Fantasy Baseball for Dummies

No, I'm not going to give you fantasy baseball in a nutshell. Why? Because each game differs. In some you set a lineup for the week using the players you drafted before the season even started. In others, you get the chance to select an entirely new lineup each and every day (within the allotted salary cap). There are millions of stats and projections to consider, with each website possibly offering entirely different information.

The secret that most people do not know it this: there is a lot of luck involved in fantasy baseball.

You can spend hours pouring over all of the information provided online, submit your lineup, feel like you are golden, and still lose.

Though luck plays a major role, here are some easy planning tips that may help you set your lineup:

1. Make sure that your players are actually playing. I've been stupid enough to make this mistake several times. Just because one of your players is not injury prone does not mean that he will not be given the night off. There are several daily lineup sources online. Pick one and check it just before your lineup officially goes in.

2. Beware of bargain pitchers. There will be days in which excellent, low dollar pitchers will be available. Go with your gut. If you do not feel good about them, spend the money to get a good pitcher. Pitchers account for the majority of points in most leagues. Do not overlook this fact.

3. Who's hot? Determining this can be tricky. Some websites will tell you what the batting average is for each player against the pitcher that he is facing that night. It can be easy to look at these stats and assume that a player is fantasy baseball gold if he is hitting over .400 against a certain pitcher. Before plugging him into the lineup, check ESPN or another website that offers stats to see what he has done in the last week. If he is hitting .122 over the last seven days, chances are he won't do much REGARDLESS of his average against the pitcher.

Take it from someone who has learned much about fantasy baseball the hard way. All is not what it seems. Don't stat yourself to death or lose your day job over spending hours on the internet comparing stats. Know who is hot and who is not. Pick a pitcher that should do well. Set it, and forget it.