Strategies That Are Leading Your League

TRAIN · Post by **TRAIN** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:39 am

I am in a league where the top 2 teams have employed "unique" diametrically opposite strategies. The top team has no closers and has quite a nice lead; the 2nd place team has no SP and has been in 2nd place for quite awhile. Are there any other leagues out there where "unique" or similar strategies are proving to be successful so far?

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:47 am

Is that a main event league? How are those teams doing overall?

TRAIN · Post by **TRAIN** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:32 am

This is a satellite league.

nydownunder · Post by **nydownunder** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 1:42 am

I punted Closers in the draft, but not necessarily for the season (ie 18 saves). I sit in 1st place in my league and 8th or 9th overall.

viper · Post by **viper** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:46 am

Both are commonly used strategies. I am curious as to the inning count for the team without starters. Are they in danger of missing the minimum innings required?

The RP strategy pretty much maxes out at a possible 47 pitching points but probably should not be worse than 41 [13, 13, 13, 1, 1]. This is a pretty tight and predictable result assuming you are a relatively decent drafter of closers and MRs.

The all-SP strategy maxes out at 61 points in a perfect world. The problem is the volatility in the two ratio categories. 27 in the counting categories is probably a reasonable expectation [13+13+1] with a 31 as a max. Each ratio category is likely maxed out at 13 and could go as low as a 1.

The RP strategy should allow for a better draft of hitters and allows you to concentrate on specific areas of need in FAAB.

The SP strategy changes the league dynamics for closers as now there are 30 closers spread over 14 teams rather than 15 teams.

The RP strategy changes the league dynamics for starter as now up to ten additional SPs are available. This can cause unexpected drafting decisions as several SPs will drop and teams may grab them as bargains a bit early. This may help the RP drafter get slightly better hitters. This is something he will need as his maximum pitching score is limited.

Neither allows you any realistic chance in the overall main event prizes but can be successful in invidivdual leagues.

TRAIN · Post by **TRAIN** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:09 am

The team with no SP currently has 267 IP. I imagine if he finds himself short of the required 600 IP minimum, he will grab a couple of SP when the season is winding down and he realizes he will not make the minimum.

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 2:22 am

Originally posted by viper:

Both are commonly used strategies. I am curious as to the inning count for the team without starters. Are they in danger of missing the minimum innings required?

The RP strategy pretty much maxes out at a possible 47 pitching points but probably should not be worse than 41 [13, 13, 13, 1, 1]. This is a pretty tight and predictable result assuming you are a relatively decent drafter of closers and MRs.

The all-SP strategy maxes out at 61 points in a perfect world. The problem is the volatility in the two ratio categories. 27 in the counting categories is probably a reasonable expectation [13+13+1] with a 31 as a max. Each ratio category is likely maxed out at 13 and could go as low as a 1.

The RP strategy should allow for a better draft of hitters and allows you to concentrate on specific areas of need in FAAB.

The SP strategy changes the league dynamics for closers as now there are 30 closers spread over 14 teams rather than 15 teams.

The RP strategy changes the league dynamics for starter as now up to ten additional SPs are available. This can cause unexpected drafting decisions as several SPs will drop and teams may grab them as bargains a bit early. This may help the RP drafter get slightly better hitters. This is something he will need as his maximum pitching score is limited.

Neither allows you any realistic chance in the overall main event prizes but can be successful in invidivdual leagues. Viper, I would also note that the RP strategy tends to distort FAAB bidding throughout the year.

Spy

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:16 am

Originally posted by viper:

Neither allows you any realistic chance in the overall main event prizes but can be successful in invidivdual leagues. I used to agree with this statement. And still do in regards to the all rp strategy.

Joe Thelan's Showtime team has finished 25th in 2004, 17th in 2005, 67th in 2006, and is currently 13th overall in 2007. Showtime has consistently hung around the top 10 much of that time and yet has not recorded one save during the four year span.

Although the odds(help me, Lance) may be a little higher using this method, Showtime has shown me that a team employing this strategy has a realistic chance of winning the overall.

Richie · Post by **Richie** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 7:49 am

I disagree with the statement that you can win the overall with no closers. 3200 points will be about the winning number. The total available points is 10x 375= 3750. Without a closer, you will begin with a total max of 3425 approximately( i am giving you 25 pts in sv). This means you must attain 3200 out of 3425 posssible points. Thats equal to over 93% of the available points thar will be needed to be attained in the other categories. 93% of 375 equals 349 points per category everywhere else. Impossible

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:10 am

Originally posted by Richie:

I disagree with the statement that you can win the overall with no closers. 3200 points will be about the winning number. The total available points is 10x 375= 3750. Without a closer, you will begin with a total max of 3425 approximately( i am giving you 25 pts in sv). This means you must attain 3200 out of 3425 posssible points. Thats equal to over 93% of the available points thar will be needed to be attained in the other categories. 93% of 375 equals 349 points per category everywhere else. Impossible Not impossible, maybe unlikely... Though it is much easier to corner the market when you don't have to take high value picks and use them for Starting or Closing. For example, throwing starting pitching allows you to move 3-6 of your top 15 picks to offense. This is an extraordinairy number of picks to supplement your offense.

Spy

fandango · Post by **fandango** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 2:13 am

simple, dont draft guys that suck....

nydownunder · Post by **nydownunder** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 6:39 am

I use to agree that no closers takes you out of the overall, but heading into this year's draft I determined it can be done. Don't get me wrong: a lot of things need to fall your way. A lot!!!!!

I drafted no closers, but have obatined 18 saves to date. I suspect I will get approx 50 points from saves this year. I have also determined that the most I could get from my Batters is about 1800 points. Again, things need to go my way...but I am not far off and I have the roster flexibility to take a good run at it.

That leaves 1350 points needed or about 13 points for each of the remaining categories (when looking at just your league). Well if I did have 8 solid starters, 15 points in W's and K's would be fairly easy to obtain. Unfortunately, Schmidt and Schilling have changed that. I suspect 13/14 is still well within reason considering my staff. That means I would need about 11 points from WHIP and ERA. My pitching staff can get the 11-13 for WHIP and anywhere from 8-12 in ERA.

It's possible, but keep in mind you need to have the best Batting team in the comp to do so...that's hard. My season will come down to Clemen's and Schilling's health, and Vargas and E.Santana's ability to stay in the rotation (and with their current teams).

I haven't taken a closer look at Showtimes' situation, but I'd guess he's got a shot as well...dunno, but it is possible. I would love to prove that this year.

Less than Dave · Post by **Less than Dave** » Fri Jun 29, 2007 3:51 pm

You're forgetting another thing about the RP strat... if you're drafting for RP only, you will need to stock up on closers (you need to dominate this category if you want to have any chance) and closers go early in the draft (everyone knows who they all are pretty much)... meaning you will likely not get the premium hitters you would want to get at the expense of sacrificing the W and K categories... I think building a balanced team is your best bet. One thing you could do is take several fringe closers late so you still get saves and their mediocre ratios don't affect you as much as a mediocre-bad SP would... plus you can always grab newly anointed closers in FA.

Spyhunter · Post by **Spyhunter** » Sun Jul 01, 2007 11:58 am

Originally posted by Less than Dave:

You're forgetting another thing about the RP strat... if you're drafting for RP only, you will need to stock up on closers (you need to dominate this category if you want to have any chance) and closers go early in the draft (everyone knows who they all are pretty much)... meaning you will likely not get the premium hitters you would want to get at the expense of sacrificing the W and K categories... I think building a balanced team is your best bet. One thing you could do is take several fringe closers late so you still get saves and their mediocre ratios don't affect you as much as a mediocre-bad SP would... plus you can always grab newly anointed closers in FA. Sorry less than Dave, your analysis doesn't hold water. Everyone takes atleast 1 top closer in the top 4-7 and a secondary closer in the 9-14 rounds. Secondly, everyone takes a top 1-3 starters. Simply pick up 2 top closers, 1 mediocre one, and a set of a set of setup men. You lock up saves, whip and era. Meanwhile, you have picked up 12 out of your first 15 picks with hitters making your starting hitters a very good chance of being awesome

Spy