can someone tell me the best way to pick my fantasy baseball team. like which statistics are important?
359924
The statistics which are most important are the ones which the league require. You need to look these up on your league page as it should say which statistics they are counting on. The best way to draft ur players is to get a good mix of everything... Here are the common stats people measure:\n\nBatters:\nRBI: Runs batted in... the higher the better. Good RBIers have 100 during a season. \nBest of 2005:\nDavid Ortiz (1B): 148\nMark Texiera (1B): 144\nManny Ramierz (OF): 144\nAlex Rodriguez (3B): 130\nAndrew Jones (OF): 128\nGary sheffield (OF): 123\n\n\nBatting Average: The higher the better. Make sure you don't choose players which have a high average but have only played a few games (if you are looking at 2005 stats). Choose those that have played on a consisten basis and have had at least 300 at bats. A decent batting average would be around .280... anything above .300 is very good.\nDerrek Lee (1B): .335\nMichael Young (SS): .331\nPlaci Polaco (2B/3B): .331\nALbert Pujols (1B): .330\nMiguel Cabrera (3B/OF): .323\nMouise Alou (OF): .321\nAlex Rodriguez (3B): .321\nTodd Helton (1B): .320\n\nRuns: The higher the better. Good runners get 100+ per year. \nThe best runners in the league last year were:\nAlbert Pujols (1B): 129\nAlex Rodriguez (3B): 124\nDerek Jeter (SS): 122\nDerek Lee (1B): 120\nDavid Ortiz (1B): 120\nJohnny Damon (OF): 117\n\nHomerun: The higher the better. Good homerun batters hit 30+ a year\nAndrew Jones (OF): 51 \nAlex Rodriguez (3B): 48\nDavid Ortiz (1B): 47\nDerek Lee (1B): 46\nManny Ramirez (OF): 45\nMark Texiera (1B): 43\nAlbert Pujols (1B): 41\n\nStolen Bases: The Higher the better.. There are very few crazy stealers out there... Most of the top ones get 30+ but  soemone getting 15-20 isn't bad either. Just makes sure u have one top stelaer and a couple stealers that are in the 15-20 zone. \nChone Figgins (2B/3B/OF): 62\nJose Reyes (SS): 60\nScott Podsednik (OF):59\nJuan Pierre (OF): 57\nCarl Crawford (OF): 46\nRafael Furcal (SS): 46\nJimmy Rollins (SS): 41\nJulio Lugo (SS): 39\n\n\nPitching:\nWins: The higher the number of wins the better\nDontre Willis: 22\nBartolo Colon: 21\nChris Carpenter: 21\nRoy Owswalt: 20\nChris Capuano: 18\nCliff Lee: 18\nJon Garland: 18\n\nStrikeouts: the higher the better\nJohan Santana: 238\nJake Peavy: 216\nChris Carpenter: 213\nRandy Johnson: 211\nPedro Martiez: 208\nBret Myers: 208\nDoug Davis: 208\nCarlos Zambrano: 202\n\nERA: The lower the better. Make sure for Starting pitchers they have pitched at least 150 innings. Relief pitchers should have pitched around 60+\n\nRelief Pitchers: Mariano Rivera (1.38), Billy Wagner (1.51), Hudson Street (1.72), Derek Turnbow (1.74), Chad Cordero (1.82)\n\nStarting pitchers: Roger Clemens (1.82 but he may not play this season), Andy Pettite (2.39), Roy Halladay (2.41), Rich Harden (2.53), Pedro Martinez (2.82), Chris Carpenter (2.83)\n\nWHIP: the lower the better. Same rule as ERA for no of innings played\nRelief: Billy wagner (0.84), Mariano Rivera (0.87), Bob Howry (0.89), Cliff polite (0.94), J. sperir (0.95)\n\nStarting pitchers: Pedro Martinez (0.95), Roy Halladay (0.96), Johan Sanata (0.97), Roger Clemens (1.01), Andy Pettite (1.03), Jake Peavy (1.04)\n\nSaves: The higher the better. You get these off of relief pitchers...\nChad Cordero 47\nFransisco Rodriguez 45\nBob wickman: 45\nTrevor Hoffman: 43\nJoe Nathan: 43\nMariano Rivera: 43\nBrad Lidge: 42\n\nHope this helps!... This is for the typical 5x5 league. Others which people might add in are: \nPitching:\nk/9 innings: no of stikeouts per nine innings (The higher the better) \nLosses (the lower the better) \nIP: innings pitched, the higher hte better\n\nHitters: \nStrikeouts: the lower the better\nWalks: The higher the better\nSlugging percentage: The higher the better\nOBPS: the higher the better (Onbase plus slugging percetnage)\non base percentage: higher the better
852949
Rules for picking your favorite team:\n\n1) You can only have one favorite team.\n2) once selected you can only change your favorite team under extraordinary circumstances. \n\nNow how do you pick your team?\n\nThe easist and most rational method is to support your hometown team.  You live in Columbus, so you don't really have one, but the Reds and Indians, both being from Ohio warrent consideration.  \n\nAlso, in Columbs you have the Clippers which is the AAA afiliate for the Washington Nationals.  This would be a great option because you can start rooting for these players at a reasonable price while they are promising stars on the come.  And then transfer that right into watching MLB games.\n\nA final way is to look around the league and find a franchise that you think is run well and pick them.  Of course if you do this you must remember rule number 2, there is nothing worse than a bandwagon jumper, to truly be a fan you have to stick with them through the bad times, it makes to good times that much better.  Also remember if you go this route don't choose the Yankees, 'cuz that's like rooting for the house in blackjack.
287411
With a points league, you get a predetermined number of points for what your players do. A single is often worth one point, a double is two, an RBI is one, a win is 10, and so on. You can make the values whatever you want. If you want a league that values closers as much as starting pitchers, then you could make a save equal to a win. If you want a league that values speed, then make SBs worth three points each. This is probably the simplest way to play fantasy sports.
1061119
Not knowing your exact team makeup, ie number of  SP number of Closers or whether the league is Head to Head or rotissiere, I can't be certain.  However of those listed Saito is the best choice strictly on ability.  A good closer who should have the job for awhile makes him a worthwhile add.  If by some chance your league counts holds as well as saves, Zumaya would be the top choice.  If you need a SP more, I'm not particularly impressed with those you listed.  Shields might be OK, but is Scott Olsen of the Marlins available?  I imagine Josh Johnson also of Florida is gone, but I'd rank Olsen ahead of any of the guys you named, and fellow Marlin Ricky Nolasco might also be as good or better choice than Shields.  Another option is Cole Hamels.  He's been shaky last couple of starts, but I think he'll turn it around and be a very good fantasy SP.  In fact I'd add Olsen, Saito, and Hamels if all were available.  Do you have any bench hitters you can drop?  The bench isn't very important in most fantasy leagues.  I'm in first or contending in some leagues with no extra hitters.
884799
What posts are you talking about?  You needs stats or you need info on what fantasy baseball is?
626082
First of all..Howard is a MUST start!  I don't know why some people are saying to bench him.  Look at the stats and make that decision yourself.  \n\nHolliday needs to start.  Possibly start your outfielders based on the matchups for that day.  So many good OF's, not enough spots to start them all.  Podsednik gets you SB's, but he should not be starting every day.  You'll get SB's from plenty of other guys in your lineup.\n\nShelton had his hot 2 week stretch, but he is of no fantasy value now.  Drop him or trade him for pitching if you need it.
483306
Always go for the best available player in the first half of the draft.  Try and focus on infield positions first, as top players are each position are limited.  The only reason to grab a outfield player early is if they fall farther than expected (such as getting A. Jones or A. Dunn in round 4 or something).  Its worked for me.  I've won our league 2 of the 3 years.  Let me know if you have any more questions.
246018
Yahoo is a really good site to play fantisy baseball because you can play in a public league or private. Also good ones are ESPN and SI.
346692
Well I'm also currently playing yahoo fantasy baseball and I'm loving it. But about your team, I'd give it a C- for a few reasons. The main reason is you've taken on some major headache players. What I mean by that is most of your team is made up of players that have been plagued with injuries their whole career and could easily all go down this year at least once. You also have a few problems with your pitching staff. Oswalt and Smoltz are solid and are wonderful players to have on your team. but wakefield bonderman and mussina are really no good. Mussina is alright but should not be a #3 starter. Cordero is a great reliever that will get alot of saves, but cordero wont get you many points if your other relievers are farnsworth and wakefield. I suggest you either trade for another reliver or get one that is probably in the free agent market, like Jonathon Papelbon. If Armando Benitex goes down again pick up Tim Worrel. And now to your hitters. AJ Pierzinski in my opinion is waaaaay over rated. He's is no a good hitter who will lower your average alot. Carlos Delgado is a great first baseman, but with Konerko as a backup, I suggest you trade Delgado for a good outfielder which you should be able to get seeing as Delgado is just slightly over rated. Roberts is a great player who should not be traded unless you are offered a spectacular deal, which is likely not to happen because roberts is very under rated. Jones is a great third baseman that you shouldn't have traded, espcially because you can't you Thome because you already have two good first baseman, You should have kept Jones. But now that you have Thome, you should trade him while he's hot and his stock is up. Brad Wilkerson is an OK player that will produce OK numbers, but don't expect anything more out of him. Edmonds is good but his greatest asset, his fielding, doesn't even matter in fantasy baseball. Garret Anderson is OK and sure produce some okay numbers. I'd also say that you're bench is good, except for Preston wilson who is only good for homers which is the one thing you don't need. You should try to trade him for some speed. Try to get a player like Rickie Weeks for him. Hope I could halp, Michael.
296068
dont listen to anybody on here except for the last guy. your team is good and the only thing i think you are lacking is speed for SB but everything else seems like it is covered well. i think you should pick up jacobs from florida as a back up 1B cause he is gonna be extremely good this year and Hermida from florida is said to be the best rookie this year so that could be another and for pitchers i would get aaron small from the yankess 10-0 last year in about 15 games with a good era and he will certainly get wins for you
152868
Everything depends on the set up of your league.  Know the rules, and know the scoring system really well.  Payattention to players that have changed home ballparks, and whether that will help or hurt them.  In a typical league, you don't want to overvalue pitching.\n\nDraft best available player the first few rounds, and then after that start thinking about position scarcity.\n\nMost important: get lucky.
489164
http://fantasysports.yahoo.com of course. We've had the biggest and best fantasy leagues around. ESPN last year tried to match us, but couldn't handle the load, as you noticed.\n\nWhy I like it - well, I work on it. But besides that - what's most important? A rock solid platform - we've got it. ESPN had troubles last year and so did Fox sports. Fox doesn't have fantasy baseball this year - their platform is having trouble. cbsSportsline, well, they are the only ones without a free game. Draw your own conclusions.\n\nWe've got the largest community of fantasy players and are always working to satisfy your needs and demands.  Because a lot of the time, they're right in sync with our own. You know that if something annoys you, it annoys us too - cause we're playing all the games as well. We're trying to reach out to the fantasy community more and have started a blog - http://blog.360.yahoo.com/ysportsblog - we're open for comments.\n\nFeature wise, all the games are more or less on par with each other - the product managers in all companies spend a lot of time comparing each other's offerings. Though it won't be like that for long - and so if you want to stay on the bleeding edge fantasy wise, try us out.
160809
http://www.fantasytimesports.com/baseball_ufbkeeperleague_rules.htm\n\nFor free, use yahoo and be the league cordinator and keep records.
326878
You have to focus on some categories, try to beat others big in some categories, then you can get max points on them.  An everything-above-average team is not going to get you in front of others.\n\nFor example, by looking at your teams, it's easy to see you can't win SB and HR.  You have only Barfield can steal (Tori Hunter doesn't steal much after last year's injury, Stewart's number has declined too).  You should focus on AVG and RBI, that means to get someone hit at 3rd, 4th or fifth spot, in a good offense team (not SD or Min).
409137
I joined a fantasy baseball head-to-head league on Yahoo this spring.  I am already addicted.  I really like the fact that as the manager you can make changes on a daily basis.  I had to get the stattracker so that I can keep up to date on what my team has done through the day or evening and not have to wait until the next day for the matchup scores.  I have two first basemen and two CF/LF....I really like being able to change the line-up based on current statistics, hot streaks and cold spells. \n\nI guess it does seem like there are a lot of games, but I think the fact that I have to keep track of so many things may make me a better fan and way better @ baseball trivia.  I HAVE TO look @ my team every day.  :)
310033
Roto scoring is almost meaningless until you get about a month into the season. There will always be huge fluctuations like this early in the year.\n\nHere's how Roto works. You are in a twelve team league. You get points based on how your team does in all the categories. If your team has more HRs than any other team, you will get 12 points for HRs. If your team has the second-highest batting average, you will get 11 points for BA. If your team is the worst in RBIs, then you will get 1 point for RBI. Everything is on a 1-12 scale in a 12 team league.\n\nIf your league has 10 categories (5 for hitters and 5 for pitchers, which is fairly standard), then the highest score is 120, or 12 x 10. You need to have a well-rounded team to get the most points in the most categories. That's why a lot of teams will have two or three closers so they can do well in the Saves category. That's also why players like Vlad Guerrero are valuable, because they can help you in BA, R, RBI, HR and SB.\n\nIn other words, even if Rolen hits a homer one day, you might go backwards because the other teams in your league might have BETTER days. But it doesn't matter who is in first right now. The standings are based on everyone's stats for the whole year.
182891
Rotisserie or Roto scoring is one of the more traditional ways of playing fantasy baseball (and other sports as well). It's category based. Let's say there are 13 teams in your league. If Home Runs are one of your categories and your team has more HRs than anyone else, you get 13 points. If your team has the least amount of HRs in the league, you get 1 point. Every category works like that. \n\nMany roto leagues are 4x4 (with Runs, RBIs, Batting Average, Home Runs for batting categories and Wins, ERA, Strikeouts and Saves for pitching categories). Some are 5x5, which is a basic 4x4 league plus stolen bases and WHIP. WHIP is Walks + Hits per inning pitched-- basically, the amount of baserunners a pitcher gives up per inning. Like ERA, lower numbers are better with WHIP. If you are in a 5x5 league with 9 teams, the best possible score is 90 (ten categories times 9 points each). Hope that helps!