Members of the Obsessionists Party

[DOUGHBOYS]

Fantasy sports is still a relatively new hobby. I call it a hobby. It can be called a game, and that is alright by me. But it becomes a hobby, in my mind, when becoming maniacal about the game.
Are you maniacal about the game? Chances are, the answer is yes.
If you know what a 'Closer in waiting' is, you're maniacal about the game.
If you think about fantasy moves in your head more than pretty girl moves in your head, you're maniacal about the game.
If you know just about every rotation in baseball, even the Astros, your maniacal about the game.

We call it a hobby to be nice. Others think think of it as geekdom. Nowadays, geekdom is defined by knowing a lot about something that most others have no interest in. On that level, we are the same as Einstein, a good thing.
On the other hand, we are the same as Sheldon Cooper, not a good thing.
Calling it a hobby, masks what it really is, an obsession.

We call ourselves baseball fans. And that is true. But, we never think the same way a baseball fan thinks.
Bottom of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, in a tie game, a baseball fan is on the edge of his seat wondering which team will win. The 'hobbyist' is calculating the ramifications of how any occurrence can help or hurt their fantasy team.
It's the game within the game that we enjoy most. Not just the game, as fans do.
It's what keeps us tuned in to a 12-0 game. We know that garbage time is a great time to get stats not garnered in those games as described above.

Baseball fans talk about would-be trades to help their teams. Usually thinking they can get more in return for their players than they are really worth. They are secure in the knowledge that David Price could be had for their shortstop, their pitcher, and their prospect. Because their shortstop, pitcher, and prospect wears the name of the team loved by their fans.
Their shortstop, pitcher, and prospect all suck. But not in their eyes.
Fantasy players are more pragmatic. We know the worth of David Price. Whats more, we know the worth of David Price in any baseball city in America. His price point on draft day rises if traded to San Diego or San Francisco.
Drops if traded to Texas or Colorado.

We are hobbyists in the guise of obsessionists. Yes, I just made up that word.
I am currently in a slow draft. The first thing I think about after waking is if I am close to being up in the draft.
First thing EVERY morning during the draft. I could have a wet dream and it would be the same.
Our hobby is not like stamp or coin collecting or gardening. Those folks do their thing, then put it aside.
We never put it aside.
In season, we are entranced by what our players do on a day in/day out basis.
In the off season, every trade or signing is tallied in our head with fantasy implications at the forefront.

There are now millions of fantasy baseball players.
Yahoo Kids.
Local leagues.
Fun leagues.
Competitive leagues.
Free Leagues.
Odd scoring leagues.
Small money leagues.
Big money leagues.
There are two things that link every player together, no matter the league.
First, is the will to kick everybody's ass. To show, and have others in our league acknowledge, that we know more than they do.
We don't want much. Just fantasy dominance.

Second, is the pursuit of the perfect team. It is like having the perfect golf outing. It can never be achieved, but we try.
If we are used to shooting a 90 in golf, and go out a shoot a 72, we may, at first, think that we've had the perfect golf outing. But, then we start thinking about the four foot putt missed on the seventh hole.
Same thing in fantasy baseball, there is always a better pick we could have made, always a better faab pickup we could have secured.
I like it that way.
Once scoring a 300 in bowling, you join others in a swell accomplishment. At the same time, it can never be bettered. The ultimate has been achieved. Every game bowled afterwards will most likely fall short. A disappointment that will never be shared by fantasy players. We can always do better. It's what drives us.
Call us geeks, gamers, hobbyists, obsessionists. Call us anything you like.
Just don't call us during a draft.