A Look in the Mirror - How to "Self-Help" Your Fantasy Squad
May 26, 2004
Written by Trav the Ump

(Read archived articles here)

Have you ever been looking through the box scores and seen your team pull off a really good night? I mean you had homers, RBI's, stolen bases, runs, a decent batting average and your thinking "Alright, maybe this is the start of something!" only to forget that ninth pitcher on your squad? Than you head to your leagues scoreboard page and see your pretty totals followed by 11.21 era?!? This has been happening to my team a lot lately. I play in a 4x4 AL only league and have the batting set up that I should be top three in all four batting categories by the end of the year. Yet my pitching is a statistical nightmare, somehow I lead the league in wins but have the second worst ERA and fourth worst strikeout rate. So by simple analysis I should soon see my totals come in line and watch my wins dry up like a Braves hit total against Randy Johnson. What to do? What to do? Well here's what I've begun to do, slowly trade away my pitching staff on the merit of two for one deal's. We'll see if it works out in the end. I'll keep you posted.

Things I've been noticing watching baseball lately;

Arguably Toronto, Tampa Bay, KC, and Seattle are already eliminated from post-season contention. Ten games back before June is a bad BAD sign. I'd throw Montreal in that group but they were eliminated four years ago.

There could be some big trades this season. I mean we already had A-rod for Soriano, Beltran could be on the move. Get ready for it. I have a funny feeling they'll start early this year.

Randy Johnson's perfect game was amazing; I only caught the last two innings on TBS but wow. 97mph in the ninth? What's a batter to do?

Some really helpful guys have come from the bench this year to help out there squads considerably. Chone Figgins immediately springs to mind, but what are the Sox going to do when Nomar comes back? I'd be going with Bellhorn personally.

Tips for about a third of the way through the fantasy season;

Time to take a look at your roster and cut bait on the $1/ last round picks that haven't worked out. Were far enough in now that if the "breakout season" hasn't started yet. It's probably not going too.

Glance, check that, pore over the standings and take a look where you're lacking. It may be time to acquire an Alex Sanchez or Danny Graves. One-category guys to pick you up. (Note: Graves is a sell high candidate. He is on pace for 77 saves.)

Trade from points of excess to get those guys. But don't sell yourself short. Remember there is still A LONG way to go.

Take an hour or so and look at teams AAA affiliates rosters and make note of some of the guys with big numbers. Maybe glance at our top prospect list here on the site and see how some of those guys are doing. Its always nice to have this years Rich Harden a week before everyone else realizes to put in for him

Have fun! Heck that's what its all about.

Stanley cup note: I have to cheer for the Lightning, the Flames are Canada's team and I'm proudly Canadian. But I can't have the Flames win. I'm in Edmonton. That's like a Sox fan cheering for the Yankees to beat the Marlins so the AL can win it. I don't think so. No chance. Not going to happen. I'll quietly hope Iginla scores three goals a game and loses every game 4-3.

Until next time,
Trav The Ump

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