A Rebuilding Year

[ThatDude]

The commish of one of my returning keeper leagues has decided that snake drafts are bad, and we are switching to non-snake drafts starting now. So the guy that gets the 1st pick in the first round will get the 1st pick in every round. I don't like this, but aside from quitting the league, there's not much I can do.

I was already planning on treating this as a rebuilding year anyway. Trade off some of my older players like Manny and Dye for some youth, take a middle of the pack finish, and try to get things going again next year. But with this news, now I'm thinking I should be aiming for last place so I can get the sweet spot in the draft for the 2010 season. I'm really not a fan of tanking, but since I know I don't have any realistic shot of winning the league this year, it does look like my most strategically sound option.


With all that in mind, I'm basically approaching this year's draft with the idea of getting young people that I can easily wait a year on, and build myself a powerful young keeper group (10 keepers) for many years to come.

Wieters and Price are my 2 prime targets. Also Bruce, Drew, and Kershaw. Who else would fit in that category?

[converge241]

its interesting that there are keeper leagues that do NOT do stright drafts to me

Once you go keeper seems like it should always be a straight draft IMO(1st year of drafting though should be snake)

I wouldnt tank though ..yeah its going to guarantee you the "best" player but it is just one guy..theres nothign wrong with doing a youth overhaul..you might be surprised at how well you can do if/when those kids click..in keeper leagues havent seen this work out too well unless you hit gold on everyone (build into a powerhouse for years) its better to try every year with a balance on now and future could invest a year or twos entry fees and not win, y'know?

dont let the change drive your plans is all, but good luck however you go!

Id get guys like Chris Davis, Tommy Hanson, Feliz etc if you do go that route sont forget about trading for guys who have already debuted like Longoria and all..if you send the right package of veterans to a contender for a guy like that they do do it sometimes

p.s. while this is more for commish corner if the whole idea of finishing last/pickign 1st bothers you maybe float to your commish to have a draft lottery..where last place MIGHT pick 1st but not guaranteed

[duckmonkey]

I inherited a bad Keeper team last year and tried something similar.

I fielded a lot of young guys who were unproven but had some potential like McLouth, Luke Scott, Pablo Sandoval (later in the season), Orlando Cabrera, Nelson Cruz (late-season pop), Uggla, Billingsley, Granderson...and took the team from the basement to 4th-place.

I had just wanted to overhaul the team and survive, but ended up building a good team for the future.

I expect to be competitive this year, if I draft well.


I say go for it, you may tank and get a good draft spot for next season, or you could end up with a solid team for years to come with some luck.

[etex211]

The commish of one of my returning keeper leagues has decided that snake drafts are bad, and we are switching to non-snake drafts starting now. So the guy that gets the 1st pick in the first round will get the 1st pick in every round. I don't like this, but aside from quitting the league, there's not much I can do.

What? He just decided? The league doesn't get to vote on such things?

I don't think that I'd want to be in a league like that. In both of my keeper leagues, every rule change is put to a vote.