Where do you prefer drafting in a 12 man snake?

[umphrey]

As much as I love Braun/MCab/Trout, I actually prefer drafting right in the middle. It makes it easier to watch trends during the draft and jump in on a run at just the right time.

[kingmike74]

If I end up with Longoria on my team after round 2 I figure I've already failed at the draft~.

In a 12 team league the 24th player is more or less the same as the 12th so picking early is by far no question asked not even remotely close the best place. The only real question is do you like to pick in the middle vs late because by about pick 8 or so the talent is pretty watered down. Some people like picking at the end for some reason, good players prefer to be a bit off the end so they can let guys drop and get more value~. Obviously you can see that I hate picking on the end, you have to reach for guys you like and you can never draft for value since the guys you 'value' more than others will be gone 23 picks later when it is your turn again.

Anyone who thinks they control a draft from an end is deluding themselves as well.

So you'd prefer a top pick?

[Ender]

Yes always. Take your player values, pretend everyone drafted in exactly the order you rank players. Add up the value of each team. The team that picks #1 will end up something like $10-$15 more valuable than the team that picks in the middle. You most likely will see something like 1 through 7 or so being highest value in order and then the values of 8 through 12 will bounce around some. That happens because the early picks have much higher gaps in value than the rest of your picks. By about pick 12 I might have 10-12 guys who I value almost the same but I value Braun at #1 as much as $10 more than the guys going at pick 9. Every pick that goes by in the draft the difference in value between players just gets smaller and smaller so you never 'make it up' for not being an early pick. That being said if you like Braun, Trout and Cabrera exactly the same you would want to pick #3, but I'd still always want to pick early.

[abrage22]

In my 10 teamer I got the 10th pick, but I was offered to swap the first two rounds with the guy who got the #3 pick. Any opinions...?
I usually prefer to be as high up as possible, so I'm thinking I should go for it.

[BJSFAN123]

Usually depends on how the draft is looking, but this year I definitely would want to be picking in the top 3.

[OBPlover]

This year, it's kind of an exceptional time. With sooo much uncertainty in the first round. I don't remember the last time there were these many question marks in the first round. So yeah, being top 4..Braun, Cab, Trout or Cano has added value. But doesn't have to be this way.

Last year in my 10-team AL only snake draft league..winners drafted 2nd, 5th and 8th

[Ray Zorback]

Last night in one of my pro leagues I drew pick #12. It was brutal. I found myself either taking someone I really didn't want or reaching for someone I did.

This year I would prefer pick 3 or 4. I could snag one of the big 4 and not have 22 picks in between my picks.

Sunday I have a 14 team draft in a league I won last year. 26 picks in between mine. Ugggh!

[Ender]

Last night in one of my pro leagues I drew pick #12. It was brutal. I found myself either taking someone I really didn't want or reaching for someone I did.

Yep that is how it goes. You lose all control you have over the draft on the end because you can never let someone go assuming they might last until your next pick.

[FindingTim]

I prefer either 1-3 or 10-12, I dread the middle range McCutchen/Kemp/Votto/Pujols/Car-Go zone...
I don't mind the 12th pick, because the back-to-back picks help you avoid praying that certain players will fall back to you. It gives me a sense of control.

My ideal draft would be 2nd pick, with a Trout/Longoria/Reyes trio. Longoria usually is gone by that pick, though not always.

[Ender]

I don't mind the 12th pick, because the back-to-back picks help you avoid praying that certain players will fall back to you. It gives me a sense of control.

That makes no sense at all~ This is basically taking all control away from you. You have to reach for the guys you want because you have no other choice at all, all of your choices IE control is completely gone.