The Value per Pick Index (V.P.I.) was developed in 1998 to measure how efficiently each individual draft pick was used. Each selection is evaluated based on pick number, talent available, positional depth, three year statistical averages, 2003 projections, and the trend analysis of the previous five N.J.R.B.L drafts. The V.P.I. does not factor in the quantity of picks a team has or the team needs. It is assumed that a team would move down in the draft to select appropriate value while meeting team needs. A perfect score on the V.P.I. is 1.0.

1. Beagles	(.847)	Walker (7) has potential to be a lower tier saver, limited pop but best 2B available; Weaver (9) was top rated starter in draft, only question is will he get opps every fifth day
2. Monarchs	(.837)	Hernandez (3) was by far the best stick available, 30/100 potential at SS is very rare; Olerud (8) lacks upside but provides predictability; Armas (31) is a nice combination of age, potential, and spring results. Taken a bit early based on his history
3. Bombers	(.818)	Rivera (1) was the best and most productive arm in the draft Ramirez (2) is very young, has near stud potential, with a big year on his resume; Alfonzo (5) should be in an improved situation, lack of corner pop and injuries are concerns
4. PC 1st Cousins	(.803)	Reed (13) is the classic veteran limited arm that every staff can use; Former player loyalty forced Huff (14) a little early, still young enough to like upside; Renteria (15) nice steady performer that could reach saver status, ideal at this spot
5. RH Factor	(.792)	Pop middles like Bellhorn (25) are always nice, utility ability could cost PT; Lieberthal (26) is a catcher that had knee surgery, his best days are behind him; Not crazy about Urbina (27) in Texas or his injury history, still good draft closer
6. Scrubs	(.751)	Isringhausen (28) is in a great situation, only thing that kept him from being saved is recent injury; Lead off little pop guys like Damon (29) are not first round material; Salmon (30) provides solid veteran across the board numbers, just what the doctor ordered
7. Freaks	(.733)	Ibanez (19) is older than you think, but never had opps before, nice sleeper pick; Nixon (20) was a need force that was taken a round early; Williams (21) will not duplicate his career year, veteran first round closers are not the safe value choices people think
8. Notorious Cuz	(.696)	Looking for a little "Lowe" magic with Graves (22), not likely; Erstad (23) has 19 homers in last 1200 abs, that big year is looking like a flash; Batista (24) has holes that are easier to forgive as a middle, all will be forgiven with 40 jacks
9. Swillers	(.667)	Lee (16) needs a scenery change to realize vast potential; Despite his pop, Gibbons (17) has way too many holes for this neighborhood; Sabathia (18) is young enough to be a bad first round pick for the next five years
10. La-z-Boyz	(.652)	Projects like Wilkerson (4) are VPI killers taken this early; Johnson (6) was clearly the top catcher, will he get enough ABs to have an impact?; Mesa (32) had better numbers than performance in 2002, things like that will catch up; Payton (33) is a great pick in the Coors environment, will lose some PT to Kapler
11. Thunderstix	(.576)	Was the international operator named Rocco Baldelli (10)? Is that a drink? Little early for an innings eater like Radke (11) coming off an injury; Jones (12) batting third would be an upside shot here, batting lead off he is just a round early

Mariano Rivera Jose Hernandez Raul Ibanez Jeff Weaver Mark Bellhorn Edgar Renteria Tim Salmon

Brad Wilkerson Rocco "the Babylon Baldie" Baldelli Jay Gibbons CC Sabathia Trot Nixon

Second Round Analysis

1. La-z-Boyz	(.821)	Moss (37) is young with decent numbers; Pop middles like Woodward get extra consideration, projecting on limited ABs is risky; Ol Perez (39) is a very young power pitcher that could be very special
2. Monarchs	(.819)	Higginson (64) is solid veteran #3 hitter due for a bounce back; Kotsay (65) will emerge into a saved outfielder this year
3. Notorious Cuz	(.786)	Post hype Sheets (55) is value if he continues to improve; Castillo (56) needs to go .330/.400 to offset 2/40; Casey (57) looks like a good gamble this late
4. Thunderstix	(.735)	Hall (43) is getting a ton of unwarranted positive press; Jiminez (44) lacks dominance, but 40 saves in Coors is still nice; Dusty likes his veterans, Choi (45) will have to wait just like 3 year old batboys
5. Swillers	(.707)	Gonzalez (49) provides pop, but is a killer in other cats; Old Swillers' free returns home with Barrett (50), team should have moved; Even for a DH only, Burks (51) provides excellent value this late
6. Scrubs	(.701)	Dejean (61) is a closer dejour, not deyear; Lackey (62) is over rated based on playoff success; Mantei (63) is a big risk/big reward type closer
7. RH Factor	(.686)	El Duque (58) is worth a change of scenery bump if he can stay healthy; Je Giambi (59) has solid numbers but is in the middle of the Theo mess; Hoffman (60) was taken too early given his age and injury
8. PC 1st Cousins	(.679)	Kennedy (46) has a nice average and not much else; Marrero (47) could be a short term bargain with ABs; Escobar (48) has the job, but should probably not worry about his pension
9. Beagles	(.662)	Lidle (40) outside of Oakland deserves a downgrade; Vizquel (41) has been a steady draft middle for years, starting to slide Baez (42) has a good live arm, likely to hit bumps in Cleveland
10. Freaks	(.650)	Mondesi (52) is not starting to slide, he is sitting in the sand; Sh Stewart (53) is a three category injury fill in type; Nothing on his resume indicates Tomko (54) will work out, nice scenery change though
11. Bombers	(.631)	Reuter (34) is a slop pitcher off a good year, slop is slop; Ohka (35) has limited upside but is better in NL; Alou (36) will be a steal if healthy, Commish would be skinny if he lost 100 pounds; Penny (66) is still young, but 2002 took away the luster

Olly Perez Mark Kotsay Sean Casey Ellis Burks

Trevor Hoffman Adam Kennedy Raul Mondesi Kirk Reuter

VPI Summary
Top half of the First Round was right on the money for the most part. Think everyone was off the mark in the Second Round, more 2003 help will be added in the Third and Fourth Rounds. Slow year for top young prospects. Teams did well grabbing post hype players late in the draft.

Positional Report
Starting Pitcher (8): Very deep, but somewhat lacking in quality
Relief Pitcher (5): Poor Quality, Tiny top shelf
Firstbase (7): Usually better quality, decent depth
Secondbase (6): Lousy group, no difference top to bottom
Shortstop (8): Some nice pop options, better than usual
Thirdbase (7): After top guys there was nothing
Outfield (8): Lacking top quality, but good depth
Catcher (7): Some upside potential along with usual suspects