"THOSE WERE THE DAYS" LEAGUE

I've enjoyed today's discussion. One of the reasons to try out new themes is the fun of working through the little wrinkles like this.

Anyhow, I think the logic makes sense, as espoused by a number of managers now, so...

The updated interpretation is:

Each draft retains its stated number of picks -- 480 in the initial one and 60 in later ones -- even as ownership of the picks changes hands

That's a little unfortunate. One of the reasons I told Harold I wouldn't require a return pick in this draft in that trade was at the time I was told that my 20th pick was not going to count because my roster would be full since I had earlier traded a future pick for an extra 4th rounder. Oh well like you say there's bound to be a few wrinkles to iron out. On a different subject, had a question about players who have a year where they didn't play. I know you don't have to drop them and no one can draft a player that doesn't have a card, but am I right to assume that you would have to include that player among your 18 - 21 keepers in order to retain rights to him the next year that he is carded?

I've enjoyed today's discussion. One of the reasons to try out new themes is the fun of working through the little wrinkles like this.

Anyhow, I think the logic makes sense, as espoused by a number of managers now, so...

The updated interpretation is:

Each draft retains its stated number of picks -- 480 in the initial one and 60 in later ones -- even as ownership of the picks changes hands

That's a little unfortunate. One of the reasons I told Harold I wouldn't require a return pick in this draft in that trade was at the time I was told that my 20th pick was not going to count because my roster would be full since I had earlier traded a future pick for an extra 4th rounder. Oh well like you say there's bound to be a few wrinkles to iron out. On a different subject, had a question about players who have a year where they didn't play. I know you don't have to drop them and no one can draft a player that doesn't have a card, but am I right to assume that you would have to include that player among your 18 - 21 keepers in order to retain rights to him the next year that he is carded?

When I made the trade i was aware of the roster cap and expected to lose my 20 pick -I just wanted to upgrade by team by picking in the 15 round not 20. As said above there will be wrinkles to work out and we will all need to show patience in going forward -I find the idea of this league fascinating and i am trying to build a team for appox the 2010-11 season which requires some interesting guess work. I never have been a draft that lasted so long -a marathon to say the least.
I do think that we need to be clear on three particular issues
1) how do we manage players who will miss a season (not carded) =does the commissioner maintain a list -do these players count against the team roster spots.
2) as has been already discussed clarity and consistency in the number of players that can be drafted -for example I have an addition 1 round draft choice in 2009 does that mean I will be drafting 5 or 6 players in that draft
3) How do we plan to manager and self regulate -"dumping" lets say that during the last week of the season two teams are close to having the "worst record" and one team purposefully sets their lineup with its worst players so that they can get the 1 overall choice in the next draft -what is our league position and guidance on this.

I am looking forward to the games

Harold

{{ROUND 20}}
12. TPierceRSN - Gregg Zaun C TOR
[color=#FF0000]15. Harold Homers - Felipe Lopez inf Cin
19. WJS6768 - TIMED OUT AT 11:00
22. ironwill1 - Matt Stairs 1B TOR

{{ROUND 21: STADIUMS}} * * * NO CLOCK IN STADIUM DRAFT * * *
1. willmurr - Citizens Bank Park
2. oldmansmith2 - Kauffman Stadium
3. buzz082308 - Busch Stadium
4. Paul J Kiggins - Camden Yards (proxy)
5. kihoover (from Dr.Publix) - Chase Field
6. JMP1 - Coors Field
7. Dr.Publix (from kihoover) - Rogers Centre
8. thechamp87 - US Cellular Field
9. Piloneus382 - Great American Ballpark
10. Falcon29- Yankee Stadium
11. Terry101
12. TPierceRSN
13. padrenurgle
14. Hk mossy
15. Harold Homers
16. chilliards
17. dharmabums
18. Paul_Long71
19. WJS6768
20. baseball cfo
21. Baseballmike
22. ironwill1
23. tcochran
24. jodynadu

1) how do we manage players who will miss a season (not carded) =does the commissioner maintain a list -do these players count against the team roster spots.

You can keep players on your roster who are not carded, but they DO count as one of your players. In practical terms, Strat requires a team to load 25 guys at the start of a season, so you can never have more than 3 non-carded ones.

Non-carded players will be listed as such in the rosters on the league Google doc.

2) as has been already discussed clarity and consistency in the number of players that can be drafted -for example I have an addition 1 round draft choice in 2009 does that mean I will be drafting 5 or 6 players in that draft

There will be 120 draft picks in each of the future drafts. You can grab as many of them as you'd like, as long as you have space available on your roster. If you do not have space available, then you would forfeit the pick when it rolls around, if you had not already traded it away.

3) How do we plan to manager and self regulate -"dumping" lets say that during the last week of the season two teams are close to having the "worst record" and one team purposefully sets their lineup with its worst players so that they can get the 1 overall choice in the next draft -what is our league position and guidance on this.

On the one hand, it's certainly poor form to try to take a "dive" like that -- but on the other hand, we've all seen HAL let unlikely wild-card teams win the playoffs, too. We can't control either individual managers or HAL in cases like that.

In any given draft, there are likely to be a certain number of players who will be outstanding choices. In a typical 12-team keeper, I always expect the top 5 or 6 picks to be truly worthwhile. With the talent more scattered in a 24-team league like this, I imagine that the first 10 or 12 picks will be well worth having.

Further, as we'll see in the first couple of seasons, there are a number of managers who have been playing the long game in this initial draft. For example, as I posted once before, I have no interest at all in the 2007 or 2008 seasons. I've been letting others fight over the stars for those years, while I packed my roster with guys who will shine in a 2009 - 2014 time frame.

I will be playing my best players in 2007, but my team will still be terrible. In a couple of seasons, though, when other stars are retiring, my guys will shine (I hope!)

There will be 60 draft picks in each of the future drafts. You can grab as many of them as you'd like, as long as you have space available on your roster. If you do not have space available, then you would forfeit the pick when it rolls around, if you had not already traded it away.

60 picks would be 2.5 rounds of drafting. do you mean 120?

Just want to make sure that there can be no future misinterpretation of the rule

There will be 60 draft picks in each of the future drafts. You can grab as many of them as you'd like, as long as you have space available on your roster. If you do not have space available, then you would forfeit the pick when it rolls around, if you had not already traded it away.

60 picks would be 2.5 rounds of drafting. do you mean 120?

Just want to make sure that there can be no future misinterpretation of the rule

Clearly I need a proof-reader! Thanks for catching that; edit added above

{{ROUND 20}}
12. TPierceRSN - Gregg Zaun C TOR
[color=#FF0000]15. Harold Homers - Felipe Lopez inf Cin
19. WJS6768 - TIMED OUT AT 11:00
22. ironwill1 - Matt Stairs 1B TOR

{{ROUND 21: STADIUMS}} * * * NO CLOCK IN STADIUM DRAFT * * *
1. willmurr - Citizens Bank Park
2. oldmansmith2 - Kauffman Stadium
3. buzz082308 - Busch Stadium
4. Paul J Kiggins - Camden Yards (proxy)
5. kihoover (from Dr.Publix) - Chase Field
6. JMP1 - Coors Field
7. Dr.Publix (from kihoover) - Rogers Centre
8. thechamp87 - US Cellular Field
9. Piloneus382 - Great American Ballpark
10. Falcon29- Yankee Stadium
11. Terry101- Miller Park
12. TPierceRSN
13. padrenurgle
14. Hk mossy
15. Harold Homers
16. chilliards
17. dharmabums
18. Paul_Long71
19. WJS6768
20. baseball cfo
21. Baseballmike
22. ironwill1
23. tcochran
24. jodynadu

{{ROUND 20}}
12. TPierceRSN - Gregg Zaun C TOR
[color=#FF0000]15. Harold Homers - Felipe Lopez inf Cin
19. WJS6768 - TIMED OUT AT 11:00
22. ironwill1 - Matt Stairs 1B TOR

{{ROUND 21: STADIUMS}} * * * NO CLOCK IN STADIUM DRAFT * * *
1. willmurr - Citizens Bank Park
2. oldmansmith2 - Kauffman Stadium
3. buzz082308 - Busch Stadium
4. Paul J Kiggins - Camden Yards (proxy)
5. kihoover (from Dr.Publix) - Chase Field
6. JMP1 - Coors Field
7. Dr.Publix (from kihoover) - Rogers Centre
8. thechamp87 - US Cellular Field
9. Piloneus382 - Great American Ballpark
10. Falcon29- Yankee Stadium
11. Terry101- Miller Park
12. TPierceRSN - Comerica Park
13. padrenurgle
14. Hk mossy
15. Harold Homers
16. chilliards
17. dharmabums
18. Paul_Long71
19. WJS6768
20. baseball cfo
21. Baseballmike
22. ironwill1
23. tcochran
24. jodynadu[/quote]

{{ROUND 20}}
12. TPierceRSN - Gregg Zaun C TOR
[color=#FF0000]15. Harold Homers - Felipe Lopez inf Cin
19. WJS6768 - Gary Sheffield LF DET
22. ironwill1 - Matt Stairs 1B TOR

{{ROUND 21: STADIUMS}} * * * NO CLOCK IN STADIUM DRAFT * * *
1. willmurr - Citizens Bank Park
2. oldmansmith2 - Kauffman Stadium
3. buzz082308 - Busch Stadium
4. Paul J Kiggins - Camden Yards (proxy)
5. kihoover (from Dr.Publix) - Chase Field
6. JMP1 - Coors Field
7. Dr.Publix (from kihoover) - Rogers Centre
8. thechamp87 - US Cellular Field
9. Piloneus382 - Great American Ballpark
10. Falcon29- Yankee Stadium
11. Terry101- Miller Park
12. TPierceRSN - Comerica Park
13. padrenurgle
14. Hk mossy
15. Harold Homers
16. chilliards
17. dharmabums
18. Paul_Long71
19. WJS6768
20. baseball cfo
21. Baseballmike
22. ironwill1
23. tcochran
24. jodynadu[/quote]

IMO there is nothing wrong with "dumping" a season and should be expected in a league like this as long as it's done consistently. Yes, wildcard races will be affected somewhat but it's no different than being lucky enough to be in the same division as the teams that are going after Votto and Kershaw this year. My hope is to be competitive the first 3 years but then be pretty awful the following 3 to try to build a team that will be good the rest of the way. The only thing I would consider sketchy is if during a year I was dumping, I fielded stronger or weaker lineups against certain teams in order to help a friend or hurt a team that I owned a draft pick of. Anyway just my thoughts, looking forward to my first ever keeper league and thanks Terry for the idea and all your work.
Randy