Week 1--> Join a fantasy sports league

JOINING A FANTASY LEAGUE

So this will definitely not be my most exciting blog- but it’s something that I have always wanted to do- and an easy one to start with.

As an “avid” sports fan- I was ecstatic to hear that some friends of mine, at work, started a fantasy baseball league- and they invited me to join.  I have always been a HUGE Raptors fan, and I actively follow the Jays. I love going to games, and watching them at bars and at the gym.  Does this make me ready to participate in a league of betting?  I think so.  After all, I know all the stats of the Jays starting players….that’s enough to call me a “pro”…. RIGHT? 

What I didn’t realize is- in a fantasy league you need to know a whole lot more than the stats of your favourite team.  It takes more than a little research to understand what’s going on.

Signing up was easy- we used Yahoo and it was free.  Picking a team name was slightly harder.  I struggled to think of a witty, yet fierce, team name.  Sadly, I left my computer open and one of my coworkers named my team, “StjohnsSassySailors”. How embarrassing.

 Once I was registered I waited eagerly to see who would be drafted to my “team”.  Yahoo listed the players in, what is apparently, the overall ranking of each player. I browsed the list to find my favourite guys… and in the top 40 I only knew two players.  Bautista- who was ranked 14 and Reyes who was ranked close to 20.  As I quickly tried to research some of the top names on the list I realized… I know very little about baseball.  I really am just a sappy fan who researches the Jays from time to time.  So I didn’t alter anything and waited to see my fate.

The next morning- my team was created.  I didn’t know a single player on my team.  I didn’t get a single Blue Jay- and I couldn’t tell what was good, who I should be trading- if I needed to substitute players…. and things only went downhill from there. There are all sorts of ratings, abbreviations, stats and recommendations.  The guys at work had conversations way above my head: “he went 2-for-3 with a solo homer”,  “He’s slugging 1.083 in 12 Abs”,“he gave up 4  runs over 5 1/3 frames but escaped with no decision”.  Though I do know what each abbreviation means- it was as though the boys at work started to speak a new language.  They ran through stats so fast- I just could not keep up.  They looked at each other’s teams and laughed about line-ups and weak players. I couldn’t even pronounce half the players names on my team.  I cannot wrap my head around how they know everyone’s name, especially since half the guys in baseball have the same last name as other guys.

This is my team.  I’m sure they are all great baseball players but I can’t even tell you who is who at this point.  I know my second baseman “Cano” is ranked 4^th overall.  But from looking at these guys the only thing I can conclude with certainty- Baseball men are sexy.



Determined to keep up with in the league, I spent my breaks at work researching my team. I’m telling you, to fully understand and know the teams and players in MLB, you would need to study more than I did for my entire University career.  I have guys on the disabled list, guys getting benched because the pitcher is left handed, and guys who are just not living up to their stats.  I can’t keep up with all the changes.   Each day I watch the match-ups, projected stats, weather reports, opponents, trade possibilities and try to put forth my best line up.  So far, I am in last place but I am hopeful to see a turn around.  It is a long season.



Last Place :(



Though I have not made this experience seem overly appealing- I am really enjoying it! I was extremely excited to watch the stats change on my app each day.  I also am much more interested in games other than the Blue Jays games.  Though my knowledge is still minimal- this league has helped me get into the game.  I now look forward to when “my guys” come to the skydome. Did you see that fight with the Dodgers pitcher, Zack Greinke, ya he’s my guy! (Now out with a broken collarbone).  Slowly but surely- I'm learning to keep up!

I’m excited to see how this all turns out.  Though our stakes aren’t very high-I hate to lose.