Fantasy Baseball Season

It's not quite baseball season yet, as players still are heading to their spring training facilities, or are dealing with the media at their homes because they are arguably the greatest baseball talent ever and they just admitted to steroid use, either way it's officially Fantasy Baseball Season. I imagine a pretty funny youtube video could be made about this, copying the Wedding Crashers scene. Baseball starts in March, but Fantasy Baseball starts in February when people start to mock draft, organize various lists, and set draft times. With that said here is a list of some key draft pointers and overall strategies that I use, and basically everyone else uses, but whatever here you go:

• Saves are saves are saves are saves are saves...there is no category '1-2-3 closer innings', only saves. It doesn't matter how they get it done, so long as they get the save. Yea good closers can help your era, whip, and strikeouts, but it doesn't help to have J.J. Putz on the DL. There are plenty of setup men to get late in the draft to help you out in those categories, they come up every year like Jose Arredondo, and closers do as well, Gregg, Torres, Sherrill, Rauch, you get the point.
• Catchers are a really bad position, I wouldn't really worry about getting a good one. Catcher is a very shallow position, but that doesn't mean you should draft one high. Chase Utley is really an amazing hitter and fantasy hitter, and he plays 2b, so that's why he is a top pick. Joe Mauer doesn't hit any homeruns or steal, Brian McCann doesn't get any runs, Russell Matin doesn't actually do one thing all that well. You reach for the guys at weak positions that actually put up great stats, catchers don't do that, at least the ones playing now.
  
• Power/Speed combos are clearly the best. There isn't much else I need to say here, kill two birds with one stone. Nobody wants Juan Pierre to take up an outfield slot when that's a position you get your power from.
  
• Don't draft DHs high, or fill up your utility position early. Sometimes early in the draft it's easy to convince yourself to get that 2nd 1b because you have the utlity slot open, but you shouldn't handicap yourself that early. Use your util slot as a way to snag someone late in the draft that fell. You don't want your utility slot full when there is really a late round steal available that you can't draft because he won't start.
  
• Keep track of closer situations. This is basically the first thing I said, but closers change a lot, keep track of struggling ones and pick up the guys next in line.
• Pick up the young studs. Every year there are players that come up from the minors and do well. Not every year does Ryan Braun come along, or Evan Longoria, but you get the point, don't pass them up (if you have the room), you never know what you can get.
• Don't give up on players you drafted too early. I drafted Morneau in one league during his MVP season because I thought he could have a breakout year, and he did, just not on my team. If you drafted a guy because you felt good about him, don't judge him off of 80 April at bats.
• Don't forget about the vets. It's great to keep track of the rookies, but don't forget about the veterans. It's cool to have Jay Bruce, but it's better to have Aubry Huff's line, really take a look
• Pick up hot pitchers. I believe it's proven pitchers actually have hot streaks, where hitters are kind of just random. Don't pass up guys like Ryan Dempster that I did last year because, he's Ryan Dempster and he can't possibly pitch this well, well he did.
• Don't draft pitchers early. Pitchers are one pitch away from ending their career, hitters not so much. Johan Santana will most likely be worth a first round pick, but he's also more likely than Ryan Braun to end his season in April.
• Take the risk in the 15th, not the 5th. You won't hurt yourself by drafting safe in the 5th, you can hurt yourself taking a big risk in the 5th.
• Most importantly, have a plan. It's really hard to successfully draft just going on a whim. Have an idea where you want to get certain players or positions. Don't be surprised when the rush of closers occurs or when John Buck is the only catcher left. Chances are you won't be stupid enough to have a retarded plan, follow it and you should be fine

That's about it. Expect some more fantasy posts coming up, maybe some sleepers, more advanced strategy, or whatever else. If there's anything you guys want to hear, just let me know.