who agrees with me that you must have great pitching to last in fantasy baseball? also, which round in the draft do you usually grab your first pitcher?
2007-02-13 06:17:55 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Fantasy Sports
You're absolutely right. No matter which format your choose, pitching is too tough and competitive to not grab early. Closers particularly can save your *** and a great closer like Rivera is consistently undervalued around draft time. The unpredictability of pitching is PRECISELY WHY you need to have a solid core group that you are 99% sure will come through.
I usually go second round (and then again around the 5th) and take a stud pitcher, if I can't there, then I like to double up in the 3rd and fourth rounds.
Hitting is important, but there are always emerging stars that can be picked up on the waiver wire... pitching occationally too... but it's a lot more hit and miss. If you end up weak on one or the other, just scour the wire for the first 2-3 weeks and jump on some bandwagons. It might not work out, but it's better than doing nothing with a mediocre team.
2007-02-13 06:29:21 · answer #1 · answered by futuregopprez 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the categories. However, assuming you mean standard 5x5 leagues, I would focus on the offensive stats first. While it is truly a balancing act and you want good pitching too, pitchers are harder to rely on from season to season (more inconsistent, more injury prone). For example, Jake Peavy had a great year two years ago, last year he had a hard time getting a win (although he didn't pitch bad). Other examples from the last two years would be Brad Lidge (I saw several people draft him in the 2nd or 3rd rounds last year and the got burned) and Mariano Rivera.
That said, I'll usually try to take an "elite" starting pitcher in about the fourth or fifth round (someone like a Chris Carpenter- he was still around in many leagues last year) and a solid reliever right after that.
You may not need great pitching, but you do need decent pitching. However, while you can usually piece something together with pitchers throughout the season, it is very hard to do with batters. OK, Hanley Ramirez was an exception last year......
2007-02-13 16:36:45 · answer #2 · answered by Lee W. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont agree with that statement at all. Last year i had two teams where i did not draft a pitcher until round 5. I loaded my lineup with great hitters and then starting to take some average young pitchers. I ended up winning both leagues. You can definitely win a league without great pitching. i think you need to draft atleast 3 position played before you take a pitcher. It helped me in the past so I will do it again this year. If anything do not take one in the first round. They are too unpredictable. They are always getting injured, the good ones always have bad years after great ones, and struggling pitchers end up doing good the next year. I dont worry about them too much until after i have some players that play everyday.
2007-02-13 10:01:28 · answer #3 · answered by Shone 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I definitely DO NOT agree with that statement. Pitching is so unpredictable from year to year, you are much better off concentrating on hitters in the first few rounds. The only possible exception is Johan Santana-he is that damn good. I usually pick up my first pitcher (usually a top shelf closer like K-Rod) in the 4th or 5th round. Then I look for pitchers with historically high strikeouts and low ratios. Wins are the most unpredictable category in baseball.
2007-02-13 06:28:49 · answer #4 · answered by Jason D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would agree with the guy who said to pick up Chris Young. He's been improving for the past 2 years, pitches in the most pitcher friendly park in the league and can bring the heat. He'll put up K's while bringing a solid ERA and WHIP. I would drop Gordon, he's getting old and not quite as valuable. Beckett would be a good option, he'll get wins, but he pitches at Fenway, a serious hitters park, so his ERA will climb. It looks like in your league there's plenty of pitching to go around, so no need to stockpile Relievers. There's always going to be a servicable guy on the waiver wire, just keep an eye out if Rivera or Wagner go on the DL.
2016-05-24 05:50:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No way, I steam rolled my league last season with a couple of good RP and a power house offense.
2007-02-13 07:09:59 · answer #6 · answered by Will H. 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋