First off, I'd like to offer a disclaimer that I know posting of fantasy league openings aren't generally tolerated and have avoided the practice up to this point - however, I think you'll see why the upcoming post will be a little more educational beyond a normal league advertisement.

This league in question is enterting its 13th consecutive year in operation, and cannot be defined as a Roto or points-based league. In its simplest terms, the teams in this league play against itself - each team assembles a 25-man active roster (40-man maximum, so up to a 15-player reserve squad) with a 9-man lineup (even the NL-only leaue uses a DH slot), 4-man bench, 5-man rotation, and a 7-man bullpen. The league has two divisions: an AL-only and NL-only.

A team only plays a game when its pitching staff combines to pitch 9 innings on a certain day, and the amount of runs that your team allows is determined by the amount of earned runs your pitchers combine to allow. For example, if Roy Halladay pitches 6 innings giving up 2 ER; Brad Ziegler pitches 1 inning with no runs; Jesse Crain pitches 1 inning with 1 ER and your closer Joel Zumaya pitches 1 inning with no runs, your pitchers combined for 9 innings and allowed a combined 3 runs, thus your offense must combine to score more than 3 runs to win this game. A queue is created in the event you have multiple starters pitch on the same day, so you can use a starter's game within a couple days of it actually happening.

Hitters in your lineup use their hits to determine how many (if any) runs they drive in. Without going into extreme detail, hitters in your lineup use their hits to drive in batters within 3 spots of them (simulating the three outs per inning). Here's a crude example:

                     AB 1B 2B 3B HR
Pedroia        4    1    0   0    0
Rios              4    0    1   0    0
Upton            4    0   0    0    0
A.Rodriguez 4    0   1    0    0

Pedroia's single puts him on first, Rios' double puts runners on second and third. Upton puts up an 0-fer and has no impact, but Rodriguez's double drives in both Rios and Pedroia (the last batter he can drive in, because he's three spots ahead in the lineup). We do use BB/K, SBs and boxscores are usually more complex, but I just wanted this to show an example of why our league lineups try to replicate real life lineups: you want your high-average, low-power guys in the leadoff, with your masher as your cleanup.

Defense also plays a role in roster assembly - though your runs allowed is normally determined by ER given up by your pitchers, errors committed by your hitters will allow your pitchers' unearned runs to score. Metrics like UZR or +/- would be impossible to integrate into this kind of game, but defensive liabilities that committ a lot of errors (remember when B.J. Upton used to play the infield?) will hurt your team's performance.

Each team has a cap limit for assembling their roster, and for continuity's sake we use the Sporting News Fantasy baseball magazine (we have for probably a decade) to determine a player's base price during the UFA period. Our season has a RFA period, where each team has the opportunity to tender up to 5 re-signs of their expiring contracts, then moves to the UFA period that takes about 3-5 days to complete a little before the season starts. Contract lengths can vary (depending on the situation) for up to 3 years, and we're thinking of instituting a minor league draft starting this year.

I tried to keep this post as skeletal and yet informative as possible, so there are quite a few details I had to leave out, but we have at least two openings for this league as of now, so if you're interested or have any more questions in our M.O., leave your e-mail in a response to this message.

Our league's website: http://www.flb-northwest.com/index.htm
Thank you for your time
- Grudyfan

Are there any prospects (or non-prospects at this point in their careers) that you still hold out unreasonable hope for?  Players that are past their peak age of prospect-dom, or guys that are really old for their leagues because injuries or some other factors held them back?  It could be that these players are (or have been) Rule V eligibile or now minor league free agents but maybe, just maybe, they can sign on to the right situation and salvage a career and you can proudly gloat that you never gave up on him?

Here's a few of my favorites:

Shane Komine, P, Oak - Three years ago, Komine was generally regarded as one of the organizations's top 10 prospects due to his above-average control of a varied but not overpowering arsenal.  Worries about his inabilities to dominate at higher levels and about his durability due to his size (he's 5'9") have seemed to manifest themselves.  He was injured must of the 2008 season (I don't know why) but at 27 and with plenty of AAA experience and a couple cups of coffee at the ML level, still might have a bullpen job sometime in the future.

Fabio Castro, P, Tor - Another pint-sized pitcher (5'7"), but unlike Komine could dial up his fastball to the mid-90s, Castro has bounced between the White Sox, Rangers, Phillies, and now the Blue Jays organizations (as the PTNL in the Matt Stairs trade) and yet is still only 23 years old.  His career ERA is just over 3, but he seems to be getting more work in minor league bullpens recently, where his destiny seems to be if he makes it back to the majors.

Bobby Livingston, P, FA (last with Cin) - He doesn't have an unusual physical profile, but Livingston was a favorite of mine because he was the ultimate junk-ball prospect when he was with Seattle a few years ago.  He has a fastball that's along the lines of Jamie Moyer's (ie: not good), but managed to do well due to his varied arsenal, good command, and overall know-how on how to pitch.  Worries that his stuff (or lack thereof) being too hittable at higher levels have proven true, though at 26 he could still find himself in the running for a long-relief or LOOGY role on a major league staff.

B.J. Szymanski, OF, Cin - Szymanski is a classic case study on how toolsy hitters with little to no plate discipline shouldn't have that one glaring weakness ignored.  Owning a large, athletic frame, BA had Symanski rated higher within the organization than prospects like Homer Bailey and Joey Votto three years ago, but now he's essentially a NP.  At 26 years of age and unable to post even a league average OPS in AA, his career is essentially toast.

Drew Meyer, 2B/SS, Tex - While never considered a superstar prospect, Meyer seemed to be on the fast track to be an average ML regular when he was drafted in the first round of the '02 draft.  He was considered a gamer, a player with no real outstanding tools but due to his makeup and work ethic, should garner a spot on a major league roster.  In the lower levels of the minors, Meyer showed an ability to make decent contact, flirting with .300 a couple of seasons and also showing decent plate discipline and steady defense.  However, his lack of power has been deftly exploited by AAA-pitchers and has shown an inability to adapt at higher levels.  At 27, the best he can hope for is as middle-infielder off the bench.

The parent team was mired in a year-long suckfest, and even though some top prospects graduated (Clement, Balentien, Rowland-Smith, LaHair), this list wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would've been.

1.  Carlos Triunfel, SS (B+) - Didn't set the world on fire in the Cal-league, but an 18-year old holding his own in High-A still makes him the organization's top prospect.

2.  Greg Halman, OF (B) - Busted out on the prospect scene with an impressive showing of power and speed, lacks plate discipline.

3.  Philippe Aumont, P (B) - Big (6'7") first-rounder flashes fastball that hits the upper 90s with a heavy sinker.

4.  Michael Pineda, P (B) - Led Seattle minor league pitchers in ERA and Ks as a 19-year old in A-ball.

5.  Adam Moore, C (B-) - Questionable defensive abilities, but shows good all-around offensive game for a catcher, making AA all-star team.

6.  Juan Ramirez, P (B-) - Shows good stuff and decent numbers for a pitcher that just turned 20.

7.  Joshua Fields*, P (B-)  -  If he signs (he has until the beginning of the next draft to do so), his nasty fastball/curveball combo will make him one of the best relief pitchers in the minors.

8.  Jharmidy DeJesus, 3B (B-) - Posted over a .900 OPS as an 18-year old across Rookie and Short season leagues.

9.  Michael Saunders, OF (C+) - Some might find this ranking too low, but Saunders shows a good all-around game.  Good with the glove with developing power, Saunders shows no glaring weaknesses or any exceptional strength.

10.  Luis Valbuena, 2B/SS (C+) - As a 22-year old promoted to AAA, he showed an ability to hit for average (.302), good plate discipline (28:32 BB:K ratio) and some speed (10 SB).

11.  Carlos Peguero, 1B/OF (C+) - Doesn't really have a defensive home and his plate discipline is terrible, but he does have a good bat with decent power.  We'll see how he'll fare outside the Cal-league environs.

12.  Matt Tuiasosopo, 3B (C+) - Finally started showing some power in AAA and earned a call-up the big leagues.  Still young at 22.

13.  Michael Wilson, OF (C+) - Though he repeated the league, he was much better at drawing walks, upping his average (.277) and flashing impressive power (27 HR).

14.  Mario Martinez, 3B (C+) - 18-year old impressed in rookie league, hitting .307/.344/.462.

15.  Nick Hill, P (C+) - Survived (barely) his tenure in the Cal-league with decent numbers, may be destined for the bullpen.

16.  Dennis Raben, OF (C+) - Fringe average defender showed a good bat in his first taste of short-season ball.

17.  Justin Thomas, P (C+) - Could be useful as a back-end starter/swingman for Seattle next year.

18.  Nathan Adcock, P (C+) - 6'5 20-year old struck out 82 in 77.1 IP with a 3.72 ERA in A-ball.

19.  Johan Limonta, 1B (C+) - Somewhat old (24 at the start of the year) for AA, Limonta showed his early-season peformance in the Cal-league was no fluke by posting an .868 OPS for West Tenn.

20.  Shawn Kelley, P (C) - Relief pitcher pitched in 3 levels in 2008 with a combined ERA of 1.88 and 68 ks in 62.1 IP.

Others: Danny Carroll, Travis Chick, Edilio Colina, Joe Dunigan, Donald Hume, Kenn Kasparek, Brett Lorin, Matt Mangini, Gabriel Noriega, Edward Paredes.

While I am (unfortunately) a big Seattle fan, there are some prospects here that I know little from their statistical profile, and I don't pretend to know everything about these aforementioned prospects.  If I've left someone off, ranked someone too high/low, let me hear it.

BA had Medlen rated as Atlanta's 24th best prospect going into this season as a reliever with a chance to fast track himself to the majors, but after converting to a starter earlier this season he looks to have found his new calling.

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This following roster for the 2005 Atlanta Braves assumes what the roster could've looked like if no players departed via free agency or trades.  In order to qualify, players must have originally signed with Atlanta as an international signing or through the amateur draft.

Please note that this post is meant to generate discussion on each teams' ability to develop and/or sign homegrown talent.  This team is fictional, and details like its economic feasability should be ignored.

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This following roster for the 2005 New York Yankees assumes what the roster could've looked like if no players departed via free agency or trades.  In order to qualify, players must have originally signed with New York as an international signing or through the amateur draft.

Please note that this post is meant to generate discussion on each teams' ability to develop and/or sign homegrown talent.  This team is fictional, and details like its economic feasability should be ignored.

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This following roster for the 2005 Minnesota Twins assumes what the roster could've looked like if no players departed via free agency or trades.  In order to qualify, players must have originally signed with Minnesota as an international signing or through the amateur draft.

Please note that this post is meant to generate discussion on each teams' ability to develop and/or sign homegrown talent.  This team is fictional, and details like its economic feasability should be ignored.

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This following roster for the 2005 Washington Nationals assumes what the roster could've looked like if no players departed via free agency or trades.  In order to qualify, players must have originally signed with Washington as an international signing or through the amateur draft.

Please note that this post is meant to generate discussion on each teams' ability to develop and/or sign homegrown talent.  This team is fictional, and details like its economic feasability should be ignored.

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This following roster for the 2005 San Francisco Giants assumes what the roster could've looked like if no players departed via free agency or trades.  In order to qualify, players must have originally signed with San Francisco as an international signing or through the amateur draft.

Please note that this post is meant to generate discussion on each teams' ability to develop and/or sign homegrown talent.  This team is fictional, and details like its economic feasability should be ignored.

Continue reading this post »