2006 LOTO TOUR - ROUND 2 - LEAGUE B

[ROBERTVOZZA]

Is my least favorite as well. But i wanted to experiment with some different formats this year. I actually think some of the LOTO regulars dropped out this year because of it.

As the LOTO Invitational continues to grow and evolve, I will continue to experimant with different formats. But I think I will do away with it next year.

Initially, LOTO was intended to combine simple AD formats with great competition. The time consumption of LIVE DRAFTS and complex Themes kind of eliminated me from a lot of play due to the huge time committment they required. And we played primarily with a small core group of players from the past 4+ yrs. But now that it has grown in to a 3 round elimination Tour this year - With the likelihood of even more players next year, I am considering accomodating more of what others want. So I am definitely open to other suggestions for the simple formats.

BTW, I really miss the JaserD Tour as well. But change is Life, I guess.

:wink: :D Robert

[Jeepdriver]

I like the $100M format. Here's why:

It makes your draft card extremely important. I think preparing your draft card takes just as much skill as tweaking your team post-waivers, if not more so. I consider myself an excellent draft card preparer and thus was rewarded with a good draft.

No offense intended with this statement but those who complain of the $100M format, saying its a crapshoot, etc. are the ones from my point of view who didn't or don't ususally have good autodrafts. Obviously this isn't true 100% of the time, but it is generally IMHO. In addition, as Robert has pointed out, it requires a "different" (for lack of a better word) thought process and skill level. And I think that's what Robert was trying to do here, expand our knowledge, etc.

Lastly, don't confuse the above as me saying those who had a good AD will have a good team, as that might not be the case. Conversely just because you may have had a bad AD doesn't mean you'll have a bad team either.

[ROBERTVOZZA]

The initial idea behind the 3 different formats was to make it as difficult as possible for everyone to win. Some players play in the same parks all the time in the normal 80 M format. This allows players to play to their strengths. So in the 1st round, everyone is allowed to do what they do best. Standard everything, any Park you want.

But in the 2nd and third round, I decided to add the dimensions of 2 other caps as well as unique Stadiums. Thus causing each player to expand their knowledge of the players and causing them to have to come outside of their comfort zone. Thus, the players who make the Finals round had to be adaptable as well as skilled - And lucky, of course.

But I think what I might do next year - is eliminate the 100M Cap. Have round 1 stay the same, with Round 2 being a 60M Cap with unique stadiums and Rouind 3 going back to the 80M Cap with unique stadiums, while rewarding those who played the best in Round 2 with the the highest to lowest Stadium choice and allowing players who did well to play to their strengths again. I also like the added Dimension of nobody being able to use the same BP more than once. And I think that will be a keeper as far as rules go. But it is unlikely that we will get away from the simple AD format - Simplicity being the one of the key elements. I can't imagine the time commitment to do it any other way.

I find that this year's Tour has gone very well so far, with great races in the 1st 2 rounds. GL the rest of the way to all.

Robert

[durantjerry]

I am not a big fan of the $100 format and I have only played a half dozen or so leagues > $80. I do agree with Jeep about the draft card though. My team is very successful to date and it was because I put a lot of thought into coming up with a creative draft strategy. I got my top five and a couple of other $$$ players like Helton and Ellis(who I cut) that were listed low. I find the $60 format challenging. The different formats do make the best players come out in the end IMO. I am doing well, but I would not have been shock to not be doing well. It's tough to excel at all three $$$ levels IMO. I was not happy about the format before the Tourney because I did not think I could do well at all three $$$ levels.

[Jeepdriver]

Good points above and Robert you did well in making the Tourney as challenging as possible. 8)

[ROBERTVOZZA]

You have been in every league and with every format we have ever used in LOTO...Last year, with only 24 teams - We had to combine the records of the teams in the second round and use win pct. for the Finals Round. One of the reasons I like the single elimination in rounds is because it is a lot less work.

I am not a very good 100M player either. But I do like the challenge 3 different caps present.

Gotta' go back to work for my 2nd shift. More late tomorrow.

R

[doctrcpa]

Rant Alert!!! :evil: :evil:

Iguchi has his injury on a "2", but did not get 600 plate appearances. Last night he got injured for the third time in only 65 games. He has already missed 20 games and has 6 more to go. Since he has already missed 20 games, on average he has gotten hurt once every 15 games that he has played!!

GRRRR :evil: :evil:

Thank you for letting me vent. :wink:

[Jeepdriver]

You know it's a league with all good managers when the lowest Win Perc. is .453.

League "B" is going to be a fearce battle to the end for those 6 spots.

[Jeepdriver]

It can't get no worse than this:

Three 1-run losses
All in my opponent's last at bat
1 in extras

I think the two .453 teams put a hex on me :shock: :wink:

[Jeepdriver]

I have not picked a good time for a slump. My two closest rivals are getting hot, both sweeping last night. OK guys, let's nip this in the bud right now.