Official *MLB Season Delayed* Thread

[Sour Masher]

You had me at “Most points leagues suck”. We have agreement!

Like Ken, I’ve really come to enjoy roto a lot.

My bias comes from points being first for me. 10th grade, coming up with a set up with my pal. I love the points part. Not so much the h2h. Of the two, the h2h part I think rightly gets more hate. It can be infuriating and way less fair.

[Ken]

I like the relative verisimilitude of points compared to roto in terms of player values. I could never get past the scaricty of steals driving up the value of specialists like Pierre to be comparable to a once in a lifetime hitter like Bonds. Does that have any impact for you? Are you drawn to the newer metrics some leagues use instead of the traditional ones, or do you like the old school ones? I'd prefer the leagues that use more categories and choose ones that try to more closely approximate real offensive value with the fantasy values, but even after all the advances in our understanding of the numbers, it surprises me that the vast majority of league seem to stick with the old school 5x5 categories.

I guess the difference for me is that I was never trying to equate the two - so if Pierre is worth similar to Bonds then that's fine (although I played during that time period and never remember that actually being the case, maybe I'm misremembering). Fantasy has no defense aspect, so true player values will never equate to fantasy value, so I never had an interest in that. For me it's just a game that allows me to spend more time watching baseball.

Roto for me is more challenging because of the strategy component. With points you are simply adding up your points for an overall total, whereas with roto you are making decisions on sacrificing certain categories in order to build up strength in others. I like that strategy component, even if it means I may pay more attention to steals or saves than a pure baseball fan with no fantasy interest would.

[Ken]

My bias comes from points being first for me. 10th grade, coming up with a set up with my pal. I love the points part. Not so much the h2h. Of the two, the h2h part I think rightly gets more hate. It can be infuriating and way less fair.

I agree with you there.

For me, Roto > Points >>>>> H2H

[revo]

MLB with a radical idea:

"How about the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies being divisional rivals for the season?

Or the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves?

And the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians?

Major League Baseball, assessing myriad proposals, has discussed a radical plan that would eliminate the traditional American and National Leagues for 2020, a high-ranking official told USA TODAY Sports, and realign all six divisions for an abbreviated season.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because the proposal is one of several being discussed.

The plan would have all 30 teams returning to their spring training sites in Florida and Arizona, playing regular-season games only in those two states and without fans in an effort to reduce travel and minimize risks in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The divisions would be realigned based on the geography of their spring training homes."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2020/04/10/mlb-realignment-league-considers-radical-move-for-2020-season/5128935002/

At this point, MLB seems to have come to the realization that many teams simply won't be able (or allowed) to play in their home parks, and there will not be any fans at all at anytime throughout the season, and yet they are still trying to get this season off the ground. That's good news!

[TranaGreg]

Interesting idea. aren't there more teams in Florida than Arizona tho?

[Kevin Seitzer]

Interesting idea. aren't there more teams in Florida than Arizona tho?

No, there are 15 teams that train in each state now.

[rhd]

No, there are 15 teams that train in each state now.

Right. So, an odd number of teams in each location. So, they'd have to have at least one "interstate" series each weekday series and each weekend series to avoid one team in each state having to sit out a series while the other 14 teams play each other.

[Kevin Seitzer]

Right. So, an odd number of teams in each location. So, they'd have to have at least one "interstate" series each weekday series and each weekend series to avoid one team in each state having to sit out a series while the other 14 teams play each other.

Given that they've grouped the teams into geographic pods, where even in Florida the travel within the pods is maybe 1.5 hours by bus maximum and mostly shorter, I'm guessing they would play shorter series, either one-night or two-night engagements or maybe doubleheaders, so that no team would have to sit out more than one night.

[Sour Masher]

How would this affect the DH? Would either of these new conferences use it? What would that mean for the teams with no DH now, or the teams that have one that can't use one?

ETA: I found it--DH for all. Interesting. But the all teams go to the playoffs idea is dumb.

[Sour Masher]

If this goes down, it will massively affect player values. Old park effects are out the window, for one. New ones will be in play. All the old NL pitchers probably get a bump down, as they all will now face a DH. Coors pitchers suddenly become really intriguing. More hitters in play with more DHs. It will be a hell of a season to try to project.

[rhd]

Given that they've grouped the teams into geographic pods, where even in Florida the travel within the pods is maybe 1.5 hours by bus maximum and mostly shorter, I'm guessing they would play shorter series, either one-night or two-night engagements or maybe doubleheaders, so that no team would have to sit out more than one night.

Or they could have 1 Arizona team play in Florida which would avoid this problem. E.g., the Dodgers could play at "Dodgertown" in Vero Beach where they used to train for many years not long ago. I don't know for sure but it's probably still there.

[GwynnInTheHall]

I kind of like this, infrastructure is already in place, just a tweak here and logistically, it's the easiest way to resume the season.



Plus I LOVE the fact the Padres will be in a division with the Royals, Mariners, Rangers and Brewers.

[chancellor]

Plus I LOVE the fact the Padres will be in a division with the Royals, Mariners, Rangers and Brewers.

Something non-political we can bet on!!

[ThatRogue]

Really MLB??? I get that this is a complicated process...but are they trying to stack the deck for a Yankees Dodgers WS???

Grapefruit
East Division: Astros, Cardinals, Marlins, Mets, Nationals.
North Division: Blue Jays, Phillies, Pirates, Tigers, Yankees

Cactus
West Division: Angels, Dodgers, Indians, Reds, White Sox

[revo]

Really MLB??? I get that this is a complicated process...but are they trying to stack the deck for a Yankees Dodgers WS???

Grapefruit
East Division: Astros, Cardinals, Marlins, Mets, Nationals.
North Division: Blue Jays, Phillies, Pirates, Tigers, Yankees

Cactus
West Division: Angels, Dodgers, Indians, Reds, White Sox

I believe these groupings are the teams that have their spring training sites closest to each other.