Is every draft terrible now? I'm on a streak of 5 or 6 in a row where I can't find enough major leaguers to fill out the first round, even with 20/20 scouting. Maybe 1-2 impact players, most just bench guys or Quad-A players. I can't imagine that anything changed because nothing ever changes. So is it just bad luck?

I have found that if the draft classes are bad, the international free agent pool is usually very good or the other way around. Never see both great draft classes and int. FAs in the same season. Every season will have 3-4 studs in the draft and 1-2 stud int FAs but when looking at the total overall pool of players for each one is always good and the other not.

Amateur draft seems to have maybe 5 potential all stars, 10 Major League average players and maybe1 potential HOFer. The rest are career minor leaguers or just plain cannon fodder. You have to remember though, real life MLB drafts aren't LOADED either, except maybe once every 10 years or so. If you're drafting at the 12 spot or lower in WiS you wasted your scouting $$$.

You have to look and do your work (I'm hesitant to give away my secrets) if you are only looking at the top 30 guys and moving them around then, yes. You are wasting your time. I have been very lucky that in both of my leagues I have been picking 20 or lower every draft and every draft I end up getting a kid that will be useful on my team.

You have to temper expectations. If I'm picking top 10 I look to get an everyday player or front of the rotation pitcher. 10-25, a bench guy or a 3 tool player and a back of the rotation starter / ace bullpen guy. 25+ I'm usually looking for a bench player that does one thing really well (defense, hitting vs lefties, base running) or as good a bullpen pitcher as I can get that will only pitch 40 to 50 innings.

You have to look deep and be willing to take a chance. Rather then letting the draft board dictate where my players should go I sort them by the categories I feel are most important and then rearrange. Sometimes I move guys up 100 spots on the board. But as I said, it works out.

When in doubt, scout College for picks 15 or higher and HS 16 and lower. College kids are less fuzzy but because of that most people know they are good. HS kids are fuzzy as heck but because of that you can often get a gem in the later rounds.

Examples of all of the above:

Johan Butcher drafted 26th (HS kid)

Alex Hunter. Drafted 26th (college kid)

Omir Ewing Drafted 23rd (college kid)

Gregory Goldman Drafted 73rd (HS kid)

Brent Hammond Drafted 23rd (College kid)

Red Dewitt Drafted 53rd (College kid)

Nico Thompson Drafted 51st (college kid)

Remember also its baseball, not basketball. I would prefer 25 serviceable players that work well together rather then 2-3 all stars and then all crap on the back end. Do the work and it will pay off.

I almost never draft top 15, so I'm likely not going to get a potential all star. My team building concept is that you need 25 guys. Your first round pick should have at least a shot at being one of those 25 guys. Back half of the first round, that's where you can get the catchers, the relievers, the third or fourth starters, or reach for an elite glove man if it's a need.