|
1. Book 8 – Gearing Up For The Dog Days
1) “The Dog Days of
Fantasy Baseball” start in August and with the heat of
the summer will bring the heat of competition. In my
experience in fantasy baseball more people screw up and
let their team down in August then in any other month.
2) August is the
month where people go on vacation, some teams feel they
are out of the competition, and some teams just get bored
with the game. This is the time to take advantage of
teams not paying the best attention to baseball. The dog
days can actually begin or at least the preparation can
begin in late July and go through to early September.
3) There are several
key strategies that must be observed during different
time periods in “The Dog Days”. The first is preparing
and dealing with the MLB trade deadline. After that you
have to go through August, which is a magical month of
change. So many things can happen in this slow, but
aggressive month. Finally there is early September and a
rush of new blood that can help your team.
4) Unless you are
dominating your league or in dead last place, “The Dog
Days” are critical to how you will finish the season,
Dead or Alive.
2. The July 31st Trade Deadline
5) The first thing
you have to watch for is the MLB trade deadline. This
comes every July 31st and the players that move can not
only impact your team, but can create players in free
agency that all of a sudden have fantasy value.
6) For example,
closers. They almost always move teams at the deadline.
This year (2008) it looks like Brian Fuentes will be
traded by the deadline. If that happens Manny Corpas or
Taylor Bucholtz will get the closing job in Colorado. So
if you are paying attention to the news and rumors you’d
be wise to get these players before the trade occurs so
you don’t have to scramble for them late.
7) Also watch for
offensive players that will change teams. In many cases
there will be no help here, but some gems can pop up
because of trades. Say the Colorado Rockies trade Matt
Holiday. If that happens, someone has to fill his
position in Colorado at left filed, so watch what the
Rockies do. If you own a player like Holiday who could be
traded, PAY ATTENTION. If you think the trade will be
positive for you, than hold on. If you think the trade
will hurt is value say going to a poor team or a team in
a pitchers park, then trade the player ASAP. Never mess
around with players trading hands when the trade can
possibly hurt the player’s overall fantasy value.
8) Hopefully you’ve
been keeping an eye on minor league players at sites like
www.fantasybaseballscout.com or
www.fantasybaseballscout.com. In the aftermath
of a big trade prospects leave hands and with September
coming up they could be possible fantasy candidates. You
don’t have to go out and start grabbing each prospect
involved in a trade or rumored to come up in September.
Just keep a close eye on them through August.
9) Start making your
moves on these prospects around the middle of the month.
Try to only use roster spots that you can give up. Its
August now and if you are holding onto guys who just
aren’t cutting it and do not have a proven record to make
a late comeback, toss them for the rookies. Try to keep
the number you get to a minimum unless you need a miracle
to win, then go for it.
|
