Fantasy Baseball Woes

He who drafted Evan Longoria in round 9, drafter wrong.




Baseball and Relativity



For a second, let's put aside the real world and talk about the planet of fantasy baseball. Regardless of how often I have won my baseball pool (2 of the last three years, with a narrow second place finish to compliment) I am rarely happy with how I draft. I get caught up in all the same trends as other people do; participating in panick stricken positional runs, drafting with my heart, not being fully prepared when the player I've targetted for the given round is scooped up one pick before and drafting sleepers so early that their 'sleeper status' is relatively voided. In order to combat these tendencies I've compiled an ever growing tip list for would be-fantasy baseball kings.



1. In the first five rounds draft the best player available regardless of position. You may end up with 2 or even 3 of the same position but think long term; one can act as your utility and the other a trading chip (both more valuable than reaching!)



2. That being said, don't draft a pitcher in those first five rounds (even if his name is Peavy or Santanna.) I know many will argue with me but I argue that beyond the odd mega season, which Santanna may have legitimately, most pitchers fantasy stats are rather comparable and a large chunk of pitchers exist in the middle rounds of a well run league. On the other hand NO good middle infielders do (other than sleeper candidates and Aaron Hill.)



3. On the topic of pitchers - fill your bench with them! FILL! If you're carrying more than one extra batsmen once the season starts you're crazy unless you're in an update once a week pool. Batters play every day, for the most part. AND if they do not play it is rare that you will know far enough in advance to adjust your roster. Carry one extra stud but realize that you will not sit David Ortiz for a lesser player on any given day. If one of your players is hurt move him to the IR and pick up a replacement. If a player is slumping drop them. Pitchers only pitch once every five days so carrying a surplus of servicable starters will help you boost your IP, wins and K's (sometimes as the expense of era and ops).



4. Balance, balance, balance: A team made up of huge slow average beastly sluggers will sink you. The most underated and difficult stat to procur is the stolen base for batters. So draft at least one speedster. With regards to pitching draft for k's and low eras - big win pitchers who have strong offensive support will not win you pools.



5. On the other hand its always useful to have powerhouse squads represented on your team. Mike Lowell would not have produced 120 rbi in 2007 had it not been for the high team ops. of the Boston Red Sox. This goes double for pitchers - if you don't have crafty, versataile arms you may as well draft pitchers who throw for winning teams. Contradiction noted.



6. Don't get caught in that run: If there's a run in closers and you're reaching for one to ensure yourself saves you're making a mistake. Draft quality players in every round and realize that with waiver wire/trade/sleeper persistance its very likely that you can grab saves (etc) in later rounds or ever part way into the season when players flourish/falter.



7. More balance: On the other hand its not too much of a reach to descend your draft strategy a few spots to pick up a good SS when you should be drafting a that OF you had your eye on. Its much easier to pick up fantasy studs at OF or 1B than it is to pick up middle infielders or 3B.



8. Prepare: The best drafted team will either be the prepared person or the random guy who picked players based on how pretty their names were. Regrettable but true on the latter. I subscribe to the tier system and I back that up with a list of young players/sleepers who I will resolve myself to pick in the case I can't get a premier position player.



9. Remember that your team today will be radically different than your team tomorrow. The person who picked Adrian Gonzales up in mid April last year laughed all the way to his championship. The person who dropped Chris Shelton in May two years ago, or even better, traded him early did the same. Pay attention to the waiver wire and injury reports, notice trends, don't be afraid to make moves.



10. Finally, cheat your friends. Trades are all about foresight and dishonesty. Very few trades that looked even on the day they were made ended up so at the end of the year. Last season I made one bad trade and two great trades. The moral of the story; trade trade trade - not only does it keep the pool fresh, but it adds to the wonderful sense of competition that fantasy sports foster.



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