By Pete in Jordan
League 6
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Fantasy Baseball Managers
Greetings from the Middle East! As the first month of the season winds down, teams begin to settle into their “starting positions” in the standings.
In my fantasy baseball life, I have made a run at the flag from every possible place in the standings, and, over time, I have noticed some of the habits that give owners the best chance of winning their leagues. I have collected some of these tips, and I present them to you in a new mini-series entitled, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Fantasy Baseball Managers” …
By Tony in Hitchin
League 4
League 7
Okay people, we’re having a pop quiz today. There are only four questions, so this shouldn’t take long. Ready? Let’s go:
Qu. 1: Who invented fantasy baseball, when, and where?
Qu. 2: Where does the term “rotisserie” come from, and why is it misleading?
Qu. 3: Why do we use the categories that we do for fantasy leagues?
Qu. 4: What was the name of the first team ever to win a fantasy league?
Entry details and prizes are set out after the jump …
By Butters in D.C.
League 14
League 16
OK. We’re a month in, and some people did not heed my warning. I announced, fair and square, that if certain players didn’t pick up the pace, they would be added to ‘The Hit List’. Well, some responded, with C.C. Sabathia turning in a solid performance, and Hunter Pence starting to turn things around. They may have avoided the rub out.
However, other players weren’t listening, and now, I’ve got a full fantasy starting line-up full of people about to get whacked …
with Chris from Atlanta
League 17
Week #4
Home! I feel like Jayson Werth as he was digging down deep for that extra burst of energy to reach home on his inside the parker earlier this week. Until last night, I spent eight of the past nine nights away; driven 1,750 miles across five states in ten days; and, stayed in five different Hampton Inns. I’m running on empty. That would be excuse enough to phone the article in this week. But I’m going to man-up and knock this one out. So, crack open the lid of your favorite frosty beverage and enjoy! I’m knocking back a Smithwick’s.
By Ken Balderston
League 14
League 15
During the pre-season, I polled the writers at FBM to get a feel for who they thought would be over and under-rated for the 2008 season. It’s great to get one person’s opinion, but when you can get 10, 15 or 20 opinions and combine them together, I think you can describe a thing with a certain exclamation point.
Listed below are the questions that I asked our writers. They gave their Top 5, and I weighted them much like a fantasy league, scoring 5 points for first choice, 4 points for second, etc. As it turns out, the writers vouched for guys other owners may have overlooked.
By Richard Schortemeyer III
What do you get when you mix in 15 pitchers and 658 pitches in a 6-hour and 16-minute span? You get an instant classic 22-inning 2-1 game between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres.
What do you get when you combine Ian Kennedy, Mike Mussina, and Phil Hughes’ records so far in 2008? You get another Steinbrenner demanding a Chamberlain to get a different ‘Joba’ on the NY Yankees.
What a season so far in 2008. With instant classic extra-inning games, another Phillie ‘CHASEing’ the MVP trophy, and both Windy City teams atop their divisions, 2008 is shaping up to be an even more dramatic and surprising season than 2007.
In this edition of “On the Record,” we’ll talk about some bullpen drama in the NL, the NY Mets praying that it’s ‘Church’ could stand tall the rest of the season, and a pitcher who’s finally stepped up to support Mr. Verlander in Detroit.
By The Jersey Hitman
League 6
League 17
I barely found the time to write my column this week. But I did it! It’s been hard to find the time to do a lot of things lately. I have been so busy that I almost missed Chipper Jones’ birthday. Raise your glass for a toast. \~/ … here’s to a healthy year for Chipper. Hey, it could happen. And maybe Carlos Delgado can turn things around too. : )
By Bob in Cleveland
League 4
Shock and Awe - Revisited
Did you enjoy Luke Hochevar’s disaster start this past Sunday? Did you break yourself in half to claim him as soon as you learned that the Royals were calling him up to “The Bigs”?
Johnny Cueto, Ian Kennedy, Clay Buchholz, Edinson Volquez, Joba Chamberlain, Dana Eveland, Manny Parra. And I am sure that Clayton Kershaw, or someone like him, is next.
I could go on and on, but the story is always the same. Every year, we flood to the waiver wire, or worse yet, spend an invaluable draft pick, on one of these unproven superstars-in-the-making in a desperate effort to find the next Johan Santana. Such foolhardiness often leads to failure.
Last year, I took a somewhat tongue-in-cheek look at this phenomena. Insert any of the names above, where appropriate, and you’ll come away asking yourself the same question that I always do … why are we so stupid?
By Gabriel Lundeen
Cappo, League 10
The ‘Traderrheia Epidemic’
Fantasy baseball is all about positivity, and we always try to spread the love here at Fantasy Baseball Mafia. Today, however, I’d like to discuss a serious topic – a true medical danger to fantasy owners everywhere. I’m here to administer some tough love, as I diagnose a reader with one of the most fearsome, crippling diseases known to fantasy baseball: Traderrheia.
with Chris from Atlanta
League 17
Ozzy was voted off of Survivor, Kristy Lee Cook was voted off American Idol, and The Big Hurt was voted off of the Blue Jays. In this topsy-turvy world of fantasy baseball, things happen pretty quickly. Don’t fret, I’m here to go over the major happenings from last week and how they affect you and your roster. Crack open the lid of your favorite frosty beverage and enjoy!