How many wins do think $1mil is worth? I'm thinking about forming a variable cap league where you pick your salary cap (within certain parameters - probably $100mil or below) and have added wins for each million you choose to be under the cap. Or maybe $5mil increments if the $1mil is to small to break down for added wins. Thoughts?

My initial thinking about league setup would be to make sure they divisions were about as evenly dispersed as possible. No WW. I'm torn on use of AAA - should there be some luck involved, or based on pure drafting skill?

I'd say 2 wins per $1m (using $80m as baseline). And I'd say no AAA. And I'd be in...

I don't know if this is helpful, but I've got two older charts from previous variable cap leagues for helping with salary/win distributions depending on format:

Chart 1 (Cap = (340,000,000 - (25,000 * [PA/162]) - (100,000 * [IP/162]))):

Salary Cap ($Millions)		PA
		6000	5800	5600	5400	5200	5000	4800	4600	4400	4200	4000	3800	3600	3400	3200	3000
IP	1500	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115
	1450	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120
	1400	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125
	1350	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130
	1300	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135
	1250	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140
	1200	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145
	1150	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150
	1100	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155
	1050	85	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160
	1000	90	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165
	950	95	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165	170
	900	100	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165	170	175
	850	105	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165	170	175	180
	800	110	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165	170	175	180	185
	750	115	120	125	130	135	140	145	150	155	160	165	170	175	180	185	190

Chart 2 (Wins = 1 per $500k +/- $80m):

Wins		Pitching Salary
		30.0	30.5	31.0	31.5	32.0	32.5	33.0	33.5	34.0	34.5	35.0	35.5	36.0	36.5	37.0	37.5	38.0	38.5	39.0	39.5	40.0	40.5	41.0	41.5	42.0	42.5	43.0	43.5	44.0	44.5	45.0	45.5	46.0	46.5	47.0	47.5	48.0	48.5	49.0	49.5	50.0
Hitting Salary	30.0	40	39	38	37	36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0
	30.5	39	38	37	36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1
	31.0	38	37	36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2
	31.5	37	36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3
	32.0	36	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4
	32.5	35	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5
	33.0	34	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6
	33.5	33	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7
	34.0	32	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8
	34.5	31	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9
	35.0	30	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10
	35.5	29	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11
	36.0	28	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12
	36.5	27	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13
	37.0	26	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14
	37.5	25	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15
	38.0	24	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16
	38.5	23	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17
	39.0	22	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18
	39.5	21	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19
	40.0	20	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20
	40.5	19	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21
	41.0	18	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22
	41.5	17	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23
	42.0	16	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24
	42.5	15	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25
	43.0	14	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26
	43.5	13	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27
	44.0	12	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28
	44.5	11	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29
	45.0	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30
	45.5	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31
	46.0	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32
	46.5	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33
	47.0	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33	-34
	47.5	5	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33	-34	-35
	48.0	4	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33	-34	-35	-36
	48.5	3	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33	-34	-35	-36	-37
	49.0	2	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33	-34	-35	-36	-37	-38
	49.5	1	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33	-34	-35	-36	-37	-38	-39
	50.0	0	-1	-2	-3	-4	-5	-6	-7	-8	-9	-10	-11	-12	-13	-14	-15	-16	-17	-18	-19	-20	-21	-22	-23	-24	-25	-26	-27	-28	-29	-30	-31	-32	-33	-34	-35	-36	-37	-38	-39	-40

The baseline salary is the critical variable in this question. $1M is worth way more in a league with an average salary cap of $80M then it is in a league with an average salary cap of $120M or $160M or $255M.

If you run a test league, here are some suggestions. Let's assume you want to test an $80M average salary cap league. Each team would have a different salary (in $1M increments) with $80M being the midpoint, so roughly $68M to $92M. Each division should have roughly the same average $80M average. There is also the variable of different owners having different skill levels. Maybe you could have 12 different owners in the league (not 24), each managing two teams and their two teams would be on opposite ends of the salary cap spectrum. For example, the person with a $92M cap would also run the team with a $68M cap, etc. (placed in opposite leagues, of course).

I agree no AAA - that could skew the results. I do worry about somebody drafting too few innings and the fatigue death spiral screwing up the results. So maybe some rule could be put into place on minimum innings (maybe somebody smarter than me would know how to best apply this).

Also, I think we'd want to use the same generic ballpark. Otherwise, most folks would simply use pitcher's parks to help with innings/fatigue.

I'd be interested in something like this depending on all the specifics.

Unless I’m missing something, if the base salary is $100 mil, seems fair to be worth 1 win per 1 mil over/under.

Like if you’re team salary was 97.89 Mil, then it’d be your W-L +2

And if you’re team salary was 102.78 Mil, then it’d be your W-L -3

Thanks for the contributions. I'll mull this over and get something rolling. I'm not one who will study the data, but maybe someone will put the results of such a league to good use. Stay tuned.

I think the results will vary widely. I think most owners would struggle to get even 1 more win out of going from 100mil to 101mil. Probably not even 102mil.

I think if you really wanted to test it, you'd have to identify a consistent core of players and let people upgrade/fill in from there. So maybe a consistent C/2B/3B/SS/LF and 3/4 of a rotation, and then spend accordingly on 1B/RF/SP/RP?

I think the advantage comes with people thinking they could field a contending team with say $5 mil under in order to get those extra wins. Then you get teams that go over $5 mil, tanking the 5 losses and hoping that $10 mil difference fields them an unstoppable team

A lot of variables to consider. Build 24 teams exactly the same using the same stadium and you'll get player performances that can vary widely from one team to the next. Consider a league setup with a range from say $80M to $120M and playoff eligibility was determined by your cost per win. Lowest cost per win is the best, of course.

People aren't going to like hearing this, but the real "variable" in this equation is the owner.

Good owners can win at a lower cap (we proved that with the WIS BBS a few years ago where WaitNSee and I both consistently made the playoffs despite being at up to a 15M disadvantage from some owners (average 5M disadvantage). The anchor/base cap in those leagues was usually 100M.

Since it's likely that the best owners will be the ones who take lower caps, and therefore get a boosted win total, I don't think this proposed league will be as competitive as you think.

I'd play because I love free wins, but would you really want to give them to me in exchange for me letting you upgrade from Max Carey to Cy Seymour?

Single-handedly, my favorite WIS moment was an old Biglenr variable cap league where it was structured with bonus wins for lower salaries, but also based on who you got your wins against (if you beat a team with a lower salary it wasn't worth as many "wins" as if you beat a team with a higher salary). I entered a $25m team and had an interleague series against a $255m team and managed to win one of those two games (in live play). I've saved that boxscore forever because that was sweet and came down to a Bobby Darwin walk-off double after a 2-out BB to Hal Lanier. The average salary in that league was around $100m, my team won somewhere in the mid-teens, which I considered a huge success. I can't recall if we made the playoffs, but that win right there was enough to make that whole season a success.

I'd like to see a combination of these two things in a league:

• Wins against teams with higher caps are worth more, lower caps less
• Wins against owners with higher owner ratings worth more, lower ratings worth less

I would do this in the WISC but it's too gimmicky