Russel Martin is still at $4, though… and he’s a great nomination if you’re trying to close out a bot with an empty C slot (assuming you haven’t filled your C slot yet and you don’t want the bot nominating one of your choices). I don’t think I’ve seen a human bid on Martin in any of my drafts, before OR after his injury.

“The Autobid system will bid up to a randomly determined % of the player’s pre-set value. The bidding range for this is 60% to 110% of the set/default value. This means if Hanley Ramirez’s preset draft value is $40 the autopilot system could bid up to $44, or only just to $24. This feature was built into to allow for bargains to still be obtained in a draft with absent owners, yet still field each one a competitive team.”

I’m calling bullshit on this… or perhaps it’s been changed for 2010… or perhaps their bid algorithm leans more heavily towards the lower end of that “60% to 110%” range… or perhaps it uses factors such as how much money a manager has left per slot and/or talent remaining at positions needed… or perhaps it’s just bullshit. I have personally NEVER seen an autobid of 110%. I do see autobids of 100% extremely late in the draft, which is another reason why it’s important to close out bots (no need to be competing with them to get Filthy Sanchez at $4 instead of stealing him for $1).

My first two picks I am taking Poo-Holes and Zimm. I could take a 2B for my 3rd, but I think ill get more bang for my buck taking Werth/Granderson/Bay- Who do you like more considering my OF will most likely include one of those 3 plus Lind, Pence, Gonzalez/ Quentin (who do you like here)

I figured by getting an OF my 3rd round I can pick up beckham later in the draft and slot him at 2b once he gets eligibility. Thanks for your help!

For me one of the biggest questions is – with that $75 for pitchers, could you spend say $40 on a F-Her (Lincecum, Halladay already kept) and then fill in 4 other starters and 4 bench guys with $35?

Bermuda Triangles

Discipline is key. When Wieters is about to sell for $10, don’t ask yourself, “Should I let this manager get Wieters for $10?” Don’t ask yourself, “Wouldn’t it be nice to have Wieters as my catcher, even though I already decided to punt the C slot?” Don’t ask yourself, “Isn’t Wieters at $11 a decent price?” Instead, ask youself, “Wouldn’t I rather hold off now, buy Bengie for $1 later, and have some leverage when everyone else is down to $1/slot?”

But we’re all in our 30′s now, most married, some with kids… and scattered around the country. Even the guys closest to me (about an hour and a half away) probably won’t be able to make the trip to my place for a partial face-to-face draft. So the online draft will have to suffice.

It’s probably for the best. Last time we were all together (around Christmas) I seem to remember shots of 160 proof Stroh rum being the penalty for getting a goal scored on you… and then I woke up next to the fire pit with half a pant leg charred while the sun was coming up… my wife asking my why I had been trying to sneak out the second story bathroom window… I dunno’, it’s all a blur. That can’t be a good way to draft a team.

Btw, taking a quick (gloomy) look at 2011- Ian Stewart will only be eligible at 3B correct?

@Steve: Around $15.

I have the 12th pick, and I’m targeting someone like Choo or Markakis with my 3rd round pick (however wrong it is, I love Markakis, and he wouldn’t fall to the 6th round)

That leaves me with my 2nd round pick. I’m going to take Fielder/Tex/Miggy Cabrera if one of them falls to me, but if they don’t, here are the players I would take:
Holliday (There are 2 UTIL spots, and he’s as safe as they come)
Votto (I like him, but guys like Berkman would be available later)
Doc Halladay (Wins and Losses are categories, and this would allow me to put off starters until the cheap upside part of the draft.

I’m leaning toward the Doc right now, but who would you take?

@Bermuda Triangles: I’d spread the money more evenly on starters and outfielders.

$300 cap and I’m spending half to keep Howard, A-Rod, Rollins, Reynolds, Phillips, Gallardo and Alexei Ramirez

This is going to leave me somewhere in the neighbourhood of $75 for 10 pitchers and $45 for 5 outfielders.

How would you spend those amounts?

For pitching, would you ty to find 2 starters (1 upper end, 1 mid) and then fill with $1 guys, or spread the money more evenly?

For OF, I figure I’m going to need steals and so same question – spread the mony evenly o try to get 1 or 2 $15-$20 guys and go super cheap on the others?

Any advice would be helpful! I loves me the Razzball!

@sean: Miggy, Longoria, then all of those guys.

Having said that, how much is too much of a good thing when exploiting CBS default rankings:
95 Carlos Lee
96 Brandon Phillips
100 Carlos Quentin
101 Nelson Cruz
102 Denard Span
108 Gordon Beckham
115 Adam Jones
137 Andrew McCutchen
147 Alex Rios
183 Carlos Gonzalez
186 Jay Bruce
215 Nolan Reimold
221 Colby Rasmus

Perhaps a down and dirty lesson on outfielder pairings is necessary.

inflation for hitters is ~25%, SP 45%

last keeper? montero $10 or alcides escobar $10

current keepers: kemp 16, panda 15, heyward 10, ian stewart 6, cueto 6, and fowler 1.