I promised you all (especially the noobs) an advice column to prepare for Draft Day. The following is the Top 25 Draft Day Tips, as far as I can figure. They aren’t presented in any particular order, and I don’t note which ones are more important than the others. I have in bold certain terms to make it easier to read and to identify trends. Use them at your own discretion!

 

1. Everyone knows the key players, so take the time to research the middle to lower-tier players.

 

2. To run up the price of a player in an auction, open with a high bid. Usually everyone will bid at least once on a superstar in an effort to drive up his price. So start the bidding at $20 or $30 on top-tier players instead of $1. People who do not want that particular superstar will bid on him once, then start dropping out. The higher opening bid will result in a higher sold price and less competition from your opponents who will have less money to spend later in the draft. However, don’t start too high. You may wind up getting the player whose price you’re trying to drive up!

 

3. Nominate the following players early in the auction: players you do not want, players from positions you are strong in, players on local teams, rookies, overhyped players and players coming off injuries. Everyone has money at the beginning of the auction and players usually go for more than they are worth. Once again, this is done in an attempt to water down the amount of money your opponents have when the bargains start to pop up.

 

4. Be careful of throwing out the bum for one dollar expecting someone to bid two. He may just go all the way around the table and YOU will get him for one.

 

5. Balance the categories and don’t throw one away. Wins and batting average are the least predictable of the categories so these are the one to spend less on and let “luck” work in your favor here.

 

6. Note who is outperforming in Spring Training, who may be a surprise starter or call-up, and who is playing poorly and may be benched.

 

7. Draft some multi-position players or utility players to give you roster flexibility. This can be a season-saver when injuries strike.

 

8. Keep track of the prices players are going for compared with what you anticipated, and jump in and start buying when the players are going for less than expected.

 

9. Do not go into the draft thinking you have to acquire a particular player at all costs, or players from your favorite team, or local players.

 

10. In trying to figure out which pitchers to take, get those that throw strikes. You cannot defend against a walk. Also, check for trends. Are they walking fewer from year to year, more from year to year, or staying consistent? Look at their strikeouts to innings pitched ratio. The closer that ratio is to being one or above, the better. The fewer a pitcher’s walks allowed, the better.

 

11. Avoid long relievers, or relievers who may get put into the starting rotation. These are the sacrificial lambs left on the mound when a team is behind 10-2 in the third. They will pitch no matter what until the seventh or eighth.

 

12. Avoid pitchers who play for Colorado. Or Cincinnati. Or other hitter-friendly park.

 

13. Track the money your opponents have and the categories and positions they need. Know who you are competing with and each owner’s salary situation, especially in the end game. Cheat Sheets make this easier.

 

14. Identify players you want when it gets to $1 bids (LATE). Keep some money in reserve so you can bid $3 if need be. However, if you have done #14 well, you’ll know when you can bid $1 without getting trumped!

 

15. Be sober, and don’t be hung-over.

 

16. Have Cheat Sheets printed, or other useful materials close by at Draft Time. Recruit a friend to help if need be.

 

17. When selecting hitters, try to have as many everyday starters as possible.

 

18. Write down the name of the team that you outbid for a particular player. That owner may be interested in a trade later.

 

19. Don’t be afraid to draft a player who is already on the DL. Injured players can often be had at bargain-basement prices. Can also find cheap keepers this way.

 

20. If you have not had a chance to do a lot of homework, watch the top owners late in the draft, when bids are at $1. Save some extra money for the end of the auction. When that guy who is always in the money throws out a guy for one dollar, you bid two.

 

21. Generally, do not spend double digits on a rookie.

 

22. If you don’t get the pitchers you want early in the draft, then get situational lefties and set-up men to fill your roster.

 

23. After the draft, run your draft through a projection program. This will tell you where you are strong and where you are weak. If you are off to a bad start, this will tell you whether to worry or whether to be patient.

 

24. Finally, remember that the draft is a poker game. We have all read and prepared. Some of us know the tendencies of the other owners. Be flexible, and able to adjust on the fly. Be willing to break some of your own rules.

 

25. HAVE FUN! 🙂