Roster Balancing Procedures (for drafting by ranking list)

After you have a starter at every position (including 3 OFers and 4 regular pitchers), the computer goes back to the top of your ranking sheet, and we start similar roster balancing procedures for your backup players. (In this first stage you'll get 3 backups, since you are getting 17 players total. In the second stage you'll fill out the rest of your team.) In rounds 15-30 you will get at least one reserve at every position, including 3 reserve outfielders, and 8 more pitchers (at least 5 of which are NOT short relievers), before you get your final players. (We give you 8 more pitchers because we feel a team should have at least 13 pitchers to do well in Scoresheet.) We also strongly suggest that on your second stage list you list plenty of catchers, as getting a third catcher will probably help your team! Also, you should list plenty of utility types (players who qualify at more than one position) and/or extra shortstops, as any SS can play an adequate 2B and 3B in Scoresheet. By the end of round 30 (which is in the second stage) you should have 2 players at each of: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS; 6 OF's; a DH or extra 1B or OFer to bat as DH; and 13 pitchers, at least 9 of which are not listed as short relievers on the draft lists. (You may feel that there are not enough good first basemen left as backups. So, instead of always assigning you a second one, we allow you to draft a fourth reserve outfielder or a second DH instead of a backup first baseman.)

Once you have received a backup at every position we will go back to the top of your second stage ranking sheet. Your 31st thru 36th picks can be almost anyone. After you get your backups everywhere these last picks can include up to: 4 more pitchers, 3 more outfielders, or up to 2 additional players at each other position. It is possible, if you do not list enough players at each position to ensure getting someone, that players may be assigned to your team by default. (The order players are assigned by default is by playing time. If you need both pitchers and position players, then for default drafting purposes one inning pitched is equivalent to 2 plate appearances.) Because of this, your ranking sheet should include plenty of players from every position. Your first stage list should include at least: 35-40 regular pitchers; 25 OFers; and 8 players at each of the C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, and short reliever positions. Remember, you do NOT need to group players by position. List players in the order you'd prefer to have them on your team - we'll make sure you get a balanced roster.

**NOTE: Pitchers can get at most 3 starts in each Scoresheet week - so if you have a pitcher who had a huge number of innings in the majors one year some of those innings may get 'wasted'. Also, if you hook pitchers early they may not get a chance to use all their innings - because of hooks, pinch hitting, etc., you should try and get at least 1200 innings pitched for each of the 4 years. (Having at least a total of 1250 to 1300 innings pitched for each of the 4 years is a very good idea if you want to avoid the dreaded PAAA.)

AL Draft Packet                    NL Draft Packet    
Complete AL packet in PDF          Complete NL packet in PDF 
Introduction - How we draft        Introduction - How we draft
Roster Balancing Procedures        Roster Balancing Procedures 
Playing Limits                     Playing Limits     
AL Player Lists Explanation        NL Player Lists Explanation 
Fielding numbers                   Fielding numbers 
Hitting and Pitching Stats         Hitting and Pitching Stats   
Statistics Used:                   Statistics Used:
  Batting and Base Running                 Batting and Base Running
  Pitching                                 Pitching
  Fielding                                 Fielding
Additional SS Baseball Rules       Additional SS Baseball Rules  
Questions about drafting           Questions about drafting  
AL Ranking Sheet                   NL Ranking Sheet     
AL Winter Baseball Player List     NL Winter Baseball Player List
AL Winter player list in PDF       NL Winter player list in PDF
BL (both league) Winter Baseball Player List
BL Winter player list in PDF
Sample Batting and Bench Lineup Card
Batting and Bench Card Instructions
Sample Pitching Lineup Card
Pitching Card Instructions

Scoresheet Winter Baseball Rules and Customer Support