How deep is too deep?

[HYLRedSox]

Well my league has been fun, no doubt. Just wanted to see if anyone has been in one quite this deep.
This is my 12 AL-only roster. Each team has 30 roster spots.
(I'm not posting it for feedback, just for reference):

C Jason Kendall (Oak - C)
1B Mark Teixeira (Tex - 1B)
2B Aaron Hill (Tor - 2B,SS)
3B Alex Gordon (KC - 3B)
LF Kevin Youkilis (Bos - 1B,3B,LF)
CF Rocco Baldelli (TB - CF)
RF Gary Sheffield (Det - 1B,RF)
OF Jay Gibbons (Bal - LF,RF)
Util Dustin Pedroia (Bos - 2B,SS)
BN Reggie Sanders (KC - RF)
BN Jorge Cantú (TB - 2B)

SP Dan Haren (Oak - SP)
SP Roy Halladay (Tor - SP)
SP Curt Schilling (Bos - SP)
RP Akinori Otsuka (Tex - RP)
RP Scott Downs (Tor - SP,RP)
RP Tom Mastny (Cle - RP)
P Aaron Fultz (Cle - RP)
P Julio Mateo (Sea - RP)
BN Jake Westbrook (Cle - SP)
BN Jarrod Washburn (Sea - SP)
BN Joaquín Benoit (Tex - RP)
BN Brandon Duckworth (KC - SP)

I have some empty roster spots, but I'm waiting for some guys to get added and use my waiver priority. I just traded Benoit for Cleveland's 4th OF, Jason Michaels. But I digress.

I just wanted to see what people thought about a league THIS deep.
Thanks for the great thread.

[jazzmanljg]

I joined a 16 team auction roto league with huge rosters (23 active, 17 bench, and 15 minors). It's the deepest league I've ever played in and I am loving it. Not only does it force you to do your research, but the only way to really upgrade your roster is to make deals. I recommend deep leagues for those players who love wheelin' and dealin'.

[davidmarver]

too deep is anything larger then 16 team leagues that have more then 16 starting slots

Not true. The Hot Stove League runs a 16 team league with 10 P slots, 2 C slots, a CI, UT, and MI slot, and 5 outfielders.

[PlayingWithFire]

Here's my 28 teams dynasty league roster

I've been trading a lot the past 2 years. I started with the A's and most guys are gone.

Starting Pitcher
Wade Miller $3,000,000(2011)
Matt Cain $300,000(2011)
Jeremy Bonderman $400,000(2008)
Odalis Perez $4,500,000 (2007)(T-08)
James Shields $300,000(2011)
Jerome Williams $300,000(2008)
Zack Greinke $300,000(2009)
Chad Durbin $500,000(2007)

Relief Pitcher
Al Reyes $500,000(2007)
Huston Street $316,000 (2010)
Jose Valverde $335,000 (2008)
Jon Rauch $320,000 (2009)
Jesse Crain $321,000(2010)
Jeremy Accardo $300,000 (2011)

Catcher
Jason Kendall $10,571,429 (2007)

1st baseman
David Ortiz $5,250,000(2007)
Erubial Durazo $500,000(2007)

2nd baseman
Luis Castillo $6,500,000(2009)

3rd baseman
Eric Chavez $8,500,000 (2010)

Shortstop
Edgar Renteria $8,000,000 (2008) (team option-2009)


Outfielder
Andre Ethier $300,000(2011)
Nick Swisher $316,500 (2010)
Alex Rios $331,000(2009)
Milton Bradley $2,500,000 (2007)
Bobby Kielty $875,000 (2007)

Disable List


Paid Minor Leaguers
David Newhan $365,000 (2009)
Luis Matos $500,000(2007)
Alex S. Gonzalez $500,000(2007)
John Bale $500,000(2007)
Rudy Seanez $500,000(2007)
Aaron Fultz $500,000(2007)
Jay Witasick $500,000(2007)
Chris Shelton $300,000(2010)
Jorge Cantu $316,000 (2009)
J.P. Howell $300,000(2010)
Byung-Hyun Kim $3,000,000 (2010)
Hong-Chih Kuo $300,000(2011)
Melky Cabrera $300,000(2011)
Dan Johnson $300,000 (2010)
Brandon Medders $300,000(2011)
Brad Hennessey $300,000(2010)
David Bell $4,700,000(2007)
Jose Cruz Jr. $4,500,000(2007)
Antonio Perez $320,500 (2010)
Hee-Seop Choi $351,500 (2008)
Adam Melhuse $385,000 (2009)
Dewon Brazelton $300,000(2009)
Miguel Acensio $500,000(2009)
Tim Harikkala $300,000
Matt Watson $300,000 (2010)
Ron Flores $300,000
Chin-Hui Tsao $317,000 (2010)
Charles Thomas $319,000 (2009)
Keiichi Yabu $780,000 (2010)
Luis Terrero $321,000 (2009)
Sean Burroughs $1,675,000 (2007)
Pedro Astacio $500,000(2007)
Marlon Anderson $500,000(2008)
Josh Phelps $500,000(2010)
Ken Harvey $500,000(2009)
Tony Clark $500,000(2007)
Ruben Gotay $300,000(2009)

Other Minor leaguers
Mario Lisson-3B(Royals)
Dana Eveland-LHP(Diamondbacks)
RJ Seidel-RHP(Brewers)
Michael Hollimon-SS(Tigers)
Brett Gardner-OF(Yankees)
Brian Duensing-LHP(Twins)
Chris Parmelee-OF(Twins)
Freddie Bynum-2B(Cubs)
Omar Quintanilla-2B(Rockies)
AJ Shappi-SP(Diamondback)
Chris Nelson-SS/CF(Rockies)
Kyle Blanks-1B(Padres)
Chris Seddon-SP(Devil Rays)
Tim Lincecum-SP/RP(Giants)
Mitch Talbot-SP(Devil Rays)
Colt Griffin-SP(Royals)

Total Salary: $82,385,929
Salary Cap: $89,000,000
Cap space remaining: $6,614,071

Astros 1st round pick-2007-25th overall
Phillies 1st round pick-2007-17th overall
Dodgers 1st round pick-2007-3rd overall

[number9]

Real life MLB roster is 25 players times 30 teams for 750 players active at any one time. (350 for AL, 400 for NL.)

I agree that the default Yahoo settings of 12 teams of 22 players (or there abouts for total of 264 players) are less fun, that uses about 1/3 of the active major leaguers.

But I can see that a 12 team 30 player NL only league would be overkill because then you're using 360/400 NL players, that's 90% of the league! Really scraping the barrell for those benchwarmers throwing junk innings or pinch hitting.

So, what's the ideal balance, about 50% of the active players? That'd be about 16 teams of 23-24 players each for a mixed league (or some other combination).

[pokerplaya]

I personally don't think that the deeper the league is the better it is necessarily. Too shallow I don't like, but my favorite would probably be 12-14 teams with standard offensive spots (perhaps a 2nd util) and 5 SP spots, 3 RP spots and 2 P spots. You would be surprised how shallow the pitching gets, and even the offensive spots aren't all that great. Factor in a few injuries, and Sammy Sosa becomes a starter on your team or you are forced to start David Wells. That's plenty deep for me.

My favorite league is 12 teams, 25 rounds, 3 DL spots...so you are looking at roughly the top 325 players gone. That seems about right to me, but I'm sure some will disagree. It's all a matter of preference, really.

[mrkrab2003]

anything less than 20 teams 30 man rosters is for little girls and housewives.

[bellybrother]

anything less than 20 teams 30 man rosters is for little girls and housewives.

That may be a little harsh, but 20 teams AL/NL is a 10 team NL so I'll agrre with that. But If you prefer a shallower league so you're not starting platoon guys or playing pitching matchups with the 4th and 5th starters from Colorado or Washington I'm not gonna hate you on it. I like the challenge of it, but to each their own.

[citybirds27]

Too deep is when you don't even recognize any of the waiver wire

[number9]

That may be a little harsh, but 20 teams AL/NL is a 10 team NL so I'll agrre with that. But If you prefer a shallower league so you're not starting platoon guys or playing pitching matchups with the 4th and 5th starters from Colorado or Washington I'm not gonna hate you on it. I like the challenge of it, but to each their own.

Sounds like that would require lineup adjustments every day. Probably not everyone's cup of tee (bear in mind that the cafe isn't a typical sampling of fantasy players )