September....Tough September

[DOUGHBOYS]

We are embarking on the weirdest month of season long fantasy baseball.
September.
Our game changes because the game of baseball changes.
Some believe that September changes our game so much that they wish the fantasy season would end on September 1.
Try as they might, it is almost impossible to change anything 'traditional' in fantasy baseball.


1. Rosters extend to 40 players.

2. Players view September as their last chance to reach goals.

3. Teams in a pennant race will play the hot hands.

4. Teams not in a pennant race will be liberal in 'resting' players.

Let's take a look at each of these phenomena.....

1. The rosters extending to 40 players effects two things.
First, the FAAB pool is much richer because minor league players are brought up in droves. Some of these players may be useful tools in us reaching numbers in certain categories.
Truth be told, any pitcher or hitter brought up from the minors can be hot over a short period of time. The trick is to know which player will see the most time and get the longest look from their Manager.
Second, our lineups suffer. The statistics become watered down. With so many new players at Managers disposals, many of the players we play everyday will be riding pine often during the month.

2. I look for players with 8-9, 17-19 stolen bases to try and get to the 10 or 20 mark. Players say they don't look at statistics.
They lie.
Every year there are few players who end stolen bases with the nine integer.
Stolen bases are optional for players. Something they can control, unlike the other four hitting categories.
Managers will also move players in the lineup so that they can reach goals too in order to get them more at bats.
On the other side, a player ahead in the batting race may bench himself to secure the Championship.
LaMahieu and Jose Reyes have done this.

3. Teams in the pennant race will over play any player who is hot. This could be a reliever vulturing Saves or simply a hot hitter replacing our normal hitter in the lineup.
It could even be a middle reliever given a chance to start.
The trick is to FAAB the hot player if he's a helper in our categories and realize quickly that the player we were used to playing is riding pine.
Another thing contending teams will do is skip Starting Pitchers after our lineup deadlines are over.
They do this to set up their playoff rotation. Or just to give their studs a blow.
Then, when they do throw their ace, their start will be cut short to get them energized for the playoffs.
They may go to a six man rotation.
What does it all mean to us?
Diminished statistics.

4. This is the toughest one.
Right now, if Buster Posey came up sore from getting hit by a pitch, he would try and get back in the lineup despite the soreness.
In September, his Manager will give him three or four days off. The Giants can look at a kid playing day to day behind the plate, resting their superstar for a future pennant race.
It drives us crazy.

September, on whole, is a month of diminished statistics.
More no-names are playing, better players are rested.
Teams that clinch the playoffs bench everyday players.
Teams out of the pennant race want to see their kids.
It's a vicious circle.
But, it is part of our game and we have to not only manage the players on the field, but also manage the Managers.

Edit-
One thing not mentioned is the use of the disabled list.
For some reason, players would rather not officially go on the disabled list during September.
Maybe it's that they consider it a 'demerit' for future contracts.
Or maybe teams just don't see the need to dl a player when there are many players already on their bench.
In any case, we have to be vigilant with injury.
Reports of injuries are vague in September.
We could be playing somebody in our lineup that has no chance of seeing the field.
Reading between the lines and interpreting them correctly are important for our lineups.

[headhunters]

joey votto wanted me to make sure you were aware that he walked FIVE times the other day- just because he can.