Online Auction = JBL Parity

Well, it's been awhile since my last post. Why? Unknown. Maybe it's just a natural lull during the summer months when the baseball pool is winding down, Fantasy Football pools are just beginning, Fantasy Hockey pools are being planned, and the JBL is put on the back burner just a little bit.

It's Wednesday today and I feel kinda empty knowing that I am not scheduled for a JBL podcast tonight. Oh well. Maybe Chris will have someone else on. I'd love to hear Benny's thoughts on the upcoming season.

Anyways, the reason for my post today is because I was lying in bed last night, going over potential rosters for my Golden squad and thought about how the online draft is going to affect this year's JBL pool.

Usually, with our old JBL format, there were obvious 'preparation' differences between owners. Some guys come in having spent hours going over stats, depth charts, projections, etc while others are coming in almost cold turkey. Now, with the online auction, all the players are right there...their projected stats are in front of you. No longer will "on-the-ball" owners have the advantage of waiting on a guy because everyone else forgot about him. It's pretty hard to forget about a player when he's sitting on the screen in front of you!!!

So, my theory is that the online auction is going to level the playing field on draft night. Those guys who aren't as prepared are still going to have to draft a balanced roster within a budget - but they at least now have all the players in front of them on the screen with all relevant stats.

Now, the one thing that could be interesting is the 'projected stats' of some of the players. I mean can anyone, expert or otherwise, really project what kind of year Corey Brewer is going to have in Minnesota?? I don't think so.

So, with the online draft just over a month away...it's time to buckle down and figure out how to get that competitive edge. As always, there is a great deal of luck involved in winning the JBL. Now, with the playing field being leveled, I think there will be even more of an emphasis on drafting an injury free team with guys all having career years. Can I find those players who out-perform their projections?? Whoever can do that, stay injury free, and make the best moves throughout the year is going to have a great shot at winning the JBL title in 09/10.