by Sknsfan » Sat Feb 11, 2012 5:14 pm
I know I'm new here and I admit i haven't read through the entire 96 page thread. Yet. (I haven't hit send yet and this is getting long. sorry for the verbosity)
However I've been on several sides of the prospect and draft arguments over the years.
Here are my thoughts on it. (Please note this is my first foray into a 24 team keeper so I'm not completely sure how empty the drafts will be)
I like the idea of forcing teams to drop to a certain number (down to 20 for example) before the draft. This helps make sure that the field of draftees is a reasonable one for the first few rounds at least.
I also agree that if you're promoting Prospects, the time to do it is before the draft. This also helps up the number players available for those first few rounds of the draft. You know the value of that players card once the cards come out. You have a good idea if you want to play him this year. His card isn't going to get magically better by playing half a season in the minors and then coming up.
(my one exception to this would be if you are part of a trade that leaves you short on your 30 man roster. While it's not currently ok according to the rules, i do think it would be nice to fill out the tiny 30 man roster with one of my prospects if possible.)
(Just thought of another possible exception that might be nice. If you make a trade for a prospect who is eligible to play now, being able to cut a player to "Bring up" your new accquire.)
Think of it as the unofficial way we have a salary cap in a $200m keeper league. If you want that player on your team, it will cost you a roster spot. now. pre-draft. The draft is thin enough each season in my 12 team keepers, i can only imagine how rough it gets in a 24 team league.
I know people who've built great teams want them to remain intact, but it might be nice to remember, these aren't real MLB teams. We don't share TV revenues between the perennial leaders and the bottom feeders. Keeping some level of competitiveness is the way to keep it fun for everyone.
In this league you already have the advantage of being able to keep a prospect indefinitely. In one of my others - you've got him for two years and then you either promote him or cut him, and hope you can get him back in the prospect draft. Since there is no limit on time you hold a guy, I don't think it's unreasonable to say if you want him on your team it costs you a spot on your roster.
Here's to the coming season.