Fantasy Baseball Hold 'em or Fold 'em - Part 1 - jmik58's Blog

jmik58's Blog

Fantasy Baseball Hold 'em or Fold 'em - Part 1

Posted on May 19, 2009 at 03:37 PM.

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Adding a player to your fantasy team when there is an empty spot is one of the easiest choices you will make as the owner of a team. Conversely, dropping a player isn�t quite as easy or as much fun. An acquisition brings hope. Unloading a guy means you�ve had enough and you�re eager to let go of the excess baggage.

But sometimes it�s not that easy. At least it shouldn�t be.

Consider the time and thought that goes into a decision to add a player. Now take that span, add five days, divide by pi, multiply by the multiplicative inverse, and then subtract 22.485.

Ok, maybe that�s a little overboard, but remember this: Dropping a player has a two-fold impact. You lose the production and another dude in your league gains the production (usually to jump you in the standings).

The point is to take extra time before deciding to drop a player.

Here is Part 1 of a feature showcasing ten position players on the fantasy fence and whether you should hold �em or fold �em.

1.Nick Swisher, NYY, OF
.236 AVG, 22 R, 8 HR, 22 RBI

- His lifetime average hovers around .240 so his cool-down shouldn�t be much of a shock. Basically, the point is �what did you expect?� His production numbers are sufficient if you�re a deep league.

The Read: Hold �em!

2.Garrett Atkins, Col, 1B/3B
.194 AVG, 14 R, 3 HR, 14 RBI

- Atkins has been riding the pine while he �works out a few kinks in his swing.� You call �em kinks; I call �em rusty hinges. Half the league can bunt for a better average than Atkins at this point. How he is still owned by over 80% of fantasy leagues out there is beyond me.

The Read: Fold �em!

3.David Ortiz, Bos, DH
.208 AVG, 14 R, 0 HR, 15 RBI

- Call it a double standard, but Ortiz is a guy who has also been struggling with his swing lately and has reportedly ironed out his mechanics. Big Papi is the type of guy that will explode after he gains a little confidence. Once the first couple of long balls come, watch out.

The Read: Hold �em!

4.Howie Kendrick, LAA, 2B
.236 AVG, 19 R, 3 HR, 18 RBI, 5 SB

- Kendrick�s handling by fantasy owners is a classic example of how a baseball season can sneak up on us . He�s only owned in around 89% of leagues is dropping steadily. The thing that we forget that can tank a fantasy team is the idea that the baseball season is long. Patience is a virtue and for those that wait, Kendrick will produce.

The Read: Hold �em!

5.Rafael Furcal, LAD, SS
.237 AVG, 24 R, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 3 SB

- Furcal has been a strikeout machine in 2009. He has all the reasons to be patient with a potent lineup behind him, but he still can�t figure it out. Be less forgiving of players who seem to be mentally out of it. Mechanics can always come back, but patience and discipline at the plate are hard to develop and even harder to get back.

The Read: Fold �em!