Seeking Advice Regarding Live Drafts

[unesid]

As a relative newbie to SOM on-line, I'd love to hear some advice pertaining to live drafts (with Event 3 set to begin soon). It's also my first time in a non-DH league.

Should I be concerned with pitching or hitting in the early rounds?
Should I hold off until later rounds to pick me stadium?
Should I place more of a premium on relief pitching, since I'm assuming starters will be pinch-hit for earlier than they would normally be pulled?

Anxious to hear the thoughts of some of you vets.

Thanks.

[the splinter]

For what it's worth.....because I tend to make poor live draft decisions.

Go for the best available player either up the middle(2b/ss/cf) or starting pitcher in your first 4 rounds. Pass on any one of these spots if the available players are not dominate at the position and choose the best offensive player avilable. Example... if it is your pick in the second round and Jones and Edmunds have been picked wait until a later round to grab say a Kotsay or a Taveras(whoever)and use your pick for say Cabrerra/Wright/Abreu These players should be the core of your team. With that said I usually don't pick my 1st SP until the 4th or 5th round unless you are molding a dominate pitching team. After the 4th or 5th round you should be able to start "crafting" your team to your desired park or start making picks that defend against your divison mates. Say one od your divison opponents has chosen both Hafner and Helton. Then in the middle to later rounds you might want to grab a LHSP that slays LHP thus arming yourself with a weapon against these RHP pounders.

[Coffeeholic]

Sounds like pretty sage advice Splinter!

One thing I always do for a live draft unesid is to purchase my team ahead of time. That way as the draft progresses, I can plug in different options into the positions left unfilled. Helps to keep you from overspending and getting caught with insufficient funds or options later in the draft.

You are correct in that Non-DH leagues require more depth in the bullpen.

Also, you need to have some pinch hitting options.

[geekor]

I go in with an idea of what stadium I want, and try to build for that. If the players that are getting taken are the ones I need, I'll change to a differnt idea. You have to be able to go with the flow, as well as build for yourself.

Also, usually division are set ahead of time, so watch what kind of players your division are taking, gives you an idea of what they may be taking next and where they may be playing.

[JEFFFESPERMAN]

Are selections made via email? What are the time limits for each selection?

[the splinter]

Live drafts can be held right here on this board. The "commisioner" sets the time limit between picks(see league rules above from Jeep).

There is/was another(superior) option. When he graced us with his omnipotent presense(just ask him..he will tell you how good he is) Penngray developed a truley excellent draft engine. I'm not sure if he set it up for this season or not before he bailed. The addy is.....sportsfantasytools.com.
It does it all. keeps track of rosters /round/money with a searchable data base as good as TSN has offered.

[the splinter]

Pardon...try reading the thread from Jeep that is titled Wild Card Live Draft League.

[cirills]

[quote:750429ccc2]When he graced us with his omnipotent presense(just ask him..he will tell you how good he is)[/quote:750429ccc2]

LOL

[quote:750429ccc2]Penngray developed a truley excellent draft engine.[/quote:750429ccc2]

True!!!

[quote:750429ccc2]It does it all. keeps track of rosters /round/money with a searchable data base as good as TSN has offered.
[/quote:750429ccc2]

One big caveat though. He never compiled the actual Final TSN player list before he bailed. His version reflects an earlier TSN list which includes several players having cards that didn't survive the final cut (players like Zimmerman, Cain, etc.)

So BE CAREFUL when looking at the available players list because not all of them have a card. :wink:

[maligned]

Here's a list of guys that are included on Penn's site but aren't in TSN's current database. I'm not 100% sure this list is exhaustive, but I believe it is.

Jacobs,M* 1b-4e24 $6.52
Shealy,R 1b-4e5 $5.74
Zimmerman,R 3b-2e15 ss-4e88 $13.1
Aybar,W+ 3b-3e16 2b-4e23 $8.48
Williams,G+ 3b-4e37 $4.07
Shackelford,B* R(1) $4.80
Medders,B R(2) $5.68
Accardo,J R(2) $5.50
Padilla,J R(2) C(0) $7.22
Miller,M R(2) C(0) $5.90
Cabrera,F R(3) $4.12
Cain,M S(6) $8.79
Maholm,P* S(7) $7.76
Rivera,R c-3(+1)e16,T-20(pb-11) $6.95
Ludwick,R lf-3(0)e16 rf-3e16 $5.00
Hermida,J* rf-3(-1)e16 lf-3e16 $5.42