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