Introduction

Well, here we are. 93 days away from another glorious season of baseball. We all know what that means. That's right, we're just about three months away from another year of fantasy baseball.

sbr took the crown just a few months ago, breaking up the dominance the Gauchos and Horkers enjoyed over the previous three seasons. Now we're just a short time away from the NinjaFish defending that title, and the rest of the league looking to take it away.

It's time for positional rankings, draft dates, and waiver moves. It's time for pulling off perfect trades, studying match-ups, and dreading the ill-fated season ending injury.

It's time for TES League Fantasy Baseball!

Talking Points

Now, I know we can't do much yet, seeing as the new season hasn't officially started on ESPN. However, I want to be sure we have plenty of time to plan for it.

We've discussed changes in the past,and now's a perfect time to do that. We also need to get a head count, which we'll get to later. First things first, following will be a short list of key changes that I feel should be discusses and decided upon.

• Realignment: I've been thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to shift the divisions around, as the Septim League seems to be continually dominant.
  
• Scoring Categories: Adding new ones, negative scoring, etc.
  
• Auction Draft: We've traditionally done a Snake format, but the auction format might add some challenge.

In an auction draft, teams begin with a set budget and take turns nominating players to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

• Expansion/Contraction: Should we include more teams, or maybe even go back down to ten?
  
• Keepers: Should we keep certain players throughout each season?
  
• Roster Settings: Should we go with a traditional baseball line-up, or keep what we have?

Any other ideas or suggestions are more than welcome.

Roll Call!

Aside from myself, who is coming back next year? I'll keep tabs here in the OP.

1. North Texas Gauchos

2. sbr

3. Z.Man

4. Steelers95

5. Gstaff

6. Sivartus

7. Ratwar

8. Macedon

I'm in.

• 
  
  Realignment: I've been thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to shift the divisions around, as the Septim League seems to be continually dominant.

No preference. It isn't a terrible idea though.

• 
  
  Scoring Categories: Adding new ones, negative scoring, etc.

I don't like negative categories myself, it isn't as much fun and the ratio categories include enough negatives for a reasonable balancing act. I like where we are with scoring to be honest.

• 
  
  Auction Draft: We've traditionally done a Snake format, but the auction format might add some challenge.

I would really like to do an auction league, as I never have but we will NEVER be able to get everyone in the same virtual room at the same time and I don't know how someone could miss the auction and still be relevant.

• 
  
  Expansion/Contraction: Should we include more teams, or maybe even go back down to ten?

I think we should contract. We always have inactive teams and the more we add the more we get. I understand there will always be inactive teams but to be honest I would rather have an 8 team league with the core group of us we know will be there every week all season, than to have the 8 of us beat up on 4 other inactives.

• 
  
  Keepers: Should we keep certain players throughout each season?

I would like to do a keeper league but I think we would need to contract and address what happens with the inevitable turn-over there will be in a on-line community.

• 
  
  Roster Settings: Should we go with a traditional baseball line-up, or keep what we have?

I like what we have. The only thing I would suggest would be to make the Pitcher slots more specific: SP, RP etc. Though leaving it alone would be fine as it's the only league that I am in that does it that way and variety is always good.

So, with an auction draft, we can't be in the same lobby as in a snake format?


EDIT: Nevermind, I just realized what you were meaning. Yeah, we would definitely be missing a few people come draft night.

Alright, so far we have sbr, myself, Steelers95, and Z.Man returning. I'm still waiting to hear from everyone else.

I'll be honest, I'm a little concerned at the lack of activity so far.

I like the idea of a keeper league. We've had, what, 5,6 or 7 of the same people over the past few years?

For the most part, yes; typically the number has been around 7.

I'm down. This is my year

I'm in, of course. I'll post about the talking points shortly.

• Realignment: I've been thinking it wouldn't be a bad idea to shift the divisions around, as the Septim League seems to be continually dominant.
  I wouldn't mind it, just to mix things up a bit.
  
• Scoring Categories: Adding new ones, negative scoring, etc.
  I'm with sbr, I like the scoring we have now.
  
• Auction Draft: We've traditionally done a Snake format, but the auction format might add some challenge.
  I'm with sbr again, in that I'd love to do it, but I don't think we could ever pull it off. Not only could we never get everyone here, but everyone always seems to have tight schedules, and the nature of an auction draft has to make it considerably longer than a snake draft right?
  
• Expansion/Contraction: Should we include more teams, or maybe even go back down to ten?
  I'd like to see us get as close to a core group of guys as possible. I'm not trying to stifle outside participation in the league, but we always have someone who seems like they really want to be in the league and stay active, and then 3 weeks in they are nowhere to be found and it's basically a free week for whoever is playing them.
  
• Keepers: Should we keep certain players throughout each season?
  I wouldn't mind doing a keeper league, but again, do we have the core group of guys to make it viable?
  
• Roster Settings: Should we go with a traditional baseball line-up, or keep what we have?
  This I'm unsure of, as I don't know what other types of lineups there could be. This is the only league I'm in, so I'll stay out of this one.

I'd like to go back to 10 teams, personally. It's much easier to keep things together, IMO.


The only other option I had in mind was instead of using 1B/3B and SS/2B we go to strictly 8 position players. It would be 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, C, and 3 OF's. I think it would bring in an added challenge to keep things more interesting.

Oh dear god...I'm the one that always gets wrecked with injuries too.

Yeah, but we would likely have a deeper FA pool.

FWIW I prefer the larger roster sizes we use here.

If we did make the starting line-ups smaller I would still really like to at least have a Utility position.

Oh, yeah, I meant to add there would be DH.

What about executing a more strict sloth policy? If your team isn't changed for a month, you lost the privilege and it goes to someone else? I mean, that's supposing that we have people banging at the door to get into the league.

I have no issue with a sloth policy, but I would only kick someone if get no confirmation after I try to contact them. I won't just kick someone because I assume they've slothed.

Also, Suffca informed me he will not be returning.

Is there nobody else interested in Fantasy Baseball on these forums? The thread seems dead.

Yeah, I haven't heard from the people I was almost certain I would hear from. Well, aside from the ones that have chimed in.

On the bright side, we're only missing three people, and it's still early. I'm still optimistic.

EDIT: Also, there were a couple of people who haven't been active on the forums for quite some time. Ninja Monkey and redsrock. If anyone knows how to get in touch with them other than here or e-mail, I'd appreciate if you could pass the message along.

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Ratwar? He's logged in, but I've gotten no response. It's a good possibility that he hasn't seen my message considering him being a moderator.

I'll try and get in touch with Ratwar, the others I have no other way to contact. I'm almost certain Ratwar will come back though, he's like the baseball guru.

I shall return!


I think you mean the Vivec league, but your point is well made. I don't think it is a bad idea, but I'm not really in favor. I like having a inter-division rivalry with sbr/NinjaFish.


Honestly, I love the scoring categories we had last year, but I am open to change.


I was kinda for this idea before sbr mentioned the problem with needing everyone there for basically the entire draft.


My preference would be 10. Any less than 10, and the league starts to get REALLY shallow.


Too much turn over for me to support this.


In a 10 team mixed league, I don't like the idea of smaller rosters. Once again, it makes the league too shallow.

Good to have you back, Ratwar.

As for myself, I personally like the league the way it is, other than going back to ten teams.

Any idea when the draft would be?

I'd like to have it sometime in early to mid-March. The season starts on March 30.

I think one-week before opening day is appropriate. I like to see a good amount of spring training before I pick all the losers in the draft. It's a tradition of mine.

That's why I'm targeting that time frame. A lot can happen between now and then.