Counting the minors, is it even possible to field a team for 18 million?

Yeah, just under 10m if minimums at all levels(20 players, min salary).

What would .you expect from an 83/81/84/78 defender at SS?

Slightly below average results.   He won't be horrible but he'll have more errors/- plays than most.

I'm coming down to my last 10 games in Clemente and I am a game or so out of the playoff hunt. Not sure what to do/look at since I really haven't had a playoff team as of yet. My position players are between 96 and 100 rest wise. Should I rest them for a big series coming up, or is the 3-4 rest points negligible?

If you have 10 games left, you can't afford to lose any.    Play them.   In fact, I've ran my guys ragged with 25-30 left when I needed wins. 

Also, I think you mentioned what some ideal Col/HS splits were. I was leaning towards 18/10. What is the real difference between that and 18/14? The budget is for is a rebuilding team with the 8th overall pick.

Ideal is 20/0 or 0/20.  

Won't that give you less than 500 players though? Actually does less than 500 players even matter?

Best case scenario, you're getting 3-4 multi-year BL players.  Players you'll keep thru arb and FA.    No one cares who you get with your 22nd pick because he's never going to be anything.    If you see 40-50 legit multi-year guys, you're good to go.  20m gets you there. 

Must start two of these, could start three... your top choices?

Jonathan Stewart (CAR)
Javorius Allen (BAL)
Whoever Langford (CHI)
Ronnie Hillman (DEN)
Melvin Gordon (SD)
Jeremy Hill (CIN)
Antonio Andrews (TEN)

Hill is in, Gordon is out.  Start there.   Unless something has changed, Andrews gets 10 touches a game.   **** that, he's out.   I'd start Stewart with the knowledge that Cam will steal a TD from him.    If I had to use a third, I'd go with Hillman even though he'll loses touches to Anderson. 

Mike -

What changes to you make to pitching staff or other things (strategy, etc) once in the playoffs - vs the regular season?

First thing is shorten the staff.   I'm in game 3 of the WS in Mantle.  9 pitchers have been used and 2 of them have thrown less than 2 innings.   I use three SP and I usually lower their pull rating.  Other than that, not much.   Basically, if I don't want a guy pitching, I don't put him on the playoff roster.   Admittedly, I have got in fatigue trouble a couple of times.   But I like to carry extra position players.

Type D question.

Second round pick refused offer, Red X on draft board.  Can I pull the money now and use it for something else, or do I have to leave it there for the remainder of the season to get the D next season?