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.

Yes, you are at a disadvantage. It is not even necessary to draft high end players, but there are certain low cost value cards you may want to draft.

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.

DurantJerry,

I am not sure if you were referring to my post (or anyone else's post in particular) but nobody suggested that if JPav (or any other excellent player) tried to start a team from scratch that he should do it, too. All I did say (if you were referring to my post) was that if Techsan was as good a player as J-Pav (and only if he were that good) then trying such an experiment could actually be interesting for him...and it probably would be.

But I completely agree with your suggestion that Techsan try the Mystery Card Games for some enjoyable experimentation. I am currently enjoying my two 90's leagues (only my second and third 90's teams) that I am playing with/against you...particularly since I have learned from you in both leagues.

That option to let Hal randomly select you a team was a TSN feature that was not brought over by Strato.

But if you are looking for a challenge and simulating getting the hand dealt to you here is an idea.

1- Play 80 or 100 mil.
2- Fill the top 10 slots with half dollar guys. Two 0.5 relievers, One 0.5 starting pitcher and 7 0.5 mil bench players with one of them being a catcher. Even better if a couple of them could play multiple positions. This would be the foundation of your bench while committing very little of your money.
3- All the above cheapo bench splinter gatherers would be listed at the top of your draft card.
4- Fill out your team with the most expensive cards you can afford with the remaining money.
5- List those expensive players on your draft card by ascending salary. In other words your most expensive on would be listed 25.

What this would do is
1- fill your roster with 10 or so guys of limited use if kept and most likely needing replaced.
2- Maximize the chances you will NOT get your most desirable players unless they were such that nobody else wanted them. Or you will be stuck with consolation picks nobody else wanted.

Basically it could be argued this is the hand that was dealt you. You would be the new GM of a team where the previous regime was clueless about building a team. Just for some added reality your team should be called the Houston Astros.

To me, the initilal question should be answered, of course you shouldn't do what you are suggesting, it would be ridiculous. If he has played at all he should know the answer to his own question without asking anyone. The fact that he sounds like he has little experience with the set he wants to play and he does not know the answer to his own question concerning the effect of not drafting, etc., leads me to believe that he is at least somewhat inexperienced. An inexperienced player doing what he suggests is ridiculous. It's not like, oh if you are looking for a challenge try........, or maybe you should try such and such. The answer is, if you even have to ask me the question posed in the post, you should not be trying it. Draft a normal team and see if you can break .500. To me, his question is the equivalent of opening a trade offer and seeing someone wants to trade me Josh Donaldson and Adam Dunn for Ian Kinsler and Garret Jones. I know the guy is either an a-hole or is an inexperienced player. Telling a guy who has just offered me that trade that he should maybe play a team without drafting and waivers would be ridiculous. I am not trying to demean the poster, as I was sending those ridiculous trade offers when I began. However, he asked for opinions and that is mine.

Thank you for not trying to demean the poster (me), although your third person reference to me throughout the post is a little condescending.

It is apparent that you have not read any of the posts subsequent to the first one, so let me bring you up to speed on what has been said to this point.

I said I have played many games, but not in a few years. The whole post was basically to ask about using the HAL Pick 'Em option. After a long layoff from the game, I couldn't remember that it was called that. J-Pav informed me that the HAL Pick 'Em system is no longer an option, therefore, the point is moot. I was simply asking if anyone had tried that tact before, and if so, how it went.

Good luck in your upcoming seasons and I'll see you on the field.