Archive for Fantasy Baseball
The last RAB fantasy Baseball League (I mean it this time)
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (11:08am): 6:30pm on Friday is a stupid time, my bad. I’ll run the sign up post Monday night, with details to come that morning.
11:00am: Okay, we put together a seventh league. I’ll post the sign up info at 6:30pm ET today, so check back then if you haven’t gotten into one of our other leagues.
RAB Fantasy Baseball League (Part Six)
Posted by: | CommentsAlrighty, here’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. The settings are exactly the same as before, so go to Yahoo and sign up using the League ID and password found here. The settings are exactly the same as the other leagues, and the maximum moves per week is set at eight, even though the screen cap of the settings say otherwise. Hopefully this takes care of everyone, six leagues is pretty insane.
The sixth – and hopefully final – RAB Fantasy Baseball League
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve got one more league going, so in case you missed out on the first five, here’s (yet another) chance to get in on the action. This is just an early warning post, the sign up info will posted at 3pm ET today. Don’t miss it, so set your alarm or mark your calendar or do whatever else you need to do.
RAB Fantasy Baseball League Part Five
Posted by: | CommentsAlright folks, the league settings are the same as the other four leagues (see them here), though remember that the maximum number of moves per week has been capped at eight. We don’t want people swapping out starters every day to build up those win and strikeout totals. If you missed out on the other leagues and want in, go to Yahoo and sign up using this info…
League ID: 442039
Password: riveraveblues
If you’ve already signed up for one of the other leagues, please don’t double up. Give everyone a chance.
A fifth RAB Fantasy Baseball League
Posted by: | CommentsSomeone stepped up and volunteered to the commissioner of a fifth RAB Fantasy Baseball League, but instead of telling you to sign up now, I’m just letting you know that I plan on posting the league info at 10pm ET tonight. Lots of people said they didn’t have a chance to sign up for the earlier leagues because they were in school or at work or on west coast time or whatever, so now everyone knows exactly when the info will go up. Make sure you check back in then.
Yet another RAB Fantasy Baseball League Post
Posted by: | CommentsWell, apparently three leagues aren’t enough, so we had to create a fourth. You people are a needy bunch, you know that? Anyway, the league settings are the same as the original, which you can see here. The only difference is that the max number of moves per week is capped at eight. If you’re interested in playing and wasn’t able to get into one of the other leagues, then go to Yahoo and sign up here:
League ID: 423467
Password: loubrown
Remember, it’s a deep league not for the faint of heart, so only join if you’re serious.
2010 RAB Fantasy Baseball League (Part III)
Posted by: | CommentsThere was such overwhelming interest in our fantasy baseball league when we posted it last week that we ended up creating a second league just to get everyone in. As it turns out, two leagues aren’t enough, so we went ahead and created a third. The setting are exactly the same as the original league (click here to see them), except that the maximum number of moves per week has been set at eight. If you want to join the third league, go to Yahoo! and sign up using this info:
League ID#: 396057
Password: MoRo
Remember, please join only if you’re serious. It’s a deep league (20 teams), so it’ll require more than a little effort if you want to contend.
2010 RAB Fantasy Baseball League
Posted by: | CommentsUpdate (4:07pm): And now the second league is full.
Update (3:58pm): Here’s the info for the second league, it’s identical to the first. The ID and password to sign up is included when you click the link.
Update (3:25pm): We have a commish for a second league, so it’s being created now. I’ll add the League ID and password here once it’s ready.
Update (3:10pm): The league is full, but I still haven’t had anyone email about being the commish of a second, alternate league.
3:00pm: It’s time, once again to form the RAB Fantasy Baseball League. You can see the league setting here, but note that I did change the maximum number of moves per week to eight (rather than no max) to keep people for swapping pitchers in and out to pile up W and K. Make sure you read the settings before signing up, because everything you need to know is in there, including the draft date and time. If you want in, then find the league on Yahoo! using the ID# and stuff, and join in. But people, only join if you’re serious, I plan on making this a keeper league.
Because I gave those in the league last year first dibs on spots, there’s only four left (out of 20. Yes, 20). If someone is willing to be the commissioner of a second league with the same settings, email me.
Previewing MLB 10: The Show
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It seems like every year, baseball games get better and better. Back in the day we had a tremendous selection. Nintendo featured RBI Baseball and Baseball Simulator 1.000, two excellent titles, plus the playable Bases Loaded. (Though I was always partial to Base Wars.) Super Nintendo brought Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball, one of my favorite all-time baseball games. But with the introduction of the Sony Playstation, it seemed like baseball games slid in quality. Developer 989 Studios, a division of Sony, produced their MLB series, which I found unplayable. In order to finish a game in a reasonable amount of time I had to reduce to six innings, and that screwed over my players as they raced for stat tiles. Triple Play Baseball was kind of fun, but it still didn’t catch my attention.
Then came Playstation 2 and MVP Baseball — though it was nothing more than a rebranding of EA’s Triple Play series. Everything changed. The gameplay went faster, so you could play a full nine innings in a reasonable amount of time. The pitching system was better, too, making for a more fun game all-around. Then came the 2K series. For the 2006 season MLB/MLBPA granted 2K an exclusive (non-Sony) license to develop games. I loved the 2K6 game, though it seems like the game degenerated every year from there on. I got 2K8, but didn’t enjoy it at all. Thankfully, the Sony replacement for their MLB series, The Show, progressively got better and better. In 2009 it blew the 2K game out of the water.
As the season approaches, so does the release date for MLB 10: The Show. GameDaily has an early preview, and it looks pretty damn cool. The article starts off talking about the extras, like the Road to The Show feature and Home Run Derby mode, but I’m more interested in the actual game play. After all, that’s what the game’s all about, right?
According to GD, we should see some significant improvements in this year’s version.
The developers added 1,250 new gameplay animations, 1,000 presentation animations and 400 personalized pitcher and batter animations.
To me, animations can make or break a game. My biggest complaint with older Madden versions was that poor animations led to unrealistic gameplay. More animations means the computer can more accurately identify the most realistic option. It might not be as relevant in a baseball, where the main animation issues arise when there’s one defender chasing down a ball, as in football, where all 22 men are in constant motion, but it still matters in terms of playability.
Another excellent improvement: base running. Maybe it’s just me and my lack of skill with a controller, but I had a terrible time running the bases in MLB 09. Any improvement on that front would be greatly appreciated.
The game comes out on March 2, with a deserving player gracing the box.

Check out the article for more information on changes in MLB 10: The Show. This video also provides a quick, cursory rundown.
Open Thread: My RAB Fantasy Baseball League Roster
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The RAB Fantasy Baseball League drafted Saturday night, but not before we hit a bit of a snafu with the keeper settings, so unfortunately we had to push the draft back a week. A few people backed out, and we went from a 20 team league to a 14 team league. Next year we’re going to have to go back to Yahoo, because ESPN was a bit frustrating, especially the actual draft software.
My strategy last year was to load up on hitters early, and not take any pitchers until my last nine picks because they tend to get hurt and are just more unpredictable in general. It didn’t go so well, so I scrapped that strategy all together and went back to my traditional routine of mixing pitchers in as I go. I still grabbed hitters with my first four picks, but after that I targeted some young arms with upside potential.
We have twelve stat categories, six for hitters (R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OBP) and six for pitchers (W, HD+SV, K, ERA, WHIP, QS). Holds + Saves instead of straight saves adds a little more flexibility to league (plus it’s something different), and I took advantage of it by hording top set-up men with my last few picks. After all, what’s the point in wasting a fourth or fifth round pick on a guy like K-Rod or Joe Nathan when Scott Downs or Russ Springer could give you similar stats sixteen rounds later?
The first round went Hanley, Pujols, Wright, Reyes, Braun, Rollins, Sizemore, Miggy, Utley, Tex, Lincecum, Chipper, Johan, Howard. Here’s the squad I drafted (round/overall pick):
C: Russell Martin (4/51)
1B: Derrek Lee (6/79)
2B: Brian Roberts (3/34)
SS: Jimmy Rollins (1/6)
3B: Aubrey Huff (8/107)
OF: Brad Hawpe (9/118)
OF: Conor Jackson (10/135)
OF: JD Drew (13/174)
UTIL: Jack Cust (14/191)
SP: Felix Hernandez (5/62)
SP: Zack Greinke (7/90)
RP: Jason Motte (18/247)
RP: Ryan MadsonĀ (20/275)
P: Josh Johnson (11/146)
P: Gil Meche (15/202)
P: Jered Weaver (16/219)
BN: Alex Rodriguez (2/23)
BN: Mike Aviles (12/163)
BN: Ryan Spilborghs (21/286)
BN: Chris Volstad (17/230)
BN: Jose Arredondo (19/258)
BN: Scot Shields (22/303)
Obviously I took A-Rod with an eye more towards the second half. We have eight DL spots, so I’ll just slide him over and grab a player out of the free agent pool as needed once the season starts. Huff is my third baseman for the time being, and if he puts up numbers anywhere close to what he did last year, I’ll be golden. He, Jackson and Aviles are eligible at multiple positions, so I have some flexibility. Most days I’ll start all four relievers, unless of course I have more than three starters scheduled to pitch that day. I’d like to have someone better than Ryan Spilborghs as my JD Drew insurance, but hopefully Drew can stick it out until A-Rod comes back. I’m happy, I think I can do some damage with this team.
Anywho, here’s your open thread for the night. The Nets are home against the Bucks, the Knicks are in Utah, and the Devils and Rangers will face-off in the Garden. You’ve also got new episodes of House and 24 on FOX, which is probably where I’ll be. Talk about whatever you like here, just be nice to each other.
Oh, and don’t forget to vote in this week’s Fan Confidence Poll if you haven’t already. Thanks.
Photo Credit: Waiting for Next Year



