View From the Cellar: Starting from Scratch
January 31, 2005
By
Harley Rubin
by Harley David Rubin
View From the Cellar
Vol. I, Issue No. 2
“Starting from Scratch”
So maybe this is your first time playing fantasy baseball, or your first time in a certain type of league. In this edition of The Cellar, I’m going to give you my recommendations for drafting a new team in 2005.
REMEMBER — aside from the super-obvious, you should do the OPPOSITE of whatever I recommend. I am a fantasy baseball loser, so go by the George Costanza “go against your instincts to get it right” credo and learn from my mistakes.
1. Know thyself. Do you like power hitters, speed demons, or 20 HR/20 SB-type guys? Will you panic three weeks into the season when you’re in last place and trade your top two hitters for that ace starting pitcher? That’s the kind of deal where the pitcher looks great for a month then blows out his rotator cuff. At least, that’s what happens if you’re me.
If you have a team name already, that probably indicates what kind of team you want to build. If your squad is named “Bob’s Bombers” or “The Speed Freaks” or “The Renaissance Men,” you’ve got a peek into your inner team owner. (And if your team is really “The Renaissance Men,” you might want to re-think your participation in fantasy baseball over a soothing cup of tea with your pinky extended.)
2. Know your opponents. If you’re in a league with friends and/or co-workers, you have a pretty good idea of what you’re dealing with. If it’s strangers that you’re dealing with for the first time because you hooked up online, consider yourself as clueless as one of those tone-deaf American Idol contestants you laugh at in the first few episodes.
If it’s a live draft, you’ll have to be good at multi-tasking. On the one hand, you’ve got to worry about not overspending and filling up every position. On the other hand, you need to pay attention to what your opponents are doing. Are they calling out names of guys they have no intention of bidding on? Are they running up the price? Do they know you’re a sucker? (Try not to be one, by the way.)
3. Know the league. There’s NL-only, AL-only, and Mixed. There’s fantasy rules, 5x5 rules, Rotisserie rules, Ozzy Rules, all kinds of variations. (I made that last one up.) The NL- or AL-only leagues have their advantages and disadvantages. Because of the limited player pool, you really need to know every guy on every team in your league. I’m talking about knowing that Jose Offerman might make the Phillies as the 25th guy and get a few starts in the infield if somebody goes down.
The points system is obviously crucial. I have always been a huge fan of 10 HR/10 SB, 20 HR/20 SB, 30 HR/30 SB guys. (To wit: I once paid $4.10 in a $26 league for Roberto Kelly, circa 1993.) Guys who help you in multiple categories are great, but sometimes you can spread the love around. I now have—if you recall from my last column — guys like Adam Dunn and Eric Chavez for power, and guys like Carl Crawford and Jimmy Rollins for speed.
4. Know the positional depth. In recent years, it’s been third base that has been nearly impossible to find a stud player. But now that A-Rod has moved over, he joins a pretty talented cast: Adrian Beltre (whom I traded—more on that next column), Scott Rolen, Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff, Eric Chavez (whom I still have), Aramis Ramirez, Hank Blalock, Mike Lowell, Chipper Jones and David Wright.
This year, it’s quality second basemen that are tough to get. (I personally have Tony Womack, Chase Utley and Scott Hairston — so I’m set.) But beyond Alfonso Soriano, Jeff Kent, Marcus Giles and Mark Loretta, there are few “sure things.” Take a look at who’s available and figure out which positions are weak. I’m not saying you need to take Loretta in the first round, but it definitely should affect where you place him in your draft day depth chart.
5. Know that this is all a game. NOT. It is an all-encompassing obsession that will have you shelling out hundreds of dollars for faster Internet access and satellite TV packages, staying up until 1:30 a.m. (Eastern time) for those West Coast final scores and annoying your significant other.
But it will all be worth it if you can just finish “in the money.” You may neglect your job, your personal life and other drivers on the road while listening to the game. Just get 10% of the pot, and you’ll be a legend in your own mind.
Tune in next time, when my topic will be: The art of trading, and how not to be “that guy” in your league. (Last-minute note: I made three trades from January 18 – January 21.)
Good luck. And if you’ve got a topic you’d like me to discuss, or advice/comments for me, send ’em to me at hrubin@fantasyinfocentral.com
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