Metro Bookend Draft signup and discussion thread

[ian2813]

We have five people who've said that they're in. Could we get one more?

[BigRon]

We have five people who've said that they're in. Could we get one more?

Is TI in or out?

[Toledo Inquisition]

Is TI in or out?

I'm in...don't expect to do well without a lot of time, but I'm in.

[BigRon]

I'm in...don't expect to do well without a lot of time, but I'm in.

Okay, here's a Thanksgiving present for you: Turk Lown.

[Toledo Inquisition]

Okay, here's a Thanksgiving present for you: Turk Lown.

If he puts me over (or under), I am in even worse shape than I thought!

[ian2813]

I'm in...don't expect to do well without a lot of time, but I'm in.

Awesome! What do you mean by "without a lot of time"? Do you think 12 hours to make a pick isn't enough time?

[Toledo Inquisition]

Awesome! What do you mean by "without a lot of time"? Do you think 12 hours to make a pick isn't enough time?

That is fair...I just mean research time. I don't think I'll be able to spend as much time as others will in hunting out the "bargains."

[BigRon]

If he puts me over (or under), I am in even worse shape than I thought!

Yeah, but he's a Chicago guy through and through- spent his whole career in the Windy City except for 6 weeks with the Reds. Your kind of guy!

[Toledo Inquisition]

Yeah, but he's a Chicago guy through and through- spent his whole career in the Windy City except for 6 weeks with the Reds. Your kind of guy!

Ex-Cub Factor.

[ian2813]

That is fair...I just mean research time. I don't think I'll be able to spend as much time as others will in hunting out the "bargains."

I was thinking we'd wait till next week to officially begin the draft, since I presume this week most of us are going to be celebrating Thanksgiving. I hope that's enough time to do preliminary research.

[BigRon]

Ex-Cub Factor.

Oh, I forgot.

[ian2813]

Ex-Cub Factor.

Everyone knows the Ex-Cub Factor ended in 2001 when the Diamondbacks won it with four ex-Cubs on their playoff roster.

[ian2813]

OK, so since it looks like we've got six people signed up, I'm going to start a new thread for the draft. Since it's Thanksgiving, I figure next Monday would be a good day to start, since most of us are probably spending time with family right now. If people want to start drafting sooner, they're welcome to do so, but if anyone would rather wait until the draft clock officially begins before making their pick, they're allowed to.

[BigRon]

Okay, here's my question, In the rules section 4 you state that at least 3 pitchers on a roster must be relievers, defined as having 60% or fewer of his appearances as a starter. To be a starter, the pitcher must have at least 40% of his career appearances as a starter. Okay, seem s clear- except:

Most of us will have at least 10 pitchers on our roster- let's use 10 as an example. We'll be using 4or 5 man rotations. That leaves at least 5 or 6 pitchers who will be seeing most/all bullpen duty. However, we're only required to have 3 "relievers", by your definition. That implies to me that anyone who is not in the starting rotation can relieve, even if they are by definition a starter. For example, let's say I have 10 pitchers. 7 are defined starters, 3 are defined relievers. But I'm using a 4 man rotation. Any/all of my 6 other pitchers can relieve in any role, correct? Even though 2 or 3 of them are defined as starters. Thanks for clarifying.

Welcome to the official draft thread for the Metro Bookend Draft, where we'll be drafting only players who began and ended their MLB careers in the same city! Since it's Thanksgiving weekend, the draft will officially begin at 8 AM Central Time on Monday, November 29. If you want to start making picks sooner, you're allowed to do so, but if you'd rather wait till Monday to make your pick, that's perfectly acceptable.

The official rules are as follows:

1. Only players who played their first and final MLB games with teams representing the same metro area are eligible to be drafted. The Angels, through all the incarnations of their franchise name, are counted as part of the Los Angeles metro area, and Brooklyn is counted as part of the New York metro area.

2. After 1915, the only MLB activity that's counted toward a player's major league career is that in either the National or American League. (i.e. no foreign or Negro Leagues)

3. Only players who are officially retired and have at least six years of major league experience are eligible to be drafted.

4. Rosters will consist of 25 players. You must have a minimum of nine pitchers on your roster, at least three of which must be relievers, and a starter and backup at each fielding position. To qualify as a "reliever," the player must have started in 60% or fewer of his career pitching appearances. To be in your starting rotation, a pitcher must have started more than 40% of his career pitching appearances. To be a starter at a position, a player must have played either a minimum of 500 games or at least 25% of his career fielding games at that position. A backup must have played either a minimum of 200 games or 10% of his career fielding games at the position in question. One player can serve as a backup at multiple positions.

5. Draft will go snake style, with a 12-hour time limit. 2 AM-8-AM Central will be dead time during which the draft clock is frozen, though you may make a pick during the dead time if you wish. If you do not pick after 12 hours of active time, the next person in line will be allowed to make his pick. You will then be allowed to make up your pick at any time. If your turn comes up again and you still haven't made up your pick, you will be automatically skipped until you do. If you make an invalid pick, it will be treated as a missed pick and the same rules will apply.

6. You may not change your pick more than ten minutes after it's been made, or once the next drafter has made his pick. This rule does not apply if the original pick is invalid.

[ian2813]

Okay, here's my question, In the rules section 4 you state that at least 3 pitchers on a roster must be relievers, defined as having 60% or fewer of his appearances as a starter. To be a starter, the pitcher must have at least 40% of his career appearances as a starter. Okay, seem s clear- except:

Most of us will have at least 10 pitchers on our roster- let's use 10 as an example. We'll be using 4or 5 man rotations. That leaves at least 5 or 6 pitchers who will be seeing most/all bullpen duty. However, we're only required to have 3 "relievers", by your definition. That implies to me that anyone who is not in the starting rotation can relieve, even if they are by definition a starter. For example, let's say I have 10 pitchers. 7 are defined starters, 3 are defined relievers. But I'm using a 4 man rotation. Any/all of my 6 other pitchers can relieve in any role, correct? Even though 2 or 3 of them are defined as starters. Thanks for clarifying.

Yes, I think you understand correctly. The 40% minimum for starters is about who you can place in your starting rotation. There have to be at least three pitchers who are explicitly used as relievers, but the pitchers who aren't drafted as relievers or placed in the starting rotation can be used in whatever role you want.

The reason I made the rule about the 40% minimum for starters was because I thought it would feel cheap if someone put a guy in their rotation who had been a starter but was used more often as a reliever in his career. Even though he's not available in this draft, it would be like using Dennis Eckersley as a starter. Sure, he had some success as a starter in the first half of his career, but he was better known as a reliever, so it just feels like that's where he belongs. You could argue that this rule hurts me, as I've drafted Kerry Wood, who was a pretty good starter when he wasn't injured, but I'm willing to follow my own rules and use him exclusively as a reliever.