Why the auction drafts were better

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 9:47 am

I was in both the L.V. A.L. auction draft and the big draft. For my money the auction draft was the highlight of my trip. It was my first time doing the auction draft and it was a blast! If I finish 12th it was still worth it. There is so much going on. Money management, tracking players picked and tracking owners picks. But the best part is trying to figure out how far you can bid a player up that you don’t want. In my draft I had Gene McCaffrey the Wise Guy and Todd Zola. I also had two great owners on either side of me during the auction that helped make it fun. The straight draft was a let down for me. It seemed so slow after the auction the night before. This has nothing to do with how well I picked but rather with how well I enjoyed it. I think the auction is becoming a lost art. It seems the move is toward straight drafts due to the internet. If you get the chance next year do the auction. You won’t regret it.

Karch Adonis · Post by **Karch Adonis** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 10:13 am

We watched the auction for a while Saturady night and had the same impression - definitely want to give it a try next year. Nice to have so much control over the character of your team.

Worst Russian Ever · Post by **Worst Russian Ever** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 10:19 am

Right on Walla Walla!

I was at the AL Auction and it was extremely fun and challenging! We were also at the draft the next day (well...sort of).

I prupose that next year's championship be an Auction instead of the draft. My cat can probably do a draft by pressing random numbers.

The Auction requires real skill and it's 5 times the fun of a draft! Chime in here if you agree....

nnoy · Post by **nnoy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 10:20 am

Auction has a more realistic feel than straight draft, but if you REALLY want to simulate reality you should try a closed-sealed bid auction league.

nnoy · Post by **nnoy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 10:23 am

Originally posted by Worst Russian Ever:

Right on Walla Walla!

I was at the AL Auction and it was extremely fun and challenging! We were also at the draft the next day (well...sort of).

I prupose that next year's championship be an Auction instead of the draft. My cat can probably do a draft by pressing random numbers.

The Auction requires real skill and it's 5 times the fun of a draft! Chime in here if you agree.... More fun but you could NEVER run the contest that way. With a draft you know the odds of collusion are slim, but in an auction league 3-4 owners could easily collude by driving up the price on certain players and staying out on others.

Also an auction is never the way to go for a mixed league. The $1 players left at the end are still starters, so the premium is on the superstars. In an AL or NL only league the only thing left at the end are ML’s and 4th OF’s.

[ March 24, 2004, 04:28 PM: Message edited by: nnoy ]

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 11:11 am

I agree you could never run the big draft on a auction. I just wanted to share my enjoyment with it. I hope others will try it in the future. For many they went to the draft for the chance to win big money. I went for the chance to play the best. It was worth the trip. I met the best as players and as people.

Jackstraw · Post by **Jackstraw** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 12:06 pm

The Friday night auction was the single most fantastic split second decision I have ever made in my life! I agree with Walla Walla, the NFBC regular draft was a little of a letdown after the auction. Don't get me wrong, it was still fun... But the control you have in the auction is much more exciting. Like several of the experts in our league pointed out, "At least in the auction you get a chance at all of the superstars." Next year I am definitely in. Also, every single person I met on Friday was top-notch as far as competition and personality goes. It was a pleasure to meet you all, and I look forward to a great season competing against some of the best in the country! It's not whether you win or lose, but how much FUN you have doing it!!! Oh yeah, making a little money is pretty cool, too

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 1:53 pm

Originally posted by Walla Walla:

I was in both the L.V. A.L. auction draft and the big draft. For my money the auction draft was the highlight of my trip. It was my first time doing the auction draft and it was a blast! If I finish 12th it was still worth it. There is so much going on. Money management, tracking players picked and tracking owners picks. But the best part is trying to figure out how far you can bid a player up that you don?t want. In my draft I had Gene McCaffrey the Wise Guy and Todd Zola. I also had two great owners on either side of me during the auction that helped make it fun. The straight draft was a let down for me. It seemed so slow after the auction the night before. This has nothing to do with how well I picked but rather with how well I enjoyed it. I think the auction is becoming a lost art. It seems the move is toward straight drafts due to the internet. If you get the chance next year do the auction. You won?t regret it. Had a great time Walla Walla - was nice picking next to you and you played the game well, IMHO. The auction FAR more correctly rewards the value shopper and wise spender... instead of who got the 'lucky' pick. In our NFBC league, we got Helton in the first and Renteria fell to us at #27. There was no skill in picking him, it was pure luck. Does it mean we win this thing? Heck no, but value was very good. You'd never get away with this in an auction league.

I like both drafts, but give me the auction for pushing your brain into areas it usually doesn't go

Drafting against all of you - the Russians, the Rocket Scientist, the Wise Guy, Todd and all of us 'regular' guys - was a fine challenge and good fun.

Looking forward to hitting it up next year (hopefully as defending champ, lol)

Dyv

Worst Russian Ever · Post by **Worst Russian Ever** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:24 pm

I agree with all that has been said so far. The Auction was alot of fun the people were great, the league owners seemed like cool people and Greg and his staff ran a great first rate event.

That being said I just wish the Auction was a bigger event close to the prestige to the draft. Lets face it the draft is like an educated pull on a slot machine, while the auction requires strategy and real wit. I don't see why there can't be a NL champ and an AL champ next year with an Auction championship.

Despite this we had a great time and plan to be back for both next year.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Thu Mar 25, 2004 8:11 am

Great comments on the Auction Leagues guys and everyone in the Las Vegas leagues was fantastic. I will continue to take feedback on these Auction Leagues for next year as I definitely want to expand them and make them more meaningful. I still think it's tough to create an overall Auction League champion, but we'll try to be creative and come up with some type of grand prize. The Auction Leagues will continue to grow from year to year and we have no intention of abandoning this area of the Rotisserie baseball market. So keep the comments coming and we'll make them even better in 2005.

Cherokee Nation · Post by **Cherokee Nation** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 4:21 pm

See the NFL draft coming up this April....why don't they bid on the players instead of draft them ?

Why ?

BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC AND STUPID !

I wouldn't start a subject like this one, where you look to downgrade what some people do to make yourself feel better. You do what you like, others do what they like....why does your way have to be "better". Have a cookie

Lance

Worst Russian Ever · Post by **Worst Russian Ever** » Sat Mar 27, 2004 6:19 pm

Hey "weapons"..what the hell are you talking about?

If anything an Auction is MORE realistic not less!

Imagine major league teams or NFL teams picking players in order instead of paying them a salary and watching their cap room and spending. To follow through with your analogy we DO NOT bid on minor leaguers we draft them on our reserve just like the NFL!

The people who posted so far are qulified to speak here cause they did both the Auction and the draft. ARE YOU?

[ March 28, 2004, 12:22 AM: Message edited by: Worst Russian Ever ]

Dyv · Post by **Dyv** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 4:36 am

Originally posted by Worst Russian Ever:

Hey "weapons"..what the hell are you talking about?

If anything an Auction is MORE realistic not less!

Imagine major league teams or NFL teams picking players in order instead of paying them a salary and watching their cap room and spending. To follow through with your analogy we DO NOT bid on minor leaguers we draft them on our reserve just like the NFL!

The people who posted so far are qulified to speak here cause they did both the Auction and the draft. ARE YOU? Also, let's not forget the fact that the NFL draft is set up the way it is to try to replenish the lesser teams with better picks and the winning teams with worse picks.

The Free Agent Market is EXACTLY like an auction.

Dyv

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 9:01 am

I did the NL Auction in Vegas on Friday night. I must say, it was a blast. There are so many different things going on in an auction versus a straight draft. The thing I like the most is that everyone has a shot at the top players, you just have to be willing to fork over the dough from your budget.

I flew back to Chicago right after the auction and drafted my NFBC team on Sat. I enjoy the straight drafts as well. But to be honest, there is no comparison as to the amount of "control" you have in creating your team in an Auction.---------------------------------------------------

I would really love to see the auction entry fees come down some for next year so we can get at least a couple of leagues going in Chicago. I really think if you go to the $500-$750 entry fee you will see a much better turn out for the auctions (more people will be willing to do a 1st time auction if the fee is less).-----------What the magazines and experts don't realize is that 90-95% of the fantasy players HAVE NEVER DONE AN AUCTION.

Leaderboard Sports · Post by **Leaderboard Sports** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 11:39 am

I agree with seefer, it's hard to fork out $1250 to bust your cherry in an auction. I had a great time but I would like to see a 20 to 25 team mixed auction league next year. It would allow for a much bigger prize package and would help in prep for the mixed draft the next day.

It would take a long time to complete but it would also kind of negate the Auction experts advantage slightly in that they would have to rethink some strategies and maybe that would give rookies a little more incentive to jump in.

viper · Post by **viper** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:35 pm

The fantasy world is essentially an internet world. In your local area where everyone gets together in a single place, you can do an auction. This assumes that all the owners are fairly knowledgeable. However, finding 10 or more such owners is not an easy task. The interent and their online drafts allow for the vast majority of fantasy players to participate. I've never competed in an auction league and would like to but, even in Wsahington, finding leagues I would want to join are hard to find. I'm sure they are there but not in my circle of fantasy friends. Whether auction leagues are better or worse isn't the issue. Availability to participate is the key element in success of fantasy sports and straight drafts on the internet are about most peoples only way.

To fork over $1000+ for a learning experience in an auction league isn't in my budget. Even the $1350 for my team in the straight draft required a 3-man partnership.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 12:58 pm

Viper, I'll keep you in mind for next season. I know of an auction league that may need an owner. Pretty low stakes...$300 or so

[ March 28, 2004, 06:58 PM: Message edited by: Gordon Gekko ]

Worst Russian Ever · Post by **Worst Russian Ever** » Sun Mar 28, 2004 6:54 pm

I wouldn't mind if the Auction was $1,500.00 or more. The reason is that there aren't as many Auction teams as there are draft teams. I'd like to see the event get bigger not smaller.

seefer · Post by **seefer** » Mon Mar 29, 2004 1:02 am

I would think a good idea for next year would be to have 2 different levels of auctions: 1) A high stakes auction where the entry fee could range from $1,250 to $2,000 which would be geared for the experienced auction players (and deeper pockets). ----- 2) A "novice" level auction where the entry fee would be $500-$750 and only the top 2 finishers would receive award money. I know that many more people would be able to justify doing a 1st time auction for the $500-$750 entry fee.

Jon_Ashton · Post by **Jon_Ashton** » Tue Mar 30, 2004 5:11 pm

An alternative to a 20-25 team mixed auction

I think this might solve the hurdles in the way of the NFBC auction leagues eventually getting on the same level with the $100,000 straight draft:

If there were a way to determine an overall NFBC Auction Champion to receive an auction grand prize TBD by total number of auction league entrants...

What if all auction entrants did separate NL and AL auction leagues (maybe one Friday evening and one Saturday evening)? This would solve the problem of having to mix apples and oranges to determine an overall winner, as auction league participants all would have 20 total categories that they'd all be competing in.