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Author: chetanseo | Total views: 61 Comments: 0
Word Count: 1344 Date: Sat, 18 Apr 2009 9:56 AM

How To Win Fantasy Baseball Leagues And Fantasy Baseball Games

From the days of keeping track of baseball stats with nothing more than pencil, paper and USA Today, fantasy baseball games have exploded to become the national pastime of choice for fantasy aficionados. As a whole, fantasy sports are a $1.65 billion industry as of 2006 according to STATS, Inc with fantasy baseball a good chunk of that. The growth of the internet has led to numerous innovative takes on fantasy baseball such as fantasy simulation baseball leagues, including Box Baseball among others.

It is not uncommon to find fantasy managers who actively participate in multiple fantasy baseball leagues every season. For example, they may have one Yahoo AL league, one CBS Sports line league and a couple of Box Baseball fantasy baseball simulation leagues.

The following tips are tried and true pieces of advice that have helped the writers win multiple fantasy baseball league championships in the toughest of leagues.

1. Know the rules inside and out

Each fantasy baseball league has its own rules and settings. Not knowing how points are accrued is obviously not good. Carefully review how many positions you’re allowed to have active as that will dictate part of your draft strategy. For example, if your fantasy baseball league requires 2 catchers you may wish to target star catchers much earlier. If you are in an AL only fantasy baseball league with 12 teams that requires 5 outfielders, you will need to fill up on quality outfielders sooner rather than later.

Another thing to look out for is limitations on waiver or trade transactions. I once lost a fantasy baseball simulation league that had a 35 maximum limit on transactions which I hit with 2 critical weeks to go. Some weekly fantasy baseball leagues may require you to set your lineup for the upcoming week ahead of time. If that’s the case, transactions and trades need to be done in advance looking ahead 2 weeks or so.

2. Prepare for the draft…

Knowledge is gold. Knowing before the fantasy baseball draft roughly who you’ll be targeting and who you want to avoid will prevent too much scrambling through fantasy baseball magazines and fantasy baseball web sites during the draft (if it is live). Also have a general strategy. Are you looking to win strikeout categories by drafting pitching first and foremost? Will you dominate steals and grab those studs early?

Make sure to use Rotowire.com and check the latest fantasy baseball news on the player you’re about to pick. There are very few feelings worse than just finding out the player you picked is out for 6 months or the entire season.

Review offseason moves that might impact your target picks. Is the hitter going to a more hitter-friendly ballpark or vice versa? Is there a position shift imminent that might give him more flexibility?

3. …but don’t give up if you had a bad draft

Too many fantasy baseball managers get discouraged if they had a bad draft. Hey, it happens. Maybe you just messed up your picks. Maybe you weren’t available during the live draft and the system autopicked a mediocre team for you. One thing is certain. If you give up before the season has even started, you will lose. However, if you pick yourself up, work the waivers and trades, you put yourself in a position to make the playoffs where anything can happen.

4. Focus on hitters first, pitchers second

This secret is controversial in the sense that there are many who may disagree with this philosophy, so take it with a grain of salt. Generally speaking, the performance of pitchers fluctuates greatly while hitters are more consistent. This leads me to avoid overpaying for pitchers –starters or relievers—by targeting stud hitters early on who have a better chance of giving me a strong return for my pick. Build around a core of solid hitters, then target consistent pitchers or up-and-comers for a rotation and bullpen with consistency and upside.

5. Don’t go nuts on rookies

Rookies in fantasy baseball are like penny stocks. You might find the occasional winner but the vast majority won’t give you the returns you need over a long season. Unlike fantasy football and basketball where rookies can make an immediate impact for their managers, the jump from the minors to the majors is much more difficult for baseball players. Add to that the uncertainty of a guaranteed job with the possibility of being sent back down, and all signs point to letting other managers take the risk on rookies.

6. Regular participation is half the battle

By the time the All-Star break rolls around, it is likely that one third of your fantasy baseball league’s managers have either given up or lost interest. That means if you simply pay attention and remain an active manager, you can gain an advantage over one third of the league. One hundred and sixty two games is a marathon, so don’t give up. Be persistent.

7. Work the waiver wires

Successful fantasy baseball managers are those who have waiver savvy. They grab dropped players whose managers gave up on too quickly. They pick up set up men on the team when its closer goes down with an injury. They nab the unknown players who inevitably emerge to be a fantasy force every season. One word of advice: if you are in a league which has waiver priority (like Yahoo), don’t waste it early. Save your priority for a shot at league crossovers who get traded mid-season.

8. Don’t give up on players too quickly

April is always the most interesting month. Impatient managers may get antsy and start jettisoning star players who get off to a slow start. Don’t be too hasty to give up on a player with a strong track record of success. Conversely, watch the waiver wires for gems that get dropped.

9. Follow baseball news regularly

Make it a point to subscribe to a quality fantasy baseball news site such as Rotowire.com. Visit it a few times a day and read up on the latest breaking fantasy baseball news. Just like investing in stocks, understanding the whole picture will help you assess your fantasy baseball team’s potential as the season progresses. Knowing which particular closer is struggling and may lose his job enables you to go after the setup man who may soon step into their shoes.

10. Stay active on trades

Keep up to date on what other teams’ needs are and see if you can work out win-win trades. Pay particular attention to star players who are off to tough starts and make a pitch to try and nab them on the cheap.

11. Manage to win

This may sound obvious, but it is worth reiterating. Understand what you need to do to win. If you’re playing a simulation league such as Box Baseball, you’ll need to avoid focusing on stats such as RBI or wins which don’t matter in their simulation algorithm. If you’re in a weekly points fantasy baseball league, stay on top of what categories you need to carry and win the week. For example, if you’re way ahead on strikeouts but behind on wins, you will need to look for starters who are likely to get you wins.

Following these eleven tips can give you a leg up on your competition and lead you to fantasy baseball glory.

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