2013 High & Tight Survey

Here is the survey. It's confidential, so please send to Lars or I or both so we can compile. If you would like to pontificate on your stance, please do so on the league message board - http://baseball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/b1/31925.

Please respond by March 3.

A) Shall the league limit draft pick trading in an effort to make the league more competitive?

1. No. Keep it the way it is. Open trading all year long (minus the post-deadline to season end period).


2. Yes. Prohibit trading draft picks from Rounds 7-13 during the season. Open trading in the offseason.


3. Yes. Prohibit trading draft picks from Rounds 7-13 during the season, with the exception of the two weeks prior to the trade deadline. During this period, teams are allowed to trade up to two of their picks in Rounds 7-13. Open trading in the offseason.


4. Yes. Teams are limited to three trades that involve draft picks (no limit on which rounds) for the entire season. 

B) Shall the league adjust the trade deadline? (Currently, the trade deadline is the end of Week 19. The regular season is 21 weeks long).

1. Yes, one week earlier


2. No, keep it the same.


3. Yes, one week later. 

C) Shall the league increase the number of playoff teams from six to eight?

1. Yes. It will keep people more involved. Top seeds already win money, they don’t deserve another advantage.


2. No. More than half the league shouldn’t make the playoffs and top seeds deserve bye weeks. 

D) Shall the league increase its entry fee?

1. No, $100.


2. Yes, $120.


3. Yes, $150. 

E) Shall the league fine teams $20 for not making the playoffs? (Must be paid prior to the conclusion of the H&T playoffs)

1. Yes.


2. No.


3. Yes, but only if we expand to eight playoff teams. Otherwise, no. 

F) Recognizing the work involved with such an awesome league, shall the league agree to pay half of the entry fees for its co-commissioners? (This would not change the fee structure of last year, only split Adam’s free entry between the two)

1. No. I don’t need the additional commentary/blog features.


2. Yes. I appreciate their efforts. And, given their track record, they won’t win it all anyway.

Another dump trade option

Another potential option that could accomplish the goal and allow the flexibility for teams to trade early draft picks in season:

• Limit the draft picks that may be traded during weeks 1-17 to Rounds 14-24
• Open trading of all draft picks at the start of week 18 until the trade deadline at the end of week 19.
• During this two-week period, teams may only trade two draft picks in round 7-13; no limit on Rounds 14-24.
• There is not limit on the number of draft picks a team may acquire.
• No limit to draft picks that can be traded in the offseason.
• Do not limit the number of trades (other than during the two-week period) or tether round spread.
• No further fines.

The idea is to allow non-contending teams to start the rebuilding process, while attempting to put some limit on the amount of talent a contending team can acquire without sacrificing talent on their roster (ie, trading big-time players instead of big-time draft picks).  The timeframe would provide incentive for teams to wait until later in the season to give up (ie, unload their players for picks).

Last year, 30 draft picks were traded in rounds 7-13.  Of that total, 21 of the picks were traded prior to the start of week 18.  Pushing these trades off to that two-week period would theoretically keep these players who are worthy of being traded for an early pick on their original teams for longer and make the team more competitive longer.  This proposal would help restore competition without severely hindering those teams that want to rebuild.

It would also make for a very interesting two-week period. Could be a lot of fun.