Fanstay Baseball tips? I am playing for the first time (1 Viewer)

[Da Guru]

I have played FF for 15 years.

My buddy has been in a 12 team Fantasy BB league for 8 years and they had a guy drop out. I am taking his spot.

I follow baseball but nowhere near the way that I follow football. Any tips on how to draft or anything would be appreciated.

 

[MAC_32]

For others you may want to post the league's settings, H2H, points, or roto? 5x5? standard? starting requirements? I'm assuming standard 5x5 roto. Here we go...

-The catcher position is scare. If you miss the top 5 though, don't reach too much, don't fret. Bengie Molina's a good value deep in the draft. Justin Towles and Geovany Soto are a couple of low risk high reward type players too

-No matter what anyone tells you, MI is deep this year. If you miss on the elite guys don't go reaching for a 2B as a value like Kendrick, Polanco, or Kelly Johnson will be waiting for you much later. As for SS, there is a huge drop off between 3 and 4. If you miss the top 3 you may be best to give up on SS until the late rounds and pursue a Yunel Escobar, Jhonny Peralta, or Khalil Greene type unless a Tejada or Furcal falls far enough in the draft

-A good pitching staff can be assembled even by not taking your first one until round 8+, do not under estimate the value of middle reliever's. You can draft a SP with a slightly higher expected ERA and compete with the elite staff's by adding quality middle reliever's later. High upside guys like Lincecum, Liriano, and Sheets early and Harden, Randy Johnson, Sheets, Buchholz, and Bonderman later are worth the risk. Use steady, under valued starters like Derek Lowe, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez, Good Weaver, and Kuroda (I think he's safe even though he's never pitched outside of Japan) to balance out the risk of your other pitchers.

-Do not be the guy taking a closer in the first 120 picks, 35 saves can be found much deeper in the draft in guys like Joe Bo, BJ Ryan, Percival, and Soria. The solid ratios provided by the elite closers can be found in the elite middle reliever's that will be available deep in the draft, your Heath Bell's, Rafael Betancourt's, Jonathon Broxton's, etc. will help balance out any disadvantage you may have from not having an elite closer with elite ratios

-In the early rounds try to draft balance, meaning draft 4 and 5 cat players instead of 2 and 3 cat performers. Focusing too much on R/SB or HR/RBI early will limit your options later in the draft. Guys like Markakis, Chris Young, Pence, Corey Hart, Sheffield, Abreu, and Matt Kemp (notice that all those I mentioned are OF's) are more valuable than they're normally drafted.

-You can't win your league in the first two rounds, but you can lose it. Don't be that guy going after Albert Pujols.

Hope that helps, good luck, and welcome to the wonderful world of fantasy baseball! I promise you'll get hooked.

 

[Greco]

Get Melky early or regret it forever*.

* Keeper format only.

 

[Your Mother]

Here are some general tips I can give you:

1) When drafting, be mindful of what positions have been filled by surrounding teams. For instance, if you're picking 9th out of 12th and you're targeting a SP and an SS, and the 10th, 11th and 12th teams already have SS, it obviously makes sense to take the pitcher first. This can be used some in FF, but I think it's more important in FB.

2) Know the scoring system. If it deviates from the standard 5x5 setup, keep in mind that there will be inefficiencies to exploit, as people will likely be going off old rankings that are based on batting average, etc.

3) As a rule of thumb, I don't take my first SP until rounds 5-7. I also don't take a closer until rounds 8-10. Finding pitching is a lot easier than finding hitting during the year.

4) The below post about positional scarcity isn't completely helpful. I agree about C's in general, and typically don't get into a bidding frenzy for one early. Especially if it's a deep lineup league where C will have a smaller impact on your team's offense overall. I'd also disagree about waiting late if you don't get an elite MI, there are plenty of good mid-range options (Guillen, Kinsler). While I try to stay flexible about where I take middle infielders, I'm almost always strictly dogmatic about taking mid-level closers. Skilled guys who aren't in danger of losing their job that have demonstrated good skills, but don't have an elite name like Wagner or Rivera.

 

[pantagrapher]

The biggest thing, especially if you're used to playing fantasy football, is patience. Never forget that the baseball season is very long. You'll be tempted at times to bench an underperforming stud (or even drop one for some no-name guy who's on a hot streak). Most of the time, if you ride it out, you'll be rewarded in the long run.

 

[Kub]

A few suggestions:

* Know your scoring system. There are guys who are much more valuable in points leagues than roto leagues.

* Since there are so many positions to fill, it is almost inevitable that you will have weaknesses on your team. Try to identify the positions that you feel has a lot of depth and leave them until later on in the draft.

* Don't overlook a former stud player who had one bad year. Conversely, don't get wrapped up in the buzz surrounding guys coming off one big year.

* Later on in your draft, look towards high-risk, high-reward guys. I'd much rather take a chance on the guy who could break out for me than the tried and true average player.

 

[Angry Beavers]

Power is toughest accquire during the year.

I would load up on big sticks early on, backfill with Speed, a couple of starters and maybe one elite closer

Then fill out the rest of the lineup with the best starters you can find and a couple of closers/Middle Relievers.

Starting pitching and saves will be available throughout the year. Speed and average will be able to to be found as well, just not as easily. Again, Power will be very difficult to find.....

 

[MAC_32]

I'd also disagree about waiting late if you don't get an elite MI, there are plenty of good mid-range options (Guillen, Kinsler).

You can get 90% of Kinsler five rounds later with Kendrick, Guillen and Tulo are not worth their market value If they were going a round or two later, ok, but they're not.

 

[prosopis]

 

[FairWarning]

Hitters stats are far easier to predict than pitchers. Don't overrate saves. Closers basically get you one catagory (saves), I like getting closers from bad teams late.

 

[tribecalledjeff]

The biggest thing, especially if you're used to playing fantasy football, is patience. Never forget that the baseball season is very long. You'll be tempted at times to bench an underperforming stud (or even drop one for some no-name guy who's on a hot streak). Most of the time, if you ride it out, you'll be rewarded in the long run.

Along with this, exploit owners that don't have patience. If a proven stud starts off poorly in the first month or so, go after him. There are a lot more "buy low" opportunities in baseball because it's such a long season.

 

[Da Guru]

I don`t know the exact scoring system yet. I will post it when I get details.

I alwys like when a new guy comes into a FF league, so they are probably licking their chops.

 

[Koya]

First timer here. :noob:

What sites, cheat sheets, whatever else should we know to check out? My league is a traditional 5x5.

 

[cobalt_27]

First timer here. :noob:

What sites, cheat sheets, whatever else should we know to check out? My league is a traditional 5x5.

This is a really great site.I'd also take a look at ESPN for good blurbs on guys and quick reference marks on what they did last year, statistically. Do not, however, under any circumstances ever use them to run a league. They are one of the worst.

 

[MAC_32]

First timer here. :noob:What sites, cheat sheets, whatever else should we know to check out? My league is a traditional 5x5.

Hardball Times, Baseball Musings, Roto Authority, Spring Training 08, Marcel, ZiPS, and Minor League Baseball. I visit each of those sites at least once every other day. If you're starting your draft prep now though you're likely already a big step behind the curve. I couldn't imagine prepping for drafts and keeping up with Spring Training updates at the same time.

 

[Koya]

First timer here. :noob:What sites, cheat sheets, whatever else should we know to check out? My league is a traditional 5x5.

Hardball Times, Baseball Musings, Roto Authority, Spring Training 08, Marcel, ZiPS, and Minor League Baseball. I visit each of those sites at least once every other day. If you're starting your draft prep now though you're likely already a big step behind the curve. I couldn't imagine prepping for drafts and keeping up with Spring Training updates at the same time.

Oh, I am a NOOB, I plan to lose handily without some pure luck.That said, I will essentially mush a few cheat sheets together and then just get drunk and hope for the best. I appreciate the input and the sites, thanks.

 

[Wrigley]

First timer here. :noob:

What sites, cheat sheets, whatever else should we know to check out? My league is a traditional 5x5.

This is a really great site.I'd also take a look at ESPN for good blurbs on guys and quick reference marks on what they did last year, statistically. Do not, however, under any circumstances ever use them to run a league. They are one of the worst.

The ESPN draft guide actually looks good this yearHERE

Guy by the name of Jason Grey is working with them....he knows stuff.

 

[Da Guru]

We picked the draft order and I have #5 pick. Who should I target??

 

[Pnishthm]

We picked the draft order and I have #5 pick. Who should I target??

David Wright, M Holliday, H. Ramirez.

 

[meeka]

We picked the draft order and I have #5 pick. Who should I target??

ARod, Hanley, Wright, Reyes, Holliday are my top 5. Your first pick is the least of your worries. My tip is to go to Mock Draft Central and do as many drafts from your draft spot as you can to get an idea of where players go. Rounds 7-20 will be where you win or lose your draft. Good Luck.