changed: Chris Sale in the 6th. Not that he's bad, but so many pitchers fell later; there's a good chance he'll be on the IL as I type; I don't think he'll repeat last year; and…you know…Braves.

3) Whose team are you most impressed with?

Vig: woke up late, came in hot, and charmed the snake.

4) How much does the commish like music?

More than making picks, but possibly less than Stevie Wonder loves driving, apparently.

5) Where are we drafting in 2026? Arizona for Spring Training, Houston for World Baseball Classic, or “At a back room in a bar Jay Vig finds”? (Feel free to go off the board)

WBC

6) Coming off a great dinner in January and some damn good pizza we ordered for this draft, what was your best food experience tied to Rockem?

There's food involved?

When eating free.

7) Anything to say to your competitors?

Much love.

The dock misses its boat.

Commish Take:

Has there been a year I don’t like BK’s team? I am sure there has been but I don’t want to look it up (EDITOR’S NOTE: ). This team looks good, a ton of meat with Vlad, Scwarber Ozuna, great arms in Sale, Glasnow, Ryan and Steele. The only weak spots are SV’s and maybe speed as Lindor and Doyle are going to have to do some heavy lifting in that area.

So let’s shift gears, there was a scene in Severance where Adam Scott, who just may be one of my favorite actors, reminded me so much of BK, so let’s talk about the show. Those not watching can skip, but I won’t give shit away.

First season I was all in, theory, acting, writing, cinematography were all word class. Second season I felt cold. I think things are under-baked, a bit too smart for its own good and (yes Tom I still think this) it spun it’s wheels for too long to get to the ‘real’ plot whatever the hell it actually is. I will definitely give the show the benefit of the doubt, if nothing else it looks absolutely amazing (like BK’s offense) but I am slowing my roll on it a bit. They do a great job of building eerie, looming tension…then rarely do anything with it. That said, this could be my mistake, it was what, 3 years between seasons? I should have done a re-watch. Right when season 2 ended Kel suggested we re-watch the whole thing again. I am going to take a break, but we will soon and maybe I will like it more.

Prediction: Top Third. Where else?

Vig:

1 Draft was for me a B+/A- Aside from one round where I freaked out about 2 idiot prospects I think I gave myself a good shot at free things. Barring injury

2 I wanted Mookie for sure. I was happy with getting some of the younger dudes like manzardo, volpe, cam smith and roman

I should NOT have drafted Roman when I did Or Heston at all I got too excited.

3 everyone looks good but mike and moon look real good

4 Music is his favorite drug

5 I really liked this year's spot! I wish we could have it all night as a place to party at and dip in and out of the city. Not to stay at but just as a hub.

I can always pull strings and get us space at a bar but that's never gonna be “free”. We will almost always have to jostle with other people as well Having said that, upstairs at Failte is always available. He wouldn't charge us and that would be an easy move.

Will Houston be booked up and expensive?

I'd rather go to Puerto Rico or DR or FL to get beach time for perhaps a cheaper rate. Or South America Venezuela

I like the travel years for sure. I know we may not have many left so I'm always down.

6 I love palm year when sonjay actually hooked us up

always love keens

sushi was dope and i kinda miss a full on sushi dinner

I mean, the last 2 were pretty dope I like getting truly taken CARE of! We deserve that shit.

jefffs lasagna was fire too

fuck I can't pick

Commish Take:

Hey there sleepy head!! How were those dreams at 12:15pm on draft day? I hope they were jolly, and you were frolicing with gorgeous naked women!!! (You ever miss the start of the draft again and you are dead to me).

Ahh you woke up? Nice…I can’t mess with that first swing pick from the cab though…Betts and Tatis could be a trophy winning combo (EDITOR’S NOTE: If Betts isn’t currently starring in a remake of Stephan King’s Thinner). Kept the vibe alive with Devers and Fried combo before kicking off our early closer run by grabbing the two best in the biz with Wiliams and Hader. Really loved your squad at that point….

Once Vig fully woke up things got a touch squirrely…Kjersted, Roman, Goldy, not awful, but Vig rode the snake with needs and that could work, I think Volpe was pretty solid, or it could backfire, I think Bogarts was early. Going with really young guys to end may really pay off for JV as Cam Smith and Drake Baldwin both made the big leagues…so there is that. Past years have shown J is on the ball more than most when it comes to hot pick-ups (in ladies and players…zing!) but this team might not need too many…

Prediction: Middle Third. I think some stuff pays off, some doesn’t. Thanks for waking up.

Got no idea with this but here you go….

12. Eben

11. Fatty

10. Mike

9. SPD

8. Vig

7. Bird

6. Tom

5. Winston

4. McNally

3. Bull

2. BK

1. Moon