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Rules for Fantasy Baseball

by Andy White

Overview

Fantasy baseball provides the opportunity to create an imaginary team of real baseball players and compete against others. The basic goal is to set the best lineup every day and accumulate the best statistics derived from real-life games. Strategy and style of play can vary from league to league, but most include some basic rules and settings.

A baseball in the grass
Common Leagues

Typically, fantasy baseball will take the form of a rotisserie league or head-to-head league. For rotisserie leagues, the name derived from the restaurant where purported originators of the game first played, the standings are determined by points awarded according to a team's league rank in statistical categories for hitters and pitchers (the higher a team ranks in home runs, for example, the more points the team will receive for that category). These points are totaled throughout the season to determine the overall standings. Essentially, any team in a rotisserie league is playing every other team continuously over the entire season. In head-to-head leagues, one team directly faces another each week, the winner determined by the best stats in each of the league-determined statistical categories. For example, if there are five categories for hitters and five for pitchers, as is typical, at the end of the week one team might win six categories and lose four. This team would receive credit for all six wins and all four losses in its record for the season. The overall league standings are determined by the total wins and losses in these categories each week, added to each team's cumulative record.

Typical Rosters

Initial rosters are chosen in a league draft prior to the season's beginning, each team selecting players according to the available positions as determined by each league. For most leagues, each starting position on a real baseball team (catcher, first baseman, second baseman, etc.) is represented, including spots for starting pitcher and relief pitcher positions, as well as several bench spots. A player must be placed in one of the starting positions to accumulate stats. Players on the bench receive no points. Players are only eligible to play at their real-life positions, as determined by the league host (such as Yahoo!, ESPN.com, etc.).
Basic Scoring

The default statistical categories for scoring in most leagues include home runs, runs batted in, batting average, stolen bases and runs scored for hitters; wins, saves, earned run average, WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) and strikeouts for pitchers. When selecting a team, consider a player's ability to contribute in as many of these categories as possible.
Custom Scoring

Many leagues will customize scoring by including one or several statistical categories. This may include, but is not limited to, such statistics as sacrifice flies, strikeouts or OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) for hitters, complete games, shutouts or holds for pitchers. Fielding categories, such as putouts or fielding percentage also may be included. Be aware of these additional categories and consider them when selecting players.
Sportsmanship

Fair play is the responsibility of each team manager. Actions such as trading players of high caliber from one team for far less valuable players on another, dropping star players from a team that is out of contention so that another team can pick them up or starting injured players who can not accumulate stats are all detrimental to any league. The basic strategy for any league is simple: always play to win.