Posted by pfattkatt on 7/10/2012 8:43:00 AM (view original):
I would say that knowing you are brothers making trades, there is an advantage in negotiating that comes from having a face to face partner. I would think that for that reason, any trade this domestic advantage gives, by definition, is unfair, is it not? Certainly, for the purpose of good relationships and permanence among managers, it might be wise to hold this advantage in check. It is much easier to negotiate face to face, than to go back and forth trying to read one another's mind, and convey your thoughts in the 2 or 3 sentences the comments block allows when we submit a trade. There is an absence of opportunity for other managers, who may have desired players that they didn't know would be available, or what you might be looking for to get them. So, while the trades themselves aren't so bad, the fact that you frequently take advantage of a domestic advantage creates bad feelings that detract from the enjoyment other managers have with the league. The majority of managers who are disgruntled will simply finish out the season silently, and not return. I would not go so far as to say you two shouldn't trade at all, but you should not trade when you have advantages in negotiating ability, as in proximity and convenience, coupled with knowledge that other managers in the league would not be able to act on. Fair is Fair, after all.
I don't really see how this plays a roll - I communicate my trades opening and frequently in all leagues I am in. I only look at the owner of a team so I can sitemail that owner, not for any advantages. Regardless, if I am able to bypass trying to read someone else's thoughts to make for a better trade, I think that is in both of our rights, and in the leagues best interest as I am a firm believer that trades are the lifeblood of a good progressive, so wouldn't making better, more communicative trades, be better for the league?
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There is an absence of opportunity for other managers, who may have desired players that they didn't know would be available"
If you know me as a manager at all, you know that I don't wait for a player to be "available" to make an offer. In fact, ONLY Roger Maris in the above trades was listed as being available. the 1st overall pick, Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and even Joe Torre, were never listed as being available, yet I took the initiative because I knew what I wanted.
J4m and I have been in leagues together for 6 years, ask any of the respected owners if we take advantage of our relationship? or if we've created bad feeling that detract from the owners enjoyment.