The effects of an in-season auction draft

[Sticky Spice]

Our league historically holds our auction draft about one week into the season.

That way we are sure to be drafting players from the final rosters. The last thing we want is for teams to stock up on $1 prospects only to reserve them opening day and pick up free agents.

What I love about having the draft a week in is how it messes with your mind. I actually root AGAINST guys that I'm targeting so the price is driven down. It can even change your mind about someone you've been looking at all offseason if you let it!

It's also funny to see what a hot first week will do. That year that Tuffy Rhodes hit 3 HR on opening day he went for $16 at the auction

Anyone else have an in-season draft like this? What are some pros and cons you see to a draft after the season has started?

[Guest]

We also hold our draft the weekend after all the teams have played a game. Since we have minor leaguers it help with who our keepers are (minor leaguers don't count against our 13 keepers). I think last year someone bid $19 on Runelves Hernandez

[GoDucks]

We would draft one week after the season starts. It helps in the sense that the rosters for each team have been set, and you have a better feel for who is playing and who is sitting. Also, it helps if someone gets hurt in the first week (like Jeter last year), so then you can adjust your draft to compensate.

[Madison]

All of my leagues start before the first pitch is thrown out on opening day.

I couldn't imagine it any other way.

[LBJackal]

Me too, all of mine are way before the season starts. Mostly because we can never find a time to all meet in one spot, so it takes a month or two.

But my league is aweosme, it's in it's third year and every single team returned this season. For 18 strangers that don't know each other, that's tough to accomplish. It's an awesome league now, primarily because of it's AWESOME commish..........and you're looking at him

So if you have the luxury of a live draft, in season might be nice, but I'd still prefer it about a week before the season. Just curious, for those who do in-season, do you ever use retro-active stats?

[Sticky Spice]

Yes, all stats are retroactive.

And in fact, we have a DL round where you can DL a guy you just drafted retroactively and pick up a free agent.....retroactively

[Guest]

Couldn't imagine drafting after the season has started personally.

[justinA]

i also couldnt imagine drafting after the season started. All the stuff that the original poster (didnt look at his name) said are ways to basically make it easier and less risks. I personally like the strategy of not knowing if a guy will start off well, or even start when i draft. Also, it eliminates the possibility of those crucial first month trades where u trade the hot ticket for just what appears to be a same level talent. Like last year, Eric Young started the season out quite well, showed some power, and that he still had speed. A GM called me on the phone one night telling me he needed steals desperately and was interested in young. So he gave me the choice between Jeff Conine or.. get this.. AUBREY HUFF. Luckily i went with aubrey, cuz actually at the time conine was on fire.