Suggestions for Keeper League .. Sorry I know

by St Pete Native on Jul 2, 2009 1:58 PM EDT

I am trying to get a new keeper league of the ground. I have been in several keeper leagues, however none have been able to last. With that being said I have never started my own keeper league, and was wondering if any of you more experienced fantasy baseballers had any suggestions on rules, format, forum site, etc.

Also currently I have about 8-10 buddies from college and law school who have committed, so once this thing gets off the ground I may be looking to fill the last couple of teams.

If your interested or have any suggestions you can post on here or e-mail me at K.A.Katchuk28@gmail.com. Anything is appreciated, thanks.

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wait for the fire storm

For whatever reason people hate fantasy questions. I don’t know why.

Regardless.

Decisions to be made:

1. AL, NL, or Mixed.

With only 8-10 people (depending on their skill level in fantasy baseball), it’s probably best to have an AL or NL only league rather than a mixed league. Thoguh if you want a keeper league, that can be a PITA with your best keepers/prospects getting shipped off to the other league. So, maybe just really really deep rosters.

2. Number of keepers

Could be a fixed number (most “keeper leagues” are somewhere between 3-6 keepers.) or a dynasty league. Where you can keep 15+ on the team. That will have a huge bearing on the preferred type of draft setup.

3. Draft setup
I prefer auctions. Especially with keepers, it’s easy to just assign keeper inflation to their salary. (drafted them for $5, next year they cost $10). You can do it with drafts by going from a 20th round pick to a 17th or 15th or whatever, but I think it’s much more cut and dry with an auction budget and keeper inflation. If you go with a dynasty league, it’s probably easiest to just go with a draft. Everyone keeps 20 players, and then the draft starts.

Other decisions.
Minor League Roster? Obviously, or else you wouldn’t be here. I have an 8-man minor league system. Probably best to start small and then add on more spots in future years. You should have a supplemental draft every year for the previous year’s draftees, or else it’s going to be headaches with people rushing the wire to pick up Strasburgh the minute after he signs his contract.

How long can you keep a player? I like to have limits of like 3-5 years to ensure some semblance of turnover. It’s not REAL baseball, and if you have one team that was able to exploit a few people and/or have some great luck/skill in the draft, it’s no fun to have one guy have the ’27 Yankees for a decade in your fantasy league.

What’s the budget?

Where to use it? Sportsline rules.

by Galt on Jul 2, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions

+1

You want a good league?

AL Only, Auction, Dynasty (keep everyone or do contracts) and full minor leagues. Make every player have value and it keeps people interested.

by alskor on Jul 2, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Or...

Does anyone have an established league that has one or two openings?

ESPN -- The Red Sox Network

by St Pete Native on Jul 2, 2009 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

I wish my league did lol

we have one awful owner… I am in a current league, and tried to start up a Minorleagueball League about two years ago that failed.

It is tough. Because you never know how the owners will pay attention. I love love the league I’m in and the rules are great.

Check em out

Its a dynasty league. Once a guy is on your team, he stay there until he is a FA or you trade/release him. We use real salaries for all non-FA, and after a player is a FA we do a blind bidding process and you pay what you bid.

Most salaries are pretty realistic, only two insane ones (A-Rod at 56 or something, and K-Rod at 32)

The constant drafting really keeps people involved, and you get attached to your players because they are on your team from the minor leagues on

Remember: baseball guys... baseball...

by JD Sussman on Jul 2, 2009 4:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Very close to my league's rules

Everyone is crazy serious and pays a ton of attention. Trade talk happens all year round.

We have a $137M cap. The five highest salaries are Sabathia (29.5), Teixeira, Arod and Dice K (All 27.5), and Carlos Pena (20).

BUT, in our league when you sign a guy in the auction youre signing him for the real length life of his contract – and contracts are half guaranteed. So the guy who just got Tex signed him for 8 years @ 27.5. If he gets hurt, if he sucks, if for whatever reason he has to drop him he is still on the hook for a pro rated portion of 13.25 (half of 27.5).

by alskor on Jul 2, 2009 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah we do real legth too

But if we drop MLB players to the minors, we only count 15% of their contract. I want it to be more like 25 so we increase players being cut and traded. Its a very talented league, 12 really intelligent guys, 1 guy whose learning quickly after putting himself in a hole, 1 awful awful GM

Remember: baseball guys... baseball...

by JD Sussman on Jul 2, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

We also do extensions.

So I have Vernon Well’s craptastic contract on my hands.

The award system also increases our salary caps, but i think it works decently with inflation.

Remember: baseball guys... baseball...

by JD Sussman on Jul 2, 2009 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

We do.

But it’s not fantasy, it’s simulation using the DMB Software. Been running since 2003 with a 25 man active and up to 25 on reserves. Lemme know if you are interested. sirkit76@hotmail.com

Adam Dunn: Proof that even sabermetrics doesn't have it right.

by Boxkutter on Jul 2, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

i am in a keeper dynasty as well

you get to keep the players for as long as you want, and have a minor league roster of 10…i wouldnt mind getting into a competitive salary cap league though myself

by miraclemets on Jul 2, 2009 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

I am running a league called Baseball Heaven. Some of the best owners are in it.

http://baseballheaven.proboards.com/index.cgi

theres the site.

We are looking for a guy to take over the Mets. 16 team League hasnt started yet, and wont until 2010 but we are getting everything together for a dynasty league starting in 2010. League fee is 25 dollars. We started off with a team and kept 10 players from the MLB roster and 5 MILB players. We are having a draft for 15 MLB players and 9 MILB players(the 10th is the teams 2009 first round pick). If you, or anyone, is interested in a great starting team in the New York Mets then email me at andrew.j.batson@gmail.com

Draft starts sunday.

I also have YIM: Jombarii311 and AIM: fishingtilnoon

I am on all the time so please feel free to leave me an email or IM. As you can see the league is top of the line with a lot of the best leagues out there.

by Jombari on Jul 3, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions