Season Ending Strategy
The trade deadline in your fantasy league has probably come and passed. Now is the time for you, as a responsible and knowledgeable fantasy owner, to really hunker down and finish strong. While some owners have switched over to auto-pilot, you're going to analyze your team like your life depends on it.
Although most of the top prospects have already been called up, there's always a handful of September call ups who are worth taking a look at. If you're looking to improve in batting average and stolen bases, keep an eye on Eric Young Jr., who is tearing up AAA. Young is batting over .300 and has over 50 stolen bases, averaging around one stolen base every other game. Another player to keep an eye on is Buster Posey, catcher from the Giants system. Posey has some pop in his bat and has good plate discipline. If you're hurting in the catcher department, Posey could hold some value if he gets the call. Other players to watch for include Matt Laporta from the Indians system, and Brett Wallace, acquired by the Athletics in the Holliday deal. Even if these guys don't get called up come September, they're certainly worth keeping an eye on for next season.
In roto leagues, you're going to need to take a close look at the standings and figure out what categories you can improve on given the minimal amount of time left in the season. If you are unable to pick up any of the impact September call ups, you're going to have to make do with what you have. For instance, if your team ERA stands at 3.89, and three teams ahead of you are in striking distance at 3.88, 3.83 and 3.79, it's time to pay extra attention to which pitchers you start or bench. You may want to factor in the match ups, as well as what ballpark they are pitching in. It might be a smart idea to sit a pitcher that you'd normally start, such as an away game against the Phillies, against a tough offense in a hitter's ballpark. If you have a safe lead in ERA or WHIP, but need to make up ground in the win column, you'll need to start guys you might not normally start. All of this of course revolves around your standings by category and your innings pitched limit or starts limit. If you're approaching your limit, you're going to want to be very selective with the pitchers you start. If you have a safe lead, and it looks like improving on a category is going to be nearly impossible, you may want to consider limiting your starts as the end of the season nears. Maybe you have a safe lead in HR and RBI, but could improve in stolen bases. It may be time to pull Michael Bourn, or a speed specialist off the bench and sit one of your sluggers who contributes nothing to the stolen base category.
Remember, as the end of the season approaches, you're going to want to disregard the name on the back of the jersey, and adjust your lineup based on team needs. Sometimes no stats is better than bad stats. In head to head leagues, I'd advise you to begin each matchup by starting a balanced lineup, giving yourself a chance to win each category. If it's a daily league like many, you need to treat each weekly matchup like a mini roto league. As the week comes to an end, you may be able to steal a couple categories by starting a player who only offers speed, or even benching most of your pitchers if you have a safe lead in majority of the categories. There's nothing worse than leading all week, and then losing the category because you started a stud who ended up having a bad game, when in hindsight you would have won the category if you just played it safe. There's nothing wrong with playing it safe. Sports teams do it every day, running out the clock or playing conservatively to ensure a victory. In the end, playing your best players doesn't always address your needs, and it takes a skilled fantasy owner to realize this.
Although most of the top prospects have already been called up, there's always a handful of September call ups who are worth taking a look at. If you're looking to improve in batting average and stolen bases, keep an eye on Eric Young Jr., who is tearing up AAA. Young is batting over .300 and has over 50 stolen bases, averaging around one stolen base every other game. Another player to keep an eye on is Buster Posey, catcher from the Giants system. Posey has some pop in his bat and has good plate discipline. If you're hurting in the catcher department, Posey could hold some value if he gets the call. Other players to watch for include Matt Laporta from the Indians system, and Brett Wallace, acquired by the Athletics in the Holliday deal. Even if these guys don't get called up come September, they're certainly worth keeping an eye on for next season.
In roto leagues, you're going to need to take a close look at the standings and figure out what categories you can improve on given the minimal amount of time left in the season. If you are unable to pick up any of the impact September call ups, you're going to have to make do with what you have. For instance, if your team ERA stands at 3.89, and three teams ahead of you are in striking distance at 3.88, 3.83 and 3.79, it's time to pay extra attention to which pitchers you start or bench. You may want to factor in the match ups, as well as what ballpark they are pitching in. It might be a smart idea to sit a pitcher that you'd normally start, such as an away game against the Phillies, against a tough offense in a hitter's ballpark. If you have a safe lead in ERA or WHIP, but need to make up ground in the win column, you'll need to start guys you might not normally start. All of this of course revolves around your standings by category and your innings pitched limit or starts limit. If you're approaching your limit, you're going to want to be very selective with the pitchers you start. If you have a safe lead, and it looks like improving on a category is going to be nearly impossible, you may want to consider limiting your starts as the end of the season nears. Maybe you have a safe lead in HR and RBI, but could improve in stolen bases. It may be time to pull Michael Bourn, or a speed specialist off the bench and sit one of your sluggers who contributes nothing to the stolen base category.
Remember, as the end of the season approaches, you're going to want to disregard the name on the back of the jersey, and adjust your lineup based on team needs. Sometimes no stats is better than bad stats. In head to head leagues, I'd advise you to begin each matchup by starting a balanced lineup, giving yourself a chance to win each category. If it's a daily league like many, you need to treat each weekly matchup like a mini roto league. As the week comes to an end, you may be able to steal a couple categories by starting a player who only offers speed, or even benching most of your pitchers if you have a safe lead in majority of the categories. There's nothing worse than leading all week, and then losing the category because you started a stud who ended up having a bad game, when in hindsight you would have won the category if you just played it safe. There's nothing wrong with playing it safe. Sports teams do it every day, running out the clock or playing conservatively to ensure a victory. In the end, playing your best players doesn't always address your needs, and it takes a skilled fantasy owner to realize this.
posted by Dan Jay at
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home
Back To 2010 Draft Kit