He Talks With a List, Not a Lisp

[DOUGHBOYS]

Last year I didn't buy any magazine or publication that used the word 'expert' on the front or back cover. For me, it wasn't a big deal. Besides getting on my high horse about the mis/over use of the word 'expert', the truth is I don't read much in the way of fantasy publications any more.
Ask any NFBC player what is more important, what Shandler wrote months ago or the latest updates and the latest updates win every time. Heck, ask Shandler if an opinion, or two, or twenty has changed since he helped write the Forecaster and I'd bet he says yes.
For our hobby, the written word is almost dead. What folks thought about Nefti Feliz or Chris Carpenter or Daniel Bard months ago is of little worth now. Sure, the numbers haven't changed but injury and team situations have.
I've already resolved next year to only buy one printed item. That being the Bill James Handbook. The Handbook is not fantasy related per se and is more of a pleasure read than a studying guide.

I know some of you write for print publications. You also know that each of these publications has a web site. That is what is really needed now. Not something that remains permanent on a piece of paper. Players ever evolve, print does not.

Five years ago, some of us laughed at folks bringing magazines and poring through them during drafts. It's hardly ever seen now. And rightfully so, the authors themselves don't even have the same lists that were printed months ago. Now, they are updated on their web sites.

So, does it make you smarter to bring a computer to the draft. Maybe. I don't. But, I don't consider myself smart either.
Let's try this from another angle.
Shawn Childs put out his draft list on a website. Shawn has had success in the NFBC.
Will a few people be printing those lists or looking at them on their computer as they draft?
Yes.
Those people will be better off than the magazine drafters, but the lists themselves won't help them much. His lists are like others list that are like others list. The lists themselves don't matter. It is how the lists are used in a draft that is key. Shawn won't be there to help a first year NFBC'er in who to select. That drafter will only know who is highest on Shawn's list.
Even if this same drafter were in Shawn's league, it wouldn't help him much.
Each draft is different and takes on a life of its own. Shawn knows that and he knows directional drafting. Bargains are created in every draft, that new owner will have to decide whether the next supposed pick off Shawn's list is more important or the guy who has fallen two rounds after his adp. And, he only has a minute to decide

This may lead to the question- Then why does everyone keep their own lists close to the vest?
Shawn is being paid to write for a website. His list is a tool to access more readers and e-mail addresses for that web site.
I can't speak for everybody else, but I don't construct my lists like magazines or Shawn. Heck, I don't even know if Shawn constructs his list that way or whether it's just easier to use that phrasology(I know that's not a word, spell checker, so sue me) for a web site. After the drafts are over, I'll post a position and how I 'list' players.
Some drafters have self or computer driven projections by each players name. The projections or numbers tell them who to draft more than the players themselves.
Sometimes a player further down the list will help an area or category more than the player at the top of the list. This would not do for those strictly following Shawn's list.

Some of the drafters looking at Shawn's list are derisively called 'sheep'. Since Shawn's list are not much different than any other list I've seen, it's a little unfair. We all share the same pool of players. We've all seen the same lists.
The proof in the pudding is how we apply these players to our own drafts.
Once we have a minute on the clock, Shawn's list becomes as important as Schindlers list.

[OaktownSteve]

I know phraseology is a word. Comes up in the musical "The Music Man" a number of times. "Young lady, you watch your phraseology."

It's gotten to the point where I want to check my phone one last time for injury updates before I draft a guy. Up to the second information and nothing less.

[Roy's Outlaws]

Very well put Dan,as usual. The clock seperate the men from the boys at the table.You better be prepared