Welcome all, to the last day of the fantasy that has been my childhood. I know, I know, this column is supposed to be about fantasy baseball, but I'm assuming that most of you adults out there don't even know what that is.
Plus, any baseball advice that I could espouse today, on May 12, will be old news by the time you read this (for instance, that Ken Griffey will go on a tear, that Vernon Wells is back, that Luis Gonzalez will finally tear that elbow ligament, and that Clemens' dominance won't last against the Cubs and Cards at the end of the month).
Instead, I think I'll just do my best to offer some strategic fantasy advice to those student readers out there coupled with some sort of a mixed metaphor to take with you. Feel free to read into it as much or as little as you'd like.
So here we are, a quarter through (ahem) the season, and this might be a good time to set some goals for your ... team. Maybe your team has done pretty well so far, but there's a long season ahead, and you want to make sure you're being smart about everything, right? You want to make sure that it was a wise idea to drop the slumping A.J. Pierzynski and pick up the hot-hitting rookie Laynce Nix, right?
Right. Well, go ahead and do it. Say it out loud. Let your goals be heard. I want to have the best infield in the league! Or, I am going to rise to the top of the standings! Don't be afraid to be modest, either. Take it one step at a time. I am going to get myself a better second baseman! Or, all I want is for my fellow managers to respect me! There, that feels good, doesn't it?
A huge part of managing a successful fantasy baseball team is recognizing where you have strengths and where you have weaknesses. At this point in the season, you should all be pretty aware of where you stand. What I mean is, it's time to step back and realize that you might have a solid arsenal of pitchers, but your outfield is chock-full of inexperience. You know what I mean?
My advice is to always make sure your team is in good balance. I've seen guys put everything they had into having a ridiculous pitching staff, trading away all their closers only to watch Mark Prior, Jason Schmidt, and Kevin Brown all hit the injured list. I've seen others leave their catcher spot empty the whole season, thinking that they'd be fine without it. They weren't.
Yes, the key to a good, healthy fantasy baseball team will be all about keeping it balanced. Don't let one aspect of your team get too high, and don't allow other aspects to go to low. Mostly, don't allow yourself to be dissatisfied with any part of your team.
Let me throw out a hypothetical: let's say your team has a huge hole at shortstop, but you're leading the league in saves. It might be about time to trade away one of your beloved closers to get an upgrade in your infield. Basically, fantasy rotisserie baseball is all about distributing the talent you have to score the most points. Not that points will necessarily bring you happiness, but ... ah, forget it.
Or here's another example: one team in my league had both Hank Blalock and Vinny Castilla as options to play third, while he had to send the second starting pitcher he drafted to the DL. At the same time, another team felt that Pedro Feliz wasn't getting it done at the hot corner, and had an excess of solid pitching.
So a Blalock for Wade Miller trade went down, both team managers got what they needed, and everyone walked away happy. These are some ideas to keep in mind when you're looking to get the most out of your team.
Okay, one last bit: You might be able to convince someone that Lyle Overbay is the next Jeff Bagwell, but if you're not convinced yourself, you will have to accept this. Don't waste your time trying to persuade yourself of something that isn't true. Be honest, and don't rest all your hopes on a player who you're not sure about.
Right now, sitting here, watching the graduates walk by, you should be asking yourself, what do I really want to get out of [my fantasy baseball team]? Is it glory? Is it an
opportunity to connect with your fellow team managers? Or is it just taking the time to check out all the intricacies and quirks that baseball has to offer?
Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck. And remember: it ain't over til it's over. Congratulations Class of 2004!
