Do you see any irony in this picture? Any at all? If you don't, your probably in a league that doesn't own Barry Bonds.
I had this grand envision of having a blog on first baseman today (and it is still coming). But in my research for this I found something that has turned into a massive frustration of mine: percentage owned.
Here is what set me off.
The other day I was looking though my team and make a very disturbing find. Only 99.9% of the leagues in ESPN owned David Ortiz. Tell me, what in God’s name is that .1% doing and why are they still allowed to have a league? Seriously?! How do you not own David Ortiz? How does a league go an extended period of time with NOBODY owning DAVID ORTIZ?! (note: 100% of leagues now own Big Papi since this blog has been written)
It got worse. Yes, worse.
Barry Bonds. 252 Fantasy points, second only to Vlad. 56 walks. As many intentional walks as strikeouts (20). 12 home runs in 133 at-bats. Owning percentage? 99%. A FULL 1% of leagues on ESPN DO NOT OWN BARRY BONDS! I know people hate him and all, but come on…252 POINTS! 56 WALKS! SECOND ONLY VLAD ON OFFENSE! WHAT THE CRAP!
Anyway, this inspired me to make a team: The (un)Owned Team
Rules
- Above 98% ownership
- One of each position – three starters and a reliever
- Must not suck
The (un)Owned Team
Catcher
The Options – Jorge Posada (99.9), Joe Mauer (99.9), Kenji Johjima (99.6), Brian McCann (99.3) and Ivan Rodriguez (98.4)
Okay, I understand Mauer a little bit. The guy is on the DL and maybe someone had two better players on the DL and a good backup, swung and deal for catcher or something like that. I can understand this.
Johjima? Plays in the west and is not a “known” name so I can understand a league or two having no clue who he is.
McCann? No excuse. They guy was better than Mauer was last year.
Rodriguez? His numbers are not as good as he normally has so I could understand if some leagues passed on him for a younger, keeper-type catcher who could break out next year.
WINNER – Posada. No excuses. None.
First Base
The Options – Carlos Delgado (99.8), Todd Helton (99.7) and Kevin Youkillis (99)
There are ten first baseman owned by 100% of all ESPN fantasy leagues. Of those ten, only one has more than 200 points (Justin Morneau). There are three 98+ first baseman. Two of them have 200 points or more. See a problem with this? Somehow some leagues feel the need to not own the best first baseman in the league and others choose not to take the second best first basemen in the league. Somehow, I have to choose one.
WINNER – Todd Helton (Youkillis a close second)
Second Base
The Options – Chase Utley (99.9), Dan Uggla (99.9), B.J. Upton (99.9), Brian Roberts (99.9) and Brandon Phillips (99.7)
There are exactly ZERO second baseman in ALL of ESPN leagues that posses a 100% ownership rating. How does this happen?
Now, there should be an understanding that some leagues are going to have point systems that under-value certain players. For instance, B.J. Upton is one of those guys in our league. Still, how does a guy like Chase Utley or Brian Roberts not fit into all leagues?
WINNER – Chase Utley
Third Base
The Options – B.J. Upton (99.9), Chipper Jones (99.6), Mike Lowell (99.2) and Troy Glaus(98.3)
You know, I’m really starting to hope that we are the one league that does not have Upton on a roster.
The more I think of about this, I have decided to make the first The League Decree. It is as follows:
NO TEAM IN THE LEAGUE IS ALLOWED TO POSSESS, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, B.J. UPTON. VIOLATORS ARE SUBJECT TO AN AUTOMATIC MINUS FIFTY (50) POINTS FROM THEIR SCORE EVERY WEEK B.J. UPTON IS IN THEIR POSSESION. SO LET IT BE WRITTEN, SO LET IT BE DONE.
There it is. Deal with it.
WINNER – Mike Lowell
Shortstop
The Options – J.J. Hardy (99.9), Edgar Renteria (99.7), Michael Young (99.4) and Carlos Guillen (99.1)
This one was kinda difficult. I can understand how absolutely no one knows who J.J. Hardy is or Carlos Guillen to some degree. Guillen has also been hurt lately. Renteria still has a bad taste is some people’s mouth with his Boston debacle even though he has been great in Atlanta the last two years. Michael Young had a terrible start, which may have led people to forget about him.
Still, Hardy has 16 home runs. That leads all shortstops. How does someone miss that?
WINNER – J.J. Hardy
That’s what I would have said if I were a guy who likes to follow rules.
Somehow, only 51.7% of leagues own Orlando Cabrera. How does that happen? The guys is the third best shortstop in our league, so he cannot be too bad in others. Yes, his homer runs are low, but still…how do you have that many leagues not own the guy? That almost pissed me off.
REAL WINNER – Orlando Cabrera
Left Field
The Options – THERE ARE NO OTHER OPTIONS WHEN BARRY FREAKIN’ BONDS IS ON THE LIST!
Somehow, leagues feel the need to latch on to Alfonso Soriano and ignore the second best fantasy position player in the game. People are stupid.
WINNER – Barry Bonds
Center Field
The Options – Andruw Jones (99.9), Juan Pierre (99.6), Eric Byrnes (99.5), Vernon Wells (99.3) and Ken Griffey Jr. (99)
Don’t tell me people do not know who Ken Griffey Jr. is. Come on. The guy has been hurt and he is still the second best fantasy center fielder. OWN THE FRIGGIN’ GUY!
WINNER – Ken Griffey Jr. (honorable mention to ever CF on “The Options” list)
Right Field
The Options – Byrnes, Michael Cuddyer (99.2), Jermaine Dye (99.1) and Griffey Jr.
With all due respect to Eric Byrnes, I choose Brad Hawpe. Hawpe is owned by 62.5% of leagues despite being the sixth best right fielder in fantasy.
On a related note: I hate the Schilbies.
WINNER – Brad Hawpe
Designated Hitter
The Options – I’m going to cheat again, so I’m not going to write the guys in
Jose Vidro would be a good “Cheating” pick here being that he is lightly owned and has 130 fantasy points.
But there is a better choice.
Kevin Millar is ranked tenth (100 points) amongst all DH’s. So, your guess might be that he is in the 70’s or 60’s since I am cheating right? Well, you’re wrong. Millar is owned by exactly .1% of all leagues. Jonny Gomes, who has 9 fantasy points this year, is owned by more leagues than Millar. That is not cool.
WINNER – Kevin Millar
Starting Pitchers
The Options – Too Many
There are only nine starting pitchers that are owned by every league on ESPN. And one of them is NOT Josh Beckett.
Another is Erik Bedard.
And yet another is James Shields.
But not all of these are winners.
WINNERS – Josh Beckett (99.9 – Ranked 6th), Joe Blanton (26.3 – ranked 14th) and Kelvim Escobar (68.3 - ranked 25th)
Relief Pitcher
The Options –Too Many
Oh…I’m pissed now…
WINNER – Francisco Cordero – 207 points – Rank 1 – Ownership: 99.9
Some leagues are just stupid…
No comments:
Post a Comment