SOME
THINGS YOU SHOULD DO TO PREPARE
First,
make sure to familiarize yourself with the draft rules. You can view
the draft rules online in the draft
rules section of the ASBL rules
After you
are familiar with the draft rules it's time to do your research on the
available players in the draft pool. Below are some resources I've used
in the past to help me in previous drafts. Maybe you too can find them
helpful.
"Stats
Inc., The Scouting Notebook."–In this book national
experts give their best analysis of every player who played the previous
season. It even has a section on each team's top minor league prospects.
The book sales for around $20.00 and can be found at any major book
retail store starting around late January or early February of each
year. Note, the "Minor League Scouting Notebook" is also
a good book to have, but if you have to make a choice between the
two I would go with the major league scouting notebook simply because
it's more relevant to the ASBL.
CBS
Sportsline Fight For Jobs is a web site that gives you a great
idea of who might be starting for each team prior to the start of
the season. The following is what they say about their site: "The
centerpiece of Fight For Jobs is a depth chart compiled by a team
of baseball experts for every major league team at each position.
In addition, we provide the most up-to-date information and analysis
of player movement as teams build their rosters. From the first swing
of spring training through the heat of the pennant races, and from
the last out of the World Series to every move in the Hot Stove League,
we never miss a call. Whether you're a serious fantasy player, or
just a devoted fan, Fight For Jobs tells you everything you need to
know."
Strat
Fan Ratings (book or disk): For those who understand the fundamentals
of SOM, nothing beats having the Strat Fan rating's book or disk to
refer to. Most of the data in the book or disk is expressed in numerical
chances that are dice roll combinations. All players in the card set
are included. You can buy the book or the disk online at strat-o-matic.com
or call them by phone at 1-800-645-3455. Both the book and the disk
costs $14.00 each, or you can buy them both for $25.00. The disks
have the information in spreadsheet form; any spreadsheet should be
able to open the files (I know Excel and Lotus can for sure). Concerning
the disk, Strat Fan will tell you that it is only PC compatible, but
MAC users should have no problems using it as well.
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EARLY
DRAFT PERIOD
The last
two years the ASBL has allowed an "early draft period." During
a two week period prior to the official start of the draft GMs can make
picks if they're ready via email. There are no time constraints on making
a pick during this period and, most importantly, A GM DOES NOT HAVE
TO MAKE A PICK DURING THIS PERIOD IF HE DOES NOT WANT TO. If a GM chooses
not to make a pick during this early draft period he should receive
no emails from other league members pressuring him to do so. The early
draft period is only for those GMs certain of their picks before the
official start of the draft. Thus, if it so happens that a GM whose
turn is up during the early draft period chooses to wait for the official
start of the draft, then the early draft period has come to an end and
there should be no whining or complaining about it. All early draft
picks made are final and cannot be changed. The early draft period officially
comes to an end 3 days prior to the official start of the draft.
NO
DRAFT PICK ADJUSTMENT PERIOD
A few days
prior to the official start of the draft the draft manager will announce
a "No Draft Pick Adjustment Period." What this means is that
the draft order list won't be adjusted during this period for trades
involving draft picks. It is the responsibility of the GMs involved
in trading draft picks to be aware of the adjusted draft order. To see
more about this view rule 5e in
the ASBL rules web page
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ONLINE
DRAFT SECTION Q & A
How
long will the online draft be?
The
online sections of the draft on both Sunday evenings will go for 6 rounds
each. Expect each online draft date to be 2 to 2 1/2 hours long.
What
if I cannot make the online draft dates?
If you cannot make the online draft dates you have
the following two choices:
- provide
a list that will cover 6 rounds of drafting to another league member
who is willing to take on the task. If you will be doing this please
be aware of rule 9h, the Absent GM
- If
the SOM game is available during the draft, tell the draft manager
to let the SOM game pick for you.
If
you are not present for the draft and you don't do either of the two
things mentioned above, you will be skipped (See below the question
"what happens when I'm skipped?"
). Be aware that if you are not there and you have not asked the draft
manager to have the computer pick for you, the draft manager will
not assume that you want the computer to pick for you and therefore
your picks will be skipped.
How
long do I have to make my pick?
During the online draft when it is your turn to
make a pick you will have 1 minute to do so. If you don't make your
pick before the time is up, the draft manager will continue to the next
pick, but you can make your pick at any time after you've been skipped
(See the next question below "what happens when I'm skipped?").
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So
what happens when I'm skipped?
During the online draft your pick may be skipped
for two reasons. The first reason, which isn't that big of a deal if
it happens, is if the 60-second clock has expired before you make your
choice. If this were to happen you may make your pick at any time after
you've been skipped. The second reason, which IS a big deal if it happens,
is if you are a no-show for the online draft and you didn't provide
a list to another GM or specifically ask the draft manager to use the
computer to pick for you. If this were to happen you can make your skipped
picks up at any time after the online draft. Your skipped pick choices
will have priority over the first pick of whatever current email round
the draft is in. If after two days the league does not hear anything
from you, the commissioner will try to contact you by phone. If after
3 days the league still doesn't 'hear anything from you, you'll be replaced.
What
is the procedure in the chat room during the online draft?
The draft manager will announce the round number
and list the team's abbreviation for the team whose turn it is to pick.
As soon as that happens the GM of that team will have one minute to
pick. When he makes his choice he should write down the player's name
and the player's primary position. The draft manager will then check
to make sure that player is available, and if he is the draft manager
will then announce whose turn it is next. Below is an example of how
the online draft should proceed (Lawsonboy is the draft manager):
LawsonBoy: 1:17 ANG
BaderJDcpa: Gary Bowa SS
LawsonBoy: 1:18 SDI
Raw Yason: Steve Sax
Can
I make trades during the online draft?
You can make trades during the online draft, but
be aware that any trades made during the draft is during a "No
Draft Pick Adjustment Period," which means you still need to send
your trades to the commissioner to be approved, but the draft manager
or anyone else will not be adjusting draft picks during the draft period.
So it is up to you to keep track of what picks you've traded or traded
for.
What
is the most important advice you can give for the online draft?
HAVE FUN, FUN, FUN! Those who aren't having fun
will have their head placed in a wooden pillory where Mark McGwire will
be called upon to take ten full-swing whacks at your head.
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EMAIL
DRAFT SECTION Q& A
When
is the Email section of the draft and how long does it last?
There will be a total of 8 days of email drafting.
It starts the Monday after the first Sunday of the online draft. It
will go from Monday to Saturday covering rounds 7-12. The second email
section then starts on the Monday after the second Sunday online draft.
It will last 4 days, Monday through Thursday, and cover rounds 19-22
and any compensations rounds.
How
does the email section of the draft work?
Each night by 11:59 PM. EST a list of players is
due from each GM. That list should contain by priority all players desired
for the current round. The amount of players you have listed should
correspond to the number you pick in the current round . Here's an example
of an email draft list in where New Orleans picks 6th in the 7th round,
hence they need to list 6 players as shown below:
1-Matt Williams 3b
2-Vinny Castilla 3b
3-Bill Spiers 3b
4-Russ Davis 3b
5-Chris Stynes 3b
6-Paquette 3b
Then around midnight, eastern time, of each night of the email draft,
the draft manager will go through the email lists of each GM who sent
a list and then send out the results of the current round. He will also
send an updated available players' list and the draft order for the
following round.
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What
if I send in a list of players that don't cover all the draft picks
in a round?
If for instance you send in a list of 5 players
and you pick 15th in that round, you do run some risk that your list
won't have enough players. If this were to happen you would be skipped
(see the question below"what happens when
I'm skipped?"). But still, sending a short list is better than
no list at all. From my experience as a draft manager I have found that
a short list typically does the job.
What
if I don't send in a list?
Your pick will be skipped
What
if I'm skipped?
If you're skipped, then you can make your pick
the next day. Skipped picks will have priority over all teams in the
current round.
Can
I ask the computer game to pick for me?
Yes. If it is available during the draft you may
ask for the computer to pick for you, but you must ask. If you don't
send in a list or ask for the computer to pick for you, your pick will
be skipped.
What
if I know I'm going to be gone for a few days, is there something I
can do so I'm not skipped?
The best thing to do is send in a list to either
the draft manager or another league member that covers the draft rounds
you'll be missing. Try to make the list so it is easily understood.
If available you may also ask for the computer to pick for you on those
days you'll be gone.
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What
if I pick last in one round and first in the next, can I just send in
both my picks on the night I pick 1st?
Yes, this is perfectly acceptable. But be aware
that skipped picks from the previous round will have priority over your
first pick.
What
if after the last round is completed my team roster is short of 35 players?
After the last round of the draft has been completed,
teams short of 35 players will be involved in compensation rounds. How
many compensation picks a GM will have depend on how short his team
roster is of 35 players. All compensation rounds will be completed on
the same night the last round of the draft is completed. To learn more
about compensation picks see rule 7h,
Compensation Rounds, in the ASBL rules web page
What
if after the last round is completed my team roster is over 40 players?
Then immediately following the draft you have to
release players until you're at 40. For more information on going over
40 players see rule 8h, Extra picks,
in the ASBL rules web page.
What
is the most important advice you can give for the email draft?
HAVE FUN, FUN, FUN! Those who aren't having
fun will have their head placed in a wooden pillory where Mark McGwire
will be called upon to take ten full-swing whacks at your head.
....Oh, and one more bit of advice, don't be redundant,
redundant, redundant!
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