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Keeper leagues are a lot like college fraternities. Membership is exclusive. There are dues to pay. You're among good friends, drinking buddies and other like-minded dudes. Everybody has silly nicknames. Hazing is expected, encouraged, … even celebrated. And there's usually some guy name Dusty that hits on all the ugly girls. As the 2008 season approaches, do you best to enjoy the privileges that come with being in a league of ordinary gentlemen. And use the following tips to avoid looking like a pledge at Woulda Coulda Shoulda in 2008.
Stagger your expiring keepers Many leagues have a limit on how many years you can consecutively keep a certain player. A productive year from last year's batch of keepers may convince you to keep the same players the following year. Avoid this strategy unless you've kept a truly statistically impressive group of players. Keep a few keeper slots open each year so that you can you respond to good opportunities as they become available. Build a solid foundation – Give both sides of your team (offense and pitching) a solid start heading into your draft. Try not to exclusively "keep" players from the same position (1B, OF, P) or stock your team with pitchers only or hitter only. You may have given yourself an all-World outfield with your keeper selections, but at what cost at other positions? Plan for the future … And the future is now. Unless you're in the rare league that keeps 12-15 players a year, there's no such thing as a rebuilding season in fantasy baseball. So what if you don't have a good crop of keepers to start your 2008 championship run. With your league's annual draft and your cunning use of trades, free agency and the waiver wire, you should feel like you have a shot at the title year in and year out. Don't sell you and your ownership skills short. Each new season should be a clean slate for you, like your first day back at school. Except without the cheesy haircut and brand new clothes. Thanks Mom. If you doubt me, just open up your newspaper and look at the NBA Eastern Conference standings. See Celtics, Boston.
Don't obsess about a player – I have a man-crush on Curtis Granderson. And I am not afrafid to admit it. He's a young up-and-coming player on a winning team that fills the stat sheet well. He also did a bang-up job during the playoffs on ESPN's Baseball Tonight. But I try not to advertise this to everyone else in my leagur. Your fellow owners will smell blood here and try to goad you into making a premature move based on your Play it cool. Be coy. Repeat after me. All fantasy players are created equal. I will not date one player exclusively. I am a free agent.
Rookies make better draft picks than keepers - Sure, one of your September rookie call-ups may have helped you to the title last season. And they might even look good for a promising 2008 season. But are they keeper-worthy? Will they put up stats comparable to the top five at the position? Could you draft this player again in a later round if you had to? Don't let a great cup of coffee convince you to buy the whole meal. Be a student of history, especially your own - Go onto your league's website and print out the draft results for the last several years? Who did you draft and keep last season? And the year before? How did that work out for you? Were a lot of premium top-of-the-rotation starters kept last season? Or first baseman? By investigating your own tendencies and the trends from previous years, you'll put yourself in a better position to avoid mistakes you and others have made in the past. Or just find your inner Costanza– Remember the Seinfeld episode where George has an epiphany when he realizes that every impulse, urge, thought and inclination he had ever had eventually led him in the wrong direction … If all else fails, use your best judgment and analysis. And then do the exact opposite. Wing it. Ask your wife to make your picks for you. Or your baby daughter. Or your cat. Or just put your draft sheets on the dartboard and start throwing. Sometimes a simple, straightforward approach beats all the analysis money can buy. "Hi, my name is George. I'm bald, unemployed and I live with my parents." David Gignilliat is the newest contributor to the Fantasy Baseball Guy site. You can e-mail David at
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with any of your Head to Head questions.
Tags: Keeper league strategy Cheat Sheets OF Outfield AL Rankings NL Rankings Mixed Rankings Auction 2008 Fantasy Baseball Cheat Sheets 2008 Fantasy Baseball Rankings 2008 Fantasy Baseball Au
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