Hi, my name is Ron, and I am obsessed, no, addicted to fantasy baseball. My ultimate enabler: CBS Sports’ fantasy website, and with the All-Star Break sending me into withdrawals, I figured I’d give a breakdown of what the site is all about, and how it has contributed to the spiraling out of control of my soon-to-be former life. So here it goes:
The Home Screen
Where I get all my player updates on injuries, hot/cold streaks, lineup changes, and so called “expert advice,” in addition to owner polls, commissioner updates, and transaction news. Here is where it all begins, a sort of welcome mat to the internal destruction, as if the site is saying “Come right in, but leave your life at the door.”
The “My Roster” Page
Yeah I know, my team is dirty. But seriously, this is the meat of the problem. Here is where hours can be spent staring, crunching numbers, looking at pitcher matchups, and my favorite, watching the player ranks fluctuate from day to day.
Sometimes I like to click on the players and just look at them, see who’s smiling, who’s not. Yeah, its weird but I like it so back off!
Scout Team
From the roster page, I can access my scout team. This would be the fantasy addict’s version of an alcoholic buying ten boxes of different wines to keep in the basement. These guys are the future, and ensure that I will be a baseball nerd for years to come. The next step is going to minor league games and scouting these guys out, letting them know they could have a future with the squad. So keep up the hard work, fellas.
Fantasy Game Tracker
This is where all the fun, and non-fun happens. The scoring page gives live updates down to the batter and pitch count, and is entertaining enough to be watched for hours. How pathetic. I could be watching real baseball, but instead, I’m seeing what Matt Carpenter is going to do in his next at-bat.
One time, I had a nightmare that Madison Bumgarner let up two home runs and three walks in the first inning. Upon waking up, I ran here to check if it was real. This thing is a life saver.
The Power Rankings
The true teller of how good a team is. I’m thankful to have had my spot in the top three for weeks now, but am fearful of dropping any moment. These rankings are my lifeblood, what keep me going through the dark times. Other owners argue who’s gotten lucky? Who’s record doesn’t reflect their points scored? I keep quiet and go here for comfort.
Free Agents
CBS offers useful settings and filters to search for the right free agent pickup. Or, I can simply see who has scored the most points. It’s shocking that Josh Donaldson is still available. Picking up a player is like a quick fix, to be used sparingly when an owner is feeling really down in the dumps.
As a whole, CBS is a more than solid choice as the platform for an in-depth fantasy league. They provide the tools and features needed to be competitive as well as immersed in the game. The site is not to be taken lightly. Watch out, she’ll getcha.
And there ya have it, a little inside look into what is basically my world. I’m damn proud of this league and wouldn’t change it for anything. We all decided we would pass this league onto our firstborn sons some day, but I don’t see it happening. Married to the game!
