Didn't get a chance to read the latest columns from the past few weeks? No problem.
The previous 4 weeks will always be located above.
Those familiar with the Commish on the basketball court might say that he makes more turnovers than a bakery. After all the trades, injuries, and free agent signings by the Badass Cowboys this year, the same could be said when referring to his fantasy baseball management technique. The Badass Cowboys have shuffled through a wide array of player personnel in the first 3 1/2 months of the season. They are not alone, as Sj has given on the job training to more associates than Arthur Anderson. Firewire has done his share of wheeling and dealing as well. Has this frequent roster shuffling helped these teams? We won't know the answer to that question until the end of the season, but we can look at a trend which has developed in MRLB.
After a deal just made between Sj and the BCs, Sj will have only 10 of its original 30 drafted players still on the team. The Badass Cowboys only have 14 players remaining and Firewire is left with only 12 of its original players. Typically most owners are satisfied with their picks after the draft is completed, so why are these owners so quick to dump their players? Are their teams performing poorly because they have rotated their roster too quickly, or are they forced to make deals because of the poor performance of the team? Whichever is the case, it is no coincidence the owners that have stood pat with their squads are currently on top in the standings. The following chart illustrates this fact:
Sj & Associates have used 66 players as starters at some point in the first half of the season. Beginning with a roster of 30 players, this gives the team a turnover percentage of 120% and does NOT even include players acquired and later released if they never started a game for the team. Firewire has equaled this total and the BCs have exceeded it, starting 70 players as of 7/18/01. The totals will grow even more after the trade between Sj and the BCs has been completed.
Certain aspects of the high turnover rate cannot be avoided, most notably unforeseen injuries. All teams suffer injuries, however, and the top clubs have managed to work around this hinderance without upsetting the chemistry of the team. Fantasy baseball is not unlike the stock market. Trying to pick and choose the correct time when a player will get hot is a risky premise. Obtaining a player and staying with him the whole season will eliminate any huge rewards but will guarantee stability in categories in which the player is proficient. The top clubs understand this and have succeeded, but 2 1/2 months gives the high turnover teams plenty of time for their deals to pay off.
One item to defend those with heavy turnover is the enjoyment factor. This is not MLB and million dollar contracts are not involved, so why not shake things up a bit? How much fun is there in watching the same guys do the same things every day? The trade discussions, free agent searching, and trash talking are what make MRLB exciting, so you can't fault some owners for their addiction to this "standings dropping" process. Good luck this week and may all your trades pass without objection.
- The Commish
