What kind of league do you play? (1 Viewer)

[ScottNorwood]

I'm trying to overhaul our fantasy league this year, because I hate our ruleset. Please post your league rules:

# of teams

Mixed or AL/NL Only

Roster Requirements

Auction or Draft

Auction budget

Scoring

Full Year Stats or H2H

Keeper vs Non Keeper

Payouts

And I want to hear what you like and don't like about it. I was thinking of changing to H2H. Even though it means there's more luck involved I think the H2H format will keep people more involved for the whole year, rather than having the bad teams checkout around the all star break. Probably doing auction non-keeper this year and if we like the format we'll introduce keepers starting next year.

 

[dparker713]

10 NL only (might be expanding to 12 this year)

C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, MI, CI, 5 OF, Util, 9 P

24 total roster spots (2 bench)

$260 auction

R, HR, RBI, SB, OPS, W, K, SV, ERA, WHIP

H2H - win/loss/tie for each category

2 Keepers a year w/ $5 yearly salary increase and an additional $5 trade escalator

$100 FAAB - weekly transactions, daily lineup changes

This is the only league I have that I really care about. H2H has its pluses and minuses, but it generally levels the playing field and allows for a decent amount of trash talk. The week to week variability of pitching does make it hard to build a winner, so most money in the auction goes towards hitting, moreso than normal. I'd like to update some of the categories, especially wins, and add a second catcher.

What I like most about the league is that you have to follow everyone in the NL getting ABs - David Eckstein was a viable starter. Plus, I get to ignore the abomination that is the DH in the silly psuedo-baseball AL.

 

[Captain Hook]

I play in several different formats, so that won't help you, but a few questions comments below

I'm trying to overhaul our fantasy league this year, because I hate our ruleset. Please post your league rules: What do you hate about it?

And I want to hear what you like and don't like about it. I was thinking of changing to H2H. Even though it means there's more luck involved I think the H2H format will keep people more involved for the whole year, rather than having the bad teams checkout around the all star break.

Why do you think that format is any better in keeping people involved? Frankly I disagree because a team could get to the point record wise where they could no longer have any chance even if there players were doing well enough to gain a lot of ground in a rotisserie format.

Probably doing auction non-keeper this year and if we like the format we'll introduce keepers starting next year. I think this is a Terrible idea. Have your league agree about what they want to be, vote on a set of good rules and then stick with it - changing rules all the team is a lot more likely to break up leagues.

Would love to see your comments on those items and will be glad to help with a set of rules.

 

[ScottNorwood]

I'm trying to overhaul our fantasy league this year, because I hate our ruleset. Please post your league rules: What do you hate about it?

It's a 10 team mixed points only league keeper league. It's very shallow. The scoring gives too many negative points for hitter strikeouts so players like mark reynolds and adam dunn are worthless. There are too many negative points for blown saves and losses, so people try to only roster SPs and try to find RP eligible SPs for their RP slots, because a blown save + a loss will really hurt your team. There's no limit on the # of keepers so teams try to keep as many players as possible. This results in an uninteresting draft every year.

And I want to hear what you like and don't like about it. I was thinking of changing to H2H. Even though it means there's more luck involved I think the H2H format will keep people more involved for the whole year, rather than having the bad teams checkout around the all star break.

Why do you think that format is any better in keeping people involved? Frankly I disagree because a team could get to the point record wise where they could no longer have any chance even if there players were doing well enough to gain a lot of ground in a rotisserie format.

I envision a 6 teams making the playoffs. Instead we currently have only 3 teams finishing in the money. H2H with a 6 team playoff means a lot more people have a chance to win it all late in the season. Do you disagree with that?

Probably doing auction non-keeper this year and if we like the format we'll introduce keepers starting next year. I think this is a Terrible idea. Have your league agree about what they want to be, vote on a set of good rules and then stick with it - changing rules all the team is a lot more likely to break up leagues.

The point of this is to not have to change the rules. I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at here.Thanks dparker for your post. I think that's close to what we're trying to get at, although I don't think our owners are savvy enough or wanting to do an Only league.

 

[Eephus]

I've never been in a H2H baseball league but I've done them in basketball and football. I don't think they're necessarily a panacea for owners tanking. In fact, owners submitting incomplete lineups in H2H can upset competitive balance more than in a roto league.

Quality owners are the key to any successful league, regardless of format. I think auctions probably help in this regard by weeding out less committed owners and providing greater engagement with your team.

 

[dparker713]

I've never been in a H2H baseball league but I've done them in basketball and football. I don't think they're necessarily a panacea for owners tanking. In fact, owners submitting incomplete lineups in H2H can upset competitive balance more than in a roto league.Quality owners are the key to any successful league, regardless of format. I think auctions probably help in this regard by weeding out less committed owners and providing greater engagement with your team.

To further the point of auctions weeding out the weak, this is the first year we finished our auction in 5 hours. You pretty much need to block out an entire afternoon/day.

 

[ScottNorwood]

I've never been in a H2H baseball league but I've done them in basketball and football. I don't think they're necessarily a panacea for owners tanking. In fact, owners submitting incomplete lineups in H2H can upset competitive balance more than in a roto league.Quality owners are the key to any successful league, regardless of format. I think auctions probably help in this regard by weeding out less committed owners and providing greater engagement with your team.

Probably true. We also have an awesome fantasy football league with many of the same owners, so I thought that making the format similar to our football league would help make the baseball league more fun.

 

[Captain Hook]

Okay, thanks for the info - now let's work on trying to find the right format for your league

1) 10 team mixed is WAY TOO SHALLOW

Some would argue that ten team AL is too shallow but I commish one that is over twenty years old with great owners and great rules and we rarely have to replace a team and the league is very competitive and NO ONE tanks (but they might rebuild as it is a keeper league)

You need to have a LIMIT on keepers otherwise you have a dynasty league and as you suggest the draft (and league IMO) will not be fun. Your league's combination not good.

2) There are many ways to keep owners active - especially in keeper leagues.

a) In rotisserie leagues you can give bonuses for winning each category - if a team is not doing well overall but can win a category or two they stay involved and can recoup some money

b) Give a cash prize for the best performance (standings points gained) in the second half of the league for teams who don't finish in the money

btw my ten team AL keeper league and the eleven team NL keeper league that I play in both pay FOUR places

c) Have a minor league draft each year - then the draft spots for the minor league draft go first to the teams not in the money so every team has another reason to compete all year (in a ten team league paying four places the minor league draft order would be 5,6,7,8,9,10,4,3,2,1

3) You can't just change from redraft to keeper (or vice versa) - some team(s) will be penalized and some will be pissed

Even if you keep the ten team mixed, switch to an auction draft with a limit on keepers

There are LOTS of different formats for fantasy baseball leagues.

What YOUR league needs is one that ALL the owners want to play in - one that will be competitive, fun, exciting and keep them all involved

I would suggest a rotisserie league with five hitting categories (BA, R, HR, RBI, SB) and five pitching categories (W, S, K, ERA, WHIP)

If you can't get your leaguemates to use just AL or NL, then stick with Mixed but try and add a few more teams

If you have the standard 23 active players have 3-5 reserves

Have a minor league draft AFTER the auction

HAVE FUN

 

[Eephus]

Okay, thanks for the info - now let's work on trying to find the right format for your league1) 10 team mixed is WAY TOO SHALLOWSome would argue that ten team AL is too shallow but I commish one that is over twenty years old with great owners and great rules and we rarely have to replace a team and the league is very competitive and NO ONE tanks (but they might rebuild as it is a keeper league)You need to have a LIMIT on keepers otherwise you have a dynasty league and as you suggest the draft (and league IMO) will not be fun. Your league's combination not good.2) There are many ways to keep owners active - especially in keeper leagues.a) In rotisserie leagues you can give bonuses for winning each category - if a team is not doing well overall but can win a category or two they stay involved and can recoup some moneyb) Give a cash prize for the best performance (standings points gained) in the second half of the league for teams who don't finish in the moneybtw my ten team AL keeper league and the eleven team NL keeper league that I play in both pay FOUR placesc) Have a minor league draft each year - then the draft spots for the minor league draft go first to the teams not in the money so every team has another reason to compete all year (in a ten team league paying four places the minor league draft order would be 5,6,7,8,9,10,4,3,2,13) You can't just change from redraft to keeper (or vice versa) - some team(s) will be penalized and some will be pissedEven if you keep the ten team mixed, switch to an auction draft with a limit on keepersThere are LOTS of different formats for fantasy baseball leagues.What YOUR league needs is one that ALL the owners want to play in - one that will be competitive, fun, exciting and keep them all involvedI would suggest a rotisserie league with five hitting categories (BA, R, HR, RBI, SB) and five pitching categories (W, S, K, ERA, WHIP)If you can't get your leaguemates to use just AL or NL, then stick with Mixed but try and add a few more teamsIf you have the standard 23 active players have 3-5 reservesHave a minor league draft AFTER the auctionHAVE FUN

These are all good ideas in spite of the caps lock problems.

 

[harryhood]

# of teams

>12

Mixed or AL/NL Only

>MIXED

Roster Requirements

>C,1B,2B,3B,SS,OF,OF,OF,UTIL

P, SP,SP,SP,RP,RP

6 Bench Spots

Auction or Draft

>Draft

Auction budget

Scoring

>H2H Points

Full Year Stats or H2H

>H2H

Keeper vs Non Keeper

>Keep 6 with an 8 player Minors System

Payouts

>60%/30%/10% for 1st 2nd and 3rd

 

[Billy Bats]

We do something a little different. Our league is 10 teams, 5 team AL division v 5 team NL division, H2H keeper league. I'm in the AL so I can only draft AL players. If one of my guys gets traded or signed to the NL, I lose him. If the guy he gets traded for is on a NL roster, then we swap players.

While I do enjoy they format, it does present a problem with trading, since there are only 4 other teams I can trade with. Other than that it is a fun way to play.

 

[ScottNorwood]

How exactly does changing from a redraft to a keeper penalize anyone? Maybe i didn't describe it well enough. 2011 would be a redraft. If we like the rules then 2012 would be a completely new draft, with the owners having in mind that keepers would be submitted for 2013.

 

[Captain Hook]

How exactly does changing from a redraft to a keeper penalize anyone? Maybe i didn't describe it well enough. 2011 would be a redraft. If we like the rules then 2012 would be a completely new draft, with the owners having in mind that keepers would be submitted for 2013.

Well if you all like the rules for a keeper league (and you are already doing that part of it) Why not just do it? I don't understand playing under a set of rules you are not going to use (but that said if everyone agreed that 2011 was a redraft league and then you were going to put in the new rules and start the keeper league in 2012 it is doable I would just rather do it now and not being changing this year and then again next year)

 

[rodg12]

# of teams - 12

Mixed or AL/NL Only - Mixed

Roster Requirements - 27 starters (C,C,1B,1B,2B,2B,3B,3B,SS,SS,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,U,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P), 8 player bench (IF,IF,OF,OF,P,P,Any,Minor Leaguer)

Auction or Draft - Auction

Auction budget - $300

Scoring - Roto

Full Year Stats or H2H - OBP-HR-RBI-R-SB and W-Hld+S-K/BB-ERA-WHIP

Keeper vs Non Keeper - Keeper

Payouts - Top 5 get paid

 

[ScottNorwood]

# of teams - 12Mixed or AL/NL Only - MixedRoster Requirements - 27 starters (C,C,1B,1B,2B,2B,3B,3B,SS,SS,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,U,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P), 8 player bench (IF,IF,OF,OF,P,P,Any,Minor Leaguer)Auction or Draft - AuctionAuction budget - $300Scoring - RotoFull Year Stats or H2H - OBP-HR-RBI-R-SB and W-Hld+S-K/BB-ERA-WHIPKeeper vs Non Keeper - KeeperPayouts - Top 5 get paid

How long does it generally take to do your draft?

 

[rodg12]

# of teams - 12Mixed or AL/NL Only - MixedRoster Requirements - 27 starters (C,C,1B,1B,2B,2B,3B,3B,SS,SS,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,U,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P), 8 player bench (IF,IF,OF,OF,P,P,Any,Minor Leaguer)Auction or Draft - AuctionAuction budget - $300Scoring - RotoFull Year Stats or H2H - OBP-HR-RBI-R-SB and W-Hld+S-K/BB-ERA-WHIPKeeper vs Non Keeper - KeeperPayouts - Top 5 get paid

How long does it generally take to do your draft?

We do a live, in-person draft. Takes about 8 hours that way.

 

[ScottNorwood]

# of teams - 12Mixed or AL/NL Only - MixedRoster Requirements - 27 starters (C,C,1B,1B,2B,2B,3B,3B,SS,SS,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,U,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P), 8 player bench (IF,IF,OF,OF,P,P,Any,Minor Leaguer)Auction or Draft - AuctionAuction budget - $300Scoring - RotoFull Year Stats or H2H - OBP-HR-RBI-R-SB and W-Hld+S-K/BB-ERA-WHIPKeeper vs Non Keeper - KeeperPayouts - Top 5 get paid

How long does it generally take to do your draft?

We do a live, in-person draft. Takes about 8 hours that way.

How do you pull that off while resisting the urge to murder each other?

 

[rodg12]

# of teams - 12Mixed or AL/NL Only - MixedRoster Requirements - 27 starters (C,C,1B,1B,2B,2B,3B,3B,SS,SS,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,OF,U,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P,P), 8 player bench (IF,IF,OF,OF,P,P,Any,Minor Leaguer)Auction or Draft - AuctionAuction budget - $300Scoring - RotoFull Year Stats or H2H - OBP-HR-RBI-R-SB and W-Hld+S-K/BB-ERA-WHIPKeeper vs Non Keeper - KeeperPayouts - Top 5 get paid

How long does it generally take to do your draft?

We do a live, in-person draft. Takes about 8 hours that way.

How do you pull that off while resisting the urge to murder each other?

It helps, I think, that most of us don't know each other that well. It's the only time each year we get together and people are from all over. I got into because I used to work with one of the guys (the commish). It also helps that the commish runs things smoothly. He's a real good guy. Draft day for that league is one of my favorite days of the year.

 

[Captain Hook]

There is a myth that auction drafts have to take longer............it really depends on how well the league is run, how committed your league mates are and in some cases where the first two aren't great, how good the auctioneer is (and helper for the commissioner is also helpful)

I run a ten team AL keeper league with very deep minor league "farm" teams and we generally run our auction and three player reserve draft in less than four hours (and I don't do the auctioneering - I get a friend to do that and a friend to record all the picks/salaries on a computer)

I have been the auctioneer for NFBC, WCOFF, and LABR leagues for several years and many of those auction leagues have finished the auction portion in LESS than three hours.

 

[Eephus]

It's certainly possible to run an efficient auction but there are a number of dependencies. An experienced auctioneer and organized owners help. Everyone's commitment to running a fast auction is also important. Drugs, alcohol, breaks and schtick will slow you down.

I don't think a four hour auction for a first year keeper league is a realistic estimate.

 

[rodg12]

It's certainly possible to run an efficient auction but there are a number of dependencies. An experienced auctioneer and organized owners help. Everyone's commitment to running a fast auction is also important. Drugs, alcohol, breaks and schtick will slow you down. I don't think a four hour auction for a first year keeper league is a realistic estimate.

Only way I see that as doable is if it happens online.

 

[Captain Hook]

It's certainly possible to run an efficient auction but there are a number of dependencies. An experienced auctioneer and organized owners help. Everyone's commitment to running a fast auction is also important. Drugs, alcohol, breaks and schtick will slow you down. I don't think a four hour auction for a first year keeper league is a realistic estimate.

You are likely right that for a first year league it would likely take longer although if the players in the league have done auction drafts of any kind before and there is a good auctioneer (who is not a league member) it can be done

 

[Captain Hook]

It's certainly possible to run an efficient auction but there are a number of dependencies. An experienced auctioneer and organized owners help. Everyone's commitment to running a fast auction is also important. Drugs, alcohol, breaks and schtick will slow you down. I don't think a four hour auction for a first year keeper league is a realistic estimate.

Only way I see that as doable is if it happens online.

While there have been improvements unless there is something new and better this year, the mechansims for online auctions still have some problems and a big part of the fun of auctions is being live in the same room and all the dynamics that go with that. Online can be done but it won't be as smooth as with a good auctioneer at a live auction draft.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

10 team. Mixed AL and NL.

Starting roster of - 1 C, 1 1B, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 SS, 3 OF, and one Utility (any pos including OF), 5 SP, 3 RP and 10 bench players.

You keep a full roster (so the only thing you redraft each year is your 10 bench spots).

Scoring is points based, not roto based

BattingSingles (1B)1Doubles (2B)2Triples (3B)3Home Runs (HR)4Walks (BB)1Runs Scored ®1Runs Batted In (RBI)1Stolen Bases (SB)1Intentional Walks (IBB)1Hit by Pitch (HBP)1PitchingInnings Pitched (IP)1Earned Runs (ER)-1Wins (W)15Saves (SV)7Strikeouts (K)1