When should you start taking things seriously?
This is my ESPN Insider column for the week. For some of us, it’s been an agonizing season so far, hasn’t it? Last week, the following was posted on the message board here at RonShandler.com: “After one week, Eric Thames (pictured) was doing well but Brandon Belt was a free agent. Seeing a chance for…
Read MoreAlternatives to the FAAB process
This week’s ESPN Insider column, appearing every Friday. The wanton waste in the free agent market continues unabated. This past weekend, in Tout Wars: Avisail Garcia (pictured), $188. Highest losing bid, $127. (I bid $45.) Wasted: $61. Robbie Grossman, $87. Highest losing bid, $32. Wasted: $55. Lonnie Chisenhall, $37. Highest losing bid, none. Wasted: $36.…
Read MorePLAYER PREMONITION #170417
Every so often, something about a player will rise to my consciousness. A hidden indicator. A revelation that wakes me up at night. I’ll call these periodic posts Player Premonitions. I am always intrigued by players who go undrafted in 15-team mixed leagues with 6-man reserves, and then draw hefty FAAB interest in the middle…
Read MoreThe Flawed FAAB Process
This week’s ESPN Insider column, appearing every Friday. Last week, in the Tout Wars Mixed Auction league, the pearl of the free agent pool was the just-anointed closer for the Washington Nationals, Blake Treinen (pictured). This is a player who would have gone for $15-$20 at the draft had he been named a week sooner.…
Read MoreTales from the Ticket Window
A year ago February, I posted this note to my Facebook wall: “Susan Shandler just got a job with the Mets. She’s working the VIP Will Call ticket window during spring training and gets in to watch the last few innings of each game for free. For those of you who bet on the favorite for…
Read MoreThings we can count on after one week
This week’s ESPN Insider column, appearing every Friday. This is the week for eternal optimism. Clayton Kershaw and Bryce Harper look vintage. Greg Holland and Jeanmar Gomez really did get saves. Khris Davis’ owners are downright giddy over their eighth round bargain. Everyone is still in or near first place. With draft day still fresh…
Read MoreA BABS-eye View of the 2017 Pennant Races
I hate trying to predict which teams are going to win. Opening Day is just a starting point for a season full of activity, so to project what October will look like based on today’s rosters is pointless. But here’s the thing… BABS loves doing these predictions. Frankly, the balance sheet perspective does offer up…
Read MorePLAYER PREMONITION #170403
Every so often, something about a player will rise to my consciousness. A hidden indicator. A revelation that wakes me up at night. I’ll call these periodic posts Player Premonitions. We’ll open this new feature with a starting pitcher. Seven years ago, this pitcher won 18 games with a 2.97 ERA in nearly 200 innings,…
Read MorePremonitions, and other final brain flakes
At this time of year, everyone is out with their bold predictions. For some writers, it’s an exercise in tossing spaghetti against a wall to see what sticks. At Baseball HQ, I used to conduct what I called a Longshot Caucus, which was a bit more analytically sound, linking together some conditional possibilities. For me,…
Read MoreThe changing game and the 10-day DL
This year, members have access to all the columns I write for ESPN Insider. They appear here every Thursday or Friday. Many will include a BABS-relevant postscript. Enjoy. Over the past three decades, changes in the real game have had slow but subtle effects on the fantasy game. These changes have made fantasy more challenging…
Read More