LongBall Derby is the name and power is the game!
The folks over at RotoDerby have put together a fantastic twist on the usual salary cap-based fantasy game and if you love the home run as much as we do, then this is a must-play. It is based on a standard scoring system with a twist; where you are competing against others for the highest Fantasy Points throughout the season based on 3 stats, but weighted towards Home Runs (HRs). It consists of a 10 player starting roster (six infielders, four outfielders) with a Home Run stat cap used to build your team. Rosters are fixed all season and standings reset monthly. Winners are paid every month and at season’s end.
What could be easier than that? Pick your team before Opening Day and just root them on. No changes, no pick-ups, nothing. Just sit back and [hopefully] watch the prize money roll in.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve offered numerous suggestions as to what to look for in selecting your team and it’s time one of us put our money where our mouth is. With two weeks to go until the regular season begins, I have put together a first-draft of what should be a soul-crushing lineup to all who oppose me. I reserve the right to tinker for a variety of reasons, but let’s see if you can deal with this…
| Player | Pos | HR (cost) |
| Evan Gattis | IF | 22 |
| Anthony Rizzo | IF | 32 |
| Adrian Beltre | IF | 19 |
| Hanley Ramirez | IF | 13 |
| Troy Tulowitzki | IF | 21 |
| Paul Goldschmidt | IF | 19 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | OF | 37 |
| Bryce Harper | OF | 13 |
| Mark Trumbo | OF | 14 |
| Ryan Braun | OF | 19 |
Now that’s some beast of a lineup, right? And I’m still one home run under the cap!
If you believe Giancarlo Stanton will again be atop the home run leaderboard, then his price tag of 37 may be steep, but it should definitely be worth it, especially if his strikeout rate continues to trend downwards as it’s done in each of the last three seasons. You can also look at the fact that his price is easily offset by some of the bargains in this group. Paul Goldschmidt, Bryce Harper (who takes the next step this season) and even Ryan Braun are so crazy underpriced here due to their subpar 2014 seasons, that it enables you to go for more high-priced guys destined to repeat like Stanton….and Anthony Rizzo for that matter.
But remember – this is just a first draft. Obviously there’s a little more tweaking that needs to happen based on what’s been going on this spring and certain expectations of what’s to come.
First of all, let’s talk about health risks. Remember, once your lineup is chosen, this is it. There’s no turning back once the season starts. Evan Gattis is currently dealing with a wrist issue. While he’s been swinging off a tee recently, we all know what happens to power hitters when they have a wrist problem. His availability in the infield is fantastic and there’s nothing that even says you need to roster a catcher here. However, given the risk of a slow start, his 22 home runs might be a steep price to pay.
And let’s not forget the other injury risks here. Troy Tulowitzki is always one at-bat away from a lengthy DL stint. Truth be told, so is Hanley Ramirez. But considering their “prices,” 21 and 13 respectively, each one could be a sweet bargain for the full season. It’s going to be a matter of weighing the risk versus the potential reward.
After that, I have to take into consideration the strikeout rates of a guy like Mark Trumbo. The guy could hit 30-plus bombs this year, but he could also provide enough wind power to sustain the energy of a small country with his whiffs.
Lineups won’t lock until the first game of the season, so again, there’s plenty of time to tinker. But if you want to talk foundation, this is easily a rock-solid one capable of demolishing all comers. Think you can beat me? Sign up with RotoDerby and find out.