Fantasy Baseball - Why Traditional 5x5 leagues are outdated.
Written by Sam Neff
The "fantasy" in fantasy baseball stands for what a team would be like with a collection of stars gathered together, not for an alternate universe where value has no relation to reality. Fantasy baseball is all about capturing players' performance on field and translating it into a competition. To capture offensive and defensive sides of play, both hitters' and pitchers' statistics are monitored. Runs, RBIs, battting average, home runs and stolen bases comprise typical hitting categories, while ERA, strikeouts, wins, WHIP (walks and hits allowed per inning pitched), and saves are usual pitching categories. At first glance these categories (noted as traditional 5x5 categories) seem fair enough.The first two pitchers most commonly drafted are Johann Santana and Randy Johnson. It is hard to argue that these two are not premier pitchers in baseball. The batters most commonly drafted in top three are Albert Pujols, Carlos Beltran, and A-Rod. Here again are guys with high name recognition, and great stats, and all in upswing of their careers. But here is where traditional 5x5 goes off track. By far best current hitter in baseball, steroids controversy notwithstanding, is Barry Bonds. Historically, one could point to Joe DiMaggio, Ty Cobb, or Ted Williams, but presently, there is no argument. Bonds makes greatest impact in game. Last year he reached base over 60 percent of time, thanks to both his high walk rate and .362 batting average. The next closest in on-base percentage was Todd Helton at a mere 47 percent. Before you think, "big deal - that's a difference of 13 percent," know that a similar 13 percent reduction from Helton's number would give you Mark Grudelzniak, or Miguel Cairo. Quite a difference. And that doesn't even bring in Barry's slugging percentage, which is also incredible. The man hit 45 homers in 373 at-bats last year! What Bonds has been doing to game is historic in every sense of word. That his accomplishments have not translated into fantasy sports strips any claim of realism. In a normal 5x5 league, Bonds is usually drafted late in first round or early in second. Yahoo has him ranked as number 12. Number 12 for a man who is arguably one of best hitters ever, and who, as a hitter, dominates game on a day-to-day basis. The steals category should also be rethought. In a traditional 5x5 league, number of steal attempts a player successfully converts gives him his value. This leads to fairly obvious cases of a player being valued much higher in fantasy terms then in real life, even if you do subscribe to belief that number of steals a player gets is in fact as telling as his batting average in determining his overall value. For example, Player A steals 20 bases in 40 attempts, as his coach believes strongly in run. Player B steals only 18 bases, but out of 20 attempts, for a stellar success percentage. Player B obviously helps his team more, and had a more positive impact on field, but owner of player A is more successful fantasy owner.
| | How to Know What Defines the Best Golf DriversWritten by John Bolt
Why is it considered most electrifying club in your golf bag? Why is it first club anyone talks about when equipment is brought up? Why is it what everyone wants?The answers are simple - POWER. It’s all about power of long ball. The golfer who drives ball furthest is considered man of moment, and everyone wants to be that man. I guess it’s an ego thing. This mind game is played among all golfers form beginner to professional. It is on of main driving forces behind design of today’s best golf drivers. The manufacturers are continually coming up with newer and better drivers that go further and straighter than competition. They come in all shapes and sizes with bigger is better attitude coming out on top. A lot of big oversized drivers are built to largest legal size specifications under PGA rules and regulations. Combine that with ultra thin super springy club faces. What you get is a kind of loaded canon. These clubs launch golf balls high in air and really long. We must emphasize really LONG.
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