- Posts: 2503
- Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:00 pm
I often add one nickel player to the card to spread more cash among the remaining 24 slots
Duffy is real popular and not likely to get him. But some others I like to pick in similar manner are. And some are more than just a place holder so you can concentrate money on 24 players.
Elston Howard 67 card. This card is only 0.5. I like to list him as a third catcher. If he happens to fall through I have a useable catcher or trade piece. If he doesn't no big deal since I am also drafting the 2 catchers I really want. And even a useless third catcher is of value pre-waivers as it gives you trade flexibility. With 3 catchers on roster you can trade one of them if you want without being forced to take a catcher back in return. Sometimes that flexibility can get you a trade made while someone else has to sit on the sidelines watching.
Gaylord Perry has a nickel card. If you are going all out on an expensive 4 man rotation and listing them high you may not want to waste money on a 5th starter whom you are going to swap out in waivers for a spot starter specialist or a cheapo placeholder. And in some circumstances you might swap to the expensive one and use as a back end of rotation option. Dazzy Vance has the 1.99 card that serves much the same purpose but is probably more useable after conversion and more trade value if you choose to go that route. Ditto Chief Bender.
Ron Leflore. Cheap card that you can keep in to the season as a pinch runner. There are many others of similar price and utility value. This lets you maximize the value of your other picks as it ties up little money but is also not a wasted pick since you would keep him going in to season. The instinct is to say no under 1 mil card could ever hold their own in 200 mil. But why would you pay more than that for a pinch runner? So drafting a pinch runner up front takes care of a useful bench role, saves money for better cards at other picks, and best of all is not a wasted pick. Post draft you will be pestered with at least one offer asking for this pinch runner and another star or two for mid-level bench players but reject button handles that.