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Fantasy Baseball Help

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I'm in two leagues (co-owning in one) that draft this weekend. Both are AL-only, standard 23-man rosters (two catchers, nine pitchers, no bench), keepers, $26 salary cap. One league allows one NL player per roster at a minimum salary of $2.50, the other allows two at $2.50 and $2.00. One league has eleven teams, the other ten. Auction style draft, which, after having done the standard 'ordered picks' thing for so many years, is really the superior format. Entry fees for both leagues are about $250. My keepers for my main, sole ownership squad are:

Coco Crisp
Travis Hafner
Chone Figgins
Brandon Inge
Jose Contreras

I signed Hafner to a two year extension (meaning I have him for the next three years at $1.50). Crisp, Figgins and Inge each got one year extensions, and are at .80, 1.00 and .60 respectively. Contreras is in the final year of his deal at .50, so I have $21.60 remaining for 18 roster spots.

...I don't know why I'm telling you all this, but I'm fucking cranked. And now that I can't win my bracket (fuck you, Florida), it's all I can think about. Guys I have targeted right now are:

C Ramon Hernandez, BAL
1B Casey Kotchman, ANA
3B Kevin Youkilis, BOS
SS Michael Young, TEX
2B Mark Ellis, OAK
OF Milton Bradley, OAK
OF Kevin Mench, TEX
OF Nick Swisher, OAK
OF Curtis Granderson, DET
P Daniel Cabrera, BAL
P Tim Wakefield, BOS
P Chris Ray, BAL
P LaTroy Hawkins, BAL
P Kyle Farnsworth, NYY
P Matt Miller, CLE

This is the league that allows two NLers, which is a new development (up from one last year) that I really hate. I'll probably do it, though, and beef up my pitching staff with either a Billy Wagner or Brad Lidge and a stud starter.

I like fantasy baseball. It makes me tingle.
 
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I took a stab at Bradley this year. He was there late, and I hear he enjoys Okland a lot more than LA... Of course, that won't last. But, maybe it will for 162 games, and I'll be happy.

Daniel Cabrera ... Almost got him last night, but apparently waited one round too long.
 
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Yeah, love Daniel Cabrera this year. Missed him by one round in one draft and grabbed him in another.

But yeah BKB, 5 bills is a lot. But there are transaction fees. It is $300 to enter and costs about $200 in fees a year for the normal owner.

I always wanted to get into an auction draft, but no one I know is bold enough to start one or help me start one. Everyone is just comfortable with the draft style.
 
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Far more strategy, and it really makes you evaluate the relative worth of each player. It also creates the opportunity to build a perennial powerhouse. Two years ago, when I drafted Crisp at .30, Hafner at .50 and Inge at .10 (Figgins and Contreras came in various trades), I had no idea it would work out so well, but their value now is probably six or seven times those numbers. Hafner is close to being a four dollar player (Guerrero, A-Rod, Ortiz and some others generally get 4.00 to 4.50), and I have him for three years at less than half that. Crisp will probably go for 1.50 to 2.00 in my other league, and Inge, while not particularly impressive, has solid numbers and eligibility at a thin position (third base). Those three along with Figgins are probably going to net me 60-70 HRs, 320-340 RBI, 80-90 SBs and a .300 average over 2200-2300 ABs. Nobody else in my league is getting that kind of production from $3.90 worth of players. Auction drafts are all about finding bargains and managing your funds properly. I've never spent more than 2.90 for a player, and I've finished in the money each of my first two years in this league. I look at a standard draft and I see a straight line. An auction style draft is far less linear, and brings the skill to luck ratio up significantly, in my opinion.

EDIT: As far as strategy, there are some really cool things you can employ. Since anyone can begin the bidding on any available player, it is in each owner's power to 'flood out' a position. For example, I have my eye on Casey Kotchman. Early on, I will try and push as many first basemen out as possible. Hopefully, Casey slips to the end of the draft and I snag him for cheap. You also have to keep track of how much money people have left. If there are two other owners who have a 1B or CI (corner infield) slot open, and they want Kotchman, I'll have to outbid them. However, if Owner A has .40 cents remaining to fill that slot, and Owner B has .50, I merely have to open the bidding at .50 to guarantee myself Kotchman. You can also try and get your bargains early. Generally, people wait until the draft is winding down to pick up their 'dimers'. In my first year, one of the first players I threw out there was Brandon Inge, who at the time had catcher eligibility. He was coming of an absolutely abysmal year (batted like .208), but I had read that the Tigers were putting their faith in him and that they were going to get him more at-bats by playing him around the infield. I got him for a dime, and he was generally considered the most valuable ten cent player in the league. Dimers are actually a great part of the process. Some guys look for value, while others see the ten cents as a wash and pick a guy who isn't expected to play (a Josh Bard, for example). He's not going to produce, but he's also not going to hurt you. A lot of owners would rather have a guy hit .230 over 75 at-bats than .250 over 300, so that's something you always have to keep an eye on.
 
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I can see that. There is pleanty of skill in managing a linear draft (predicting if dude will be around for your next pick, etc), but there is a luck componant that can't be denied either.

What are your point cats?

We use
Hits, Runs, Steal, Avg, HR, RBI, Slg. and
ERA, WHIP, K/BB, Saves, W, L, CG and Holds (which I htink is the most stupid stat in baseball, but it gives us a reason to draft Middle Relievers)

I may have missed a cat or two..

H2H league.
 
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Piney said:
Yeah, love Daniel Cabrera this year. Missed him by one round in one draft and grabbed him in another.

But yeah BKB, 5 bills is a lot. But there are transaction fees. It is $300 to enter and costs about $200 in fees a year for the normal owner.

I always wanted to get into an auction draft, but no one I know is bold enough to start one or help me start one. Everyone is just comfortable with the draft style.
Click to expand...

Pay out what, First Second and Third?
 
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We use
Hits, Runs, Steal, Avg, HR, RBI, Slg. and
ERA, WHIP, K/BB, Saves, W, L, CG and Holds (which I htink is the most stupid stat in baseball, but it gives us a reason to draft Middle Relievers)
Click to expand...

Hot toddy, man. That's like 43 categories. We're a traditional 4x4. Home runs, runs batted in, stolen bases and average; wins, saves, ERA and WHIP. I wouldn't mind adding runs and strikeouts (as it would boost the value of Crisp and Figgins), but I like 4x4 a lot.

I draft middle relievers a lot - I generally put two or three on my staff. Last year, I drafted Dustin Son of Herman at .90, and he turned out to be one of the best closers in the AL. Tom Gordon had been a staple, as well as Brendan Donnelly. I like middle relievers because they help with ERA and WHIP, and can often get a significant number of spot wins. Frankly, I'd rather have three MRs that give me 210-240 innings, a 2.80 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 15 wins between them than a single starter that would be paid roughly the same amount (good middle relievers generally go for .50-.70).
 
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Buckeyeskickbuttocks said:
Giles is solid, but his home park is too big for him.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I like the guy, and drafted him again this year. He was just supposed to be my 3rd outfielder before the untimely demises of Bonds and J.D. Drew last year.

Our league almost went to an auction this year, but decided it was just too long a process. Instead, to keep a player, you forfeit your draft slot 5 spots higher than the previous year. So, it does add some strategy in drafting guys who may not help much this year. Marte and Upton in the late rounds were my shots at cheap keepers for next year. The bad part is that between them and Clemens, I don't have much of a bench that's actually in the majors. :)
 
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It is a lot of cats. I used to think it's too many, but I'm used to it now. I think it makes the player values more interesting. I was in a 4X4 league a few years back which was a "power" league. Ichiro, for example, would be maybe 50th to 75th overall pick. In my current league he's top 10.

.....

$2,600? That's a lot of coin. Hope you win it.
 
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Well The Verdict is in....I drafted 3 of 9...Remember this was my first draft....I had a hunch on Swisher and also a little biased opinion since he is from TOSU.....So here is my list in order....Feel free to bash me or whatever you feel like doing.....


<TABLE class=simpletable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0><THEAD><TR><TH colSpan=3>slugger</TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=odd><TD class=first>1.</TD><TD class=pick>(3)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>V. Guerrero</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>2.</TD><TD class=pick>(18)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>P. Martínez</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>3.</TD><TD class=pick>(23)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>G. Sizemore</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>4.</TD><TD class=pick>(38)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>R. Furcal</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>5.</TD><TD class=pick>(43)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>C. Zambrano</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>6.</TD><TD class=pick>(58)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>H. Matsui</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>7.</TD><TD class=pick>(63)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>N. Swisher</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>8.</TD><TD class=pick>(78)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>E. Gagne</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>9.</TD><TD class=pick>(83)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>J. Isringhausen</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>10.</TD><TD class=pick>(98)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>S. Rolen</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>11.</TD><TD class=pick>(103)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>J. Kendall</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>12.</TD><TD class=pick>(118)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>T. Iguchi</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>13.</TD><TD class=pick>(123)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>K. Wood</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>14.</TD><TD class=pick>(138)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>D. Haren</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>15.</TD><TD class=pick>(143)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>S. Casey</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>16.</TD><TD class=pick>(158)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>M. Alou</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>17.</TD><TD class=pick>(163)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>M. Clement</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>18.</TD><TD class=pick>(178)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>K. Farnsworth</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>19.</TD><TD class=pick>(183)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>C. Biggio</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>20.</TD><TD class=pick>(198)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>O. Cabrera</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>21.</TD><TD class=pick>(203)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>T. Nixon</TD></TR><TR class=even><TD class=first>22.</TD><TD class=pick>(218)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>P. Wilson</TD></TR><TR class=odd><TD class=first>23.</TD><TD class=pick>(223)</TD><TD class="player last" noWrap>E. Alfonzo</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
 
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Not a big fan of Furcal that early.

Without knowing the rest of your league, I'd say your pitching is pretty weak.
I do love Danny Haren, though.

I hate Kendall. If a guy can't at least pop one out of the park, then he'll never be on my team, unless he swipes 30 bags.

I agree big time with VR, the auction is vastly superior. Anyone can pick Alber Pujols in the first round , but it takes smarts to pick Miek Jacobs for a buck, knowing he hit 10 dingers in 100 ab's for the Mets last season. The best part of an auction draft is getting together and trying to sneak in sleepers and 'pimp' the other owners on guys you knoe=w they want that you have no inerest in acquiring.

Would anyone else be interested in starting an auction league next season?
I have a few good stat sights that have daily roster change availability. It's alot of fun, but I only like the standard 4x4 format. Any interest? We could draft somewhere in the C-bus area.
 
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Dang it... I just finished this nice critique of your draft but then I screwed up and lost it. So now you get the short version :biggrin:


Not going to rip you on your draft as it is your first. But I will give you critical feedback so you know what you did and so you can improve on your next draft.

First step is go back through the whole draft and see if you would have picked the same players. This is a great way to grade yourself and learn from mistakes that you can see. Plus sometimes the greatest critic is yourself. But on to mine :biggrin: And since this is the short version I will just chime in with picks I didn't like or really really really liked.

Pedro at 18??? He would have been there at 23 and maybe 38. But then again I am of the belief that you should never take a pitcher with your first 3 picks unless a superstar fell to you. Pedro of 3 years ago... easy pick at 18, Pedro right now is not worth it.

Grady was a little early, but then again you were probable with a bunch on Indians fans eh? While I am an Indians fan Grady is not worth the 23rd pick. I can bet Chone Figgins, Chase Utley, or Gary Sheffield were there and they are much better picks.

Loved the Matsui pick. I actually have him ranked higher than Grady. Big difference between 23rd pick and 58th eh?

Swisher... :smash: He would have been there 10 rounds later.

Love the Gagne & Isringhausen double pick. Great value where you got them but you should have picked Baez later in the draft and if he is a free agent grab him so you have Gagne's insurance policy.

Scott Rolen is another great value pick.

Jason Kendall??? Was there a catcher run that round? Needless to say Kendall is not even in my top 10 Catchers, I will just leave it there.

Dan Haren... LOVE IT!

P. Wilson? Please let that be Preston Wilson right? If so... GREAT LATE PICK! if not... eh???

Overall not horrible but not great either. You could have tried to speculate in the later rounds on younger players or breakthrough type performances. But you will have fun combing through the waiver wire picking up players because you do have a lot of dead weight you can trim to pick up players that start hot.
 
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Brutus1 said:
Would anyone else be interested in starting an auction league next season?
I have a few good stat sights that have daily roster change availability. It's alot of fun, but I only like the standard 4x4 format. Any interest? We could draft somewhere in the C-bus area.
Click to expand...

I might actually be willing to drive from Cleveland for that... would be a blast.
 
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