I first received the Diamond Draft software a few months ago. RotoExperts.com had just purchased the rights to Diamond Draft and logically wanted their writers to become familiar with the new product. I have to say that my first impression was that it was lacking graphically. There are not many fancy visual effects. But over the course of the last three months I have used it for three different leagues -- a 20-team mixed 5x5 draft, an AL-only 5x5 auction, and an NL-only 5x5 auction. Diamond Draft has been a cinch to use and made the work of the draft and auctions a lot simpler.
Diamond Draft has proven to be an immensely valuable pre-draft tool. By entering the parameters of your league and any keepers there may be you eliminate the need to calculate inflation and cross names off of your draft list. Diamond Draft also provides you with three years of stats for every player and an extensive list of minor leaguers for those leagues that have farm systems. Every player has a projection (updated weekly) that covers includes every statistic from singles, doubles, and triples to Total Bases, OPS, and sacrifice flies. If you don't like a projection just change it. You can also highlight players in various colors to assist with your draft strategy. So, if you were using the LIMA Plan you could highlight LIMA pitchers in magenta (or whichever color you like), sleepers in blue, injury risks in red and so forth. Check out this video on using the edit screen. There is a video for almost every function available.
I have primarily used pen and paper for the 20-something years I have been involved in fantasy sports. I think it is vital to track every team's roster and budget as well as the in-draft inflation. Doing this by hand has gotten much easier over the years but it is a bitch to do. Diamond Draft handles all of this which gives you more time to look your rivals in the eye (an underrated necessity of Advanced Fantasy Baseball).
I have used a few different brands in the past and while I have nothing bad to say about them I have always gone back to my pen and paper method. One of the main reasons is I hate spending $60, $75, and even $100 dollars on software only to need to spend close to the same amount again the following season. Diamond Draft offers most of the functionality of those packages for just $34.95.
Partial List of Diamond Draft Features
- Drag and Drop Functionality
- League Overview Screen
- Position Overview Screen
- Team View Screen
- Points Total Screen
- Depth Chart Screens
- Position Eligibility Screen
- View/Edit Screens
- Assign Players to a team from anywhere in the program
- Warning Signs (overbid, position eligibility, all players drafted)
- Multiple Leagues
- Select from multiple databases
- Printable Reports
- Laptop Battery Monitor
- Screen Captures
- In-program Calculator
- An Amazing Help Screen
- Add Players to the Database
- An amazing array of sound effects (including the ever popular crickets)
- Add your own sound clips
- Search Function
- Select from various player pools (by league, undrafted, minor leaguers, MLB plus Free Agents
- Choose which stats to display
- Add Players to the depth charts
- Move players in the depth charts
- Complete Set of Projections
- Edit or Enter your own projections
- Wide array of instruction videos
- Forum Support at the RotoExperts.com Forums
- Half the price of similar products!!!
That is just a sampling of the functions of Diamond Draft. There are functions within the functions, a complete list would be a mile long. Believe me when I tell you this is an addictive toy that will not only help you prepare and dominate your draft but provide you with a hundred ways to waste time at work and at home! If I didn't think it was worth it I would not be posting this. I will personally assist you with any problems you may have. I am always just an e-mail or post comment away.
Follow me on Twitter: @BigJonWilliams
