The Game
Negotiating Change, part 2
In Part 1, I attempted to orchestrate some change in the free agent bidding process by working up negative backlash towards live bidding events in order to sell the idea of the Vickrey Method. The email exchange continues… JOSH PALEY, 2000 CDM Diamond Challenge Winner: As for which auction method is preferable, I suspect that if…
Read MoreNegotiating Change, part 1
The Tout Wars experts leagues made a constitutional change this season that eliminated a rule that had been in place for about a decade. After a bunch of wrangling, Tout tossed the Vickrey method for free agent bidding. There were two reasons for this change, only one of which was really valid in my mind.…
Read MoreMy Grievances Against Fan-Kings
I recently received an email from a respected colleague and industry leader. He asked me, “What are your grievances against Fanduel and DraftKings?” Several long-time industry friends have asked me similar questions over the past year. I am one of the few fantasy industry veterans who has not fallen into lockstep with a blindly pro-DFS…
Read MoreImportant Articles – Please Read
The following three articles are important updates on current DFS legislation. If you are about to click away because you don’t play DFS, stop. This directly affects season-long games. Fanduel and DraftKings have been pushing forward their own goals at the expense of the industry as a whole. That is why I have been advocating for…
Read MoreThe BABS Guide to DFS
If you missed my previous DFS articles, they are here (free) and here (not free). Assuming you’ve read them, let’s jump right in. My DFS planning process typically takes about 60-75 minutes, sometimes less. Depending upon my schedule on a given day, I might prep my starting pitcher options in the morning (15-20 minutes) and…
Read MoreHow I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love DFS
Love DFS? Hmm. Perhaps to my detriment in this changing world, I am not a gambler. I started playing fantasy sports back in the mid-1980s for the intellectual challenge and the camaraderie. The money was a nice carrot at the end of the season, but it was never even remotely a part of the motivation…
Read MoreThe Complete Past 6-Month History of DFS, Abridged
(FREE ARTICLE) My opinions about daily fantasy sports (DFS) have evolved over time, with alternating condemnation and praise. My earlier writings are still accessible at BaseballHQ.com. A few more recent works are available here, and here, and here. Last fall, the proverbial human sewage hit the fan and I started peppering my Facebook newsfeed with…
Read MoreFantasy Curmudgeon
(FREE ARTICLE) Mort lives down the street from me. He is probably in his late 70s, is a huge Yankees fan, reformed gambler (as he describes himself) and has been playing fantasy for about 10 years. Whenever I run into him, he cracks me up; admittedly, I feed him. The following is a composite of…
Read MoreA BABS-Eye View of the Pennant Races
(FREE ARTICLE) The last time I attempted pre-season standings projections was when Bill Clinton was faithful. I’ve always considered them a fun exercise with nearly no basis in reality (like Bill’s exploits, I suppose). Opening Day is just a starting point for a season full of roster activity, so to project what October will look…
Read MoreBABS Goes to Tout Wars
AL/NL-only leagues are incredibly challenging, moreso today than when they were first introduced in 1984. The burgeoning disabled list, platooning and incessant roster turnover have diminished the importance of Draft Day. In redraft leagues, it’s particularly difficult to achieve an optimal roster structure. And if just one owner employs a strategy that skews the auction…
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