To play fantasy baseball you first must understand the basics of fantasy sports and the whole reason behind joining a league.
©Steven Hendricks / Adobe StockFantasy baseball basics
Fantasy baseball can be played in many different ways, which can determine how you score players and how the winner of the league is selected.The most common variation of playing fantasy baseball is called Rotisserie. In this version, each person in the league compiles a team of real players; the players are scored by category; and the person with the highest cumulative point totals at the end of the season wins.
The categories for scoring points are as follows:
-
Team batting average (total number of hits divided by total number of at-bats)
-
Team earned run average (total number of earned runs times 9 and then divided by total innings)
-
Total home runs
-
Total runs scored
-
Total saves
-
Total stolen bases
-
Total strikeouts
-
Total team WHIPs (total number of walks allowed by pitcher divided by total innings)
-
Total wins
This configuration is the most common and is known as a “5x5 fantasy baseball league,” referencing the five hitting stats and five pitching stats that are used for scoring. Some leagues adopt more or less scoring categories depending on the complexity of the league.
Keep in mind that some leagues score weekly as opposed to a cumulative end-of-season scoring schedule. If you are in a league that scores weekly, you have more chances for your team to win, in either specific categories or as a whole.
New twists on the game have emerged, including versions such as:-
Daily fantasy baseball. You choose your team from players that are playing on that particular game day, and total the points at the end of the day to choose the victor. This version is a great way to learn how to play a whole season without getting too invested in both time and money.
-
Head-to-head. You pit your whole team against another person’s team and score your points for the week. The person with the most points wins, but instead of winning in each category — like with the standard rotisserie style rules — you receive just one win for the week.
-
Round-robin. This scenario follows the entire season, scoring your wins and losses, and the winner is determined by which team has the best win/loss record for the season.
-
Single-elimination. A set number of teams play a single-elimination tournament to decide the victor. For instance, if your team at any point loses, you are done and out of the tournament. If the team wins, you move on to the next match, and so on until a team wins the season and cashes in.
-
Your league can choose to include a trading floor where all players can trade together and all trades are done in public.
-
You league can opt to allow trades privately between different team owners.
This version often causes conflict within the league, and usually results in an impartial judge (non-league member) determining whether or not the trades are fair.
The reason you might want to trade players can be complex. Some people trade players to get rid of a bad player. Others trade a group of bad or mediocre players for one really good player.
Often when trading players or creating a roster from scratch, each team is restricted by a salary cap. Each player is assigned a salary; if you select all top-notch players, you will exceed your salary cap. This rule keeps the better players more evenly distributed among league members to prevent one team from having all the higher ranked players.
Why join a fantasy baseball league?
Now that you have a generalized grasp on how the game works, you can find a fantasy baseball league that follows the rules by which you want to play. Many league options are available online, and more personal games can be found at your local watering hole or a friend’s man-cave.Approach playing fantasy baseball with the goal of finding new friends who love baseball as much as you do. Of course, you also might have the opportunity to win a nice chunk of change!
