diff --git a/onomancer.py b/onomancer.py
index 2031ec9..278d128 100644
--- a/onomancer.py
+++ b/onomancer.py
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 #interfaces with onomancer
 
 import requests, json, urllib
+from requests.adapters import HTTPAdapter
+from requests.packages.urllib3.util.retry import Retry
 import database as db
 
 
@@ -9,13 +11,27 @@ name_stats_hook = "getOrGenerateStats?name="
 collection_hook = "getCollection?token="
 names_hook = "getNames"
 
+
+def _retry_session(retries=3, backoff=0.3, status=(500, 501, 502, 503, 504)):
+    session = requests.Session()
+    retry = Retry(
+        total=retries,
+        read=retries,
+        connect=retries,
+        backoff_factor=backoff,
+        status_forcelist=status,
+    )
+    adapter = HTTPAdapter(max_retries=retry)
+    session.mount('https://', adapter)
+    return session
+
 def get_stats(name):
     player = db.get_stats(name)
     if player is not None:
         return player #returns json_string
 
     #yell at onomancer if not in cache or too old
-    response = requests.get(onomancer_url + name_stats_hook + urllib.parse.quote_plus(name))
+    response = _retry_session().get(onomancer_url + name_stats_hook + urllib.parse.quote_plus(name))
     if response.status_code == 200:
         stats = json.dumps(response.json())
         db.cache_stats(name, stats)
@@ -31,7 +47,7 @@ def get_scream(username):
         return scream
 
 def get_collection(collection_url):
-    response = requests.get(onomancer_url + collection_hook + urllib.parse.quote(collection_url))
+    response = _retry_session().get(onomancer_url + collection_hook + urllib.parse.quote(collection_url))
     if response.status_code == 200:
         for player in response.json()['lineup'] + response.json()['rotation']:
             db.cache_stats(player['name'], json.dumps(player))
@@ -44,7 +60,7 @@ def get_names(limit=20, threshold=1):
     Get `limit` random players that have at least `threshold` upvotes.
     Returns dictionary keyed by player name of stats.
     """
-    response = requests.get(
+    response = _retry_session().get(
         onomancer_url + names_hook,
         params={
             'limit': limit,
@@ -53,4 +69,10 @@ def get_names(limit=20, threshold=1):
             'random': 1,
         },
     )
-    return {p['name']: p for p in response.json()}
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    res = {}
+    for stats in response.json():
+        name = stats['name']
+        db.cache_stats(name, json.dumps(stats))
+        res[name] = stats
+    return res
diff --git a/the_prestige.py b/the_prestige.py
index 654614d..5f0e424 100644
--- a/the_prestige.py
+++ b/the_prestige.py
@@ -603,7 +603,7 @@ top of the list with each mention, teamname, and slogan on a new line (shift+ent
  - 20 players will be available for draft at a time, and the pool will refresh automatically when it becomes small.
  - Each participant will be asked to draft 12 hitters then finally one pitcher.
  - The draft will start only once every participant has given a 👍 to begin.
- - use the command `m;draft` on your turn to draft someone
+ - use the command `d`, `draft`, or `m;draft` on your turn to draft someone
     """
 
     async def execute(self, msg, command):
@@ -615,11 +615,18 @@ top of the list with each mention, teamname, and slogan on a new line (shift+ent
             raise ValueError('Invalid length')
 
         for i in range(0, len(content), 3):
-            handle = content[i].strip()
+            handle_token = content[i].strip()
+            for mention in mentions:
+                if mention in handle_token:
+                    handle = mention
+                    break
+            else:
+                await msg.channel.send(f"I don't recognize {handle_token}")
+                return
             team_name = content[i + 1].strip()
             if games.get_team(team_name):
                 await msg.channel.send(f'Sorry {handle}, {team_name} already exists')
-                raise ValueError('Existing team')
+                return
             slogan = content[i + 2].strip()
             draft.add_participant(handle, team_name, slogan)
 
@@ -681,6 +688,8 @@ top of the list with each mention, teamname, and slogan on a new line (shift+ent
         def check(m):
             if m.channel != channel:
                 return False
+            if m.content.startswith('d') or m.content.startswith('draft'):
+                return True
             for prefix in config()['prefix']:
                 if m.content.startswith(prefix + 'draft'):
                     return True