Fantasy RBI 2018 Draft Thread

[Darky]

Beefmaster's strategy of ignoring starting pitching is interesting.  He's only got three choices left.  I've often wondering how different computer pitchers really are, so this could work out in his favor or work against him.

It's a sound strategy imo. Beef has come out in this draft with a clear strategy and he's done it before in previous drafts. Shoot for power and beef up the bench and hope the pitchers he's left with do just enough to keep the score down. After about 2-3 SP's, it's really a crapshoot with the rest of the pitchers and there's not really a huge drop off in ERA judging by the historical stats I have from all the fantasy seasons played. Gooden is the one who is usually consistent in ERA, but last year he wasn't. So that's that. I wish I had a clear strategy before the draft. I winged it at first, then sorta go into it after my dumb pick of OSmith. That was nomaaa's fault though because he took the heart and soul from the Empire when he took Donnie Baseball.

[TempoGL]

This is of course dependent on it working out properly, but I think the best place to pick is in the middle (picks 4-6).  You can exploit the rosters of the other teams in the middle rounds by looking at what positions they have/have not picked relative to your team.  I've been able to do that on a much smaller scale, but I think the opportunities are greater when there's a balanced number of teams picking both before you and after you.

[Reds]

THAT'S MY FRIEND!!!!!

I met him once...

[Darky]

And we'll see a newcomer to the starting lineup this year with Danny Heep. He may surprise some people imo! The Empire is expecting for him to hit just above .500 with 5-7 jacks in the 18-game season. We ran some simulations and for some reason, he can flat out rake for a guy with a 20 contact and 807 power. He may be this year's Doran.

This is of course dependent on it working out properly, but I think the best place to pick is in the middle (picks 4-6).  You can exploit the rosters of the other teams in the middle rounds by looking at what positions they have/have not picked relative to your team.  I've been able to do that on a much smaller scale, but I think the opportunities are greater when there's a balanced number of teams picking both before you and after you.

That can be true, but so many other factors are in play. Such as mistake choices by some owners and overvaluing/undervaluing some players. I pretty much agree though if you are picking in the middle and make good choices. I think when you try and project too much and then that owner throws a curve selection, it can lead to mistakes if you get too far ahead. I was going to take Lindeman before your next pick back in the earlier round so he could compete with Clark and to cripple you, but then that would have been lame because I couldn't afford to do that. Generally, I pretty much just go with the player that fits the kind of team I want with a clear identity - that's when I had my better drafts. Also, early round owners are still at a huge advantage. You can get away with a lot of stuff if you have players like Bell, Dawson, McGwire and Canseco...then you can afford to grab an elite SP earlier in the draft. I believe in the finals in most of the fantasy seasons, you'll find either Bell or Dawson in the lineup and you'll always see Gooden in the playoffs.

This draft I drafted last and last season I drafted next to last. That's some bs. I think next fantasy draft, the draft needs to go live and that the commissioner pulls names from a hat on live video since sticking me in the next to last or last round is some kind of trend. 

[TempoGL]

I sure didn't stick you at the end through any shenangians, and look where I ended up.  Not any better imo.

I thought about doing a live video, but it's not until I'm typing this now that I realize that the results are not easy to manipulate.

[Darky]

All cool. haha, I'm just a little upset with myself for taking OSmith so early. Oh well, I just wasn't really into the draft and did no homework before then came out with no plan other than not getting stuck with a shit C and 3B like I did last year ... and getting Donnie Baseball. Actually, me and Nacho/Mike D picked 9th and 10th respectively in FRBI season V, and we ended up in the finals, but then both of us came out on the better end of 3-way trades with Ryno, haha! Back to pitching, really weird how so many pitchers vary from season to season. And based on some simulations I've ran, as well as accounting for past seasons, there is some glitch with Jack Clark. A guy with his power and contact rating should be producing way more. I think he's has one really good season from what I've seen in the stats I have from past seasons. Then again, with some work in the cage, the Empire will make him come out big this year 

[ryno]

Would be interesting to see  how many RBI rings Dawson has.  Or see if any particular players end  on championship teams. 

[ryno]

Also I'm putting  the league on notice.....the cops are open for business when trades are open. 

[Nacho]

I think we should have a no-trade policy to prevent some teams from fleecing Darky others.

[Shooty]

I'm on board with a no trade policy. Darky nearly single handedly fucked up the league last year.

[TempoGL]

I'll start a puhl once the draft is done.

[Shooty]

Bade Woggs

[ryno]

Trades are fun. 

[Darky]

Trades are fine with the commissioner's approval. I'd suggest to have a small window for trades. For example, if it's a 18-game season, then allow trades from weeks 9-10 and that's it. That's how ran the trades when I was commissioner for a couple of seasons.

And Tempo, are you all set as far as the know how to the rom to recording games and stats? SP's alternate as how it's been the past 3 seasons.

I think we should have a no-trade policy to prevent some teams from fleecing Darky others.

I simply handicapped my team to make the league more fun! Besides, I gave you those gifts and sent your team to the playoffs with the players you got from me! Man, I had a good team actually before those trades. Nomaaa's fault once again!

[BeefMaster]

Beefmaster's strategy of ignoring starting pitching is interesting.  He's only got three choices left.  I've often wondering how different computer pitchers really are, so this could work out in his favor or work against him.

It's a sound strategy imo. Beef has come out in this draft with a clear strategy and he's done it before in previous drafts. Shoot for power and beef up the bench and hope the pitchers he's left with do just enough to keep the score down. After about 2-3 SP's, it's really a crapshoot with the rest of the pitchers and there's not really a huge drop off in ERA judging by the historical stats I have from all the fantasy seasons played. Gooden is the one who is usually consistent in ERA, but last year he wasn't. So that's that.

My thought is that we still don't really know how (or even IF) pitchers' ratings make a difference in a CPU vs. CPU game, while we know EXACTLY how hitters' ratings make a difference.  I'd rather spend my more-valuable picks on things I know are useful rather than hoping that Dwight Gooden recreates a successful run that we have absolutely no non-luck-based explanation for.

[Shooty]

I think I agree with Beefy for the most part, with two exceptions. 

1) I don't like to draft a pitcher with low stamina.  Some of these CPU vs CPU games become slugfests.  If a pitcher starts tiring in the third inning, it can get ugly.
2) I value guys that throw sinkers, specifically Mike Scott.  They seem to get more K's.  Less balls in play, less damage. 

[fightonusc]

Kevin "Large Mouth" Bass

[Nacho]

Garrelts

[BeefMaster]

Yngbld, who I believe is the last 800+ power guy left on the board.

[BeefMaster]

I think I agree with Beefy for the most part, with two exceptions. 

1) I don't like to draft a pitcher with low stamina.  Some of these CPU vs CPU games become slugfests.  If a pitcher starts tiring in the third inning, it can get ugly.
2) I value guys that throw sinkers, specifically Mike Scott.  They seem to get more K's.  Less balls in play, less damage. 

I'm generally on board with that, but here are my counterarguments:

1) There are only a few pitchers with extra stamina (and no starters with lower than average).  I'm very hesitant to sacrifice a lineup spot to reach for one of them.

2) I have wanted to believe that since we started doing these leagues, but I'm pretty sure Scott's actual results haven't been appreciably better than anyone else's.