Free Fantasy Baseball Analysis
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What is Fantasy Baseball ?
Fantasy baseball is a game whereby players manage imaginary baseball teams based on the real-life performance of baseball players, and compete against one another using those players' statistics to score points. It is the oldest form of fantasy sports, and arguably one of the most difficult and time-intensive due to the 162-game season of the MLB and the inconsistency of players.
The History of Fantasy Baseball
- Stemmed from "table-top basball," which started around 1963 with Strat-o-Matic.- Really got started in 1980 with development of the Rotisserie League Baseball.
- Daniel Okrent is credited with inventing it.
- The Internet has revolutionized the game because now stats can be recorded/updated online with ease.
- It has become a real-time simulation that enables players to understand more of the games' nuances.
Player Selection
> Typically players are drafted before the beginning of the season. There are three primary ways players are usually chosen.
Actual Draft: Players are drafted until each of the alotted slots are filled. A serpentine system is used, which means if their are 12 teams in the league, the 12th team would have the 12th pick, but then the next round would go in reverse order so that the 12th team would also have the 13th pick. The team that picked first would have the 24th pick.
Auction: Managers have a fixed amount of money to bid on players, and must fill their roster slots without going over their designated budget.
Rotohog: A relatively new style that is budget-based and features a high amount of roster turnover. Technically every team could have the same players. The point-systems are the same, but players are in a free agent pool with a liquid market. The objective is to make money early on so that you can pay to play the best players as the season progresses.
Keeper leagues: Are usually decided with one of the first two methods, but managers keep their players (and often get prospects as well) in order to build a fantasy dynasty.
Actual Draft: Players are drafted until each of the alotted slots are filled. A serpentine system is used, which means if their are 12 teams in the league, the 12th team would have the 12th pick, but then the next round would go in reverse order so that the 12th team would also have the 13th pick. The team that picked first would have the 24th pick.
Auction: Managers have a fixed amount of money to bid on players, and must fill their roster slots without going over their designated budget.
Rotohog: A relatively new style that is budget-based and features a high amount of roster turnover. Technically every team could have the same players. The point-systems are the same, but players are in a free agent pool with a liquid market. The objective is to make money early on so that you can pay to play the best players as the season progresses.
Keeper leagues: Are usually decided with one of the first two methods, but managers keep their players (and often get prospects as well) in order to build a fantasy dynasty.
Rotisserie vs. Head to Head Play
First, it is important to understand how the game is played. Each team's respective statistics are compiled and ranked by category and points are assigned to each category.
There are various categories you can utilize, but the standard 5x5 league uses 5 hitting categories and 5 pitching categories that are as follows:
Rotisserie style of play consists of assigning a numberical point value based on each team's respective ranking in each particular category. (For example: If you're team is first in stolen bases in a 12 team league you would have 12 points; if you were last you would have 1 point.)
The team that has the most points at the end of the year wins. This style of play really makes you try to find the optimal balance with your team to ensure that you are obtaining the maximum amount of points for each category.
Head to Head style of play pits two teams against each other for a week and they compete over the pre-determined categories. (For example if one team wins 7 of the 12 categories they would have a record of 7-5 for the week, and whoever has the best record at the end of the week prevails.)
Note: Some leagues just assign a record of 1-0 for winning that particular week.
Either way, the team with the best record at the end of the year wins the league. This style means that you could essentially 'punt' (give up) a couple of categories if you were certain you could consistently win the others.
There are various categories you can utilize, but the standard 5x5 league uses 5 hitting categories and 5 pitching categories that are as follows:
- Runs
- Home runs
- Runs batted in
- Batting Average
- Stolen bases
- ---
- Wins
- Saves
- Strikeouts
- Earned Run Average
- WHIP (hits + walked / innings pitched
Rotisserie style of play consists of assigning a numberical point value based on each team's respective ranking in each particular category. (For example: If you're team is first in stolen bases in a 12 team league you would have 12 points; if you were last you would have 1 point.)
The team that has the most points at the end of the year wins. This style of play really makes you try to find the optimal balance with your team to ensure that you are obtaining the maximum amount of points for each category.
Head to Head style of play pits two teams against each other for a week and they compete over the pre-determined categories. (For example if one team wins 7 of the 12 categories they would have a record of 7-5 for the week, and whoever has the best record at the end of the week prevails.)
Note: Some leagues just assign a record of 1-0 for winning that particular week.
Either way, the team with the best record at the end of the year wins the league. This style means that you could essentially 'punt' (give up) a couple of categories if you were certain you could consistently win the others.
Why Should You Listen To Me ?
In the last seven years of playing fantasy baseball, I have 3 championships and 1 second place finish. [I only play with one team in one competitive league each year.]
[Side note: I should be invited to play in an ESPN or Yahoo experts league. This is painfully obvious to me.]
I won my league in '08 behind some solid waiver wire moves (94 in total) that landed me Ryan Ludwick, Aubrey Huff, Kevin Slowey and others.
Here was my final roster:
C Kelly Shoppach
1B Aubrey Huff
2B Mike Aviles
SS Christian Guzman
3B Alex Rodriguez
OF Shin Soo Choo
OF Vladimir Guerrero
OF Matt Kemp
UTIL Ryan Ludwick
BN Jayson Werth
BN Brandon Phillips (DL)
Part of my success was due to streaming the right pitchers down the stretch.
SP Brandon Webb
SP Roy Oswalt
RP Jonathan Broxton
RP Dan Wheeler
P Derek Lowe
P Adam Wainwright
P Brett Myers
BN Jesse Litch
BN Wandy Rodriguez
BN Kevin Slowey
[Side note: I should be invited to play in an ESPN or Yahoo experts league. This is painfully obvious to me.]
I won my league in '08 behind some solid waiver wire moves (94 in total) that landed me Ryan Ludwick, Aubrey Huff, Kevin Slowey and others.
Here was my final roster:
C Kelly Shoppach
1B Aubrey Huff
2B Mike Aviles
SS Christian Guzman
3B Alex Rodriguez
OF Shin Soo Choo
OF Vladimir Guerrero
OF Matt Kemp
UTIL Ryan Ludwick
BN Jayson Werth
BN Brandon Phillips (DL)
Part of my success was due to streaming the right pitchers down the stretch.
SP Brandon Webb
SP Roy Oswalt
RP Jonathan Broxton
RP Dan Wheeler
P Derek Lowe
P Adam Wainwright
P Brett Myers
BN Jesse Litch
BN Wandy Rodriguez
BN Kevin Slowey
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Fantasy Baseball Books
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The author of this lens cannot verify or endorse the quality of these books (because he's already a fantasy genius and hasn't read them), but they could potentially help you succeed in fantasy baseball.
Hot Free Agent Catchers
[Updated 7/24] - All stats are stats for the last month from the day the category was updated.
Kurt Suzuki - .309 AVG, 10 runs, 17 RBI, 2 SB
Kurt Suzuki - .309 AVG, 10 runs, 17 RBI, 2 SB
Hot Free Agent 1B
[Updated 7/24]
If the following first baseman are available in your league (and they're widely available in standard Yahoo! leagues) then you should consider picking them up.
First basemen are a hot commodity, often used for the UTIL spot as well, so there's not many out there. Here's a couple worth noting:
Martin Prado (1B, 2B, 3B) - .371 AVG, 20 runs, 13 RBI
Mark Teahen (1B, 3B, OF) - .343 AVG, 13 runs, 10 RBI, 2 SB
If the following first baseman are available in your league (and they're widely available in standard Yahoo! leagues) then you should consider picking them up.
First basemen are a hot commodity, often used for the UTIL spot as well, so there's not many out there. Here's a couple worth noting:
Martin Prado (1B, 2B, 3B) - .371 AVG, 20 runs, 13 RBI
Mark Teahen (1B, 3B, OF) - .343 AVG, 13 runs, 10 RBI, 2 SB
Free Agent Second Basemen You Should Add
[Updated 7/24]
Maicer Izturis - .363 AVG, 15 runs, 13 RBI, 2 SBs
Casey McGehee - .286 AVG, 11 runs, 5 HR, 16 RBI
Maicer Izturis - .363 AVG, 15 runs, 13 RBI, 2 SBs
Casey McGehee - .286 AVG, 11 runs, 5 HR, 16 RBI
Free Agent 3rd Basemen You Should Add
[Updated 7/24]
Pedro Feliz - .305 AVG, 12 runs, 3 HR, 14 RBI,
Pedro Feliz - .305 AVG, 12 runs, 3 HR, 14 RBI,
Free Agent Shortstops to Add
[Updated 7/24]
Erick Aybar (still out there in some leagues) - .410 AVG, 18 runs, 17 RBIs, 5 SBs
Orlando Cabrera - .359 AVG, 14 RBI, 2 SBs
Erick Aybar (still out there in some leagues) - .410 AVG, 18 runs, 17 RBIs, 5 SBs
Orlando Cabrera - .359 AVG, 14 RBI, 2 SBs
Have Fantasy Baseball Questions?
Ask them here...
Unlike all the experts out there, if you ask me questions about fantasy baseball, advice for your team, etc. utilizing this comment section I'll make sure I answer them.
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streak_tlu
Jun 5, 2008 @ 5:44 pm | delete
- Some other information would help?
What place are you in the league?
What categories are you doing well in? Which are you struggling in?
Some observations:
Your team is VERY strong. How many people are in your league? In a standard 12-team league I can't imagine you getting Tex, Manny, Sizemore and Santana by way of a draft.
The only thing I -MIGHT- consider with this team is that you could go out and get another closer. Sell high on guys that are playing out of their minds like Ludwick and/or Church and go out and get a top quality saves guy to accompany Jenks and Soriano.
Also, if it's me I'm spot starting Myers until he starts pitching like he's capable of, AND I'd probably go ahead and waive Brad Penny for a guy like Gavin Floyd or Andrew Miller if they're available. If not, let me know I can suggest some others.
Best of luck to you!
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Judy
Jun 4, 2008 @ 9:02 pm | delete
- Please Help Me! This is my team on a 4x4 rotisserie league...Scoring for Batting Categories BA - Batting Average HR - Home Runs
RBI - Runs Batted In SB - Stolen Bases
Scoring for Pitching Categories
ERA - Earned Run Average S - Saves
W - Wins WHIP - Walks Hits / Inning
When I signed up I didn't understand the rules and this is what I have currently...any advice?
Doumit, Ryan C
Olivo, Miguel
Teixeira, Mark 1B
Kendrick, Howie 2B ANA
Atkins, Garrett 3B COL
Peralta, Jhonny SS CLE
Church, Ryan CF NYM
Ellsbury, Jacoby CF BOS
Ludwick, Ryan OF STL
Ramirez, Manny LF BOS
Sizemore, Grady CF CLE
Hudson, Orlando 2B ARI
Loney, James 1B LA
Billingsley, Chad SP LA
Harden, Rich SP OAK
Jenks, Bobby RP CHW
Lincecum, Tim SP SF
Maine, John SP NYM
Myers, Brett SP PHI
Santana, Johan SP NYM
Soriano, Rafael RP ATL
Wainwright, Adam SP STL
Furcal, Rafael SS LA
Penny, Brad SP LA
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Mac33
May 28, 2008 @ 2:03 pm | delete
- Welcome to the Fantasy Sports Guides group!
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by streak_tlu
I am the Marketing Coordinator for MD Anderson's Proton Therapy Center by day, and a consultant by night. I am extremely passionate about both marketi... more »
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