For those who don’t know, fantasy baseball is a growing multimillion-dollar industry. Basic fantasy baseball consists of a group of people “drafting” individual Major League Baseball players to make a team. Each team gains points based on the real players statistics in that season’s MLB season. Just like
Five best things about fantasy baseball
5. You're not looking at Porn
‘Nuff said.
4. It's acceptable to know too much about sports
Many may chide those who know how many saves Francisco Rodriguez had last year (62) or to go further what Rickie Weeks’ batting average was (.234). Outsiders may ask about these people’s social and sex lives (some are doing just fine, thank you). But in fantasy baseball circles these stats - along with the facts that Rodriguez will certainly have less saves this year and Week’s batting average will very likely be higher - are known to all who are competitive.
3. Knowledge
Serious fantasy baseball players follow the game closer than many serious fans and remember essential statistics that can end Saturday afternoon couch arguments over whether Jose Reyes or Hanley Ramirez is an all around better shortstop with the player the emphatic winner and his challenger drowning his sorrows in his Bud Light.
2. Smack Talk
After your sleeper starting pitcher who your buddy has been hating on all season (for this year let’s say someone like Chris Carpenter) gets a seven inning win allowing one run and striking out eight on Sunday, giving you a narrow win over the buddy for the week you get to throw it in his face. “Carpenter nailed the win for me, scumbag. Gotcha!” you might say and throw in some expletives for good measure.
1. Winning
Getting the money (if you play for money) is one thing, but bragging rights over your buddies for the entire off-season are glorious.
Five worst things about fantasy baseball
5. People lump you in with other nerds
Fantasy baseball is based in reality and accompanies an obsession with sports. It is an outlet for those whose claim they know more about sports than their friends to prove it. Fantasy baseball is a social activity that is more real than “Magic” or role-playing games (not that kind pervert, we’re talking about people who re-enact battles and things of this nature, like in “Role Models”).
4. It can be addicting
Spending an hour and a half looking at stats and trying to decide whether or not to drop Matt Cain to pick up Randy Wolf is over the top. Spending five minutes doing this is okay, but then you need to write that five-page psychology paper that’s due tomorrow.
3. Rooting against your team
I would never do this in the stretch-run in September if the playoff race is close, but I have found myself in June rooting for Orioles closer George Sherrill to get a save against my Yankees because he is on my fantasy team.
2. Smack talk
If someone beats me with Nate McClouth, Lance Berkman, Kevin Youkilis, Matt Holiday, Adam Dunn, Cliff Lee, or Troy Percival achieving the same stats or better stats than last year I’ll have to eat my now printed words stating that all of these guys will fall off significantly from last year.
1. Losing
Any ultra-competitive person knows losing sucks.
Bonus
Some of my favorite sleepers for this season:
1. Chris Carpenter SP St.L
2. Nelson Cruz OF Tex
3. Joey Votto 1B Cin
4. Justin Upton OF Ari
5. Clayton Kershaw SP LAD
6. Cameron Maybin OF Fla
7. Xavier Nady OF NYY
8. Chris Iannetta C Col
9. Randy Johnson SP SF
10. Shin-Soo Choo OF Cle
11. Chad Qualls RP Ari
12. Jorge Cantu 2B Fla
13. Travis Hafner DH Cle
14. Hank Blalock 1B/3B Tex
15. Clint Barmes 2B/SS Col
-Andrew Sagarin
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