Mastersball, fantasy baseball, scouting, analysis, projections

Well, that did not work out as planned.  Truth be told, that is the theme of my entire 2010 NL Tout Wars season, but for now, I am solely referencing my FAAB management.

In AL and NL only formats, I approach FAAB in one of two ways: spend early and often or hoard the budget to pick up a big fish at the MLB trading deadline.  My team’s plight usually dictates the course of action.  If I have multiple injuries or under-producing players, I do not hesitate to dip into the FAAB waters early in the season.  I employ the mindset that so long as I am taking myself out of the running for the top crossover players later in the season, I am not reticent about “overbidding” early, especially since Tout Wars utilizes the Vickery system, assigning the winning bid to be $1 more than the runner-up bid.  If my team is relatively injury free, it could be a case of the rich getting richer as an injury free team usually fares better, then will get reinforcement at the trading deadline.  I have enjoyed recent success with both styles, winning the National Fantasy Baseball Championship NL only Las Vegas auction in 2008 largely due to some judicious free agent pickups throughout the season, then defending my title by riding the back of Matt Holliday, acquired by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Oakland Athletics last season.

Earlier in the week, I received an e-mail from a very astute owner offering me enough FAAB to vault me back into the remaining FAAB lead, which would enable me to pick up whatever crossover player I deemed most valuable.  But a funny thing happened on the way to the trading deadline.  I was completely unaware I had not spent a single FAAB dollar all season, and if it were not for another owner getting a rebate due to a player placed on the 60-day DL and being ruled out for the season, I would have had the most available dollars to spend.   The chief reason I was oblivious to this was it was not my intent to miserly hold my FAAB.   I made a few non-zero bids along the way, but others bid more.  I picked up a couple of $0 players as backups those weeks.  I lost Jimmy Rollins early, but addressed that loss via trade. More recently, I lost Chase Utley, but still had Rollins’ replacement on reserve so I did not need to make a claim.  And though my team is not performing as expected, it has more to do with a scuffling pitching staff that I never felt comfortable addressing via FAAB.  I decided the guys I had in place had a better chance of turning things around than the pitchers that popped up on the wire as the season progressed.

Normally if I was in this position, I would be counting the days to the trading deadline, knowing I was about to add a piece to either thrust my team into contention or to fortify an already solid squad.  But quite humbly, while I will do all I can to improve my stead, I am going to need a lot more than the best starting pitcher added to my squad to capture my first ever Tout Wars title.  Even a third place finish is remote.

Now let us get to the real reason for this essay, as the gang at Mastersball has a saying, “no one cares about your team but you.”  I am not sure if it is a great compliment or a biting insult, but someone once said of yours truly, “it is a waste of time arguing with Zola, he always ends up trying to teach you something he thinks you don’t know.”

In deep leagues, there is no reason at all to fret if you do not land the big score at the trading deadline.   As most are aware, there are basically two trading deadlines.   In recent seasons, there seem to be more waiver deals of consequence.  It is nearly as advantageous to lead in FAAB total after the first deadline as it is to lead going in.  You may very well end up with a better player than several who indulged after the July 31 deadline.

In addition, and this is the point that many may not realize, there will be a myriad of players called up from the Minors that can help a team down the stretch.  Having the most FAAB during these weeks can result in tasting the sweet Yoohoo.  Trust me, I know.  This is the equivalent of having the most money during the end game of the regular auction.  You get your pick of the litter while simultaneously depriving your competition of the same.  This can be the difference between winning and losing.

So the take-home lesson, sorry gang, I apparently was born to teach, is to not spend frivolously at the trade deadline “just because”.  There will be a couple more opportunities to strengthen your team for the home stretch.   The first is via having top dibs on those involved in waiver deals.  The second is leaving a little something in the kitty to pick up those promoted to The Show when rosters expand in September.