RULE DISCUSSION: Eliminate Home Town Discounts

[Copperfields]

While good in theory and while it made for some interesting Draft Day decisions, I’m not sure the HTD rules ever really delivered on its intent – to reduce dumping of final contract year players. There doesn’t appear to have been a noticeable decline in the number of B contract players traded during the season, however it is possible that while teams still trade their B players, they’re making sure they get more in return for them than previously. If that’s the case, then maybe the rule IS effective.

I’d like to see some discussion about how much people take HTD into account when considering trades.

This rule does take up a chunk of the Constitution, so eliminating it would simplify our rules quite a bit. However, if people think it actually is being effective, it might be worth keeping around.

[stones]

I can't remember if I voted for this rule way back when, but I know it made very little difference to me when I was making or getting taken in a trade. I would vote to eliminate this rule.

[Nick's Picts (archived)]

I notice I'm a lot more attached to my B contract players than I used to be because of the HTD. While I have traded a great many of them in the end, I've asked for a bit more because they do present some residual value in the coming season. Coming the other direction, I'm more willing to take on a B contract player in a rebuilding trade because the HTD presents value that doesn't otherwise accrue. Of all the rules (other than the move to the new categories) I think this has been the most beneficial to the CFCL and how the league plays out.

[kenndoza (archived)]

I honestly never ever take HTD into account at any time during the preseason or regular season. I find it slightly amusing during the draft when someone (usually Paul) excitedly announces that he has a HTD and then proceeds to pass on the player someone else bought, but otherwise, I see no significant benefit of this rule.

[MGrage]

Yeah, I'm with The Kenn Ruby here. He he he

I think this is the first year of the last 3-4 that I've had a B contract player to bid on and I don't think I've ever actually used a HTD either. I don't think the rule has accomplished what it was passed for really. There is a slight uptick in value for B players but it's never stopped me from dealing them for a player I wanted in return, nor have I ever targeted a B contract to pick up in a trade either. It doesn't really matter to me one way or the other. I would vote for it's elimination just to streamline our ruleset though. Mahalo

Matt

[redhots]

I don't believe I have a B contract player this year to bid on. I will say that I do look at this when making trades but it's not the end all be all in the deal.

My two cents with a rule of this nature is if it is eliminated it should be done so AFTER this year. So anyone with HTD at this years draft should be able to exercise this right and we ALL play out this coming year KNOWING that HTD won't exist in the following year.

Again....just my two cents. I don't believe it effects me either way this year but I don't like seeing rules like this changed after the fact when decisions may have been made based on it for the upcoming draft. Then again.....if that is the case then that person should speak up and if they do speak up I think it could still be changed with it not being effective until after this years draft.

Bob

[Copperfields]

redhots said:

My two cents with a rule of this nature is if it is eliminated it should be done so AFTER this year.

This is a great point, Bob, and I'm sorry if I didn't specify this earlier. Any of the changes we're talking about would be made effective only after any consequences resulting from previous decisions made based on those rules have gone into effect.

So, changes to things like transaction reporting or the elimination of in-season waivers could be made effective immediately since they won't impact any decisions or choices made last year. However, the HTD elimination wouldn't go into effect until after Draft Day. We'd still work with HTD in the draft this year to give people the benefits they earned last season. However, players on B contracts after Draft Day would not be eligible for HTD in 2009.

Thanks for bringing this up...

[Copperfields]

Anyone have additional thoughts on this? Only Nick has expressed a strong desire to keep the rule and a few owners have said they don't think the rule achieves what it set out to do. However, many of those same owners admit that they do consider HTD implications when dealing B contract players or that it gives those players a slight increase in value. If that's the case, then maybe it is achieving it's goal.

The HTD was never intended to prevent B contract players from being traded. It was meant to give the owners a little bit more leverage when discussing trades involving those players. Rather than being told "You're going to lose him after the season anyway, so you may as well take this 14th round draft pick for him - at least you'll get something," owners are now justified in demanding/expecting something more. Perhaps not a ton more, and the HTD may never be enough to keep them from trading the B contract players, but they might be able to get a low-end keeper or at least a higher draft pick in exchange. And this year, for the first time I think, we had a non-contending team acquire a B contract player in a trade just to get his HTD rights.

The goal was to discourage teams from giving up players for next to nothing, not to keep them from trading them altogether. Do we think the HTD rules accomplish this?

[redhots]

I haven't been around as long as the rest of you but in my short time I think HTD does serve it's purpose. I know I would be WAY more willing to trade a B contract player for just about ANYTHING in return. If I'm going to lose them anyway I may as well get something in return. That's not good for the league in the long run and while HTD doesn't stop me from trading these players I definitely think about it more when I have the HTD rights available to me.

Just my .02