Emotions Of Drafting

[DOUGHBOYS]

(This post was written with the help of Mike Mager. Thanks again. Mike!)
(Three parts because these Boards hate long posts)

"Ah shit".
I didn't say it loudly.
But enough for my wife to notice.
"What's the matter?"
"Drafter took a player I wanted."
"Oh."
She could care less.
It's part of our drafting turmoil. One of the many things during a draft that makes us go, "Ah shit."
Let's look at some of those emotions and situations......

The one above fits with getting 'sniped'. Sniped has become the word for being just one pick away from the player coveted, then the guy in front of you takes that player.
Bastard.
We can actually get sniped without it being the drafter next to us.
Sometimes we have a choice between two players when on the clock. The deciding factor is the thought that one player has a better chance of making it back to us in the next round.
So, we watch the picks intently. The round changes and our guy hasn't been taken!
Then two spots away, our dreams are crushed.
Sometimes, this produces an even louder "Aw Shit" than getting sniped.

Getting away from the "Aw shit", we enter the inner turmoil.
Wanting three players on a corner when we can only draft two or two players coveted and we can only draft one in the middle.
We think about our roster. We think about the sheer want of these players. More time off the clock.
Many other things come into play here.
How many 'shares' do I have of these players?
What are other drafters doing?
How will my roster look if taking one player over another?
We think about all these things.
Our stomach turns.
We pull the trigger.
We feel relief that the decision is over.
At the same time, we get one of two emotions....or maybe both.
The first is 'drafters remorse'. No matter which player(s) were chosen, we feel we should have picked the player not picked.
The second is an inward proudness.
Even after buyers remorse, we can rebound and even give a fist pump to ourselves and give ourselves a virtual pat on our back for picking the right player.

I won't draft some players. I love it when drafters select those players. Especially when they take them early.
Chris Sale was one of those players early in the year.
There's a certain satisfaction we get when we stay away from a player we think is hurt more than letting on and proved right later.

There's also being the next person to draft and you're torn between two players.
Then, the drafter in front of you takes one of those players.
A little sad that the player is taken. But damned happy the consternation of deciding between two players is gone!

[DOUGHBOYS]

There's also FOMO. The Fear Of Missing Out.
Sometimes, we want the hyped player. We've done eight drafts and never had a sniff of a player that is over hyped.
I have this mostly when it comes to Louis Bob....Louis Bob is a group of texters I'm with who gave this name to Luis Robert.
Louis Bob has so much helium that he squeaks instead of talking.
Once, Louis Bob fell deep into the sixth round. He was selected two picks before me. I still don't know if I would have selected him.
I probably would have since that would be a 'bargain'. But more because of not having a share.

There's also the runs. For most folks, this means diarrhea. For us, it can give us diarrhea.
We draft a hitter knowing that Closers are slow to come off the Board.
Then, ZING! Eight Closers off the Board. 11 by the time the draft snakes back to you.
What's left is crap.
That, that is an "Aw shit."

The opposite can happen too. You covet a player. It could be a Closer, Starter, or positional player.
After selecting the player wanted, you notice that your pick started a run.
Beautiful!
Not only did you get the player desired, but drafters are taking a position that you no longer need to fill.
"Life is good"

Sometimes one drafter can piss you off.
Two examples for me are Eric Albright and Ante Meich.
I hate you both!
Every year, these type of drafters think along the same lines as us.
Drafting styles are similar. players desired are the same.
It is even worse when it's a drafter not known. Especially when he takes 'your guy' two rounds in a row.
You wanna break your computer screen and somehow grab this guy and tell him to get the Hell out of your head!
More than an "Aw Shit"

And one of my favorites from Mike. The dashed hope.
You agonize over two players. It's the inner turmoil described above.
You take time, but can't decide which of these two wonderful players you want.
While your wife is reading her book, you stare at the two names.
Finally, you pick.
You wait for the other player to be selected....and wait...and wait...
Then, you start having hope.
Is it possible that I can get BOTH of these guys that will certainly catapult me to an Overall Championship?
Can it happen?
5 Picks,... four till my turn, three! Then, you see the name go on the screen.
This isn't an "Aw shit".
This is a "YOU SONOFABITCH!" moment.

We all like our players that are drafted late in drafts.
Sometimes even counting on them or taking them for granted.
We'll have a hole in a position in our roster on paper, but in our heads, we know that hole will be filled by our favorite late player.
Then, he's picked.
This is also worse than an "Aw shit"
Not only has some asshole taken your player, now we have a hole to fill with no player as capable as the player lost.
Middle finger extended for the drafter who perpetrated this dirty deed.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Another...
We've just read that a player has been hurt and will miss months.
Then see that player taken in our draft.
The first feeling is that the drafter should have been smart enough to read the latest update.
Then, there is a little feeling of superiority.
Like you did your homework and din't get in trouble while the rest of the class is punished for not doing theirs.
Then, feeling a little bad for the guy because he was probably busy at his job or something.
That last feeling certainly doesn't last long though!

Some drafts leave us absolutely puzzled.
Three years ago, I was in a draft where eight Closers were taken in the first five rounds.
My first thought was that Greg had made a rule change in that Saves would count double and that we had 11 roto categories.
There is the crowd mentality when runs like this happen.
But that one never influenced me.
It just left me scratching my head. Befuddled.

There's also the drafter who takes a lot of time every pick.
This guy drives most of us crazy.
We all picture him doing this on purpose.
We never really know. Especially if never participating in chat.
Universally, the guy is despised.
I have a self-joke about this type of drafter now.
I say to myself, "What are you doing, checking on his latest news?" "Has your boy got the virus?"
Now, for those drafters who are late and use chat, "Sorry, had a meeting" doesn't cut it any longer.
There are few meetings in this day and age.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Almost forgot my most hated....
A drafter takes a lot of time off the clock...consistently.
And just as consistently, takes the player we're hoping to get.
LOSE-LOSE.

We don't know what we hate worse...That he is so freakin' slow or that he is taking your player.
If we're right in our choice of players, we'll suffer twice.
We'll suffer drafting with the slow sombitch.
Then, during the season, making life miserable by doing well with 'our players.'