Dog Days of Fantasy

[DOUGHBOYS]

This is the toughest time of the year for season long fantasy players.

1. Daily games are calling.
2. Football study and drafts are in the serious stages.
3. FAAB is a dread, not a revitalization.
4. We know that some of our teams will not be competing in some leagues.
5. As always, real life gets in our way.

Let's talk about these items...

1. I don't play the daily games. But, I believe I am one of the few in the NFBC. Almost all of the fellow players I talk with dabble or are serious about the daily games.
Greg believes that the daily game is good for the season-long game. He feels that the more players that are introduced to the daily game, the better chance that they will also play the season-long game.
My belief is that the daily game will be the 'Texas Hold Em' of fantasy baseball. That most will play in that format while our season-long game fades into the sunset eventually like '7 card stud'.

We are a 'booty call' society. The daily game is a booty call. The season-long game, a 50th anniversary couple.
That 50 anniversary couple has to put in a lot of work to stay together. Daily hand holding of the same team, weekly FAAB.
The commitment is tremendous.
Daily has no commitment.
If in the mood for sex, the booty call is answered.
No daily handholding. no FAAB, no commitment.
This may sound like some kind of advertisement for the daily game.
It isn't.
It's just that the advantages are strong over our game.

2. Football season is arriving soon. In the past, football is the main reason why Managers quit managing their fantasy baseball teams. If they see their teams swoon in baseball, football offers new hope.
Although baseball was the first sport to be 'fantasized', football was made for fantasy. Most folks do not cotton to percentages.There are no percentages in fantasy football. No passing percentages. No yards per carry or catch.
Just simple addition. Yards, touchdowns, kicks, and defense, all with simple addition.
WHIP and ERA for baseball nerds.

Anybody with even a passing knowledge (pun intended)of football can play a daily or season-long football fantasy game and win.
The lottery ticket odds of winning a fantasy football league over a fantasy baseball league is shortened considerably.
Luck, a much larger part of that game.
The once a week schedule, much more appealing and pleasing to the daily grind of baseball, by participants and spouses alike.

3. FAAB is just simply a hard task this time of year. Each Sunday through September, a must do if having a contending team.
If not, our season-long work may be for nothing.
Early in the season, we flock to FAAB with zest, knowing that we will be changing our teams and maybe our luck.
Now, now we know what our teams are. Most likely, there is no 'miracle player' who will change our team dramatically.
Nope.
Now FAAB is just work.
A timestaking process in which we still can leave no stone unturned.

First, we check standings to see if FAAB is even worth our time. Then re-check standings to see how we can gain in each league. Then go through every player in hopes that we will find a gem.Knowing that such a gem probably does not exist, except maybe in our own minds.
FAAB, at this time of year, is the best advertisement possible for the daily and DC games.
A grinders game.

4. Even in high stakes games, folks give up on their teams.
Some will leave them as early as May. But most will leave them around this time of year. There are too many other items pulling at some Managers lives. Maintaining a losing team in a league becomes a decision and some will issue a 'Do Not Resusitate' edict for their team.

Personally, I never completely leave a team. I may not put much efforts in FAAB for a loser. But, I will maintain starting lineups each period for my teams that are viable. I owe that much to my leagues in declaring a true champion.
Still, some will completely leave their team and not look back.
It is just part of our beast.

5. August is a tough month for real life.
The last days of summer. School starting up for the kids. Outdoor events call to our families. Camping, fairs, games, festivals, reunions. Each of these events are mighty draws for our families.
In our minds, we have to do a tight wire act to keep both our families happy and our fantasy teams afloat.
Especially, when most are weekend events and we need time on Sundays.

Some say that September is tough on season-long gamers with baseball season winding down and football starting up in earnest.
They're wrong.
It is the BEST time of the year.
Football study and drafts over. Football, to be enjoyed.
Baseball and fantasy baseball on their last chapters.
We finally get to see if our hard work has paid off.
Questions, answered.
In September, our families are back to school and a daily regimin is established for most.
For us, the grind is almost over......

(Well for most. There are 15 of us that are crazy enough to start the PreMature Draft that begins as the last pitch of this regular season is thrown.)