March 27, 2024: Managing My Teams

It’s that time of year… fantasy baseball time! Yes, I will continue managing my team into the foreseeable future. Here is my preseason press conference; first my auction league, then the family league.

Look guys, I want to return to the top of the mountain. It’s been 5 years since we’ve brought home the fantasy title. It’s not that we haven’t exactly been competitive OK… a lot has to fall your way to win it all. And oh yeah, I have won it all 3 times in my career. 2012, 2015, and 2019 were years we will never forget. Since I began in 2010, in 14 years, we’ve only finished outside of the top 5 two times! Yeah, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd last year to go along with my 3 first place finishes. Is it safe to say I’m in the fantasy baseball HOF? Crown me bitches. But enough of the patting on the back… I’m not resting on my accomplishments. I want more. I want another fantasy title, and this year, I believe, we are in position to do it. Love the Orioles this year, so grabbing Burnes and Adley were 2 of my biggest draft picks; I also already acquired Tyler Wells off the wire. Go Baltimore! Needed some pop, so I got IMO two of the best 1B in the league, with Polar Bear and Vladdy. Blast away boys! A deep pitching staff is critical to our success… Logan Gilbert, Justin Steele, Jesus Luzardo, Cole Ragans, Andrew Abbott, and Ranger Suarez are a good start. With Eury Perez, Gerritt Cole, and Walker Buehler stashed on my DL… watch out! Plus, I already added AJ Puk to join the squad. With Munoz and Alzolay at the closer positions, feel great about the pitching. Love me some Spencer Steer; had to get him on the squad. Oneil Cruz, remember him? I do. Edouard Julien, heard of him? I have. Jake Burger, Cedric Mullins, Ketel Marte, Luis Arraez, Francisco Alvarez, Jarren Duran, Anthony Volpe, and Jack Suwinski will all be solid contributors. And oh yeah… Bry-zzo is reunited; Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo are back together, and I know it’s not 2016 any more, but they’ve got some left in the tank. Then I stashed some kid named Wyatt Langford… Good luck to the rest of the league.

In my 3rd year in the family league, I look to become the first 2-time champ. Winning the title in the inaugural year with my co-owner (my son) was sweet. Winning another would be sweeter. Disappointed with my 4th place finish last year; excited about my co-owner out on his own finishing in 3rd. He will be one of my toughest competitors in this league; it’s appropriate for us to match up in Week 1. With only 8 teams, there is tons of talent out there. Heck, I could build a 2nd team that would be competitive, but… have to stock up in this league knowing that every week, you’ll be facing a stacked team. Adley, Vladdy, Oneill, Cedric, Kris Bryant, Volpe, and Duran are on this team too; makes it easier for me to manage both teams. Lot of the same pitchers with Gilbert, Steele, Ragans, Puk, Cole, Perez, Buehler, and Munoz at closer. Now, let’s get to the new guys. Spencer Strider… boom! Tarik Skubal, Max Meyer, and closer Jose LeClerc round up the staff. On offense, Nico, Bregman, Castellanos, Reynolds, and Morel will pack plenty of punch. No reason why we can’t go all the way.

It takes a lot to manage two teams, on top of my day job, and my 2nd and 3rd careers, and oh yeah, family… haha. Plenty of time in “my office” will be spent managing my roster. Can’t get enough. Good luck to all fellow fantasy owners.