NFBC Rules Changes For 2014

[Greg Ambrosius]

In my opinion playing this week makes absolutely no sense. The fact that some players will get the opportunity at 163 and 164 games makes even littler sense. Just in the past day you have the Tigers bench Martinez, Hunter, Fielder and switch Porcello out of a start. This is asinine and will cost some well deserving teams a league title.

The NFFC deletes the last week of football and that week represents 5-8% of the season depending on how you calculate. One week in MLB only represents 3.7% of the season. For a game that prides itself on having the best teams win and devises ways to make all drafting slots as fair as possible, including the final week of the season is not in step with the way you run this organization.

As a disclaimer, I entered a Main event team this year for the first time in a few years. It has held a lead for the last couple of months, that lead is in serious jeopardy right now. I have spoken on this in the past, it's just hitting home pretty hard right now.

With that said and no matter the outcome, I still believe that playing this week for all the money is not in line with the NFBC core values.

Joe, first of all, congrats on your Main Event team that has a 4 1/2 point lead as of today despite playing this last week. And congrats on your 12-Team Super League title that also will win despite playing all 162 games. You have had GREAT success this year and we're happy to honor you for it.

As for eliminating the last week of the MLB season, feel free to post every stat you can find in favor of this proposal. Show everyone what percentage of starters sat this week, what percentage of pitchers rested this week instead of pitched for the last time, how many NFBC owners were actually tanking their lineups this week, etc. Facts are best for these debates.

This last week has seen Michael Wacha almost throw a no-hitter, Max Scherzer win his 21st game, Andy Pettitte close out his career with a complete game win and more. This isn't like football where NFL teams that have already secured playoff spots rest their entire starting skill position players to keep them healthy for the physical playoffs after Week 17. Week 17 in the NFL can be like a pre-season game; that doesn't happen 7 days a week in the final week of the MLB season. But maybe I'm wrong and your facts will prove this out. That's what we need here.

And if your opinion is that the last week is a waste, then you have Ty who thinks the last MONTH is a waste. Who's to say anything after the All-Star break is a waste??

But forget the petty Message Board debates and just bring the facts as to why this should be a new rules change. You say it's not in the NFBC's core values; on the contrary, we fight for every single stat in every single game here. We try to do everything possible to give owners every fair chance to earn every single stat and to not exclude any game. What you are proposing is giving up early and then even determining when that ending should be would be up for debate. Talk about a niche game, we'd be it!!

But again, bring facts to the table about this last week and then there can be a real discussion. Right now I'm just hearing how this could affect MY TEAM and in reality the facts point out that your team is doing just fine and in line for that Main Event league title you've always coveted. Congrats.

[Rog]

I was talking to a friend of mine about this the other day. I said this last week is beating the hell out of my team. I will be lucky to get 275 at bats this week. There is no way for me to hold on to my very small lead. We shouldn't have to play it.
so I looked at every team in my league and this is what I saw
231,233,218,193,230,247,216,243,270,231,254,239,122,200,236, the number of at bats each team has going into Sunday.
Not as bad as I thought it was. I think I was just overreacting because I was losing ground and every at bat missed seemed to me magnified.
Last year the last week was very rewarding for me as I cashed in 3 leagues that I was out of the week before .This year it is the opposite I am trying to hang on but I can feel it coming.
The friend did remind me of 1 very important tidbit , He told me when we draft we draft for a players seasons stats not a last week head to head match.
For as bad as this last week is beating my ass(mentally and physically) ,I do realize we need it and it is part of the season.

[Money]

The one change I've been thinking about for some time involves this week of play. I was going to wait until the end of the year, but seeing how you've asked. There are so many pitching rotation changes and minor leaguers getting playing time this week that the element of luck truly creeps into the equation. Why not be like football and close up shop one week early?

This is not something that you'd have to decide in time to implement for the DC leagues as those can run the course seeing as there are no roster changes. The "Hail Mary" that inevitable comes for all of us can simply be done in week 26 when there are reasonable roster and rotation expectations.

I'm sure this has been debated and thought through in the past, I just thought I'd throw it out there.

I am also against any change to the current pitching rules.

Greg, When I first brought up this subject I stated I wanted to wait until the end of the year. Since you were looking to make some decisions in the very near future I brought it up. I later put the disclaimer in about my main event team as I thought everyone should know that possibly I was not looking at it objectively. It was full disclosure.

I will gladly take a look at corresponding factual stats to back up my claim. It is my belief that it lies more on the pitching side that the hitting side of things as rotations change daily.

As for your assessment of my Main event league, that 4.5 point lead is not as comfortable as it may appear. Going into yesterday there were 6 teams logged jammed in batting average between .2633 and .2639. The points have been rotating with each at bat, which is amazing in itself given we're 7600 at bats into it. I also only have a very short lead in 2 offensive categories that could lead to 2 point swings. I'm the favorite but it's not over by a long shot.

I appreciate you bringing up my success this year. I have been very very very fortunate this season and am having a career year. My intention was to try to help make it a better game for the future and not really about the season at hand. I am very grateful to you and your organization.

Joe

By the way you left out my NFBC XII title 5 FAAB leagues, 3 first and one second place finish. Do what you want with rules, I'm a happy guy this year!!

[Greg Ambrosius]

Happy guys don't usually advocate major rules changes, but let's see if you hold onto that 4 1/2 point lead first.

I think as Roger stated, the last week feels worse because every at-bat and start is so important. At the end of the day, most of the hitters are still in there playing every day because after all they too want the best stats possible. And Roger is also right in that if we feel the pain anywhere in the last week it's with a starting pitcher or more missing his last start or two. Maybe he's thrown enough innings or has nothing to gain with one last start, so he's pulled. But do we really eliminate the entire last week for that?? I guess that's the question some of you need to ask and back up with major stats to prove that MLB's last week is as bad as Week 17 in the NFL. Honestly, I think the last week in the NBA is more similar to Week 17 in the NFL than Week 26 in MLB and we don't shorten our fantasy basketball season, either.

Enjoy the last week of the season all and be ready for a Monday regular season game. It looks inevitable today. Good luck all and CONGRATS to anyone who won money.

[MadCow Sez]

Play it thru from game 1-162 (sometimes 163).

Last year the immortal Brandon Lyon got a win and a save in the last week. The save on the last night of the season propelled my DC team into 3rd OA. The win put me in striking distance of the final night's fireworks. The decisions that last week of the season can make all the difference in the final standings.

[TParsons]

And if your opinion is that the last week is a waste, then you have Ty who thinks the last MONTH is a waste. Who's to say anything after the All-Star break is a waste??

I never said it was a waste, Greg. You are the one that asked for feedback, so I gave it. Make all the smartass comments you want about how crazy you think I am. You are not the one investing thousands of dollars. It's fine with me if you disagree with my opinion, but at least try to do it respectfully, as KJ has done. You've made reference multiple times about being adamant that this not become a streaming contest. It's obvious that you're not paying attention.

[Greg Ambrosius]

And if your opinion is that the last week is a waste, then you have Ty who thinks the last MONTH is a waste. Who's to say anything after the All-Star break is a waste??

I never said it was a waste, Greg. You are the one that asked for feedback, so I gave it. Make all the smartass comments you want about how crazy you think I am. You are not the one investing thousands of dollars. It's fine with me if you disagree with my opinion, but at least try to do it respectfully, as KJ has done. You've made reference multiple times about being adamant that this not become a streaming contest. It's obvious that you're not paying attention.

Nobody is calling anyone a smartass. All I'm saying is that once you admit that the last week isn't fully played then you have others who think the last two weeks aren't fully played and on and on and on. September has many different obstacles to deal with, but ending the season early isn't a viable option from our standpoint. We believe every game is important and as long as Major League Baseball plays 162 games we'll likely be playing 162 games as well. Again, if there's data out there that says otherwise then we'll gladly look at it and weigh the good and the bad with that.

[TOXIC ASSETS]

Greg I'm begging you, DON'T change the pitching rule. Keep "as is". Switching things will be even more of an advantage to those who have tons of time on their hands to watch things. I can see the reasoning behind being able to change a hitter in mid-week because you are talking about a player who is giving production every day of the week.

Over the course of a full season the breaks would likely even out from not being able to make changes for weekend games.

If you want to continue to grow the NFBC - and why wouldn't you - you need to bring in more casual players and those are the kind of players who are not going to want the extra complication of in-week pitching moves.

Just my 2 cents.

[BK METS]

Opinions should be respected. The thing I dislike the most about these boards is the name calling. It's probably a big reason over the past 3 years less and less people post. Joe and KJ are execllent Fantasy players and both offer a lot to the NFBC and offer and write some good stuff. Bottom line, disagree, but no name calling or any semblence of personnal attacks.

I agree and I never agree with you!!! See, there is hope for these boards

I am still searching for the personal attacks from KJ. If disagreeing with someone on the boards is regarded as personal attacks, I think we are all guilty.

As far as the issue at hand, I don't know ANY roto baseball league in any format, that does not take ALL stats from every game, into consideration, when determining the final standings. That being said, I don't care either way. We all love complaining on rule changes, but like anything else, we will adjust, if the changes are made. I would vote against eliminating the final week. I think baseball is very different than football. Its a marathon. Why end it one week early? Just my opinion and not attacking anyone in particular.

[Sack]

I'd like to see Game #163 or #164 done away with. The season is written for 162 games and everybody is on an equal ground.
Many of these leagues are decided by fractions. I've both won and lost on the added Playoff games, but not once have I've felt it is fair. Most teams wont bother to check and update their roster. Of course, if you know a person in your league a quick email or phone call can help you win/lose your league on this final day. Is this fair? I'm sure NOBODY would actually consider tanking to help a buddy - we won't even go there. If you don't think this is a possibility, you are wearing blinders. Games 163 etc. create that opportunity.

Why should leagues be decided because you have players on your roster that play for Tampa or Texas today? Is there a skill
in having one of those two teams players on your team? Conversely, why should some guy who had Jason Kipnis or any of the other Indian players on his Roto teams be penalized today? So, Kipnis's team finishes ahead of the players on the Rays and Rangers and he may lose hundreds or thousands of dollars because the Indians don't have to play. Maybe setting the rules, you like this dramatic type of finish but as a person that writes the checks to play I think the games played after 162 don't create an equal plying field and they offer the chance to effect a season's worth of work with a click or two of the mouse.

[Outlaw]

I'd like to see Game #163 or #164 done away with. The season is written for 162 games and everybody is on an equal ground.
Many of these leagues are decided by fractions. I've both won and lost on the added Playoff games, but not once have I've felt it is fair. Most teams wont bother to check and update their roster. Of course, if you know a person in your league a quick email or phone call can help you win/lose your league on this final day. Is this fair? I'm sure NOBODY would actually consider tanking to help a buddy - we won't even go there. If you don't think this is a possibility, you are wearing blinders. Games 163 etc. create that opportunity.

Why should leagues be decided because you have players on your roster that play for Tampa or Texas today? Is there a skill
in having one of those two teams players on your team? Conversely, why should some guy who had Jason Kipnis or any of the other Indian players on his Roto teams be penalized today? So, Kipnis's team finishes ahead of the players on the Rays and Rangers and he may lose hundreds or thousands of dollars because the Indians don't have to play. Maybe setting the rules, you like this dramatic type of finish but as a person that writes the checks to play I think the games played after 162 don't create an equal plying field and they offer the chance to effect a season's worth of work with a click or two of the mouse.

Well Said, my thoughts exactly. 162 games and done. No one gets upset on game 163 either way. There is NO skill needed in determing whether there will be 163 games. The other 162 there is and can be planned for.

[MadCow Sez]

I'd like to see Game #163 or #164 done away with. The season is written for 162 games and everybody is on an equal ground.
Many of these leagues are decided by fractions. I've both won and lost on the added Playoff games, but not once have I've felt it is fair. Most teams wont bother to check and update their roster. Of course, if you know a person in your league a quick email or phone call can help you win/lose your league on this final day. Is this fair? I'm sure NOBODY would actually consider tanking to help a buddy - we won't even go there. If you don't think this is a possibility, you are wearing blinders. Games 163 etc. create that opportunity.

Why should leagues be decided because you have players on your roster that play for Tampa or Texas today? Is there a skill
in having one of those two teams players on your team? Conversely, why should some guy who had Jason Kipnis or any of the other Indian players on his Roto teams be penalized today? So, Kipnis's team finishes ahead of the players on the Rays and Rangers and he may lose hundreds or thousands of dollars because the Indians don't have to play. Maybe setting the rules, you like this dramatic type of finish but as a person that writes the checks to play I think the games played after 162 don't create an equal plying field and they offer the chance to effect a season's worth of work with a click or two of the mouse.

Well Said, my thoughts exactly. 162 games and done. No one gets upset on game 163 either way. There is NO skill needed in determining whether there will be 163 games. The other 162 there is and can be planned for.

I'm in favor of changing the rules to reflect 162 games...no tie-breakers, but what if a team only plays 161?

[sek729]

END GAME 163!!!!!!!!!!! I don't give a crap that MLB is retarded and counts it.. It's totally against the spirit of our game.

[COZ]

I'd like to see Game #163 or #164 done away with. The season is written for 162 games and everybody is on an equal ground.
Many of these leagues are decided by fractions. I've both won and lost on the added Playoff games, but not once have I've felt it is fair. Most teams wont bother to check and update their roster. Of course, if you know a person in your league a quick email or phone call can help you win/lose your league on this final day. Is this fair? I'm sure NOBODY would actually consider tanking to help a buddy - we won't even go there. If you don't think this is a possibility, you are wearing blinders. Games 163 etc. create that opportunity.

Why should leagues be decided because you have players on your roster that play for Tampa or Texas today? Is there a skill
in having one of those two teams players on your team? Conversely, why should some guy who had Jason Kipnis or any of the other Indian players on his Roto teams be penalized today? So, Kipnis's team finishes ahead of the players on the Rays and Rangers and he may lose hundreds or thousands of dollars because the Indians don't have to play. Maybe setting the rules, you like this dramatic type of finish but as a person that writes the checks to play I think the games played after 162 don't create an equal plying field and they offer the chance to effect a season's worth of work with a click or two of the mouse.

Perfectly argued. You changed my opinion on this. Agree.

COZ

[joshguy]

I've known MLB has been counting the game 163 since I was a kid 35 years ago looking at the back of baseball cards and seeing the occasional 163 games played for a player. They count those stats, why shouldnt we?

There isnt skill in just rostering a player from TB or Tex, more randomness than anything, especially in the draft champions league. But a savvy owner in a FAAB league could have seen the tight race between CLE, TB, and TX a week ago and picked up as many of those available guys as they could have.

Like others have alluded to about teams playing 161 games, we would never dare dream to give a bonus to an owner who lost out on that game for their player. So why take away stats from a player who gets an extra game?

[Sea Wolves]

Leave the 163 games rule alone.

If you play this game for a large chunk of change and you don't take it upon youself to know all the rules, then honestly, too bad, so sad. For all the posters talking about "its a 162 game season" and "there's no skill in knowing who's playing in the 163 game", I haven't seen one poster advocating to bump up the stats when teams play only 161 games some years!!! Make up your minds, is it 162 games or is it 1 regular season? You can't have it both ways.

Again, I say leave the rule alone.

[DOUGHBOYS]

There are a lot of posts equating real baseball with fantasy baseball in that the stats counts in real baseball, they must in fantasy as well.
This is a point well taken.
There's also the counter point that teams 'luck in' with TEX/TAM players and have an advantage over others with no skill involved.
And that is a point well taken.

As of now, we swing the door wide open for these playoffs. Not only can teams play these TEX/TAM players, but can change lineups to accommodate that.
THAT is what should be changed. We shouldn't have the power to change the lineup. It is an extention of the week. It should be incorporated as another strategy.
If Cruz owners think that he'll be back for a playoff game, they can play him before the last week starts.
Not after when announcements have been made. Where's the skill in that?
There's also no skill in benching Price or Perez if having nothing to gain in pitching stats.
Putting the playoff game included with the last week of stats includes that last regular season game AND puts us all in the same boat of helping or hurting ourselves.
As it is now, those TEX/TAM players can be moved and their owners have a advantage over others.

[King of Queens]

Agree with Doughy. The 163rd/164th games should be add-on(s) to the final week of the season.

No changes allowed on Sunday night/Monday morning. Come what may.

[Money]

Agree with Doughy. The 163rd/164th games should be add-on(s) to the final week of the season.

No changes allowed on Sunday night/Monday morning. Come what may.

I agree on this point as well.

[Rog]

There are a lot of posts equating real baseball with fantasy baseball in that the stats counts in real baseball, they must in fantasy as well.
This is a point well taken.
There's also the counter point that teams 'luck in' with TEX/TAM players and have an advantage over others with no skill involved.
And that is a point well taken.

As of now, we swing the door wide open for these playoffs. Not only can teams play these TEX/TAM players, but can change lineups to accommodate that.
THAT is what should be changed. We shouldn't have the power to change the lineup. It is an extention of the week. It should be incorporated as another strategy.
If Cruz owners think that he'll be back for a playoff game, they can play him before the last week starts.
Not after when announcements have been made. Where's the skill in that?
There's also no skill in benching Price or Perez if having nothing to gain in pitching stats.
Putting the playoff game included with the last week of stats includes that last regular season game AND puts us all in the same boat of helping or hurting ourselves.
As it is now, those TEX/TAM players can be moved and their owners have a advantage over others.

I know of 1 league in particular where this came into effect

[JohnP]

Right on Dan!!

[Joe Sambito]

I like it how it is now.

I can see the argument for making it an extension of the final scoring period. But I like it how it is. I like planning ahead, and grabbing a few guys who might be in that game and stashing them.

Heck, I remember grabbing Wilhelmsen last year(2012), after he got a save in Japan, and then snipping him in FAAB 1. (Wish I held him) But it is all part of the rules. I plan to load up on Dodgers and D'backs next year for week one. It is what it is, people should just deal with it and plan accordingly.

As far as not counting game 163, that seems silly, MLB counts it, so we should too. Period. I mean when you fill your draft prep with last season stats are you going to take a homer away from Longoria or a steal away from Andrus. No, didn't think so.

It is what it is, just plan for it. Maybe this year you were on the wrong side of it, next year remember that when that last FAAB rolls around.

Just one man's opinion.

[Quahogs]

I agree with Sambito - let it remain the way it is.

For every week's worth of games be it 1 at the beginning of the season or 7 for 26 other weeks we KNOW the schedule - it's fixed and we are able to adjust our lineup accordingly. The basic tenet of fantasy sports. We know the games we set our lineup. The last monday of the regular season we KNOW the fixed schedule and we set our lineups. Game 163 for 2 teams did NOT exist when we set our lineups on monday.

If MLB adds an extra game to the end of the season why shouldn't we be able to adjust our lineup just as we have done throughout the season? Consistently applying that basic tenet of fantasy sports should follow through here.

[DOUGHBOYS]

Andy and Steve,
I get what you're saying. Heck, I benefited from the rule by benching Ogando.
The real trouble I have with it is that it becomes a 'Daily Game'. A daily game that only a few can play.
I benefited with Ogando, knowing that a small percentage of WHIP increase would prevent me from winning $1400.
I did it because it was within the rules.
Still, the rule has to be questioned.

[Quahogs]

I simply want the "right" to adjust my lineup for a game that did not exist the last time I was able to adjust it. To me that is what it comes down to.

On monday I saw that Hellickson was to face Minnesota on wednesday based on the fixed schedule at the time. I activate him vs this tempting matchup. After sunday's games they decide there is 1 more game on monday. Hellickson is now going to face Texas in Texas. No WAY should he be allowed to stay in my lineup if I don't see fit. Another monday, another set of game(s) means another lineup adjustment.