Free Agency Commentary

[Benny]

The only bad part is that I can't make edits to the Google doc at work, which reduces me to my phone...but my phone is linked to a different account. That's why I can do stuff on here while I'm at work, but not the Google doc.

What I didn't notice, though, is how fast the Google updates go when the site stuff is already done. There were quite a few entries, but all I had to do was type a name and number for each player. Whole thing took about 5 minutes.

[Benny]

Two not-so-random things: first, please check on whether a player has been bid upon (either through the "Auctioned Players" thread or using the search function) before nominating someone...and second, I can't wait for that first Team Crafts/Mighty Achilles matchup.

[antant42]

Sorry about that, I Check every time but I missed Jose Batista.

[Bryan]

God I'm an idiot on that Zumaya bid, I'm not sure what I was thinking...

[raiderqb11]

Thanks KVill for outbidding me on Granderson. Broken wrist out 10-12 weeks. He will be a stud when he gets back but not a good day to be a Yankees fan

[kvill79]

Damn. I saw that he got hit but saw a report that they thought he was ok. New I should have waited for X-ray results.

[Benny]

We're almost at the halfway point...I'll address something that I don't expect to get much static on, since it follows the spirit of a recent rule that was implemented.

No one is (well, will be) allowed to have the following situation:

(#of players won) + (# of live bids) > 25

I know there's a case of this now. Once that is resolved, the rule shall go into effect. The penalty for violating this rule will be the same $5 FAAB penalty that is in effect for the similar rule regarding bidding. Speaking of, some of you all may want to start watching that a little more closely too.

[raiderqb11]

Yes, they already are in the league page

[Benny]

Two more things:

1) The ESPN draft is tomorrow morning. It would help me out immensely if everyone could drop their players after the draft so I can re-route them to the correct teams. No one has to, but I can get the rosters up much more quickly if people do so.

2) Once you get 25 players, you cannot nominate anyone for bid. This is covered in my last comment (if you have 25 players and nominate someone, you have a live bid on them) but I just wanted to state it another way.

[raiderqb11]

Benny, I dropped most of my players. Some were on the can't drop list and actually had 3 players drafted who I actually have. Want me to keep them or drop anyways?

[andyjdowney]

Same here, there were a few I have drafted so will I keep them? And then there are the undroppables.

Maybe trading may be the only way?

[Benny]

I'm almost posiitve I can bypass their undroppable list as LM. Thanks, guys: it means a lot.

[kvill79]

Benny, I need you to look at Sandoval. The bidding should still be going.

[Benny]

Starting next season, there will be an 'elevated bidding' system. The design of this rule is to keep bidding honest and curb the "last minute" strategy, something I've done as much as anyone.

If a bid is made within 18 hours of the previous high bid, the minimum increase will remain $1. If the bid is between 18 and 20:59 hours, the minimum increase will be $2. If it is made between 21 and 23:59 hours, the minimum increase will be $3.

[kvill79]

Hmmm...that's an interesting idea. I don't know if I like it, but will certainly change some strategies.

[stickman]

have some owners been complaining (i hate to use that word but) about the way the bidding has been going. i dont know that i like the idea because for instance what if an owner wasnt able to get to their computer and bid before a certain time and thus it would cost them more.

I dont mind either way whatever the league decides is fine with me. i am just saying maybe the administrators should be careful about things like this. but im good either way just happy to be here.

[raiderqb11]

Yea not a fan of the multiple price increase...especially when you have been doing it the most ha...either way works for me though

[kvill79]

Yeah, what Stickman said.

[Benny]

I'll give the big speech when I get home, but suffice to say that I believe it to be an integrity issue. Bidding is supposed to be one's valuation of a player. It is not supposed to be some mechanism to be used as an underhanded game of chicken and disguised as gamesmanship. Most of us check every 18 hours, and it's not like one can't play the last-minute game at all. One can still do it at 17:59 if it's that crucial and still raise by $1. If you want a guy, you'll front the 2 or 3. If not, you shouldn't be bidding on him anyway.

*Edited to correct an incorrect word...thanks, auto-complete.

[stickman]

@ radierqb were you talking to me in regards to raising the bids at the last moment? If I want to bid on a player at the last second that's up to me and has no direct bearing on you or anything related to you or your team. it would by my choice to bid on a player and certainly not for the reason of raising the price of a player just to make you pay more

if not no worries

[Benny]

No, he was talking to me. Maybe I'm making too much of this whole thing, I don't know. I'll scrap the elevated bidding and maybe revisit the idea at another time.

[raiderqb11]

Haha I mean its an interesting concept. I mean if the elevated bidding was in effect I would either have much more money or a full team lol

[kvill79]

My issue, and often late bids, have to do with my other bids. I may want one of two players, but am bidding against 2 different people for each player. I can't afford both, but definantly want one. So I place a bid on one and wait. If someone out bids me then I have 24 hours to place another bid whereas the other player now only has say 2 hours left. So I place a bid on the second player and wait. It's a vicious cycle that continues until hopefully I win one of them but not both.

That's why I prefer to have a live draft on the site. You only have to worry about one player at a time and avoid all of the issues that have come up, but I know that is not alway possible.

Having said that, I really don't think this is an issue. There is a 24 hour window for a reason, so everyone has equal chance of bidding on a player with whatever personal schedule they have. I don't think anything needs to be changed that could (possibly) punish someone that needs the 24 hours. If anyone takes offence to a last minute bid, they should take their panties off and put their big boy pants on. Remember, this is suppose to be for FUN.

[raiderqb11]

Haha agree with KVill. Live draft online is always preferred but this is my first offline draft and minus being minutes (specifically 1 minute) away from getting a few guys I wanted it has been a great experience. Takes a whole different strategy and definitely has been a unique draft for me. Love my team so far but I hope everyone likes to trade as much as me!

[Benny]

Well, let me divert everyone's attention while I pack for this trip and explain this "Paul" thing that I seem to mention whenever I talk about going to Tampa.

Five years ago a guy named Chuck founded the league that somewhat became the basis for the league that we're in now. Paul was his orifice of a vice-commissioner. I can't even remember how it started, but Paul and I couldn't stand each other. Chuck went missing late in the season and Paul was running the league (if you watched WWE in the late 90s, think of the Stone Cold/Vince McMahon dynamic). I closed in on a league title while he couldn't catch me, which resulted in him kicking me out 2-3 days before the season ended. He still couldn't catch "me", as my then-former team won the league.

I've run through a lot of bad owners, commissioners, and people in my 19 years of playing fantasy baseball. Paul takes the cake. I've seen commissioners rob 7 of 10 teams in leagues to win (one other owner and I objected) - I mean, awful trades. Trades so bad that I have them saved on my computer. Paul was worse than that.

Ken will tell you how bad Paul was: it was the first league he and I were in together. At any rate, that's a little bit of 1) league history and 2) the reason I say I'm going to look for Paul when I go to Tampa...just to see if that internet thug really translates to real life. I think once I told him I was coming and he could meet me somewhere if he was so inclined. He's probably 5'3" and hasn't seen his feet in 10 years.

Well, must continue packing. Hope y'all enjoyed reading my little trip down memory lane.

[stickman]

yeah what kvill said lol supposed to be fun. I like the 24 hour bid process its fun to me and there is some strategy involved ive enjoyed my time here in the league and looking forward to having some fun this season

[kvill79]

Say hi to Paul for me too!

[Bryan]

My bad about the Venters bid, I looked rather quickly, so I overlooked him.

[antant42]

Really? Bj is at $12 and werth went for $3? I would value werth more. He is more consistent. Less steals but they are closer than 3 and 12 at the very least

[Benny]

I'm going to say I see a great reason why Werth went for $3. There's something else I really want to say about another matter that brought a huge grin to my face, but I'll pass. Oh, that's unintentionally funny: I'll pass. I crack myself up sometimes.