How to you draft?

GoodOlKevin · 06-09-2013, 09:57 AM

Just curious on different draft strategies when you guys build your own teams...do you favor hitting? Or pitching/defense?

Also, you have the #1 pick in a fantasy draft of current MLB players, who are you picking?

Bluenoser · 06-09-2013, 10:28 AM

Some discussion on it here - http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...asy-draft.html

Doing a forum search using "Draft Strategy" yielded many results.

Déjà Bru · 06-09-2013, 10:31 AM

Starting pitching first and always.

DrSatan · 06-09-2013, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodOlKevin

Just curious on different draft strategies when you guys build your own teams...do you favor hitting? Or pitching/defense?

Also, you have the #1 pick in a fantasy draft of current MLB players, who are you picking?

I'm taking Bryce Harper first. Maybe Chris Sale or Strasburg. If I'm using a roster where Aroldis Chapman has starter stamina, then I'm taking that cat all day long. His ratings are redonkulous.

As far as the draft goes, I'm taking the best player on the board regardless of "current" team needs. It could be 3-5 seasons before the guy gets to the show. My needs could be completely different, or the guy could bust. Too many wild cards to go with anything but the best available. Of course, my opinion and your opinion on "best available" could be totally different.

Ripamaru · 06-09-2013, 11:55 AM

I look at the best SP's and the best position players and see who is the BPA.

If all things are even or close I go SP all day. However if there is a great hitter he won't last long.

As far as the fantasy draft goes it is young stars all the way. This year the candidates are Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Strausberg not in any real order. I continue this theme for most of the draft. I also target players like Jurickson Profar, Manny Machado, Starlin Castro, and Will Myers. There is a really young SP I go after later in the draft named Jose Fernandez too.

The relievers are really easy to get as they get ignored, you can steal Aroldis Chapman or Craig Kimbrel easily.

goalieump413 · 06-09-2013, 12:20 PM

Here's how I do it...

I note where I have positional weaknesses in AA. Might sound strange, but that's where I expect to see strong development progress.
I take guys who have good work ethic and intelligence ratings, and tend to avoid guys who are idiots or lazy bums.
I also look for a few guys that have good leadership ratings, but it's not as important
For hitters, I try to find kids with better "avoid K" ratings so they put the ball in play more
For pitchers, I look for kids with good movement or control ratings.
I like to take at least 3 catchers, and I don't care if they can hit a ton. I want a good defensive college catcher, and I'll go for a HS kid who CAN hit, so long as he's not a moron.
I draft guys up the middle before the corners, as you need more depth at 2B, SS, CF.
I draft more IF than OF, not just because of the numerical imbalance, but because I need more strength there in case more of the guys flame out.
I usually take 2 or 3 multipurpose guys who can play 4 or 5 positions and try to develop them as the perfect utility guy.

One more thing: I always click the "scout recommendation" button, just to see how much I disagree with him. I rarely take his suggestion, since he doesn't account for player intelligence/work ethic considerations.

mgoetze · 06-09-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goalieump413

Here's how I do it...

For hitters, I try to find kids with better "avoid K" ratings so they put the ball in play more

Another recent thread demonstrated to my complete satisfaction that "Avoid K" is the most worthless attribute in the game.

goalieump413 · 06-09-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgoetze

Another recent thread demonstrated to my complete satisfaction that "Avoid K" is the most worthless attribute in the game.

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Painmantle · 06-09-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgoetze

Another recent thread demonstrated to my complete satisfaction that "Avoid K" is the most worthless attribute in the game.

Well if you take all the attributes, one of them has to be last on the list. The least important attribute? Probably. Worthless? I doubt it!

goalieump413 · 06-09-2013, 01:57 PM

I calculated my World Series winning 2015 Seattle Mariners, and found some interesting results based on Avoid K's, Contact, Runs, and RBI for the players on my roster. It seems that when displaying the batting ratings, customizing the view to show PA, R, RBI, and K's, there is a marginally noticeable inverse correlation between Avoid K's and runs produced.

It seems that, at least in my wacky team, the better the avoid K rating was, the fewer runs that player produced, either in runs scored or RBI's. The contact rating followed closely the Avoid K rating though, so it also seems that my better contact hitters were less responsible in 2015 for producing runs. This may show a bias, when simming games, for power hitters over contact hitters, although I cannot be sure.

For example: My best avoid K player, Melky Cabrera, with a 60 Avoid K (20-80) struck out 71 times in 487 PA, for a .146 percentage. He also produced 70 RBI and scored 64 times (.144 and .131 respectively). My worst Avoid K player, Sung hwan-Chung, with a 35 Avoid K rating struck out 132 times in 584 PA, for a .226 percentage. He produced 101 RBI and scored 83 times (.173 and .142 respectively).

There was also a noticeable "dip" in production in the middle of my roster where the median Avoid K rating occurs. Both RBI and Runs scored dropped off. The best Avoid K players had decent runs produced numbers, the middle guys had poor numbers, and the worst Avoid K guys had the best runs produced numbers.

This does make some logical sense, since power hitters who strike out a lot more do hit more HR, and the best contact hitters do get on base more, and would be driven in by those power hitters.

Therefore, I am forced to recognize that the Avoid K rating may not be the rating I thought it was. However, I must also point out that any rating that's higher, rather than lower, would improve the player. So having more players in your organization with higher avoid K ratings should be an improvement.

mgoetze · 06-09-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goalieump413

Therefore, I am forced to recognize that the Avoid K rating may not be the rating I thought it was. However, I must also point out that any rating that's higher, rather than lower, would improve the player. So having more players in your organization with higher avoid K ratings should be an improvement.

You want to read this thread: http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...e-ratings.html

Summary: having higher Avoid K is only good insofar as you are likely to get a higher Contact rating as part of the bargain. But for two players with the same Contact rating, it really doesn't matter whether one of them has a higher Avoid K.

PSUColonel · 06-09-2013, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodOlKevin

Just curious on different draft strategies when you guys build your own teams...do you favor hitting? Or pitching/defense?

Also, you have the #1 pick in a fantasy draft of current MLB players, who are you picking?

I am in the process of setting up feeder leagues in hopes it will make my drafts that much more interesting. I have never gotten them set up and working well in the past, but this time I have vowed to stay the course no matter how long it takes...it always takes me longer because I demand perfection. I have a 30 team MLB setup with a 40 round draft. (5 more rounds then recommended) I lowered my PCMs to .950 in an attempt to compensate. I hope it works well...right now I'm setting up all of the ballparks and weather, as well as logos and uniforms.

samoka10 · 06-09-2013, 04:44 PM

As far as bats go, I'm pretty sure avoid k is a purely cosmetic stat that decides how many strike outs a player gets. I always look for guys with decent eyeratings. If a guy bats .270 but his on base is .290, he is useless to me.

Second look for defensive ability. If your team is made of poor defenders they will never win. I don't care what their positions are listed at on draft day. I look for guys with either high infield range or outfield range, or high catcher ability.

A player has to have a huge ceiling in his contact/gap/ power ratings for me to take them if they are a mediocre defender.

endgame · 06-09-2013, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Starting pitching first and always.

Yeah, starting to have some regrets about not focusing more on that earlier.

aquapong · 06-09-2013, 05:45 PM

How do I draft? Poorly. Usually I'm not drafting high enough to get a game changer except in the bullpen. It's pretty easy to fill up your bullpen with legit talent. The one time my team sucked badly enough to get the #1 pick, the OF I took bombed anyway. The SP my scouting director went on to have a great career.

On the flip side, I've had a few 1 star players (2 AI drafted) go crazy when I placed them in the majors. Most of my talent comes from trades or international free agents.

06-09-2013, 10:31 AM	#3
Déjà Bru Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Long Island Posts: 11,741	Starting pitching first and always. __________________ - Bru

06-09-2013, 11:55 AM	#5
Ripamaru Minors (Single A) Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 76	I look at the best SP's and the best position players and see who is the BPA. If all things are even or close I go SP all day. However if there is a great hitter he won't last long. As far as the fantasy draft goes it is young stars all the way. This year the candidates are Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw, and Strausberg not in any real order. I continue this theme for most of the draft. I also target players like Jurickson Profar, Manny Machado, Starlin Castro, and Will Myers. There is a really young SP I go after later in the draft named Jose Fernandez too. The relievers are really easy to get as they get ignored, you can steal Aroldis Chapman or Craig Kimbrel easily. __________________

06-09-2013, 12:20 PM	#6
goalieump413 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 765	Here's how I do it... I note where I have positional weaknesses in AA. Might sound strange, but that's where I expect to see strong development progress. I take guys who have good work ethic and intelligence ratings, and tend to avoid guys who are idiots or lazy bums. I also look for a few guys that have good leadership ratings, but it's not as important For hitters, I try to find kids with better "avoid K" ratings so they put the ball in play more For pitchers, I look for kids with good movement or control ratings. I like to take at least 3 catchers, and I don't care if they can hit a ton. I want a good defensive college catcher, and I'll go for a HS kid who CAN hit, so long as he's not a moron. I draft guys up the middle before the corners, as you need more depth at 2B, SS, CF. I draft more IF than OF, not just because of the numerical imbalance, but because I need more strength there in case more of the guys flame out. I usually take 2 or 3 multipurpose guys who can play 4 or 5 positions and try to develop them as the perfect utility guy. One more thing: I always click the "scout recommendation" button, just to see how much I disagree with him. I rarely take his suggestion, since he doesn't account for player intelligence/work ethic considerations.

06-09-2013, 01:57 PM	#10
goalieump413 All Star Reserve Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 765	I calculated my World Series winning 2015 Seattle Mariners, and found some interesting results based on Avoid K's, Contact, Runs, and RBI for the players on my roster. It seems that when displaying the batting ratings, customizing the view to show PA, R, RBI, and K's, there is a marginally noticeable inverse correlation between Avoid K's and runs produced. It seems that, at least in my wacky team, the better the avoid K rating was, the fewer runs that player produced, either in runs scored or RBI's. The contact rating followed closely the Avoid K rating though, so it also seems that my better contact hitters were less responsible in 2015 for producing runs. This may show a bias, when simming games, for power hitters over contact hitters, although I cannot be sure. For example: My best avoid K player, Melky Cabrera, with a 60 Avoid K (20-80) struck out 71 times in 487 PA, for a .146 percentage. He also produced 70 RBI and scored 64 times (.144 and .131 respectively). My worst Avoid K player, Sung hwan-Chung, with a 35 Avoid K rating struck out 132 times in 584 PA, for a .226 percentage. He produced 101 RBI and scored 83 times (.173 and .142 respectively). There was also a noticeable "dip" in production in the middle of my roster where the median Avoid K rating occurs. Both RBI and Runs scored dropped off. The best Avoid K players had decent runs produced numbers, the middle guys had poor numbers, and the worst Avoid K guys had the best runs produced numbers. This does make some logical sense, since power hitters who strike out a lot more do hit more HR, and the best contact hitters do get on base more, and would be driven in by those power hitters. Therefore, I am forced to recognize that the Avoid K rating may not be the rating I thought it was. However, I must also point out that any rating that's higher, rather than lower, would improve the player. So having more players in your organization with higher avoid K ratings should be an improvement. Last edited by goalieump413; 06-09-2013 at 02:03 PM.

06-09-2013, 04:44 PM	#13
samoka10 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 19	Like others said, elite starting pitching should be the first target As far as bats go, I'm pretty sure avoid k is a purely cosmetic stat that decides how many strike outs a player gets. I always look for guys with decent eyeratings. If a guy bats .270 but his on base is .290, he is useless to me. Second look for defensive ability. If your team is made of poor defenders they will never win. I don't care what their positions are listed at on draft day. I look for guys with either high infield range or outfield range, or high catcher ability. A player has to have a huge ceiling in his contact/gap/ power ratings for me to take them if they are a mediocre defender.

06-09-2013, 09:57 AM	#1
GoodOlKevin Minors (Single A) Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 63	How to you draft? Just curious on different draft strategies when you guys build your own teams...do you favor hitting? Or pitching/defense? Also, you have the #1 pick in a fantasy draft of current MLB players, who are you picking?

06-09-2013, 10:28 AM	#2
Bluenoser Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: In The Moment Posts: 14,496	Some discussion on it here - http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...asy-draft.html Doing a forum search using "Draft Strategy" yielded many results.

06-09-2013, 05:45 PM	#15
aquapong Major Leagues Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 378	How do I draft? Poorly. Usually I'm not drafting high enough to get a game changer except in the bullpen. It's pretty easy to fill up your bullpen with legit talent. The one time my team sucked badly enough to get the #1 pick, the OF I took bombed anyway. The SP my scouting director went on to have a great career. On the flip side, I've had a few 1 star players (2 AI drafted) go crazy when I placed them in the majors. Most of my talent comes from trades or international free agents.