Expansion Draft - Players To Protect

Hotwheelz · 12-13-2009, 06:40 PM

I plan on expanding this next offseason and I am starting to think about which players I will protect in the expansion draft. What I am wondering is whether the CPU teams go after top prospects in later rounds or am I safe protecting those players I plan on having on the 25 man roster? What mix of protected players do most use?

Hotwheelz · 01-07-2010, 04:44 AM

So I am getting closer. Still curious what the strategy that most follow. Do teams tend to choose top prospects later in the draft? Should I protect those in the lower levels?

cbbl · 01-07-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotwheelz

So I am getting closer. Still curious what the strategy that most follow. Do teams tend to choose top prospects later in the draft? Should I protect those in the lower levels?

My experience is that the AI will both fill its major league roster AND take any player who has good potential. When it does each probably depends on who is available. I wouldn't expect a top prospect who has low overall ratings to go in the first rounds, but I would expect him to go.

You need to protect ALL of the guys you want to keep ... up to your ability to do so.

I haven't expanded when I had many levels of minors, so I don't know if the AI's draft logic changes or whether you can risk some levels more than others. I'd think it would fill its starters and then go after the highest potential rankings available.

Hotwheelz · 01-08-2010, 01:44 AM

Alright. Useful information. I guess I am going to have to learn a lot of this on the spot.

Is there anybody that has had experience with the expansion draft and full minors that can fill me in on their strategy? Players you lost that you thought they would have passed over?

bubba22plus · 01-08-2010, 01:27 PM

Protect most if not all your starters if this is a year before 1987 or so.

The reason being that before 1987 or so, Pitchers generally go first. Starting pitchers are like inviting the expansion team to do good.

If this is a year after 1987, i have no advice, really.

cbbl · 01-08-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotwheelz

Alright. Useful information. I guess I am going to have to learn a lot of this on the spot.

Is there anybody that has had experience with the expansion draft and full minors that can fill me in on their strategy? Players you lost that you thought they would have passed over?

You could backup your game (or exit it and make a copy of the .lg folder) and then run the expansion draft a few times to experiment, then reload the backup (or overwrite the .lg folder with the saved version) when you've answered your questions.

Hotwheelz · 01-08-2010, 10:07 PM

Another thing. When is the best time to run the expansion draft?

Killing Time · 01-08-2010, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbl

You need to protect ALL of the guys you want to keep ... up to your ability to do so.

That's the objective for sure. The problem is that you will want to keep more than you can protect.

Hotwheelz · 01-08-2010, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killing Time

That's the objective for sure. The problem is that you will want to keep more than you can protect.

I have a list of guys running in my head that I want to protect. I also have a list of players that I would like to see drafted so I can get their contracts off the books. I also have a few out of this world prospects in rookie and single-a that I would hate to lose in the draft. Not sure how deep I want to go when protecting players.

I am actually very excited about losing a few players. Might just make this more of a challenge.

cbbl · 01-11-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotwheelz

I have a list of guys running in my head that I want to protect. I also have a list of players that I would like to see drafted so I can get their contracts off the books. I also have a few out of this world prospects in rookie and single-a that I would hate to lose in the draft. Not sure how deep I want to go when protecting players.

I am actually very excited about losing a few players. Might just make this more of a challenge.

I'd start with your active roster and save the starter at every position unless that starter can easily be replaced and is worth losing. Then, navigate through the bench and bullpen and save your secondary guys.

Next, the 40-man, and then minor leaguers with major potential not on the 40-man.

If you don't have a full list yet, repeat until you do.

If you have too many, do a one-by-one ... who's weakest on the list? Would I rather have him or guy X?

Fun times!

Hotwheelz · 01-13-2010, 02:05 AM

Well that was fun. Lost a few guys. I had a superstar SS that I left unprotected. In 4 years he has only played close to a full season once and was given 6.5 mil in arbitration this offseason. It hurts to lose him but I could not count on him to play a full season.

Plus I thought it added a nice story line to the franchise.

I appreciate all the great information.

12-13-2009, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Hotwheelz All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 6 Thanked 21x in 9 posts	Expansion Draft - Players To Protect I plan on expanding this next offseason and I am starting to think about which players I will protect in the expansion draft. What I am wondering is whether the CPU teams go after top prospects in later rounds or am I safe protecting those players I plan on having on the 25 man roster? What mix of protected players do most use?

01-08-2010, 01:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
bubba22plus All Star Reserve Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Equestria Posts: 794 Thanks: 43 Thanked 51x in 46 posts	Protect most if not all your starters if this is a year before 1987 or so. The reason being that before 1987 or so, Pitchers generally go first. Starting pitchers are like inviting the expansion team to do good. If this is a year after 1987, i have no advice, really. __________________ "Keikaku Doori..."

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01-07-2010, 04:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Hotwheelz All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 6 Thanked 21x in 9 posts	So I am getting closer. Still curious what the strategy that most follow. Do teams tend to choose top prospects later in the draft? Should I protect those in the lower levels?

01-08-2010, 01:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hotwheelz All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 6 Thanked 21x in 9 posts	Alright. Useful information. I guess I am going to have to learn a lot of this on the spot. Is there anybody that has had experience with the expansion draft and full minors that can fill me in on their strategy? Players you lost that you thought they would have passed over?

01-08-2010, 10:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
Hotwheelz All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 6 Thanked 21x in 9 posts	Another thing. When is the best time to run the expansion draft?

01-13-2010, 02:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
Hotwheelz All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 1,419 Thanks: 6 Thanked 21x in 9 posts	Well that was fun. Lost a few guys. I had a superstar SS that I left unprotected. In 4 years he has only played close to a full season once and was given 6.5 mil in arbitration this offseason. It hurts to lose him but I could not count on him to play a full season. Plus I thought it added a nice story line to the franchise. I appreciate all the great information.