Draft Champions Leagues For Baseball?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:59 am

I haven't even asked STATS if this is technically possible, so I'm putting the cart before the horse, but what the hell!!! A couple of our owners have asked me to develop a game that plays off the version we use in football called the Draft Champions League. Here's the football concept and then we'll discuss baseball.

In our NFFC Draft Champions League, teams draft 25 players and then allow the computer to pick their optimal starting lineup each week. Teams accumulate points for 16 weeks and the team with the most points wins the grand prize, and we pay 2nd and 3rd place, too. You never make any weekly starting lineup moves or transactions during the season. It's what it's called: A Draft Champions League.

In the scenario above, if you had 5 QBs on your roster, each week the computer would pick the QB who scored the most points. Makes sense, so if Joey Harrington had one big game (yeah, right) he would start for you that week. Same with the other positions. This is obviously easy to run online in football because the highest scores are easy to compute. In baseball, it's a little tougher since you have ERAs to consider, WHIPs vs. Wins, stolen bases vs. batting average, etc.

But here's a thought. Let's say you drafted 40 players in a 15-team league (seriously) and at the end of each month you were allowed to pick your starters once you've seen all the stats of your players. You'd make only 6 moves per year, determing your 23 starting players from your 40-man roster. Nobody else would be able to see your starters and we'd have like a deadline of the 3rd or 4th of the following month to set those lineups. Then we'd compute the standings the next day and you'd have those standings until the next month.

It would still reward those who drafted the best, but still give you an option of choosing your optimal lineup based on the 5 offensive and 5 pitching categories. It would be an easy-to-run league and in a lot of ways fun to watch.

Others have suggested that we draft 25-30 players and maybe have only 16-18 starters. That's an option too. Choosing optimal lineups more often than monthly is another option, but then it gets to be too time consuming. But both are thoughts.

This might not lead to anything, but those who have played in the NFFC Draft Champions League like that concept and I think some would like it in baseball, too. We could draft online in a Satellite League to start this out if you're interested.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts outloud and I'm willing for suggestions, additions, deletions, etc. I need to run another league like I need another hole in my head, but creating novel games is fun. This one might have some merit.

Thanks for reading. Anyone up for a 600-player, 7-hour draft?

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:08 am

For pitching, 5 starters and two relievers Min. with two open spots.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:13 am

Nice idea Greg. Given limited time in Vegas it would be hard to do a live draft, but I'd be interested as a $500 satellite.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:25 am

Originally posted by CC's Desperados:

For pitching, 5 starters and two relievers Min. with two open spots. Yeah, we could do that.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:27 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Nice idea Greg. Given limited time in Vegas it would be hard to do a live draft, but I'd be interested as a $500 satellite. Yeah, it's impossible to fit this in our schedule, but it would definitely be a long, long draft with a lot of write-ins. But it could be fun.

Maybe the week of March 27-30th????

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:21 am

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

quote:Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Nice idea Greg. Given limited time in Vegas it would be hard to do a live draft, but I'd be interested as a $500 satellite. Yeah, it's impossible to fit this in our schedule, but it would definitely be a long, long draft with a lot of write-ins. But it could be fun.

Maybe the week of March 27-30th???? [/QUOTE]That would be ok for me depending on start time; Alternatively, maybe the weekend before NFBC weekend since a very long draft might be difficult on a weeknight for a combined east/west coast group.

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:45 am

Thanks for reading. Anyone up for a 600-player, 7-hour draft? 7 hours ?? be a war of attrition thats for sure. Great league for teams with partners - that way it can be handled in shifts ! I like it though, after the initial outlay weekly overhead would be minimal but create alot of excitement especially if some 35-40 rounders hit ! count me in Greg. Would prefer that it mimic the nfbc though, i.e. 23 starters etc.

Q

JohnZ · Post by **JohnZ** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:50 am

Draft 30 players and let them all play the entire year.

Just like FB.

Draft and be done with.

Maybe add an extra requirement of additional CI/MI/OF/C

14/9 becomes 18/12.

There would be great strategy at the end.

Do you take a M.Tucker or the prospect you think will get called up in June.

[ January 11, 2006, 12:52 PM: Message edited by: UFS ]

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:56 am

Originally posted by Quahogs:

[QUOTE] 7 hours ?? be a war of attrition thats for sure. Great league for teams with partners - that way it can be handled in shifts ! I like it though, after the initial outlay weekly overhead would be minimal but create alot of excitement especially if some 35-40 rounders hit ! count me in Greg. Would prefer that it mimic the nfbc though, i.e. 23 starters etc.

Q Hey, maybe a two-nighter would be fun!!! Three hours one night and 3+ the next.

Agreed. 40 rounds and 23 starters makes sense.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:45 am

I am definitely in for this - assuming we can solve all the questions/problems

1) Rosters - 40 man and regular 23 man lineup

2) Should be able to be optimized by stat service like football - its just a matter of them writing the code to run the stats and drop the least productive in each position.

3) Draft dates - latest possible is best as is split into two online sessions.

BUT GREG, we all are going to have conflicts with local leagues and other things after NFBC, so we should get those interested to agree now so we can block them off calendars.

First 15 to commit...............

RotoSpin.com · Post by **RotoSpin.com** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:59 am

Not even sure I totally get all the rules although I totally get the concept...

We're In!!!

eddiejag · Post by **eddiejag** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:59 pm

GREG this could be something, didnt artie rastelli come up with this idea last year. I remember him going on the message boards last year about a 40 man roster, he said this concept would bring out the true fantasy player.

OH YEAH , IM ALL IN.

EDDIEJAG MR. ULTIMATE

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:06 pm

I agree with UFS. If your going to do a draft champions league this is the way to do it. No moves after the draft. Thats the whole point of it. I'd give it a go.

Walla Walla · Post by **Walla Walla** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:06 pm

I agree with UFS. If your going to do a draft champions league this is the way to do it. No moves after the draft. Thats the whole point of it. I'd give it a go.

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:13 pm

Originally posted by UFS:

Draft 30 players and let them all play the entire year.

Just like FB.

Draft and be done with.

UFS got part of it. Draft the players and be done. All Stats count...good and bad.

but you certainly need to draft more than 30 players. too many injuries not to. somewhere around 35-40.

it would be tough to do it on-line. very time consuming and you have to hope that someone's computer doesn't go down, as well as the draft site having every player's name (which it won't).

751542 · Post by **751542** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:16 pm

Roundtripppers jumps in!!! i agree, no moves. 40 rounds 2 nights, 23 active let website adjust for best stats. lets get it locked so i can adjust local league drafts. the later the better. preferably, m-thurs. 750.00/team??? possibly more if my comfort level online increases. just remember "there is no such thing as an off-season." RT

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:22 pm

gekko:

it would be tough to do it on-line. very time consuming and you have to hope that someone's computer doesn't go down, as well as the draft site having every player's name (which it won't). tough but doable, not sure where this would fit in during the 3 day event because of its length - it seems like a lot of auctions are being squeezed in (obviously the better format to have in person) Someone mentioned online over 2 days...3.5 hours each night - not bad.

Q

bjoak · Post by **bjoak** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:29 pm

Greg, if you're still interested in having the computer equate each day's value for each player, I have a spreadsheet that can do it for you. I'll sell it to you for only $100,000. Oh, and I'll need to withdraw and get a refund on that nfbc money. Thanks.

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:58 pm

Greg - no signup list for this idea ... is it on (if so, when) or off?

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 3:24 am

Originally posted by KJ Duke:

Greg - no signup list for this idea ... is it on (if so, when) or off? It's not on yet as I still need to discuss with STATS. Sorry, all these damn NFBC signups and magazine deadlines are making it tough to add more leagues to my work day!

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:54 pm

Originally posted by Greg Ambrosius:

Let's say you drafted 40 players in a 15-team league and at the end of each month you were allowed to pick your starters once you've seen all the stats of your players. You'd make only 6 moves per year, determing your 23 starting players from your 40-man roster.

I like this idea with the exception of the final month being all-roster-plays to coincide with MLB roster expansions. This would allow for some strategy through most of the year, and then for the final month, allow us to track daily standings ... no fun not knowing where you stand and what you need until the season is over.

Captain Hook · Post by **Captain Hook** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:19 pm

OTOH what about picking your lineup for Opening day just before the season starts and then at the beginning of each month.

Doing it afterward doesn't do anything for my sporting blood

KJ Duke · Post by **KJ Duke** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:40 pm

Originally posted by Captain Hook:

OTOH what about picking your lineup for Opening day just before the season starts and then at the beginning of each month.

Doing it afterward doesn't do anything for my sporting blood a bit too similar to a standard lge with monthly moves rather than weekly