Does anyone ever win at Perfect Draft?

[series1999]

I’ve played at least 50 PD’s now, and I have never placed in a single one. I suck at tournaments too, but at least I can win one once in a while.

What are the strategies to win (at least once!) at perfect draft?

Thanks!

[Ty Cobb]

I've won one. It can happen.

[series1999]

Originally Posted by Ty Cobb

I've won one. It can happen.

What are any strategies to win them more often?

[Torgonius]

Originally Posted by series1999

What are any strategies to win them more often?

Offer sacrifices to RNGeezus so that he might offer you good cards in the right rounds to fill the right positions.

Make sure you get a great C, SS and CF.

The times I've won, it's because I was able to get 5 really good SPs between round 3 and round 6.

When you get to rounds 10-12, pray that RNGeezus bestows upon you the elite bronze tourney cards, and not rando scrubs.

PD really boils down to getting lucky enough to be able to build something viable. I only do the weeklies for the most part now, because they are a depressing pain in the butt.

[ncap99]

The more cards are added, the more RNG plays a part. Aside from adding a 64 team format they have pretty much abandoned the whole format which is very disappointing. I just got McGwire in the 1st round and was really interested to see what he'd do going up against some 50 movement bronze pitchers. He had 2 hits in 27 plate appearances and a .111 BA. Both his hits were homers.

Fun stuff.

[ChessSafari]

I have won 3 PD tournaments out of (I'm guessing) about 60, so it happens sometimes. Somebody has to win. There are packs for the semi-finalists, so it is still worth the effort in my opinion.

For what it's worth, my tournament wins were when my first 5 picks were all SP. The same strategy has backfired too. Focusing on offense early has never worked for me, not even once all game cycle that I can recall.

[ChessSafari]

Double post. Sorry.

[Abnerdoubleday]

The one time I won, I picked cards at random (selected whatever one or two cards were in the top row - right)

[ncap99]

Originally Posted by Abnerdoubleday

The one time I won, I picked cards at random (selected whatever one or two cards were in the top row - right)

I really hope this is true, hah.

[Magus978]

My strategy is simply not to play. It's a good concept in order to use cards you may never get your hands on, but at the same time I'm not going to bust my butt making adjustments to strategies if all I'm gonna get out of the effort is a first round exit.

The time to value ratio is off the charts in a negative way.

[ncap99]

Originally Posted by Magus978

My strategy is simply not to play. It's a good concept in order to use cards you may never get your hands on, but at the same time I'm not going to bust my butt making adjustments to strategies if all I'm gonna get out of the effort is a first round exit.

The time to value ratio is off the charts in a negative way.

Yep the rewards for winning a 64 team tournament is 10K PP which is really bad. I have given up putting more than just very small efforts like setting a global strategy and setting backups only to come in when the starter is tired. Probably 30-60 seconds of prep.

[Ty Cobb]

Originally Posted by series1999

What are any strategies to win them more often?

Dude, I've won ONE. I've entered many.

[Erich Ingram]

I have finished in the money many times in both 32 and 64 teams. I usually attempt to center my teams around the best starting pitching and getting a stud catcher. After that best hitters with good defense and absolutely make sure you have 2 catchers. Many times I have held off on catcher number 2 for too long and then not been able to get one in round 12 or 13 because they were all gone and I forgot to count.

I actually finished in the Semi's in three straight tourneys last week.

I don't spend a great deal of time on the draft though. There are many players that I will take every time they are available.

[series1999]

Originally Posted by Erich Ingram

I have finished in the money many times in both 32 and 64 teams. I usually attempt to center my teams around the best starting pitching and getting a stud catcher. After that best hitters with good defense and absolutely make sure you have 2 catchers. Many times I have held off on catcher number 2 for too long and then not been able to get one in round 12 or 13 because they were all gone and I forgot to count.

I actually finished in the Semi's in three straight tourneys last week.

I don't spend a great deal of time on the draft though. There are many players that I will take every time they are available.

So besides “stud” catcher, stud 1st starter and good defense - what else do you look for? What stats make players better for PD than others?

[series1999]

Originally Posted by ncap99

Yep the rewards for winning a 64 team tournament is 10K PP which is really bad. I have given up putting more than just very small efforts like setting a global strategy and setting backups only to come in when the starter is tired. Probably 30-60 seconds of prep.

10k is bad rate of return? How else are you getting 10k for ~5-10 minutes of work in this game?

[stl jason]

Originally Posted by series1999

What are any strategies to win them more often?

hope every other team in the tourney fails to draft a team so you're facing and endless stream of Jim Unknowns


all just random luck... think I've actually won 7 out of (couldn't even begin to guess how many i've entered )

[chazzycat]

Originally Posted by series1999

10k is bad rate of return? How else are you getting 10k for ~5-10 minutes of work in this game?

- Analyzing live player stats for spec
- Optimizing tourney teams
- Flipping cards on the AH

These are all far more profitable endeavors than quick PD drafts.

The dailies are a much better option IMO in terms of value. At least the ones with rewards that sell for good amounts, like a Justin Turner or Bobby Parnell.

[willat0660]

Originally Posted by series1999

I’ve played at least 50 PD’s now, and I have never placed in a single one. I suck at tournaments too, but at least I can win one once in a while.

What are the strategies to win (at least once!) at perfect draft?

Thanks!

I don't win a lot of tourneys, but I seem to win a lot of PDs. I don't know why. I haven't played much lately, but I played in the beginning to get some points.


I'd try to get at least one very good starter and closer. Make sure you get a top flight catcher, and good defense all around. And one thing, in the later rounds, I default to the best player. The 78 or 79 instead of the 72 3B that I need. I always try to take the higher level players in the group. Seems to work.

[Erich Ingram]

I guess I should amend my statement above, as I just won a 32 team b-of-7. Went 20-1 with Charlie Morton an 87 as my number 5 starter only pitching once the entire tournament. Pitching staff consisted of 98, 90, 88, 88, 87 for my starters. My perfect was Curt Flood in CF.

Only game I lost was Game 2 of the first round with a blown save in the 9th. Won the next 19 in a row. First time I have had a team dominate that much in a tourney.

I did finish in Semis in the previous tourney as well, so it has been a good couple of days for me with drafting.

Last week I finished Semi Finals in three straight tourneys.

I am by no means great at it as I lose a lot of them as well but I find that pitching and defense leads to a lot more titles. I generally don't get a top line closer, usually top reliever is from Silver and many times is just another starter.

[Erich Ingram]

Originally Posted by series1999

So besides “stud” catcher, stud 1st starter and good defense - what else do you look for? What stats make players better for PD than others?

Funny the one I won today was due to 5 SPs rated 87 or above. My catcher wasn't a stud, but I generally try to get a pretty good one. Love getting the Marlins J.T. Realmuto card but this round was a 68 rated Bronzer.

I went perfect with Flood because his defense is insane and he is a good hitter. I try not to have any starters with a defense below 60 but that isn't always available. Hitting is important but I don't always worry about getting the top hitters if they are horrible on D, granted I will take a player that I expect to be my DH if he is stellar at hitting and has terrible D.

Relief pitching I generally will get a Silver or two and the rest is from Bronze, 1 each round and then Iron. I almost always go with 11 pitchers and try to have 2 C, 2 1b, 2 2b, 2 3b, 2 SS and 5 OF With the infielders I like to have guys that play multiple positions after the starters and the OF, I make sure to have a top D guy in CF and then I always want to have at least 2 guys that can qualify at each position.

I don't put any time into rearranging the lineup other than to make sure there are backups at all positions so noone will get tired. I don't mess with the stadium. I will change stealing sliders if a guy is like Jackie Robinson or Cool Papa Bell. I find that the NLers always seem to play better for me, not always on the teams against me but they do extremely well on my team.

I guess that sums up most of what I do, I don't spend a great deal of time on the draft, I watch Dish do his twitch and find his drafts to be too long for me, not wrong just more work than I want to put into it.

I do have players that I will generally draft every time if they are there as well.