Long Thoughts on Using Tiers

[viper]

We talk a lot about tiers in here but there really hasn’t been a thread on how we use them and some little tricks that may make them more useful. What I am talking about relates to using them in straight drafts, primarily the NFBC, but it would apply to all straight drafts. Using tiers in auction league could be another thread but that will have to be another day.

First off, I am dealing just with hitting. I use projections similar to Mastersball so the numbers in each of my tiers will be very close to anyone exclusively using Mastersball. I do my tiers based on the dollar values derived from using CVCR with category weights for 1.2 for HR and 0.8 for Steals. I calculate dollars using the 30 catchers/180 OF model. So much for the groundwork.

I use five main tiers plus three special tiers. I divide each tier into an upper and lower group. Each of these grouping represents players in a $3 range. Each tier represents players in a $6 range. A lower tier 2 group plus an upper tier 3 group represents players in a $6 range. The actual numbers may vary slightly as updated projections are used.

Stud Tier: This consist on players over $31 a pop. They likely are gone before round one is over. There are just 8 players in this tier as I moved ARod out.

Tier 1: $30-$25 players. The tier has 19 players. The upper group has 7 players while the lower tier has 12 players. These players pretty much are all gone somewhere in round three.

Tier 2: $24-$19 players. The tier has 35 players. The upper group has 17 players and the lower 18 players.

Tier 3: $18-$13 players. The tier has 30 players. The upper group has 14 and the lower has 16.

Tier 4: $12-$7 players: The tier has 50 players. They are divided evenly between the two groups. Ideally, all but 1 or 2 of your players will be from these four tiers.

Tier 5: $$6-$1 players: The biggest tier at 68 players divided evenly between groups. This tier is slightly tweaked at the bottom to place 30 catchers in the tier.

Replacement tier: $0-(-$5) players: This tier has 59 players. There are a few starters constantly taken from this tier. Typically they are the speed guy or players with limited skills but big name recognition.

Prospect Tier. I place rookies in this tier whether they were in earlier tiers or not. I just want to know who they are and who is left in case I get the inkling to take one.

My columns are positional in a specific order. It goes Outfield, First Base, Third Base, Second Base, Shortstop & catcher. For players with multiple position eligibility, I have them in both positions [columns]. However I have a narrow row between names. Since the player will be in the same general area in both columns, I make sure they are side-by-side. In this narrow column, I place a dark square denoting multiple position eligibility. Only Ty Wiggington with 3B/OF causes any variation. I only consider Inge at Catcher and in the NFBC, Sandoval is only 1B eligible.

In draft, I will consider any player in a $6 range with some flexibility as a tier gets severely depleted. I also assign each player a 3-letter vale based on HRs, SBs and AVG. My average is 20, 10, .280. Any player in the 25-16 HR range gets a C. Grades typically go from A to E. I apply some color coding for A & B players after tier 2. This lets me visually see a player with specific skills quickly. For example, an A player in HRs has 36-45 HRs. In my lists, Carols Pena qualifies and he is upper tier 3. He is also the only A-level HR hitter after tier 1.

The color scheme is best for SBs as you can quickly see SB specialists who are available. I have found that Tier 1 SB players always go will before their actual value dictates they should be drafted. There are 11 A-level SB artists in tier 4 and below. I have a means to track my approximate levels of these three categories and use it to help make decisions as the draft progresses.

Too much info but I have finished it so I will post this whole piece.

[maddog]

sheesh,you should be getting paid for all that work! i use,in order,1B,3B,SS,2B,C,CL,OF.no numbers,no notes.starters on a seperate sheet,again no numbers, no notes.my way of enjoying the draft.simple things for simple minds.