SB overrated!

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:12 am

Just to mix it up a bit...I started thinking how overrated the category of Stolen Bases is.

Batting average...OK...a bit overrated...OBP would be better. (Getting credit for having a good eye and taking a walk.) Moves the runners over (just like a SB does.)

Runs, RBI, HR...great categories...these are the reasons for stepping up to the plate...to score runs.

Total bases would be a nice category. If 90% plus of stolen bases is to get to second base...why not give credit to doubles (and triples)...are they not the same thing? (Having a player on 2nd base in scoring position.)

Some fantasy players are garbage if there wasn't so much credit given to the SB category.

A SB does LESS than a double (unless its a double steal), yet gets too much value due to fantasy baseball.

~Lance

[ January 29, 2007, 05:26 PM: Message edited by: sportsbettingman ]

Vander · Post by **Vander** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:26 am

1 small thing to consider is the fastballs seen by the next hitter along with the slide step that causes 2 to 3 mph off those fastballs when there is a Podsednik or Roberts on base. Otherwise I would agree sb's are over rated. P.S. mental awarness and distraction of the pitcher, catcher, and infielders also a small factor.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:31 am

At least make it SB subtracted by Caught Stealing for the SB total.

31 SB

12 CS

-------

= 19 SB

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:34 am

Anyone ever thought of going to 11 x 11 categories?

Chest Rockwell · Post by **Chest Rockwell** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:37 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

Anyone ever thought of going to 11 x 11 categories?

It creates a whole new element of skill to the game- if you are interested I know the "New York Yankees" of this type format.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:11 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

Just to mix it up a bit...I started thinking how overrated the category of Stolen Bases is.

Batting average...OK...a bit overrated...OBP would be better. (Getting credit for having a good eye and taking a walk.) Moves the runners over (just like a SB does.)

Runs, RBI, HR...great categories...these are the reasons for stepping up to the plate...to score runs.

Total bases would be a nice category. If 90% plus of stolen bases is to get to second base...why not give credit to doubles (and triples)...are they not the same thing? (Having a player on 2nd base in scoring position.)

Some fantasy players are garbage if there wasn't so much credit given to the SB category.

A SB does LESS than a double (unless its a double steal), yet gets too much value due to fantasy baseball.

~Lance Lance, Daniel Okrent heard the complaints towards stolen bases as soon as he made that category one of his 4x4 scoring categories. But he always reasoned that speed was a key part of defense and since it was tough to give a category to defense he felt stolen bases was a way of rewarding that asset. He could have easily gone with runs, I guess, but he chose stolen bases.

You can argue that stolen bases have nothing to do with defense, but in 1980 when the rules were being determined maybe it was a way to reward the Vince Coleman's, Willie McGee's, Rickey Henderson's of the world. Today's game isn't similar, unless you think that Chone Figgins and Jose Reyes are the best defensive players in the game.

I like stolen bases as a category, even though I realize it's grossly overvalued in Rotisserie Baseball. It creates that incredible element of strategy -- like saves -- where as an owner I have to determine just how much I want to chase that damn statistic.

Greg Ambrosius · Post by **Greg Ambrosius** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:12 am

Oh, and one more thing Lance: It's overrated. OVER ATED would be something I just did at lunch!

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:57 am

Originally posted by Joe Sambito:

Anyone ever thought of going to 11 x 11 categories?

"The horror. The horror."

Green Beret Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando)

Apocalypse Now (1979)

The Lollygaggers · Post by **The Lollygaggers** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:07 am

Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

At least make it SB subtracted by Caught Stealing for the SB total.

31 SB

12 CS

-------

= 19 SB Actually, net steals would overvalue SB specialists even more, since guys who steal 40+ have much higher success rates (typically 75-90%) than guys who steal 1-10 bases.

viper · Post by **viper** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 10:16 am

Greg put it best. Stolen Bases as a category adds a level of complexity at the draft. There are many way to get steals and one to ignore it. Steals is the one element of drafting hitters that makes every draft unique.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:33 am

Originally posted by The Lollygaggers:

quote:Originally posted by sportsbettingman:

At least make it SB subtracted by Caught Stealing for the SB total.

31 SB

12 CS

-------

= 19 SB Actually, net steals would overvalue SB specialists even more, since guys who steal 40+ have much higher success rates (typically 75-90%) than guys who steal 1-10 bases. [/QUOTE]I guess I see guys that percentage wise should NOT be attempting to steal, yet the players know if they sprinkle in 8-12 steals over a season...even if they are getting caught way too often...they will rise up the fantasy baseball charts, and that will trickle $$$ into their contracts due to more hype and fame.

I realise situations call for SB attempts, and such...but I wonder if the above is true. I may be giving too much credit to fantasy baseball...but I honestly believe it takes place...and player agents may even encourage it.

~Lance