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Bleacher Features - 'The Sanford and Son Syndrome'
Geoff Gilbert plays in a keeper league where the Sanford and Son Syndrome runs wild. His league refers to it as 'The Reinsdorf Syndrome'.
'Life imitates art' is a famous quote, and as such, applies to most Fantasy baseball leagues. We call it 'The Reinsdorf Syndrome' in our league. You're 2 1/2 back with two months to play. You're not going to catch Cleveland anyway, so let's put Chicago in the playoffs. I play in an American League only, 10 owner, eight basic category keeper league. You must protect minimum seven, max 14 at draft day -- $4 annual inflation, $260 Cap. And as such, we are very vunerable to the Reinsdorf Syndrome. I was guilty of this myself last year. I had a lot of injuries, talent that was past their prime, and by the end of June was solidly entrenched in ninth place. As a result, I did what every major league team does in that position: I dumped. I traded the National League bound Mark McGwire ($34) for Alex Rodriguez ($18) and Jose Cruz ($10); Rafael Palmero ($32) for Todd Greene ($3); and Russ Davis ($8), well you get the picture. Being the back-to-back defending champion, not finishing in the money was an unacceptable option. I felt I'd rather get 'younger' and 'cheaper' so I could acquire some young studs at the draft table. I bid $30 for Darrin Erstad and brought a big laugh. As of today, my stategy has worked. I'm currently in first place by a slim one point lead (at least I'll be in the money) and I have cheap, young pillars to build on. Our league talked about putting in a 'Reinsdorf (dumping) Rule', but concluded that was baseball. Art imitates life. There has, and continues to be, many very lopsided trades in our league. Some of our owners are not current, and draft old dependable players, that, are not great roto players anymore -- Cal Ripken being one. You can not legislate stupidity for a league, or otherwise MLB would have a Reinsdorf/Huizenga rule. In conclusion, especially for those in keeper leagues, quit whining, and make a better offer to those teams currently sitting at the bottom. They may dump, rebuild and kick your butts in 1999. Take me to the Fantasy Baseball Forum Take me back to the Bleacher Feature page. |