Who would you want to start a franchise?

[Shaggy Sanchez]

In the spirit of the Adam Dunn or ? thread that has gone every which direction it got me thinking. If you were starting a team from scratch right now and had the first pick what player would you select. Every player is available and your owner has given you the ability to spend what you need to put a winner on the field so contract size doesn't matter.

Would you build around an ace pitcher or do you go for a hitter with your first pick.

I think I would take Pujols, as important as pitching is and as easy as it is to find guys that can play 1st his production and age is just to hard to pass up.

[edabbs44]

Pujols or Santana, depending on preference. Pujols would be my preference.

[savafan]

I would have to go with Pujols as well.

[CaiGuy]

Pujols is an easy pick, but I'd be tempted to start with a pitcher. Santana or Oswalt maybe?

[dabvu2498]

Jake Peavy or David Wright

[CaiGuy]

Jake Peavy
I would have picked him last year, but he isn't his old lights-out self right now. That's what I get for drafting him I guess...

[westofyou]

Play Strat-o-matic and find out.

In our 8 team league we have all sorts of guys with different approaches. The first eight taken using last years stats were

Arod (who plays SS in Strat)
Albert
Brian Roberts
Derrek Lee
Jeter
Clemens
Cabrea
Jr (who still rates as a great fielder in start)

My first 5 picks were Albert/Edmonds/Halladay/Felix/Ellis - Two ace starters, strength up the middle and today's Ted Williams.

[billy117]

If I could have two I would take Santana and, this may seem odd, Joe Mauer, gotta love that kid. Of course it's not really working for the Twins.

[HotCorner]

Santana followed closely by Peavy, Kazmir, Liriano, F. Hernandez, Harden, Webb and Verlander. Pitching. Pitching. Pitching.

[RedsManRick]

Santana without a doubt. Pujols back issues scare the crap out of me. He's only going to get more and more risky health wise as he ages given his skill set and body type.

[Outshined_One]

Has anyone SEEN Miguel Cabrera's numbers in his short career so far? He's easily the best young hitter in the game today. With Pujols' injury and age questions, I'd take Cabrera.

[KronoRed]

Santana

Pitching over Offense

[Tom Servo]

Of course Pujols comes to mind but David Wright is really the type of all around young player I'd like my team's foundation to be built upon.

[Red Heeler]

If we are talking about building a franchise, BJ Upton. If we are talking about building a team for one year, Pujols.

[DunnFan44]

Ryan Howard or Brandon Webb!!!:)