To Draft or not to Draft...that is the question.

I have read through a lot of the vet's posts. J-Pav's formula is especially interesting. I have a question I'd like to get some vet's opinions on.

I would like to approach a season as though I am the newly hired manager and I get the hand I am dealt (autodrafting, right?). I'll do it through waivers, FA, and trades. I think it would be fun to try and build a champion that way.

My questions is, by doing so, am I at a disadvantage to players who draft? I mean, fun is fun, but jeesh...I don't want to get boot stomped in every time doing this.

Tech,

Have you played any teams yet, or would this be your first one?

I have played many teams, but it has been a good long while ago ( a few years)

I have read through a lot of the vet's posts. J-Pav's formula is especially interesting. I have a question I'd like to get some vet's opinions on.

I would like to approach a season as though I am the newly hired manager and I get the hand I am dealt (autodrafting, right?). I'll do it through waivers, FA, and trades. I think it would be fun to try and build a champion that way.

My questions is, by doing so, am I at a disadvantage to players who draft? I mean, fun is fun, but jeesh...I don't want to get boot stomped in every time doing this.

I'm not sure I understand your question. What would be the option to building a champion team through autodrafting, waivers, FA, and trades?

What I mean is not to draft a team (pick your players/preferences from 1-...25 or whatever) and just get the team you get. I'm not sure if that is called an autodraft, I am saying let the computer pick your original team.

Then after getting this team (that you had no hand in picking), you try to improve it through waivers, FA acquisitions, trades.

I think that would be fun, but was asking if I would be at such a disadvantage that it would take the fun out of it.

What I mean is not to draft a team (pick your players/preferences from 1-...25 or whatever) and just get the team you get. I'm not sure if that is called an autodraft, I am saying let the computer pick your original team.

Then after getting this team (that you had no hand in picking), you try to improve it through waivers, FA acquisitions, trades.

I think that would be fun, but was asking if I would be at such a disadvantage that it would take the fun out of it.

I actually wasn't aware you could do that. Well, I think you'd obviously be at some degree of a disadvantage; you're going to miss out on most of the best players available. I think your success probability probably depends on how good a player you are. If you're only an ok-to-good player like me, who only wins 3 or 4 championships a year, you'll probably have a pretty tough time. If you're an ace like J-Pav or Knerrpool, you could probably overcome your initial disadvantage and blow your competition away.

Either way, it would be an interesting experiment, and you should share your results with the rest of us.

I tip my hat to you sir, and humbly say that 3-4 championships a year puts you in a much higher bracket than I. I have ummm 1....total....lol. But it was sweet.

Anyway, I thank you for your input. I think doing this would be more realistic, but my credits are hard won and dear to me, so I thought I'd ask around first.

I'll keep you informed should I choose do it.

A couple of seasons ago, there was a "HAL Picks 'em" option on the draft page. I remember Cristano used to go this route sometimes for a change of pace. It's an option I never used personally, and I'm not even sure if it's still available. Does anyone have an open, undrafted team who can scan that first draft page?

I also agree with I.strether. There's an experience threshold I think that needs to be considered in that if you haven't played the current set at least a dozen or so times you will not be able to recognize the chemistry among the zillions of possible player combinations. I would never suggest someone not experiment and have fun, I just think this is really an uphill climb.

Something I've always found useful over the years is to simply mimic a successful team you played against. Set out to draft that exact team, analyze their strengths and weaknesses and see if you can tweak it to make it a few wins better. You would certainly learn a lot more from an experiment like that versus dealing with a handicapped draft.

Either way, GL!

Ah, I see. No more HAL pick 'em option? That sheds a new light on things.

I would like to approach a season as though I am the newly hired manager and I get the hand I am dealt (autodrafting, right?). I'll do it through waivers, FA, and trades. I think it would be fun to try and build a champion that way.

It would not be fun, because if you are not a very good/very experienced player you would not be building championship teams, you would be getting stomped. To say JPav and Cristano have done it and think it's a good for you to do it, to me is ridiculous. If you don't have a very good knowledge of the set and/or the experience and expertise those guys have you should fist try to make the playoffs while drafting a team of players you want. It's not that easy to win when you pick and get all the players you want when you really have a good idea of what you are doing, never mind what you suggest. If you want to do what you say with regards to playing the hand you are dealt, try the mystery card game. You will not be sure if the players you have will be good or bad going into the season, just like in real baseball.