from the GetSportsInfo.com archives...

Part One covered the details and logistics of starting a fantasy baseball league. Part Two goes through the happenings on that greatest of all days, draft/auction day. This is the most important time of all for your team. A good draft or auction will put you in the running and should keep you near the front of the pack, while a bad one could leave you waiting for football to start - by Memorial Day!
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First, you must know what kind of numbers the available players have posted, not just last year but over the past two or three seasons, and even over their entire careers. Is a player’s performance rock solid season to season, or does he go up and down like a Yo-yo? Steady players are great - if they’re consistently good, that is. On the flip side, you’ll never find a hidden gem if you don’t take some risks with your selections. Don’t go with one type of guy or the other exclusively, just be aware of roughly what you should (or shouldn’t) expect from the player you’re picking/bidding on.

It’s a good rule of thumb to consider hitters to be more stable than pitchers, and budget accordingly. Many owners allocate twice as much money for hitting as for pitching. There are just so many variables that can greatly impact a pitcher’s performance that you can’t predict. He could get injured, suffer from poor run support, develop Steve Blass syndrome, be traded to Colorado (sans humidor), etc. With hitters, the track record is more reliable. While the general trend of improvement up to a player’s late 20s and decline as he gets older doesn’t fit everyone, it’s a good starting point.

For all players, be sure to keep track of their health status. Forgetting a guy will start the year on the DL could start you off in the cellar.

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Here’s a set of potentially tough but important questions. What do you know about your fellow owners? Are they beginning fantasy leaguers or extremely experienced? What are their favorite players and teams? Do they have any “must-have” or “won’t-own” players? Find out as much as you can about your fellow owners and their tendencies.

On the flip side, try not to let others know who you’re targeting and be sure you don’t overvalue your favorite players - otherwise you could get bid up well beyond what’s reasonable. Also, don’t have any players you must have or won’t have on your team. Yes, there are nice guys and there are jerks in the major leagues, but it’s only what they contribute to your stats that determines their value in this game.

In an auction, are there owners who like to drive up the bidding, even on players they don’t want, just to get more money out of everyone’s pockets? Is someone afraid to go above a certain dollar amount on any player? Is someone holding back his money for a particular player or two? Is one owner throwing his money around early, leaving him with little for the end game?

In a draft, be particularly conscious of the owners sitting on either side of you. Do they have a similar strategy to yours? As the draft passes the mid-point, are they looking to fill out the same roster spots as you? If so, they could steal the player you’re waiting to take, so be ready to pounce if they leave him out there. If your needs are different from theirs, consider focusing more on the best available player still out there.

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In either system, as the day unfolds, you must be flexible. Know your strengths and weaknesses. For example, don’t overload on power and neglect speed. Don’t get all the flamethrowers on bad teams, giving you a ton of strikeouts but few wins.

In a draft especially, avoid taking part in runs at a position. If you get in on the end of a run, you’ll probably be picking up a guy now who you could get a couple rounds later. If everyone is going after closers, instead look at starters and position players. Zig when they zag.

Also, although some owners have been successful doing this, don’t “punt” any categories. Not drafting a closer not only means you’ll be last in saves, it also could hurt your ERA and WHIP, since saves guys tend to do well in those categories also. A guaranteed last-place finish in one category can seriously hinder your chances of coming out on top overall.

Finally, play to win this year. Everyone wants to snag the next Ryan Howard or Johan Santana before they reach prime time, but odds are the consistent, reliable six-year veteran is the better pick than the unknown rookie. Finding a diamond in the rough isn’t easy, while going with a bunch of guys you can count on can be very comforting and very successful. If you want to go with a crazy pick (and everyone loves to do it), make it at the end of the day, with one of your $1 picks or in the reserve round.

Fantasy Baseball fantasy 101, strategy, fantasy advice, draft day tips, auction strategy

from the GSI archives...

Regardless of whether you’ve played fantasy baseball for years or if this will be your first season, there are numerous topics, strategies, and details that must be addressed before and during the season. This is the first of a three-part overview of what you need to organize a fantasy baseball league, construct your rosters, and - most importantly - win! Let’s get to it.

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If you’re creating a league from scratch, there are several key decisions that you should be making RIGHT NOW.

First, how many owners will your league have? And will you stock your rosters from all the major leagues or just the American or National League?

Too few owners and too many players to choose from will give everyone an All-Star squad, which can take strategy, research and skill out of the equation. Too many owners drafting too few players can leave you picking from a bunch of backups, which no one wants to do.

If the number of owners is eight or less, you should stick to either the AL or NL. If you’re over eight, opening up the pool of players to all of MLB is fine.

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Roster size plays an important role in the previous section, so this needs to be settled early. The typical roto roster has 23 players - two catchers, a first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, corner infielder (1B/3B), middle infielder (2B/SS), five outfielders, nine pitchers, and a utility player (most often an additional hitter). You can trim down or add to this standard, but don’t go overboard in either direction.

Many leagues also have reserve squads in case of injury or ineffectiveness. The number of reserves usually ranges from five to 15. In general, the more owners you have playing, the fewer reserves you should have, since there will be less talent to choose from.

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You’ll also need to determine what categories to use. Standard Rotisserie uses 4x4 - batting average, home runs, RBI, and steals for hitters; wins, ERA, saves, and WHIP (Walks plus Hits divided by Innings Pitched) for pitchers. The popularity of 5x5 leagues (adding runs scored for hitters and strikeouts for pitchers) has increased greatly over the last few years.

Other leagues assign positive or negative points for numerous categories - doubles, triples, steals, caught stealing, shutouts, hits allowed, etc. Some leagues go overboard by using too many categories. This approach makes putting together a good strategy almost impossible because there are too many factors to consider.

Besides, you’re more likely to get a good idea of player values from web sites (like GetSportsInfo.com) and magazines if you stick with 4x4 or 5x5 scoring. However, if you’re looking to be creative and unique, come up with a scoring system all your own. Just make sure you and your fellow owners understand and agree to it in advance.

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To fill out your rosters, choose either a draft or an auction. If you draft, determine the order of selection randomly - picking names from a hat, for instance. And to be fair to the poor schmuck who picks last, you MUST use a snake draft, where the order of selection reverses every other round. For example, if you have a 10-team league, the owner who picks tenth also picks eleventh, and the person who picked first will make the 20th and 21st selections, etc.

If you go with an auction, make sure everyone can set aside plenty of time, because this could take several hours, especially if you’re starting a brand-new league.

You also must decide whether owners can keep players for subsequent years. If so, let everyone know how many players can be kept, for how many years, and at what price - the same as their draft price, or is their a premium added each season?
You also need to determine how much money (pretend or real) owners will have to fill out their rosters. The standard Rotisserie amount is $260, although this is very flexible. (Why $260? My best guess is that they chipped in $10 a week for a 26-week regular season.).

The money, of course, is crucial. Does the entry fee equal the amount you have available for the auction, or is it some other amount? Are there transaction fees for trades? Will teams have a free agent budget to acquire undrafted talent?

All these questions need to be answered so potential owners know how much it will cost to play. You have to find a financial level that’s comfortable for everyone, but also enough to make it worth playing for. Only you and your friends can make that decision.

And of course everyone wants to know what the payouts will be. How many places in the overall standings will get money at the end of the year? Usually the top third or so get prizes. Also, will you pay out for category or weekly leaders? This is a nice option since it gives everyone a chance to win some cash. And how will ties be broken? You can go with whoever wins the most categories, simply share the money equally, do “Rock, Paper, Scissors” - whatever you like. Just be sure to decide in advance. No one wants to being surprised to find out they’re getting less money that they thought.

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Finally, you’ll have to determine how the stats will be tracked. In the old days one of the owners, usually the commissioner, kept track. It can be a difficult, time-consuming responsibility, which is why stat services have become so popular. Some services are free, while others charge a (sometimes hefty) fee. Yahoo! or somewhere else can do the job for no cost, but you may have to pay to get specific features you’re looking for.

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Well, that’s all for Part One, covering everything you need to take care of before draft day.

Fantasy Baseball fantasy 101, strategy, fantasy advice

With just one week left before most fantasy league begin their playoffs it is important that owners begin to make some of their final preparations. Here a few quick pointers.

1. KNOW YOUR LEAGUE RULES – In most cases there are no post-season trades, but you need to also be sure where your league stands in regards to add/drops over the final weeks.  Also, be sure to know how your league determines tiebreakers and playoff seeding so you don’t have any surprises later.

2. HANDCUFF PLAYERS – Now that bye weeks are over, now is the time to insure your team’s star players by handcuffing their backups. Just ask LeSean McCoy owners that added Bryce Brown as a late backup plan before the injury how things worked out for them.

3. STUDY SCHEDULE – Looking ahead to favorable/unfavorable matchups and safe guarding against situations that could limit your team’s production is also recommended.

4. FINAL TWEAKS – If you can still make trades it may not be bad idea to take away from some of your bench depth to improve your roster at one of your starting spots.

5. HAVE FUN – Sure we all want to be our friends and win some loot, but don’t stress out too much. Remember fantasy football is a leisure activity and it should be fun!

Listen to Drew Dinkmeyer and myself break it down - SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio - Fantistics Insider Football.

Fantasy Football fantasy 101, strategy, fantasy tips, playoff prep

from the GSI.com archives...

The most important day of the fantasy baseball season is the one when you select your team. While it’s a virtual certainty that your team won’t look like it does that first day, the draft or auction is where your team’s foundation is created. However, there are still plenty of opportunities to optimize your performance as the year goes along.

Every week can be crucial to your season, so it’s important to know what’s going on each Monday through Sunday. Always check the coming week’s schedule, since some teams play seven-game slates while others may only play five or six games. And late in the year, rain makeups can even force some teams to play eight games in seven days. Maximizing playing time by shuffling your roster can help those counting stat categories.

Just as critically, you need to know which of your starting pitchers will take the mound twice, and where. A two-start week in Florida and San Diego is nice, while one in Arizona and Colorado can do serious damage to your ERA and WHIP.

This approach also can be applied to your hitters. If you have two roughly equivalent outfielders, playing the one with games in Boston and Texas is certainly better than going with the guy trying to put up big numbers in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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Of course, the way you can make the biggest improvement is through trades. After the first several weeks of the season, you should have a good idea of where your team is strong and where it needs help. Be sure to take into account any unreasonably hot starts, rough spells, or injuries that may be skewing the standings.

Once you’ve figured out your needs, find a potential partner, or partners, to help you out. See if you can give up some of your strength to address your weaknesses. Remember to be reasonable when approaching a fellow owner with a trade offer. Any proposal has to help the other guy as well as yourself. No one wants to deal with the owner offering Ryan Klesko and Shawn Estes for Albert Pujols and Joe Nathan.

No matter how good your team is doing, always look to improve, focusing first and foremost on this season. If you’re in first place on July 4th, don’t stand pat. If another owner is out of the running early, see if you can give him some prospects in exchange for one or two of his good players in the last year of their contracts. It will strengthen you for the stretch run, when the good teams make their push and the bad teams look toward next season. Even if you’re solidly in first place, consider a move like this. Because if you don’t get those good players that are sure to be available, someone chasing you down will, and that nice lead you have could dwindle quickly.

Of course, there’s always the flip side, where everything that can go wrong does. You know, those times when your ace starter goes down with a season-ending injury, your stud hitter is indicted, and your not-so-hot sleeper is sent back to Double-A. When this unfortunately occurs, you first need to decide who you’ll want to keep for the next season. Everyone else should be thrown out there for potential trade. The best bait to dangle is the strong performer in the last year of a contract. He won’t help you this year and he’ll be available next year if you want to try to get him back, so the best thing to do is deal him for a cheap player or two who can help your squad next season. Getting something in return is always better than getting nothing.

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Even the best owners can improve, and there should have been at least one or two nuggets of information in this series that everyone was able to take away to make their teams that much stronger.

Fantasy Baseball fantasy 101, strategy, fantasy advice

We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at second basemen:

TOP FIVE
1. Robinson Cano (NYY)
2. Dustin Pedroia (BOS)
3. Ian Kinsler (TEX)
4. Brandon Phillips (CIN)
5. Ben Zobrist (TB)

UP CLOSE
Dan Uggla (ATL) – After batting just .177 in his first 86 games, Uggla turned around his 2011 campaign with a 33-game hitting streak.  Owners can overlook the terrible contact rate that led to him finishing the season with a measly .233 average due to the fact he jacked a career-high 36 long balls. That type of power at this position is rare and keeps Uggla as a top 10 option at the position.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Brandon Phillips (CIN) – Phillips hit a career-high .303 last season. Over the past two seasons though we’ve watched his HR and SB base both drop.  He’s entering a contract year this season and with the Reds opening to hit in the leadoff spot this year expect plenty of chances to produce. His power numbers may go down, but not by much. Expect plenty of runs and stolen bases though.

BUST CANDIDATE
Chase Utley (PHI) –His name carries plenty of weight and will cause many owners to overpay for Utley. While he still has some upside, at 33 he is on a steady decline. His OPS has dropped in each of the past four seasons and he’s missed 40 plus games each of the past two years.   He’s still capable of delivering a .280/20/80 batting line, but will need to stay healthy to do so.

FUTURE STAR
Dustin Ackley (SEA) – Quietly loss in a dismal offensive season in Seattle in 2011 were the numbers put up by the 24-year old after his June call-up.  He hit .273 with seven triples, six homers and 36 RBI in 333 at-bats last year and is off to a hot start this spring. He’s slated to hit atop the Mariners’ batting order and is definitely worth keeping a close eye on as the season approaches.

FANTASY 101
There is more depth at the position than in recent years with as four Tier 1 options. Grabbing one of those guys could be worth a pick in the early rounds. After that look for value and find players that can help in a specific category or two and draft accordingly. When building a bench, look for those players that have multiple-position eligibility as they typically make better bench fodder.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, second base, strategy, dan uggla, brandon phillips, chase utley, dustin ackley

TOP TEN
1. Ryan Braun (MLW)
2. Matt Kemp (LA)
3. Jose Bautista (TOR)
4. Carlos Gonzalez (COL)
5. Curtis Granderson (NYY)
6. Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS)
7. Justin Upton (ARZ)
8. Matt Holliday (STL)
9. Andrew McCutchen (PIT)
10. Josh Hamilton (TEX)

UP CLOSE
Jay Bruce (CIN) - His averaged dropped 25 points in 2011 as he finished with a .256 mark. However, his career-high 32 HR and 97 RBI were welcomed by fantasy owners. Bruce should be drafted as a top 20 outfielder and possesses great upside at 24 years of age.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Desmond Jennings (TB) - After getting a call up in July last season, Jennings quickly made an impact for the Rays and fantasy owners alike. He managed to collect 10 home runs, 25 RBI, 20 stolen bases and 44 runs scored in just 63 games. With a full season ahead the youngster could easily top the 100-run plateau while swiping 40-plus bags.

BUST CANDIDATE
Melky Cabrera (SF) - After being a journeyman most of his career, Cabrera posted career numbers in Kansas City last season. The Royals responded by selling high and dealing him to the Giants. While he produced as a top 50 fantasy performer last year in mixed formats, he'll likely revert back to something closer of the player we watched the previous five seasons.

FUTURE STAR
Bryce Harper (WAS) - The 19-year old phenom is a five-tool player with huge upside, but he's a long shot to make the Opening Day roster. The top-rated prospect in the game in a fantasy commodity though in keeper leagues and owners should watch his performance this spring in year-to-year formats.

FANTASY 101
Knowing your roster requirements is a must, but in most leagues a roster will consist of at least five outfielders. It is important to get statistical balance in the catagory. While there are some big names atop the position's rankings, plenty of value can be had late. Using tiers to predetermine players' values is more important at this position than any other.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, outfielders, strategy, jay bruce, desmond jennings, melky cabrera, bryce harper

We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at relievers:

TOP FIVE
1. Craig Kimbrel (ATL)
2. Jonathan Papelbon (PHI)
3. John Axford (MLW)
4. Mariano Rivera (NYY)
5. Drew Storen (WAS)

UP CLOSE
Andrew Bailey (BOS) – The upside for Bailey is significant as he takes over as the new closer for the Red Sox.  There’s no arguing that when healthy Bailey is amongst the game’s top closers. However, staying healthy has been a huge issue. Arm surgery to remove bone chips following the 2010 campaign lingered into 2011, costing him six weeks of time. Those same issues make him a high risk, high reward fantasy option heading into 2012.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Huston Street (SD) – The move to PETCO Park is always a good thing for a pitcher and it will be no different for Street. He’ll replace Heath Bell, who departed for Miami via free agency, as the Padres’ closer. Like Bell before him, Street will benefit from the Padres seemingly always playing in close games. If he stays healthy, he could emerge as a top 5 or 6 closer by season’s end.

BUST CANDIDATE
Jose Valverde (DET) – Everything went right for Valverde last year as he saved 52 of 52 games (including playoffs) and posted a 2.24 ERA. However, his strikeouts were down (8.6 K/9 innings) and his walks were up (4.2 BB/9). He managed to post elite numbers because he pitched out of jams and stranded runners.  While he remains a solid fantasy closer, expect his numbers to drop off in the year ahead making him as an overrated option.

FUTURE STAR
Kenley Jansen (LA) – The one time catcher took the baseball world by storm with a 16.1 batter strikeout rate per 9 innings in 2011 with his moving 92-95 MPH fastball.  A pair of injuries slowed his progress a year ago, but he now appears healthy and if his arm holds up the sky is the limit. He needs to beat Javy Guerra out for the Dodgers’ closer job this spring. If he does, expect a top 10 finish from him this season.

FANTASY 101
Closer is always a position that sees players emerge from nowhere seemingly every year. In some formats, saves may be overrated a bit which translates into top setup men also becoming reliable fantasy options. In other leagues starting pitchers are scored much higher so finding a starter with relief pitching eligibility become valuable so it is important to know your league rules. When it comes to going after a closer you may be best served to allow others to take big names early and look for bargains late during your draft/auction.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, relievers, strategy, andrew bailey, huston street, jose valverde, kenley jansen

We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at catcher:

TOP FIVE
1. Carlos Santana (CLE)
2. Brian McCann (ATL)
3. Buster Posey (SF)
4. Joe Mauer (MIN)
5. Mike Napoli (TEX)

UP CLOSE
Joe Mauer (MIN) – Last season was a disaster for Mauer. After being slowed in Spring Training as he recovered from knee surgery, the All-Star backstop lost significant time as he coped with a viral infection and was sidelined down the stretch with pneumonia.  He’s too important for the Twins on offense to continue to catch every day, but one way or another Minnesota will get him in the lineup. He appears at 100 percent as camps break and the fact he still managed a .314/.393/.416 hitting line in the second half last year suggests he is still an elite fantasy option.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Miguel Montero (ARZ) – His numbers a year ago would suggest his breakout already came as the Diamondback hit 18 HR and 65 RBI (both career highs).  However, there still seems to be room for improvement. With a talented lineup around him, Montero could deliver even bigger numbers as he enters his prime. He’s a nice mid-round option with some upside as .290, 20 HR, 80 RBI season is not out of the question.

BUST CANDIDATE
Kurt Suzuki (OAK) – Ever since the A’s gave Suzuki a big contract, his numbers at the plate have steadily declined. Both his average and on-base percentage have declined over each of the past three seasons. The 29-year old has only mustered 73 extra-base hits over the past three seasons over a span of 1,059 plate appearances. There’s not much to suggest he’ll turn around in 2012.

FUTURE STAR
Jesus Montero (SEA) – The Yankees gave up the young catcher to land the hard-throwing Michael Pineda and a quick glimpse at the tools Montero possesses shows us why.  The 22-year old only appeared in 18 games last year for New York and most of that time came at DH, but he still hit .328 with 4 HR and 12 RBI in just 61 at bats. The Mariners plan to put him behind the plate most days and will let him be the designated hitter when he’s not catching. He’s likely to struggle at times, but he should prove to be a top 10 fantasy option in his first full season.

FANTASY 101
The value of a catcher to your fantasy team depends greatly on your league’s rules. In most Roto formats where two catchers are active is imperative to get some production at the position. In leagues where just one catcher is needed owners can afford to wait much longer before filling the need. Getting an elite player at the position is a plus, but be careful not to overpay. If you decided to wait around before selecting a player for the position then you are best served to go with a young player over an aging veteran as catching regularly can take a toll on veterans and their production at the plate.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, catcher, strategy, joe mauer, kurt suzuki, miguel montero, jesus montero

We get you ready for the upcoming fantasy baseball season by taking an in-depth look at third basemen:

TOP FIVE
1. Jose Baustista (TOR)
2. Evan Longoria (TB)
3. David Wright (NYM)
4. Ryan Zimmerman (WAS)
5. Adrian Beltre (TEX)

UP CLOSE
Pablo Sandoval (SF) – Weight issues have hindered his growth and raised criticism a bit, but owners couldn’t argue with his production at the plate in 2011.  His OPS went up 177 points from 2010 to 2011 and he went yard 10 more times despite playing in 35 less games.  He is potentially a .300-25-90 guy at a position where there aren’t many elite options.

BREAKOUT AHEAD
Ryan Roberts (ARZ) – The career minor leaguer finally got an extended opportunity in the big leagues in 2011 and it resulted in him hitting 19 HR, 65 RBI and 25 doubles. He’s slated to be the Diamondbacks starting third basemen and his fantasy value is helped by his second-base eligibility.  If he can get the average up from the .249 clip he hit last year he’ll prove to be quite valuable in the mid-to-late rounds of your draft.

BUST CANDIDATE
Alex Rodriguez (NYY) – A-Rod is still a solid option, but no longer provides the elite numbers owners covet. Those that overpay on him or draft him too early will likely be disappointed. He hasn’t stayed healthy enough to get to 600 at bats since 2007 and was limited to just 99 games last year.  He’s still a solid starting option, but at the backend of the top 10 in our rankings. If you he falls far enough in your draft or auction he could still be worth the price, but you better have a backup plan if he misses time.

FUTURE STAR
Mike Moustakas (KC) – After getting called up in June, one of the game’s top power-hitting prospects struggled mightily through most of the summer in Kansas City. A strong September (352/.380/.580 with 4 HR) showed that he was able to make adjustments. That experience makes him appealing heading into 2012 as he will be the everyday third basemen for the Royals. His struggles against lefties will keep his batting average down, but the power numbers will be there.

FANTASY 101
Third base is one of the least deep positions in fantasy baseball. While there are a handful of top tier options, the fall off is quick and drastic once you get out the top few players. It is worth going after an elite option early in the draft or by investing some auction dollars. However, if you miss out early it is best to play the wait-and-see approach and focus on other positions. There are some young players that will likely be around late and some aging veterans who could prove to be valuable at a low cost.

COMPLETE RANKINGS | LATEST ADP

Fantasy Baseball fantasy advice, fantasy rankings, 2012, third base, strategy, pablo sandoval, ryan roberts, alex rodriguez, mike moustakas

Before you spend a first round pick on Tom Brady and go after a top quarterback early, you need to consider the fact that the point-differential between the top 2 or 3 quarterbacks and the No. 8 and No. 9 quarterbacks isn't that great. Sure, when he was putting up 45 points per week mid-season in '07, Brady owners were unstoppable. There is no doubt Brady is a safe bet to be atop the QB rankings again and is a fairly safe first round pick, but waiting on a QB may be a better stategy. Not only will it allow you chance to get a stud RB or WR, but you can still get production at the QB position.

Take a look at the average points per game by QB's over the last six weeks of last season (when it counted most:
Tom Brady NE - 25.7
Kurt Warner AZ - 24.9
Peyton Manning IND - 23.1
Tony Romo DAL - 22.6
Drew Brees NO - 22.4
David Garrard JAX - 21.4
Matt Hasselbeck SEA - 21.2
Jay Cutler DEN - 19.1
Derek Anderson CLE - 18.4
Ben Roethlisberger PIT - 18.3

Fantasy Football quarterbacks, strategy