Originally posted by sportsbettingman:
My views on satellites for this season (for helping me with some weaknesses)...
a) Any Sat. draft result from more than a week before the main is fairly useless...in fact...viewing the boards the Friday before the Main allows you to see how others did from your draft spot, and have much more value IMO.
I don't agree. All information is good information, it's how much weight and creedence that you put into each bit (byte) of information.
b) Drafting before Spring Training gives you a chance to get more "sleepers" before they become top 10 rounders after everyone sees their spot in the order or clear cut playing time.
On the other hand what if your SLEEPER gets hurt during spring training, it saves you a pick. Also I can't begin to tell you how much spring training is overrated. By the time the draft occurs the veterans are just getting into the flow and whatever "phenom" that breaks out has done it against mostly minor leaguers.
c) I resisted doing any this season simply to have 100% surprise advantage during the Main. Nobody will know who I really like, because nobody will have seen a money draft from me.
Most everybody has their own plan. You're not holding back a surprise attack, you're depriving yourself of a good time and good gauge of what may happen during the Main.
d) Too much variance of opinion on players to really justify reliance on the results of a Sat. Unless you did one with someone in your Main league...you never know who's gonna reach for whom.
For that matter, EVERY draft is different.
e) I do not want to "fall in love" with players I draft on Feb 26th, and follow them closer than other potential draft picks during Spring Training...and lose that neutral attitude toward all players needed on draft day.
I've heard of this happening, never experienced it. Five NFBC leagues for me last year, one common player and that was Markakis, I reached for him in every draft. If you are that changed player this shouldn't be happening to you.
f) I don't want to spend 5 times the effort each week on waivers for five leagues...but rather fives times the effort for the ONE league that matters most.
There is only so much you can do.
Hopefully Greg gets the FAAB and STATS problem changed. Did you really feel overtaxed last year with more than one team?
g) The progressive "leaking" of Sat. results actually does damage to your "sleepers" and has a panic/snowball effect as each draft may show a guy being selected a bit higher, and thus puts the pressure on to reach a bit further...whereas this would NOT be the case if all results were kept secret/unknown. (This can also be taken advantage of)
When you have that one minute to decide who you're taking, are you going to ask yourself who Shawn would take and what player did he take in his satelite during this round? That was HIS draft and its different than the one you're in. The information going through your mind should be who will help this team most at this point in time. Satelite info will be a blip during that one minute of time. It'll be your team for the next 180 days, filter out the noise and make the best selection.
At least that's what I'm trying this season...if it fails...I'll scrap it.
Good luck, Lance. Hope I haven't sounded negative. Think of me as the devil on one shoulder, maybe someone else can be the angel on the other.
~Lance