SoSH Real Fantasy Draft (2014 Edition): Sign Up and Discussion

[Scoops Bolling]

It's that time of year again (apparently), and a new draft will be taking place this winter. The following posters have expressed interest:
 
1) Rich Garces Belly
2) Terrisus
3) PrometheusWakefield
4) dylanmarsh
5) Frank, Fenway
6) Eck'sSneakyCheese
7) MakMan44
8) The Best Catch In 100 Years
9) Why Not Grebeck?
10) Scoops
11) KFP
12) Bosox4416
13) Leskanic's_Thread
14) Kramerica Industries
15) Just a bit outside
16) CaskNFappin
17) knucklecup
18) BigMike
19) wibi
20) NJ_Sox_Fan
21) FarvinMoosey
22) SoxFan58
23) Toe Nash
24) StuckOnYouk
25) Galway Sox Fan
26) Jaylach
27) The Tax Man
28) Curll
29) Danny_Darwin
Taxi Squad: keninten
 
That leaves plenty of slots open, so anyone who is interested is highly encouraged to post as much. If we end up with too many interested parties, I'll pick some names out of a hat and those who miss out can serve in the Taxi Squad or as co-GMs (if last year was any judge, we'll need a couple "Taxi Squad" GMs to fill in for drop-outs or people who end up not having the time).
 
Roster rules are largely the same as last year. C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3rd, LF, CF, RF, DH, 5 Starting pitchers, at least 5 RPs and 5 bench players (the 6th is up to you), random serpentine draft order. Each poster is responsible for PMing the poster with the next pick after they've made their selection, and there is a (24 or 48 hour?) clock in between picks. If you think you will be unable to make your pick in time, send a contingency pick to myself or anyone else who you prefer. If you miss the pick window twice without submitting a contingency, your team goes to a Taxi Squad member.
 
How did people feel about the Exceptions List rule from last year? Should we do the same thing again? If so, now's the time to suggest names for that list. Any other rule changes or ideas for how we could do this better? 

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

I'm in.

 

[Dustin the Wind]

I'd love to be part of it if possible!

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

Sadly, I just don't have time, so I'll have to give someone else a chance to dominate this one like I've dominated the previous two.  (Pay no attention to Andy Laroche and Max Ramirez batting back-to-back in my 2009 batting order.   Also, don't look at my first round pick in 2012's draft.)

 

[Leskanic's Thread]

I'd be interested in trying this out if there ends up being room.

 

[Fishercat]

I'll hold out for now, although my showing last year was a pleasant surprise.
 
If you haven't done it before, I think it's worthwhile purely as a fan of baseball. You'll learn a ton about the people playing the game.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

im game

 

[MakMan44]

Couple suggestions:
 
For the exception list, maybe use an up to date prospect list and each #1 prospect from every team is on the list? (Possibly also adjusted based on what level they ended the season at/are expected to open 2014 at)
 
Some sort of innings minimum to place a player a certain position, the obvious exception being the DH spot?

 

[Scoops Bolling]

Couple suggestions:
 
For the exception list, maybe use an up to date prospect list and each #1 prospect from every team is on the list? (Possibly also adjusted based on what level they ended the season at/are expected to open 2014 at)
 
Some sort of innings minimum to place a player a certain position, the obvious exception being the DH spot?

The question is going to come in terms of how to deal with guys like Javier Baez (or Maikel Franco for that matter) and Jonathan Gray, let alone guys like Biddle or Bryant. Every one of those players is a #1 or #2 prospect, yet one could make an argument that none of them plays a game in the MLB next year...or you could easily argue that all of them will. If possible, I'd like to just make some kind of rule (i.e. if they had at least 1 AB or IP in AA, then they're eligible) then have to play the judgment call game again.

 

[soxfan121]

I will be interested to follow this iteration of the exercise. I will also volunteer for the Assistant to the GM list, for some new-to-the-site young GM (I'm your Bill Lajoie, young Theo), so please send me a PM if you want a sage old hand to tell you your picks suck before you make them.  

 

[The Best Catch in 100 Years]

The question is going to come in terms of how to deal with guys like Javier Baez (or Maikel Franco for that matter) and Jonathan Gray, let alone guys like Biddle or Bryant. Every one of those players is a #1 or #2 prospect, yet one could make an argument that none of them plays a game in the MLB next year...or you could easily argue that all of them will. If possible, I'd like to just make some kind of rule (i.e. if they had at least 1 AB or IP in AA, then they're eligible) then have to play the judgment call game again.

This seems perfect to me, though it would still have excluded Jose Fernandez last year, and Manny Machado entering 2012, when he ended up spending a lot of time at MLB despite never having played above advanced-A ball before. Maybe we're OK with that (those were pretty exceptional circumstances), or maybe we should set the minimums at 200 PA or TBF at A+.

 

[Rich Garces Belly]

Looking forward to it again.

 

[CaskNFappin]

I'd like to be in on this

 

[knucklecup]

I would like to be in on this as well.

 

[BigMike]

I'm a glutton for punishment,   I'm in

 

[Scoops Bolling]

18 signed up so far. Come on people.

 

[wibi]

I'll give it a go again

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

If I'm allowed, I'd gladly join.

 

[Scoops Bolling]

I'll give it a go again

 
 

If I'm allowed, I'd gladly join.

Added to the list, so up to 20. Ideally, we'd get at least 15 more to add some Co-GMs and Taxi-Squad guys.

 

[Moosey]

Screw it, I'll go again. I was on the fence due to potential work craziness but I'll deal.

 

[soxfan121]

 
 
Added to the list, so up to 20. Ideally, we'd get at least 15 more to add some Co-GMs and Taxi-Squad guys.

 
I know MakMan was a lurker at the start of this exercise last year and earned his membership through participation - weren't there a few others to take this path as well? 

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

 
I know MakMan was a lurker at the start of this exercise last year and earned his membership through participation - weren't there a few others to take this path as well? 

 
That's how I got in, on the original 2009 draft.  Honestly, getting such an in-depth knowledge of so many guys was great for fantasy baseball as well.  Makes it much easier to unearth some hidden gems that nobody else is looking at in your leagues.

 

[Moosey]

 
That's how I got in, on the original 2009 draft.  Honestly, getting such an in-depth knowledge of so many guys was great for fantasy baseball as well.  Makes it much easier to unearth some hidden gems that nobody else is looking at in your leagues.

 
If you put some time into it the exercise really does force you into looking at guys in new ways, which is only positive in my opinion.  For anyone thinking about it, it's worthwhile, even when people bitch that you didnt post your pick in 22 seconds.  =)

 

[SoxFan58]

I know I dropped the ball with the last football draft but if you'll have me I'll participate again. I was in the original one.

 

[The Best Catch in 100 Years]

 
I know MakMan was a lurker at the start of this exercise last year and earned his membership through participation - weren't there a few others to take this path as well? 

Yeah, me I think

 

[Toe Nash]

I'm in if there's room. 

 

[StuckOnYouk]

I'm interested if there is room

 

[Frank Fenway]

Well last count was 20, so you would appear to be good to go. 

 

[Galway Sox Fan]

Id like to play please

 

[MakMan44]

So anyone else have ideas for rule changes?

 

[Rich Garces Belly]

I'd like to include the international players that have signed this offseason or have been posted by a certain date.  

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I'd like to see a couple more slots for pitching. Maybe expand to 27 man rosters and allow for a 6th starter and 1 extra bullpen/fringe starter?

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

Anyone have a link to the original rules, as I was not in any of the previous years.

 

[MakMan44]

Anyone have a link to the original rules, as I was not in any of the previous years.

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/75763-sosh-real-fantasy-draft-draft-order-rules-and-draft-thread/

 

[NJ_Sox_Fan]

http://sonsofsamhorn.net/topic/75763-sosh-real-fantasy-draft-draft-order-rules-and-draft-thread/

 
Thank you much - interesting to see how some of last years picks went

 

[Galway Sox Fan]

That's how I got in, on the original 2009 draft.  Honestly, getting such an in-depth knowledge of so many guys was great for fantasy baseball as well.  Makes it much easier to unearth some hidden gems that nobody else is looking at in your leagues.

This is what I would like to do. It's hard to follow the Sox from across the Atlantic so I would like to get involved in something like this and a few game threads etc.

 

[Scoops Bolling]

I'd like to see a couple more slots for pitching. Maybe expand to 27 man rosters and allow for a 6th starter and 1 extra bullpen/fringe starter?

The draft starts to peter out towards the end, but I wouldn't be against this. Every team loses a few guys, and the exercise would be more realistic if they were replaceable to some extent. What do others think?
 
 

I'd like to include the international players that have signed this offseason or have been posted by a certain date.  

They have to sign before the draft starts. No one who signs after can be considered...you can't just add guys to the draft pool in the middle.

 

[wibi]

The draft starts to peter out towards the end, but I wouldn't be against this. Every team loses a few guys, and the exercise would be more realistic if they were replaceable to some extent. What do others think?
 

 
I'm good with this.  
 
I'd like to set the parameters of how the league will be measured (at least in years).  Are we looking a single year thing or like the intent of last years draft are we looking more long term?
 
Also would like to recommend that anyone on a 40-man roster is eligible for drafting

 

[keninten]

Some of you were getting impatient with the waits between picks. Especially towards the end. Maybe something you should discuss before you start. I followed this closely last year. If you need another GM I`d be willing and wouldn`t slow it down but only if you need another GM.

 

[terrisus]

Yeah, I think we need to pick a time at the beginning, and actually stick with it and deal with it - as opposed to picking a time limit, getting tired of it, changing it, and then still pushing at it. 
I think that 24 hours seems to be a good balance between moving things along at a steady pace, while still giving everyone enough time.

 

[Eck'sSneakyCheese]

I think the 24 hours is a little long. If you're actually into this you should be checking in at least once a day. Maybe 12 hours with a midnight to 8 cut off, and if you get skipped you're put on auto-skip until you pick again. No different circumstances for the weekend. Same 12 hours, same cut off.

 

[MakMan44]

I actually think it should 24 hours during the week and lower to 12 on the weekends, with the clock stopped at midnight to 8 am.

 

[Galway Sox Fan]

My only worry would be the time difference but it should be ok.
Will there be a master list of players picked/players available.

 

[Frank Fenway]

My only worry would be the time difference but it should be ok.
Will there be a master list of players picked/players available.

 
They keep a running spreadsheet of picks (not in real time) 
 
players available would be a massive list that would be fairly useless 

 

[Jaylach]

I'm absolutely terrible at fantasy baseball. Even worse with numbers.
 
But you can count me in

 

[Frank Fenway]

I'm absolutely terrible at fantasy baseball. Even worse with numbers.
 
But you can count me in

 
This is pretty far from fantasy baseball. Biggest difference is that you can't win or lose (mostly because all of our teams are shitty) 

 

[MakMan44]

 
This is pretty far from fantasy baseball. Biggest difference is that you can't win or lose (mostly because all of our teams are shitty) 

Hence the reason we're running it again this year. 

 

[The Tax Man]

I'll hop in, if there's still room. 

 

[Scoops Bolling]

Some of you were getting impatient with the waits between picks. Especially towards the end. Maybe something you should discuss before you start. I followed this closely last year. If you need another GM I`d be willing and wouldn`t slow it down but only if you need another GM.

3 spots left, and I currently have you on the Taxi Squad. If you want to take one of the available spots, it's yours, just speak up.

 

[Curll]

I'll take a spot.