P&Co | Stage Four

Welcome! You are invited to wander around and read all of the comments that have been posted here at Patton & Co., but as soon as you register you can see the bid limits that Alex, Peter and Mike propose for each player, and you can post your own comments. Registering is free, so please join us!

I am a big fan of dumping, with appropriate controls to prohibit early dumping, a salary cap, and rules to make the competitive teams pay a high price for acquisitions. But what dismays me more and more, especially in leagues with some unsophisticated owners, is a trend I've seen towards a "hostage-taking" style of dumping strategy.

This year I was the leading contender in one league and was told by two teams that if I didn't give them one specific guy that I was unwilling to deal (Soto on a cheap long-term contract), then they would trade their guys to a competitor for far less. One of these teams did so. That is BS - every team should get the best deal they can.

Bob-in-TX
Aug 10

I tried once in a league to institute many of the ADL rules and they mostly went over like a wet blanket. In most leagues I've played in, people love their keepers.

MikeG
Aug 10

I always liked the original idea of having a pyramid of keepers. Nobody, in any league I've ever been in has agreed with that idea. 12 for 5th & 6th; 11 for 7th & 8th, 10 for 4th & 9th; 9 for 3rd & 10th, 8 for 2nd & 11th; 7 for 1st and 12th. I grant that this is a really steep pyramid and there are other less steep options, but this would curtail dumping to a great degree.

We have 5 major league keepers, plus 2 minors. You can keep more minors in lieu of majors, but not the reverse. We added a 6th major leaguer for 5th and 6th places to discourage dumping for teams within shouting distance of the money.

EugeneFreed
Aug 10

Alex, Peter, what is the ADL rule on freezes? I think you have a maximum of 8 for the major league portion of your roster but teams at the bottom or top of the standings can keep fewer, if memory serves.

Thanks in advance, this is for something I'm writing for this week.

MikeG
Aug 10

In that case, I'll remember not to draft nine $1 pitchers next year.

ML-
Aug 6

My comment in the Michael Lorenzen thread was not about Michael Lorenzen (which is why I've moved this reply to where it belongs) ...

I think this (a comment that Michael Lorenzen getting 1 save "justified his $1 freeze price") is a common misconception ... yes, he will "earn more than $1" ... but this does not justify keeping him at $1 ... in order to win, you need more than the value of 1 save from each roster spot ... (side note: when I say "roster spot", yes, I'm including the reserve roster)