Autodraft

[yak1407]

How is the order of the autodraft determined?
I thought it was based on the order that people signed up for the league, first in gets first pick.
However, in the draft last night for my league, I had Clemens at the top of my list. I was sixth into the league.
Lo and behold, today, I see a team that signed up 10th gets Clemens.
If it is random, it definitely will change my approach to future drafts.

[Ducky]

Random.

[yak1407]

Thanks.
Might be nice if Strat could let us know where we'll be in the autodraft so we could plan around that.

[AdamKatz]

I think each round is random. It isnt like waivers.

If you and someone else pick Clemens, Brett, Yount in same priority, you can get all, 1 2 or all 3 of them.

They explain it in the FAQ button

[Jablowmi]

I don't know, yak. I think the strategy relating to filling out your draft card is part of the fun. You know you are at risk if you put Yount first b/c if you don't get him, you're going to get a potentially unwanted CF in return. When I put him first, I often back him up with another SS later on my card. I think it would be more unfair to essentially hand out Yount or Brett to someone before the draft b/c they were told they would have the #1 pick.

I'd recommend you join one of the actual draft leagues. Orders are selected randomly and you know going in that you'll have, for example, the 1st and 24th picks. Lots of fun!

[honestiago1]

Biggest problem with selecting Clemens first is missing him and getting Nolan Ryan. You can almost always get Soto with a #2 or #3 even. The 1-DEF SS's disappear rather quickly.

Last autodraft, the following players were passed over: Brett, Trammell, Henderson and Schmidt. They all disappeared during waiver period. Once, I got Schmidt as my last pick on a draft card.

You just never know (which makes the game quite interesting; lots of variables). That said, I have NEVER gotten Clemens, despite placing him #1 several times. It's gotten to the point where I'd rather draft someone like Will Clark, whom no one ever takes #1 (1B not a priority position, though Clark has got to be the best power/avg./def combo on the list; no bad cards, and moving him from the 'stick to almost anywhere improves his performance.).

[AdamKatz]

i agree - everyone stop picking Clemens first! Im about 2/5 with Clemens with 2 Ryans and a Soto. Usually you get Ryan or Gooden or Fernando I hear. I was very lucky to get Soto, I dont think any pitcher other than Clemens or Hersheise needs to be 1 or 2. Problem with Hersheiser is that if you dont get him you go down to the next best undrafted SP/RP

[AdamKatz]

The unfair thing is the times you see someone who drafted and got Brett, Yount and Rickey.

[Outta Leftfield]

Draft strategy is definitely a fascinating part of the game. I've had some absolutely terrible drafts and some great drafts. You never know for sure how it will turn out, though experience helps, since you begin to see patterns as to who gets picked at which level. Drafting in a vet league is a whole different ballgame. After a couple of nightmare drafts I had to revise my whole approach.

On the other hand, you can have an awful draft and still recover and create a good team. Having one of the top three waiver picks usually means that you can get dibs on an outstanding player and often pick up another real stud at the top of round two. I've gotten monster years out of Rice, Keith Hernandez, Schmidt and Strawberry--for example-- with high waiver picks. On the other hand, if you have a great draft, it can make waivers and post-waivers a little bit boring while you keep a pat hand and wait for the season to start.

I've had pretty good luck drafting Clemens, getting him three or four times, if I remember right. On the other hand, I've had drafts where I only got two or three starting players (pitchers and hitters) that I'd tried to pick, and then you're really building the team from scratch. And I have
had the getting-stuck-with-Ryan experience. On the other hand, I just got Yount in my most recent draft, and that was really SWEET....

[JAMESMCLEAN 2]

I've had pretty good luck with my drafts, often getting Clemens or Yount first. However, I'm starting to draft more with a group of players in mind rather than individuals. Example, put Puckett first at CF and the next two guys in order are Murphy and Lynn. You're almost certainly going to get one of those three guys and all three are potentially excellent.

In short, I now try to avoid the isolated outstanding player. That means you don't always get your favorites but it increases your odds of producing a productive draft overall.