Option Three

[DOUGHBOYS]

Let's replace hopefulness with pragmatism.
We are not getting anywhere near to a full fantasy baseball season.
No 162 games.
No 154 games.
No 118 games.
Probably no 82 games.
Leaving us with what the owners want and have wanted all along.
A short 48-52 game schedule leading into extended playoffs.
The owners want this because they feel that their 30 pockets are more important than the 300,000,000 baseball fans around the world.
As citizens, we're used to this.
A smallish group of politicians does what is best for re-election and their party, not for the millions they represent on most days.
That's America.

Again, let's be pragmatic.
I've drafted around 20 DC teams.
Most of those teams with thoughts of a 'normal' season.
Now, with just 50-some odd games, should our game be cancelled or played?

It seems to me that there will be three options, not just those two.

1. Cancel the season. None of us signed up to play a third of a season.

2. Play the 50-some odd game schedule and let the chips fall where they may.

3. Play the 50-some odd game schedule AND the playoff schedule as the fantasy season.

There has been some talk about the first two, nary a word about number three. So let's talk about Option Three.

Our game is predicated on being a marathon. We are not getting that this year no matter how we try.
Every day that passes now, is another game off of a possible schedule.
The closest way to including more games is to include the playoff games.
None of us drafted for players to get in the playoffs.
None of us.
It wasn't 'a thing'.
So we'd all be in the same boat in that regard.
As far as drafts AFTER the decision was made, including who will go farther in the playoffs becomes another part of our game that we've never had before.
Another layer of intrigue to our game.

We are all gamblers in one sense of the word or another.
Option three would surely enhance that experience.
As fantasy players, we would shut down before the playoffs or play trivial 'playoff'contests.
Now, the playoffs would be a part of the action.
We would be captivated through the end of the year.

Making decisions during the regular season is in our wheelhouse.
Been there, done that.
Playoffs?
That opens up a whole new can of worms. Especially with MLB Managers trying to show how bright they are by making many more changes.

To be sure, MLB Owners have taken away our Kool-Aid and given us lemons.
The best way we can turn those lemons into a nice beverage is Option Three.
Pragmatism tells us that if we're going to have a longer, more exciting fantasy season despite what baseball has done to us, Option Three may be the best option for that.
The Playoffs may last longer than the regular season. May as well use them to make our game more of a marathon than sprint.
If having expanded playoffs in a year with a shorter regular season, WHY NOT take advantage of the extra games?
Why not do something to enhance a season that has been screwed?

Will it be different?
Will it be new?
Will it be so far off base than what we were originally drafting for?

Yes.

But, in every walk of life, not just fantasy baseball, this year will be different.
May as well make something with those damned lemons that MLB Owners are giving us.
It's a viable option.

[Roy's Outlaws]

I Was thinking the same thing Dan. Add the playoff games. More games the better. Now this is sure to come back and bite me in the a$$.

[gellin]

How would a 50 game season and playoff schedule work? Are you saying that we would use the players we drafted for the playoff schedule? If so, how is that fair? Not all players will be participating in the playoffs. Players weren't drafted based on their likelihood of participating in the playoffs.

[DOUGHBOYS]

How would a 50 game season and playoff schedule work? Are you saying that we would use the players we drafted for the playoff schedule? If so, how is that fair? Not all players will be participating in the playoffs. Players weren't drafted based on their likelihood of participating in the playoffs.

At this point, nothing is really 'fair'.
We did not draft for 60, 70, 80, or 100 games.
We didn't draft with the playoffs in mind.
If playing out the season, no matter the amount of games or using the playoffs or not, it will not be 'fair'.

BUT, we are fantasy players and all of us have a little gambler inside of us.
This year is and will be unlike any other year.
Since there are so few games in the season, why not have more fun with it and include the playoff aspect?
ANY team can qualify for the playoffs in the sprint of 60 games.
Last year, the Nationals, the World Series Champions, would NOT have qualified for the playoffs after 50 games.
It would enhance what is looking like a meager fantasy baseball season for us.
Not to mention, it could have our interest far longer than just the short regular season.
If baseball is dead set on increasing playoff teams and games this year, we may as well be there with them and increase our games as well.

By the way, I see you are the newest member of the NFBC Message Boards...WELCOME!

[gellin]

Thanks for the welcome! I've actually been playing since 2014 (and trolling the boards) but had a problem logging onto the boards until this year. Anyway, I'd prefer to play out the season regardless of the number of games. Nobody really knows how to draft for a 50 game season, so I feel we're all on an equal plane with the drafts we've done so far.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Let's say the season is 50-60 games.
I feel sorry for Greg. 80 games, a shoo-in as to playing the season out.
A no-win situation for Greg with 50-60.
If refunding leagues, he'll get a wave of resistance from those who feel like they had great teams or wasted so much time for nothing.
Refunding teams would probably be the prudent play for integrity's sake.
If playing out the season, another wave of resistance from those that feel that 50-60 games isn't what we drafted for and our season has become compromised, yet we're still playing.
Playing out the season does not kill the Golden Goose, which is the NFBC itself.
I can completely understand either decision.
And whatever the decision, I'll be fine with it.

[KJ Duke]

Including playoff games would be fun and finally make them relevant for fantasy, and if you said undrafted leagues would do this I wouldn't argue.

But I wouldn't go so far to include already drafted lges.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Including playoff games would be fun and finally make them relevant for fantasy, and if you said undrafted leagues would do this I wouldn't argue.

But I wouldn't go so far to include already drafted lges.

Understood.

In my mind, nobody is getting what they bargained for in previous drafts. Nobody.
The season is tainted, compromised, damned short, or screwed....pick the word.
Why not add something else that nobody drafted for?
It can only add excitement.
A 48-60 game season in scrimmage-like, fanless parks, some players sitting, KBO-type games will not be all that exciting.
But adding games where each player cares and wants to play hard and by then, playing in front of fans, would be fun.
It would be another in a long list of elements that previous drafters did not bargain for

[DOUGHBOYS]

Obviously, there will be no option 3.
It would just add another layer of unknowing for drafters from months ago.
Just liked the twist myself
Thanks for the listen on that.

I went on a rant on a text thread after the players union turned down the owners offer for 60 games at full pay.
I thought the 70 game counter was an insult. and knew the owners would take it that way.
The players counter was complete bullshit. They 'wanted to play 70 games in 72 days.
Uh huh.
With Covid around and not taking substantial days off.
It wasn't rational or practical.

So anyway, I went on this rant on the text thread that now baseball was in deep jeopardy.
Almost heart breaking.
A friend in the thread, more optimistic than I, told me that the worst that can happen is a 65 game compromise.
I knew that wouldn't happen. I knew the owners would be more pissed than I that they hadn't accepted the offer.
The back and forth between them has NEVER been about compromise. It's been selfish.
Now, indeed, the season is in deep peril and 65 games or now, even 60 games is looking very unlikely.
I feel so bad for everybody.
The NFBC, we players, fans, minor leaguers, people that make livings from baseball.
I do NOT feel sorry for the owners or players.
The season should be on right now.
We should have started months go.
Fuck them.
They didn't.
They didn't.
And so here we are hoping for a damned few games to remind us what baseball looks like.
Makes option 3 sound great.

I should be thinking about FAAB for tomorrow.
I miss FAAB.
Those asses have made me miss FAAB!
I go through the day NOT thinking about baseball.
I hate it.
A thing that has been a part of me since I was five.....is not.

I've started looking at free agents for 2021.
My way of starting to cope.
My feeling is that 2020 is or will be...kaput.
So I'm extending the study for 2021.
And you know what? I'm starting to like it.
There's no recency bias!
Hey! I'm looking for silver linings here
Thanks for the listen...