You going to use standard 5x5 scoring categories? I'd be interested in picking up another league with non-standard scoring categories but would pass otherwise.

I'll give it a go.

I prefer the traditional drafts, but otherwise am willing to defer.

Count me in. I'm partial to ESPN's fantasy stuff, and I dig auctions also. I really can't stand autodrafting, hopefully we can avoid it if we get this going.

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of autodrafting. We'll definitely use a live draft, and hopefully we can find a good time for everyone.

Looks like most folks so far are in favor of normal drafting, so I'm leaning toward that. I'll post a proposed set of scoring categories in a few days since we're only 3 folks short of the minimum 10 I'd like to have. Those that are on the fence about joining - there are 3-5 more spots open for the first league!

I'd be interested.

I've been in a league with a group of Cardinal fans for the last six years or so on Yahoo.

We use:
R HR RBI SB AVG OPS / W Sv K Hld ERA WHIP

I really liked the addition of holds, as it forces you to have a real bullpen. The stats are a nice combination of what we grew up with and what we use now.

But whatever we choose. I'd rather is just be a straight draft. I'm not really interested in the auctions and stuff. Those are great for dedicated league for money. But for casual leagues for fun, Yahoo and their drafts work pretty well.

We'll definitely use 12 scoring categories - I haven't done that before, but I think it's the way to go. My objective is to balance the "count" categories (HR, K, Wins, etc) with the "rate" categories (ERA, BA, OBP, etc). For batters it isn't as big a deal, but I'm hoping to avoid folks constantly rotating their pitching staff in order to rack up the "count" stats with little regard for the "rate" stats. Here's what I'm proposing for scoring categories:

R HR SB AVG OPS SLG / W SV K ERA WHIP K/BB

I don't necessarily dislike the idea of holds as a scoring category, but that would give the pitching categories a 4/2 split for count/rate stats. I think including a 3rd rate stat like K/BB does accomplish the same goal as holds - it gives value to elite non-closer relievers who put up good rates but maybe not the highest raw stats.

With the inclusion of phragged, we have 10 people who have expressed an interest (11 including phragged's father, who is definitely welcome to join). That means we've got 1 spot left before the first league fills up. Beyond that, we'll start a wait list / potential second league.

I don't like the idea of getting rid of RBIs, especially if it means having three %s (avg, ops, slg) that are pretty redundant. K/BB ratio seems pretty redundant to me as well, (K and WHIP cover those). I've never done holds before, but I think that is a good idea to try.

I'd say have RBI and OPS as the 5th and 6th cats. As for pitching slots, i usually play yahoo and have never had a problem with how they do it (2 sp, 2 rp, 3 p). I see your point about holds, but I dont really like the idea of k/bb ratio. I'll look and see what other pitching stats could be used.

Another pitching stat I've thought about using is K/9 innings (more of a dominance stat, whereas K/BB is more of a control stat). K/BB tells you something a little different than WHIP, but they are both in the same family. K/9 says something totally different about a pitcher and would add some value to dominant starters and closers.

I've updated the OP to reflect things that have been ironed out. I'm almost definitely going to use ESPN's site (flexible, nice draft room, great mobile accessibility) unless someone else has a very compelling reason to use another site.

To be honest, I hate stats like these for fantasy leagues. First, it kind of duplicates the K stat we already have. But more importantly, and I think OPS and WHIP fall into this also, they miss the point of what we are trying to do in fantasy league.

I love Sabermetrics. I remember the day my dad brought me home a Bill James book when I was in grade school. I think Billy Beane revolutionized the way GM look at building rosters. But in the end, that is no what fantasy baseball is about. It's about using those things we have learned to make predictions.

I understand why you hate RBIs, because they are not a true measure of a batters skill. But the fun in fantasy baseball is figuring out what kind of increase and decrease a batter will see based on where he plays and where the manager bats him in the line-up. It's okay that it's not a true measure of skill, because it is a predictable stat based on things we can look at. So the goal isn't to put together the best players, it is to figure what kinds of things affect players performances.

Succeeding in fantasy baseball is really about figuring out how players will be used and which ones will thrive in different environments. K/BB and K/9 are nice to know, but I see them as tools for research rather than stats to earn points with.

I don't particularly care what statistics are added, if any. I just prefer a limit on the number of starts (and making sure everyone knows about it), which is pretty standard.

Actually, I suppose that issue is germane only to stat-accumulations, which we aren't doing...right? I haven't done a head to head league before.

If and when this gets going, if you don't see a response in this thread, please email me at beener@gmail.com. I frequent the games board, but the Sports board gets overlooked sometimes.

It's been stated since the beginning that the intent was head to head - at the end of each week your team will have a W-L record based on how many categories you win that week. Weekly totals are summed over the season and the top teams advance to the playoffs, with playoff matchups generally lasting 2 weeks.

That being said, I am not opposed to doing straight roto. In fact, I prefer it in some ways, but I thought a H2H league would generate more interest, especially from those who may have not played much fantasy baseball in the past.

im interested in joining if there is still space!

If there are more people that want to play than are able, feel free to leave my dad and I out. We'd like to play in another league...but not at the expense of someone else (and since we're playing in a couple leagues all ready it wouldn't be the blow to us that it might be to someone who is not in any).

if someone drops im interested in joining