Gripes about fantasy baseball come in many different packages –“it’s too labor intensive”; “I don’t have time to set daily line-ups”; “the closers change too much”; “the season’s too long,” “etc.” Do you see a common thread here?
In general, people love fantasy sports – just look at fantasy football. The only differences that I see between the two is that the football season is limited to 16 games (if you are lucky), each team has significantly fewer roster spots, there is a waiver period every week and there are far fewer games to follow (usually 15 per week).
So, we have a decision to make here. Either we call those people who love fantasy football – even though it is more random/lucky – lazy and ignore them, or, we try to bring them into the fold and slowly brainwash them into loving the pure intellectual pursuit that is fantasy baseball.
So, here is an idea for a relaxing fantasy baseball league.
Step one: make friends.
Step two: get together with said friends and draft homerun hitters.
Step three: draft 8 players and win your league when the mashers on your team out-mash the players on your friends’ teams.
That’s right, I’m talking about a HR-only league. As with any fantasy league, this format can be adaptable as the league’s participants see fit. Last year, my league awarded points ($) for winning each month as well as for winning the year ($$$). To protect against a team getting massacred by injuries (attention those of you drafting anyone on the Mets), only the top six homerun hitters per month/year qualify. There are no roster moves.
So, all you have to do is hold a draft with your buddies and have someone tabulate the HR totals each month. Or, you could load into an online system (give one point per home run) and just take note of it that way. Pretty awesome, right? As Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux taught us oh so many years ago, everyone digs the long ball.
For those of you interested in playing in this format, my list of the top homerun threats for 2012 is below. Until then, if you have any fantasy leagues that are similarly low maintenance, please post a comment detailing them. The community would love to hear.
- Albert Pujols
- Jose Bautista
A healthy Ryan Howard- Prince Fielder
- Mark Teixeira
- Miguel Cabrera
- Mark Reynolds
- Adrian Gonzalez
- Paul Konerko
- Evan Longoria
- Joey Votto
- Dan Uggla
- Curtis Granderson
- Matt Kemp
- Justin Upton
- Jay Bruce
- Mike Stanton
- Troy Tulowitzki
- Robinson Cano
- David Ortiz
- Nelson Cruz
- Lance Berkman
- Alex Rodriguez
- Adrian Beltre
- Mike Napoli
- Carlos Pena
- Carlos Gonzalez
- Ian Kinsler
- Josh Hamilton
- Matt Holliday
- Adam Lind
- Nick Swisher
- Hunter Pence
- Jayson Werth
- Vernon Wells
- Carlos Quentin
- Ryan Zimmerman
- Adam Dunn
- Josh Willingham
- Rickie Weeks
- Alfonso Soriano
- Michael Cuddyer
- Corey Hart
- David Wright
- Chris Young
- Michael Morse
- Aramis Ramirez
- Adam Jones
- Jason Kubel
- B.J. Upton
- Carlos Lee
- Brian McCann
- Billy Butler
- Torii Hunter
- Andrew McCutchen
- Kevin Youkilis
- Hanley Ramirez
- Pablo Sandoval
- Edwin Encarnacion
- Colby Rasmus
- Ben Zobrist
- Andre Ethier
- Carlos Santana
- Ryan Braun (assuming 50 game suspension)
- JJ Hardy
- Luke Scott
- Garrett Jones
A hurt Ryan Howard that starts the season- Alex Gordon
- Jacoby Ellsbury
- Aaron Hill
- Miguel Olivo
- Brandon Phillips
- Kelly Johnson
- Victor Martinez
- Drew Stubbs
- Gaby Sanchez
- Jason Heyward
- Alex Rios
- Carlos Beltran
- Freddie Freeman
- Matt Joyce
- Eric Hosmer
- Jason Bay
- Cody Ross
- Justin Morneau
- Jeff Francoeur
- Dustin Pedroia
- Logan Morrison
- Shin-soo Choo
- Brennan Boesch
- Adam LaRoche
- Danny Espinosa
- Eric Thames
- Hideki Matsui
- John Mayberry
- Raul Ibanez
- Aubrey Huff
- Derrek Lee
- Casey McGehee
- Juan Rivera
- Ryan Ludwick
- Alexei Ramirez
- Ty Wigginton
- Seth Smith
- Jhonny Peralta
- Chipper Jones
- Kendrys Morales
- Ryan Raburn
- Delmon Young
- Jimmy Rollins
- Nick Markakis
- Geovany Soto
- Miguel Montero
- Ian Stewart
- Matt Wieters
- Justin Smoak
- Howie Kendrick
- Asdrubal Cabrera
- Stephen Drew
- Alex Avila
- Buster Posey
- Matt LaPorta
- Chris Heisey
- Mitch Moreland
- Mark Trumbo
- Vladimir Guerrero
- Ryan Roberts
- Travis Snider
- Jim Thome
- Tyler Colvin
- Ike Davis
- Mike Carp
- Ryan Howard – he could win you a month and that’s nothing to scoff at.
- JP Arencibia
- Jarrod Saltalamacchia
- Pedro Alvarez
- Pat Burrell
- Jorge Posada, hey, he could still play
- Russell Branyan
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