Rule change?

Do you think, in mystery leagues, it makes more sense to choose your stadium after the draft (but before waivers clear)?

As it stands now, it doesn't make much sense to select an extreme stadium, because you have no idea whether you will be able to stock your team with the appropriate talent.

you know...I've thought of this before. I think it is a good idea...but some problems could arise from this. If this were to come about I don't think other managers should able to see what other managers have chosen for their parks until all parks have been made official

Restocking your team in waivers is a skill, as is setting your draft card. Good players find a way to win with bad drafts. Admittedly, there is a fair amount of luck involved. To me, there are more than enough players to rebuild after a bad draft. It may not be your ideal team, but in the mystery game it could end being your ideal team. The penalty is much more defined in the other games as you know what you are getting. There was a post from a player a while ago who said he was never going to play again after his poor 70's draft and he went on to win 107 games. I remember it well, as I was in the league. I really don't think it's an issue overall and more so in the Mystery game.

In ATG, you might not get the ideal team you wanted, but you can always put together the style of play you expected. The scarcity of players in the mystery format does not always allow for that.

The mystery game does have fewer players as you said, but there is a solid second tier of players and platoons in all the games that should allow you to build a team for whatever park you are in. It won't be ideal before the season starts but the "Mystery" may allow it to end up being ideal. I totally don't see a problem, especially in the Mystery game where you really do not have a very good idea of what you have before the season starts.To me, in any of the games, if you are an experienced player you really should have a pretty good chance of winning a league even if you let everyone else draft without you and you picked your team from what was left and let them pick you park. I just don't see it as that big of a handicap.

I don't think it's a big disadvantage but I am in favor of having the ability to change stadiums post the auto-draft and before the waiver/free agent draft starts.

I am not whining that I can't overcome bad drafts. But I do think that prior posts have overestimated Mystery League player pool depth. Most often, I play the '60s game. There aren't enough base stealers to accommodate more than two smallball teams. The same applies to left-handed power hitters (Yankee Stadium), etc...

To me, it just seems better to remove an unnecessary element of luck and let owners choose their stadiums just before the waivers clear.

Other than tradition, what are the pros of picking stadiums pre-draft?

It's a really interesting idea, frankly. I am someone who tries to draft a team to fit a stadium, though I don't think everyone does that. I think it is much more challenging to pick a stadium and stick to it no matter how well your draft goes. But, newer players might appreciate the option of changing their minds post-draft. I can see both sides of the argument. In any case, I am not for or against the idea, I just think it is a really novel thought worth discussing.