Get Flash !	WITH ARCHIVES
	March 19, 2001
	All aboard, mateys, the Good Ship Ace is about to set sail (Anyone starts singing the Love Boat theme is getting their butt thrown overboard!). This week's column is devoted to yours truly reviewing each teams' haul in this past week's World Famous C.R.A.B.S. Free Agent Draft. Lest anyone objects, let's drop anchor and begin, starting with the top 5 drafts according to that World Famous Free Agent Draft Reviewer. Uh, that would be me. DAVIS YANKEES- Well, lordy be, I told the world a few weeks back that this team needed Johnny Damon. Lo and behold, who did they get? Ichiro Suzuki. Oh yeah, they got Damon, too, but WOW! What a haul! Damon and Suzuki will light this baby's fire any day of the week! It doesn't stop there, sailors, as the Yank's added Ken Caminiti to provide some power off the bench. ADDRESSED NEEDS: A+ TALENT: A IMPACT: A+ FUTURE: A The future was addressed with 2B Marcus Giles and OF Alex Escobar, two blue-chip prospects. The punch they sorely needed, some future bats, Oh boy! There'll be some pillaging done in Davis this year! (Maybe they'll even escape the cellar!). Far and away, 2001's best Free Agent Draft litter. GRADE: A LAS VEGAS- Some might scoff at this pick, but those bucco's are probably littered with scurvy. If you've been reading my column- and if you haven't, what the hell's wrong with you?- you'll know that this team is my pick as the next (first?) C.R.A.B.S. dynasty. I know, I know, they finished dead last in 2000, but this team is loaded with exceptional talent at every position. ADDRESSED NEEDS: B+ TALENT: B+ IMPACT: A- FUTURE: D I believe the key is their bullpen. So what do the Ray's do? They draft Kaz Sasaki AND Jeff Shaw- the top two closers in the draft. Who else did they get? Who cares? Needs addressed. Massive period. This draft sends Las Vegas back to the post-season, mark my words. GRADE: B- OAKLAND- After barely missing the playoffs last year, the Athletic's needed a little retooling. Namely catcher, thirdbase, and a decent designated hitter/third outfielder. The catcher part they got down nicely with young buck Ben Petrick, who should slide right into the starting role. Rico Brogna and David McCarty were the best they could dig up at DH (Irrelevant if Adam Piatt lives up to his press clippings), but at thirdbase they got zilch. Nada. Nothing. SP Jon Garland and OF Peter Bergeron were nice future talent pickups. ADDRESSED NEEDS: C TALENT: B IMPACT: C+ FUTURE: B+ The rotation was slightly overhauled with the additions of Steve Trachsel and Albie Lopez. I was a little disappointed they didn't make a harder run at Phil Nevin for the hot corner, but they filled most of their holes with capable talent. A trade for a thirdbaseman would help, though. GRADE: B- SCOTTSDALE- With Albert Belle having retired to the front office (Media Relations Director), the Hawkeye's needed to fill some BIG shoes quickly. Enter Todd Hollandsworth and Alex Ochoa. Not Albert Belle- Hell, not even Derek Bell!- but lacking a real shot at Johnny Damon, it was the best they could hope for. ADDRESSED NEEDS: B TALENT: B IMPACT: D+ FUTURE: A- The positional players drafted are of the marginal- albeit versatile- variety, but the pitching staff may have been helped with the (re-)additions of former Hawkeye's Paul Wilson and Kip Wells. Watch out for 20 year old C.C. Sabathia. He could probably be called the best pitcher in Scottsdale's history right now. Not saying much, I know, but trust me on this one. GRADE: B- MAINE- After last year's Free Agent Draft booty propelled them into the World Series, anything but a repeat this year would be a disappointment. Take heart, all you Crustacean fans, there's no Hampton or Hernandez, but it wasn't too bad. The rotation got the finishing touches on the overhaul started last year, with Cal Eldred, Chris Holt, and Paul Abbott coming aboard. ADDRESSED NEEDS: B- TALENT: B- IMPACT: C+ FUTURE: B+ At shortstop, Melvin Mora and Damian Jackson should prove serviceable, but the two prospects could be dynamite. Shortstop Antonio Perez will solve the shortstop problem in time, and should provide a spark at the top of the lineup. The jewel, though, was SP Jon Rauch. He could eventually break into the Maddux-Big Unit-Pedro Holy Trinity as one of the league's standout pitchers. A nice little draft. GRADE: B- That's all the room I'm allotted this week, gang. Come back Friday, and I'll review the other five teams' drafts- including one stinkeroo! Until then, bucs, Aces everyone….