Affordable Auctions

[Deadheadz]

This may be overkill on this but I noticed a few comments and I think it should be absolutely stressed for the next 2 auctions. I did an entire draft on RTS and noticed several owners who had trouble with Internet Explorer freezing. It should be announced here and at the beginning of each of the auctions that everyone should be drafting from Chrome or Firefox. I drafted from Chrome and had no issues at all. Its obviously much worse in an auction than a draft, to be frozen out.

RTS reccommends Chrome and as a Firefox user I do too.

Firefox was adequate but at times I would type a player's name into the search filter with zero results. The players were available and even typing only the first letter of their name caused the entire list of available players to vanish. Yes, I checked the box to hide players already taken.

Todd suggested to hit my F5 key to refresh the screen and that cleared up the problem but only for a few minutes. Next time I'll use Chrome all the way.

[BK METS]

Forgot to thank the 2 guys who did the work to get this thing going and run it - Dan and Todd.

Since others are posting their entire team I'll do the same.

C R Martin $8
C W Castillo $5
1b J Morneau $13
2b N Walker $5
3b C Johnson $3
SS T Tulowitzski $30
CI J Smoak $1
MI D Jeter $4
OF A McCutchen $37
OF D Brown $11
OF A De Aza $7
OF C Rasmus $7
OF M Byrd $3
U B Butler $17
P C Sale $24
P D Price $23
P K Medlen $15
P C Sabathia $12
P Z Wheeler $8
P D Haren $2
P T Wood $1
P J Johnson $11
P J Veras $6

Nice team. Probably short on speed, but I like some of the value picks.... If Sabathia can turn it around, your pitching should be solid.

[BK METS]

Let's get some auction prices posted!

From what I've learned we don't post DC teams because there is an overall prize involved but since this is not a league where teams are eligible for the overall prize, I can accommodate your request. My first instinct is to just give highlights of my good and bad picks but maybe it's just best to post my whole team and let the chips fall where they may:

C Rosario, Wilin (COL) (C,U) $19
C Arencibia, J.P. (TEX) (C,U) $1
1B Craig, Allen (STL) (1B,CI,U,OF) $22
2B Wong, Kolten (STL) (2B,U) $1 <<<-last pick of the draft
SS Mercer, Jordy (PIT) (2B,SS,MI,U) $1
3B Cabrera, Miguel (DET) (3B,CI,U) $47
MI Bonifacio, Emilio (KC) (2B,MI,U,OF) $1
CI Alvarez, Pedro (PIT) (3B,CI,U) $19
U Ortiz, David (BOS) (U) $24
OF Ellsbury, Jacoby (NYY) (U,OF) $35
OF Marte, Starling (PIT) (U,OF) $26
OF Hamilton, Billy (CIN) (U,OF) $19
OF Eaton, Adam (CWS) (U,OF) $2
OF Moss, Brandon (OAK) (1B,CI,U,OF) $16
P Frieri, Ernesto (LAA) (RP) $11
P Parnell, Bobby (NYM) (RP) $5
P Masterson, Justin (CLE) (SP) $3
P Garcia, Jaime (STL) (SP) $2
P Ogando, Alexi (TEX) (SP) $2
P Colon, Bartolo (NYM) (SP) $1
P Santiago, Hector (LAA) (SP) $1
P Skaggs, Tyler (LAA) (SP) $1
P Thornburg, Tyler (BOS) (RP) $1

Obviously a good hitting team, but spending $11 on starting pitching in a auction, is a recipe for disaster, although I actually like the bargains you got. If you replaced Alvarez and Moss with lower end guys, and drafted 2 solid pitchers, you would have had a chance. This would have been the type of standalone league, where punting saves would have worked for you. But, instead it appears you punted starting pitching. It will be an uphill climb but still, I think this is one of your better drafts.

[BK METS]

I had a blast. This was my first auction in 26 years, It sure won't be my last. I blew past my estimated pitching budget by almost 50%. Once I went over - my four most expensive arms cost $79 and I wanted to spend $80 total - I just said screw it and kept bidding. As a result, my staff looks really strong and my offense looks like I spent $38 less than originally intended. I had to fill my final five hitting slots with $6. This is probably not a recommended strategy, but I did like the bang I got for those few bucks. My hitting might still be competitive if Springer and Taveras find their way to regular AB's sooner rather than later.

C Castro, Jason (HOU) (C,U) $9
C Jaso, John (OAK) (C,U) $1
1B Encarnacion, E. (TOR) (1B,CI,U) $27
2B Guerrero, A. (LAD) (2B,U) $3
SS Segura, Jean (MIL) (SS,MI,U) $23
3B Donaldson, Josh (OAK) (3B,CI,U) $18
MI Villar, Jonathan (HOU) (SS,MI,U) $11
CI Dominguez, Matt (HOU) (3B,CI,U) $1
U Middlebrooks, W. (BOS) (3B,CI,U) $1
OF Puig, Yasiel (LAD) (U,OF) $26
OF Springer, George (HOU) (U,OF) $14
OF Arcia, Oswaldo (MIN) (U,OF) $2
OF Cabrera, Melky (TOR) (U,OF) $1
OF Taveras, Oscar (STL) (U,OF) $1
P Strasburg, S. (WSH) (SP) $25
P Wainwright, Adam (STL) (SP) $25
P Cobb, Alex (TB) (SP) $15
P Salazar, Danny (CLE) (SP) $14
P Ryu, Hyun-Jin (LAD) (SP) $13
P Janssen, Casey (TOR) (RP) $11
P Street, Huston (SD) (RP) $11
P Kazmir, Scott (OAK) (SP) $4
P Wood, Alex (ATL) (SP) $4

Too many hitting gambles, in my opinion. but pitching is very good. Solid team.

[BK METS]

Having never done an auction before, I would love some feedback and critiques of my team. It definitely was a learning experience for me.

C Jonathan Lucroy $16
C Alex Avila $3
1B Chris Davis $30
2B Omar Infante $10
3B Manny Machado $16
SS Jose Reyes $23
CI Todd Frazier $3
MI Everth Cabrera $17
OF Austin Jackson $10
OF Matt Kemp $17
OF Nick Markakis $4
OF Josh Willingham $2
OF Gerardo Parra $1
UT Elvis Andrus $16

SP Anibal Sanchez $16
SP Hisashi Iwakuma $16
SP Shelby Miller $8
SP Justin Verlander $21
SP Madison Bumgarner $21
SP Jose Quintana $5
SP Rick Porcello $2
SP Dan Straily $2
RP Mark Melancon $1

Individually, I don't hate many of my buys. I feel like two of my early acquisitions - Infante and Machado - probably were over-pays, and whether I got any type of bargain with Kemp probably depends on how many games he plays. He could very well turn into a big over-pay if he has another year like 2013. If I had to do it over again, I probably would not have taken the gamble. Still, I had an absolute blast, spent my $260, and am not disgusted or embarrassed by my team.

That being said, I have a lot to learn. Even if I am relatively content with my most of my buys on an isolated basis, I feel like I did a very poor job allocating my money. I think I spent too much on pitching. Even though I liked Elvis Andrus at $16, I should not have rostered him having already acquired Jose Reyes and Everth Cabrera. That money would have been better spent at CI and/or OF as I feel like I am short power. Also, I should have held off on Verlander or Bumgarner at $21 each (probably Verlandner) and used that money to acquire two closers. I still would've had a competitive rotation and would not be facing the prospect of having to punt saves.

Where else did I screw-up? Thanks.

Mike

Definite overkill on the starting pitching. Switch out Verlander for a closer and you would have been that much better. That being said, punting saves in a standalone is not a bad approach. I think the big question mark will be if Kemp/Machado put up solid numbers.. Still, I think it is overall a decent mix of guys.

[BK METS]

I loved it and completely understand the attraction of it all. I also tried to attack a certain number of my favorite players.
Dont think I got any of them.Thanks again Todd/Dan and Stats for helping to make this happen.
Adam jones $31
Cano $27
Hosmer $22
Kimbrel $22
Rosenthal $21
Holland $18
bogarts $15
cruz $12
simmons $10
b miller $ 9
y gomes $9
cingranni $8
corbin $8
bucholz $7
hudson $5
j parker $4
cj wilson $3
fowler $7
navarro $6
calhoun $6
reddick $5
lake $3
moreland $2

I am ok with how it all plays out/ really enjoyed it /looking forward to actually learning it.
CANT WAIT for the next one I do.

Rog, personally I like the overkill with closers. It has worked for me, the times that I have done it, giving you options at the end of the year and I like the starters you picked, though Ks might end up being an issue and speed on the offense. Not bad for an auction first timer. Good luck!

[Deadheadz]

Obviously a good hitting team, but spending $11 on starting pitching in a auction, is a recipe for disaster, although I actually like the bargains you got. If you replaced Alvarez and Moss with lower end guys, and drafted 2 solid pitchers, you would have had a chance. This would have been the type of standalone league, where punting saves would have worked for you. But, instead it appears you punted starting pitching. It will be an uphill climb but still, I think this is one of your better drafts.

I really shot myself in the foot with Alvarez at CI for so much money, I agree.
The plan to get SP like Lynn cheap (he went for $2) worked the way I expected but it benefited my opponents rather than myself since I was down to $1 players at that point.

Live and learn. If I auction again this year I'll resist the urge to "bid up" popular players.
Big time FAIL.

[Bronx Yankees]

Thanks for the feedback on my team. You're right about Verlander, Kemp and Machado. A few times I got so caught up in the bidding and trying to get good value for players that I think I lost sight of my overall team composition. Spending a little too much too early prevented me from being able to fix it adequately in the end game. Although switching out Verlander for two closers would have improved my team, you're right that punting saves, if necessary, is not the end of the world. Depending on how the 27-round snake goes, maybe I'll get lucky and grab a future closer or two. Leaving the auction light on power, however, is less easily fixable and the result of a few poor decisions on my part. Still, a really fun night and a definite learning experience for me.

Mike

[Yah Mule]

I had a blast. This was my first auction in 26 years, It sure won't be my last. I blew past my estimated pitching budget by almost 50%. Once I went over - my four most expensive arms cost $79 and I wanted to spend $80 total - I just said screw it and kept bidding. As a result, my staff looks really strong and my offense looks like I spent $38 less than originally intended. I had to fill my final five hitting slots with $6. This is probably not a recommended strategy, but I did like the bang I got for those few bucks. My hitting might still be competitive if Springer and Taveras find their way to regular AB's sooner rather than later.

C Castro, Jason (HOU) (C,U) $9
C Jaso, John (OAK) (C,U) $1
1B Encarnacion, E. (TOR) (1B,CI,U) $27
2B Guerrero, A. (LAD) (2B,U) $3
SS Segura, Jean (MIL) (SS,MI,U) $23
3B Donaldson, Josh (OAK) (3B,CI,U) $18
MI Villar, Jonathan (HOU) (SS,MI,U) $11
CI Dominguez, Matt (HOU) (3B,CI,U) $1
U Middlebrooks, W. (BOS) (3B,CI,U) $1
OF Puig, Yasiel (LAD) (U,OF) $26
OF Springer, George (HOU) (U,OF) $14
OF Arcia, Oswaldo (MIN) (U,OF) $2
OF Cabrera, Melky (TOR) (U,OF) $1
OF Taveras, Oscar (STL) (U,OF) $1
P Strasburg, S. (WSH) (SP) $25
P Wainwright, Adam (STL) (SP) $25
P Cobb, Alex (TB) (SP) $15
P Salazar, Danny (CLE) (SP) $14
P Ryu, Hyun-Jin (LAD) (SP) $13
P Janssen, Casey (TOR) (RP) $11
P Street, Huston (SD) (RP) $11
P Kazmir, Scott (OAK) (SP) $4
P Wood, Alex (ATL) (SP) $4

Too many hitting gambles, in my opinion. but pitching is very good. Solid team.

I would feel much better about this team if I traded in Wainwright or Strasburg for another 25 bucks to spread around my outfield.

A whole lot has to break right on offense for this to work, but I prefer to think of these guys as "wild cards" rather than gambles.



http://youtu.be/MYtjpIwamos

[NorCalAtlFan]

trade you an OF for wainwright?

[Gekko]

I really shot myself in the foot with Alvarez at CI for so much money, I agree.
The plan to get SP like Lynn cheap (he went for $2) worked the way I expected but it benefited my opponents rather than myself since I was down to $1 players at that point.

Live and learn. If I auction again this year I'll resist the urge to "bid up" popular players.
Big time FAIL.

"I really shot myself in the foot" = "I SABOTAGED MYSELF"

and i dont think you will learn. u overdrafted all thos guys in that draft you posted, gomez, myers, etc and in the auction you paid too much for guys that you really like

[Deadheadz]

Redacted

[Gekko]

I really shot myself in the foot with Alvarez at CI for so much money, I agree.
The plan to get SP like Lynn cheap (he went for $2) worked the way I expected but it benefited my opponents rather than myself since I was down to $1 players at that point.

Live and learn. If I auction again this year I'll resist the urge to "bid up" popular players.
Big time FAIL.

"I really shot myself in the foot" = "I SABOTAGED MYSELF"

Yeah, I sabotaged myself. Your big plan had nothing to do with it.

If your team can stay healthy (you seem to value players whose value is depressed due to missing time due to injury) you might do well. But looking at the draft board I see you spent only $254.

If you don't cash, will you say "I SABOTAGED MYSELF" too?

Dont be silly. I could thrown out my last bid for my remaining money if I wanted. However I thought it would make a better story line to leave some so u could wonder how I won the league while not spending all of my money!!!!

[Deadheadz]

Keep telling yourself that Gekko.

[rkulaski]

This may be overkill on this but I noticed a few comments and I think it should be absolutely stressed for the next 2 auctions. I did an entire draft on RTS and noticed several owners who had trouble with Internet Explorer freezing. It should be announced here and at the beginning of each of the auctions that everyone should be drafting from Chrome or Firefox. I drafted from Chrome and had no issues at all. Its obviously much worse in an auction than a draft, to be frozen out.

How bout safari ? Or should I download chrome for my auction ?

[Gekko]

Keep telling yourself that Gekko.

u would have killed to have the extra $6 i didn't spend. that would have significantly upgraded your pitching staff with all those bargains at the end. and for me just to flush $6 down the shitter like it meant nothing to me has to BURN BABY!!!

[ALL-IN JD]

Rog,

$61 was tremendous overkill for closers, in my opinion. That being said, for a first timer, you did okay with your starters and you did really well with our end game. Good luck this season!

That is what I was thinking as I was bidding on them. Once I spent 43 on my first 2 and hadnt really rostered a true ace , Ifigured I might as well and try to win at least 1 pitching cat.(Mark knew I couldnt say no and was pushing their price up) I wasn't going to spend that much on a 3rd closer but damn seeing holland out there was like trying to walk by that little piece of cake on the table with the fork laying beside it and nobody around.
my next lesson will be on WILL POWER AND SELF CONTROL
Just say no next time
It was a great learning experience and do appreciate the advice and definitely looking forward to doing it again.
thanks Jeff/ was there any other really glaring holes?

Rog,

You will probably be light on steals and may be challenged in BA. That being said I am a sucker for upside and you have a whole lot of it with Bogarts, Miller, Simmons and Gomes. Would have no problem going to war with this team. Just work some magic on the FAAB each week and you are in business!!


Jeff

[DOUGHBOYS]

Here's my full team.
Every 1B I really wanted seemed to cost too much. And I'm a cheap sombitch, so I started flipping winning bidders the finger with each 1B taken. Rich bastards!
So, I tried to ease the 1B woes with 3B strength...
We all have to be weak somewhere for me it is at 1B and Closers.

Pick away....


Posey-24
Pierzynski- 12
Lind- 4
Pedroia- 24
Arenado- 8
As Cabrera- 6
MCarpenter- 16
Rollins- 4
Trout- 51
Gordon- 15
Crawford- 9
Aoki- 6
Castellanos- 4
Loney- 1


Wacha-20
Moore- 11
Smyly- 11
Lester- 8
Lincecum- 7
Kuroda- 6
Lackey- 5
Car Martinez- 2
Brothers- 4

[76erfan]

Like your sp dan just heavy on it with lack of closets. Was shocked a cheap spender splurged on trout.

Kuroda and lester were insane value

[Gekko]

Here's my full team.
Every 1B I really wanted seemed to cost too much. And I'm a cheap sombitch, so I started flipping winning bidders the finger with each 1B taken. Rich bastards!
So, I tried to ease the 1B woes with 3B strength...
We all have to be weak somewhere for me it is at 1B and Closers.

Pick away....


Posey-24
Pierzynski- 12
Lind- 4
Pedroia- 24
Arenado- 8
As Cabrera- 6
MCarpenter- 16
Rollins- 4
Trout- 51
Gordon- 15
Crawford- 9
Aoki- 6
Castellanos- 4
Loney- 1


Wacha-20
Moore- 11
Smyly- 11
Lester- 8
Lincecum- 7
Kuroda- 6
Lackey- 5
Car Martinez- 2
Brothers- 4

pick away? uh o!!

plus: u have batting avg won

minus: i dont see the power. dont like the SP group as a whole. dont like zero closers

[76erfan]

My full team...had only posted offense early

Zimmermann 17
Scherzer 25
Tanaka 17
Cain 16
Burnett 7
Miguel a gonzalez 3
Rodney 6
Axford 5
Cishek 10

Salty 4
Ellis 1
Freeman 27
Kendrick 12
S castro 11
Beltre 28
Laroche 4
A escobar 3
R.howard 3
W myers 21
Cespedes 17
Jennings 15
Revere 6
Ethier 1

[DOUGHBOYS]

Here's my full team.
Every 1B I really wanted seemed to cost too much. And I'm a cheap sombitch, so I started flipping winning bidders the finger with each 1B taken. Rich bastards!
So, I tried to ease the 1B woes with 3B strength...
We all have to be weak somewhere for me it is at 1B and Closers.

Pick away....


Posey-24
Pierzynski- 12
Lind- 4
Pedroia- 24
Arenado- 8
As Cabrera- 6
MCarpenter- 16
Rollins- 4
Trout- 51
Gordon- 15
Crawford- 9
Aoki- 6
Castellanos- 4
Loney- 1


Wacha-20
Moore- 11
Smyly- 11
Lester- 8
Lincecum- 7
Kuroda- 6
Lackey- 5
Car Martinez- 2
Brothers- 4

pick away? uh o!!

plus: u have batting avg won

minus: i dont see the power. dont like the SP group as a whole. dont like zero closers

This is where I say, you're wrong, I expect to get 50 homers out of this year's Chris Davis, Adam Lind.
Unfortunately I can't because neither I or Adam Lind have home run pixie dust flying out of our butts.

I know what you mean about the starting pitching too. The prices paid were fine, but the staff is like really wanting dessert after dinner and being served fruit cake.

And Andy, your right, I got the right price just not the right players.
As for Trout, last year I had a bunch of number one picks in drafts. This year, none. I was owning Trout here....

[Gekko]

Zimmermann 17
Scherzer 25
Tanaka 17
Cain 16
Burnett 7
Miguel a gonzalez 3
Rodney 6
Axford 5
Cishek 10

very well done here. i like this alot (save for the phillies pitcher )

rodney was a steal for the prices legit closers were going for. tananka can be a major one too. if burnett signs with pitt or the nats, u're staff is wicked. again, well played

[BK METS]

My full team...had only posted offense early

Zimmermann 17
Scherzer 25
Tanaka 17
Cain 16
Burnett 7
Miguel a gonzalez 3
Rodney 6
Axford 5
Cishek 10

Salty 4
Ellis 1
Freeman 27
Kendrick 12
S castro 11
Beltre 28
Laroche 4
A escobar 3
R.howard 3
W myers 21
Cespedes 17
Jennings 15
Revere 6
Ethier 1

Prime example of having no first rounders yet probably one of the favorites to win. Your auction experience helps. From the teams so far from this draft, this one is my favorite. Nice work Andy.

[76erfan]

Thanks. In hindsight the three I spent on gonzalez early coulda got me a better pitcher late as there were numerous pitcher bargains. I need to address a replacement for gonzalez in slow draft portion. I do like his upside tho. And yes I am tainted some being a phils fan