September 24, 2003 at 09:29AM View BBCode
I started a thread in the JRL board, and we had some excellent issues raised and debated. I'd like to progress this further toward getting a league started with 16 owners who agree on a set of guidelines.September 25, 2003 at 04:25PM View BBCode
Thought I would add a post to summarize the "potential Free Agency Private League" discussion.Abstracted from original thread...
Ideas for a new custom league (LONG!)
I've been thinking for a couple months about the ideal elements for a creative new custom league that would add in some exciting changes to the system as we know it. Anyone in this league would be welcome to join if interested, although I do have a couple people who have expressed interest from outside, too. I'm sure we won't get everyone from here anyway, but I would hate to turn anyone away either.
This league will require one outside person (perhaps a commissioner from another league) to help with some of the randomizing elements. It will be important that we have someone reliable and disinterested, and I'm sure we can get someone easily enough.
Here are things I'd like to try, and we certainly can open up the debate on them:
1) Revamping the drafts: Since there is a lot of frustration with the drafting system, I propose (for both the initial and amateur drafts) to do them as pseudo-live drafts.
Yeah, 40 rounds is a lot, but I've done plenty of Yahoo fantasy drafts in 2-3 hours. I'd
assume we'd need 4-5, but I'd bet we could find a weekend to do it.
2. Draft order: I think we need disincentives for finishing with a terrible record. I don't like a system that encourages tanking for the best picks. To prevent it, we will have our outside person randomly re-order all non-playoff teams into the first 12 draft spots. If there is a way to weight things slightly to favor the worst teams I'd be OK with that.
I'm open to suggestions.
3. Free agency: I think free agency works best when it creates some randomness but isn't overly punitive. It has to have the potential to create greater parity, and I think this will require some healthy debate.
I propose having the outside person pick a random number between 6 and 9 each offseason after the retirements/improvements have run. We will then sort all players by overall grade (and do the same with SP and RP) and mark off every Xth player as a potential free agent. Potential is the key word.
Only players 28 and older can be free agents. We could additionally restrict players who are 28-30 but have played fewer than six seasons, so as to avoid a 24yo amateur draft selectee becoming a FA in 4 years, for instance.
I tested this after the 1962 JRL season, using 8 as my random number and taking everyone 28 and older. So players ranked 8, 16, 24, 32, etc. were eligible. There were 85 potential FA, but we ended up with a class of 38 eligible FA, with teams losing anywhere from 0 to 7 players. The rebuilding teams often have no one over 28 (four of my players were potential FA but were too young).
For fairness, I suggest that the team that has the most potential FA draft first, then going down from there to make a FA draft order. Teams with worse records will pick first in the event of a tie. Teams that lose no FA can still participate, but they will draft at the end. Everyone is entitled to as many picks as they lost players (those that lost none can pick just one). Teams can "re-sign" their own FA if they choose. They can also pass at any point if they don't want anyone who's left.
Ideally, we would conduct this draft concurrently with the amateur draft.
4. Schedule: I'm in two leagues currently, one a regular dynasty that plays 3 a day and this one that's at 15. I'd like to find a happier medium, either 6 or 9. I'd lean toward 9 (games every 1.5 hours from, say, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern).
You'd finish a season in 18 days, have 2 days for playoffs, then embark on the extended offseason (probably 10 days to do all this). So it's a season a month, and we'd get through 10 seasons in the first wave before deciding on the future.
5. Trades: Even though I've done a few, I'm not too comfortable with trades for CP and playing time. They are very useful for rebuilding, and I like them, but they seem so unrealistic. Teams just don't send prospects to other teams to develop players for them. It's not a big deal, but I could see agreeing not to allow them.
6. Miscellany: No name-changing is a must. I like Bob's rules about Aug. 31 trade deadline, postseason roster changes and absentee owners.
I'm sure I'll think of more stuff along the way, too.
7. Dreaming: Since parity and fairness are primary goals of this league, I'd be interested in seeing if Tyson had the ability to add a third playoff team to each league. The 2nd and 3rd place teams would play a best-of-5, with the winner facing the league champ in the current best-of-7. I really think more teams will play to win with an expanded playoff. And it will increase late-season trading to try to add an extra piece to the puzzle. Of course, it's probably not possible.
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--Jason
September 25, 2003 at 04:59PM View BBCode
:o:o:o:oOctober 02, 2003 at 08:37AM View BBCode
Anyone who wants to join this league should post here with top two city preferences. The details remain to be finalized, but if we have a group of 16 committed, we'll know whose votes need to be counted in debating rules.October 02, 2003 at 12:40PM View BBCode
Jason, I think there is a line to start custom leagues. I would like to debate about rules and possibly join if and when this all becomes reality.October 02, 2003 at 03:07PM View formatted
October 12, 2003 at 08:52AM View BBCode
I still would like to get an idea of how many are interesting in this league. We have a handful so far, and it will take a couple weeks to agree on all the details, including the "live" draft schedule.October 17, 2003 at 07:18PM View BBCode
Just Curious if this private league has been scheduled for sign-ups yet? Still interested.:D:DPages: 1