The ART of the DRAFT

By Bruce Bundy

There are so many factors involved that the art form is a study in itself.  With MLB players becoming less and less dimensional,

the role of the SOM general manager is becoming more and more important.  Personality, wit, and knowledge are the tools of

drafting, considered by many to be the most fun aspect of playing SOM.

Here are some brief observations on a very large study:

KNOW YOUR ENEMY.  The first thing a manager has to do is to size up his scenario.  STAR Tourneys provide the great

12 player scratch draft.  I'm in a 23 yr old keeper league. Salaries and contracts appeal to some league organizers.  There are

just so many ways to dictate the environment foreshadowing the draft itself.  None of these scenarios matter if you know your

enemy.  The better you know the rules, know the rituals, tactics, and tendencies of your opponents, the better prepared  THE

WINNER will be to administer his plan to choose the most top tier players.

So, it becomes imperative in STAR Tourneys to SHOW UP EARLY and talk to the early managers.  By even simple baseball

conversation, you may get a better lead into some of the opponents' schemes - you may even get a name or two.  By

establishing information-gathering tactics, you will be able to better anticipate your opponent's choices, which will help put your

tactics ahead of theirs in acquiring the most premiere talent possible.

2) GARBAGE IN - GARBAGE OUT. A thoughtfully prepared drafting plan will mean your enemies will be waving goodbye

to their plans and not you.  Draft styles change like fashions. Know the knowledge base of your given drafting arena.  The

differences between scratch leagues and keeper leagues are pronounced.  There are dissertations for the many scenarios, so I

will deal with the "STAR 12 player scratch draft concept" from here on for this example, but there are still many tactics here

anyone can use.

The "Apples & Oranges" of hitters/pitchers can play havoc on any draft.  Be on top of both aspects.  Respect the old

standards " for drafting.  A good old draft prioritization "standard" may be in this order:

SS

SP

CF

3B

2B

L-RF

1B

RP

The old "standards" are just that, however - standards.  For example, this year there is a large amount of premiere RFs, Cs

and 1Bs, not many 2Bs, 3Bs, Cs. There is a healthy amount of pitching, but only Pedro & Brown are elite.  So it is imperative

to come prepared with a healthy knowledge base in your head.  Having a close friend or two to share thoughts and help

prepare is great synergy for this important part of the plan.  What I do for myself  is create 3 levels for every position, starting

pitchers, and relief pitchers. I use my spreadsheet ratings: http://www.stratalliance.com/Bundy.htm

Use the ranking column.  My rankings take into account the SOM characteristics, so I usually feel comfortable I have already

beaten the 1 guy out of 10 who uses the "baseball card" approach to the draft.   I sort all the fielders by position, all the

starters, and all the relievers.  I look at the numbers for each position.  If you follow down at any given position, you will find a

small group in the higher numbers (ranked over 70), another tier of great players (60-69), and a large group of good players

(50-59).  Each group doesn't necessarily follow the numbers as much as they follow the theme. This year shows:

1B = 6 top tier, 9 2nd tier

2B = 2 (Kent & Alfonzo) top tier, 8 lower 2nd tier

3B = 0 top tier, 6 2nd tier

  C = 1 top tier (IRod), 5 2nd Tier

CF = 7 top tier, 3 very low 2nd tier

L-RF=21 top tier, 16 2nd tier

SS =4 top tier, 0 2nd tier, 12 3rd tier

SP = 3 top tier (Pedro, Brown, & Zito), 7 2nd tier

RP = 10 top tier, 14 2nd tier

So, the standard has now changed (as it usually does every year).  I read this year's "standard" as

SP

SS

2B

CF

3B

RP

1B

L-RF

This type of approach can help you see what is in store for the you and the other people involved.  You can further elaborate

by measuring the gaps to determine the more valued commodity. This draft, for example, Pedro is so dominant, he is an easy

1st pick of any draft.  I-Rod is also so dominant, as are Kent/Alfonzo.  But from this study what is basically clear is that there

are a large amount of OFs and RPs, then 24 top tier players at SP, SS, 2B, C, CF, and 1B.

OK. Now the game begins.  How to get the most top players!  You MUST get 2!  You want 3! You'd LOVE 4!  In STAR,

they use the serpentine (1-12, then 12-1) method of draft. Your position will predesignate your ability to get a 3rd and 4th top

tier. Whether drafting first or last, drafting top tier players will do 2 things - improve your team, debilitate your opponents.

Every non-top tier pick by an opponent moves you up 1, and your goal is to move up 12 in 3 rounds.  Your opponents do the

rest.

A couple of "tricks of the trade" can help facilitate your ladder to domination.  Any knowledge of what an opponent is going to

take, at any position in the draft, can help you - use a pencil, and as the draft begins, work on constantly mock draft the whole

draft - guessing who will go where.  This is a skill that once developed, will be a huge asset for the future.  Use common logic-

when there is only one top tier left of 5 and it's your pick, it's time to heavily reconsider another player.

Use "Addition by Subtraction" - this method is for the advanced drafter – and is a devastating drafting tactic on opponents.

Check and highlight the multi-position top tier players.  Once established at a position, plan on "stealing" a top tier from one

position to another position. EXAMPLE:  Drafting 6th, you draft Alfonzo first, your turn again and Kent isn't gone - NAB HIM

and play Kent at 1B!  You have now a top tier at 1B (diluting 1B) and have drastically reduced the top tier 2B position,

crashing someone else's dream of getting Kent at 2B!  This also throws some skilled drafters out of sync, which is yet another

nice tactic.  Always steal an opponent's direction of pick - if you know he is leaving a position open, you should leave that

position open this round and draft that position ahead of him the next round.

Talking during drafts is sometimes frowned upon, but it is useful gamesmanship. Anything that can distract an enemy from a

train of thought during a pick may leave a top tier player and is fair game (please be tasteful though - humor/yes, head rubs/no).

IMPORTANT - Lose all favoritism!  Forget your favorite player if you can!  If trading is allowed, you will be able to parlay a

successful draft into having both, so draft favorites only if they are on the same tier. In STAR, once your positions are filled or

top tiers are taken, crescendo these tactics throughout the rest of the draft. If you walk into the draft with this kind of approach

to knowledge, you can feel confident as you probably have defeated 6 of your 11 opponents already!

Good Luck!

Bruce Bundy

SOM World www.somworld.com