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I've only done FAAB leagues (satellite and ME) and I'm trying to wrap my head around these early 50 round DC leagues. If anyone could enlighten me on a few things ...without divulging any plans or strategies, I would appreciate it.

for instance....

-Is this a war of attrition, that is, the least injured team has the best chance?

-Generally speaking, how many players on a given roster may not even see the light of the majors in a given season?
1-2? 5-6?

-It seems to me that you have a sizable risk of losing players from your roster long before spring training is even completed.
For instance...has anyone drafted Halladay? Is it uncommon to begin the season with only 45 or 46 viable players?

-Crap...how many catchers do you have to draft to be sure you have at least 2 actives? 4?
(that's more of a rhetorical question..ignore it)

-Is it common to get caught short at a position by season's end and just fill in a dl name to have a full lineup?
Or does 50 rounds pretty much assure you that you will have viable players each week?

Just trying to get a better picture of what I might expect.
Thanks.

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Todd(mastersball) has some great information about the DC's. Information supplied by some very successful players.

It is definitely a war of attrition. Not every pick is going to be sexy, some are just out of necessity. They are great fun. You should jump in and see what the fuss is about

Before his retirement was announced, Halladay was drafted in at least one early DC.

Hell, I drafted Mo Rivera because...

...you never know!

Atlas wrote:I've only done FAAB leagues (satellite and ME) and I'm trying to wrap my head around these early 50 round DC leagues. If anyone could enlighten me on a few things ...without divulging any plans or strategies, I would appreciate it.

for instance....

-Is this a war of attrition, that is, the least injured team has the best chance?

-Generally speaking, how many players on a given roster may not even see the light of the majors in a given season?
1-2? 5-6?

-It seems to me that you have a sizable risk of losing players from your roster long before spring training is even completed.
For instance...has anyone drafted Halladay? Is it uncommon to begin the season with only 45 or 46 viable players?

-Crap...how many catchers do you have to draft to be sure you have at least 2 actives? 4?
(that's more of a rhetorical question..ignore it)

-Is it common to get caught short at a position by season's end and just fill in a dl name to have a full lineup?
Or does 50 rounds pretty much assure you that you will have viable players each week?

Just trying to get a better picture of what I might expect.
Thanks.

It's on the verge of a war of attrition, but hasn't reached that stage yet. Most teams will still have viable players by year-end.

It depends on your risk investment. As many as 0 to 10 may not see MLB time. It just depends on the drafter you choose to be.

Halladay was taken in all the early drafts. It's part of the game, like Motte having TJ before the season. All, part of the risk.

I've seen as few as 2 catchers taken, as many as 7. Four is probably the average.

Last year, my team that had been way ahead of everybody started losing pitchers. At season end, I was starting four starters, four relievers, and a no chance for time guy.
Luckily, it was a top three all gets the same cash, because I finished third.
Attrition will catch you in certain places. But if not going too far out on a limb, there should be players for at least most of the season.
The good thing is that everybody is in the same boat. So, while you're desperately trying to keep afloat, your competition is probably doing the same

Great questions! I would give you some answers but my success rate on the DCs is abysmal. No matter what....check out the Mastersball site and spend the 5 bucks for the primer. Lots of good strategy stuff there. Only in a DC can you draft a Nick Punto and be happy about it.

These are the short answers. For more in depth answers, subscribing to Mastersball is THE source.

I'm glad there's no FAAB in DCs. It will save me from myself.

In 2013 I dropped Kyle Seager and Bartolo Colon after two weeks of play because I thought the FAs would be better.
Then I waived Prado after 2 months of suckiness after which he promptly righted his ship.

I still won my OC league but I should have never dropped those guys.

1. I like to have a 30 hitter to 20 pitcher ratio. Sure there is a little wiggle room, but wiggle too much and you'll be taking some zeros at end of season
2. I like having 4 catchers. Some owners like to take 3 within the first 20 rounds? I don't understand that one at all
3. A lot of owners like to draft top prospects at a premium price point. For every Jose Fernandez, there are 50 Oscar Taveras from 2013
4. Have fun and get the guys you like

Gekko wrote:1. I like to have a 30 hitter to 20 pitcher ratio. Sure there is a little wiggle room, but wiggle too much and you'll be taking some zeros at end of season
2. I like having 4 catchers. Some owners like to take 3 within the first 20 rounds? I don't understand that one at all
3. A lot of owners like to draft top prospects at a premium price point. For every Jose Fernandez, there are 50 Oscar Taveras from 2013
4. Have fun and get the guys you like

Giving away my primer article material for free

Deadheadz wrote:I'm glad there's no FAAB in DCs. It will save me from myself.

In 2013 I dropped Kyle Seager and Bartolo Colon after two weeks of play because I thought the FAs would be better.
Then I waived Prado after 2 months of suckiness after which he promptly righted his ship.

I still won my OC league but I should have never dropped those guys.

And this is part of my motivation to do a DC.
Last year I dropped Marlon Byrd and Chris Johnson within the first 2-3 weeks of the season.
I thought a no FAAB would save me from myself.

The early rounds are typically like regular FAAB drafts... then, in the later rounds, a good mix of innings eaters and prospects is important. If you draft too many prospects, you will be at risk of being short, if/when injuries hit and those prospects aren't called up yet. Just my opinion... others think differently.

Another "argument" has been, do strategies such as speed/pitching (punt HR/RBI's) work in these leagues? One unnamed owner went that route in one of the early DC's and we all had our opinions in the chat room. In my opinion, if you are looking to win an "overall" title, you will not win it with this or any strategy where you have to punt 2 categories. There are just too many teams. I think if you want to win your league as a stand alone, there is an outside chance, but not likely.

50 rounds gives you enough players... In any league, if you have a lot of injuries to key players, you are in trouble, but unlike typical FAAB leagues, there is no FAAB bailout to help you. If you draft 3 starting catchers and 2 get hurt early, you are stuck with 1 catcher... no chance to pick up a backup... That is what is at risk with the DC game and also what makes it great.

[quote="Gekko"]1. I like to have a 30 hitter to 20 pitcher ratio. Sure there is a little wiggle room, but wiggle too much and you'll be taking some zeros at end of season
2. I like having 4 catchers. Some owners like to take 3 within the first 20 rounds? I don't understand that one at all

And this is what my thought process was too...but there's no way there are 60 draftable catchers if everyone goes this route. I guess every ML team has 2...but still

Atlas wrote:

Gekko wrote:1. I like to have a 30 hitter to 20 pitcher ratio. Sure there is a little wiggle room, but wiggle too much and you'll be taking some zeros at end of season
2. I like having 4 catchers. Some owners like to take 3 within the first 20 rounds? I don't understand that one at all

And this is what my thought process was too...but there's no way there are 60 draftable catchers if everyone goes this route. I guess every ML team has 2...but still

Player that are C eligible but play OF, DH or OF adds a few plus there are always a few minor leaguers worth drafting

I only started playing two seasons ago and love the format. I've had teams win that were carried by players picked in the first 5 rounds and other teams at least be competitive even though their top picks were lost to injuries thanks to picks in rounds 30+. Hardly any secret formula, that's what makes it fun and each draft a little different.