Chicks dig the long ball. 

We all dig the power.

Rotoderby has a game designed around the big fly. Here's what we're talking about. Directly from the Rotoderby site:

Fantasy Longball (HR) Derby 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-end. 

Scoring is based on 3 stats as follows:
Home Runs (HRs): 5pts
Runs Batted In (RBIs): 1pt
Strikeouts (Ks): -1pt

Pick your team. 
Follow the simple rules.
Boom.

Not only will a chance to sign up for the 2015 Fantasy Alarm League be coming shortly, but we'll help to guide you to setting your lineup in the game. We won't get into player specifics in this piece. Instead, we'll point out three data points - three insights - to think about when you're putting your team together.

(1) Pay attention to fly ball rates.

The average big leaguer has a fly ball rate of 34-35 percent. You don't want to target any player who was appreciably under that mark in 2015. In fact, you might not want to take anyone under 34 percent. The only players to hit 20 homers last season that had a rate below 34 percent follow: Jose Abreu, Matt Kemp, Ian Desmond, Marcell Ozuna and Buster Posey. A guy has to hit the ball in the air.

(2) Pay attention to homer-to-flyball ratios.

Not only do you have to hit the ball in the air, but you have to convert those fly balls into home runs. The league average is about 9-10 most seasons. Ideally you would like to target a player who is in the double-digits with a focus on players over 13 percent. Note, there isn't much of a number difference here. Eight percent is poor. Twelve percent is strong. Sixteen percent is elite (only 22 men who had at least 500 plate appearances last season reached that mark). Check a players three year average (2012-14) for a decent guesstimate at the number he will produce in 2015.   

(3) Pay attention to lefty/righty splits.

Some batters crush righties, some lefties. Given that you set your lineup once in this format you would be wise to focus on those bats that have homer success against right-handed pitching since there are obviously more righty throwers in baseball. Those guys that crush lefties are great platoon options in rotisserie leagues, but in those formats where you're setting your lineup once a month you will want the bats that have success against righties. 

 

 

 

Fantasy Alarm readers get 25% off as an early bird special by using promocode: Early25 before March 23rd at www.rotoderby.com
 

CHICKS DIG THE LONGBALL