CBS SportsLine Fantasy Baseball '98

Bleacher Features - 'Real Life Imitates Fantasy'
CBS SportsLine Fantasy Baseball
'More than Just Numbers' June 11, 1998

Cash Chitwood has played fantasy baseball for about eight years. He is currently in an AL draft league, and an NL auction league. A couple of Mariner hitters, Ken Griffey Jr. and David Segui have kept him in first in batting average and OBP.

Does Fantasy imitate real life? It sure does. For example, the Braves and Yankees are certainly the most valued teams overall. But even these teams give owners reasons to avoid certain players. The Braves have an excellent starting staff, and seem to expect the same results from an underworked bullpen. But, the bullpen has shown this year to be very shaky at times, and roles seem to be changing often. The Yankees have a great team; so great in fact that they have a glut of quality starters.

Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Chitwood?
Send an e mail

The Rockies hitters would be cheaper in auction leagues if they played in a place like Houston and vice versa according to Mr. Chitwood. (Allsport)

What will happen to the odd men out? They may hone their skills in the bullpen or they may lose the stamina and mindset of a starter while there. Also, the Yankees have a tendancy to play the hot hand offensively in the field. This leads to platton situations with otherwise very valuable players -- such as Chad Curtis.

Other real life situations also mirror Fantasy life. Why are Houston starters are always some of the best? The ballpark leads to generally higher valued pitchers and a little lower valued hitters. Seattle and Colorado hitters always seem to be good choices. A middle infielder at $1 in Houston could easily be worth $5 or more when traded to Colorado.

In our NL league (where dollar values are used) a massive salary dump trend has begun. Why not trade that $35 dollar closer if your in last, for two or three good prospects of which one will probably be undervalued next year? Most likely someone of equal ability will be available in next year's auction.

Also, people are starting to look at contract status more and more. A few years ago, only the players who spent long nights awake in dimly lit rooms gazing at stats knew when a certain star was in his last year. Now, it is required knowledge. That star may very well be traded that year, or in the offseason before that year, causing many nightmares.

It is very important to remember that there is a whole other game that doesn't show stats. You have to look at the real-life situation a player is in to get the entire picture.

Take me to the Fantasy Baseball Forum
Take me back to the Bleacher Feature page.