Comments on a no-trade league

viper · Post by **viper** » Sat May 28, 2005 9:53 am

This is the time of the fantasy season when we see a big bump in trading fever. The better the league, the more even are the trades. The most even and fair trade is the one that doesn't happen. So enters the NFBC. This is a very strange animal and, my guess is, unique (think unicorn). It is unlikely that anyone plays in another no-trade league. I mean why join a no-trade league unless there are some real big bucks available.

Again I am looking for article fodder.

What is your opinion of a no-trade league.

For 2nd year players, I am curious how this policy changed your drafting philosophy? Also, how has it changed the way you approach the FAAB process?

For 1st time players, are you changing your ideas on how you will draft next season? - and you will be back of that I am pretty sure.

I am reminded of a sign at the Peterson Bowling tournament in Chicago. The alley on Archer Street was a total dump. You walked up about 40 stairs to get to the lanes. There was no elevator. The conditions were almost impossible. On the wall as you left the lanes there was a sign with a quote. It roughly said, "This is the next to last time I will ever bowl here". Everyone returned year after year and it ALWAYS was the "next to last time".

CC's Desperados · Post by **CC's Desperados** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:15 am

No trading is best way and only way to go in a high stakes league. I played in a 16 team mixed league before. I was tired of an owner trading three players for one star player and then picking up two similar players off the wire. Some people just don't pay as much attention as other in lower cost or free leagues.

viper · Post by **viper** » Sat May 28, 2005 11:18 am

There is no alternative to a no-trade league when dealing with high stakes for all the reasons you gave and many more.

My questions on how this policy effects drafting and other things still stands.

Quahogs · Post by **Quahogs** » Sat May 28, 2005 11:27 am

Mike, the beauty of the nfbc lies in its simplicity. Everyone begins on a level playing field and it stays that way throughout the year. Does the "best" fantasy baseball player emerge at the end of the year ? Who knows. The luckiest and best prepared perhaps. At least it eliminates the usual unfair accumulation of stats via trades with clueless/careless fellow owners. It's nice to only have to worry about your players performance. Who ISNT in a league where there are 20 different trading rules, (5 pending discussion) yet you STILL want to choke 3 fellow owners by mid-May. The NFBC is a breath of fresh air.

Q

Head 2 Head · Post by **Head 2 Head** » Tue May 31, 2005 5:44 am

Viper – As a rookie to the NFBC I drafted totally differently then I did in my traditional league. Since my traditional league has 18 teams with 36 player rosters the FAAB isn’t the easiest way to fill holes. Traditional I draft the best available player (Ken Griffey and Preston Wilson were on my Traditional bench after the draft) and trade to fill my holes. My traditional team had 22% spent on pitching (2/3 of which went for three relievers) and in the NFBC I used five of my top ten picks on pitching – three closers along with Schmidt (second) and Oliver Perez (fourth). Drafting the best available player worked fairly well early, but my first three offensive players were outfielders. In the NFBC I watched many quality outfielders stay on the board while my starting outfield and utility were full – in a trading league I would have acquired and traded away these ‘bench’ players for player which I liked better that were off to a slow start.

As for next year I would have to put more emphasis on position scarcity (Catcher and Middle Infield), as the FAAB has got me the likes of Koyie Hill , Miguel Oliva, Luis Rivas, Marco Scutaro, Robinson Cano & most recently Russ Adams. I had expected the talent pool to be larger as my traditional league has almost 200 less players available. Then again I have five minor leaguers (and five disabled) on that team.

However, I believe in a high stakes league with this many quality players that I have to take gambles outside what traditionally works to win it all.

In my traditional league I am one of the more active owners and can normally improve my team by knowing who just lost a starter to injury and making them an offer (maybe not any better then what is available via FAAB) from my ‘bench’ for a better player. However, ever year half the owners are upset with one trade or another and the C word has even been used.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Tue May 31, 2005 7:52 am

For me personally, I have always drafted looking for the best player available, but still paying attention to position scarcity when it comes to those players I view as my "Starters" (i.e. I do not advocate either discipline wholly, rather believe most success comes from a blended approach). So the No-Trade rule does not impact me there.

Where the No-Trade impacts me is I use my reserve bench more for solid replacements rather than gambles or works-in progress types. For example I drafted solid known performers like Alfonzo and Belliard to be my backups (which is good since I have Rolena and Vidro) rather than players with more potential upside, but questionable as to having a job when the season opens or questionable as to whether they will stick in the bigs this season.

Like what was previously mentioned, I do not attempt to create position or category scarcity in my drafting either as there is no way to trade the excess. In otherwords, while I have always attemped a balanced approach, the No-Trade rule seems to me to require that approach.

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue May 31, 2005 8:57 am

As a 2nd year NFBC-er, one of the many things I learned is the value of versatile players. So amoungst my strategy this year, I tried to get some versatile players. Although I may have grabbed them a bit earlier than most, I felt it would pay off, when injuries inevitably occured. I drafted Pedro Feliz, Ryan Freel, and Rob Mackowiak. In a no trade league, versatile players allow you to take better advantage of the waiver wire, and can help when injuries set in. It is a long season, and although you can't trade, that doesn't mean that the team you draft is the team you play every week.

nydownunder · Post by **nydownunder** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:02 am

Originally posted by viper:

What is your opinion of a no-trade league.

Also, how has it changed the way you approach the FAAB process?

For 1st time players, are you changing your ideas on how you will draft next season? - and you will be back of that I am pretty sure.

I like the rule as it helps level the playing field when so much money is on the line(ie no conspiring).

Isn't the real question here "Now having experienced the FAAB, how would you change your draft strategy and approach to the FAAB?" Among other things, it's the FAAB process that will/could impact your strategies, not the 'No Trade Rule'.

nydownunder · Post by **nydownunder** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:09 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

As a 2nd year NFBC-er, one of the many things I learned is the value of versatile players. So amoungst my strategy this year, I tried to get some versatile players. Although I may have grabbed them a bit earlier than most, I felt it would pay off, when injuries inevitably occured. I drafted Pedro Feliz, Ryan Freel, and Rob Mackowiak. In a no trade league, versatile players allow you to take better advantage of the waiver wire, and can help when injuries set in. It is a long season, and although you can't trade, that doesn't mean that the team you draft is the team you play every week. First question: did you pitch for Houston?

Second question: can you elaborate as to why your rationale (ie draft strategy) should be any different if this were a 'Trade League'?

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Tue May 31, 2005 10:25 am

1. The '86 Red Sox as well.

2. In the NFBC, the only way to improve your team is thru the waiver wire. Having versatile players allows for me to look at the entire waiver wire as opposed to JUST shortstops or JUST outfielders. When I have had an injury, I click on utility and sort that way knowing that I can work out the positions. The flexibility is fantastic. In a trade league, versatile players are helpful but there are other avenues to improve...