The Art of Making a Fantasy Baseball Trade

Today I made a significant trade in one of my fantasy baseball leagues.  This is the league where I am the commissioner of an 18-team, head to head, mixed, points league where pitching is the key to success.  Thus far, my staff has not performed up to standards that are even below my mediocre expectations.  I have Brett Myers, Wandy Rodriguez, Aaron Harang, Ted Lilly, Jhoulys Chacin, Javier Vazquez, Heath Bell, Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg.  We start any six pitchers, and wins and saves are both worth ten points.  Additionally, quality starts are worth five, strikeouts are worth two each, and there are negative points for losses, blown saves, walks, and earned runs allowed.  I have suffered from poor production and some poor decision-making as I had Chacin on the bench for one of his big starts, and my unwarranted faith in Vazquez has led me to mock his being on the bereavement list. 

Every year I tend to make at least one blockbuster acquisition, so I began thinking big in order to improve my pitching.  I knew I would have to make an enticing offer to someone who needed some offense, so I decided to reap the benefits of Lance Berkman’s insane start to the season.  I recently sang the praises of the Big Puma (see http://fantasyjudgment.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/passing-judgment-the-resurgence-of-lance-berkman/) as he has enjoyed a renaissance thus far in 2011.  But the reality is that he cannot maintain this pace over the course of the season.  He is very likely going to miss some time at some point due to injuries, and his 35-year old body cannot sustain playing everyday in the outfield.  So I offered Berkman and Kevin Gregg for Cliff Lee figuring it would be rejected but hopeful there would be a counteroffer.  Sure enough, my fellow league member preferred a starter and asked for Harang.  It was a done deal for me.

Cliff Lee addresses the media at the press conference announcing that he has been traded to my fantasy team.

Cliff Lee is also a topic I have written about before (see http://fantasyjudgment.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/cliffs-notes-my-thoughts-on-the-cliff-lee-signing/).  I made the arguments that Lee is a good pitcher, but his mediocre regular seasons in 2009 and 2010 seem to be forgotten due to his dominant playoff performances the last couple years.  And for the purposes of fantasy baseball, the regular season is all that counts.  While my thoughts on Lee remain the same, he is still a tremendous upgrade for me.  He has been victimized by poor run support, but that should change going forward because Chase Utley, Carlos Ruiz, and Domonic Brown are not far away from joining the already respectable lineup.  Even in a loss, Lee will still throw a quality start with a lot of strikeouts and few walks. 

As I stated before, pitching is what wins championships in the OBFBL.  I have won the league three times (1999, 2002, and 2007), and each time was because I had multiple dominant pitchers.  This year is one of the only years I have ever gone with the multiple stud closer route (Bell and Marmom).  With saves being worth as much as wins, they ranked near the top of all pitchers in 2010, so it was a relative no-brainer to draft them given who was available.  Now adding Lee into the mix should give me a more formidable staff.

The beauty of making fantasy baseball trades is that there is always a nervous sensation you get because you wonder whether you are getting screwed or whether you will come to regret your decision.  I have never regretted any trade I have ever made, even if things just didn’t work out.  I don’t trade out of desperation or from a position of weakness.  I target what my specific needs are and figure out the least I can give up to acquire that need.  That is what I did here.  Sure I will miss Berkman’s bat in my lineup, but I am counting on him tailing off at some point.  Now I need to acquire another hitter, and with the pitching excess I have, that is the direction I will go.

The other key to making effective fantasy baseball trades is to be patient and have some self-restraint.  I previously wrote about not over-reacting so early in the season (see http://fantasyjudgment.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/passing-judgment-dont-overreact-after-one-week/), and it directly applies to making smart trades and decisions.  I was not happy with how my team performed after five weeks and seven games (we play divisional doubleheaders every few weeks), but I waited until the right opportunity presented itself to get the best deal possible.  If I made this offer a few weeks ago, it likely would have been rejected because my fellow league owner would have wanted to wait and see how Lee would continue to do, and he may not have believed in Berkman after such a small sample.  But now 20% into the season, there was a large enough body of work to convince him that Berkman was worth acquiring for a #1 fantasy starting pitcher.  It also helped that Harang has been so good thus far because he would have had no value earlier in the year.  So, in the words of the great Jedi master, Yoda, “Patient must you be.”

 

Passing Judgment: Don’t Overreact After One Week

The best way to depict the length of the baseball season has always been the phrase “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”  Over the course of a 162 game schedule, it is virtually impossible to make final judgments about a team after a handful of games.  For example, the Boston Red Sox will be 2-8 to start the season while the Baltimore Orioles are 6-3.  Given their respective rosters, it is fairly safe to say that most baseball experts and the general public would not predict the Orioles to finish the season five games ahead of the Red Sox.  The same type of analysis and reaction applies to fantasy baseball as well.  After just one week (or two depending on the specific format of your league), it is way too early to gloat or panic.

The reaction most people might have after getting off to a bad start in a fantasy baseball league is to make a drastic maneuver.  Whether it is trading away a superstar or overbidding on the highest rated free agent, a knee-jerk reaction is not uncommon.  But those who can remain calm and not do something impulsive will be better off in the long run.  Barring a catastrophic injury to a key player, getting off to a slow start in a fantasy baseball league is nothing to get overly concerned with.  It just means that you have a little catching up to do from the start, but nothing that is insurmountable (yet). 

It doesn’t matter whether your league is roto or H2H points, getting off to a slow start is frustrating.  Even if you think you drafted well, watching your players put up goose eggs will drive anyone crazy.  But remember, it is a marathon and not a sprint.  The numbers that you projected for your players are for the entire season, not just the first week.  Chances are that the players you drafted and are relying will indeed achieve those numbers throughout the course of the season because that is the nature of the law of averages.  In the words of Yoda, “patient, you must be.”

You can expect aggressive fantasy baseball players whose teams start off strong to come and prey on those who may be vulnerable from starting off slow.  Do not allow yourself to fall into that trap and let someone else convince you that your team sucks.  Don’t let someone else convince you that your players are overrated and not living up to expectation.  Don’t let someone else convince you that his players who overachieved so early are worth more than your players.  This is where willpower, patience and common sense must take over.  Do not start second-guessing yourself just because someone else is telling you to.  You must remain confident and only deal from a position of strength.  When discussing trades, you never want to seem desperate or negotiate from a position of weakness.  Don’t let someone else dictate the terms of a trade and use his own subjective and jaded evaluation of your players. 

Baseball is a game centered on numbers and statistics.  Most times, those numbers are pretty accurate in determining and predicting how a player will perform.  Every now and then there is an aberration such as David Wright in 2009 or Jose Bautista in 2010.  Generally speaking, you know what you are getting when you draft a team.  That is why you must remain calm and not overreact if your team starts out slow.  If after several weeks your players still are not living up to expectations and you are slipping in the standings, then you may need to re-evaluate things.  But after one week, cooler heads must prevail.  The Boston Red Sox should not be panicking just yet, and neither should you.

Passing Judgment – Yahoo Could Destroy Fantasy Sports

Over the past 30 years, the fantasy sports industry has transformed from a taboo hobby into an American institution.  Going from pen and paper to the web has facilitated remarkable growth and prosperity for just about every aspect of the fantasy sports business.  It has transformed from being a small blurb in the Sunday newspaper to having hours of dedicated programming on television, radio, and the Internet.  In fact, the fantasy sports industry was one of nine industries selected by Entrepreneur magazine as being insulated from the current economic recession.  With over 28 million Americans playing fantasy sports and the industry generating over $3 billion in revenue, it seems like the fantasy sports industry is impervious to anything.  However, the key to the industry’s success is still keeping its current participants playing and appealing to new potential customers. 

Yahoo is one of the biggest fantasy sports entities in the world providing several services and products that have been the standard of the industry since its presence was made on the Internet almost 20 years ago.  Yahoo has historically been very creative and innovative in its fantasy sports commissioner services as they offer highly customizable features in their leagues, as well as a variety of bonus services as well.  However, it is one of their newest features that caught my attention and prompted me writing this article.  It was something that I felt was so disturbing that I immediately thought it could be the beginning of the end for fantasy sports as we know it.  No, I am not saying the business and industry will crumble tomorrow or that millions of people will stop playing.  What I mean is that the industry has been infallible and continually prosperous, so at some point the law of averages will catch up and a downward trend will likely set in.  It just has to at some point, right?  This Yahoo product could very well be that impetus. 

I would also like to point out that it is not my intention for this article to be a “gloom and doom” scenario for all of fantasy sports.  The current NFL labor strife and uncertainty is without a doubt the biggest threat to most of the fantasy sports industry as we speak today.  My point is that Yahoo’s newest service is something that could potentially change the way individual people perceive fantasy sports, as well as the way they play it.  Generally speaking, people participate in fantasy sports for a myriad of reasons: enjoyment of sports, common activity and socializing with friends and family, desire to win money and prizes, hobby, distraction from work and home, etc.  While it is competitive in nature, it is still all in good fun because there is nothing at stake other than bragging rights and some money (which hopefully people can afford to lose).

Personally, I am a staunch advocate for innovation and creativity within the fantasy sports industry.  This should come as a surprise to no one since I run Fantasy Judgment (www.fantasyjudgment.com) and seek to convince the world that having a dispute resolution service as part and parcel to a fantasy league is an absolute necessity.  When new products, services or features are added to fantasy league host sites, I usually embrace them as a symbol of progress and accommodation to the customers.  But even I have my limits. 

So after that lengthy introduction, you are probably wondering what in the wide world of sports I am talking about.  Recently, I was sent an email about this from a friend who is a student at New York Law School and also runs a great blog called The Sports Tomato (www.thesportstomato.com).  The email directed me to a page within Yahoo’s fantasy baseball products called “What’s New” (located at http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/sports/fantasysports/baseball/whatsnew/basewhatsnew-07.html).  As of January 2011, Yahoo has added a feature called “Manager Rating” to their various fantasy products, specifically baseball.  According to Yahoo: 

“Manager Ratings will enable you to rate other managers in your league (Positive, Neutral, or Negative) and provide a short comment about your experience playing with them.”  

Ok so that might not sound so bad on its face.  The next few paragraphs are taken directly from Yahoo further explaining Manager Ratings in the form of a very short FAQ: 

Why should I rate other managers in my league?

These ratings will provide future potential league-mates a good idea of what to expect when playing with other managers. Rating your fellow managers positively is a way to express your gratitude for an enjoyable experience and to help spread the word about fun people to play with.

Should I leave neutral or negative feedback?

Ratings and comments become a permanent part of a manager’s profile. If you have an issue with a fellow league manager, we encourage you to first contact them directly to try to resolve the issue. Other potential remedies include contacting your league’s commissioner or utilizing the league’s message board. If all else fails, you can choose to give a neutral or negative rating to that manager. However, please make sure that your comments are fair and are based in fact.

Can I edit a rating or comment after I’ve submitted it?

No, all ratings and comments are final and cannot be changed once submitted, so please be thoughtful in your ratings.

You may be thinking that I am completely overreacting to this and wondering how I can possibly conclude this will contribute to the possible downfall or demise of the fantasy sports industry.  You may think I am jumping to conclusions and refusing to give this new feature a chance.  You may even think this is the greatest new idea since OPS became an acceptable statistic.  Well, you may be right on any of those accounts.  But what if you’re not? 

To preface my arguments, I will make the best analogy I can with regard to Yahoo’s new feature and fantasy sports players: Yahoo is Skynet.  In case you don’t get the reference, Skynet is the network of computers in the Terminator movie series that gains control over all machines and electronics to destroy the human race.  Once Skynet gained control of the government’s military and defense programs, it launched nuclear bombs at all targets, thus prompting retaliatory strikes and causing the deaths of billions of people.  Essentially, Skynet was the puppet master as it sat back and watched humans destroy themselves.  

The human race was in jeopardy once Skynet became self-aware. Fantasy sports players need to be self-aware of the dangers of Yahoo's new Manager Ratings.

Here, Yahoo is pulling the strings of fantasy sports players by giving them the means and methods of attacking each other with the ratings system.  Granted, there will not be an exchange of nuclear weapons or mass genocide as a result of Yahoo’s new feature, but the point is that the wheels have been set in motion for people to take the competition to whole new level.

Every person who plays fantasy sports has their own style.  Some people spend six hours a day reading material on websites and magazines when preparing for a draft.  Some people like to make trades every week and send out proposals to other league managers on a daily basis.  Some people like to play in keeper leagues where they trade off current talent in exchange for future potential talent.  Some people simply stay quiet and have no interaction whatsoever with other league members.  As long as a person pays their entry fees, they are entitled to run their own team in any manner they so desire as long as they stay within the rules of that league.  There may be styles and personalities that clash, but generally speaking people accept that not everyone operates under the same set of guidelines and priorities. 

Giving people the means, method and opportunity to write commentary about other league members that becomes a permanent mark on their Yahoo profile is destructive.  That is not to say that a negative comment on someone’s manager profile is going to inhibit their ability to buy a car or apply for a job.  But what this scenario can do is completely change the dynamic between league members, including both people who know each other and those who do not.  This is what frightens me into thinking there could be a slippery slope.  Once people have motivation, incentive or justification for attacking each other in this forum, the very fabric of fun competition becomes unraveled.  Playing fantasy sports is a hobby, not a career.  As much as people enjoy doing it, no one is relying on playing fantasy sports as their sole source of income (unless they are financially secure for other reasons).  But generally, if people stopped playing fantasy sports, they would still be able to put food on the table and likely find other activities to occupy their time.  So the ability to retain people in fantasy sports leagues is somewhat delicate because there is no desperation or reliance on it for survival or well-being.  The point is that any reason to avoid such aggravation like dealing with negative ratings or comments could potentially cause people to just stop playing fantasy sports in the first place.  There is enough stress in life with family, work, and health.  There is no place in someone’s life for added stress, pressure and degradation within a hobby. 

Without having actual demographic statistics on this particular point, I will make a generic statement that there is a certain percentage of fantasy sports players who join public leagues comprised of people they do not know.  There are typically no restrictions in doing this.  However, if a person has negative feedback or comments on their profile, they are likely to be blacklisted or prevented from joining public leagues.  At the very least, it is conceivable that league owners in a public league would not welcome a person with such negative ratings. 

Why would someone give a negative rating in the first place?  This is an interesting question because I am assuming that some people will actually care enough to spend the time going to the Manager Ratings page and leaving the feedback and/or comments in the first place.  There will always be that one person in a fantasy league who has something to say about everyone and everything.  That person would easily fit the profile of someone who leaves feedback and comments, either way.  If a league member felt that another owner made bad trades, it could lead to a negative rating.  Failure to respond to a trade proposal could do the trick as well.  How about missing a deadline to either activate a player or take an injured player out?  The appearance of indifference or incompetence is another motivation to ding someone.  What about just doing it to be spiteful?  There are multiple reasons why someone would actually go and leave negative feedback and/or comments. 

So what is the big deal?  It sounds quite childish, but the natural reaction would be to return the favor and leave negative feedback or comments about the other person.  And then where does it end?  This permanent scarring of one member profile is not going to ruin anyone’s life – I acknowledge that.  But what it can do is taint someone’s reputation if they tried to join pubic leagues with people they don’t know.  It could potentially influence others within the league to adversely treat someone if they have such a negative rating.  It could potentially lead to the league commissioner not welcoming that person back to the league the next year.  It could lead to the disintegration of various relationships, as well as the league itself.  It could lead to a mutiny if the league commissioner does not rule on issues or trades appropriately and then his fellow league members leave negative comments, thus in effect giving the commissioner a vote of no confidence.  Overall, it can lead to personal, internal battles amongst league owners that cause major rifts within a league and shift the focus from fantasy sports to middle school pettiness.

Instead of trying to win games and defeat your opponents by drafting better teams, making affective trades, and making intelligent decisions with your roster, people would devolve into teenagers trying to sabotage each other.  This is not like eBay where feedback and ratings are truly important and necessary because there you are dealing directly with buyers and sellers whose reputations are necessary in order to instill confidence when choosing to do business with them.  There are also protective measures in place with eBay to ensure that proper payment is made and that delivery of products is completed.  In fantasy sports, there are no guarantees or assurances that leagues will be run smoothly and fairly, or that everyone involved will always do the right thing.  Granted, companies like LeagueSafe.com and FantasySportsMarket.com provide financial protection for league fees.  However, most people and most leagues do not take advantage of such services.  That is why the Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment strongly advocates that people play fantasy sports and join leagues with people they know.  There needs to be some trust factor involved, especially when dealing with money.  If people typically played in leagues with people they know to some extent, there is no need for any type of permanent feedback or commentary.

In summation, I do give Yahoo credit for continuing to develop new ideas and concepts to add to their products.  They have always been one of the better websites for innovative fantasy sports features, so I cannot fault them for trying new things.  But I don’t think they realize the slippery slope that this new feature could create.  Once you change or alter the focus of fantasy sports’ competitive nature, you give people the detonator to their own fantasy bomb.  Yahoo at least does encourage alternative forms of dealing with issues between league members before permanently writing negative feedback.  One method they neglected to suggest was third party dispute resolution such as Fantasy Judgment.  But irrespective of that, my hope is that people are circumspect about choosing to leave such comments about another league manager.  Instead of focusing on that middle school-type response which has no discernible value anyway, the Court’s verdict is that Yahoo users should resist the temptation to comment on their fellow fantasy players in any manner.  Just go win and let that speak for itself. 

The Court would like to know whether you concur or dissent with its verdict by emailing michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com, finding us on Facebook at www.goo.gl/xF0pt, or tweeting us at www.twitter.com/FantasyJudgment.

 

 

Fantasy Phenoms Expert Mock Draft – January 12, 2011

On January 12, 2011, I participated in another fantasy baseball expert mock draft with more superstars in the industry, including Brett Greenfield of FantasyPhenoms.com, Kevin Jebens of RotoSavants.com, Tim McLeod of RotoRob.com, Joe Whelan of MLB.com, Geoff Stein (my long lost distant cousin) of the recently departed Fanball, Ryan Hallam of FantasyAlarm.com, Mike Spiher of RotoChamp.com, Jeff Gross of Hardball Times (www.hardballtimes.com), and Jared Norris of Rotowire.com.  It was a 12-team mixed 5 x 5 Roto league and I had the randomly selected 9th pick overall.  Notwithstanding my well-documented opinions on Roto leagues (http://fantasyjudgment.wordpress.com/2011/01/12/passing-judgment-the-reality-of-fantasy-baseball/), my preparation for this draft deviated from the norm as I am accustomed to participating in H2H leagues.  Therefore, Carl Crawford was NOT on my radar (sorry to those people who love stolen bases). 

The first eight picks were not surprising given the format.  Albert Pujols rightfully was selected first overall as he continues to justify top billing in any format of fantasy baseball.  Much to my pleasant surprise, Miguel Cabrera went second.  I say I am surprised because I am used to seeing Hanley Ramirez go second overall in these Roto mock drafts.  But Cabrera is arguably the second best hitter in all of baseball, so he was rewarded with the second pick behind King Albert.  With position scarcity clearly a concern, Hanley Ramirez and Troy Tulowitzki went third and fourth respectively.  Then the fifth pick is where I have a big problem – Carl Crawford.  I understand that Roto leagues operate differently and the need for contribution in all five categories is crucial.  But when analyzing players’ talents, abilities, statistics, and every other objectiver criteria available, is Carl Crawford really the fifth best player in the league?  Is he really the best outfielder in the league?  I would argue not, but regardless of my personal opinions, he was taken fifth.  Next up was the NL MVP Joey Votto going fifth, followed by Evan Longoria and Matt Holliday.  I was not surprised by Votto or Longoria as Votto clearly has emerged as a top tier first baseman hitting in a good lineup at a great hitters’ park.  Longoria is clearly the best third baseman available, which is a big deal considering there is a tremdendous drop-off after the top five.  But Holliday did surprise me a little going eighth overall as I thought there were better outfield options still available like CarGo, Ryan Braun, and Josh Hamilton.  I wasn’t complaining because I was then able to draft Carlos Gonzalez with the ninth pick.  Regardless of the format of the league, Gonzalez has emerged as a top tier talent and is worthy of a top ten pick in any draft.  He hits for a high average, demonstrated great extra base hit power, drove in and scored well over 100 runs, and will steal a lot of bases.  He just signed a seven year contract extension for $80 million, so I would look for him to be motivated to justify those dollars and put up equally impressive numbers again.  Finishing up the first round was David Wright (the second best third baseman), Josh Hamilton, and Robinson Cano.  Cano has supplanted Chase Utley as the top second base option, and he is clearly worth a first round pick in any format. 

After selecting Cano with the last pick of the first round, Jared Norris of RotoWire selected Ryan Braun.  I really liked how he started his team off with Cano and Braun, two young studs with established resumes and only getting better as they enter their primes.  Next went two stars in decline – Alex Rodriguez and Chase Utley.  Then it was back to me for my second pick, and I decided to take Mark Teixeira (despite disliking the Yankees more than anything in the world).  I have always been a fan of Teixeira as he plays the game the right way and is as consistent as they come with his production.  Hitting 3rd in the Yankees’ lineup all but guarantees 30 homeruns, 100 RBI, and 100 runs scored.  His hamstring injury in the ALCS has healed, and besides that, he has never been an injury concern.  I had considered Adrian Gonzalez here as well, but adjusting to a new league was a minor concern if mine and I preferred to have the sure thing.  Sure enough, Gonzalez would be drafted two picks after me (with NL Cy Young winner Roy Halladay sandwiched in between).  Rounding out the rest of the second round was Matt Kemp, Ryan Howard, Tim Lincecum, Prince Fielder, Ryan Zimmerman, and Jose Reyes.  I was a little surprised at the Kemp selection because he has been so disappointing thus far in his career.  He has all the talent in the world to be a five-tool player, but it hasn’t materialized yet.  Maybe this will be his breakout season (if Rihanna writes a song about him).

I will now provide a rundown of the rest of my picks and give some thoughts, commentary and analysis on why I drafted them and what my projections are.  If you would like to see the entire draft so you can see in what context these players were drafted, please send me an email request and I will provide you with the draft grid.

3rd Round: Felix Hernandez-SP-SEA.  What is not to like about the reigning AL Cy Young winner?  To grab him in the third round was a steal for me.  While he may not win 20 games because of the team he plays for, he will still win 12-15 games just based on his talent alone.  He is a lock for 200 strikeouts, a sub-3.00 ERA, and a sub 1.25 WHIP.  If the Mariners can somehow find a way to score some runs for him, he could easily win 20 games.  It is scary to think he is only getting better as he enters his mid-20′s.

4th Round: Brandon Phillips-2B-CIN.  This was the one time I bought into the position scarcity craze as second basemen were flying off the shelves.  Already gone were Cano, Utley, Pedroia, Kinsler, Uggla, and Weeks.  I didn’t think it would be a good thing to get stuck with Luis Castillo, so I grabbed Phillips hoping for a bounce-back season.  He has 30-30 ability, and in that Cincinnati lineup, he could really blossom into a top option as he approaches 30 years old.  I might have overpaid to get him here, but the risk will be worth the reward when he returns to his 2008-2009 form.

5th Round: Justin Verlander-SP-DET.  After starting my pitching staff with King Felix, I was pleasantly surprised and thrilled to take another ace pitcher in Verlander.  He is a dominant pitcher who will win 15-18 games on an improved Detroit team, and is a lock for 200 strikeouts and a low WHIP.  I could have taken Zack Greinke, David Price or Ubaldo Jimenez here, but I opted for Verlander who has been putting up great numbers for several years now and can truly be relied upon.  I question Greinke’s value despite switching to the National League.  He seems too fragile and I am concerned about his regression in 2010.  Price is a great talent, but Tampa Bay has been decimated by free agency and trades.  They have no bullpen and will see their offensive production take a big hit, so Price’s chance of winning games has been diminished.

6th Round: Jay Bruce-OF-CIN.  I have been a fan of his since he arrived in the big leagues a couple years ago.  He has a sweet swing and is primed to put up huge numbers once he matures as a hitter and becomes more selective.  I expect a similar progression in his power numbers to Joey Votto.  Bruce doesn’t look like he can be a .300 hitter yet because of his lack of plate discipline, but as learns the strike zone and becomes more selective, he can certainly become a .280 – .290 hitter.  With another season of experience under his belt, I think he will approach 30 homeruns and 100 RBI this year.  Not bad for a second outfielder.

7th Round: Matt Cain-SP-SF.  Cain is another player I have been fond of for years.  His win-loss record is not indicative of how good a pitcher he is.  After his performance in the 2010 playoffs, I think people are now aware of what he can do.  He always has a low ERA and WHIP, and he also has the potential for 200 strikeouts.  The Giants are the defending champions and still have very little offense, so I would expect Cain and the rest of the staff to be pitching in close games all year.  Even though Cain will pitch well enough to win 15-18 games, I would expect him to get no-decisions that will push that number back down to 12-15.  Regardless, I like him a lot as my 3rd starter.

8th Round: Michael Young-3B-TEX.  While the Rangers continue to disrespect Young by pushing him all over the field from SS to 2B to 3B to DH, I gladly scooped him up in the 8th round as the quality of third basemen plunged to scary depths.  Young doesn’t do anything spectacularly, but he is consistent with his production and will not hurt me anywhere.  He is historically a .290 – .300 hitter and should continue his trend of 20 homeruns and 90 RBI.  With Adrian Beltre now batting in the middle of the Rangers’ lineup, Young should have no problem eclipsing 100 runs scored either. 

9th Round: Jonathan Papelbon-RP-BOS.  My first closer is a bit shaky as Papelbon comes off a poor 2010 that saw him blow several saves and essentially write the end of his career in Boston.  The Red Sox would love to trade him, but there were no takers given his likely arbitration award.  Despite all of that, he is now pitching for his future on a very good team, so there should be plenty of save opportunities for the Rick Schroeder look-alike.  He isn’t a great first choice as a closer, but he should still amass 30-35 saves.

10th Round: Clay Buchholz-SP-BOS.  This youngster emerged as a co-ace of the Red Sox staff forming a formidable duo with Jon Lester.  I see continued progress with Buchholz who should win 15-18 games with an impressive ERA.  However, he does not strike people out so the more batted balls in play could lead to an increased WHIP as hitters adjust to him.  Despite that, he is my 4th starter so I can live with that.

11th Round: Carlos Lee-OF-HOU.  I was very happy with this selection here because Lee is coming off a very disappointing season that saw his batting average plummet and his power numbers deflate due to being in a depleted Astros’ lineup.  Lee has historically hovered around .300 with 30 HR and 100 RBI, so many think that 2010 represented the beginning of the end for the lumbering slugger.  I think differently.  He is only 34 years old and is primed for a comeback.  As my 3rd outfielder, I can still live with .285, 25 HR and 90 RBI.

12th Round: Tim Hudson-SP-ATL.  His 2010 season proved to any naysayers that he has fully recovere from Tommy John surgery.  Hudson looked like his 2002 self again despite slowing down a little down the stretch.  He is good for 12-15 wins and a solid ERA around 3.00, but he doesn’t strikeout anyone and the Braves revamped bullpen with a new young closer could potentially cost Hudson a couple wins as well.  It is all relative as Hudson is my 5th starter so I am not relying on him to put up ace-like numbers.

13th Round: Bobby Abreu-OF-LAA.  Once regarded as a 1st or 2nd round pick in any fantasy format, Abreu is heading towards the end of a productive career.  That being said, he still performed well in four of the five Roto categories in 2010.  He doesn’t appear to be a .290 – .300 hitter anymore, which is a direct parallel to his increase in strikeouts and decrease in walks he is drawing.   His lower on base percentage also leads to a decrease in runs scored.  He should still be able to reach .260 – .275 with 20 HR and 75 RBI.  His value is also increased in Roto leagues because is can still steal 20-25 bases.  At least defensive value isn’t counted in fantasy because Abreu avoids contact with the outfield wall as if the wall has a sexually transmitted disease.

14th Round: Brad Lidge-RP-PHI.  My second closer is also a question mark as Lidge had a shaky 2010 season but looked good in the playoffs.  He is pitching for a contract this season, so I would look for him to be motivated even more.  With the Phillies’ outrageous starting pitching, there should be plenty of opportunities to save games (assuming Halladay, Lee, Oswalt and Hamels don’t complete every game themselves).  The other upside to Lidge is the fact the Phillies don’t appear to be as offensively dangerous, so they are likely to be playing in close games all year.  Since blown saves and earned runs allowed won’t hurt me in a Roto league, I will take my chances with his potential for 35 saves and a bunch of strikeouts.

15th Round: Juan Uribe-SS-LAD.  After a great postseason run with the world champion Giants, Uribe parlayed it into a big three-year contract with their NL West archrival.  He will likely play second base for Los Angeles, but Uribe will qualify at shortstop based on his 2010 output.  This is a signing the Dodgers will regret relatively quickly, but for my fantasy team’s purposes I can live with him here in the 15th round.  He won’t help with batting average or stolen bases, but if he can continue his power surge and put up 20 homeruns and drive in 65-70 runs, I won’t complain. 

16th Round: Ervin Santana-SP-LAA.  I was a little surprised to see Santana still available down here.  He has had an up and down career and seems to suffer from Saberhagen Syndrome where every other year is an epic disaster.  Unfortunately, 2011 is the year that will be a disaster if this pattern continues.  Seriously, look up his numbers from 2006, 2008 and 2010 and compare them to 2007 and 2009.  I am an optomist and think this is just a fluke.  Santana won’t be winning any ERA titles, but he is good for 15 wins and a bunch of strikeouts as the Angels’ #3 starter.

17th Round: Lance Berkman-1B/OF-STL.  I am excited about this pick all the way down in the 17th round.  The former fantasy stud had the worst year of his career in 2010 as he split time with the Astros and Yankees.  Berkman was never completely healthy as a nagging wrist injury sapped him of his power, and then the trade to New York didn’t do much for his value as he split time as a designated hitter.  Now projected to play full time in the St. Louis outfield, Berkman should return to fantasy relevance batting behind Pujols and Holliday.

18th Round: Angel Pagan-OF-NYM.  Being a Mets’ fan, it is both superstitious and sentimental that I get at least one Met on my fantasy team.  I have no problems with that being Pagan down in the 18th round.  Like it or not, he is going to play everyday for the Mets, and after his impressive 2010 season, he has proved that he belongs.  Pagan won’t be leading the league in any category, but he demonstrated he can steal bases and hit close to .300.  That is good enough for me to be my 5th outfielder.

19th Round: Carlos Zambrano-SP-CHC.  Either I need to see a shrink or everyone else in the draft will need to be psychiatrically examined for letting The Big Z fall to the 19th round.  Yes, he is insane.  Yes, he has been a trainwreck for several years.  But after he came back from his “personal issues” in 2010, he looked like the Zambrano of old by finishing 8-0.  With Lou Piniella gone, Zambrano should get a fresh start in the Cubs’ rotation.  He isn’t going anywhere with that albatross of a contract, so the Cubs will rely on him to return to form.  This was well worth the gamble in the 19th round because if he flames out, I wouldn’t have lost anything.  If he is his old self, then I look like a genius. 

20th Round: Jorge Posada-C-NYY.  This one was a head scratcher as I couldn’t believe he was still available.  I never draft a catcher until the end of a draft, ever, except for when Mike Piazza was in his prime.  Otherwise, this is a waste of a pick to take a catcher so high.  Joe Mauer’s 2009 season was not the norm, but even still, there are plenty of other players that put up much greater numbers.  I don’t buy into the position scarcity argument with catchers because they are all so fragile, and their maximum performance still falls well under the averages for other positions.  The fact that Posada will still available was gold to me because he will be the full-time DH for the Yankees, so I will benefit from the pop in his bat and be spared from the nagging injuries he is accustomed to behind the plate.

21st Round: Alex Gonzalez-SS-ATL.  My final pick of the draft was the Braves’ starting shortstop who catapulted into fantasy relevance last season with a great start to the season with Toronto.  After he was dealt to the Braves, his numbers leveled off and never approached his apex with the Blue Jays.  That being said, he will play everyday in Atlanta, and that is good enough for me to have in a backup in the last round of a draft.

So that is the team I drafted.  I was quite pleased with my team and would have no problem going into battle with them.  I feel I have a good balance of power, speed, and pitching to compete for a championship with this squad.  I’d like to hear whether you agree or not and what your thoughts are.  Please feel free to email me at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com, comment on Fantasy Judgment’s Facebook page at http://goo.gl/xF0pt, or tweet me at www.twitter.com/FantasyJudgment. 

Fantasy Judgment decision – October 29, 2010 (fantasy football trade dispute)

THE SUPREME COURT OF FANTASY JUDGMENT

Juicy Clams v. Butcher

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI FROM “THE LEAGUE”

Decided October 29, 2010

Cite as 2 F.J. 46 (October 2010)

Factual Background

A fantasy football league called The League (hereinafter referred to as “The League” – not to be mistaken with the FX television show called The League) is comprised of twelve (12) teams who compete against each other on a weekly basis during the National Football League (“NFL”) season using the statistics of professional players as a basis for accumulating points in head-to-head competition with opponents to determine which fantasy team won or lost. The League is hosted on the Yahoo fantasy football platform. There is no league Constitution in place to delineate the specific rules and guidelines to govern The League. There is no formal approval process to either accept or reject trades made between teams. The League’s Commissioner has the sole authority to either approve or reject trades made. It is unknown whether a different individual or committee is in place to approve or reject trades made involving the Commissioner.

The League’s point scoring system includes standard points for yardage accumulated by passing, rushing and receiving, 10 points per touchdown for all players (including team defenses), -4 points for all turnovers, and 3 levels of bonus points for yardage milestones for quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. Rosters are comprised of 13 players, including 4 reserves at any eligible position. Teams must start the following players: QB (1), RB (2), WR (3), TE (1), K (1), and DEF (1).

On October 27, 2010, a trade was made between two team owners in The League. Juicy Clams (3-4) traded Adrian Peterson (RB-MIN) to Butcher (5-2) in exchange for Rashard Mendenhall (RB-PIT), Santana Moss (WR-WAS), and Lee Evans (WR-BUF).

Butcher brought Juicy Clams into The League, and the two of them work with each other. Additionally, Butcher is the brother of The League’s Commissioner. The League’s Commissioner subsequently approved the trade.

Procedural History

The League’s Commissioner seeks Fantasy Judgment’s affirmation of his decision to approve this trade. Other members of The League have vocalized complaints about the trade arguing that the trade is not fair and that there may be some collusion between Juicy Clams and Butcher.

The Commissioner does not believe there is any collusion and also ruled that the trade was fair since Juicy Clams helped fill multiple positions on his roster with the trade of a superstar like Adrian Peterson.

Butcher has submitted a brief to the Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment in support of his argument that the trade was fair and made without a scintilla of wrongdoing. Butcher argues that his aggressive style of fantasy football is indicative of this trade, as well as his draft day trades where he dealt 8 draft picks in order to acquire 3 first round picks. Butcher further argues that the seeds had been planted for the subject trade a week before it was completed. He initially only offered Mendenhall and Moss for Peterson, but Juicy Clams only accepted the deal once Lee Evans was included.

Butcher contends that he is being scrutinized and punished by The League’s Commissioner (his brother) because has improved his team and is now a threat to the top two teams in The League. Butcher has provided a written attestation (to be used in lieu of an affidavit) that he has not entered into any side deals to share monetary winnings with Juice Clams or any other team in The League.

Issue Presented

(1) Should the trade between Juice Clams and Butcher be upheld where Adrian Peterson was dealt for Rashard Mendenhall, Santana Moss and Lee Evans?

Decision

The Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment typically favors individual fantasy sports participants and teams’ ability to make moves, transactions, and trades. The standard of review has been that people pay money to purchase a team in a league, draft their team, and manage it accordingly. Whether success is bred from that individual’s decision-making is purely left to some skill, luck, dedication, and savviness. See Smittydogs v. Moneyball, 1 F.J. 32, 33 (June 2010).

Another factor that the Court must always consider is whether there is any collusion or under-the-table dealings going on between teams. The Court has been presented with some speculative evidence of potential collusion. However, the fact that two league members work with each other and one of them brought the other into the league does not meet the standard of proof necessary to prove collusion. There is no indication that a deal has been entered into between the teams to share players or profit. Just because two league members have a special relationship, such as family members or colleagues, should not preclude them from enjoying a fantasy sports league any less than others who do not have any privities. The mere fact that two league members have access to speak with each other discuss trades is not in itself any evidence of collusive efforts. Additionally, one of the teams involved is the Commissioner’s brother, so any wrongdoing would be a reflection on the Commissioner and it is unlikely that the Commissioner would want to subject himself to such skepticism or scrutiny. Based on the foregoing, the Court concludes that there is no collusion between Juice Clams and Butcher.

At first glance, the trade of Adrian Peterson in exchange for Rashard Mendenhall, Santana Moss and Lee Evans looks questionable because Peterson is arguably the second most prolific fantasy football player in the league and the three players he was traded for are not considered marquee superstars with equivalent value. However, based on statistics accumulated thus far in the 2010 season, the trade is not so lopsided. Peterson has rushed for 684 yards and 5 touchdowns. Compared to Rashard Mendenhall’s 532 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns, there is not a huge drop-off between the two as they stand today. Obviously Peterson is a better player and likely will finish the season with better numbers than Mendenhall. But Mendenhall is an effective starting running back on a good team in Pittsburgh and is likely to get the lion’s share of carries in close games down the stretch. On top of Mendenhall, Juice Clams also acquired Santana Moss and Lee Evans. Moss is Donovan McNabb’s primary target in Washington, and he has accumulated 548 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns to date. Evans has come alive the last couple weeks after being dormant for a month, much like the rest of the Buffalo Bills offense. Since Ryan Fitzpatrick has taken over at quarterback, the Bills have been impressive on offense, including putting up 34 points against a solid Baltimore Ravens’ defense. Evans has been at the center of this resurgence and has 286 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, most of which have come within the last couple weeks.

Another factor to consider is that Juicy Clams have a very weak receiving core outside of Hakeen Nicks. This trade enabled Juicy Clams to replace Peterson with another solid and effective running back, as well as acquire two decent receivers to plug in for an injured Austin Collie and an underachieving Johnny Knox. The impetus for making such a trade may have been Juicy Clams’ panic after losing Tony Romo for possibly the whole season. This may have been a kneejerk reaction to what is going on.

Based on the evidence presented and the facts of this case, the Court holds that the subject trade should be approved. There is no evidence of any sort of collusive effort between Juicy Clams and Butcher. Additionally, the trade is fair. Other league members may have selfish reasons for not wanting the trade to go through or that would argue the trade wasn’t an intelligent one to make. The Court’s role is to evaluate whether a trade is fair in terms of being in the best interest of the league. The Court will not speculate or analyze the intelligence of one team over another based on a trade mutually agreed to. The Court’s role is to measure fairness and not judge stupidity. This trade is fair and should be allowed. Without evidence of collusion, these teams should be permitted to exercise their right to better their respective teams.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Fantasy Judgment decision – October 14, 2010 (basketball dispute)

 THE SUPREME COURT OF FANTASY JUDGMENT

Shawn Kemp is My Daddy v. Fantasy Basketball League Commissioner 

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI FROM

THE DEGENERATE BALLERS FANTASY BASKETBALL LEAGUE 

Decided October 14, 2010

Cite as 2 F.J. 24 (October 2010)

Factual Background

A fantasy basketball league called the Degenerate Ballers Fantasy Basketball League (hereinafter referred to as “DBFBL”) is comprised of twelve (12) teams who compete against each other on a weekly basis during the National Basketball Association (“NBA”) season using the statistics of professional players as a basis for accumulating points in head-to-head competition with opponents to determine which fantasy team won or lost.  The DBFBL is hosted on the ESPN fantasy basketball platform and has been in existence since 2008.  Since the league’s inception, the Commissioner of the DBFBL has created rules and guidelines regarding the draft, roster limits, point scoring system, trading process, and other general regulations to govern the league. 

There is no formal league Constitution which delineates the rules, requirements and guidelines of the league.  Rather, the league Commissioner inputs this information through ESPN and it is made available to all teams upon successfully registering their teams on the league’s website after the Commissioner sends out invitations.  This information is available at all times.  The league Commissioner arbitrarily sets up the parameters of the league, including the limitations and restrictions on trading.  There is no process for challenging such decisions, and there is no available method of voting to approve any such decisions.  By registering for the league and participating in the draft, the other league owners tacitly assent to the rules created by the league Commissioner.

Before participating in the league draft, all league members were made aware of the league’s rules regarding trading.  Included in these rules is the following language:

Trades

(1)   There shall not be any trading of draft picks before or during the league’s draft.

(2)   Trades may be made between teams at the conclusion of the draft.

(3)   All trades must be processed through the league’s ESPN website and will be subject to the Commissioner’s approval.

(4)   Any trade that the Commissioner makes shall be subject to the approval of the league’s Co-Commissioner.

(5)   Any trade made between the Commissioner and the Co-Commissioner shall be subject to approval by a league vote where six votes of approval will put the trade through.

(6)   Teams that are eliminated from playoff contention will not be eligible to make trades.

(7)   There shall not be any attempts to collude between teams when negotiating and exchanging players in trades.

Procedural History

The DBFBL draft took place on Sunday, October 10, 2010 in an online draft room hosted by ESPN.  Prior to the draft beginning, two teams posted on the league message board that they had agreed to swap draft picks.  This trade included swapping first round picks and fourth round picks.  The league Commissioner allowed the trade to go through and manually changed the draft order to accommodate the new draft positions for these two teams.  Despite protests from other league members, the Commissioner justified allowing the trade because he “wanted to try something new this year” and felt that “there was no harm done to any of the other teams.”  The plaintiff, Shawn Kemp Is My Daddy, posted on the league message board a citation to the league’s rules which explicitly prohibited the trading of draft picks before and during the league’s draft.  This Commissioner did not respond to the message and simply proceeded with the draft allowing this trade.

At the conclusion of the draft, the plaintiff again voiced his concern and protest over this decision and asked the Commissioner to consider doing the draft over again without the trade of draft picks between those two teams.  The Commissioner denied this request and told the plaintiff to “stop whining” and “deal with it.”

The plaintiff has filed this complaint with the Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment seeking an annulment of the October 10, 2010 draft and ordering a do-over with the original draft positions left in place. 

Issue Presented

(1)   Should the DBFBL’s draft be annulled due to the Commissioner’s own violation of the league rules and a second draft be conducted?

Decision

The Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment is a strong advocate for having written Constitutions that govern fantasy sports leagues.  There are a myriad of reasons why the Court believes having a Constitution in place is the best way to run and maintain a fantasy league.  One of the primary reasons behind this rationale is that all league members are aware of the rules and guidelines in place that govern the administration and function of the fantasy league.  When a league Commissioner writes out the rules and distributes them to the league, it shifts the burden onto the league members to read, understand, and adhere to the rules that are delineated.  If a league member has an issue, question or challenge to one of the rules in the Constitution, they are welcome to raise this with the Commissioner before signing it or agreeing to its codification. 

Despite not having a formal document that codifies all of the league’s rules and guidelines, the DBFBL league Commissioner did set the rules up well before the draft and posted them on the league’s website for everyone to see.  This process does constitute notice for the league members that they are aware of the rules.  It also demonstrates that league members have knowledge that the Commissioner is the ultimate authority for decision-making and that there is no formal appellate process within the league.  However, it also demonstrates that the Commissioner is the one who authored the rules and presumably is aware that the league members will have an expectation that these rules will be in place for the upcoming season.

As the Commissioner of a fantasy sports league, there is an expectation that he/she will govern and administer the league’s rules and guidelines strictly in accordance to what is explicitly stated in a Constitution or posted on the league’s website.  There is also a presumption that the Commissioner will run the league with the league’s best interests in mind so as to maintain his/her own integrity, as well as the integrity of the league.  The Commissioner appropriately expects that the league members will adhere to the rules set forth, and in the event the rules are not followed, the Commissioner would take appropriate action.  

Here, the Court is presented with a unique case where the Commissioner is violating his own rules despite the protests of his fellow league members.  This is not a case where there is an ambiguous circumstance not accounted for within the written rules of the league.  Some leeway could be given if the Commissioner had to decide on an issue of first impression that was not foreseeable when the rules were created.  That is not the case here.  The very first rule regarding trades that the Commissioner distributed specifically prohibited the trading of draft picks either before or during the draft.  Since the trade of draft picks was posted to the league’s message board before the draft started, the Commissioner had ample time and opportunity to reject such a trade and rightfully cite the league’s rules.  However, the Commissioner arbitrarily decided to approve the trade and rationalized that he wanted to try something new. 

The Court is also an advocate of changing things up from year to year in a fantasy sports league so as to keep things interesting and maintain consistent participation and enjoyment.  However, the time for changing rules is quite clearly during the offseason.  Whether the Commissioner autonomously decides to make changes or presents suggestions for a league vote, the point is that this process should not be done once the rules have been put in place and the draft is about to commence. 

The harm and detriment to the league and its members is two-fold.  First, it sends a terrible message to the league that the Commissioner is going to do whatever he arbitrarily wants to do regardless of the rules he has created.  Second, the other league members were prejudiced by this decision because they were not given an opportunity to negotiate trades of draft picks.  Had the Commissioner provided notice before the draft that this would be allowed, then all teams would have had the opportunity to make such deals knowing that they were allowed.

Under normal circumstances when issues arise during a fantasy sports draft, the Court would not recommend undoing what was done and conducting another draft.  But in this case, there does not seem to be any other alternative that would make this situation right.  Knowing that draft picks can be traded would certainly affect and alter teams’ strategies for the draft.  Given that, the Court recommends that the October 10, 2010 draft be erased.  If the Commissioner is now going to allow the trading of draft picks, he should make such a proclamation to the league and allow a period of time for teams to negotiate.  The Commissioner should then set a new date for the draft and conduct it in an environment where all teams are on a level playing field and have the same opportunities to maximize their drafting.

The Court also recommends that the Commissioner issue a public apology for creating this predicament and assure the league that he will abide by the rules he set forth.  Any discussions to amend or modify the rules should be reserved for the conclusion of the 2010-2011 fantasy basketball season.

The rules of the league were clear and the Commissioner explicitly violated them.  The only recourse to regain the integrity of the league and pacify everyone’s best interests is to annul the first draft and do it over again with all teams able to trade draft picks.    

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Fantasy Judgment decision – October 13, 2010

 THE SUPREME COURT OF FANTASY JUDGMENT

John Doe v. Fantasy Football League Commissioner 

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI FROM

THE GRIDIRON FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE 

Decided October 13, 2010

Cite as 2 F.J. 21 (October 2010)

Factual Background

A fantasy football league called the Gridiron Fantasy Football League (hereinafter referred to as “Gridiron”) is comprised of ten (10) teams who compete against each other on a weekly basis during the National Football League (“NFL”) season using the statistics of professional players as a basis for accumulating points in head-to-head competition with opponents to determine which fantasy team won or lost.  Gridiron is hosted on the Yahoo fantasy football platform.  The league’s roster requirements contain 14 spots which include the following weekly starters: QB (1), RB (2), WR (3), RB/WR (1), TE (1), K (1), DEF (1), and IDP (1).  In addition to these eleven starting positions, each team is only entitled to three reserve spots which can be comprised of any eligible players.  These specific rules and parameters have been in place since 2004.

There is no formal league Constitution which delineates the rules, requirements and guidelines of the league.  Rather, the league Commissioner inputs this information through Yahoo and it is made available to all teams upon successfully registering their teams on the league’s website after the Commissioner sends out invitations.  This information is available at all times.  The league Commissioner arbitrarily sets up the parameters of the league, including the number of players eligible on the roster.  There is no process for challenging such decisions, and there is no available method of voting to approve any such decisions.  By registering for the league and participating in the draft, the other league owners tacitly assent to the rules created by the league Commissioner.

Before participating in the league draft, as well as continuing on an ongoing weekly basis when decisions are to be made for each team’s starting lineup, information is made publicly available regarding the NFL schedule, specifically which teams have a bye on a particular week.  Gridiron league members must make corresponding roster moves to ensure they have a lineup of players that are active each week.  Additionally, it is common practice to strategize before and during the fantasy football draft regarding the NFL schedule so as to not select too many players that share a similar bye week.  In the event a league member has more than three players on a bye week, the result will be an automatic 0 points for that unfilled starting roster spot.  This information and the resultant consequences is known to all league members.

Procedural History

During NFL Week 5, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks all had their annually scheduled bye week (See www.nfl.com/schedules).  The plaintiff in this case, who has requested to remain anonymous, had a roster that contained Tom Brady (QB-NE), Wes Welker (WR-NE), Hines Ward (WR-PIT), Brandon Marshall (WR-MIA), and Pittsburgh’s defense.  Because the league only permits three bench players and the plaintiff did not want to drop any of these aforementioned players, the plaintiff  was forced to have two positions in his starting lineup that were not active, and thus, he received 0 points from them.

The plaintiff subsequently lost his Week 5 matchup by 12 points according to the scoring system put in place by the league Commissioner.  Based on past performances and projected statistics, it is likely that the plaintiff would have won his Week 5 game had he been able to fill a starting lineup of all active players.

The plaintiff has filed this complaint with the Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment seeking a mid-season amendment to the rules of the league by allowing additional roster spots for more bench players.

Issue Presented

(1)   Should the league rules be modified in mid-season to accommodate additional roster spots?

Decision

The Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment is a strong advocate for having written Constitutions that govern fantasy sports leagues.  There are a myriad of reasons why the Court believes having a Constitution in place is the best way to run and maintain a fantasy league.  One of the primary reasons behind this rationale is that all league members are aware of the rules and guidelines in place that govern the administration and function of the fantasy league.  When a league Commissioner writes out the rules and distributes them to the league, it shifts the burden onto the league members to read, understand, and adhere to the rules that are delineated.  If a league member has an issue, question or challenge to one of the rules in the Constitution, they are welcome to raise this with the Commissioner before signing it or agreeing to its codification. 

Despite not having a formal document that codifies all of the league’s rules and guidelines, the Gridiron league Commissioner did set the rules up well before the draft and posted them on the league’s website for everyone to see.  This process does constitute notice for the league members that they are aware of the rules.  It also demonstrates that league members have knowledge that the Commissioner is the ultimate authority for decision-making and that there is no formal appellate process within the league. 

Irrespective of whether there is a valid reason to increase the number of roster spots, there is no valid reason to change the rules during the middle of the season outside of extreme and unforeseeable consequences.  Here, the fact that the plaintiff did not have enough eligible starting players was clearly foreseeable and was a direct result of his own contributory negligence.  Changing rules, especially ones that are so vital to the foundation of the league, should not be done in the middle of a season unless there is a gross miscarriage of justice that warrants an immediate amendment to an existing rule.  There is no such prejudice, harm, or undue burden on the plaintiff or any other league member that would warrant such drastic action.  That being said, this is an issue that should be addressed during the off-season and before the Commissioner sets up the parameters for the 2011 season.  If there is enough desire for additional roster spots, then the plaintiff and his fellow league members should collectively address the issue with the Commissioner in a logical and pragmatic manner.  The Commissioner will still maintain the ultimate authority whether to implement such changes, but at the very least the forum will be more appropriate to discuss such an issue when the fantasy football season is not ongoing. 

The rules of the league are clear and the plaintiff tacitly agreed to them by accepting the invitation to re-join the league.  He had every opportunity to plan his draft according to the NFL schedule, as well as make subsequent transactions to modify his roster in anticipation of the Week 5 teams on their bye.  The Court hereby decides that the rules regarding roster requirements and bench spots shall not be modified or amended during the 2010 fantasy football season.  The resulting loss suffered by the plaintiff during Week 5 shall stand and no further action is required by the Gridiron league Commissioner. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED.

New Fantasy Judgment decision – Fair and Balanced Schedule

SUPREME COURT OF FANTASY JUDGMENT

 Machine v. LOEG Commissioner

 ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI FROM

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

 Decided September 9, 2010

Cite as 2 F.J. 8 (September 2010)

 Factual Background

A fantasy football league called the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (hereinafter referred to as “LOEG”) is comprised of ten (10) teams who compete against each other on a weekly basis during the National Football League (“NFL”) season using the statistics of professional players as a basis for accumulating points in head-to-head competition with opponents to determine which fantasy team won or lost.  The LOEG is hosted on the CBSSports fantasy football platform.  In using the CBSSports Commissioner services, the LOEG’s season schedule of games is randomly selected and generated by CBSSports without any input or influence from the LOEG, its Commissioner, or any of its league members.

The LOEG has a Constitution which delineates and outlines all of the rules and guidelines that govern the league, including the league’s weekly schedule.  The following is an excerpt from the Constitution regarding the number of games each team shall play in a given week:

3. REGULAR SEASON:

3.1       The league will consist of one division of ten teams.

3.2       There will be a thirteen week regular season.

3.3       Each Team will play two games per week.

3.4       If an owner fails to set up a legal starting lineup, the CBS recommendations will be used to set it.

3.5       All players are eligible at whatever position CBS Sports deems they are.

3.6       If a regular season game ends in a tie it will remain a tie.

3.7       Any scoring challenges may be made only until noon on the Wednesday following the game in question.

After the 2010 schedule was generated by the CBSSports software, Alex (hereinafter referred to as “Machine” or “Plaintiff”) voiced a concern regarding a discrepancy in the number of times he was scheduled to play Landry’s.  According to the plaintiff’s complaint, he is only scheduled to face Landry’s twice whereas other teams in the league are scheduled to face Landry’s three times.  Plaintiff argues that Landry’s is a considerably weaker team in the league and he is faced with an inherent disadvantage of only playing Landry’s twice while other opponents get to face Landry’s three times.

Procedural History

Besides arguing the miscarriage of justice in the number of times he plays against Landry’s, the plaintiff also makes some bold accusations towards the LOEG’s Commissioner.  Plaintiff contends that the Commissioner autonomously creates the league schedule to his own benefit by scheduling more matchups against Landry’s.  The net result of this alleged indiscretion is that the Commissioner successfully earns a playoff berth before he is ousted in the postseason when he can no longer control who his adversary is.  Plaintiff has filed this complaint and pleads with the Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment to remedy the situation by instituting a triple-header week during the last week of the LOEG’s regular season.   

Issue Presented

(1)   Should a triple-header week be scheduled during the last week of the LOEG’s season to allow the plaintiff to face Landry’s for a third time?

Decision

The Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment is a strong advocate for having written Constitutions that govern fantasy sports leagues.  There are a myriad of reasons why the Court believes having a Constitution in place is the best way to run and maintain a fantasy league.  One of the primary reasons behind this rationale is that all league members are aware of the rules and guidelines in place that govern the administration and function of the fantasy league.  When a league Commissioner writes out the rules and distributes them to the league, it shifts the burden onto the league members to read, understand, and adhere to the rules that are delineated.  If a league member has an issue, question or challenge to one of the rules in the Constitution, they are welcome to raise this with the Commissioner before signing it or agreeing to its codification. 

In this case, there clearly was a Constitution (or at the very least, a written set of rules and guidelines) that governs the LOEG.  Included in this Constitution was a provision for the league’s schedule and number of games played.  Section 3 of the Constitution clearly lays out the rules and guidelines for the number of weeks in the regular season and the number of games each team will play.  Rule 3.2 explicitly states that the regular season of the LOEG will consist of thirteen weeks.  Rule 3.3 explicitly states that each team will play two games every week.  Based on these two rules, each team is scheduled to play 26 games during the regular season.  In a ten-team league, this means that each team will play each other three times except for one team.  Here, it just so happens that the one team that plaintiff will only play twice is Landry’s.

According to witness testimony, the Commissioner elects to allow CBSSports to generate a league schedule.  Given the Court’s extensive knowledge and experience utilizing CBSSports software and commissioner services, the generation of a schedule done automatically by CBSSports is completely random within the boundaries and rules set forth by the Commissioner.  Therefore, the Court dismisses all allegations against the Commissioner for fixing or tampering with the weekly matchups.

With regard to the plaintiff’s prayer for relief in the form of a triple-header week during Week 13, the Court hereby denies such a request.  Granting plaintiff’s request is a direct contradiction to the rules delineated in the league Constitution.  The rules explicitly state that every team will play two games every week during the regular season.  Clearly, a triple-header does not comport with such rules.  Plaintiff should make the proposal, in writing, to the league and the Commissioner for consideration to amend the Constitution for next season.

Finally, this dispute represents the second formal complaint raised by the plaintiff against the Commissioner calling into question the Commissioner’s ethics and integrity.  While there does not appear to be any tangible evidence of malfeasance on behalf of the Commissioner, the Court is concerned about the ongoing relationship and co-existence of the plaintiff and Commissioner.  The Court recommends that the LOEG members keep a close eye on these two parties going forward to ensure there is no retaliation by the Commissioner against the plaintiff, as well as to ensure there are no frivolous allegations made by the plaintiff against the Commissioner.

The Court hereby decides that the league schedule shall remain as is.  The plaintiff’s request for a triple-header during Week 13 is denied. 

 IT IS SO ORDERED.

The Supreme Court of Fantasy Judgment on SiriusXM’s Fantasy Sports Channel

On Monday, August 23, 2010, I appeared on SiriusXM’s Fantasy Sports Channel on the morning show with RotoExperts Adam Ronis and Scott Engel to hold court and resolve a fantasy football dispute.  The dispute was brought by a member of a fantasy football league whose Commissioner traded three of his draft picks in exchange for another team’s three draft picks.  Both the plaintiff and defendant were on the air with us, and I allowed each party to make their opening statements.  The plaintiff asserted that the league rules did not permit trading during the off-season, that trading draft picks was not allowed anyway, and that the league vote process was not properly adhered to.  The defendant Commissioner argued that the trades were made during the pre-season, which he claimed was technically not the off-season, and that the league vote process was administered correctly. 

I asked several questions of both parties, but mostly focused on the Commissioner for inquiries into the rules of the league.  This particular league is hosted on CBSSports.com, and the Commissioner uses the generated rules from CBS with some additions he made himself.  I specifically asked if the league defers to the CBS-generated rules and settings that are input, which the Commissioner affirmed.  CBS does not permit trades until the regular season officially begins – as in, they physically cannot be done.  This made it a fairly easy decision for me to disallow the trades because if CBS’ setting are the guidelines and trades can’t be made until the regular season starts, then there is no justification for making any type of trade, let alone draft picks, before the regular season does in fact start. 

I also criticized the Commissioner for having no system in place to provide checks and balances on trades that he is involved in because he has the final say.  This only leads to league-wide skepticism and second-guessing of anything that the Commissioner does.  I recommended that he have a Co-Commissioner or some form of a committee have the authority to approve or disapprove trades that the Commissioner makes.  I also recommended that the Commissioner have every league member sign a formal document outlining the rules of the league.  A league Constitution is always a good idea, and having it be signed and acknowledged by the entire league puts the burden back on everyone else that they educate themselves as to the league’s guidelines and provisions. 

After the Court rendered its verdict, the RotoExperts interviewed each party.  Needless to say, the plaintiff was quite pleased and the defendant Commissioner was not.  But this is the nature of Fantasy Judgment’s business – make the right judgment based on the facts of each case, legal principles, current rules and policies of the league, and common sense.

OBFBL Power Rankings (Through Week 8)

This is the first edition of Power Rankings for the 2010 season.  I will rank each team in order of strength based on their overall record, points scored, best players, and any other subjective criteria I feel like.  I will hopefully do this every few weeks or so to illustrate the dynamic of the league.  Without further adieu, here we go:

#1 – Dawg Eat Dawg (9-2)

Benny’s team is back after a miserable 2009 season.  Despite having fewer points than The Ketubah, Benny recently acquired Cy Young Award-winner Zack Greinke to strengthen an already-impressive pitching staff led by Tim Lincecum and Roy Oswalt.  This is the first time in OBFBL history that someone has had both of the previous year’s CY Young Award winners on their team at the same time.

#2 – C.C. Ate My Ketubah (9-2)

After a four-year hiatus, Ari has brought the Ketubah back to his team name.  He jumped out of the gate to a fast start and has built a 5-game lead in the NL Central.  He will need this wiggle room because he just lost Kendry Morales and Nelson Cruz to injuries at the end of Week 8.  If Ari wins his division, his team’s celebration will be quiet and conservative so that no one gets injured.  And should Ari sprain his ankle, an ambulance should be driving by at that exact same time (inside joke).

#3 – 5 Finger Baseball (8-3)

OBFBL rookie Mario Portilla had the best record in the league until this past double-header week when he was finally brought down to Earth.  Mario set a rookie record for starting his OBFBL career off at 5-0, and he also became a father for the second time during Week 1.  Needless to say, it has been an exciting debut for this newbie who now sings the praises of Jon Garland merely weeks after trying to trade him for fecal matter.

#4 – Slappy McSingleton (7-4)

Another OBFBL rookie ranks in the Top 5 as Matthew Abbott’s team leads the league in points scored by a wide margin.  Led by his brilliant 1st round pick Roy Halladay, Matthew is on pace to shatter several OBFBL records including total points for a season, and most individual points by a player.  Halladay’s 404 points through 8 weeks is astounding, thanks in part to his perfect game, multiple complete games, and overall dominance.  Not to be overshadowed are Ricky Romero, Johnny Cueto and James Shields rounding out arguably the best pitching staff in the league.

#5 – Jewish Mafia (6-5)

After leading the league in everything after the first couple weeks, Randy Peltz’s Hebrew Hitmen have slowed down a bit.  Randy was not pleased with Hanley Ramirez’s selfish actions.  As a result, Randy slapped some sense into Hanley and it seems to have worked.  Kudos must be given for Randy’s selection of Ubaldo Jimenez in the 6th round of the draft as he has proven to be the best pitcher in baseball thus far.  With Carlos Beltran due back around the All-Star break, Randy could be setting himself up for a big second half and a return to the playoffs.

#6 – Benny is Tiger Woods’ Bee-otch (6-5)

If a free agent pitcher has 0ne good game, chances are Marc will scoop him up.  OBFBL original Marc Stein has created a patchwork pitching staff behind Chris Carpenter, and thus far it has worked as C.J. Wilson, Brett Cecil and Nick Blackburn have all provided some depth with the absence of Jair Jurrjens and Justin Duchscherer.  Albert Pujols seems to have hit his stride at the right time, and Marc also boasts arguably the best outfield in the OBFBL with Jayson Werth, Carl Crawford, Nick Markakis and Curtis Granderson.

#7 – This is the Business We’ve Chosen (6-5)

OBFBL veteran Jason Tuvel, a historically fast starter, is off and running again.  However, he is unfortunately in a division with Dawg Eat Dawg who is running even faster.  Regardless, Jason’s reliance on young talent has paid off with the likes of Ike Davis, Yovanni Gallardo, and David Price.  The glue to his team is clearly Derek Jeter, who is always good for a milquetoast quote after a OBFBL week.  “It’s a long season and we just want to put up positive points for Jason,” stated Jeter. 

#8 – Hoof Hearted (6-5)

OBFBL original Jared Levitt made his triumphant return to the league after an 8-year absence.  He started off 0-4 but has stormed back and is now tied for 1st place in the NL West.  This turnaround was made despite 1st round pick Mark Teixeira not doing anything, which prompted Jared to trade him away.  Castaways Edwin Encarnacion and Alex Rios have provided a big boost to Jared’s lineup, which was without Ian Kinsler until recently.

#9 – There is No Giant Douche, Only Zool (5-6)

After a quick 4-1 start, the Giant Douche has been on the receiving end of a weekly pap smear.  While Jose Reyes finally appears to have started hitting, studs like Ryan Howard and Matt Holliday have yet to achieve any consistency.  Grady Sizemore was not productive when he played, and now he is gone for quite awhile.  Acquiring Mark Teixeira should help the lineup as Tex lumbers out of a season-long slump.  Free agent gems like Gio Gonzalez and Anibal Sanchez have helped save an otherwise underachieving pitching staff with the exception of Phil Hughes.

#10 – Jumpin’ Jesse Orosco (5-6)

OBFBL rookie Tim Catts got off to a rough start but has stormed back to take the lead (via tiebreaker) in the AL East.  After putting star closers Jonathan Papelbon and Jonathan Broxton on the block after the first week, things have calmed down for Mr. Catts as he got Lance Berkman back from the DL and Prince Fielder finally homered after 3 weeks.  Despite being assured 10 strikeouts a week from David Wright, Tim has gotten excellent results from srcappy players like Dustin Pedroia and Carlos Gonzalez.  Now the pressure is on the rookie to succeed down the stretch in a pennant race.

#11 – Sharks With Phrickin’ Laser Beams (5-6)

No team has epitomized the term “streaky” quite like Jim Malloy.  In 2009, Jim’s rookie year, he started the season 0-10 and then stormed all the way back to lose out on the playoffs by one game.  This year, Jim started 5-0 and seemed on his way to greatness.  Then his wife gave birth to their son and now Jim has lost 6 in a row.  It appears he has traded doubles for diapers.  Losing Jimmy Rollins for most of the season has taken its toll on Jim’s lineup, but he has proven he can rebound from a long losing streaks.  He also acquired Carlos Silva and Aaron Rowand for Curtis Granderson, and Silva has proven to be a consistent commodity in Jim’s rotation.  Jim also has 5 catchers on his roster which is just bizarre.

#12 – Full Metal Jacket (5-6)

Joey I. got off to a slow start following his successful rookie season in 2009, but he appears to have found his groove now sharing a three-way tie for 1st place in the AL East.  Clearly a fan of younger players, the average age of Joey I.’s team is 17.  Up and comers like Evan Longoria, Matt Wieters, Joey Votto, Drew Stubbs and Mat Latos may lack experience but they bring production to the table.  Adam Jones has yet to hit his stride, perhaps because he clashed with Joey I.’s managing style in 2009.

#13 – Len Tuckwilla’s Nuts Over My Chin (4-7)

OBFBL’s resident Saturday Night Live reference-maker once again demonstrated his love for Asian cuisine with the likes of Hideki Matsui, Shin Soo Choo, and Dice-K on his roster.  At least Ryan Braun will have someone to eat dinner with on Christmas Eve.  Craig’s young pitching staff is anchored by future star Tommy Hanson, who has yet to match his dominance of 2009.  Craig is another streaky player, so a big run down the stretch is not out of the question.

#14 – Death Star Destroyers (4-7)

The OBFBL’s resident Star Wars fanatic has stumbled out of the gate despite having a lethal 1-2 duo of C.C. Sabathia and Johan Santana.  Abe Strasser’s lineup has been marred by injuries to Chipper Jones and Aaron Hill.  However, with a deep pitching staff that also includes Francisco Liriano, Ted Lilly, and the ageless Andy Pettitte, he is a huge threat in weeks where he has pitchers with two starts. 

#15 – Cole Hamels’ Multi-racial Children (4-7)

After a playoff berth in his rookie year, OBFBL sophomore Jeff Mickletz and partner Mike Chiereilson (no, not that type of partner) have struggled to get consistent pitching performances outside of Dallas Braden’s miraculous perfect game.  They lead the league in Uptons as their outfield is comprised of both B.J. and Justin, along with budding superstar Andrew McCutcheon.  First round pick Chase Utley, arguably the best second baseman in baseball not named Luis Castillo, hasn’t lived up to expectations being the 8th overall pick.  However, after finishing 3rd overall in 2009 with a .500 record, anything is possible for Cole Hamels and his multi-racial children.

#16 – Mets in 2010 (4-7)

OBFBL veteran Jordan Maliavsky has ridden a rollercoaster with his team going from 300 point weeks to sub-200 point weeks.  Drafting the entire Angels’ rotation proved to not be very helpful as Pineiro, Saunders and Santana have not been consistent.  After acquiring Jose Guillen in a trade for Pineiro and Dexter Fowler, Guillen is now riding Jordan’s bench once again proving he is one of the most inconsistent players in baseball.  A potentially potent offense comprised of A-Rod, Mark Reynolds and Brian McCann, the Mets in 2010 are poised to be competitive down the stretch, especially with staff ace Cliff Lee likely to be traded to a contending team.

#17 – What’s the Plural of Moose? (4-7)

OBFBL original Cory Varrial made his return to the league in 2009 and has now followed that up with a pedestrian start to the 2010 season.  Much of Cory’s struggles can be attributed to his inability to start the right players as he consistently has 75-100 points rotting on his bench every week.  Jake Peavy does not seem to be the pitcher he once was, and staff ace Dan Haren has been uncharacteristically inconsistent.  It was a ballsy move drafting Joe Mauer with the 5th overall pick, and while Mauer has been productive, it has limited Cory’s production at other vital positions.

#18 – Veal Cutlet a L’Orange (2-9)

Former two-time OBFBL finalist Maury Weisel has struggled mightily to start the 2010 season.  His first two draft picks, Zack Greinke and Javier Vazquez, did not anchor what was thought to be a deep pitching staff.  Greinke has subsequently been traded for equally disappointing Derrek Lee.  Also, Maury’s 3rd round pick Brian Roberts has yet to be active as he remains on the DL.  It will take some shrewd and creative managing, but Maury is still within striking distance if he can pull off a couple more deals and get back in the pennant race.