Start of Season E-Mail

Hey guys.

[Insert cheesy “It’s time for Fantasy Baseball” opener here]

I have some news and notes to go through here to get us into the draft. It is a little long so I apologize, but please read the whole thing.

So, let’s get this thing started:

Anticipated draft date: Sunday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.
This is a flexible date. However, it sounds as if this is the best time for all members of the league to be involved in the draft. If you have any suggestions or comments, please let me know immediately.

Two New Teams
Kyle Morris and Adam Keller have been invited to join our league. This increases the amount of teams to ten. By doing so, 56 additional players will be taken in the draft which hopefully will add to the competitiveness of the league.

Point Changes
There is an understanding on my part that the scoring system is not perfect. There are certain players who are overvalued and some that are undervalued. So with this in mind, I am mulling a few changes.

Here are the proposed hitting changes I am considering. The number in the parenthesis is the CURRENT value of that statistic.

Runs = 2 (1)
RBI = 2 (1)
Note: players who score or drive in runs should be rewarded. This also, in theory, increases the value of home runs by two points.

Stolen Bases = 3 (1)
Caught Stealing = -1 (- 1)
Note: Speed means nothing in this league. It is about to mean something.

Walks = 2 (2)
Intentional Walks = N/A (2)
Hit By Pitch = 2 (2)
Strikeouts = -1 (-2)
Note: It is easier to strike out than it is to walk. As it stands now, a player could go 3-5 and still lose a point. That seems a little excessive.
Also, additional points should not be added for being walked on purpose. Intentional walks will still be registered as a regular walk, only an extra two points will not be given.

Here are the proposed pitching changes I am considering. The number in the parenthesis is the CURRENT value of that statistic.

Hit By Pitch = -1 (-3)
Note: subtracting three points for hitting a batter seemed excessive to me.

Walks = -1.5 (-3)
Strikeouts = 3 (3)
Note: it is easier to walk someone than it is to strike someone out. I am confident I could walk anyone in the major leagues. I am also confident a two-year-old could walk anyone in the major leagues. Strikeouts are a different deal. Matt Cain was a guy I was thinking of when I made this change. Cain is too good to not have much value in this league.

Earned Runs = -3 (-2)
Note: giving up a run needs to sting more in this league. Subtracting three seems to be the most reasonable.

All of these changes WILL happen unless someone disagrees. If someone does disagree with a point change, please e-mail me with your argument and we will have a league vote. I intend on making these changes Feb. 22 so please send your suggestions by Feb. 18 so we can make a decision before Feb. 22.

New Draft Rules
The draft this year will see at least 250 selections and as many as 280 selections if there are no keepers selected. To help keep the draft moving along, the following rules will be implemented:

1) Each player has a maximum of 60 seconds to make their pick. If a pick is not made, the next best available player on the ESPN list will be selected for you.

Special circumstances (Computer randomly shuts off, internet disconnects, an individual is drafting for more than one team, etc.) will be dealt with on a fair and equal basis as it relates to each individual person and event.

2) Those that choose a player who has already been selected will lose their draft pick in that round. (This rule will probably not be enforced, but if things get out of control, don't complain when you lose a draft pick.)

3) The Draft will start without you if you’re late. No exceptions. If you know you’re going to be late, take the necessary measures to be sure you get the players you want (i.e. Send someone your list of players to be selected, alter your schedule or dump your girlfriend).

Keepers
Everyone is allowed to select three (3) players to keep from their current roster for the new season. Those selections need to be e-mailed to me by Feb. 21.

I am, on Feb. 22, going to add Adam and Kyle to the league and make the point changes. I have concerns that I may need to reset the rosters in order to make the proposed point changes. I plan on doing that as soon as ESPN allows me to. So, for safety sake, send your keepers now to be sure they remain on your roster.

Proposed Keeper Rule Changes
Here are a few rules for keepers I am proposing (all changes would be put in place after the draft):

1) No one can keep their first or second round selection or an undrafted player. A first or second round player or an undrafted player may be kept this season only.

2) A player can be kept no more than three times (no matter the owner). If a player is kept three times in a row, said player is returned to the draft pool the following season.

If a player is kept two seasons by owner A and then is traded to owner B and kept, the player would still end up back in the draft pool the following season.

3) A player who is kept will cost the owner the pick prior to the round the player was selected. For instance, if a player was drafted in the 10th round and kept, he would cost a ninth round pick the following season. If said player is kept again, he would cost the owner his eighth round pick. If a player is kept a third (and final) time, it would cost the owner his seventh round pick.

4) An owner cannot keep two or more players who were drafted in the same round.

Each proposal requires 7 “No” votes in order to be defeated. None of these changes would affect keepers this season except for proposal number two. The votes will take place on the league page the day after the draft and will be completed after all the necessary votes are in.

Final Thoughts
I am sending an individual e-mail to each of you to discuss the blog. I’ll let those e-mails explain my thoughts.

If any of you have any ideas that were not discussed above, please contact me.

Have a good day and bad luck to all of you.

Ben