Main Event Breaks

[MadCow Sez]

Great point about the drafts in the same room breaking at different times and the ensuing noise absolutely overwhelming the on-going draft. Maybe all drafts break at the same time to avoid distraction?

Reminds me of last week eating lunch at Potbelly's at 11:30 AM and there were like 5 people eating... quiet and peaceful enjoying my roast beef while reading the paper. And then, like an ensuing wave, four busloads of high school kids rushed the joint and my peace and quiet turned into a HS cafeteria. At least the cheerleaders and dance teams were dressed in full unis to help defuse my anger. Anyways, that is pretty much what it sounds like when one draft breaks while the other is still on-going.

P.S. Re: Online drafts. I vote no potty breaks.

COZ

Or at least add cheerleaders

[TorontoGamblers]

My 2 cents…

A break for an online draft isn't necessary. I've done plenty of live drafts and plenty from my home or office and its definitely easier or an advantage at home/office. You have all the freedom to do whatever you want and you have way more focus. Those of us in a live draft are at a disadvantage, but we choose that because its just way more fun! Anyone who thinks we have an advantage because we have a break is just trying to justify another advantage for online drafts.

[ikenbaseball]

I have read all the replies on my post. I understand your points for potential risks associated with stopping an on-line draft.

However, this is not a valid enough reason to give the live drafter the benefit of 2 breaks vs on-line drafters zero breaks.

If every drafter took the full 1 minute to make their pick then yes, we would have enough time to get up and take a break. But that is NEVER the case. If you get up for a couple of minutes to the other room and you hear, "your on the clock." Then what?

My other point is that, yes, two 15 minutes breaks after your 10th and 20th round picks DOES give you an advantage. Draft plans never go according to plan. The drafter that has 15 minute clock to decide on his 11th and 21st pick and subsequent picks DOES have an advantage. PERIOD. No matter how well your prepared, that extra 30 minutes is big.

Simple but NOT perfect analogy.
2 people taking a difficult physics test that is 5 hours long.

Test taker #1 get no designated breaks.
Test moderator for test taker #2 stops his clock and lets him have two 15 minute breaks on hour 2 and hour 4 of test to go to the bathroom/have a smoke/or even LOOK THROUGH HIS PHYSICS NOTES.

If Test taker 1 wants to take a break to clear his head/go the bathroom, the moderator does not stop the clock.

Who is at a disadvantage here?

I think giving the online drafter ONE 15 minute break is fair. I paid the $1600 just like the live drafter did. I'm sorry I have to rehash this issue but this topic is really bothering me.

Good lucks with your drafts everyone.

Krys

[KJ Duke]

Krys,

Online and live drafts are simply different, there are pluses and minuses to both. You cannot re-create the live experience online, nor vice versa. For example, I'd love to have an ergonomic chair, 3 computer screens and the MLB channel playing in the background like when I draft online.

Good luck persuading management ... just in case you win your argument I have a request of Greg when I'm drafting in LV:

[Deadheadz]

I'm curious Krys, did you have any troubles during the 50 round DC Express you did online? Was one or more of your picks affected by no 15 min break? The ME is 20 fewer rounds.

That said, I'm curious too what the numbers are for how many people do the ME online vs live. If the numbers are similar but most or all ME overall champions come from the live events, you may have an argument. I'd assume the "best" players draft live for the most part but if there are ME Champions who drafted online, you may be barking up the wrong tree.

[ikenbaseball]

KJ

I completely understand what your saying, we are dealing with two different scenerios. However, what's the big deal in giving the on-line draft just 1 break vs 2 for live drafters. Do live drafters really NEED two fifteen mins breaks?

Deadheadz,

In that particular draft we did a couple of weeks go, I barely had enough time to cross off players off my lists. I sat there for 4 hours with no break. We were flying through the picks in less then 10-15 seconds.

Unless I'm looking at the wrong information. The top 5 finishers in the main event last year came from live events. zero from on-line drafts.


Krys

[Tom Kessenich]

In the NFBC XII last year, the Top 2 overall finishers drafted online. Four of the Top 6 and six of the Top 10 overall drafted online. In the Classic each of the Top 5 finishers drafted live. However, 4 of the next 5 in the Top 10 drafted online.

Awesome chair by the way.

[anpyanks]

In the NFBC XII last year, the Top 2 overall finishers drafted online. Four of the Top 6 and six of the Top 10 overall drafted online. In the Classic each of the Top 5 finishers drafted live. However, 4 of the next 5 in the Top 10 drafted online.

Awesome chair by the way.

This should put this to bed. (not that it shouldn't have been last week)

[JohnP]

Take the fair / unfair thing out of it.....why not add a 10 minute break for the enjoyability of the experience? The argument about internet connections and all that seems so....archaic / fanballish. I am always kind of amazed at the focus on the speed of the live / online drafts. Let's enjoy it. It's not a race. So we get done 10 minutes faster than last year or the 10 minutes faster than the table next to us. We all just sit there for the next 2 hours discussing how we would have dominated if we were in the other league..."did you see where Hamilton fell in that one....".

[KJ Duke]

KJ

I completely understand what your saying, we are dealing with two different scenerios. However, what's the big deal in giving the on-line draft just 1 break vs 2 for live drafters. Do live drafters really NEED two fifteen mins breaks?

Krys

Most people don't need 2 breaks, and at least a few times we've had the entire league vote against them and we've kept on rolling. Sometimes we do need two breaks ... depends on how many old guys are pounding Coronas.

[KJ Duke]

Take the fair / unfair thing out of it.....why not add a 10 minute break for the enjoyability of the experience? The argument about internet connections and all that seems so....archaic / fanballish. I am always kind of amazed at the focus on the speed of the live / online drafts. Let's enjoy it. It's not a race. So we get done 10 minutes faster than last year or the 10 minutes faster than the table next to us. We all just sit there for the next 2 hours discussing how we would have dominated if we were in the other league..."did you see where Hamilton fell in that one....".

Better argument here.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Looking at it through STATS eyes....
I don't think it is because of lost connections or getting everybody back after a break. That may have been a problem in the past, but technology has a come a long way and now it happens seldom.
What would be different is that with a break, each of these drafts would most likely need their own moderator.
As is, the help button is pushed and a moderator or two answers as quickly as possible. This is with several drafts humming at the same time.
With several drafts at once, each taking a break at probable different times, this would almost force STATS to have a moderator per draft. With Tom and Greg doing live events, it would leave moderators who are not used to moderating doing the moderating for folks who each have $1600 on the line.
Looking at it from this point of view, I'm not sure the break would be worth the 'second string moderator' for us or the time and extra money for STATS.

[KJ Duke]

Good point Dough.

Btw, a solution if all the drafters could agree ... pick 1-2 rounds ahead of time and have everyone agree that they will use their full minute to pick during those rounds --- that would assure everyone the time to step away for a few minutes.

[ikenbaseball]

In the NFBC XII last year, the Top 2 overall finishers drafted online. Four of the Top 6 and six of the Top 10 overall drafted online. In the Classic each of the Top 5 finishers drafted live. However, 4 of the next 5 in the Top 10 drafted online.

Awesome chair by the way.

Tom,

When answering Deadheadz question I should have looked a little more deeply into the numbers. I'm at work so I just quickly glanced at the Top 5 Overall.(which were live drafters).
To be honest, I don't really care to crunch the statistic side of live vs on-line arguement. There are a dozen of variable involved in those numbers.

But I think I've brought up some valid points in my arguements that should be addressed.
JohnP also brought up a really good point.

Drafting with a 1 minute limit on your picks, this doesn't allow you to take a break for whatever reason. AND your feel rushed to make your picks where you can't type anything in the chat room. i.e Enjoyable experience.

One 15 minute break is not a lot to ask for. It's the right thing to do.
I'm sure if you conducted a poll, the majority of on-line drafters would welcome 1 break.


Krys

[ikenbaseball]

Good point Dough.

Btw, a solution if all the drafters could agree ... pick 1-2 rounds ahead of time and have everyone agree that they will use their full minute to pick during those rounds --- that would assure everyone the time to step away for a few minutes.

KJ

This is a great idea. Who would implement this? I guess you would need someone to take the lead in each league and send out an email to everyone to take the full minute on Rounds 10 and 20?

Krys

[BK METS]

In the NFBC XII last year, the Top 2 overall finishers drafted online. Four of the Top 6 and six of the Top 10 overall drafted online. In the Classic each of the Top 5 finishers drafted live. However, 4 of the next 5 in the Top 10 drafted online.

Awesome chair by the way.

Tom,

When answering Deadheadz question I should have looked a little more deeply into the numbers. I'm at work so I just quickly glanced at the Top 5 Overall.(which were live drafters).
To be honest, I don't really care to crunch the statistic side of live vs on-line arguement. There are a dozen of variable involved in those numbers.

But I think I've brought up some valid points in my arguements that should be addressed.
JohnP also brought up a really good point.

Drafting with a 1 minute limit on your picks, this doesn't allow you to take a break for whatever reason. AND your feel rushed to make your picks where you can't type anything in the chat room. i.e Enjoyable experience.

One 15 minute break is not a lot to ask for. It's the right thing to do.
I'm sure if you conducted a poll, the majority of on-line drafters would welcome 1 break.


Krys

Greg has answered your argument and others many times. Its not going to happen.. at least not this year. He explained in this thread and many others. Dan re-posted the main reason why. Not sure you are going to get the response you are looking for, but kudos for not giving up...

[ikenbaseball]

Alan

Your right. But KJ was the only one that came up with a plausible solution.


Krys

[Gekko]

All the effort hours being spent on this has your competitors very happy!

[Tom Kessenich]

Krys, Greg answered why we don't have breaks for the Online Main Events and why we are unlikely to provide them in the future. I have nothing to add to that nor has our position changed. I will say speaking only for myself that going from two breaks to one in the live events is something that may be worth discussing in the future. Perhaps that would be worth its own thread now, to be updated with additional thoughts after the live events and then revisited as we prepare for 2015.

[Walla Walla]

Laugh all you want. But many of us older folks suffer from prostate problems. That means breaks are required at least every 1 to 2 hours. During the live drafts this is a life saver. I mean do you really want a bunch of old guys whipping it out into a jar while your drafting? The problem I always had on line was trying to catch up after a short break. Live the board is in front of you and easy to read. On line as you try to catch up the board keeps advancing. You never really can catch up. But that all aside if you pay for the travel and you pay for the hotel than you get the benefits of a live draft. If you don't make it be sure you have your jar ready.

[Lunatic]

Laugh all you want. But many of us older folks suffer from prostate problems. That means breaks are required at least every 1 to 2 hours. During the live drafts this is a life saver. I mean do you really want a bunch of old guys whipping it out into a jar while your drafting? The problem I always had on line was trying to catch up after a short break. Live the board is in front of you and easy to read. On line as you try to catch up the board keeps advancing. You never really can catch up. But that all aside if you pay for the travel and you pay for the hotel than you get the benefits of a live draft. If you don't make it be sure you have your jar ready.

You have a problem if you can't catch up online after going to the bathroom; the live up to date draft board is sweet. I hope this issue of needing a break during an online draft is OVER!!!

[KJ Duke]

Tony Siragusa to the rescue. He's not just a Super Bowl hero.

[uky]

Tony Siragusa to the rescue. He's not just a Super Bowl hero.

LMAO, my sister went to NYC a couple years ago for New Years Eve. Apparently, a lot of the celebrators wear "Depend"s while celebrating the festivities at Times Square. I guess a diaper could be part of the events fee for the live events.

IMHO, I like one break at the live events, but if there's going to be two, I think 15 minutes is too long. Five minutes may not be enough, but call it five, then restart when everyone gets back. If you tell people 15, they're going to take 15.

As for the live Auctions, sometimes a six hour event, I would suggest a short break at around 2 1/2 hours into it, then another break before the rotation part of the draft. Again, I would suggest 5 minute breaks, but restart when everyone returns.

Online events, ZERO breaks. I've done plenty of drafts in the NFBC and NFFC and have never had a problem going to the "john" or the fridge. I come back and have probably missed 2-3 picks.

[Yah Mule]

Mark Schlereth used to just pee in his pants right on the field. Surprisingly, that's not how he earned the nickname Stink.

[MadCow Sez]

KJ

I completely understand what your saying, we are dealing with two different scenerios. However, what's the big deal in giving the on-line draft just 1 break vs 2 for live drafters. Do live drafters really NEED two fifteen mins breaks?

Krys

Most people don't need 2 breaks, and at least a few times we've had the entire league vote against them and we've kept on rolling. Sometimes we do need two breaks ... depends on how many old guys are pounding Coronas.

Bama and I need the Coronas, KJ! It's the only way we can understand each other