Since this blog is about the St. Louis Cardinals and their minor league system, I rarely discuss fantasy baseball here. If there is any good time to take a brief diversion, however, now is it, as everyone is gearing up for the 2011 baseball season in their own way.
I have greatly enjoyed the annual competition fantasy sports offer for a couple of decades now and actually wrote about that even before investing my (almost) full-time focus on the Cardinals.
Over the winter, I worked on several fantasy-related projects that are starting to hit newsstands and today, I will highlight a few.
A publication to which I have contributed for at least a decade, “The Fantasy Baseball Guide 2011”, can be had for $7.99. In addition to having penned player “Picks and Pans” scattered throughout the magazine, I participated in a “Strategies of Champions” interview. ESPN’s Nate Ravitz and I discuss what went into our pair of top two finishes in the National League Tout Wars competition over the last two seasons and what we have taken away from them.
The 2011 FOX Sports Fantasy Guide/Scout Prospect Guide will be out soon. As always, our Cardinals top 20 is featured along with my essay which includes top pitchers and position player prospects to watch this coming season and why. Annual subscribers to The Cardinal Nation that signed up by January 21 will receive a free copy in the mail. Others can purchase it when it hits newsstands.
USA Today has two spring baseball magazines out, one specifically devoted to fantasy. My contribution is actually in their regular baseball mag, called “Baseball 2011”, on sale in stores for $8.99 and available to purchase on-line too. In it, I co-authored a pro-con piece on what to expect from New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in 2011. I took the con, explaining why I see him in decline.
The USA Today marketing department is a smart group. Depending on the area of the country in which “Baseball 2011” is being sold, they substitute the mug of a local player on the cover. So, the St. Louis version plugs Albert Pujols and an article written by my friend and Mastersball associate Lawr Michaels. (Not sure why I didn’t get that assignment, but Lawr did a great job.)
In the Big Apple, Jeter’s photo appears with the screaming headline, “Legend in the Fall” (see side-by-side photos of the “same” mag). Since I began the Jeter piece with a Dorian Gray reference before heading into an assessment of the November of “Mr. November’s” career, readers will quickly tell which direction I took. As a result, I will probably need to be put in a protection program to be shielded from unhappy Yankees fans. If instead I disappear abruptly like Jimmy Hoffa once did, you will know why.
I continue to pen (can one “pen” via a keyboard?) a weekly fantasy-oriented column each Saturday at Mastersball.com, where I am among a group of long-time friends and industry collaborators. I often focus on topics like league rules which would be dry to non-fantasy players, but now and then, I jump out of the box.
My most recent article was also picked up by our partners at KFFL.com. The site is one of the most comprehensive sources of player news around, making it most useful for any baseball (or football) fan. My new column looks at three National League third basemen, including a bad-ankled one already very familiar to this group.
While I am mentioning Mastersball, I will close with a commercial.
For serious players looking for a fantasy baseball information provider this season, Mastersball continues to offer what I truly believe are the best projections around. I say this because I understand the processes that go into them and participate personally. We explain our methodologies in detail for prospective customers and provide last year’s projections free so people can see ahead of time what they will receive. I use these in all of my league drafts.
Further, this year, we’ve developed our own draft software that integrates our projections into a computer-based tool. You can track rosters, remaining players and projected standings during a draft, whether snake, straight or auction. We’ve been putting this code through the paces all winter and will be releasing it to subscribers tomorrow.
Mastersball isn’t as well-known as many of the bigger sites offering projections but we’re very proud of our results in well-known leagues against many of the industry’s heavyweights. Our online projections are updated bi-weekly and kept current all season long. They aren’t free, but sometimes you get what you pay for.
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Already been in 10 mock drafts today alone. Getting ready to put the beat down on some folks in my league…Baseball at a field in Seale. Need a few additional players if anyone is looking to get their azz kicked in some fantasy baseball.
Brian, don’t be afraid to jump in. Always fun to spank an expert. 
10 mocks in one morning? How is that even physically possible?
Thanks for the invite, but I am always trying to reduce my number of leagues. Regularly beating my brother-in-law has been my most consistent source of fantasy sports enjoyment over the years.
I’ve got 3 computers running full blast with them there mocks. Got to get the edge in this draft.
Three????????? is Colby on any of teams?????
I see where BD is going to be at ST most of the 6 weeks I guess. He has set up a little scout tent over by the dugout……….fire pit and all. Seems to be intent on keeping Mo and Billy 3 off the hot seat as the deadline passes…..he will front and then offset the Pujols statement……he is smart. He will be hanging his laundry on the fence no doubt………….number 5 printed on his change of underwear…………….. in brown skid marks….
I did pick Colby in each draft I was in today but in our league Colby is a fav and won’t last long. And I play to win, I won’t take him before I think he should be taken.
It sounds like fun but I do not know how to play.
If you want to read a bit about fantasy baseball in beginner’s terms, there are some very good articles here at KFFL.
As in any game, the key to enjoyment is playing with friends or at least those of similar thinking, so finding the right league to join is crucial.
Brian, I tried to post something on the message board and all it would post was “NT”. What gives?
Sorry, but I do not see a problem. I just posted with no issue and see others are doing so, too.
It’s working now. Must have been a temporary thing.
Timely article Brian, just got the invite back to a keeper league. Thanks for the tip on Mastersball,
I checked out the site last year but didn’t know about the forecasts and projections.
For the first time I had one of the worst teams in a 16 team league (4 divisions) so I need to change my strategy !!
Have had Colby Rasmus on my teams since he debuted but he isn’t one of my keepers. We can keep three so I’m probably going with Halladay, Kinsler and Carlos Santana.
Good choices. I am a big Carlos Santana backer. I’ve owned him for three years in the XFL, waiting for his breakout. Best of luck to you this season.
Brian, thanks again for reminding me of the Mastersball site, it’s going to be a lot of help in my drafts! altho there are some things I just don’t understand at all!
Curious about the 109 top long term prospects lists for NL and AL . The NL list has Zack Cox ranked 29th which I think is higher than I’ve seen him. Is this because it is a long term list, so the Mastersball experts see Mr. Cox with more long term potential than short term impact?
Chief, as a favor, I emailed Perry Van Hook, the author of the referenced article. Here is his reply:
“As noted in the intro, the Mastersball NL Prospect list is based on long term potential
and value. In the case of Cox who struggled somewhat in his transition to wood bats, the
power potential is certainly there and there is currently not a player in the organization who
would block his path if he shows continued growth, power and the ability to handle third base.”
For anyone with specific fantasy questions, here is the link to the Mastersball forum. Perry and the other MB writers check there often.
thanks Brian, appreciate the favor. I’m curious to see how Cox progresses this season. I think he will make the adjustment to whatever league he is in, altho it may take him awhile as it did this fall in Arizona.
I keep hearing from “sources” that the Cardinals haven’t made Pujols an offer because they are afraid he will use it as a baseline when he hits FA. What the heck? So, they wait and then enter into a bidding war with the rest of MLB? This is Dumb and Dumber on steroids. Methinks the “sources” are full of it on a lot of things, or the Cardinals never intended to sign Pujols. This can’t be their strategy if they want to keep him.
Wouldn’t it be dumb to tender an offer that has been pre-rejected?
If Lozano has said we will not consider anything that does not include 10 guaranteed years, then there are two choices.
#1Mo can tender an offer that does not meet that requirement, pre-rejected.
#2Mo could let it be know that an offer will come if Albert comes off that position, then wait.
I don’t see choice #2 as being dumb as compared to #1.
No one has said Lozano pre-rejected any offer under 10 years. The only thing that has been said is 10 years was given as a starting point last year. All I have heard is that the Cardinals have made NO offer of any kind. Since no offer has been pre rejected, and if the Cardinals have made no offer at all, then what the hell are they doing?
The Cardinals should make their offer now and see if Pujols will take it rather than standing or sitting or whatever around and doing nothing. Yes it is Dumb and Dumber on steroids. That is my story and I am sticking to it until I hear what is REALLY going on instead of what is being reported by “sources”.
Hoping to take some of that nasty edge off crdswmn with a video of her very favorite Cardinals individual in his off the field endeavors. Who doesn’t like cute puppies and kitties, too? 21,000 animals rescued is a pretty impressive number.
I don’t have a nasty edge and even if I did, showing me a video of TLR, even holding a dog, would not help.
My problem is I smell incompetence and I hate incompetence.
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‘Hoping to take some of that nasty edge off crdswmn…’
Have you considered a high-speed belt sander… or nuclear weapons?
I have a solid ‘source’ who told me that this whole Animal Rescue thing is just a front. In fact, each of those little lost cats and dogs are being implanted with a microchip… one that can be activated from TLR World HQ (located in a deep underground bunker in the Rockies). Upon activation, the animals (using GPS) will seek out and destroy Colby, Brendan and all the other ‘young’ players that TLR ‘hates’.
You heard it here first!!!
You forgot the “laser” equipped sharks Dr. Evil………
To be such a son of a bitch, TLR sure has let some of that San Francisco rub off on him with this animal mess.
That sounds like a lot of dog and cat poop polluting our world that we wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Some very touching comments by all. Tony’s emotional disposition isn’t surprising really. He is a softy………. a romantic if you will.
I really feel like I’ve got to know BD a bit more via my investigative ramblings. Thats a good thing I feel. I’m reminded of the illusory nature of “knowledge” as a substitute for a simple awareness of events in their larger context/framework. Being emotionally detached from the “charismatic” or historic AP, I must admit has been a big advantage.
I think its about time we started enjoying the season………..and a season to remember this will be.
A Question for everyone………….. AP has often acted out the role of ” My team” “My privilege”
“just get me to the plate, for I am thy savior” “Charlton Heston Esq” posturing religious figure turned baseball player…………… for his adoring fans. Sometimes with success…………lately not so much. Yes, it appears to me that he is fixated at this point with what appears to be a wonderful “Me against the league, world, universe” Messianic self exploration………….
It may appear differently to you………..but BD is betting that he knows the outcome.
Does this team “rally” around his banner………or does he end up on a cross somewhere else in America, another bad decision by a foolish organization looking for a “hero”????????
I’m going to be exploring some of the likely scenarios that spring from this wonderful “field of possibilities” in coming weeks…………….. the preacher bird has landed ……..
Ask yourselves something for me………….. do you ever fulfill your own expectation for “perceptual acuity” ???????? or do you anxiously recalibrate their relevance as focus is achieved???
wanting to see farther…….more……….
Albert will be forced to make a statement in the next 10 days. Will BD be on the platform with him? or answer at a later press conference? Whats you guess?
If there is no contract, no direct statement from Pujols. Bank on it.
CC, that may be scenario 2a in my just-published post for today. Let’s carry on the discussion there.