Fantasy Baseball 2010

Ugh. I desperately want to do an auction league. Not that I expect that I’ll be any more successful in that format than I have been in any other I’ve tried.

However, I’m with the others in saying we should still have the standard SDMB format.

I don’t think I’d ever choose a non-auction league over an auction league as the strategy is just so much more interesting in an auction. However, they do take longer than traditional draft, and scheduling one with this many people is not a task I would relish.

…interesting…

Yeah - there’s no way I’m putting Crawford over any of those players below him, especially Kemp and Fielder. Steals are going to be easier this year. Lincecum there seems like an okay reach, but I won’t pull the trigger on a pitcher that early.

The Hanley/Pujols debate rages again this year. I sided with Ramirez last year, and regret it. Hanley is an amazing player. But no one is as a sure fire guarantee than Pujols. Even at a loaded position like 1B, he gives you an immediate advantage. I’d rather have Pujols/Tulowitzki than Hanley/Morneau.

I’m still not sure how much I trust putting a catcher that high either, even though I know Piazza was consistently in the top 5 at his prime.

I’m new to the SDMB Fantasy Baseball scene but have many years of competitive play under my belt. If you guys decide to start an auction league shoot me a message.

Also, if anyone has any questions about auction leagues feel free to ask. I’ve been in a auction keeper league that is entering its 5th season.

-R. Incognito

Crawford is one of those players who is overrated year after year. He’s a leftover from a different era when steals were harder to come by. You waste an early pick on him and you’ll never make up for it in power in the later rounds.

Well, part of that interesting is that Storyteller is in a league that I run, so I’m sure he appreciates some insight into my plans. I can see the case for Kemp. I think I just haven’t wrapped my head around how good he has become. I do like Fielder too, but 1b is ridiculously deep. There may be more speedsters around this year, but none of them are as good all around as Crawford. Besides there will still always be more home-runs than steals available.

Tulo is arguably the 2nd ranked ss and is going at an avg of 17th. I don’t think you are getting him with the last pick of the 2nd round. The main difference to me is depth. I’d rather have Hanley and a Carlos Pena or Derrek Lee type than Pujols and Hardy or Peralta.

Mauer is just so much better than the competition. If I could guarantee 600 bats, I’d probably draft him third.

Last year he hit 15 hr and drove 68 runs. Obviously that isn’t as much as a slugger at that spot, but it isn’t going to kill you. We aren’t talking Juan Pierre here.

Yeah - Crawford is getting a lot of rave reviews this year from people thinking his big drop off last year was a total fluke. He’s also in a contract year, and his interviews show him to be extremely motivated to really cash in. In the first round, I’ll still stick with more of a sure thing.

I thought the same thing once I posted that. It also goes against my “sure thing” - even though I think Tulo is bound to repeat (threepeat?) what he did last year.

Well, I hate drafting Pena (unless it’s in an OBP league), and I won’t go near Lee this year. But I am looking for Votto for as great value around then. SS depth is shallower, but not by as much as many think. But Peralta et al. are going much much later than either Pena or Lee, and lets me get a 2nd SP sooner.

Yeah - but that’s no guarantee, as we all know.

I’d like to join if possible.

And if anyone is interested in making a second auction league, I’d be up for that - trust me, it will make draft day feel like you’re planning the Normandy Invasion…

I will start the league up - probably this weekend or early next week. I’m still looking for someone to take over as commish but can do it if no-one else wants. My access is somewhat limited.

I was just on ESPN’s fantasy baseball boards and I saw that some leagues are drafting now? Is there any point to playing a league that has a draft before a single inning has been played in spring training?

I think it can be a good idea. It makes owners rely on their own knowledge, rather than spewing out what they’ve heard for 2 months on ESPN. Makes you take a lot of risks, though.

I would hate to have to draft now - people can get hurt, can get cut, or even sent to the minor leagues for the first part of the season. And who knows what kind of shape athletes kept themselves in over the break? A bit too much blind luck is involved if you draft so early; so I’d prefer to wait a bit.

Anyway - I’ve never been a commish before, but I’ll take a swing at it if no one else wants to. Do we have a preference for site? I’ve used Yahoo! the last few years, and it’s been OK. Haven’t used ESPN for fantasy baseball, but I do prefer it for football.

Anyone have a link to last year’s league?

We do have probably a minimum of two slots available in the Big League this year for people who are comfortable committing to following their team for the entire season. We ran last year at 16 teams, but we are usually in the 18-20 range.

Dragon, I appreciate the offer, and I’m sure you have plenty of experience. But I (personally) would prefer a commish with some experience in the league. But please feel free to join - you sound like exactly what we’re looking for.

What’s the commish even responsible for in a non-weekly baseball league? I mean, I’ve done it before but if I had responsibilities post-draft I’m pretty sure I didn’t fulfill them.

Wilson did a good job of pushing through trades that were totally non-controversial, and any sort of waiver wire screw ups that happened. It’s much less crucial than in football. Plus, didn’t you get the cookies he baked for the weekly winner?

You’re making an assumption there that I appreciate very much.