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Ron Shandler, Fantasy Reconstructed 2/19/26 Chat
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Ron Shandler
7:59
Welcome to the chat. Tonight, the focus will be on your fantasy league rules. I see some questions in the queue on strategy, specific players and some random stuff – and I’ll get to those as I can – but I’m primarily here tonight to talk about the elements that create the best fantasy experience. All of this is in support of my new book, FANTASY, RECONSTRUCTED: The Innovator’s Playbook for Fantasy Sports. It is available on Bookbaby, Amazon, and a few other spots. If you’d like to be added to our mailing list for future updates, that’s here. Let’s rock and roll…
Michael Price
7:59
An old school 10 team NL  only auction league...5 x 5. Been a firm believer if walks go against a pitcher, then should count as positive  for batter. How can I convince league to go from batting average to on base percentage?  My logic seems to go nowhere with them...many thanks, Michael
Ron Shandler
8:01
I agree with you. But hardliners are tough to budge, even if the shift to OBP is a mostly harmless move. You might suggest a one-year OBP trial, then go back to BA if they don’t like it, but I suspect that would be too much of a commitment, especially if this is a keeper league. But how about a one-month side contest? Create a league with small rosters (1 at each position, 5 SP, 2 RP=16 plus 5 reserves) and run an online snake draft – a 2-hour exercise. Swap out OBP for BA and try it out. There’s no commitment beyond the month and it will at least give them a sense of player value with OBP. Worst case, you’ve lost nothing with your main league. Best case, you’ve planted the seeds for the change. Even better, they might like the one-month format and want to do it again.
Guest
8:02
Ron -- we have always had a minimum innings requirement to keep teams in our NL-only roto league from getting all relievers and punting wins to move up in WHIP, ERA, and saves. But that was in a 4x4 era. We are now 5x5, with Ks being added as the 5th pitching category -- so the all-reliever strategy is less profitable. But because wins are so random, some people in the league want to maintain an innings minimum (currently 900) to keep teams from pursuing a reliever strategy. What are your thoughts on a minimum innings rule as a way to prevent this strategy? Should we even have it in a 5x5 world? How about alternatives, such as mandating a minimum number of starting pitchers on the roster at all times? But then what do you do about openers? Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions. David
Ron Shandler
8:04
A minimum innings rule in a 5x5 league should be unnecessary. The counting stats of strikeouts and wins would be at risk for teams that didn’t accumulate IP. But with only ~50% of SP even pitching 5 IP anymore, strikeouts are now the only category that prevents an all-reliever strategy. So some choices are a) keep the 900 IP minimum, b) mandate a minimum number of SPs who average 4+ IP/start, c) kill the wins category and replace it with Innings Pitched – many leagues are doing that now - or d) let owners build whatever staff they want. You might think an all-reliever strategy is a bad thing, but once two owners try it at the same time, you’ll find that it’s not as easy as it looks (and it gives everyone else better starting pitchers!).
Rich Maxedon
8:04
We have switched from Wins to Quality starts.  How would you treat this?
Ron Shandler
8:06
Moving from W to QS used to be a good option, but again, with more and more pitchers not even going 5 innings, you won't get many QS. W PLUS QS is an option, I suppose. Personally, I've been gravitating to using IP as a category more and more. A pitcher will accumulate innings the better he is - which is what Wins were intended to measure anyway.
Dave
8:06
Not a question, but I want to say that I'm really enjoying the new book so far. And I laughed out loud at least 3 times on the first page alone. Thank you Ron!
Ron Shandler
8:07
Thanks, Dave. That first page was a good one, lol. I had a lot of fun writing that whole first chapter. It would be great if you could drop a review on amazon when you’re done. Thanks!
Guest
8:08
Hi Ron, Congrats on another great Fantasy book. What was the single most interesting thing you discovered while compiling content for your new book ?
Ron Shandler
8:09
Last May, I decided to reach out to my readers, both in my own database and on social media, asking them to share their own league’s rule oddities. I was astounded by the number and variety of ideas, many of which I had never considered. Such as hybrid player pools and free agent rules. Determining position eligibility based solely on the position played over the past 20 games (think of the implications!) Draft seeding that truly encouraged bottom teams to work hard even when tanking. Innovative ways to distribute the prize pool that kept everyone involved all year. Over 250 of these made it into the book. I thought this would be an exercise just for icing on the cake, but the ideas became a core element of the book. And they’re still coming. I might have to write another edition!
8:10
A few non-rule-related Qs now...
CG
8:10
Hi Ron, thanks for doing this chat. With my leagues keeper restrictions, am I better off keeping Schwellenbach, who is out for the year, Justin Steele, who is returning from injury, or prospect Robert Calaz, who may still be 2 years away from the majors?
Ron Shandler
8:11
Need more context here. Where is your team in the contend/rebuild cycle? If contending, opt for the player who could be productive sooner (Steele?). If rebuilding, match your stage in the cycle to the expected productivity of player upon his return. And honestly, a player with a .737 OPS in Single A, regardless of the organization and scouting report, could be a lot further than 2 years away.
Rich Maxedon
8:12
Can you give us a list of $1 players?  Especially Corner infielders and Pitchers with Holds?  This is our first year counting hods with saves.
Ron Shandler
8:13
The Broad Assessment Balance Sheet (BABS) list at BaseballHQ.com has a ton of options. Holds are tough to predict until we see usage in-season, so the best bet is targeting the highest skills arms – they’ll come cheap anyway. Uribe, Estrada, Scott, Weaver… And $1 players? Makes a difference if you’re in a 12-team AL/NL-only or a 12-team mixed. Quickly scanning down the BABS list for high-rated players in the ADP 300-450 range… Marsh, Bader, Senga, B.Ashcraft, Ozuna, Edman…. Really, there are A LOT.
Back to rules...
Jack
8:14
Ron- Our roughly 40 year old Mixed League has always had a 8/31 cutoff for FAAB, specifically due to the roster expansion on 9/1 from 25 to 40 players, so that teams could not easily accumulate minor leaguers who may be good keepers at low prices. I have not been able to convince fellow owners that the current 9/1 expansion of only 2 players (26 to 28) basically eliminates the aforementioned dilemma. Wondering if most leagues allow FAAB through the end of season? Thanks.
Ron Shandler
8:16
There are lots of ways this is being handled. Some leagues never placed a deadline on FAAB claims, and that worked fine because those Sept callups were all high-risk. Some leagues always had a FAAB deadline for the same reason that leagues have trading deadlines - sometimes a single player or two who go on a late tear can completely skew a close race. There are arguments on both sides.
David
8:17
Ron -- holds are such a bad measure, but with starters going so few innings these days, relievers (not closers) are increasingly important. What are the best ways to include their contributions in a 5x5 roto league?
Ron Shandler
8:19
Yeah, holds are a bad measure, but they are just as fickle as saves. The book includes options like  (Saves + Holds), (Saves + 1/2 holds), (3 x Saves + Holds), etc. There are not a lot of easily accessible reliever-only stats, but saves and holds still form a reasonable proxy for overall bullpen effectiveness.
DrDave
8:20
Years ago we felt that ERA and WHIP nearly mirrored each other as far as any team scoring almost the same number of points.  We also felt relievers were largely ignored so we dropped the WHIP category and added HOLDS.  We've never regretted that move.
Ron Shandler
8:21
There are many ways to skin a cat, which is an idiom (tenet? aphorism?) that I don't want to know the origin of. If anyone uses the commissioner service OnRoto.com, they have options for over 400 stat categories for their baseball leagues. It's wild!
Dan
8:21
Thanks Ron for your doing this.  When is the best time of the year/season to suggest or bring up rule and/or category changes?  The end of the season has at least half of the league tuned out, I don't get any responses in January, and by the time everyone starts to pay attention once spring training starts, it seems too late to have a good discussion to make any changes in league that has had the same categories for the last 25 years.
Ron Shandler
8:25
In the XFL, which is a hybrid keeper/dynasty league, we have our rules discussions in September. As commish, I send out an email asking for ideas and then we spend the last few weeks of the season going back and forth. Once we've narrowed things down to the key options, I send out a Google form and everyone votes. The rules that pass usually go into effect two seasons later (particularly if they affect keeper decisions) - so last September's changes would start in 2027 - though some can be enacted immediately (like changes to draft process).
lomfive@verizon.net
8:25
Ron, What are your thoughts on the impending lockout in December? Also, Salary Cap and Base, Revenue Sharing, Expansion, Deferred Money, etc.
Ron Shandler
8:26
I try not to predict the business end of this, and I'm not an expert in this area, but I think the Mets won't be surprised at my response to their spring training season ticket request next fall.
Scott
8:27
Helli Ron, I am in a 12 team AL only auction keeper league . For the last 4 years ir so the salaries of top Players has got ridiculous. Use to be Trout at 50 and top Sp 35 .. now Judge was 70 , Tucker 62 and Max Fried 49 ..this is 5 x5 with 260 cap.  How di we get salaries under control ???
Ron Shandler
8:29
Do you need to? If those players are going for exorbitant prices, that means there will be huge bargains further down the board. I'd want to be in this league because I don't get enamored by stars and would just scoop up the $20 pitchers, who will likely go for $10-15. Just take advantage  of it!
Dave
8:29
What's the longest running current league that you have heard about, while researching this book or otherwise? I'm in a league that started in 1990, but I see that Jack (above) is in one that is even a couple of years older than that! (Congrats Jack!)
Ron Shandler
8:31
The longest one that reached out to me in the writing process started in 1982, which pre-dates my first league by two years. So, what's that - 44 years? I am amazed by the longevity of some of these leagues. And I am SO JEALOUS. My first league died with the 1994 player strike.
Sidd
8:31
Hi Ron!  As our league has entered its fourth decade, we struggle to keep interest.  About half the league goes back to the early days, another third has been around for 10-15 years, and then we churn through the last few spots.  How can we juice up interest, especially when there are several owners who are perfectly happy that the league is now sleepier than it used to be?
Ron Shandler
8:34
Oh, so many ideas in the book, and if you're a Baseball HQ subscriber, I'll have an article there in a few days. If there is one general thought that kept popping up in the process it was that shorter leagues - monthly, say - and side contests have a great benefit in goosing interest. Especially if you have stodgy owners who won't agree to rule changes in your main league.
DrDave
8:34
To answer Dave about long running leagues, our NL started in '85, our AL in '86.  Still have 6 original owners.
Fred
8:34
What is the best way to keep owners active in a redraft league if they are clearly out of contention early
Ron Shandler
8:37
One suggestion - have a main prize pot and then a smaller, supplementary pot for things like monthly champions, monthly leaders - smaller goals like that. If you're out of the running, but you have a shot at a few bucks for winning the September SB category, that at least keeps some interest. Also, there are many ways to fund that pot - $1, $3, $5 for infractions or things like that. So many ideas...
Moose
8:38
I found the results of your POLL on how drafts are conducted interesting. We have used snake for many years, but now most source publications seem to focus more on auctions and player costs. The snake is simpler and easier to do unless a league has a commissioner service. I am the commissioner for our league
Ron Shandler
8:39
There are a bunch of polls in the book and I was surprised by many of the results. Also surprised by the different takes by Twitter/X followers and long-time readers.
Okay, a few more non-rules Qs
Rich Maxedon
8:39
I love BABS and use Babs with Rotolab.  This has helped me for several years.  I miss the First Pitch Florida.  Is there any chance you will hold a First Pitch Florida or Online?
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