Tanking games at the end of the year to improve your playoff match-up: ethical or not? - Fantasy Sports -- Two Plus Two Poker Forums

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Tanking games at the end of the year to improve your playoff match-up: ethical or not?

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06-24-2010 , 05:23 PM

10379

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Suppose during the last week of the regular season you're in 1st place and if you tank your match-up, team A gets the 4th and final spot; if you play it through and win, team B gets the final playoff spot. Further suppose that team B is much better than team A and thus, you'd much prefer to face team A in the first round of the playoffs than team B.

Is it unethical to tank your last regular season match-up so you can reap the benefits of playing team A or do you have to suck it up, play through the final week and then end up with a good shot of being knocked out in the first round by team B?

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06-24-2010 , 05:40 PM

nutshot2

Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 48,742

if you're in 1st place there shouldn't be a "good shot of being knocked out in the first round by team B."

in any case, yes it's unethical.

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06-24-2010 , 05:43 PM

HajiShirazu

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,688

I think some will post on here saying that this goes against the spirit of fantasy sports and you are "that guy" or whatever. However I think there's nothing wrong with this and it should fall under one of the benefits you earned by having the best team and getting the top seed. It's not like real sports where people pay money to watch the games, and hell they even do it there. Team B should have won another game, then they wouldn't have this problem.

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06-25-2010 , 10:26 AM

Coff

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8,929

As long as you are submitting a competitive lineup all week then youre fine.

But if you do things like bench all your pitchers on days they are starting, or start players on off days over a guy who is playing, or start injured players then yea its unethical.

As long as you post a fair lineup youre fine. But completely tanking and doing the any of the above is unethical for sure.

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06-25-2010 , 11:05 AM

Vecernicek

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3,781

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coff

So, as long as you're not tanking, tanking is fine?

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06-25-2010 , 01:49 PM

Coff

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8,929

Exactly.

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06-25-2010 , 03:28 PM

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 48,254

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vecernicek

So, as long as you're not tanking, tanking is fine?

This.

As an aside, I totally forgot this was a fantasy forum and was about to post something about "Well resting your players is cool, but tanking is not". Hooray for grunching.

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06-25-2010 , 07:31 PM

GTBMuckface

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,670

In my keeper pool (10 team 5x5 roto but each team has 30 players) 3 places pay.

However, 4th place is awarded the first overall pick in next year's draft.
5th gets 2nd pick.
6th gets 3rd.
and so on....
then 3rd gets 8th pick
2nd gets 9th.
and 1st gets 10th and final pick.

It's a similar situation in our pool as the team in third always trys to tank it to come 4th and get first pick.
We allow it, it's part of the league and every team knows it and is fine with it.

However I love this system cause it gives the team's in last place something to play for.

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06-25-2010 , 08:04 PM

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 48,254

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTBMuckface

This is 50% brilliant and 50% idiotic.

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06-25-2010 , 08:47 PM

#10

GTBMuckface

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Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,670

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Tanner

This is 50% brilliant and 50% idiotic.

go on

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06-25-2010 , 09:00 PM

#11

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 48,254

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTBMuckface

go on

I love the idea of keeping people from checking out based on reward via draft pick. That's honestly something I'd never thought about, genius idea imo.

On the other hand, it punishes the last place team to a little extra suckatude (since it's a keeper league I'm fairly certain by the 10th pick, you aren't seeing a ton of good talent anymore), so they don't get the help they need. Idiotic imo.

Also, I'm never a fan of a team saying "I have to try to lose this week" although the concept of trading a 3rd place finish and cash for the best draft pick (and ideally more cash next year) is kinda cool. Brilliantly idiotic imo.

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06-28-2010 , 02:13 AM

#12

GTBMuckface

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,670

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Tanner

last place gets 7th pick.

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06-29-2010 , 11:55 AM

#13

dkgojackets

DKGOAT

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86,120

Quote:

Originally Posted by HajiShirazu

completely different. resting starters and getting backups playing time in real sports is not the same as tanking a game in order to determine a playoff opponent.

i wouldnt do it because it goes against the spirit of the league, especially if its a casual league among friends. probably would in a high buy-in extremely competitive type league.

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06-29-2010 , 11:58 AM

#14

dkgojackets

DKGOAT

Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 86,120

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTBMuckface

However I love this system cause it gives the team's in last place something to play for.

The best way to deal with this imo is a really high buyin but extremely flat payout structure, so that even the guy who finishes second to last gets at least something back.

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06-30-2010 , 06:08 AM

#15

GTBMuckface

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,670

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkgojackets

The best way to deal with this imo is a really high buyin but extremely flat payout structure, so that even the guy who finishes second to last gets at least something back.

we dont use auction style dollar values for players, this pool predates the internet.

you can have a guy for a max of 3 years so usually theres some ridiculous guy 1st pick, and he is usually significantly better than the 5th pick. so ciming 4th is like winning really.

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