IBC

We've decided that it's best to start the 2008 draft on December 1. This will eliminate any "pre drafting" that we seemingly do every year because we always become impatient for the January 3 or whatever date we pick there. There will be a draft queue again so there shouldn't be much problem, but if there is, let us know. If there is an egregious amount of people that have a problem with this we can alter the plans.

I'm down with that. When's the cut off date for draft pick trading?

11:59 PM Nov 30.

Was this something that was ever discussed publicly on the board or was the decision simply made? What's the rationale for moving it up? People do way too much traveling, parties, finals, etc. going on in December as well as in the closing week of November, right before the draft is going to start. There's a reason we've always done it in January, it's because it's a dead month with nothing else going on.

RedSox wrote:Was this something that was ever discussed publicly on the board or was the decision simply made? What's the rationale for moving it up? People do way too much traveling, parties, finals, etc. going on in December as well as in the closing week of November, right before the draft is going to start. There's a reason we've always done it in January, it's because it's a dead month with nothing else going on.

First of all, the reason we've always done it in January is because you set it in January. And anyone needing to be gone has the queue that Shawn has created for us. People travel in January too, as well as February and March. I've been out of town for a week in January and February and two weeks in March in the past couple of years.

Additionally, this is the discussion thread. If there's overwhelming opposition to the 12/1 Date, we can easily change it. If it's just one person, then life goes on. People do a lot of moving around like Brett said in January as well. I was on a cruise in January last year myself, and then will have school starting and its far more hectic than December for me. Not everybody is on the same exact schedule for the Winter months. If it's too inconvenient for a lot of the league then there is obviously room to move around.

Just to restate, the notion that many people travel in December and no one travels in January is way off. If we wanted to avoid travel as much as possible, we would have to draft live or something. People travel. It's also 2008/9. There is an ass load of technology available to almost every one of us that allows us to check in, and we get a lot of time on the clock as it is.

I believe part of your complaint Bren is that moving up the draft will decrease time to prepare for the draft (at least that's what I read into it). You now have almost a month's notice to prepare. Your arguments for why not December also work for why not January.

Additionally, I'm on break that first week of January, so potential limited availability--which is not so good when we're running it through OOPSS.

Is there a copy of last year's draft floating around anywhere?

Tigers wrote:

RedSox wrote:Was this something that was ever discussed publicly on the board or was the decision simply made? What's the rationale for moving it up? People do way too much traveling, parties, finals, etc. going on in December as well as in the closing week of November, right before the draft is going to start. There's a reason we've always done it in January, it's because it's a dead month with nothing else going on.

First of all, the reason we've always done it in January is because you set it in January. And anyone needing to be gone has the queue that Shawn has created for us. People travel in January too, as well as February and March. I've been out of town for a week in January and February and two weeks in March in the past couple of years.

We've always done it in January because people were less busy in January than in December and because January was a really 'dead' month for the league otherwise. I would think there would at least be a poll about it to at least see when is least busy for people.
Draft prep doesn't necessarily take terribly long (though it certainly can), but speaking for myself, once the first half-round to full-round or so is over, the draft gets a lot more fluid, it's not as simple as just ranking players and letting the draft 'go'.

On another note, does anyone else find me saying "Was this something that was ever discussed publicly on the board or was the decision simply made?" as funny as I do? I was actually laughing out loud while typing it.

[quote="RedSox]
and because January was a really 'dead' month for the league otherwise.[/quote]

First of all, we will still be drafting in January anyway, so it's not like nothing will be happening now. Second, what exactly are November and December if we're not drafting during those months? Constant thrills?

November and December aren't busy in the league... they're busy for people outside of the league. We still have a lot of college students who have those little things called 'finals' to deal with. People travel for the holidays. Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving... the Holiday season is one of the most stressful times of year for most people. January on the other hand is comparatively a black hole.
You seem to be under the impression that I Dictated before that the draft be held in January. I dictated some things, this certainly wasn't one of them. There was an open, public debate and we voted on the issue in a couple different years.
I don't personally have a problem with the draft in December for myself. I don't have school anymore, but I know that there are others here who aren't so fortunate. Is it so hard to open the issue up for a discussion before dictating a change? Or even holding a vote, even a non-binding one in order to get everyone's input?

Pirates wrote:If there is an egregious amount of people that have a problem with this we can alter the plans.

I'm not sure what the problem is.

Pirates wrote:

Pirates wrote:If there is an egregious amount of people that have a problem with this we can alter the plans.

I'm not sure what the problem is.

That you should have given the league the opportunity for input before deciding for them. You may disagree with the league, and you know I've advocated in the past going against popular opinion, but you should at least give the opportunity for people to express that opinion before making a decision.

RedSox wrote:I don't personally have a problem with the draft in December for myself.

You don't personally have a problem with it, yet you see the need to start a poll on it unilaterally when no one but you has said a word and in fact many have said it's fine. Makes sense.

I'm all for the December date. I don't want to type much more because I'm a bit drunk right now, but basically any date in the winter will bring up p[roblems...why not December?

RedSox wrote:

Pirates wrote:

Pirates wrote:If there is an egregious amount of people that have a problem with this we can alter the plans.

I'm not sure what the problem is.

That you should have given the league the opportunity for input before deciding for them. You may disagree with the league, and you know I've advocated in the past going against popular opinion, but you should at least give the opportunity for people to express that opinion before making a decision.

Hey genius, that's why he posted this freaking thread.

Pirates wrote:If there is an egregious amount of people that have a problem with this we can alter the plans.

Did you really get out of second grade?

Pirates wrote:

Pirates wrote:If there is an egregious amount of people that have a problem with this we can alter the plans.

Did you really get out of second grade?

Do you not see the problem with changing the rule first and then asking people for their opinion? That's not the way things should be done. You propose a rule change, open the issue for debate, then vote (either league-wide or ExCo).

It's not a rule change.

It's not a rule change, and it's also pretty clear how you feel about this Bren. Instead of dragging the whole league through an unnecessary slew of back and forth posts, why don't you spare us all from that and lets see if people have a problem with December 1st besides good old you.

The thing that comes up in every league when discussing moving the draft date up to December it the issue of foreign free agent signings.

What if the next Dice-K doesn't sign until 12/15? Any team that already drafted would essentially miss out on him?

I don't really have a problem with the date but think it would be wise to allow for some discussion about it.

Rockies wrote:The thing that comes up in every league when discussing moving the draft date up to December it the issue of foreign free agent signings.

What if the next Dice-K doesn't sign until 12/15? Any team that already drafted would essentially miss out on him?

That's the first and only argument to support a later draft that I agree with. Personally, the draft date doesn't matter to me at all, be it sooner or later. But of the arguments so far, I support this the most. But still, if it went to a vote, I'd go with Dec. 1st. But could be swayed