Alternatives to Current Autodraft

It would be nice to have a drop down menu with or after each pick that would give you the choice of next RH hitter, LH hitter, switch hitter/pitcher that is available if you miss your pick. (or avoid RH hitter, LH hitter--etc--sometimes it is easier to program the negative version of a question)

That way if you pick an unbalanced park at least you would get a LH hitter for Progressive park or a RH hitter for Fenway that you may be able to use.

It would be just one change that may be able to be programed into the current drafting system a bit easier and quicker.

Another simple change that would make a huge difference is instead of getting the next closest salary for that position that nobody drafted get the next most expensive person at that position who has not yet been drafted. Then maybe I draft Mantle I can get Mays instead of some bench fodder just because someone else took a flyer on Mays at #25.

Yes I do that often---a couple of times I put Cabrerra (3B) low on my list (2012) and just took the 3Bman that I got, but that is part of the Strategy when there is a lot of good players at a position--I got Beltre & Longoria those 2 times--

You never know who of the top players is going to be undrafted, but there is always a few on 80M teams--with 100M and up that's not a good gamble.

That is actually a good illustration of what I consider a problem with the current autodraft.
When it is a good strategy to put good players at bottom of draft card instead of the top something is off.

Suppose an NFL team planned their draft board that way with the best players at the bottom and lesser sub-quality easy to draft players at the top. Well guess that is not too far fetched. Seems Cowboys have used that strategy for several years now. Not working out too well.

The more I read arguments against the current draft system, the more I think it would be a mistake to get rid of it.

What you describe as "seriously flawed" seems like a pretty cool strategy to me. Here's why the current system should be left largely intact:

1. It works
2. It's simple
3. It offers different strategies
4. It gives you a chance for every player
5. Going for certain players is high risk but high reward (as it should be)
6. It's fun (for many of us anyway)
7. The frenzy that follows is the best part of the game to many
8. Your draft isn't dictated by some arbitrary draft position

Even the example where you could pick Posey and end up with a $1.17 catcher doesn't sway me. You get over $8 million to spend somewhere else. In a standard $80 million league, there are many, many ways to get your money's worth elsewhere.

Probably the best example that the present system is working is that the vast majority of leagues has always been autodraft leagues even when there were more options for a true draft.

Some excellent points have been made why the present system is so bad. I can't argue. However, it's like saying capitalism is bad because it's based on greed. True, but the alternatives are worse. What's the old joke? Capitalism is the second worst form of government. All the other forms are tied for first worst. Well, I guess I'll agree that the present system is the second worst method possible...

Bottom line is that the present system is fun, simple, and it works. A drastic change that makes the system more "fair" but complicated is not likely to be a good thing.

what if I told you that 80 mil leagues are a smaller % of leagues now.

100 mil is a closer norm, especially considering the ATG leagues.

and having an extra 8 mil in a 100 mil league, well that typically isn't a good thing as most top FA's are gone already in the 20xx games.

what if I told you that 80 mil leagues are a smaller % of leagues now.

100 mil is a closer norm, especially considering the ATG leagues.

and having an extra 8 mil in a 100 mil league, well that typically isn't a good thing as most top FA's are gone already in the 20xx games.

I've only played ATG a couple of times, but the card set is larger, isn't it? So, I would think $100 million dollar ATG leagues would be fine. I confess in 200x and mystery leagues, the current system isn't as good with higher dollar leagues.

80M is clearly the norm in all games non-ATG for sure. ATG is just a monster that I don't deal with much.

Another simple change that would make a huge difference is instead of getting the next closest salary for that position that nobody drafted get the next most expensive person at that position who has not yet been drafted. Then maybe I draft Mantle I can get Mays instead of some bench fodder just because someone else took a flyer on Mays at #25.

I like this. I don't want $8M left over after the draft to spend on someone, I want a top flight CF like Mantle who was on my list. If I don't want Mays I can drop or trade him to get my $8M to spend somewhere else but at least I have a great CF to replace Mantle if I want, I'm not getting Cesar Geronimo (sorry Cesar, I loved your defense on the Big Red Machine but you aren't Mays) plus a lot of cash. Even if Mays is #4 on someone's list while Mantle is #1 on mine that guy wanted 3 other players more than Mays, I wanted a top flight CF more than anything.

Let me first say that I am fine with the current draft and would be fine with an alternative draft, but...

in most normal 20XX leagues (I don't play ATG) I would make the argument that if you don't get one of your key players that you would NOT necessarily want the next most expensive guy. Chances are, that guy would not fit your park/team or would not be worth his price tag, and so you would want the extra cash because you're probably going to have to make a number of other changes to your team since you didn't get your key guy.