I have an NL-only auction draft this morning at 10:30 for a 9-team keeper league. This is probably my 12th or 13th year in this league, and this year is the first year we have less than 10 teams, all due to a scheduling gaff on my part, which is another story.
But here is my keeper list for You Loney Cuz You Uggla, we can keep between 3 and 10 players, along with my strategy question:
James Loney-$6
Dan Uggla-$12
Hanley Ramirez-$20
Lastings Milledge-$10
Nate McLouth-$6
Andre Ethier-$15
Chad Billingsley-$6
Yovani Gallardo-$13
Jonathon Broxton-$14
Matt Capps-$6
These keepers leave me with $152 for 13 roster spots. Now due to the scheduling gaff, we allowing each team to drop a player, assuming the keeper decision was based on a 10 team league rather than a 9 team league.
Should I drop Andre Ethier at $15?? I am thinking about doing just that, which would allow me to go into the draft with $167 for 14 roster spots. Then again, Ron Shandler thinks Etheir can break out in 2009.
My other auction strategy decision is this: do I wait till the top available guys get auctioned, like Johan Santana, Jose Reyes, Carlos Lee, and Manny Ramirez (fat chance!), and try to "own" the middle of the draft for guys like Jayson Werth, Ricky Nolasco, and Jay Bruce?
I will post my auction results for Monday morning.