From the Office of the Commissioner
The History of how we got here
Years ago Daniel had the idea to transition our league from a loose band of listless one-foot-in managers into an epic dynasty league — a league with dozen keepers, AAA players held in NA spots, and a $1,000 entry fee. It would mirror Major League Baseball, and only the most dedicated managers would win.
Rules changed. Keepers grew from one to three, league dues raised steadily, and winning payouts grew alongside. New rules were added to balance out the system as we adjusted to this new reality: No trading of first-round picks, a limit of two draft pick trades per season, and the trade deadline was moved earlier and earlier to keep more managers feeling competitive for later into the season. We marched towards our collective dynasty as one. We would be made up of the best.
But along this road, our collective ambition changed. Many managers, myself included, didn’t want to keep the same dozen players for a dozen years as a dynasty team would require. A cycle of boom and bust draft pick trading became part of the league’s fabric despite rules intended to limit it. Managers felt that they had to sell out their future to win right now. We grew passive, and settled into a comfortable, well balanced, fun league, with familiar managers and rules. As our ascent towards a dynasty system faded the league became a bit directionless and dare I say a bit too familiar: a bit too comfortable.
Where we are going in 2020: View the Rules Roadmap
While the new direction of the league is still forming your voices have been heard. I’m proud to present an ambitious foundation for what is to come in future seasons.
In 2020 we will be a switch to an auction draft. Auction drafts are more engaging, strategic, and it’ll be fun to try something that almost no manager in this league has done before. Auction drafts make more players available to more managers because a manager’s pick order does not determine what players are available to them. All managers participate in ever player’s selection. For the managers who are deeply concerned about this change, I highly encourage you to mock auction draft on Yahoo! sometime soon. You do not need to participate in the auction to build your team. Yahoo can do it automatically, but you should.
Keepers: In 2020 you may keep up to three players from the 2019 season but you are not required to keep anyone. The exact formula to determine a keeper’s dollar value in 2020 has not been decided yet. I will update you as soon as this formula is created.
Trading draft picks: In 2020 there will be no draft pick trades because unlike a snake draft in an auction there (arguably) isn’t an advantage to what order a manager nominates a player in. Draft pick trades from 2019 (meaning this season, which is still allowed) will be translated into more or fewer dollars awarded in your 2020 draft budget. For example, if a manager traded away a third-round pick (in this example valued at $30) and gained a second-round pick in exchange (in this example valued at $40) that manager will be awarded a $10 extra dollars in the 2020 draft. That said, 2020 will be the only year where auction budgets will be flexible. After 2020 all managers will start the draft with the exact same dollar amount.
Why the change? In fantasy baseball, as in Major League Baseball, teams that rebuild for the future tend to give up on the current season. As your new commissioner, one of my most important aims is to incentivize all managers to compete for as long as possible. I believe the new keeper rules and the removal of draft pick trading do just that.
Voting: As the new rules solidify beyond this framework I will hold at least one democratic(ish) vote for the 2020 season before next year’s auction. Voting will include changes to scoring categories (for example changing avg to OBP) and changes to the dollar payouts. All managers are encouraged to submit rule change ideas to the Office of the Commissioner.
My fellow managers, change is scary. Some of you will consider leaving the league because of all this. I assure you that this office wants you all to stay. I encourage you to help pick up the gauntlet, add your input, and help craft this league in your own image of how things should be. I would personally like to thank all those who spent time with me on the phone coming up with this basic framework.
“It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” – Jimmy Dugan.
Misha
Mookie and the Betts
Co-Commissioner
P.S. If you have not given me your input yet it’s not too late. Reach out anytime. If you are leaving the league for sure and know it now, please give me as much heads up as possible to find a replacement manager.