Fantasy Baseball '09

[DPMOmaha]

Depending on how your league is set up, yes, he usually is.  He's low BA, low OBP, high SB.  That's about it.  He could be valuable if you take total bases into consideration as well. 

[tomterp]

Mauer is not going to be ready at the start of the year.  Now I'm glad he was picked just ahead of when I was going to take him.  Weiters is going to start in the minors too, but as long as Molina holds up I at least have a player on the field.

[tomterp]

So how long is ESPN going to continue to classify Zimmermann as a relief pitcher?  I'm going to need him in my starting rotation day 1 due to injuries.

[nats2playoffs]

So how long is ESPN going to continue to classify Zimmermann as a relief pitcher?  I'm going to need him in my starting rotation day 1 due to injuries.

Last year on ESPN, it did not ever matter how a pitcher was classified.  In the free league, you simply had a limit on the number of pitching starts in a week.  Some of the best starters had been converted from relievers, and some starters were Bergmanned to the bullpen.  You could never be sure when that would happen.  So it really only mattered that you know how your own staff was being used; the ESPN classifications as SP or RP remained incorrect, so you need to look closely at waivers, with that in mind. 

The only ESPN classification that really affected rosters was when a player was designated as being on the DL.  ESPN always did that promptly, and you could leave them on the fantasy DL slots we had, even when they actually came back.

We didn't hold the draft last year until just before the season started.  Reasons: A number of players go on the DL during spring training, and by Opening Day, announcements had been made as to former starters now being platooned, sent to the bench, sent to the minors, or Pattersoned.  A late draft meant you didn't have to re-shuffle your lineup for these problems, which otherwise gives an edge to those who didn't have those problems.

Several of the starting pitchers I drafted early went out injured for the season very early, which meant I was constantly scrambling to find decent pitchers off waivers.  Allowing daily changes to lineups created league balance, as I still ended up in the World Series with thom202, who had an awesome lineup, and won the championship.

[tomterp]

I tried yesterday to move Zimmermann in to my starting rotation, to replace E. Santana who it appears is going to start the season on the DL.  However, because Z-two "n"s is classified as a RP, the system would not allow the change.

Here's what ESPN has to say about the situation generally:

Positional Eligibility for Pitchers
Additional positional eligibility for Pitchers is determined differently due to the frequency of their games played. Pitchers begin the season eligible for either the Starting Pitcher (SP) or Relief Pitcher (RP) position based on how they are listed on their team's roster at the start of the season. During the season, additional positional eligibility may occur as soon as the day after they play their first game in the new position.

For example, in 2007 Jeremy Guthrie began the season in the Baltimore bullpen. By May, it was clear he had established himself in the Orioles' rotation so he was awarded Starting Pitcher eligibility and was therefore eligible for both Starting Pitcher and Relief Pitcher slots for the rest of the 2007 season .

NOTE: It is possible that a Pitcher may pitch in a different position and yet not become eligible for that position. This will occur in rare cases where it is obviously an exceptional situation. For example, in 2007, Roy Oswalt (SP) pitched as a middle reliever against the Washington Nationals. He did not become eligible for RP since it was a one time occurence. Astros Manager Phil Garner explained, "Roy had requested an opportunity to throw. He had six days between starts in this span here. We told him we'd get him in."

[nats2playoffs]

I tried yesterday to move Zimmermann in to my starting rotation, to replace E. Santana who it appears is going to start the season on the DL.  However, because Z-two "n"s is classified as a RP, the system would not allow the change.  Here's what ESPN has to say about the situation generally:

I might be remembering wrong.  Week 4 of last year I had:
Ryan Dempster , ChC SP, RP
I picked him up off WAIVERS.  He had been the Cubs closer in 2007.  What a pickup!  Who knew?
                       
But the ESPN lineups simply had all of your pitchers listed, with no slots for starters or relievers.  I think thom202 found a glitch in how the maximum starts per week worked, allowing one to exceed it.  Maybe ESPN changed the system to stop that in 2009. 

With limited DL slots, players who are eligible for 2 or more positions can be a huge help with injuries, suspensions or matchups.  After a certain number of games at a 2nd position, ESPN will add it.  I think Ryan Braun is now a one-position player in 2009, for failing to play the other one in 2008.   

[Obed_Marsh]

But the ESPN lineups simply had all of your pitchers listed, with no slots for starters or relievers.  I think thom202 found a glitch in how the maximum starts per week worked, allowing one to exceed it.  Maybe ESPN changed the system to stop that in 2009. 

If it works the way it did last year, you can start as many pitchers as you want on the day you exceed the maximum. IE if the maximum is 12 and your at 11; you can start 5 and it will count all 16 pitchers' starts.

[JMUalumni]

If it works the way it did last year, you can start as many pitchers as you want on the day you exceed the maximum. IE if the maximum is 12 and your at 11; you can start 5 and it will count all 16 pitchers' starts.

Yeah, we had this same glitch in my fantasy basketball league.  The problem is largely solved when you make the switch to weekly leagues (versus daily).

[2k6nats]

If it works the way it did last year, you can start as many pitchers as you want on the day you exceed the maximum. IE if the maximum is 12 and your at 11; you can start 5 and it will count all 16 pitchers' starts.

Lineups are weekly, so this shouldn't be an issue.

[DPMOmaha]

Finally had our draft.  Pretty small rotisserie league (9) and the commish set the rosters at 28 (!) so there's a ton of players to draft  We have more newbies than I like so we could have some inactive players but should be fun regardless.  Here's how I made out.  I had the 5 pick, right smack dab in the middle which sucked but I think I did ok.  I was at about round 20 and was two picks away.  We had about half the guys who had dropped out already, I was all set to take Hanrahan when he was AUTOPICKED the one before me.  I was pissed, no way anyone takes him if they're still there.  That happened with Dunn too but it was really early before anyone had dropped out yet so I wasn't as upset about that one.  Probably took Zimnn a couple rounds too early but wanted to make sure I got him.  Got the original Zim too.  I think NJ could be a steal with my last pick.

Vine St. Bombers
1.    (5)    Ryan Howard
2.    (14)    Carlos Quentin
3.    (23)    Tim Lincecum
4.    (32)    Dan Uggla
5.    (41)    Brian McCann
6.    (50)    Adrián González
7.    (59)    Roy Halladay
8.    (68)    Ryan Zimmerman
9.    (77)    J.J. Hardy
10.    (86)    Félix Hernández
11.    (95)    A.J. Burnett
12.    (104)    Bobby Abreu
13.    (113)    Jermaine Dye
14.    (122)    Matt Cain
15.    (131)    Vernon Wells
16.    (140)    Carlos Delgado
17.    (149)    Ted Lilly
18.    (158)    Chris Young
19.    (167)    Chien-Ming Wang
20.    (176)    Brad Hawpe
21.    (185)    George Sherrill
22.    (194)    Jordan Zimmermann
23.    (203)    Frank Francisco
24.    (212)    Matt Lindstrom
25.    (221)    Mark Reynolds
26.    (230)    John Lannan
27.    (239)    Jason Giambi
28.    (248)    Nick Johnson

[2k6nats]

So you're here for that draft but not ours 

[cmdterps44]

So you're here for that draft but not ours 

Wasnt it thom not here for ours?

[DPMOmaha]

So you're here for that draft but not ours 

I had to chose between the two, I chose the one with the people I've actually met in person, especially since this league was not having trouble filling spots.

[Obed_Marsh]

Wasnt it thom not here for ours?

Sorry guys. I got stuck at work. I'm an avid player though so I'll stay active all season. No phantom team here.

[daveb32]

Just had my roto draft as well, 12 teams 21 players per team. Unfortunately I showed up late to the room so I got 12th overall pick . Anyway, here's my team.

1. (12) Tim Lincecum
2. (13) Chase Utley
3. (36) Matt Holliday
4. (37) Russell Mrtin
5. (60) Rafael Furcal
6. (61) Adam Dunn
7. (84) Jay Bruce
8. (85) James Shields
9. (108) Jonathan Broxton
10. (109) Elijah Dukes
11. (132) Mark DeRosa
12. (133) Nelson Cruz (Accidental Auto-Pick )
13. (156) Pat Burrell
14. (157) Max Scherzer
15. (180) Chad Qualls
16. (181) Ryan Theriot
17. (204) Adam Lind
18. (205) Ramon Hernandez
19. (228) Fernando Rodney
20. (229) Gil Meche
21. (252) Felipe Lopez (Versatility Pick)

[houston-nat]

Just had my roto draft as well, 12 teams 21 players per team. Unfortunately I showed up late to the room so I got 12th overall pick . Anyway, here's my team.

1. (12) Tim Lincecum
2. (13) Chase Utley
3. (36) Matt Holliday
4. (37) Russell Mrtin
5. (60) Rafael Furcal
6. (61) Adam Dunn
7. (84) Jay Bruce
8. (85) James Shields
9. (108) Jonathan Broxton
10. (109) Elijah Dukes
11. (132) Mark DeRosa
12. (133) Nelson Cruz (Accidental Auto-Pick )
13. (156) Pat Burrell
14. (157) Max Scherzer
15. (180) Chad Qualls
16. (181) Ryan Theriot
17. (204) Adam Lind
18. (205) Ramon Hernandez
19. (228) Fernando Rodney
20. (229) Gil Meche
21. (252) Felipe Lopez (Versatility Pick)

I love Lincecum, but I feel like you blew a lot of those picks (like Holliday) ... Elijah Dukes is a smart move, but Felipe Lopez is going to earn you some enemies around here ... Also, is Max Scherzer your No. 3 starter? That's a gamble.

[daveb32]

I love Lincecum, but I feel like you blew a lot of those picks (like Holliday) ... Elijah Dukes is a smart move, but Felipe Lopez is going to earn you some enemies around here ... Also, is Max Scherzer your No. 3 starter? That's a gamble.

Yeah I agree that picking Holliday 3rd was a mistake, in retrospect I should have picked Aramis Ramirez who was still available. I'm hoping that his numbers do not deflate away from Coors field. I picked Scherzer for insurance as he is posted as a SP and a RP so I can use him in both roles in case one of my top 4 pitchers go down. He's not gathering points as the way it's set up is the top two starters and top two relievers gather points. I'd probably use Gil Meche if one of the top two SP go down anyway. Lopez was picked for versatility as he is slated as able to play 2B, SS, 3B and all three OF positions. I honestly think he can be a good player, he just never wanted to play with the Nats.

[HalfSmokes]

just had my money league draft, I ended up with way more pitching than I wanted, buts a weekly league so good starter become more valuable.

R1 P9 1B Mark Teixeira, NYY 
R2 P4 SP Johan Santana, NYM 
R3 P9 2B Alexei Ramirez, CHW 
R4 P4 SP Dan Haren, ARI 
R5 P9 1B Chris Davis, TEX [3B] 
R6 P4 1B Joey Votto, CIN 
R7 P9 SP Felix Hernandez, SEA 
R8 P4 SP Jon Lester, BOS 
R9 P9 2B Kaz Matsui, HOU 
R10 P4 OF Jayson Werth, PHI 
R11 P9 RP Joba Chamberlain, NYY 
R12 P4 RP B.J. Ryan, TOR 
R13 P9 SP Derek Lowe, ATL 
R14 P4 OF Elijah Dukes, WAS 
R15 P9 C Matt Wieters, BAL 
R16 P4 OF Carlos Gomez, MIN 
R17 P9 C Kurt Suzuki, OAK 
R18 P4 OF Pat Burrell, TB 
R19 P9 RP Jason Motte, STL 
R20 P4 OF Ryan Church, NYM 
R21 P9 OF Willy Taveras, CIN 
R22 P4 SP Hong-Chih Kuo, LA 
R23 P9 SS Jason Bartlett, TB 
R24 P4 RP Jose Arredondo, ANA 
R25 P9 C Jesus Flores, WAS 
R26 P4 RP Jordan Zimmerman, WAS 
R27 P9 SS Cristian Guzman, WAS 
R28 P4 DH Travis Hafner, CLE 
R29 P9 OF Jack Cust, OAK 
R30 P4 OF Michael Bourn, HOU 

[tomterp]

just had my money league draft, I ended up with way more pitching than I wanted, buts a weekly league so good starter become more valuable.

"Way more pitching" may not be the case.  I probably have the best/most pitching of anyone in our league, a clearly unpopular stance, but here's why.

1- Based on OUR LEAGUE points system, X the projected performance of every player in baseball, those were the guys available to me that projected to generate the most points, by the time my picks came around.  I was dead last, and took CC and Lincecum with my 10 and 11 picks. 

2- There's a "moneyball" lesson in here, I think.  When I did a couple of test drafts earlier in the day, I was ridiculed on the forums for selecting pitchers early, as their seems to be some conventional wisdom to not take them early.  Maybe it's because generally they have more injury risk.  But if 9 guys in your league all run like lemmings after the same position players, and leave the pitchers wide open, it seems to me there is a market inefficiency that should be exploited.  Pitchers have become undervalued, so load up.

[cmdterps44]

Had my baseball draft with my brother on sunday and slept through pretty much all of it was my own fault and its a money league hahah.


but i think i ended up with a pretty damn good team.

1.     (6)     Miguel Cabrera
2.    (11)    Jimmy Rollins
3.    (22)    Prince Fielder
4.    (27)    Brandon Phillips
5.    (38)    David Ortiz
6.    (43)    Russell Martin
7.    (54)    Álex Ríos
8.    (59)    Nate McLouth
9.    (70)    Corey Hart
10.    (75)    Hunter Pence
11.    (86)    Félix Hernández
12.    (91)    Rich Harden
13.    (102)    A.J. Burnett
14.    (107)    Yovani Gallardo
15.    (118)    Francisco Cordero
16.    (123)    Matt Capps
17.    (134)    Vernon Wells
18.    (139)    Chris Young
19.    (150)    Mark Reynolds
20.    (155)    Matt Garza
21.    (166)    Kelly Johnson
22.    (171)    Orlando Cabrera
23.    (182)    Chien-Ming Wang

dropped Chris Young OF for Justin Duchererer, for the pitching help, had 3 outfielders on the bench. (Wells, Pence and Young)

[JMUalumni]

dropped Chris Young OF for Justin Duchererer, for the pitching help, had 3 outfielders on the bench. (Wells, Pence and Young)

Not sure if you know, but Duchscherer is having surgery on his elbow next week and will miss at least 6-8 weeks.

[cmdterps44]

Not sure if you know, but Duchscherer is having surgery on his elbow next week and will miss at least 6-8 weeks.

O wow, did not know that at all, hadnt checked his notes recently. Thanks for the update!

[cmdterps44]

Picked up Johnny Cueto, did pretty well in his last two outings.

[JMUalumni]

Picked up Johnny Cueto, did pretty well in his last two outings.

Not a bad pickup for a post-draft pick up.  You actually got decent pitching after not picking a pitcher until the 11th round.

[cmdterps44]

Yea, I got lucky, plus its only 8 people this year but still fun to have a team like this.