Fantasy Baseball

fadeaway · 02-09-2001, 12:15 PM

Within the next few weeks, I plan on starting a sandbox fantasy baseball league. Baseball has always been my second favorite fantasy game (after basketball) and I had a ball winning my roto league last year.

It's still early, but if anyone plans on joining, I'm still trying to determine what type of scoring to go with.

Fantasy Points: Probably the fairest type of scoring. However, FP leagues have a tendency to be boring, especially if one person runs away with the high score.

Roto: Roto leagues are fun, especially in baseball. They tend to be more competitive than leagues with FP scoring. If you have a deficiency in one statistic, you can try to fix it with a trade. (ie: I was last in saves until I traded for Hoffman & Benitez midway through the season, and ended up getting the most saves in the league). The main problem with roto is that if you don't draft well, you are pretty much screwed. It also sucks having to take things like errors, strikeouts and WHIP into account (ie: Troy Glaus gets a boatload of HRs and runs, but he gets way too many strikeouts).

Head to Head: For some reason, I don't like the idea of a head to head baseball league. It seems to be too much of a crap shoot. If your starting pitchers are slated to pitch that week, you will usually win. But, if they don't, you are almost guaranteed to get a loss. It's not like basketball where every team usually has the same number of players playing each week. The volatility of pitchers screw things up.

Head to Head strategy: the same as Head to Head, except with more extra bull**** to worry about. I don't like Head to Head strategy scoring at all.

I'm leaning toward roto scoring. That's what I had in my league last year and I had a good time. Granted, I drafted pretty well so I was never out of the top three in the league. Anyway, I'd like to hear everyone's opinion.

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My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.

[This message has been edited by fadeaway (edited February 09, 2001).]

BobFinn* · 02-09-2001, 02:59 PM

I was in a roto league last year, like you said, if you don't have a good draft, your screwed. I am leaning towards head-to-head this year. Roto was very boring (maybe because I had an awesome draft and ran away with the league) I love the wins-and-loses, it keeps it interesting from game to game.
I will join no matter what you decide on.

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When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view.
-- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

countingcrow · 02-09-2001, 03:07 PM

I am in. As for the type of scoring, I would much rather play the FP version. That is the version I am playing now in my NBA league and I am enjoying it. I don't like the head-to-head version. I am involved in the head-to-head XFL league right now and it is quite boring.

If you opt for the head-to-head I will have to retract my bid to volunteer.

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Summer Song Giver · 02-09-2001, 03:20 PM

I'll join no matter how it is scored,I'd like to try head to head with baseball but roto is fine with me.The most important factors to me are getting the league filled early and making the draft date well known so that every owner will be there.Of course this means an on line draft where I can use my personal judgement instead of some stupid ranking system that involves me having to rank 50 bajillion players.Anyhow,post the information and I'll join.

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PhiSlammaJamma · 02-09-2001, 04:07 PM

Count me in. My friend SANTO is VERY active. He might want to join to.

Head to Head!

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humble, but hungry.

[This message has been edited by PhiSlammaJamma (edited February 09, 2001).]

RENDIGGLER3:20 · 02-09-2001, 05:08 PM

I would like to join no matter what you decide also Fadeaway!

Your just not going to give up Cassell are you

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President of the why in the Hell isnt Langhi playing club!!!

fadeaway · 02-09-2001, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RENDIGGLER3:20:

Your just not going to give up Cassell are you

Certainly not when Pippen is part of the deal. I don't want that scrub on my team.

For those of you that want to go with head to head baseball scoring, are you not worried about the volatile nature of pitchers making games too lopsided from week to week? Starting pitchers only pitch in 1/4 games their team plays, and relievers are even more erratic. I was in a head to head hockey league and the winner of each game basically came down to whose goalie played the most games that week, which sucked and wasn't really fair. I'm worried baseball will be like that.

Also, the typical baseball position player (Nomar) averages about 4 points per game. The typical pitcher (Glavine) averages around 20. Big Unit averaged 29 ppg last year and Pedro had 33 ppg.

I don't know. I really like the head to head format in our basketball league, but I think with baseball, it just wouldn't be fair.

I could be wrong, though.

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My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.

PhiSlammaJamma · 02-09-2001, 05:38 PM

First, if we do total points we've got to have a live draft to give everyone a fair chance. Even with that...I picked last, and where did I finish, dead last. I didn't have a chance to compete.

I like head to head because the league is so much more competitive. If I pick somebody up it could make a big difference and allow me to catch up by beating the best team.

Your point is taken about the pitchers, but because of the game limits it all evens out in the end. If somebody starts pitchers that play a lot, then later in the season they lose games because they have no pitching left over. Your point is somewhat valid, but it seems head to head keeps more people active and interested.

All that being said, whatever you want! I'm still in.

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humble, but hungry.

[This message has been edited by PhiSlammaJamma (edited February 09, 2001).]

Behad · 02-09-2001, 06:59 PM

I'm in fadeaway.

As far as scoring, I was in a roto league last year, and is was BORING! The top three teams never changed positions, the middle 4 teams (includes me) jockeyed around some, and the bottom three never changed. After one third of the season was complete, no amount of trading could have altered the standings. My vote is for head to head. In the end, the unbalanced weeks will even out, thus the winner will be who plays the right players at the right time.

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Behad
Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS

WiNK · 02-09-2001, 08:27 PM

ill join if yall want me too.........im sure that sandbox would make the head to head scoring somewhere to where it would be reasonably fair, so i doubt we really have to worry bout that too much. head to head makes leagues interesting and its makes to where people can be active more often....roto isnt really that fun because people really cant check that much unless ur makin a trade or something..........

thats just my opinion but anything yall decide is fine w/ me

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DEANBCURTIS · 02-10-2001, 08:45 AM

I'd love to join.

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Ceo of the Walt Williams fan club. Web site coming soon

atheistalliance.org

fadeaway · 02-10-2001, 09:49 AM

Okay. It seems the general consensus is that the fun factor of the head to head format outweighs any potential inconsistencies brought about by pitching. I'm still a little wary, but you've convinced me enough to go with it.

I definitely want a live draft. For everyone who has responded so far, what are some good/bad days/times for you? I realize it's near impossible to set up a time that's good for everyone (ie: I'm guessing Behad probably won't be able to make it since he can't access sandbox from work) but we'll try to get one that works for most. Personally, my schedule is pretty flexible.

Right now, I'm thinking early March, possibly the 10th or 11th (Sat. or Sun.) at 12 noon EST. That would give us about three weeks before the first game on April 1.

If anyone would prefer something different, let me know.

Also, anyone who is interested, in addition to replying here, also send me a quick email at jgillard@avint.net so I'll know who plans on joining.

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My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.

[This message has been edited by fadeaway (edited February 10, 2001).]

PhiSlammaJamma · 02-10-2001, 12:27 PM

We did the slow draft last year and got it done in like 4 or 5 days If I remember correctly. It wasn't to bad. The key was keeping the communication lines open. Occasionally people would be hanging out at libraries, at home, or at work, waiting for their turn but it never came. If we talk on the rumor mill or in the bbs then it works pretty good so long as we know what time people will be making their picks, or what time you are on line, or even better when you will not be on line.

And don't forget about the auto draft options. They help keep things moving along as well.

We got a lot done on the weekend last year. The work day was much slower in my opinion.

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humble, but hungry.

fadeaway · 02-10-2001, 12:32 PM

We always used to do a fast draft, which is pretty hectic and nerve-wracking, but fun.

The slow draft might be pretty cool, though. It give you time to think about your picks, anyway.

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My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.

DVauthrin · 02-10-2001, 02:09 PM

ill play as well..no matter the format

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How Sweet It Is! How Sweet It Is!
Gene Peterson on the rockets winning the 1995 championship over the Orlando Magic

BobFinn* · 02-10-2001, 02:46 PM

March 11th is good for me. The 10th I would miss a couple of rounds and have to rely on the auto-draft.

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When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view.
-- Ella Wheeler Wilcox

PhiSlammaJamma · 02-10-2001, 03:10 PM

The other thing about the pitchers is that they can have big negative days as well. So you may get hurt starting a lot of pitchers if they bite.

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humble, but hungry.

Behad · 02-10-2001, 06:40 PM

fadeaway, check your email.

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Behad
Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS

PhiSlammaJamma · 02-12-2001, 02:46 PM

Yeah, we just switched IP's for our web site and our email is supposedly down until it can "get itself straightened out". Supposedly by tomorrow it will be working, ughhh! Try again tomorrow and if it doesn't work I'll have you send me a fax or something....

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humble, but hungry.

Behad · 02-12-2001, 07:33 PM

fadeaway, I still haven't got the info on the league. Send it to my behad@yahoo.com addy, cuz I think our work email is screwed up.

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Behad
Sergeant at Arms of the Clutch BBS