Consolation game (1 Viewer)

[Bayhawks]

My league has a consolation/3rd place game, where the two losers of the semi-final games play each other. It is a money league, and the winner of this game gets a cash prize (basically equals their entry fee+$20).

To me, this game is like kissing your sister. I've been in this game for 3 of the last 4 years (lost in the championship game the other year), and I can't seem to "get up" for this game. I have already submitted my line-up, and barring any unforseen injuries/last minute news, I probably won't change it. I definitely won't be scouring this site and other sites for news like I normally do.

Anyone else have similar feelings about these type of games?

 

[davidwb]

You play to win the game -- doesn't matter if you're in last place and a million games out of the playoffs and it's the final week of the season.

 

[shadyridr]

yep Ive been in it a few times and depsite it meaning more $$ I couldnt get up for it either

 

[Raiderfan32904]

One of my leagues doesn't even have a consolation game. It's win or go home. No parting gifts. Nada. So be glad if you have a chance to re-coup your entry fee.

In my other two, the prize is 6 times the entry fee for first and 2.5 times the entry fee for 2nd. I'm in all 3 championships, so the pressure is off. This weekend is for fun. I put $200 in, guaranteed to get $500 back, with a shot at $1200. Yeah, it's easy to get up for that. But if could even get back my original $200 in a losers bracket, that'd be cool too.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

The problem with our consolation game is that the winner basically gets their entry fee back - but our lottery order for the next year is determined by order of finish. So if you win the consolation game you get your entry fee back but decrease your lottery chances for the following year. The champ gets one ball, runner up 2, third place 4, 4th place 8, etc. It is weighted heavily toward the losers from the current year when preparing for the following year. So do you lose the game tou double your chances, or do you win the game to get your money back (money that is already spent)?

 

[shadyridr]

The problem with our consolation game is that the winner basically gets their entry fee back - but our lottery order for the next year is determined by order of finish. So if you win the consolation game you get your entry fee back but decrease your lottery chances for the following year. The champ gets one ball, runner up 2, third place 4, 4th place 8, etc. It is weighted heavily toward the losers from the current year when preparing for the following year. So do you lose the game tou double your chances, or do you win the game to get your money back (money that is already spent)?

Who cares where you pick? Theres no advantage picking 1st vs 12th.

 

[Bayhawks]

You play to win the game -- doesn't matter if you're in last place and a million games out of the playoffs and it's the final week of the season.

Thanks! That's great insight. I was planning on playing all my guys who are hurt or who would normally sit my bench, but now that I've been exposed to your pearls of wisdom, I've seen the light! As for those people who actually read the original post and responded to its point, thanks.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

The problem with our consolation game is that the winner basically gets their entry fee back - but our lottery order for the next year is determined by order of finish. So if you win the consolation game you get your entry fee back but decrease your lottery chances for the following year. The champ gets one ball, runner up 2, third place 4, 4th place 8, etc. It is weighted heavily toward the losers from the current year when preparing for the following year. So do you lose the game tou double your chances, or do you win the game to get your money back (money that is already spent)?

Who cares where you pick? Theres no advantage picking 1st vs 12th.

There really is in the league that I draft in - first the scoring is QB heavy so the guys that wound up with Brees or Rodgers or Brady have a decided advantage...second our league requires that you pick one each of QB, RB, WR, K, DL, LB, DB in the first seven rounds so you can't horde top players at a particular position. There is a decided advantage to have a top 6 pick most years. You are right, that injuries can alter the scenario - but all other things being equal if you don't land a top 3 qb or top 4 rb you are facing an uphill battle.I am sure you are correct in many leagues, but experience in this league tells me the difference between being dominant versus good is having a top 6 pick.

 

[FavreCo]

You play to win the game -- doesn't matter if you're in last place and a million games out of the playoffs and it's the final week of the season.

I go for the dynasty win and the $ everytime even though our draft order is set via who wins. One spot that high usually doesn't make a difference.

 

[Shutout]

The problem with our consolation game is that the winner basically gets their entry fee back - but our lottery order for the next year is determined by order of finish. So if you win the consolation game you get your entry fee back but decrease your lottery chances for the following year. The champ gets one ball, runner up 2, third place 4, 4th place 8, etc. It is weighted heavily toward the losers from the current year when preparing for the following year. So do you lose the game tou double your chances, or do you win the game to get your money back (money that is already spent)?

Cash is accepted in many more places than a 1.09 pick. I go with Cash.

 

[Joe Summer]

Yeah, it really sucks to win money.

 

[NeverEnough]

You poor thing. It happens. I play in 4 leagues right now. Made the playoffs in 3. Out in round 1 thanks to crap week by my guys & a blow up of guys from a 6-7 team that should not be in the playoffs to begin with.

I am playing in the Superbowl in 1 & now in the 3rd place game in another. It happens.

 

[Bayhawks]

You poor thing. It happens. I play in 4 leagues right now. Made the playoffs in 3. Out in round 1 thanks to crap week by my guys & a blow up of guys from a 6-7 team that should not be in the playoffs to begin with. I am playing in the Superbowl in 1 & now in the 3rd place game in another. It happens.

Why am I a "poor thing?" I'm not asking for sympathy, I just wanted to know if anyone else finds it hard to be excited about being in this game when you were "this close" to being in the championship game.No one cares if you (or I) had a "crap week" and got beat by a "blow up of guys from a 6-7 team that should not be in the playoffs."Try to read the post/thread, and stay on topic.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

The problem with our consolation game is that the winner basically gets their entry fee back - but our lottery order for the next year is determined by order of finish. So if you win the consolation game you get your entry fee back but decrease your lottery chances for the following year. The champ gets one ball, runner up 2, third place 4, 4th place 8, etc. It is weighted heavily toward the losers from the current year when preparing for the following year. So do you lose the game tou double your chances, or do you win the game to get your money back (money that is already spent)?

Cash is accepted in many more places than a 1.09 pick. I go with Cash.

Yeah, but I view the entry fee as spent money - anything I get back is a bonus. Consolation money isn't going to make me a Rockefeller, nor is it going to break me.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Consolation money isn't going to make me a Rockefeller, nor is it going to break me.

True. But as my former boss would say around year end bonus check time, "it sure beats a swift kick in the ###!"

 

[footballnerd]

I set my lineup after I get knocked out just to see if I would of kicked the champs #### if I had played him, so ya, I would prob make an effort to play the consolation game

 

[GregR]

The problem with our consolation game is that the winner basically gets their entry fee back - but our lottery order for the next year is determined by order of finish. So if you win the consolation game you get your entry fee back but decrease your lottery chances for the following year. The champ gets one ball, runner up 2, third place 4, 4th place 8, etc. It is weighted heavily toward the losers from the current year when preparing for the following year. So do you lose the game tou double your chances, or do you win the game to get your money back (money that is already spent)?

This is a poor way to do it. My main league is set up so all incentive is towards winning your game. So the winner of the 3rd place game gets a draft slot ahead of the loser of the game. Only the Super Bowl participants do we go with true reverse order of finish, since no one is going to throw the championship game for draft order position.