Fantasy Strategy for leagues with non-standard categories

by The Congo Hammer on Feb 3, 2012 1:04 PM EST

Many fantasy leaguers use general fantasy guides and magazines to prepare for their draft, and those usually use the standard 4x4 or 5x5 categories. But not everyone is in leagues with those categories, so there can be some inefficiencies a savvy owner could take advantage of.

For example, in my league (auction roto - 14 hitters, 9 pitchers) the offensive categories are HR, AVG, Runs Produced (RBI + R - HR) and Net Bases (TB +BB) with Stolen Bases as a half-category... leading that category will net you 5 pts as opposed to 10 for the others.

For pitching, the categories are ERA, WHIP, Strikeouts, Net Wins (2xW - L) and Saves as a half category.

With these settings, and reduced emphasis for Saves and Steals, is it a wise strategy to throw one or both of those half-categories? Also, does it make an excellent starting pitcher more valuable, since they contribute to 4.5/5 categories instead of 4/5? I'm debating whether I should go for a bat like Teixeira/Fielder or an arm like Felix... not sure if Felix's stats will have a bigger impact since there are only 9 pitchers to 14 hitters.

Any advice? Also feel free to post your own league's unusual categories and how it changes your draft strategy.

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Also, under these rules

Should I agree to an offer in which I trade Colby Lewis and Wil Myers for Peter Bourjos and Martin Perez?

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by The Congo Hammer on Feb 3, 2012 1:49 PM EST reply actions

I believe

in every categories league that there is going to be some sacrifice made. it’s very difficult to find players who cover all categories and during the draft your focus should become more clear. With that being said, if it was me, I’d try to trade Lewis straight up for Bourjos (not knowing the rest of your pitching of course). Myers is a great trade chip, one that should be utilized for a true impact talent, also I am not as high on Perez as others, he’s like Casey Kelly in a sense, at some point the results need to match the ability.

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by Chris Buckley on Feb 4, 2012 8:17 PM EST up reply actions

I wouldn't do the trade.

You’re trading one MLB and one prospect. Wil Myers seems like more of a sure thing than Martin Perez. Texas has a pretty secure rotation right now, so it’d take something big to happen for Perez to get in anytime soon. Also, minor league hitters are more projectable than pitchers, it seems.

I do like Peter Bourjos, and he could maybe to 15 HR, 25 SB given the playing time, but the Angels have a rather crowded setup right now. Colby Lewis won’t lose starts unless he gets hurt.

As for the format, I’m against punting any category, ever. You can take a hit in it, but if two or three teams punt saves, it’s really easy to roster 1 or 2 closers/RP and get a few saves to give yourself easy points. That being said, it’s really hard to draft a perfectly balanced roster, and you can always pick up saves and SB in the FA pool as the season goes on; they’re the easiest categories to replace.

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by varrys on Feb 4, 2012 8:55 PM EST up reply actions

Category dumping

I’ve never been much of a fan of category dumping in a roto format. You are putting a lot of pressure on the guys on your team to out-produce everyone else in the league. Because you will be getting a zero in one or two categories, you force your team to finish first or second in every other category.

I think that thought still applies to your format. It will be difficult to win “Runs Created” if you are bypassing SBs. It will also be difficult to win the pitching ratios if you bypass Saves (closers tend to post a better ERA and WHIP than the starter he would be replacing in your lineup). I don’t mind waiting until the end of the draft to pick up SBs and Saves, but don’t dump the categories altogether.

by guru4u on Feb 6, 2012 3:01 PM EST reply actions

point taken, but

It is easier to throw a category when the category counts for only 1/2 of what the other categories count for, as opposed to most leagues where SB and Saves are given the same weight in the standings as other categories.

Our runs produced category (R+RBI-HR) makes it possible to get around having a burner, since a power hitter will get enough RBI to make up for the fewer runs. As for saves, I would be getting a reliever, and nobody takes guys like Koji Uehara and Vinny Pestano that produce as well as most other closers on the board outside of saves.

But I do already have Nathan on my team as well as Lawrie and Kipnis, so it’s not like I have zero for sbs and saves, just not a lot.

I also wonder, in a league that has 14 position players (2 catchers) and only 9 pitchers (3 starters, 3 relievers, 3 either), is it preferable to pay the big bucks for an ace like Felix instead of on a slugger like Miggy or Pujols? My thinking is that he will have a bigger impact on the cumulative stats by virtue of their being fewer SPs than hitters.

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by The Congo Hammer on Feb 6, 2012 3:48 PM EST up reply actions

Category Dumping cont.

I agree with guru that planning to dump a category is rarely a successful strategy. I think part of the decision to punt the category should be determined by how the rest of your league is attacking SB’s and SV’s. If managers are thinking along similar lines as you, can you get some speedsters or low-tier closers for better value? Be sure to you’re able to adjust to league-trends and exploit any value you can find.

To one of your earlier questions, I don’t think your league settings make an elite SP more valuable than usual. SP’s tend to be more volatile than hitters especially in counting stats outside of K’s. You’ve mentioned Felix a few times, and I think he’s a great example. He went 19-5 in 2009 and then 13-12 after arguably pitching better in 2010 (higher K/9, lower BB/9, and luckier in terms of BABIP). That’s 33 Net Wins in ‘09 vs. only 14 Net Wins in ’10. I’m not saying avoid SP’s, but I think over-spending with the intent of winning categories that are so difficult to project is not a winning strategy.

I’m not sure if you’ve already conducted your auction since you have a potential trade offer proposed above, but no matter what stage you’re at, the best strategy is to go for value and try to only pay above-market value on proven hitters. You can always deal from a position of strength in the trade market once the early standings better reflect your strengths and weaknesses.

by onedog119 on Feb 7, 2012 1:00 AM EST up reply actions

Everyone constructs a roster differently

Personally, I only play in formats with 23 man active rosters. And in those formats, I love having one ace pitcher that you can count on to anchor your rotation. The format lends itself to spreading your $ evenly throughout your roster, and quite honestly an ace SP will be much cheaper in the auction than a stud hitter (e.g. Pujols or Miggy). I love the idea of having 3-4 pitchers you know you can rely upon to post solid numbers, and basically fill the roster with 4-5 $1 pitchers that you can cycle through as the season progresses. This strategy has always worked well for me – as long as you are active on the FA market.

by guru4u on Feb 7, 2012 11:15 AM EST up reply actions

thanks

Thanks for the input. They actually just offered me Bourjos for Lewis straight up and might accept… but there’s some risk involved since if Bourjos gets traded to the NL (there have been some weird rumors about him getting traded for Lannan, if it wasn’t the Angels I’d completely write it off).

I also love having an ace pitcher, the years I had won the championship had Felix as my rotation anchor, one sleeper and a bunch of question marks. Then again, the last year I won, I also had Miguel Cabrera. I am always very active on the free agent, waiver and trade markets.

Last year at the draft, aces went pretty high… Adrian Gonzalez and Miggy both went for $10, but Felix went for $9, Sabathia and Verlander for $8. More than I’d like to spend on a pitcher, but I’m hoping I can get Felix for $7-8 after this year, which wouldn’t be so bad… Miggy and Pujols could go to 11 or higher with Miggy moving to 3rd and an AL only league finally being able to touch Pujols.

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by The Congo Hammer on Feb 8, 2012 12:36 AM EST up reply actions