Collusion: Please Comment

[Minoso Express]

If you sent him a message of any kind earlier in the season, he could have simply hit the reply button, changed the header and written the new message.

Something like this happened to me in another Strato game last week. But it was a 1st-time manager making the proposal who clearly had no understanding of how the salary cap worked as his trade proposal would have put him $300,000 over the salary cap. Still, I was surprised at how easy it seemed to make a "lopsided" trade work (in this case, an $8 mil pitcher for a $3 mil pitcher was the main swap target, plus a bunch of lopsided hitter trades)-- the guy did have $1.5 mil spare in cash. He was also overexcited about being within 2 games of the lead in his division with 30 to go.

KO, it's collusion. Clever in that it's just a feeler at this stage, but still collusion.

Revealing his name is a tough call. I'd definitely have a private word with the guy first. Perhaps there is an explanation. Ultimately, I'd be more inclined to name names precisely because it is a "well-known" manager. No one likes a cheat of any stripe; however, a cheat who consistently wins and has earned the respect of his peer group is the worst cheat of all.

[Hakmusic]

This is a real concern if the trades are indeed lopsided. Lopsided trades are far more pronounced in the '80's league where two players with the same salary can have very different cards, but they can happen in ATG. I think the standard is you have to do what is best for your team in each league, as if they were completely independent. Downgrading a team in one league to upgrade a team in a different league is not a fair or appropriate move.

My son was just in an 80's league where there was a clearly lopsided trade between two teams that played in many leagues together. Another manager who was the brother of one of the paticipants had the audacity to throw the final series (sitting his starters and his top pitcher) to assist one of the other managers. So it can happen. My guess would be that this managers intent was far more subtle than what happened there, but I still think it is not appropriate.

[bkeat23]

This is not good.... :(

I've traded players for future waiver picks, and vica versa, which ends up with 2 lopsided trades that even out.

Like Evers for Morgan pre-waiver, followed by Yount(or another #1 waiver pick) for Chalk post waiver. We'd agree that the owner with the #1 waiver pick would select and trade a particular player. The other owner or I always sent a league email detailing the deal, to avoid confusion as to WTF we were doing.

[Hakmusic]

I think a number of pre-season trades can have the appearence of being lopsided when they really make perfect sense. You have Cepeda and Ripper, you need to trade one or drop him to get somone else. Trading one for Pete Fox, Evers, or another key low priced guy may look lopsided but makes perfect sense.

I think there is a big difference between pre-season and in-season when there are contending teams and second division teams involved.

BTW, I think experience of the other manager is key in evaluating whether a lopsided trade is collusion or not. I was accused of Collusion in my second team becaue I made what, in retrospect, was a really stupid trade. The manager took it and enjoyed his way into the playoffs where others cried foul, but there was no collusion, just lack of understanding.

I also had managers reject trade offers I made early on in my strat life because the trade would be unfair in their favor. I remember Rob55 not only rejecting a trade offer, but explaining to me why it was wrong and what I should do to make my team better. I ended up finishing ahead of him because of his help. That is the other side of things.

[nevdully's]

[quote:6ae12bf750] I remember Rob55 not only rejecting a trade offer, but explaining to me why it was wrong and what I should do to make my team better. I ended up finishing ahead of him because of his help.[/quote:6ae12bf750]

This makes me proud to be part of this community. :)


As for the original question, No doubt its wrong to do. I know I wouldn't want to be in any future leagues with this type of owner. :x

[bsolheim]

xxxxxxx

[tkl33]

No doubt it's wrong and a very sad thing to hear about. I love to trade myself and have made some stinkers in the past...and probably will again in the future.. :lol: ...but this is sad to hear about. I don't know if exposing the manager here is the right thing to do, but I'd definately have a long discussion with this person! :evil:

[ADRIANGABRIEL]

I'm not offended by this; not until I know what the actual trade offers are. In my experience, it's hard to make trades coming down the stretch. Either a manager's apathetic or the team is already set.

Collusion is a secret agreement to defraud others. Now, let's say the trade offer is Jackie Robinson for Keith Hernandez. Is that lopsided? No. Let's say Jackie's on the good team, but hasn't lived up to expectations due to injury. Hernandez is on the bad team and has been steady, but not spectacular. If I'm the manager of the bad team, what do I care if this trade is made? However, if I know I can make an equally reasonable trade in another league, I would pull the trigger.

Is this type of cooperation wrong? Defrauding the league or gaining an undue advantage would be wrong, certainly. But I think there's a lot of gray area as well.

[Proverbial Psalms]

Instead of exposing the manager in question...

I sincerely ask that the manager who sent the message be mature enough to step forward... to explain the intention (whether appropriate or not, either way, just explain the situation)... and basically to speak to this honestly and openly.

Then my trust in the human race would be partially restored!