Another kind of fantasy

Is it a fantasy when your "real" baseball team wins a game? Or a series? I guess it is if you are a Mets fan and just witnessed the team sweep a four games series from the Evil Empire from the Bronx. Of course the Mets went on to get swept by the powerhouse which is the Miami Marlins. #ycpb
There is no fantasy without some sort of base in reality so I'll allow myself a few thoughts on baseball, fantasy baseball and the relations between the two.
 I don't know why people play fantasy baseball but I know why I do. For me it's the challenge: to prove to myself how well I know this game. I can’t play the game, not even in a movie and I can’t manage so playing fantasy baseball is my last chance to connect with the game.
 At the same time, for me fantasy baseball is also a tool to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the game. There’s no way a casual fan know who’s the 2b of the Royals if he’s not a Royal’s fan. Fantasy players will know who’s the current player on that position AND the replacement player, especially if he’s a highly touted  prospect J. You can also be certain that no fantasy player think a home run is a “rally killer”.

 The New York DailyNews

The previous week
Like I said, I love to be active with my roster, dropping and adding players whenever it seems to improve my team.

I picked Dan Straily for a home game against the White Sox. Straily play in Oakland which is a pitchers park and the Sox are the worst offense in the AL and second to last in all of baseball. The results? No win, but 6 innings, 8 k’s, no walks, 6 hits and one run allowed. Like one of the 411 tenets say “You can’t chase wins”.

One of the Lilings weaknesses is saves so when the Padres closer, Huston Street, went on the DL I Jumped on the opportunity and picked Luke Gregerson who’s going to replace Street.   

Another DL move gave me another chance to improve: The Dodgers A.J. Ellis went on the DL so I dropped him and picked the Phillies Erik Kratz who in the last week went 7 for 21 with 2 HR’s and 5 rbi’s. Not bad production in a 2 catchers league.

Picking the Mariners middle infielder Nick Franklin allowed me to drop Darwin Barney who was mostly on my bench and pick the Marlins Outfielder Marcell Ozuna. He went 11 for 26 with 7 runs,  6 rbi’s and a SB last week.

On June 4^th here’s how the Lilings doing:

The Lilings gained 1.5 points and now share first place. Not a bad week :)