So I've got this problem with value.  I'm addicted to it.  What's my favorite place to shop?  Probably Costco.  If there is something I need, I want it in ridiculously large quantities if it means I'm getting a little extra for my dollar.  I use what I immediately need and save the rest for when it is necessary.  I've found a place where this clearly doesn’t work so well: Starbucks.  The reason is very obvious, I have no chance of finishing the best valued item before it gets ‘not so tasty’.  The weird part is that I know this fact as I step in, yet when I look at a menu and see that a Venti is going to cost me only a few cents more for this giant cup, I can't help but think "that's good value, I must have it"...

In fantasy baseball, it can be ridiculously difficult to chase value.  Spending the number one overall pick or a huge chunk of your budget on Albert Pujols only to see another guy in your league use his waiver on Ryan Braun and ride him to the top of the standings can make you question the meaning of life…

So just to make everyone feel even more pissed than they already are – here’s the All-Value Team a.k.a. a bunch of guys I passed up to take some underachieving bastard.

Position - Player	ADP*	Runs	HR	RBI	Steals	BA
C – Russell Martin	170	60	12	68	18	.296
1B – Prince Fielder	86	76	33	84	0	.287
2B – Brandon Phillips	94	72	21	65	21	.278
3B – Ryan Braun	CU	52	21	54	10	.346
SS – Edgar Renteria	150	74	11	53	11	.336
OF – Magglio Ordonez	117	84	18	94	2	.354
OF – Gary Sheffield	74	89	23	67	17	.290
OF – Hunter Pence	CU	42	12	45	8	.330

Position - Player	ADP	Wins	Saves	K	WHIP	ERA
SP – Dan Haren	109	13	0	127	1.08	2.46
SP – Chris Young	110	9	0	114	0.99	1.82
SP – Erik Bedard	122	12	0	192	1.10	3.09
RP – J.J. Putz	69	1	32	56	0.65	1.38
RP – Jose Valverde	139	1	33	54	1.04	2.80

* per ESPN         ADP = Average Draft Position         CU – called up during the season        Stats through 8/7/07

Ahhh, what might have been.  Looking at this list makes me upset that after all these years we still don’t have time travel.  Someone needs to get on that.  It really pisses me off that I can't actually get a mulligan on my drafts.

Needless to say, if you were lucky enough to snag two or three of these guys and were able to avoid negating them by drafting a few busts, you’re probably sitting pretty at this point in the season.

Try not to kick yourself too much.  If you’ve got some of your own random thoughts you’d like to share in a future article, feel free to e-mail me at kenton.d.wong@hotmail.com