The best of Fantasy; the worst of Fantasy

Ben Godar

For the baseball fan that follows the "Hot Stove League" as closely as the World Series, there really is nothing better than Fantasy Baseball. And for that same fan, there’s nothing worse than the countless puds that play Fantasy Baseball.

Based on conversations I wish I’d never had, I’ve determined the majority of Fantasy Leagues must consist of exactly one team. Here's how it goes down: I make the mistake of mentioning I play Fantasy Baseball and Johnny Allstar can’t wait to tell me his outfield includes Manny, Vlad, Miggy, and all the other guys so good they only need one name. I never seem to meet the other guys in these leagues, the guys who must be sweating whether to start or Larry Bigbie or So Taguchi. Oh wait, that’s the Cardinals.

But the truth is the Bigbie/Taguchi debate is exactly the thing that makes Fantasy Baseball rewarding. Any idiot can pick an All-Star team – that’s why they even put ballots in the Bronx. A real fantasy league is won by the guy who finds the best fifth starter, who knows which young stud won’t spend the entire season in AAA.

We tinkered with a few rules in my fantasy league, but we quickly found the closer we stick to Daniel Okrent’s original constitution, the more realistic and competitive the game. You can go draft instead of auction, you can even go non-keeper league if you want. But if you saturate the talent pool, you’re in the slow pitch, beer leagues of fantasy baseball … only without the beer.

I’ve been told by some mouth-breathers that it’s no fun to play in a league where somebody drafts Rich Aurilia. These are obviously the same people who go to the ballpark to see home runs and swat a beach ball.

Fantasy baseball is a great way to deepen your knowledge of The Game and get to know teams outside your comfort zone. But if you just picked up Bobby Abreau off the waiver wire, don’t walk around thinking you’re Billy Beane.