Bernie-Collusion issue: Sincere thanks for dealing with it!

[ROBERTMAVIN]

I know i should have known better than joining a live draft league where I did not know the other managers but I do enjoy the live draft aspect
That being said, TSN still has a Fair Play Policy that should be enforced.
Here are the examples of the transactions going on :

Date of trade: Thu, 04/22, 07:09:43pm EST

Las Vegas Aces traded:
Cameron, Mike ($4,910,000)
Ethier, Andre ($4,790,000)
Kouzmanoff, Kevin ($3,630,000)
Ordonez, Magglio ($2,320,000)


to Big Sur Redwoods for:
Cuddyer, Michael ($5,620,000)
Hawpe, Brad ($5,070,000)
Helton, Todd ($7,630,000)
Salazar, Oscar ($7,330,000)


Date of trade: Sun, 04/18, 01:36:32pm EST

Big Sur Redwoods traded:
Uggla, Dan ($1,440,000)
Coffey, Todd ($2,140,000)
Wuertz, Mike ($4,680,000)
Bailey, Andrew ($6,250,000)


to Las Vegas Aces for:
Upton, B.J. ($3,070,000)
Frasor, Jason ($4,360,000)
Guerrier, Matt ($3,710,000)
Bulger, Jason ($2,720,000)

04/18Las Vegas AcesdroppedUggla, Dan


Date of trade: Sun, 04/18, 07:43:49am EST

Las Vegas Aces traded:
Patterson, Eric ($3,710,000)


to Big Sur Redwoods for:
Ethier, Andre ($4,790,000)





Date of trade: Mon, 04/12, 07:58:50pm EST

Malibu Surfers traded:
Braun, Ryan ($6,990,000)
Utley, Chase ($7,130,000)
Patterson, Eric ($3,710,000)
Sandoval, Pablo ($7,110,000)
Verlander, Justin ($5,820,000)


to Las Vegas Aces for:
Diaz, Matt ($4,350,000)
Markakis, Nick ($6,060,000)
Wright, David ($6,860,000)
Arroyo, Bronson ($2,790,000)
Fuld, Sam ($5,500,000)
Palmer, Matt ($2,570,000)


04/20Las Vegas AcesaddedCameron, Mike
04/20Las Vegas AcesaddedFuld, Sam
04/20Malibu SurfersdroppedCameron, Mike
04/20Malibu SurfersdroppedFuld, Sam

Date of trade: Mon, 04/12, 02:55:24pm EST

Malibu Surfers traded:
Ethier, Andre ($4,790,000)
Fukudome, Kosuke ($3,450,000)
Bell, Heath ($4,030,000)


to Big Sur Redwoods for:
Braun, Ryan ($6,990,000)
Callaspo, Alberto ($3,870,000)
Baez, Danys ($3,420,000)

04/13Big Sur RedwoodsdroppedFukudome, Kosuke
04/13Las Vegas AcesaddedFukudome, Kosuke


Date of trade: Mon, 04/12, 02:47:56pm EST

Las Vegas Aces traded:
Lopez, Felipe ($2,780,000)
Phillips, Brandon ($4,170,000) 04/13Big Sur RedwoodsdroppedPhillips, Brandon
Coffey, Todd ($2,140,000)


to Big Sur Redwoods for:
Diaz, Matt ($4,350,000)
Guerrier, Matt ($3,710,000)

04/13Las Vegas AcesaddedPhillips, Brandon
Date of trade: Sun, 04/11, 10:43:09pm EST

Date of trade: Sun, 04/11, 10:43:09pm EST

Big Sur Redwoods traded:
Fielder, Prince ($8,450,000)
Jeter, Derek ($8,890,000)
Wright, David ($6,860,000)


to Las Vegas Aces for:
Cuddyer, Michael ($5,620,000)
Salazar, Oscar ($7,330,000)
Baez, Danys ($3,420,000)
Nolasco, Ricky ($3,100,000)
Andrus, Elvis ($4,640,000)
Beckham, Gordon ($3,990,000)

League: Ballers

Player Set: 2009 season
Skill Level: Standard
Salary Cap: $80,000,000
DH rule: yes
Waivers: yes (weighted)

[LMBombers]

these don't seem all that crazy to me.

[keyzick]

I gotta echo Bombers sentiment. I went through all those moves like 3 or 4 times trying to figure out where you might think there's collusion, but I don't really see any. Is it just the quantity of trades you're objecting to?

It's also tough to pull off lopsided trades in an $80M league, so not sure if there's much to this one.

[AeroDave10]

It say live draft league, so I think that's what it is. I don't see how this trades would be possible in a salary cap league.

Unlike my other veterans, I do see these trades as clearly one-sided, I think there is legitimate concern about competitive balance. That being said, some managers, especially less experienced players in live draft leagues, have a very happy trigger finger and give up on guys quite early.

Proving collusion is very difficult; just ask the Black Sox.

[KEVINEHLE]

I'll somewhat echo Aerodave. This could be irresponsible trading rather than deliberate collusion. In situations like this, you should just jot their user names down for future reference. Either avoid these people in the future or join another one of their leagues and look for a pattern.

Kev

[dharmabums]

I'm in a different live draft league. Our situation looks like a roster dump. We have one more night before rosters are frozen for the last run. One team is completely out (Greet the Mets) and the other team (Cowboys) is in a division lead race with me. Not sure that it is collusion, but it doesn't seem "fair play" either. The one trade seems okay (Zito and Gonzalez for Carpenter), but the other three are pretty questionable.



Date of trade: Thu, 04/22, 09:14:10am EST

ColeHarbour Cowboys traded:
Damon, Johnny ($3,610,000)

to Greet The Mets for:
Fielder, Prince ($8,450,000)


Date of trade: Wed, 04/21, 04:22:43pm EST

ColeHarbour Cowboys traded:
Baez, Danys ($3,420,000)
Dessens, Elmer ($3,290,000)

to Greet The Mets for:
Rivera, Mariano ($5,360,000)
Nathan, Joe ($5,560,000)


Date of trade: Wed, 04/21, 03:42:56pm EST

Manhattan Odd Couple traded:
Zito, Barry ($3,290,000)
Gonzalez, Mike ($3,130,000)

to Greet The Mets for:
Carpenter, Chris ($7,550,000)


Date of trade: Wed, 04/21, 03:37:29pm EST

ColeHarbour Cowboys traded:
Kapler, Gabe ($1,240,000)
Volquez, Edinson ($3,370,000)
Kuroda, Hiroki ($3,200,000)

to Greet The Mets for:
Diaz, Matt ($4,350,000)
Vazquez, Javier ($7,990,000)
Lee, Cliff ($4,140,000)

[keyzick]

Wow! Now in the dharmabums situation I think I'd be livid. Total lopsided trades involving the same 2 teams. Would love to know who those 2 managers are so I can completely avoid being in same league with them.

[AeroDave10]

I wonder if these are first time players, as is frequently seen in live draft leagues. Regardless, I agree with keyzick.

bobm1007 and dharmabums,

Can you post the managers who are involved in these "roster dumps" / "collusions" / "unfair plays"??? I think it's fair for other owners to be aware of who exactly is doing this. I agree that I would avoid being in the same league with such managers.

[Salty]

I am in the league with bob-

See the thing is too-
most of the guys that were traded for in the last trade were on the waiver wire a day earlier-
maybe they shouldn't have been but together with the other trades it definitely is destroying the competitive balance of the league.
:x

[bernieh]

re: bobm1007's original post
I must agree with the general sentiments of the people who have posted in response - while there is reason to be suspicious, there isn't enough evidence to "convict". Collusion or cheating is a serious charge and while we do take steps to punish violators, we only do so in the face of overwhelming evidence. What we WILL do is send out warnings and remind these managers of our Fair Play policy.

re: dharmabums' post
These look far more blatant. We'll investigate and take appropriate action if deemed necessary.