10 Things To Remember Before Fantasy Baseball Season Begins
The 2013 fantasy baseball season is only a week away. Most leagues have already drafted, but others have yet to clear off their draft board from last season. No matter what, the season starts on Mach 31st, so the smell of fantasy baseball is in the air.
Last year, we saw Detroit Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera win the American League Triple-Crown, in what has widely been known as the best fantasy season a player has ever had. Make no doubt about it, Miggy will easily be the first or second pick in most drafts this spring, and for good reason.
Last season, we also saw several youngsters come in and immediately contribute for fantasy owners. Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout had a magical rookie season and will easily be a franchise player for the next decade.
Washington Nationals OF Bryce Harper similarly enjoyed a fantastic rookie campaign. He has been getting attention since he was in middle school, but the teenager finally made his jump to the big leagues, and it wasn’t one to forget. He hit .270 last year with a very underrated 22 home runs and .340 On Base Percentage.
This season will be much like last year, as it will be unpredictable and full of surprise performances. However, before you start hating your friends and avoiding their phone calls for the next five months, here are 10 things to remember before Opening Day.
Adam McGill is the Senior Fantasy Sports Writer at Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @adammcgill83, like him on Facebook, or add him to you networks on Google here or here.
10. Draft Mike Trout or Miguel Cabrera If You Can
For those of you who have yet to draft, it may seem like an obvious choice, but grab either of these superstars if you get a chance. You may be in the Miggy Camp or you may be in the Trout Camp, but either way you can’t go wrong with either superstar. They will once again dominate the upcoming fantasy season, and more importantly, will do it without a looming PED suspension.
9. Don’t Put Too Much Faith In Closers
If the 2012 fantasy season taught us anything, it was that most closers can lose their job after just one poor inning. If you aren’t getting one of the top closers in the game, then make sure to have plenty of depth, because you will need it.
8. You Can Never Have Enough HR Hitters
Home runs are what make fantasy baseball so exciting. It is the only thing in baseball that can make you jump out of your seat, and it is what constantly keeps us coming back for more. Make sure you have plenty of heavy hitters in your lineup, if anything for self-amusement.
7. Don’t Get Stuck On Last Year’s Numbers
Just because a veteran hit 42 home runs in 2012, doesn’t mean that he will repeat the performance in 2013. Be careful not to be put too much faith into a player that has only done it once before.
6. Don’t Underestimate Prospects
With Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout and Washington Nationals OF Bryce Harper having such successful rookie campaigns, fantasy owners will be looking for the next great rookie to add to their roster. Just because they are young, doesn't mean they can’t add value to fantasy teams this summer.
Some Names to Watch: OF Adam Eaton ( Arizona Diamondbacks), OF Wil Myers ( Tampa Bay Rays), 2B Jurickson Profar ( Texas Rangers), OF Oscar Taveras ( St. Louis Cardinals).
5. Always Start The Hot Hand
Baseball is a sport about hot and cold stretches. A player can go on a 26-game hitting streak and follow it up with a 0-30 performance. Just make sure to adjust your starting roster based on how a player is performing. After all, players don’t hit .400 for the entire season.
4. Go With Youth Over Age
Younger guys simply get hurt less and play more games, so naturally they should be ranked higher than the fossils of the sport. Don’t be afraid to reach on youngsters like 1B Anthony Rizzo, SS Elvis Andrus, 2B Jason Kipnis, or 3B Mike Moustakas this year because the younger legs will help in the long run.
3. Make Sure You Have Depth
In most leagues, free agency doesn’t start for a week or two, so make sure you have plenty of depth at each position. There are enough players out there that fill multiple positions, like Ben Zobrist or Martin Prado, so don’t be afraid to reach for (or trade for) one of these multi-positional stars this season.
2. Pitching, Pitching, Pitching
It is always easy to find guys that can hit home runs on the wavier wire, but it is hard to find a guy that can go over six innings. Make sure you are heading into the season with at least three extra starters on your bench.
1. Remember To Have Fun
Every year fantasy owners get into arguments over things like trades, league rules, or even their weekly matchups. It has become more about winning than it has about having fun and getting together with friends. By all means try to win this year, but do it by having fun and being respectful.
