Initial Draft Speed Up v 2.0

[Rockies GM (Jeff Bridich)]

So since rounds 7 and 8 (when we all individually submitted picks to Justin) these are the lengths of each round: 

Round 9 - 5 days
Round 10 - 4 days
Round 11 - 4 days
Round 12 - Ongoing, but 3 to 4 days depending on the last few picks

Average of 4 days a round, with 33 rounds left means it will take 132 days to finish the draft. 132 days means we will finish somewhere around late May/early June aka 2 months after the season has started. Now I know that we are drafting prospects for the future and very few prospects will be called up that early, but I don't think many people want this draft to last that long anyways. And that isn't even taking into account that as we get deeper into the draft people will probably be checking the board less frequently.

I wanted to bring forward a draft speed up idea that had been mentioned before (I think it was Yankees, but not sure. Shout out to whoever brought it up though), and add some of my own reasoning to it.

If we can cut the draft time in half (aka 2 days a round), we'll be done right around opening day. Justin has mentioned that he wants to maintain the draft order, aka no grouping of 4 teams drafting during these 4 hours. So the best way to do this is to assign each team a one hour time period to draft over two days. It seems no one is active on the board between 1:00 AM EST and 7:00 AM EST, so if we block off 15 hours a day, 1 hour for each team, we can guarantee that each round of the draft will be finished in 2 days. Start it at 8:00 AM EST and end it at 10:00 PM EST (or a similar range).

Now what happens if you are at work/in class/busy with anything else during your one hour slot? A fair point, but I would argue that with this set up if you know the exact time that you will have to make your pick at, it makes it easier for everyone to log on at that time and make their selection. This way you aren't checking the board intermittently all day to see if it is your turn because you don't know how fast or slow the draft is moving, you can just set an alarm on your phone to alert you that it's your pick, take two minutes and make your pick.

Finally, I am aware that for some owners it may not be possible at all to check their phone during the day. To this point I would say that is unfortunate, but we are late enough in the draft that it is unlikely that people are targeting the same players so it would be highly improbable that someone takes your player.

Anyways I just wanted to verbalize these points because I think we really do need a more permanent draft speed up solution and it seems some other owners agree as well. What does everyone else think?

Cheers,

Jeff Bridich

[M's GM (Patrick, Jake & Troy)]

I think this works. I mean as it is right now you could be up while you are sleeping. This way you at least know your time slot without constantly checking.

Great idea!

[Rockies GM (Jeff Bridich)]

Feb 3, 2016 15:11:09 GMT M's GM (Patrick, Jake & Troy) said:

I think this works. I mean as it is right now you could be up while you are sleeping. This way you at least know your time slot without constantly checking.

Great idea!

Thanks! I think that is the biggest positive for this option, is that you will know what time and day you are picking for the near future. Right now it's so variable you basically have to log on and check every 4 to 5 times a day.

[Phillies GM (Nick)]

The speed issue does not bother me that much and I was fine with the list submissions to Justin. I'm also fine with this suggestion with one major caveat.

Your times are based on what is convenient for people who live in the eastern US. I live out west and I will be picking first in half the rounds. It's unfair to expect me to wake up before 6 am pacific or miss my window but this can easily be resolved one of two ways either (1) let me pick the night before (I'll be picking at the end of the prior round so I can just submit both picks together - this is my preference) or (2) shift the times back at least one hour (preferably two).

If the issue above is addressed then I'm fine with this method. Without addressing the issue above I strongly oppose. I'm also fine with keeping it as is or using the list to Justin method. I guess I'd slightly prefer the list to Justin method or this suggestion to add a little speed. I agree with Justin on maintaining the order though.

[Rockies GM (Jeff Bridich)]

Feb 3, 2016 15:17:11 GMT Phillies GM (Nick) said:

The speed issue does not bother me that much and I was fine with the list submissions to Justin. I'm also fine with this suggestion with one major caveat.

Your times are based on what is convenient for people who live in the eastern US. I live out west and I will be picking first in half the rounds. It's unfair to expect me to wake up before 6 am pacific or miss my window but this can easily be resolved one of two ways either (1) let me pick the night before (I'll be picking at the end of the prior round so I can just submit both picks together - this is my preference) or (2) shift the times back at least one hour (preferably two).

If the issue above is addressed then I'm fine with this method. Without addressing the issue above I strongly oppose. I'm also fine with keeping it as is or using the list to Justin method. I guess I'd slightly prefer the list to Justin method or this suggestion to add a little speed. I agree with Justin on maintaining the order though.

Yeah that is definitely one issue, I was wondering what the distribution across the time zones was. The times I provided are obviously flexible, and I would have no problem making it 10:00 AM EST to 12:00 AM EST or something of the sort, which would probably accommodate most time zones better. Also think the idea of letting the end of rounders pick earlier or later than their slots (aka in the middle of the night) is totally fine.

[Brewers GM (Greg)]

I'm on board too.  As the other team in the same situation as the Phillies, I would also prefer the first solution he proposes of allowing us to make both our picks at the same time.  I'm on the East Coast and would rather not have to stay up to midnight to make my pick, if we pushed the Windows back two hours.

Some questions to think about:

Are you envisioning this as a set in stone schedule where we would have the same draft times every day for the rest of the draft? 

Would teams that are skipped still have an hour window?

If the person in front of you has picked do you still need to wait for your window to start to make your pick?

Would the daily schedule be posted or emailed?  Since people have traded draft picks they might not know the draft slot of the pick the acquired.

[Nationals GM (Max)]

No making 2 picks at once if they aren't back to back. That totally compromises the idea of a draft.

You get a one hour window, and do your best to make it. If not, check back whenever you can. If you're worried about losing a guy, leave a list with a trusted GM or one of the Admins.

[Rockies GM (Jeff Bridich)]

@natsgm: The two picks at the same time thing would only apply to Brewers and Phillies since they are at either end of the rounds. Agree that doing this for any other teams wouldn't be allowed.

@brewersgm:
1) The schedule would flip per round, so technically the schedule would be a repeat of every 4 days, but yes it would be the same schedule for the rest of the draft.
2) I think the same idea that is currently used should apply: if you miss the window you just make a pick any time after your window. This way you aren't getting too screwed if you miss your window but you also aren't holding up the draft.
3) I guess this could be up for debate. I don't have a problem with making your pick once the person in front of you has picked, but some people may want to keep it to the hard and fast schedule.
4) I think Justin would do as he currently does and posts the round schedule, but just with times added to the teams. I think it's fair that owners  should know the picks that they have traded for and be aware of the different time slots for them. 

[Deleted]

Do it.

[Angels GM (Wood)]

sounds good for the most part, but i would like to see a little more details for the pick times. I am CST so while im not 2 to 3 hours behind like ppl out West. That 1 hour difference can make a difference.

"There is no limit to what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit."

[Rockies GM (Jeff Bridich)]

Feb 3, 2016 17:00:28 GMT Angels GM (Wood) said:

sounds good for the most part, but i would like to see a little more details for the pick times. I am CST so while im not 2 to 3 hours behind like ppl out West. That 1 hour difference can make a difference.

"There is no limit to what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit."

For sure, I think we'll post a list of all times for each pick in EST, but maybe we can get a list of who is in a different time zone so we can make a note next to their pick of the time in their respective time zone. I'd be willing to help Justin put this list together.

[Braves GM (Dave)]

I like it.

[Deleted]

I'm good with whatever slots are decided. This idea gets a big thumbs up from me.

[Indians GM (Scott)]

One hour time slotting has worked in every other one of these leagues where the draft gets later in rounds. People know when to pick and if you can't make your time slot, make a priority list and send to someone who will be available. As it stands right now, it takes me a fair amount of time to figure out who is up and how long they have been on the clock. This simplifies things quite a bit and keeps the draft moving in a more organized manner.