2008 SDMB Yahoo Fantasy Baseball

[Wilson]

OK, boys and girls, it's that time again...

Yahoo has opened up the fantasy baseball signups. It looks like they've added one new feature - I can just renew last years league and probably invite everyone in it (since I was commissioner last year, I think I have to do that).

Last year's thread. (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=407454)

For those not familiar, this league has been going on for several years, with a core group of a dozen or so that have played for most of the seasons. We're always looking for fresh meat, however, as we like really deep leagues (using going 18 players deep). Last year's thread should have the info on the settings, and I'm sure someone will be along to post the exact settings and start the discussion on how we should do it.

So, let's start expressing our joy that this time of the year is here, and start thinking of witty team names and a good league name!

And in more serious stuff - I am willing to be commissioner again, but don't care one way or the other. However, with what appears to be the new feature of copying from last year's league and sending out invites, I will say that maybe we should start that way, and I can then reassign the commissioner's role to whoever we all decide on.

So, regulars (and newcomers), what say you?

[Kiros]

*Marv Albert Voice* YES!

[Jimmy Chitwood]

Oh shit yes.

[rockle]

Pretty please? With cherries? (I believe I will qualify as "fresh meat.")

[Omniscient]

Why yes, yes I will.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

So..about being fresh meat...I wish to be that meat.

Are we instituting position limits?

[Kid_A]

Sweet!!!

The most competitive fantasy sports league I've ever been in is back.

[Wilson]

Good to hear from some regulars (and some newcomers).

Ok had some time...
Last year's settings -
Roster Positions: C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, IF, LF, CF, RF, OF, Util, SP, SP, RP, RP, P, P, P, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, BN, DL, DL
Stat Categories: R, HR, RBI, SB, OBP, SLG, W, SV, K, HLD, ERA, WHIP

So a bit different from standard Yahoo - deeper rosters, with the IF and OF positions, plus the added twist of LF/CF/RF instead of generic outfield.
And then in stat categories we use OBP and SLG instead of average, and we add Holds to the standard five for pitchers.
Max Games Played 162, Max innings 1300.

Shall we start the annual discussion on whether Holds are a good thing or bad?

Plus anyone have any opinions of whether I should open up the league using the new feature Yahoo has for the previous year's commissioner?

[Least Original User Name Ever]

I don't mind holds, but I'd like to see the max games and innings at least bumped up.

[brianjedi]

I'm back in, as usual, and looking forward to getting back to my contending ways after a down year last year.

I don't have a problem with keeping holds, even though it's still a voodoo science figuring out what constitutes one for scoring purposes. As far as an innings bump, I think 1300 is a fair number, since the year we did 1350, no one got that close as I recall.

[Kiros]

Aye, no more than a few teams hit 1300 last year either, as I recall. It seemed to work pretty well.

I like holds inasmuch as they're the least of evils, given our choices in the past.

And yeah, I'd use that feature to open up the league for this year.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

I tend to annihilate the games played/innings caps.

[Wilson]

I tend to annihilate the games played/innings caps.
Well, this league goes REALLY deep - 18 teams times 23 players means you are really digging the bottom of the barrel at the end of the draft.

[Tazmanian Devil]

I'm back for another go at it. :)

[Typo Negative]

Count me in!

[percussion]

Ill give this a go, trying to pay more attention to baseball as I now live in a city with a team!

[Hawkeyeop]

Yay, I love obscenely deep leagues. It is the only place where my knowledge of backup middle infielders comes in handy. I'm in, if you have room for another newbie.

[storyteller0910]

I keep trying to get involved in these things, and I keep coming in too late. Room for one more? I'm a relative novice at fantasy baseball, but I've been comically obsessed with the sport for most of my life.

[Wilson]

Ill give this a go, trying to pay more attention to baseball as I now live in a city with a team!
Newfoundland has a team?

[Hawkeyeop]

Any followup on this?

[Ins&Outs&What-have-yous]

I'd like to play if there's still room. I've played fantasy baseball on Yahoo for several years, but not yet through the SDMB.

[Omniscient]

Looks like there's going to have to be multiple leagues.

[Kiros]

We had multiple leagues last year as well... I know I was in at least two.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Don't we have at least one keeper league?

[Wilson]

Don't we have at least one keeper league?
There's one keeper league that I know of run by a former SDMB member, but that's completely full.

And I did set up a second league at the last minute last year, using standard yahoo rules.

I've set up the main league, by copying last year's league, and invited those people who have been in the league for three years or more. I'll then invite in those who have played last year and have expressed interest, and then we'll open it up.
We've been burned in past years by owners who disappeared right after the draft, or who made horrible trades, so we're trying it this way. Don't worry, there will still be openings to fill, and there's lots of time.

[Southern Yankee]

I'd like to get in on this if there's a spot open!

[Wilson]

OK let's bump this sucker now that it's in the shiny new forum....

Anyone wants in, and is serious about sticking around all year, let me know. Send me a PM here or email me at paulm17 at yahoo dot com, if you send a PM be sure to give me your email address.
My personal feeling is that this isn't the best league for someone who is new to fantasy baseball, but there's not real way to enforce that.

I think we've got 11 owners now, and we'd like to get up to 18 or 20.

[Wilson]

Well, one last update.

We've got 17 owners now, and are still looking for 1 to 3 more. If you're a somewhat experienced fantasy baseball player, or a knowledgable baseball fan who wants to take a crack fantasy baseball with an experienced and slightly crazy bunch, let me know.

The details are all upthread, the only thing to add is the draft time - Wednesday, March 19th at 10:30 pm eastern. The draft in this league tends to last over 2 and a half hours, so be warned.

[Least Original User Name Ever]

Especially with 9563854359256435 teams in the league.

[Really Not All That Bright]

I've never tried FB before, but I'm an old hand at FF. Can I try?

[if6was9]

There's one keeper league that I know of run by a former SDMB member, but that's completely full.

And I did set up a second league at the last minute last year, using standard yahoo rules.

I've set up the main league, by copying last year's league, and invited those people who have been in the league for three years or more. I'll then invite in those who have played last year and have expressed interest, and then we'll open it up.
We've been burned in past years by owners who disappeared right after the draft, or who made horrible trades, so we're trying it this way. Don't worry, there will still be openings to fill, and there's lots of time.
Make a thousand trades and you're just a trader. Make one bad one and you're a c**ksucker for life. Explains why I didn't warrant an invite. :p

It's cool. I don't like roto as much anyways. I like the trash talk of H2H better. Have a great year! :) And if anyone wants to start a H2H league, let me know. I'm in. You guys are good!.

[Omniscient]

Reminder to all, draft is tonight at 9:30PM CDT. See you there!

[Least Original User Name Ever]

I'm there, dude.

[Kiros]

Your plan to make me autodraft and get a shitty team by drafting well past my bedtime WILL NOT SUCCEED! I will see you all tonight after all decent people have shut their eyes towards the promise of a fresh morn to come!

[Omniscient]

Your plan to make me autodraft and get a shitty team by drafting well past my bedtime WILL NOT SUCCEED! I will see you all tonight after all decent people have shut their eyes towards the promise of a fresh morn to come!
Saying a fantasy draft is too late is like saying Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve is too late. It happens once a year and you make the appropriate sacrifices!