Advice for keeper league

[kimkrichbaum2]

I am in my first keeper league, about 1/3 of the way through the draft, and not feeling like I am doing a very good job. This is just so much more complex. Drafting when we are, I have to calculate 2008, Extrapolate 2009, and project into the future. I realize now, that I wa not fully prepared with the best draft info about the future, and I never really made a priority choice about whether I was drafting for now or future seasons. I also didn't decide what type of a ballpark I am gunning for, just choosing the best available players, and right now I think my team is half way between a Pitcher;'s park and a hitters park.

Do any veterans who've played in keeper leagues have any draft advice. here is my team so far: We have 200 mil salary limit

Sizemore, Grady cf
Markakis, Nick rf
Youkilis, Kevin 1b
Jones, Chipper 3b
Drew, Stephen ss
Martinez, Victor c-
Cabrera, Asdrubal 2b
Quentin, Carlos
Garza, Matt sp
Volstad, Chris sp
Broxton, Jonathan RP
Jackson, Edwin SP

[RICHARDMILTER]

A very solid team so far. It is tough to tell how solid without seeing the other teams, but I see a lot of good players, who will continue to play well in the future. And some good defense as well! I like Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore, that is good defense up the middle. And although Victor Martinez is average at best defensively, he is a hitting machine. Nick Markakis and Chipper Jones, are top notch! Once all the teams are drafted post the link for your league, and you will get lots of expert analysis from other Strat fans. Good luck and have some fun!

[Rally Sally]

Just make sure to draft a boatload of pitchers. You never know who might get hot, and unless your first name is Johan it's tough to pitch consistently well from year to year.

[Ninersphan]

JEEZE,

You're having doubts with having drafted those guys, :? :?: :shock:
what the heck did the other teams draft :shock: .

You've got a good solid core of everyday position players there, I'm guessing you are a little light in SP, but you can make that up in future drafts, with prospects and by trading once your season gets rolling.

That said if you still feel over your head, I'd be inclined to take over this team from you with almost no questions asked. :D :wink:

[kimkrichbaum2]

I want to start aiming toward a park, what would you suggest with this team?

i have added Pence and John Baker since last post.

[Rant]

Are there unique stadiums? Do you need to draft a stadium during your draft?

Assuming there are uniques and you need to draft, I would just go for whatever type of club you want to build long-term.

You haven't built specifically for a park (above average defense, weak pitching, very solid hitters). You don't have a bunch of guys who I would assume are 8 BP locks each year, but you'll likely get a N power for most/all of your starters. Strategically if I were you, I'd probably not sweat the pick and use it on players, then take a middle of the road stadium leaning toward a pitcher's park.

[keyzick]

A piece of advice I'd give you: don't salvage this season before it even starts, in an effort to snare keepers for next year's set.

Even if you ignore someone's future potential (which I do not recommend however), as long as you draft a playoff caliber team this season, chances are you'll have quality players to keep going forward. And if not, each year there are ALWAYS new cards/players that pop up that no one anticipated.

[kimkrichbaum2]

Thanks for the tip Keyzick. Our draft is very tricky because we obviously know what the '08 cards look like, but also have some clues what the '09 cards will look like. So including future projection, there are 3 time periods to look at. I have tried up to this point to draft players that are likely to be good in at least 2 out of 3. For instance, Quentin is good in '08, playing poorly in '09, and seems to have a good future. E. Jackson was worthless in '08 but good in '09 and is likely to have future (as if there is anything predictable about pitchers whose name is not Halladay or Santana). And I chose Chipper because he was good in '08 and '09 so far, despite the fact he's pretty old.

We'll see how my strategy works!