Let me start by saying thank you for taking the time to read Prospect Underground. Despite my blog being brand new, the concept of the blog certainly is not.
Over the last few decades, fantasy sports has become a multibillion dollar a year industry with fantasy football and baseball leading the way.
Fantasy baseball (originally termed 'rotisserie' baseball) originated in 1979 when American writer Daniel Okrent sat with a group of friends at La "Rotisserie" Francaise restaurant in New York City and introduced the idea. What started out using fundamental statistics has branched out into the art of saber metrics.
If you're not familiar with the saber metrics term, click here for the official Merriam-Webster definition.
Saber metrics helped open the door to more in-depth player analysis. No longer are the days where hitting a home run, converting a save or drawing a walk are the standard bearers of success. On-base percentage, WHIP, BAPIP, FIP, GB:FB ratio and exit velocity are now terms that easily roll off the tongue of any front office administrator or hardcore fantasy guru.
I'm here to add to the complex saber metric mix, yet my goal is simple: make it easier for fantasy baseball fans to find the next wave of prospects faster.
The upcoming season will be my 20th in fantasy baseball, and I've been involved in countless leagues. The primary lesson I've learned over the years is winning championships doesn't make you an expert. Research does.
Throughout the years, I've spend thousands of hours pouring over stats, and it's all for a greater purpose.
Competing in a lifetime National League-only fantasy league since 1997, I have learned that knowing the top minor league prospects in the game simply isn't enough. I had to know more. I needed to dig deeper. Much, much deeper, wondering if there could be an easier way to do so.
I asked myself, "How do I separate myself from the pack of sompetition if I'm sifting through the same prospects and the same statistics as everyone else?"
So, I decided to look beneath my leagues scoring system. Granted, I'll never be mistaken for a math whiz, but I closely examined what each of my players needed to score on a daily basis for me to outscore my opponent each week. This was my "ah ha" moment.
I started using my own scoring method in 2009 when I began working for Jason Martinez, owner/COO of MLBDepthCharts.com (now RosterResource.com.)
I began writing a weekly feature highlighting National League under-the-radar prospects (from Hi-A down to the Dominican Summer League) who were absent from the most recent top 10, 20 or 30 prospect lists. My scoring system has been successful, as several prospects I've recommended are currently in the major leagues like San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt, Detroit outfielder J.D. Martinez, St. Louis Cardinal first baseman Matt Adams, Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton and Oakland centerfielder Billy Burns.
I'll never claim my system is proven. That's too concrete.
However, my system has helped open the flood gates to a whole new layer of prospects.
Prospects that I feel have a chance to help fantasy baseball participants be successful in their respective leagues.
The best feeling in fantasy baseball is being prepared far past your casual fantasy league mates. So, let me help you take that next step.
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