Ethics question: Leagues w/ friends that are kinda new at it

[BitterDodgerFan]

even the smartest managers can lose out to lucky teams, being the most knowledgeable and drafting the best team doesn't guarantee the win. nobody should ever assume they'll win the league especially this early.

[woodson_28]

even the smartest managers can lose out to lucky teams, being the most knowledgeable and drafting the best team doesn't guarantee the win. nobody should ever assume they'll win the league especially this early.

Very true. Last season, I retained only 4 of my original 23 draft picks and won the championship in my league.

It's not that I drafted poorly... I drafted very well. I just sold high on a ton of players.

1. Nobody has a "perfect draft"
2. I love trading

Only players I drafted last year, and were still on my team when I won: Kazmir, Halladay, J. Reyes and M. Cain

[smoovethug]

Whatever happens just preach to them to be active. It isn't like football where there's only 1-2 days of action a week. You don't want anyone to go dead on you during those dog days of summer.

[Neato Torpedo]

Draft was more or less a mess. Liriano went #2 overall, six pitchers were gone by the 18th pick, and I was forced to take Shields and Bills back to back at 39 and 40 overall. I was taken off goddamn guard by that. Luckily for the balance of the league, the 10th pick guy missed the first few rounds and ended up with Wright, Sizemore, Berkman, B.J. Upton, Morneau, Papelbon, and Bay in the first seven rounds before he showed up and drafted Dempster, Wood, and seven worthless guys before he left again. I had to subtly goad him out of drafting Angel Guzman, Daryle Ward, Aaron Miles, and Neal Cotts.

Here are some highlights (bolded picks were made by me for my team, underlined picks were made by me for guys that were absent):

Round 1
2. Francisco Liriano
5. Johan Santana
6. Tim Lincecum
10. David Wright
Round 2
1. Grady Sizemore
2. Roy Halladay
3. CC Sabathia
4. Jake Peavy
7. Brandon Webb
9. Miguel Cabrera
10. Ian Kinsler
Round 3
1. Mark Teixeira
2. Dan Haren
5. Carlos Beltrán
Round 4
2. Kevin Youkilis
3. Francisco Rodríguez
5. Josh Beckett
9. Robinson Canó
10. Chad Billingsley
Round 5
1. James Shields
3. Roy Oswalt
4. Carlos Gómez (huh??? Basically all his other picks were sane)
7. Carlos Zambrano (saw this coming, unfortunately)
10. Justin Morneau
Round 6
7. Adrián Béltre
10. Álex Rodríguez
Round 7
2. Chien-Ming Wang
8. Brian Roberts
10. Jonathan Papelbon
Round 8
1. Ryan Dempster
9. A.J. Pierzynski
10. Matt Kemp
Round 9
1. Curtis Granderson
4. Magglio Ordóñez
10. Kerry Wood
Round 10
1. Bengie Molina
9. Chipper Jones
10. Jacoby Ellsbury
Round 11
6. Adrián González
9. Corey Hart
10. Ryan Theriot
Round 12
3. Nate McLouth
9. Édgar Rentería
Round 13
1. Chris Davis
2. Andy Sonnanstine (my fault for talking him up the previous week)
9. Mark Buehrle
Round 14
1. José Contreras
3. Mike Cameron
4. Bobby Abreu
7. Gavin Floyd
Round 15
1. Jay Bruce
2. Scot Shields
4. J.J. Hardy
8. Bill Hall
Round 16
1. Jeff Samardzija
2. Taylor Buchholz
3. Dave Bush
Round 17
2. Troy Glaus
6. Ricky Nolasco
10. Johnny Damon
Round 18
2. Torii Hunter
7. Joey Votto (holy crap)
Round 19
3. John Lackey (I said he’ll miss a couple games….whoops)
10. Alex Gordon
Round 20
1. Nelson Cruz
9. Raúl Ibañez
Round 21
2. Erik Bedard
3. Conor Jackson
Round 22
9. Aaron Cook
Round 23
3. Brad Hawpe
4. Andre Ethier

[RAmst23]

I'm curious what your team looks like, and I love how there's really sane picks mixed in with even awesomer ones. Hells yea Aaron Cook in the 22nd

[Scoots#5]

Joey Votto - pick of the draft... lol

[Neato Torpedo]

I forgot Votto because I was going in without a physical list of players, so every pick was off the top of my head. Other people brought premade lists and/or brought their laptops and did research on the fly, so I tried to equalize it a bit. When I heard a guy announce "Joey..." I thought "Devine" but then he said "Votto" and my jaw dropped at my memory lapse.

I'm curious what your team looks like, and I love how there's really sane picks mixed in with even awesomer ones. Hells yea Aaron Cook in the 22nd

My team:

Round Pick Player Position
1. (1) Hanley Ramírez SS
2. (20) Ian Kinsler 2B
3. (21) Mark Teixeira 1B
4. (40) Chad Billingsley SP
5. (41) James Shields SP
6. (60) Álex Rodríguez 3B
7. (61) Joe Nathan RP
8. (80) Matt Kemp OF
9. (81) Curtis Granderson OF
10. (100) Jacoby Ellsbury OF
11. (101) Zack Greinke SP
12. (120) Jonathan Broxton RP
13. (121) Chris Davis 1B,3B
14. (140) Yovani Gallardo SP
15. (141) Jay Bruce OF
16. (160) Matt Wieters C
17. (161) Max Scherzer SP,RP
18. (180) Chris Iannetta C
19. (181) Kevin Slowey SP
20. (200) Delmon Young OF
21. (201) Jason Motte RP
22. (220) Jose Arredondo RP
23. (221) Adam Jones OF

Guy that could only be there for part of the draft:

1. (10) David Wright
2. (11) Grady Sizemore
3. (30) Lance Berkman
4. (31) B.J. Upton
5. (50) Justin Morneau
6. (51) Jason Bay
7. (70) Jonathan Papelbon
8. (71) Ryan Dempster
9. (90) Kerry Wood
10. (91) Bengie Molina
11. (110) Ryan Theriot
12. (111) Rickie Weeks
13. (130) Trevor Hoffman
14. (131) José Contreras
15. (150) Frank Francisco ("I need another reliever, has Neal Cotts been taken?")
16. (151) Jeff Samardzija
17. (170) Johnny Damon
18. (171) Mike González
19. (190) Alex Gordon
20. (191) Nelson Cruz
21. (210) Jonathan Sánchez
22. (211) Clayton Kershaw
23. (230) Justin Upton

Other guy I drafted for:

1. (3) Albert Pujols
2. (18) Josh Hamilton
3. (23) Evan Longoria
4. (38) Carlos Quentin
5. (43) Roy Oswalt
6. (58) Mariano Rivera
7. (63) David Ortiz
8. (78) Joba Chamberlain
9. (83) Stephen Drew
10. (98) Jhonny Peralta (whoops)
11. (103) A.J. Burnett
12. (118) José López
13. (123) Matt Capps
14. (138) Lastings Milledge
15. (143) Ryan Doumit
16. (158) Ricky Nolasco
17. (163) Adam Wainwright
18. (178) Chris Young (SP)
19. (183) John Lackey
20. (198) Matt Garza
21. (203) Conor Jackson
22. (218) Scott Baker
23. (223) Brad Hawpe

[AussieDodger]

Other guy I drafted for:

1. (3) Albert Pujols
2. (18) Josh Hamilton
3. (23) Evan Longoria
4. (38) Carlos Quentin
5. (43) Roy Oswalt
6. (58) Mariano Rivera
7. (63) David Ortiz
8. (78) Joba Chamberlain
9. (83) Stephen Drew
10. (98) Jhonny Peralta (whoops)
11. (103) A.J. Burnett
12. (118) José López
13. (123) Matt Capps
14. (138) Lastings Milledge
15. (143) Ryan Doumit
16. (158) Ricky Nolasco
17. (163) Adam Wainwright
18. (178) Chris Young (SP)
19. (183) John Lackey
20. (198) Matt Garza
21. (203) Conor Jackson
22. (218) Scott Baker
23. (223) Brad Hawpe

This guy will crush you, you gave him 4 trillion HRs in the 1st four rounds (and then Papi).

[Neato Torpedo]

Go balls out yes/no?

[Suicide Kings]

I wouldn't be so sure of yourself....sometimes the less you know the better!! We overthink just a tad too much while someones secretary makes off with the loot....