Glenneration X wrote:Todd, how do you approach an AL or NL only auction differently when compared to a mixed? Are you a spread the wealth drafter or stars & scrubs or do you utilize some other known strategy?
I don't think I'm either a StW or S&S auction player - I take what the room gives me. I try to read very early how much the top-end players will go for and if I feel there is a decent return on investment, I'll pay for the stars and if there isn't, I'll wait until I see an entry point where I feel a decent ROI. The trend lately has been to be aggressive at the top so it's been awhile since I have a $35+ player, but I don't waddle into the room saying I'm not going to get one.
I haven't really done many mixed auctions and those that I have done I have not performed as well as I expected - I'm still trying to crack the code there. Read between the lines, I'm doing my first mixed auction in a few years so that either means I can finally afford it or I finally think I can be a competitor and not a donator (or both).
Glenneration X wrote:Please provide specific strategic points when attacking the shallower draft pool and almost non-existent in-season free agent pool. Are there any do's or don'ts that you apply?
I think you may be backwards with 'shallow'. AL and NL only leagues are conventionally termed DEEP while mixed leagues pools are SHALLOW.
For me the key in AL and NL only is to get as many starters as possible. This doesn't mean to avoid the stars as you don't HAVE to balance stars with scrubs but I'd like as many AB as possible in AL and NL leagues.
I also believe in paying for at least one closer in and only league and not chasing saves over the wire. The way to make sure you have starters in every hitting spot may be to borrow some budget from hitting so I may have some high-K middle relievers in my active 9 pitchers then look to fortify starting pitchers via reserve picks or FAAB.
Glenneration X wrote:Do you go in knowing that the NFBC only leagues will play differently than the Touts, LABR, etc. etc. expert auctions? If so what shifts in strategy do you apply?
The primary difference is there's trading in the industry league so I'm more likely to roster potential from wherever then deal for points later. In the NFBC, you need to come out pretty balanced since you can't backfill a weakness or rid a surplus via trade.
I wish I could say something like "NFBC pay more for stars than industry" or whatever, but every year/table is different.