How to Win at Fantasy Baseball

When springtime comes, die-hard baseball fans can't wait for the baseball season to start. For some, this means going to baseball games throughout the spring and summer. For others, this means the start of fantasy baseball. If you're playing fantasy baseball and want this to be your winning season, here's how to ensure your victory.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Research players before the fantasy baseball season starts. Purchase fantasy baseball magazines at your local bookstores, look online on fantasy baseball websites and read about baseball players in the sports section of your local newspaper. Study last year's stats, this year's predictions and any commentary that may be given for a certain player.
2. Make a list of the players that you're interested in so you'll have a starting point for your draft. Study the fantasy baseball draft and select your players for the season. It's important to have a well-balanced team of hitters and pitchers.
3. Evaluate the team you've drafted. Make sure that you have players who will be productive in the scoring categories (such as home runs, ERA and saves) for your league.
4. Search the free-agents list if you feel that your team is lacking in a certain area. You can drop one of your drafted players and pick up a free-agent, who is not on any fantasy baseball team in your league. If you're playing fantasy baseball online, there will often be a list of free-agents to choose from.
5. See how your team does when the season starts. If you're not happy with how things are going, you can always make changes and can pick up players from the free-agents list.
6. Propose trades with other players in your league. Stay on the lookout for trades and player requests from other fantasy baseball players. You may be able to round out your team by taking advantage of another player's request. Be sure to re-evaluate your team throughout the season for the best results.
7. Keep up with your players on a daily basis. See how they're performing and make sure they aren't injured or suspended. Check to see which of your starting pitchers will be starting games in a given week. Make changes to your lineup, either daily or weekly depending on your league. This will ensure that you have the most effective team in any given week.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to review the rules for your fantasy baseball league. Make sure you know how often you can make changes to your lineup, how trades and free-agent pickups are handled and how many players you need to have activated at any given time.
• Know how the teams in your fantasy baseball league will be scored. This can be head-to-head play or rotisserie play. Get specific details on how your league is scored from your fantasy baseball league commissioner or online (if you're playing online).
• Be sure that you draft enough players at each position so you have back-up players and enough players that you meet your league's rules and regulations.