Fantasy Geek
- Wade
Evidence of the impending spring is everywhere. I saw the sun while waiting for my bus this morning. Thermometers reached 32 degrees for a bit yesterday. Most importantly, pitchers and catchers reported last week. Meaning from now until September, my mind will be swimming with fun letters like W, K, ERA, RBI, and MGD. (I guess that last one isn't related to baseball. But I'll still be thinking about it.)
Among my stable of addictions, fantasy baseball is the one I take the most pleasure in. Sure, beer is great. Yeah, nachos make me giddy. But fantasy baseball.. mmmmmm.... If I'm doing the math correctly, 2003 represents my sixth season of competitive fantasy baseball. (All of which have included being in the same league with the other two yahoos on this site.) As I've gotten older, fantasy baseball has become a sort of geek-mecca for me. Some people have their Captain Picard. Others have their Frodo. Me, I've got Erubiel Durazo.
My participation level and interest have gradually increased over the past years. I threw in the towel in July of the 1999 season after Al talked me into trading Ken Griffey for Jose Canseco. (Actually I also got... nevermind, it's inexcusable no matter what.) I nearly gave up the 2000 season entirely after drafting Jose Lima in the first round. (I've got a history of blowing first round picks-- see entry under "2001 football-- Brian Griese.")
An odd thing happened in 2001. Even after drafting Scott Elarton in the first round (shut it), I stayed interested past mid-summer. A cynic might find that time period coinciding with me ceasing to care whether I skyrocketed up the corporate ladder. Eh, that's probably part of it. It also was about the time that I realized I didn't much care for the NBA or NHL anymore, leaving me more time to devote to wondering exactly who was going to be the closer for the Expos.
I'm now hopelessly obsessed. Evidence? See here for an example. I check sites like Baseball Prospectus several times a day. Last night I dreamed that I was singing "Coney Island Baby" in a barbershop quartet with Peter Gammons, Jason Stark, and Rob Neyer. I was a tenor.
What I'm trying to say is that everyone has a bit of geek in them. Mine shines best during baseball season. And maybe, this year, it'll outshine Al. :-P
What do you think? Drop us a line at webmaster@simpleprop.com and give us some
feedback. Maybe we'll even run your letters in future Gambits. 'The Daily Gambit' is updated every weekday.
