bbstratbudgetsheet

Draft Day Budget Sheet

By John Coleman, 3/1/00

Money Allocation Chart #1

When I mention bargains, I mean players going well below the bid price.

Grabbing closer prospects is a crapshoot. The only safe bet is to spend $1 on middle relievers that you think will produce. If you have them at a buck, keep them. Just don't pay $11 for them! Middle relievers are the least predictable pitchers you can find. That makes them risky.

If you watch that group of starters priced at $10-$20, you will see several of them go for half that price. By the time these guys are being brought up, everyone will have overspent on the hitters and better starters. You should be able to snag 4 of them for $2-$8, but I don't know which ones. If you budget for that much money in four pitching slots, you will get some bargains. Those guys are always "cheated" in the draft.

Do you know how to use a draft budget sheet? It's simply a list of positions with pre-set dollar amounts. It's a roster sheet for your team. When you win a player, write his name down on the sheet along with his contract. If his contract is more or less than the slot was budgeted (and it usually is) simply reassign excess dollars (or take dollars from) another open slot. This budget plan is essential for a good, patient, evenly built team. Here's a sample:

HITTERS

PITCHERS

$8 – C
$5 – C
$23 – 1B
$10 – 1B/3B
$15 – 3B
$17 – 2B
$8 – 2B/SS
$21 – SS
$27 – OF
$16 – OF
$13 – OF
$7 – OF
$3 – OF
$2 – DH/UT

$21 – SP
$12 – SP
$8 – SP
$5 – SP
$3 – SP
$3 – P
$2 – P
$29 – RP
$2 – RP

Now, I'm not saying that you have to use these numbers. If you have keepers, then you will be changing several of them right away. This particular plan allots 67% to hitters. You can win with 70% or you can win with 60%. There's no rule here, just a lot of hype. It's all about picking the right players. But USE this budget sheet, whatever plan you like. It will give you great discipline. And don't EVER use a computer at the draft.

Money Allocation Chart #2

The following recommended amounts are extremely flexible. Some allocate $90 for pitching while others allow for $100. Do whatever you feel is the most comfortable but remember to make appropriate adjustments on other lines. During the draft you buy a hitter for say, $18, then add or subtract the $2 somewhere else. Established leagues with protected rosters can use the chart by simply writing in the protected players names next to their salaries while making necessary adjustments to the other values.

Feel free to adjust the individual dollar values prior to the draft. For those leagues that draft from both the A.L. and N.L., the values would be heavily weighted at both ends. That is, you would still want to pay top price for the bonafide star players but, due to the extra talent available, the middle-valued players would still be available at the end of the draft. Hence, more $1 bargains. This will allow you to spend a tad more on the star players. You should also stay away from the injury-prone players in mixed leagues because there is just too much talent available from the healthy ranks.

Remember that the values listed below are just an example. Write down the dollar values (in pencil) with which you feel the most comfortable and be ready to adjust throughout the draft.

Hitters (14) Pitchers (9)

$25-35_______________________________ $25-30___________________________

$20-23_______________________________ $15______________________________

$18-23_______________________________ $15______________________________

$15-20_______________________________ $10______________________________

$10-15_______________________________ $5_______________________________

$10-15_______________________________ $4_______________________________

$10________________________________ $1_______________________________

$5_________________________________ $1_______________________________

$5_________________________________

$2_________________________________

$1_________________________________

Total = $180 Total = $80

Draft Day Inflation/Deflation Chart

Your league's money situation

You have less than $8 per player to spend

You have average money to spend

You have more than $12-$14 per player to spend

Draft Day Deflation*

Bid up to 80%-100% of a player's perceived worth.

You control the bidding. Make sure you spend your money on bonafide talent and take few risks.

Each team has an average amount of money to spend

Bid up to 80%-90% of a player's perceived worth.

You should be able to control the bidding somewhat unless another owner has big bucks to spend.

Draft Day Inflation**

Bid up to at least 100% of a player's value or jump in where you can. This situation is the toughest draft day scenario, and will be a true indicator of your bidding abilities. Sleepers have added importance here.

Bid up to at least 100% of a player's value (especially star players) or jump in where you can.

Spend your money quickly but wisely. Bid up to as much as 120% for quality talent but do not overspend for marginal players. Do not wait until the end of the draft because you could get stuck and take money home with you.

* A situation by which 70%-80% of the owners in your league have less than an average of $10 to spend per player.

** A situation where at least half of the owners have over an average of $10 per player to spend.

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