No more, no less.
We draft our teams and play off that foundation when the regular season begins.
Projections, boasts, and 'hitting numbers' post arrive shortly after drafts.
Silly, really.
April, this April especially, is a reminder that we don't play those 30 players. And with the first injury, projections, boasts, and hitting certain numbers are all rendered null and void.
Josh Hamilton is replaced by J.B. Shuck.
Erasmo Ramirez is dropped for a Closer in Waiting because a Closer on our roster has lost his job.
Project the loss in just those two cases.
Before this year, I was always a proponent of roster construction. I'm beginning to think that roster construction may not be THAT important. I'm re-thinking roster construction because of the anticipation of injury. It's not that I'll be drafting scared. I'll just be drafting for the inevitable.
WHO we draft becomes much more important than if we have a position covered.
Closer runs are now a source of amusement. Participation, only to make us feel better about having two of the damn pitchers.
Pitchers that, for the most part, contribute to one category.
Now, a lot of those Closers are taking up roster space on our bench or just plain dropped.
Chapman, Janssen, Feliz, Veras, Fields, Brothers, Jones, Johnson, Frieri, Farquhar, Grilli, Henderson, Parnell.
These fellas were all selected with the thought that they would be closing games. They may as well be closing bars.
If I were devious and collusion would not bother my conscience, there is one way I would cheat in an NFBC Main Event.
I feel that in most drafts, Closers are taken way too early.
I would approach each of the 14 other drafters and ask for a gentlemans agreement.
After the so-called best Closers (Kimbrel, Chapman, Holland, Jansen, Rosenthal) are taken off the table, no Closer can be chosen till the 15th round.
It'd make it easy on us as drafters and place Closers more closely to where they really belong.
It would also give that draft a leg up on all other drafts who start their Closer runs as early as the ninth round.
I snicker when a team is posted and it is pointed out that the team may have problems because of just one Closer.
So?
We are a hobby of moving parts. One Closer this week, may turn to three Closers next week. Two Closers last week, may have turned to none this week.
It's the nature of our beast.
The player rated last in player ratings is Carlos Santana. He ranks behind some players who haven't had an at bat this season. Which means his batting average drag to a fantasy team, does not make up for the homer or rbi and runs accumulated.
This illustrates two things.
That anything can happen.
And more importantly, just how early in the season we are.
If Carlos Santana is the worst player in baseball, baseball should be a lot of fun to watch this year.
We're also knee jerkers though. Santana would probably be had in the 10th round if we drafted today. Jose Abreu could be a first rounder, and at worst, a second round pick.
We know it's early, but we also follow trends. Long gone are the questions of whether Abreu could hit for power and average in America. During drafts, Abreu was never a thought before Yasiel Puig. And never taken before Puig. Puig was a semi-proven commodity.
Within a month, Puig looks like the girl next door and Abreu, the girl with big breasts and revealing sweater.
Sexy changes fast in fantasy baseball.
There are two first round players in the top 30 player rater.
Two.
Ryan Braun and Mike Trout.
This also illustrates two things.
ADP is stupid.
And more importantly, just how early in the season we are
Unless we expect players like Aaron Harang, Scott Kazmir, Jason Hammel, and Melky Cabrera to remain the best players all year.
Raise your hand if thinking that'll happen. I didn't think so.
For April, Charlie Blackmon reigns supreme as the best player in fantasy baseball.
That's right, Carlos Santana is the worst, Charlie Blackmon the best.
In a salty word, projectionists, boasts, and 'hitting numbers' drafters are screwed.
Chris Dickerson was the sexy pick in late rounds. Blackmon, not chosen in most drafts.
There is only one player in baseball that can be counted on.
A player that magically keeps a starting gig each year.
A player who is seldom drafted.
A player who is hardly bid on in faab, even if lucky enough to Win a game or have great peripherals for even two or three games in a row.
Thank you, Kevin Correia.
In a hobby where everything can be topsy turvy, you maintain your mediocrity. You go above and beyond the call of duty. If a fantasy roster is wiped out due to injury or calls to the minor leagues, you still do not become a thought to fantasy players.
No other starting pitcher can say that.
You pitch in a poor division, on a poor team, and in a pitchers park. It all doesn't matter.
Your splits are simply of no importance.
At some point, suckiness overcomes all stats.
You are hit on more than Kate Upton.
A player only hitting a single is a moral victory for you.
Kevin Correia has three pitches.
1. Hittable
2. Very hittable
3. His out pitch.
On average, he throws his out pitch 14 times a game.
Yes, I made that stat up, but it's probably close
If throwing his out pitch too much more, he wouldn't be Kevin Freakin Correia.
I love you, Kevin Correia.
In a game that changes from year to year,month to month, week to week, and day to day, you are the constant.
Please, for the love of our game, never change.
