Remember the good ol' days? There was a time in baseball when starting pitchers routinely threw 20 to 30 complete games every year. There was a time when relievers finished the game by pitching the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. Closers only existed in the real estate business. … [Read more...] about Deadline Anticipation
Deep Dive Farm Report: Colorado Rockies
In the very first three games ever played at Coors Field, one can pinpoint the origins of the drafting and player development philosophy the Colorado Rockies would follow for decades to come. In the first game played at Coors Field on 4/26/95, the Rockies beat the Mets 11-9. Joe Girardi, Larry … [Read more...] about Deep Dive Farm Report: Colorado Rockies
NHL Deep Dives
In the NHL, a player can receive a two-minute penalty for diving or embellishment. Hoping not to embellish anyone, I'll take a deep dive into the possible free agents who might still be available in your league who may not be receiving much attention. Casey Mittelstadt, Buffalo … [Read more...] about NHL Deep Dives
Bullpen Strategies
There are many ways in which a manager can construct a lineup. It's a process that has evolved over the years. Forty years ago, a manager would rely on his gut more than the modern-day manager. Whoever was hot would occupy a key position in the lineup. Regulars would rarely … [Read more...] about Bullpen Strategies
My Life in Baseball
I walked through the vast concrete concourse underneath the stands of the largest stadium I had ever been to. I noticed the 20-foot long banners of all my favorite players in color hung from the slanted ceiling. Each player was depicted in an action stance with an orange and black background. Oh, … [Read more...] about My Life in Baseball
Pedigree + Opportunity = Breakout Candidate
Every fantasy hockey draft has its hot commodity everyone has targeted to make his breakout debut. If you were in a WHA fantasy league in 1978, you had your sights set on that Wayne Gretzky kid of the Indianapolis Racers. (Weren't you glad he was traded to Edmonton after only eight games … [Read more...] about Pedigree + Opportunity = Breakout Candidate
Introducing TBAF and EBAF
Bobby Bragan is a name not very many baseball fans remember today. He had a not very memorable major league career from 1940 to 1948 for the Phillies and Dodgers. He had a .240 lifetime batting average and a .282 on-base percentage (back when nobody paid attention to OBP). He went on to become a … [Read more...] about Introducing TBAF and EBAF
Roto vs. Head-To-Head: Which Fantasy Player Am I?
They say the hardest thing to do in sports is to hit a round ball with a round bat squarely. But there are all sorts of ways hitters go about doing that. Some overpower the ball by extending their arms and flicking their quick wrists. Most try to pull the ball with a high launch … [Read more...] about Roto vs. Head-To-Head: Which Fantasy Player Am I?
How Real Changes Affect Fantasy Baseball
The face of fantasy baseball has changed dramatically over the years. For those who have participated in fantasy baseball for many years, we can remember when our league commissioner faxed the league standings and team statistics to each member of the league every Monday … [Read more...] about How Real Changes Affect Fantasy Baseball
