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March 1, 2013

Fantasy Freestyle

CBS AL-Only Expert Auction Results

by Mike Gianella

Yesterday afternoon, I participated in the CBS AL-only Analysts (read: experts) league auction, which marked the beginning of the league’s 10^th year. This was also my 10^th year in the league, but it was my first time playing under the Baseball Prospectus banner.

For readers who followed me over from my old blog, I need not explain my approach. However, for my new readers at Baseball Prospectus, it is worth a brief explanation of how I go about my auction—especially since it is markedly different from how some experts approach theirs.

Some experts approach auctions using a strategy-based model, basing their purchases on certain categories or players. This isn’t what I do. I enter every auction as a pure agnostic and a strict price-enforcer. I walk in with my bid limits (the same bid limits that have been featured here at Baseball Prospectus the last two Mondays) and try to buy as many players as I can at prices below those bid limits.

In an ideal scenario, I can go through an entire auction adhering to this philosophy. In reality, this almost never happens … particularly not in expert auctions. Pricing is typically too tight and I have to either buy certain players at par prices or adjust my strategy to emphasize certain categories over others.

Every player purchased can possibly change or challenge my directive to get bargains. Below is a recap of the CBS auction, including the players I purchased, when I purchased them in the auction, and my thinking at the time.

(CBS is a 12-team AL-only league with a “standard” $260 cap for 14 hitters and nine pitchers. Each “round” is 12 players long.)