| Fantasy baseball, in all it's incarnations and | | | | section, and since it's my article, that's how I'm |
| iterations may seem a little unwieldy to the | | | | gonna do it. Experience is beneficial here, but even |
| uninitiated, but it's really not that difficult to | | | | if it's your first time, you should still do it, as it will |
| participate in, just requires a little time and | | | | be something to build upon in future years. At the |
| persistence to get started. Many camps seem to | | | | very least you'll learn what now to do from your |
| have a myriad of rules, regulations and | | | | abysmal past disasters. Come up with some sort |
| procedures to follow. However; it wouldn't have | | | | of grading system utilizing factors such as the |
| the following it does, if it wasn't easy enough for | | | | worth of a player to their team, and not just how |
| the average beer swilling baseball fan to engage in. | | | | well they play as an individual. Flexibility is key |
| Don't even get me going on the stats these guys | | | | here, so as some of your choice selections are |
| compile, I don't know what it is about baseball | | | | grabbed by other players, you can react and still |
| fans that makes them so obsessed with | | | | put together a winning team. Spontaneity is what |
| statistics. Although I'm sure Freud would have | | | | makes life (and Fantasy Baseball) interesting you |
| some fantasy theory as to how it all works. Oh, | | | | know. |
| how I do digress, on with the article, and less | | | | Ouch! Hey That Hurts. |
| about my little obsessions. | | | | Yep, injuries happen, and yes, it hurts. But hey, if |
| In The Beginning - AKA "The Draft" | | | | there were no surprises, what fun would that be. |
| So, it all begins with the draft. No not the kind | | | | Everyone has to deal with injuries at some point. |
| that comes in a pint (later after we've won), I'm | | | | Players, owners, managers, coaches, and fantasy |
| talking about the selection of players for your | | | | baseball fanatics. While it can be exasperating at |
| team. Having a great draft, really comes down to | | | | best, there's always a good and bad way of |
| a couple of things. Current statistics, and past | | | | dealing with things. Maybe it's time to consider |
| performances. The trick is to balance the two, | | | | trades. Perhaps, there's some unproven guys on |
| and to know what weight to apply to each so | | | | the bench you could swap for a great player, |
| you make the optimal picks. This of course | | | | that's just dying to play for your team. Maybe |
| requires a good knowledge of past performance, | | | | there's someone on waivers who could step it up, |
| and experience. The past performance is easy to | | | | and play like a start for a short period of time. |
| get, just ask your best baseball buddy, where he | | | | Just keep an eye on those fantasy baseball |
| gets his info, or do some internet searches. Is | | | | future Rookie of The Year hiding on your bench, |
| there anything not on the net these days? I can't | | | | I'd hate to be the one that let him get away. |
| really help with the experience part, actually | | | | Bottom Of The 9th |
| nobody can, not even the internet. Your just | | | | Just a couple of things to remember before we |
| going to have to get out there play a few | | | | head off for that pint. Don't forget to keep an |
| fantasy baseball games, and lose some of your | | | | eye on the free agent pool. Of course you won't |
| hard earned cash to gain good experience. After | | | | be the only one keeping tabs on it, strategy is |
| all, it's not winning or losing that counts . . . it's how | | | | important here. Also when you do decide to |
| much money I win off you that really matters. | | | | make trades, use the ole' noggin. That's what |
| Research - Rocket Science for Fantasy Baseball | | | | your momma gave it to you for. There's nothing |
| Nuts | | | | worse then making a bad trade, that lets the |
| This could kinda go back under the draft section | | | | other guy grab all the glory. Keeping track of the |
| (no not the pint draft - later, much later), but it's | | | | rising and slumping hitters will be a big help here. |
| really important enough to warrant it's own | | | | |