2008/2009 Rule Changes/Clarifications
Feb 13, 2008 4:03:11 GMT -5
Post by Lucky on Feb 13, 2008 4:03:11 GMT -5
A couple of issues came up during this offseason that this seems like a good time to address. Rather than put you all through one of those annoying debate processes I figured I'd lay out the changes/clarifications I want to make after some discussion about it with other owners and let anyone with any objections make them. Then, if we have to, we'll do a vote or whatever. Of course if you object to this, there we go.
Free Agent Period
This is my baby. Done. Gone. That's the way I'd like it. Truth is I've never liked this and I've yet to see another Keeper League with a system like this. I think it puts smart owners in a compromising position and careless owners in too easy a one. If I finish the season with 7 really good keeper options I'm then put in a position where I need to either move 2 of them or release them. But their trade value is basically damaged because everyone knows I'm shopping them because I have limited roster space, and they know that if a trade isn't made the player will be released to free agency. Meanwhile an owner who may have put too many eggs in one basket and may have paid no attention to keepers from February to October gets bailed out because there's a whole mess of talent being released.
I want it done. The 27 players you finish the season with are your 27 options (plus your 5 minor leaguers). 32 players (up to 34 with DL slots) should be plenty to choose from and you have the final weeks of the season to make any free agent waiver moves to add talent that may be out there. In a lot of cases that's going to be injured stars dumped for roster space or players riding the pine during the last week of the season or suffering cold streaks. It might just be an overlooked player. But you'll have an opportunity to make up for ignoring keepers all season. And the owners who do play it smart towards keepers, or maybe fall out of competition and move their non-keeper stars for keeper options, can choose their best options without fear of handing another player to someone else. And of course trades will remain in play so owners with surplus can help owners with shortages but get fair value for it.
The exception to this will be any new owners. We'll have to work out some kind of expansion draft for them. But I have at least 9 months to worry about that and may not need to at all.
Most of the league has already given at least a passing approval for this and the guys who haven't didn't seem active with it (and actually, I think a grand total of 5 moves were made this season). But if anyone objects, let us know.
Japanese Players
Maybe you care, maybe you don't. There was some objection to Matsuzaka and Fukudome being taken as free agents. Presuming everyone agrees to the elimination of Offseason Free Agents that issue is eliminated. Maeda comes out next season? You'll have to go after him in the draft. The question some have then raised is whether Maeda is free to be taken as a Minor Leaguer now, before he signs anywhere. I've heard both sides of this argument. On one hand they're not major leaguers, it takes a certain level of research, and its a risk. The other side is simply that they aren't minor leaguers or amateurs but rather, in most cases, full developed players.
After much consideration I think we should allow it. The risk is real. Half of the players I've expected to come out the last few years have not yet. And of the players who have come over very few have excelled. I'd say they've had the same basic success rate of stud prospects. Guys like Fukudome and Matsuzaka are easier calls, but so are guys like Hughes and Upton. And the big reason I'm now supporting this is because the schedule we keep for Minor Leaguers creates a small window. May 1st to Oct 1st, basically. So there will be no stashing of the guys who start to make news in the winter. In order to grab a guy you're going to have to be heads up and know a name months before he gets talked about. And if he posts in November surprisingly and signs in December you'll never get a shot in him until the draft.
I know at least one owner has a basic opinion that if the guy isn't employed by a MLB franchise he shouldn't be eligible. Personally I think that's kind of arbitrary. If he's not in the minor league system is just increases the risk to the owner and puts him further away. Meanwhile this fleshes out the field a bit more and maybe gives options to the owners who aren't too up on the minors. Its also worth considering that we could expand the mLeague roster a bit.
If you're cool with it, let me know. If you REALLY object to this, make your case. Don't hold back if you think you're gonna be unhappy because this is our league. The only reason I'm presenting it like this is because everyone was pretty overwhelmed and exhausted by the "debate, poll, discussion, vote" process I used last season. But if you object make a case and make it well.
Also if there's something else you want changed, let me know.
Free Agent Period
This is my baby. Done. Gone. That's the way I'd like it. Truth is I've never liked this and I've yet to see another Keeper League with a system like this. I think it puts smart owners in a compromising position and careless owners in too easy a one. If I finish the season with 7 really good keeper options I'm then put in a position where I need to either move 2 of them or release them. But their trade value is basically damaged because everyone knows I'm shopping them because I have limited roster space, and they know that if a trade isn't made the player will be released to free agency. Meanwhile an owner who may have put too many eggs in one basket and may have paid no attention to keepers from February to October gets bailed out because there's a whole mess of talent being released.
I want it done. The 27 players you finish the season with are your 27 options (plus your 5 minor leaguers). 32 players (up to 34 with DL slots) should be plenty to choose from and you have the final weeks of the season to make any free agent waiver moves to add talent that may be out there. In a lot of cases that's going to be injured stars dumped for roster space or players riding the pine during the last week of the season or suffering cold streaks. It might just be an overlooked player. But you'll have an opportunity to make up for ignoring keepers all season. And the owners who do play it smart towards keepers, or maybe fall out of competition and move their non-keeper stars for keeper options, can choose their best options without fear of handing another player to someone else. And of course trades will remain in play so owners with surplus can help owners with shortages but get fair value for it.
The exception to this will be any new owners. We'll have to work out some kind of expansion draft for them. But I have at least 9 months to worry about that and may not need to at all.
Most of the league has already given at least a passing approval for this and the guys who haven't didn't seem active with it (and actually, I think a grand total of 5 moves were made this season). But if anyone objects, let us know.
Japanese Players
Maybe you care, maybe you don't. There was some objection to Matsuzaka and Fukudome being taken as free agents. Presuming everyone agrees to the elimination of Offseason Free Agents that issue is eliminated. Maeda comes out next season? You'll have to go after him in the draft. The question some have then raised is whether Maeda is free to be taken as a Minor Leaguer now, before he signs anywhere. I've heard both sides of this argument. On one hand they're not major leaguers, it takes a certain level of research, and its a risk. The other side is simply that they aren't minor leaguers or amateurs but rather, in most cases, full developed players.
After much consideration I think we should allow it. The risk is real. Half of the players I've expected to come out the last few years have not yet. And of the players who have come over very few have excelled. I'd say they've had the same basic success rate of stud prospects. Guys like Fukudome and Matsuzaka are easier calls, but so are guys like Hughes and Upton. And the big reason I'm now supporting this is because the schedule we keep for Minor Leaguers creates a small window. May 1st to Oct 1st, basically. So there will be no stashing of the guys who start to make news in the winter. In order to grab a guy you're going to have to be heads up and know a name months before he gets talked about. And if he posts in November surprisingly and signs in December you'll never get a shot in him until the draft.
I know at least one owner has a basic opinion that if the guy isn't employed by a MLB franchise he shouldn't be eligible. Personally I think that's kind of arbitrary. If he's not in the minor league system is just increases the risk to the owner and puts him further away. Meanwhile this fleshes out the field a bit more and maybe gives options to the owners who aren't too up on the minors. Its also worth considering that we could expand the mLeague roster a bit.
If you're cool with it, let me know. If you REALLY object to this, make your case. Don't hold back if you think you're gonna be unhappy because this is our league. The only reason I'm presenting it like this is because everyone was pretty overwhelmed and exhausted by the "debate, poll, discussion, vote" process I used last season. But if you object make a case and make it well.
Also if there's something else you want changed, let me know.