BP Fantasy Baseball est. 2008 (Current Champion = Ahiacitian - Draft Wed., March 11, 7PM)

[heisman]

Not by everyone, and it would be much worse if K/9 is changed to K’s! You can currently chase wins, saves, and holds because they are accumulator stats, but you aren’t guaranteed any of these stats when you are playing a starting pitcher or picking up a reliever to play. The only stat that truly rewards streaming is K’s because streaming starters guarantees increased K’s. However, K/9 rewards quality pitchers over quantity along with ERA and WHIP. For me personally, I see it as a quality vs quantity thing, and consider fantasy baseball the ultimate game of strategy that shouldn’t reward stacking mediocre starters for stat accumulation.

I actually think the relatively small roster sizes and limited number of bench slots also contributes to streaming pitching because there always pitching options on the waiver wire to pick up.

What if we had no drop list rules? Chasing those K’s might also ruin your ERA and WHIP. The current “problem” as I see it, is that a low leverage middle reliever is more valuable than a starting pitcher, which is like the Madden 90’s glitch where you could recover the onside kick on every onside kick.

 

[Ahiacitian]

What if we had no drop list rules? Chasing those K’s might also ruin your ERA and WHIP. The current “problem” as I see it, is that a low leverage middle reliever is more valuable than a starting pitcher, which is like the Madden 90’s glitch where you could recover the onside kick on every onside kick.

True, but if your ratios are already ruined, you shouldn’t be rewarded by running more mediocrity out there. If you want to eliminate middle relief value, you need to eliminate the holds category. But you can’t eliminate a pitching category without also eliminating a hitting category. So you might then need to change holds to a different pitching category if it is truly a problem.

 

[brodybuck21]

so what then is the sweet spot for categories?

 

[heisman]

What about combining saves/holds (saves+holds) and using Runs created (Runs+Rbi-HRs) instead of RBIs and Runs? This gives starters more equivalency to relievers and also gives better hitters more equivalency to HR heavy hitters.

 

[Ahiacitian]

Combining saves and holds would deflate all relief pitching value in general since you are rewarded in only one category and not two.

Not necessarily opposed to runs created, I just haven’t played with this category before. So based on your definition of runs + RBI’s - HR’s, a 3-run HR would gain 3 in this category (1 run + 3 RBI - 1 HR)? And the HR still counts in the HR category? Would definitely be different, but could be a cool change.

 

[brodybuck21]

I nominate @Ahiacitian and @heisman for the rules committee. come up with what you think are the best 12 (6 offense and 6 pitching) categories and lets roll with it.

I am moving the min IP back to 18 and still debating on the 6 vs 8 teams playoffs

 

[Jaxbuck]

so what then is the sweet spot for categories?

Is the hard count 6?

If that is the case then I'd suggest a mix of 3 counting stats and 3 rate stats to make it balanced. @heisman and @Ahiacitian have said everything about the categories, stats and how they play out that anyone can say.

I'd maybe ask it this way before we get going and still have plenty of time: what are we trying to accomplish? Then the stats in each category are just how. I would also set the realistic expectation of; you can't get it perfect. There are unintended consequences and ways to manipulate the rules no matter what you do.

It sounds like there is frustration with streaming players (pitchers mostly) and the over importance of middle relievers. I agree that those two things are heavy in this league but I'll make the case they are the shock absorber/equalizer for those with less talent/skill/experience in drafting.

At the end of the day, this is supposed to have an entertainment aspect to it and I think this is the real balance that needs to be struck/decision made on what you are trying to do. I see a normal kind of distribution curve here 2-3 guys who are really up on fantasy baseball and draft well, a bunch of dudes in the middle who are into it and get it but just are not into it at that top level followed by 2-3 dudes who will just be present to field a team to make the league have enough teams.

That group in the middle is largely about entertainment value/having fun with this so if you clamp down too hard on the streaming and all that you are swinging the pendulum toward drafting skill. If that's what you want to do then fine, but I think 80+% of the league will fall behind and if they can't be as active in the day to day, just sit there and do nothing.

I'm with you either way and I love a good discussion about stats and doing stuff differently but I want to make sure I say my piece on the overall entertainment part. Too far toward draft and hold (in season) is going to be no bueno for a bunch of casual guys I think but who knows?