NFBC Rules Changes For 2014

[DOUGHBOYS]

One of my favorite exercises at the end of the year, is to look at my 'fantasy stats' compared to a player's 'real stats'.
Todd just passed out....

I give myself a pat on the back if I cheated 'real stats'.
I figure if I passed on a Cliff Lee start and he implodes (RotoWorld favorite word for a bad outing), then I deserve a pat on the back for cheating his projections or year long stats.
At the same time, I'll give myself a mythical kick in my own ass if he comes up with a gem.
All part of the game.

[KJ Duke]

One of my favorite exercises at the end of the year, is to look at my 'fantasy stats' compared to a player's 'real stats'.
Todd just passed out....

I give myself a pat on the back if I cheated 'real stats'.
I figure if I passed on a Cliff Lee start and he implodes (RotoWorld favorite word for a bad outing), then I deserve a pat on the back for cheating his projections or year long stats.
At the same time, I'll give myself a mythical kick in my own ass if he comes up with a gem.
All part of the game.

I like to look at key drops I made to see what stats they put up for their new team ... whether that pitcher who sucked for me had a 3.40 or 5.40 ERA for his new team for a potb or kita. I know two off the top of my head; CC good, Colon bad.

[ToddZ]

To put a bow on my comments (and to hopefully show I'm not totally nuts)...

Not suggesting this as a rule so apologies to G&T for this mini-hijack, but it does frame why I would be against the Friday pitching rule.

My personal ideal format would be no reserve other than DL and minors. You can FAAB a player and replace someone, but that someone would have to be dropped. Once a player is off the DL or back in the bigs, you have one gratis transaction period to keep the player on reserve (if you want) then lose him if you don't activate him the second week.

This helps alleviate some of the risk mitigation that has infiltrated our game due to the advent of reserve lists but still requires the in-season projection to which Q alludes.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Wow, I like it, in a being kidnapped but the kidnapper is Kate Upton kind of way.
That is not even old school, Todd. That is before schools were a notion type of thinking. Again, I like it.
That would make for a very entertaining league.

[Cocktails and Dreams]

Anything that helps you get more choice of when your pitchers pitch is better IMO. Feeling like you have to play a guy for two starts puts you at the mercy of how the stars align with lucky or unlucky matchups those weeks. I prefer full fledged ability to make any change you want on Friday, batters and pitchers alike. Obviously that is not going to happen here so it is what it is. Not a big deal since I am not playing no matter what the rules are. But that lack of control was probably the thing that annoyed me the most about these pitching rules the three years I played.

[Greg Ambrosius]

Anything that helps you get more choice of when your pitchers pitch is better IMO. Feeling like you have to play a guy for two starts puts you at the mercy of how the stars align with lucky or unlucky matchups those weeks. I prefer full fledged ability to make any change you want on Friday, batters and pitchers alike. Obviously that is not going to happen here so it is what it is. Not a big deal since I am not playing no matter what the rules are. But that lack of control was probably the thing that annoyed me the most about these pitching rules the three years I played.

Chad's post is a perfect example of how we can never please everyone and thus we have to make decisions that are in the best interests of the game long-term. Some people leave because there isn't more flexibility to the lineups, some leave if there is more flexibility. Again, it's great to hear from everyone and to know we can't please everyone. But hopefully the game will stand on its own merits and we'll be smart before tampering with what is already a pretty solid -- albeit not perfect -- game.

[Cocktails and Dreams]

Anything that helps you get more choice of when your pitchers pitch is better IMO. Feeling like you have to play a guy for two starts puts you at the mercy of how the stars align with lucky or unlucky matchups those weeks. I prefer full fledged ability to make any change you want on Friday, batters and pitchers alike. Obviously that is not going to happen here so it is what it is. Not a big deal since I am not playing no matter what the rules are. But that lack of control was probably the thing that annoyed me the most about these pitching rules the three years I played.

Chad's post is a perfect example of how we can never please everyone and thus we have to make decisions that are in the best interests of the game long-term. Some people leave because there isn't more flexibility to the lineups, some leave if there is more flexibility. Again, it's great to hear from everyone and to know we can't please everyone. But hopefully the game will stand on its own merits and we'll be smart before tampering with what is already a pretty solid -- albeit not perfect -- game.

To be clear, I am certainly not leaving because of the rules. I would leave even if I wrote them. They are plenty good if I felt like continuing to play fantasy baseball. I am leaving because I don't enjoy it when I have won big, I don't enjoy it when I frontrun all year and lose, and I don't enjoy it when I suck. Just takes way too much time for something I don't like. My time is better utilized on other things. The main thing I will miss are drafts with Joe in them. And I will miss the first few weeks when you watch your teams unfold.

[Hells Satans]

For me, this game should be about projecting a season's worth of performance and using game theory to build a roster generating the most roto points from this performance.

In the course of 32 starts, pitchers are going to have good and bad match-ups. These should be folded in together to predict final numbers.

Being able to pick and choose perceived favorable starts bastardizes what should be at the heart of this game - projecting player performance.

Playing a mediocre pitcher in Petco and sitting all but the best in Coors - that's not what this game is all about.

The game I'VE known for 25+ years always involved how to best manage the resources you had. Some at your fingertips some wistfully unobtainable. To me fantasy baseball while fantasy DOES try to mirror running a team via the mangers/GM chair. Player projections obviously are at the base but hardly the be all end all. Projecting shouldn't end come draft day.

Well of course you would like it since you're some kind of team managing savant weirdo. For those, like me, who suck once the draft is over, I need to try to limit in-season management to the bare minimum.

[Quahogs]

Who you calling savant you perfect draft freak. Hey wanna cut a deal ?

[Hells Satans]

You're so close that I can smell you. Ask me again Friday.

[Money]

Anything that helps you get more choice of when your pitchers pitch is better IMO. Feeling like you have to play a guy for two starts puts you at the mercy of how the stars align with lucky or unlucky matchups those weeks. I prefer full fledged ability to make any change you want on Friday, batters and pitchers alike. Obviously that is not going to happen here so it is what it is. Not a big deal since I am not playing no matter what the rules are. But that lack of control was probably the thing that annoyed me the most about these pitching rules the three years I played.

Chad's post is a perfect example of how we can never please everyone and thus we have to make decisions that are in the best interests of the game long-term. Some people leave because there isn't more flexibility to the lineups, some leave if there is more flexibility. Again, it's great to hear from everyone and to know we can't please everyone. But hopefully the game will stand on its own merits and we'll be smart before tampering with what is already a pretty solid -- albeit not perfect -- game.

To be clear, I am certainly not leaving because of the rules. I would leave even if I wrote them. They are plenty good if I felt like continuing to play fantasy baseball. I am leaving because I don't enjoy it when I have won big, I don't enjoy it when I frontrun all year and lose, and I don't enjoy it when I suck. Just takes way too much time for something I don't like. My time is better utilized on other things. The main thing I will miss are drafts with Joe in them. And I will miss the first few weeks when you watch your teams unfold.

Chad, you will truly be missed in Vegas and in these leagues. You're one of the few who get me. I know you're moving on to the Daily games next season. I wish I could make the transition as I love the immediate gratification that comes with them, evident by my affinity to live scoring.I simply am not willing to go through the learning curve that it will take to become competitive in them.

I will offer up one unsolicited comment, I think you should consider entering one team in each of the main events next year. I think it may rejuvenate you for this format. I'm positive you would thrive. Your statistical analysis of where you stand in those leagues will be very very different It was painful as an outsider last year watching what unfolded to your teams. This year is an anomaly. I hope to see you next March. Good luck no matter where this game takes you. Everyone knows that you are one of the best to ever play this game.

Ok, back on point

1. I am against the proposed pitching changes.

2. Eliminate the last week of the season it's worse than football.

3. Keep slow drafts at 50 rounds.

[KJ Duke]

I like the final week, there's a lot of strategy in faab and lineups.

[Money]

I like the final week, there's a lot of strategy in faab and lineups.

KJ, I'm a Starbucks liberal or conservative, whatever you called me. You will never agree with me on anything. I do respect your knowledge and passion for the game though. You must be chasing.

[KJ Duke]

I like the final week, there's a lot of strategy in faab and lineups.

KJ, I'm a Starbucks liberal or conservative, whatever you called me. You will never agree with me on anything. I do respect your knowledge and passion for the game though. You must be chasing.

Actually I'm just trying to hold on to existing leads in all but one longshot. And I do go to Starbucks most days, I'm just not a slave to blind brand worship whether that be Apple, Liberal or Conservative.

[Money]

I like the final week, there's a lot of strategy in faab and lineups.

KJ, I'm a Starbucks liberal or conservative, whatever you called me. You will never agree with me on anything. I do respect your knowledge and passion for the game though. You must be chasing.

Actually I'm just trying to hold on to existing leads in all but one longshot. And I do go to Starbucks most days, I'm just not a slave to blind brand worship whether that be Apple, Liberal or Conservative.

I've never had a cup of coffee in my life and that's the truth. Now Bud Light, I've had a few of those.

[KJ Duke]

Well that's it right there. Grab a coffee and you'll have all the pick me up you need to spend that extra minute to look over your pitchers on Friday.

[Money]

Well that's it right there. Grab a coffee and you'll have all the pick me up you need to spend that extra minute to look over your pitchers on Friday.

That is where we seriously disagree. I agree it will take less than a minute to hit the computer buttons to play the pitchers you want. Where we disagree is the thought process needed on the previous Sunday to line up that weeks strategy. This is where the rubber meets the road. No one seems to want to address the time leading into your roster decisions for any given week. The 12 team implications are a lot more severe than the 15 team ones.

[Outlaw]

I like the final week, there's a lot of strategy in faab and lineups.

KJ, I'm a Starbucks liberal or conservative, whatever you called me. You will never agree with me on anything. I do respect your knowledge and passion for the game though. You must be chasing.

Actually I'm just trying to hold on to existing leads in all but one longshot. And I do go to Starbucks most days, I'm just not a slave to blind brand worship whether that be Apple, Liberal or Conservative.

Starbucks cost to make coffee-13 cents, cup- 27 cents, store - 14 cents- labor- 12 cents- misc/taxes - 32 cents - approx cost - 98 cents- profit margin approx 250%. Profit margin is nowhere near Apples approx 400% on all its products produced almost entirely in Far East countires where the avg wage is .75 cents an hr. Who was it that said Americans were smart? We are just brainwashed to into believing there is value in Lattes and Iphones... Just like there was value in Ryan Bruan this year at pick 3-5.

[Glenneration X]

Madison Bumgarner. Seriously, who saw that coming? Exhibit A on why some kind of recourse to protect us from these unexpected breaks are necessary.

[DOUGHBOYS]

There is an aspect of this rule change that I don't like much.
I took a look at one of my teams with this rule change in mind. All my pitchers will have thrown by Thursday.
While this rule would give us more options in regards to filling a spot like Bumgarner, one of the spots on our bench may have to be an 'emergency pitcher'. Few pitcher's do not throw before Friday.
You'd think more should be eligible, since some staffs went to a six man rotation.
That part doesn't sound like much fun.

[Money]

There is an aspect of this rule change that I don't like much.
I took a look at one of my teams with this rule change in mind. All my pitchers will have thrown by Thursday.
While this rule would give us more options in regards to filling a spot like Bumgarner, one of the spots on our bench may have to be an 'emergency pitcher'. Few pitcher's do not throw before Friday.
You'd think more should be eligible, since some staffs went to a six man rotation.
That part doesn't sound like much fun.

Two quick points.

1. Your post Dan points to the thought process that will have to take place in advance of the week. My opposition is about time consumption.

2. This instance is a product of the end of the season, not really bad luck, just bad timing.

[DOUGHBOYS]

I just don't think that Bumgarner owners would get much relief with the new rule change.
Maybe a Closer in Waiting would be a touch more valuable, but he too would have probably pitched by Friday.
Most starters benched, are either hurt or have bad match-ups and that is without thinking WHEN they pitch.
Sorry, just thinking out loud.....

[Glenneration X]

I just don't think that Bumgarner owners would get much relief with the new rule change.
Maybe a Closer in Waiting would be a touch more valuable, but he too would have probably pitched by Friday.
Most starters benched, are either hurt or have bad match-ups and that is without thinking WHEN they pitch.
Sorry, just thinking out loud.....

This is why I prefer your suggestion of swapping out any one pitcher for any other pitcher no matter the circumstances of whether they are injured, had pitched previously in the week, etc. Let's face it, it won't add that much time at all. We're all in our lineups on Friday anyway. As far as streaming, so what. It's one pitcher, not your entire staff. I think will only add to the game and take away some of the frustrating aspects.

We pay big money to pay these leagues. Why wouldn't we want a touch more control.

I just wish there was a way we could protect ourselves from losing a Machado on a Monday due to a freak injury or a Rasmus on a Friday from a ball hitting him in the eye during warmups and announced only after lineups lock. However, I know those circumstances would be near impossible to ever protect against. However, my point is whatever takes more of the "luck" of the game out of the equation and rewards the parts of this game we actually control is good by me.

[Roger Dorn]

1. I'm for Friday pitching changes, assuming that the two pitchers in question have not pitched in a REAL game through that Friday.
2. I'm for 55 DC rounds, I'd rather do 60 but 55 is better than 50.

[DOUGHBOYS]

I just don't think that Bumgarner owners would get much relief with the new rule change.
Maybe a Closer in Waiting would be a touch more valuable, but he too would have probably pitched by Friday.
Most starters benched, are either hurt or have bad match-ups and that is without thinking WHEN they pitch.
Sorry, just thinking out loud.....

This is why I prefer your suggestion of swapping out any one pitcher for any other pitcher no matter the circumstances of whether they are injured, had pitched previously in the week, etc. Let's face it, it won't add that much time at all. We're all in our lineups on Friday anyway. As far as streaming, so what. It's one pitcher, not your entire staff. I think will only add to the game and take away some of the frustrating aspects.

We pay big money to pay these leagues. Why wouldn't we want a touch more control.

I just wish there was a way we could protect ourselves from losing a Machado on a Monday due to a freak injury or a Rasmus on a Friday from a ball hitting him in the eye during warmups and announced only after lineups lock. However, I know those circumstances would be near impossible to ever protect against. However, my point is whatever takes more of the "luck" of the game out of the equation and rewards the parts of this game we actually control is good by me.

I agree, Glenn. It's one pitcher. Everybody gets to replace one pitcher no matter the circumstances. More simple.
The benefits far outweigh the side effects.
Pitchers are being streamed now. Owners are using faab to stream instead of their own bench.

The more I think about this weakened version of that rule change, the less I am for it.
It would give us an option to replace a pitcher, but manipulating our roster to take advantage of that option each week has me less enthused.