I love this type of auction too much for us to not being talking trash along the way. Crazy good bids, crazy bad bids, and so on. Let's use this forum to debrief, debunk, and/or glorify the daily results. I'll get us started. 

I've done a great job of not winning a bid to date. 

Looks like I'll have an awful of cash to bid on Ben Zobrist if this continues!!

Perhaps enthusiastic to make certain he's committed to the league and its machinations, genius went on a spending spree last night: 

$250 for M-Cab
$130 for Baumgarner
$61 for Darwin Barney

Kudos to genius on making a statement that he's not to be trifled with, but what now? That's $440 for two infielders and one starting arm. 44% of his payroll. Let's compare his purchases with a couple others:

Three-Baggers
$250 Miguel Cabrera: 330/393/606 and A-/C- on defense
$92 Adrian Beltre: 321/359/561 and A/C- on defense
$29 Pedro Alvarez: 244/317/467 and D/B- on defense

Of course, Cabbie has the Trip Crown and the WS visit. Alvarez has the future. I won't editorialize on Beltre, since those are my nine-deuce bones headed his way. 

Starting Pitchers
$130 Madison Bumgarner: 208 IP/1.11 WHIP/.234 OAV
$56 Chad Billingsley: 150 IP/1.29 WHIP/.257 OAV
$23 Joh Beckett: 170 IP/1.33 WHIP/.264 OAV

Madison's the best. But Billingsley's rounding into form on a team with a bright future. Beckett is a mid-rotationer this year, but with a strong LA team, he could again become a 1 or 2 starter at a tremendous discount. Hope the commish doesn't get too many more deals like this.

Two-Base Men
$61 Darwin Barney - Killer D, but no pop and no speed. I don't know the book on Darwin, will he evolve enough to help on offense?
$55 Jose Altuve - Another youngster. A little speed. Will he stick?
$42 Dustin Ackley - Supposed to the be future in Seattle, but had a terrible year. Not a bad bet to get better.

The big question with Chad is you may have to wait until 2014 to get anything out of him. I hope not for my rooting interests, but it is a risk that the commish must have weighed.  One of the guys that I was outbid on. That list is long.

The biggest fear in this league for me is that I end up with 600 to bid on Zobrist and no team. Whether genius spent too much on the triple crown winner, one thing is for sure. He has the triple crown winner and I don't.

Robert, that is 44% of his payroll this season. If he signs each of those three players to a 5 year deal, and one would think that he has too, right???... in 2018 they 56.5% of his payroll. In year 5, Barney alone would be 10% of the payroll -- I can't see it. Can you?

Posted by Beernoser on 10/21/2012 9:32:00 PM (view original):
The biggest fear in this league for me is that I end up with 600 to bid on Zobrist and no team. Whether genius spent too much on the triple crown winner, one thing is for sure. He has the triple crown winner and I don't.

My fear too and I'm on track for that.

Why resign. -- Maybe just sign to one year and free up lots of caproom for next season's free agent auction.

Posted by rls1 on 10/21/2012 8:38:00 PM (view original):
Two-Base Men
$61 Darwin Barney - Killer D, but no pop and no speed. I don't know the book on Darwin, will he evolve enough to help on offense?
$55 Jose Altuve - Another youngster. A little speed. Will he stick?
$42 Dustin Ackley - Supposed to the be future in Seattle, but had a terrible year. Not a bad bet to get better.

I was happy to get Altuve for 55. I think he flew under the radar a bit playing for Houston.

Everyone I screwed up big time=was not thinking.  I felt awful all day. I am guessing I was nervous because I wanted to make a statement. I am hoping I can  drop him by the end of the year and start all over next year on the rebuilding path. If anyone wants him he is yours. I would gladly love to throw him back in the pool and  take back the $250

Theer aren't that many stars and there are 24 of us looking for them. If you want a superstar, you're going to have to pay for him. And you're only committed to one year's contract.

Disastrous bidding day for me. I spent 200 bucks on a couple of prospects and a bullpen.

We will all be second guessing ourselves throughout this process. Good times!!

Alright, Alright, Alright. Things are growing interestinger and interestinger. Braun goes for $233. Let's compare:

$233 Ryan Braun     319/391/595 in 677 PAs. 41 HRs. C/D+ in the OF.
$250 M Cabrera        330/393/606 in 697 PAs. 44 HRs. A-/C- at 3B. 

Cab has the slight advantage across the board and a significant advantage in position scarcity and defense. M-Cab looks like a deal, comparatively speaking. Maybe genius is a  . . . 

Elsewhere . . .  

Chris Carter (239/350/514 in 260 PAs) goes for $56. Wha?

Eric Chavez (281/348/496 in 313 PAs) goes for $51. Yep, this is the 34 year-old who's spine is constructed from a few nailed-together shims. Remember about five years back when you felt bad for him that his career was over?

Michael Brantley put up a solid line (288/348/402) and offers stellar defense across the rug(A/B+), but at what cost? $129.