Fantasy Baseball Strategy: Advanced Methods for Winning Your League (Paperback)

~ Henry Lee (Author) "Books and magazines about fantasy baseball generally do one of two things: Either they tell you the basics of how to set up and play..." (more)
Key Phrases: baseball strategy, fantasy owners, unpredictable owner, Special Considerations, Alex Rodriguez, Cold Caller (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

I can see this being a defining book on fantasy baseball strategy. -- Jonathan Leshanski, Editor of At Home Plate, Feb. 20, 2004

This book is for you. Take the extra step and check it out -- unless you’re satisfied with third place. -- Eric Karabell, ESPN Fantasy Games, March 12, 2004

Product Description

THE AVERAGE READER IMPROVED 3 PLACES IN THE STANDINGS! Nothing validates the value of this book more than actual results. We surveyed people who purchased the book directly from the publisher's website and the average reader did improve significantly. On the site is a screenshot of a reader's three teams that came in first place in each of his different leagues. Does this book offer magical tricks that will befuddle your opponents and lift you to victory every time? No, but having a strategy will improve your odds within your league - that is for sure. Fantasy Baseball Strategy is a practical guide to putting together a strategy that works best for you. If you think you know it all already, this book probably is not for you. If you could use some good ideas and a book that gives you a framework for creating advantages for your team, this book will help. Winning your 2005 fantasy baseball league is much more than just uncovering bargains at your draft or auction. You have to do more than just sign up for a league, buy a magazine and show up. You need a clear strategy to guide your every move throughout the season, allowing you to create advantages over your competition at each step of the way. This book is for you if you want those advantages in your league. You will discover how easy it is to create: - Draft and Auction Strategies - Trading Strategies - Free Agent Strategies - Keeper Strategies - Valuation Strategies - Management Strategies - Competitive Strategies No cookie cutter "strategy" that can be conveniently summed up in an acronym will help you consistently dominate your league. You need to devise a customized, comprehensive strategy that fits your style, your league, and your competition. Fantasy Baseball Strategy is your guide to easily forming that strategy. If only your favorite Major League Baseball team had this kind of advantage!

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Product Details

• Paperback: 244 pages
• Publisher: Squeaky Press (January 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974844500
• ISBN-13: 978-0974844503
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #790,778 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Independent Baseball Book Review, February 23, 2004

By A Customer

I couldn't understand the discrepancy between most of the reviews and one that seemed very different. On one hand, browsing through the table of contents of this book led me to believe that it is very different from what is out there. On the other, one reviewer was so venomous, I must admit I did have second thoughts about buying the book, having not heard of this author before. I was curious why anyone would tout an author's books so vehemently while ripping this one, that I was not sure what to believe. Some of the good ones did seem too good, but the bad one seemed too bad. I decided to look for an independent book reviewer on this book.

I found this at www.athomeplate.com

The review seems fair and at least the reviewer, Jonathan Leshanski, stand by his comments enough to post it on his website. You should decide for yourself what is real and what isn't. Here is what he wrote:

In the beginning when I picked up Fantasy Baseball Strategy I wasn't quite sure what to expect - after all I had never heard of Henry Lee and had no idea what type of information that he would be able to contribute about fantasy baseball. In truth I didn't expect to learn much more than I had in countless seasons of playing fantasy baseball and talking and debating with many other skilled players.

With that in mind I have to admit that I was slightly blindsided by Mr. Lee's overall approach. The book details not only fantasy baseball strategy but it also offers a system in which a player can use in creating a draft plan AND a regular season strategy of their own. The basics of the system are not complicated, but the details certainly are and in order to get it all down the player would likely require an analytical brain, time and a lot of hard work.

What this means of course is that the approach will not be for everyone, but for those that take fantasy baseball as seriously as they do breathing this book can open your eyes to some things that you likely overlooked.

One of the most wonderful things about Mr. Lee's system is that it doesn't matter what kind of a draft you play with or what categories your league uses - the system can be applied to every specific circumstance because you are forced to customize it.

The book consists of 11 chapters, which include: Characteristics of Champions, Fundamental Theorem of Fantasy Sports, Competitive Strategy, Valuation, Special Considerations, Management Style, The Draft, Free Agents, Trading, Keeper Leagues, and Putting it All Together.

The chapter titles give you an excellent overview of what is contained within. Of particular interest were the chapters on the Fundamental Theorem of Fantasy Sports, Competitive Strategy, Valuation and the Draft. Each of these chapters contains some gems that will benefit both the novice and experienced player. A handful of these tidbits are obvious although they are things that most of us never put into words, while others are much more subtle.

I'm not going to have the time to put a lot of Mr. Lee's ideas into practice this season, but even without that time I feel that I benefited from the book. I think most fantasy players will feel the same way. You might not have the time or impetus to use the tools provided to create your own custom fantasy guide (which this guide prepares you to do), but there is so much more in this book that you'll find yourself better prepared for your next league.

I don't know how well this system will work, but without having tried it I am very impressed with its fundamentals. I suspect it will make anyone that reads it a much better fantasy competitor.

I won't say the book doesn't have some flaws, but they are minor and no doubt future revisions of this book will get better and close some of the cracks. As for now, rate this a top fantasy strategy guide and give it 3 of 4 balls for all serious fantasy players.

Our Rating System is based on a four ball system as follows:
One Ball: Average. It has something to say but is nothing special.
Two Balls: Something men usually have - also means its a cut above average, and worth reading/owning.
Three balls: Stands out from its peers and is highly recommended.
Four Balls: More than just what two men have when hanging out together, it means it is an exceptional book that truly earns a walk - straight to the local book store to get a copy.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I hope others in my league don't read this. IT'S THAT GOOD!!, February 17, 2004

By	Chad (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

I have spent a ton of time researching and trying to learn as much as I can about fantasy baseball. I have been doing roto leagues for 10 years and I have never found a book that was this good and detailed. I can say that I truly feel going into this year that I will have the best team when this season is over. Never before have I seen a side of roto baseball like this. I almost feel guilty using this book because it will give me such an advantage come draft day. I highly recommend that you get the spreadsheet that is available with the book. One last thing, I thought I had a concrete strategy going into this season and after reading the book I realized that my strategy was no better than the other 11 guys in my league. I now feel as if I will be unique.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There is no comparison. The best book available, February 13, 2004

By	"krazieg22" (Fremont, CA) - See all my reviews

Someone on a fantasy baseball discussion board said a good strategy book is John Benson's. I just got back from the bookstore and read Benson's section on 'Inside the game' from his Rotisserie Baseball 2004. There isn't much there. Even though the book is 440 pages long, 45 are devoted to the different rules, 45 I guess you could call strategy, and 350 pages are devoted to individual players. It is published in November so I didn't even look at the player analysis. Don't get me wrong, I'm thinking of ordering his Future Stars book, but for strategy, there is only one clear cut choice. I opened up Henry Lee's new book Fantasy Baseball Strategy and it is phenomenal. He gives clear examples of how strategies can create advantages for you.