Reality Fantasy and September

[DOUGHBOYS]

Every once in awhile some pinhead will fight for a fantasy rule and use the 'this most resembles real baseball' argument. It's what makes him a pinhead.
We play a game starting 14 offensive players.
Two catchers, five outfielders and a bunch of infielders.
We have a nine man pitching staff every week.
Yet, a rule will be argued and that pinhead uses 'reality' as an argument.

Reality really takes an about face in September.
In fact, reality screws up our fantasy.
Pitchers like Teheran today or other pitchers are skipped to give them rest. More everyday players sit, while September call ups get look-sees.
Teams go to six man rotations.
Players are shut down or told not to bother coming back from injury.
The reality is that some fantasy owners are screwed.

Besides the volume of accumulated stats from April to August, it is the reason why we don't hear of amazing comebacks in fantasy baseball.
That comeback has to be started well before September.
To put it bluntly, there are just less stats to be had in September. Those stats are now being shared by players on 40 man rosters, not 25.
In September, there are better stats on FAAB than first place teams.
Pennant winners like the Braves can coast now. Fantasy owners of Braves have the opposite reaction. They have to measure whether McCann will even play two games in a period. How many for Johnson?
Or whether Teheran even gets a start. And they know that Kimbrel is not likely to get three straight Saves.

For teams in the pennant chase, they do their fantasy counterparts a solid. They play the every day players every day. There is little time to see a youngster. Losing a pennant in trusting a youngster could be devestating for a franchise.
The Reds will use Hamilton. The Cards will use Wacha. The Pirates will use Cole, only because they have shown something at the Big League level or are specialized like Hamilton.
The Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, and Rays will pretty much be playing it straight. Their lineups will be consistent.
Roto players like consistent.

The teams out of the pennant race are interchanging their lineups with kids brought up in September and the old standbys.
In June, we could see our players in the lineup 28 days. In September, 20.
If a pinhead were wanting fantasy to resemble reality, he would ask that we too, expand our rosters.
But, we don't play that game.
September is just part of the challenge. Every one of us knows that we'd be indeed fortunate to have all 14 of our offensive players play on a given day in September. Something we almost take for granted in June.
While knowing that we won't have a full lineup most days in September, we take solace in knowing that our competitors have the same angst.
It's part of the game.
The fantasy game.

In fantasy football, their game changes completely during the last month. Even making one or two of the last weeks not even count.
The reality pinheads must really hate that.

[Edwards Kings]

If a pinhead were wanting fantasy to resemble reality, he would ask that we too, expand our rosters.

Hmmm...we could do that, couldn't we...three more offensive players and a pitcher maybe?

[Glenneration X]

It's what makes him a pinhead.

Hey!!! I resemble that statement.