Fantasy baseball auctions run in many different ways, but one common approach to auctions is giving fantasy owners the authority to “nominate” players for bid. In many circumstances, at a live auction, team owners take turns in the nomination process. If given discretion on who to nominate, most fantasy owners will first nominate the biggest and most valuable names like Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols to bid upon.

Frankly, I’m not sure this is the right approach. Nor do I believe that an early nomination of any player regarded as “undervalued” is smart.

The beginning of an auction typically engenders a great deal of excitement. At that point, most teams have not spent a dime yet. With so much dollars chasing a staggered introduction of ballplayers, the sum result will be lots of bidding,  high prices, and a lack of bargains. At least at the beginning.

That being the case, players like Pujols will not come cheap, and “$1 middle reliever” Hong-Chih Kuo may end up costing much more than a buck.

So no bargains, right? Well, there’s one exception.

Out of the gates, everyone’s impulse is to bid and spend. One thought above all others holds the wallet in check: Hold on, maybe there’s someone better out there more worthy my bidding.

The best nomination strategy takes advantage of this thought by riding it: 

Freeze the room by nominating the fifth best player at a position when the four best players at the position have not yet been sold. Yeah, duh, there’s a better player out there.

With a couple of superstars waiting in the wings for bid, the auction room will likely be more cautious and conservative in their bidding approach. As a result, the player just nominated will probably go for a big discount. Voila. 

Fantasy owners come into auctions with a good conception about superstars and sleepers. But every team needs 2nd tier stars for success. Beat the auction to these players and make the 2nd tier on your team better and more cheap than the competition.