(Part 1)
Most of the time, I get along with the Fantasy Baseball God (FBG). Sure, there are times when I cuss him. Especially during drafts and sometimes during the season.
I remember taking Joey Votto years and years ago. It was before Votto had gained his reputation for drawing walks, When he was still considered 'A slugger'. Votto would draw walks with men on. I would curse the FBG.
But as the season unwound, it was clear I was cursing at the wrong person. It was Votto I should have been cursing. Not the FBG,
He had changed from his slugging ways to drawing a walk as tops on his list of priorities.
I haven't been able to own Votto since because in order to compete in Fantasy Baseball, we have to have a bit of sanity.
Votto drove me crazy that year and I've been driving him crazy since.
Ah well.
Right now, I'm loving the FBG. He has helped in drafts.(Yes, still drafting).
He has taken away drafters number one excuse for being late or timing out.
"Sorry, I was in a meeting."
To the other 14 drafters, no meeting is more important than keeping the line moving.
"Sorry, I was in a meeting." is more than just an excuse. It implies that others were more important than us.
That the drafter's meeting was so important that he could not look down at his phone and push 'draft'.
The FBG has also taken away Church and "At my Kid's (insert sport here) practice or game.
The FBG has taken away just about every excuse in the world since most of us are holed up.
But still, drafters find a way to take too much time.
Ah well.
Just another thing about Votto....
I know it's not fair to compare him to a Hall of Famer, but I do this because I want to find a player with an incredibly long tenure in the Major Leagues and Derek Jeter's career fills the bill.
Many, including Votto argue that getting on base is the number one job of players.
This is fine if you're a sabermetrician, rolling out a walking carpet and pray five times daily to the God Of Bases on Balls.
But get this...
Votto has already drawn more base on balls than Jeter did over his long career.
Astounding enough, but here's the kicker...
Votto has only scored a little more than half the Runs Jeter scored in his career. Half!
Jeter's job WAS to get on base. He did that. More through HITTING the ball, than walking.
Votto had very little support behind him in his lineups. A walk was doing the opposing team a favor.
Not only did they oblige him with walks, he changed his style to encourage them.
He walks with no purpose. And now that age and changing style have conformed to make him less of a threat, pitchers are not walking him as before.
Making him, impotent.
Ah well.