Fantasy Baseball Influencer.
First recipient of the Lawr Michaels Zen and Now Award.
FSWA Hall of Fame.
Won some leagues but lost a ton more.
Sexagenarian.
@DanClarkSports
I've have always done a podcast guest appearance gratis because
1. I'm doing a favor the same way others did me a favor when I was breaking in
2. I'm paying it forward, so to speak, so the podcasters will do the same once they're more established
3. It's the right thing to do
Obviously, there's a reason on-line drafts are so popular. That said, there's something special about a live draft with friends you don't see as much as you used to or want to. I hope we never lose site of this in a hobby becoming more and more impersonal by the year.
Looks like Noah Syndergaard's recovery from hand, foot and mouth disease will be a little longer than Josh Hader's recovery from foot in mouth disease.
Honored to be chosen from a bevy of worthy candidates to join such an esteemed group.
Thrilled to be inducted alongside RIck, one of the unsung heroes of the industry.
Likely in the minority (so what's new) but I don't care about the quirkiness of the 2020 season. I don't care about the goofy rules or the odd things intrinsic to a 60-game schedule.
I care about (hopefully) being able to watch baseball for 66 straight afternoons and evenings.
Around 10 years ago, I made the difficult decision to leave biotech and do fantasy baseball full time. It wasn't easy. My fear was if I made my passion my vocation, I'd end up hating them both. The opposite occurred and not for one second did I regret the decision.
Until today.
Say what you will about Gunnar Henderson. I see a selfish guy caring more about himself by homering on the first pitch than a leadoff guy willing to take several pitches for the benefit of the rest of the lineup.
Drafting reality:
8 hour time limit: I can't believe they always take over 7 hours
4 hour limit: I can't believe they always take over 3 hours
2 hour limit: I can't believe they take almost 2 hours
1 minute limit: I cant believe they always use almost their whole minute
Seeing a ton of fantasy analysts being outed for bad advice.
Analysts job is to offer an opinion and support it.
Fantasy players job is to consider the opinion and make their own decision.
OK, back to formulating bad 2021
#fantasybaseball
advice.
So it looks like this is a thing. It was a great experience organized by a great guy --
@JustinMasonFWFB
. The camaraderie, smack-talk and general banter on social media all season long is so reflective of the symbiotic nature of the industry - literally unlike any other.
@TGFBI
@JonHeyman
Try to keep this in mind. Those of us playing and making a living in fantasy don't care about the whining from an ignorant mainstream baseball writer significantly benefiting from those playing fantasy, especially when many of their mainstream colleagues are out of work.
Spencer Strider has thrown more innings, posted a higher strikeout rate and a much lower walk rate, and hasn't benefited from a silly lucky BABIP and LOB%, but sure, go ahead and hand Blake Snell the NL Cy Young because his 2.33 ERA is a run and a half lower than Strider's mark.
BREAKING: The Oakland Athletics are signing Willie Mays Hayes, Jake Taylor, Rick Vaughn, Pedro Cerrano, Eddie Harris and Roger Dorn to minor league contracts with an invitation to spring training.
Does anyone know the proper way to express gratitude to those taking a moment to offer congratulations? Asking for a sincerely humbled Hall-of-Famer. Here's a heartfelt thank you to everyone's kind words. Your warm reception over the years is a large part of what drives my work.
Fantasy baseball tip from your Uncle Todd...
There's SO much data/stuff out there, don't try to master it all.
Find a niche, study it, learn it, apply it. Rely on others to fill in the blanks with your draft prep.
When you're completely comfortable in that area, start another.
If you care more about who the Rangers are trading to the Indians instead of last minute start/sits and weather reports, you may be a
#fantasybaseball
analyst.
Everyone lamenting how crazy fantasy football is (again), but come next July, fantasy baseball coverage will be an afterthought in many places. Not saying fantasy football shouldn't be covered in July, of course it should, but fantasy baseball coverage should not just disappear.
The FSGA's Hall of Fame Committee has selected Lawr Michaels as its 2019 inductee to the Fantasy Sports Hall of Fame. He'll be inducted posthumously on June 28 at
#FSGASummer19
. Read the full press release at
My niece, who just got into law school and wants to get into sports law, texted me from the Red Sox game to ask if we could go to a WooSox game so I can talk to her about the minor leagues.
Sometimes this Uncle gig is pretty sweet.
It's happening again -- been this way all drafting season.
Rounds 1-6 feel perfect. Love the build, this is gonna be great!
Rounds 7-10 are horrible. No one feels right. Picks feel forced, almost wasted.
Rounds 11 to the end, there's like five guys I love for every spot.
Spent some time looking at my fantasy baseball teams.
It's clear I'm really good at getting the player I want.
Now I need to figure out how to want better players.
"I don't care about ADP." -- Person defending one's own draft pick.
"What a dumb pick, you could have waited another round or two." -- Same person criticizing someone else's pick.
I’m very excited to announce that I have joined
@TheAthletic
!
We have a lot of great things brewing for the upcoming season.
Need a draft kit? We’ve got you covered
@TheAthleticFS
.
Get 40% off your subscription:
Devers extended. That's all I need. And a catcher, Devers, a catcher... and a shortstop. That all I need. Devers, a catcher, a shortstop. And a power bat. All I need is Devers, a catcher, a shortstop and a power bat. And an ace pitcher. That's all I need...
Been writing MLB player profiles for, I don't know, 20 years? Pretty sure I've never typed the word "testicle" in any. That's about to change. Next on the list - Mitch Haniger.
Lost in Shohei Ohtani's historical year is he could be playing for the only manager willing to buck the trend and play him nearly every day.
I've questioned Joe Maddon's antics, but this time we owe him a thank you.
I really don't think another manager would let him hit as much
Friend to me: I always feel bad for you on Valentine's Day
Me: Why?
Friend: You know, living alone and stuff.
Me: I appreciate the thought but don't worry, I'll be fine. I get to spend the day updating my projections with the humidor news. I ❤️Excel!
The Yu Darvish deal has the makings of that
#fantasybaseball
deal where the only two teams thinking it is fair are the ones making the trade, but in reality, getting a few lottery tickets for a 34-year old hurler with an injury past isn't altogether bad.
Flight to Phoenix booked. Honored and humbled to be asked to fill Lawr's Chuck Taylor's at AL LABR. I'll miss the Mixed Draft, very competitive and fun group, but it's the right time to return to the auction leagues.
Instead of an alternate Manning broadcast, ESPN2 should have had a bunch of fantasy folks needing X points from Y player to win the championship and let them riff.
Garrett Whitlock being nasty in short stints between longer outings when he piggybacks Rich Hill is a better fantasy asset than most MLB teams' SP3-SP5.
Twitter gets a bad rap, often deservedly so. But here's a little secret from your Uncle Todd -- treat it and your followers with respect and it ain't so bad.
In what's the likely the corniest Mother's Day tribute, this is the sole survivor of a dinnerware set that's at least 40 years old. My Mom used to demonstrate/sell it, I think of her every time I wash it. The set was advertised as unbreakable. I beg to differ. Miss you mom.
Giancarlo Stanton 0-for-2, obviously pressing, having trouble adjusting to the pressure of the Yankees. Thinking about downgrading my HR projection from 53.3 to 52.7.
Friends, a favor (knowing there's a chance non-friends will mock, judge, ignore).
Please don't tag my baseball posts with references to the cancellation of the 2020 season. I know the possibility exists, but admittedly selfishly prefer not to be reminded in this manner. Thanks.
The early
#fantasybaseball
market seems to be harshly penalizing players with an extremely poor 2020. If you believe the circumstances deserve a mulligan, there's serious profit to be had.