I agree that only having a shot at 1-8 is not a big help especially in a 20 team league PB could do a 1-4 LOTTERY and a 4-8? I never left the ending thought a person could rebuild fast by draft but it sure helps..some years are better then others Rookie draft wise. Getting a Pujo does wonders but they are few and far inbetween. I would eventure to say after the first 10 picks starts to be come a little bit of a crap shot. SO WHAT TO DO? Depends on what stage your team is at, if my team needs to be rebuild big time I do some mad trading....take some risk, not like I got much to lose. Early in the season trade someone hitting well over their norm for a good player in a slump...be surpised how many people bite. One thing for sure you never know what you can get until you try??? send out alot of trades(mad trading) we can make our own luck using good work ethics. On the other hand if you feel your team is close...could win 70ish games then what to do? that nomans land....give it one more year to beef up or go for it? trade some picks and prospects to beef up a few positions and presto your now able to win 80ish games and with a little luck might hit that majic 90 game mark. There is alot involoved here, depending on the competitivness of your division along with your division rivals skill lever and one has to judge how far your fellow division riverals might go to challenge your challenge to win the division etc. its alittle more tricky in real time leagues but I find a person can beef up fast in a traditional league...get a Kile heck so many older pitchers get hurt during the year who had a good season before that..are a dime a dozen hitting wise Cirrilo,McLemore, Alomar endlest list for a few picks and a player or two. Not to mention some of they players you get for a song n dances bounce back the next year then what? trade them for players to help you win again that year LOL. There is not alot of luck needed when your dealing with players who's numbers are in and you know what they can do unlike during the course of a real baseball season right? I just notice some teams go for it..take some risk and it works out while other teams stay in a constant rebuilding stage....always looking towards the year to come. Again there are alot of factors involved but you got to love baseball over other sports as its like a box of chocolates LOL
not to toot my horn but I am in three leagues and I am in first place in all three...one teams was a give me but the other two I had to take a few risk, made some early trades to beef up which helped me but I got lucky and those players got hot after I traded for them so now they are going to help me even next year...its amazing how one hot month can do wonders for a player:)

so ya RK,FA picks help but trading is the key....key to trading is good work ethics