TOUT WARS: Battle of the Idiots
One of the reasons we play in the so-called experts league Tout Wars is to provide actual draft 5×5 prices before the season starts. But we keep playing after the season starts, in part because we’re competitive and we’re playing for expert bragging rights, and also to provide claims and roster move information each week. For those following along at home our weekly claims and transaction deadline is Friday at 5pm.
It’s not posted yet but each week there will be posted at the Tout Wars site a listing of FAAB moves.
Yesterday was our first claims period and there was a very big fish available: Milton Bradley. Our FAAB is 100 units and the Game claimed all of Roger Anderson’s beans. The problem with this is that Anderson was in the sixth or seventh draft position, meaning that five or six teams did not go all in. And the fact that Roger did is a little insulting, since going in was so clearly the right thing to do.
It would have been the right thing to do for three reasons: Firstly, there is unlikely to be another player to come over to the NL during the course of the year who will make as large an impact as Bradley. Better players may come over, but not play for as long a time. Secondly, in Tout Wars we allow $0 bids, so just because you spend all your FAAB you can still acquire players. Thirdly, in Tout Wars we allow the trading of FAAB, so just because you’re out of it now doesn’t mean you’ll never have FAAB again.
The only reason not to go all in on Bradley would be if you had a team of killer hitting and no pitching. But even then, Bradley would have more value as trade bait than all the FAAB in the world would.
At this early point in the season my team is in 12th place (that’s next to last), and for some reason that I cannot fathom now I bid $81. That was idiotic. I was an idiot. I have no excuse. Roger Anderson’s insult hits me squarely, full force.
If you have a chance to get Bradley this week you should spend whatever it takes. In a league that doesn’t allow $0 bids it may not be all in, but I’d say even then it’s probably best to go for it. Adding a fulltime hitter at the start of the season is a huge advantage.
My advice is: Don’t be an idiot.