10 Tips For Winning Your 2009 Fantasy Baseball League

Analyst Written on February 24, 2009

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JUPITER, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Hanley Ramirez #2 of the Florida Marlins poses during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium February 22, 2009 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

(Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Drafting Hanley Ramirez will definitely help you win your fantasy baseball league, but you need to know more before you draft than who the best player is.

To help you prepare for the draft, here are my 10 hottest tips. Fantasy Baseball Dugout, the top site for fantasy baseball rankings, has a full list of 50 tips to win your league in 2009.

If you'd like to get 40 more FREE tips to win your league, check us out.

Pick established players over potential stars

PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Evan Longoria #3 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses during Photo Day on February 20, 2009 at the Charlotte County Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Everybody likes to brag about picking up that sleeper, but the hype is often bigger than the stats.

Evan Longoria is great, but he might be overhyped in your league.

Don't reach for him just because he was great last year.

Make sure you have one more closer than your nearest competitor.

ST PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 18: Relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon #58 of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in game six of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs on October 18, 2008 at Tropicana

You might not want to be the first person to draft a closer, but if you have 3 closers while everyone else in your league has 2, you can guarantee wins in the saves category every week.

Pick a player early in positions that are light, like second base or shortstop

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Chase Utley #26 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a photo during Spring Training Photo day on February 20, 2009 at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Chase Utley and Hanley Ramirez are the top two players at second base and shortstop, arguably the thinnest positions in fantasy baseball.

You shouldn't reach for top players at these positions, but don't wait too long to get one of the best guys.

There are no favorite players in fantasy baseball.

TAMPA - FEBRUARY 18: Infielder Derek Jeter #2 of the New York Yankees takes batting practice February 18, 2009 at the George Steinbrenner complex in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Draft with your head, not with your heart.

Don’t move a guy up in your analysis because he got hot in spring training.

CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 20: Ryan Howard #6 of the Philadelphia Phillies poses for a photo during Spring Training Photo day on February 20, 2009 at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Just because Ryan Howard will feast on the prospects and non-roster invitees at Spring Training doesn't mean he has more fantasy value than Albert Pujols.

Don’t give away any 5x5 categories.

DENVER - MAY 18: Center fielder Willy Taveras #3 of the Colorado Rockies steals second base against the Minnesota Twins during Interleague MLB action at Coors Field on May 18, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeated the Twins 6-2. (Photo by Doug

Many fantasy experts will tell you that you don't need to worry about steals or saves in your draft, not so. It is possible to draft all outfielders who will steal 20 bases.

While saves can be picked up during the season, you can also draft three incumbent closers and use your waiver wire moves on improved starting pitching.

In traditional Roto stats leagues, some statistics don’t matter.

VIERA, FL - FEBRUARY 21: Adam Dunn #44 of the Washington Nationals poses during photo day at Roger Dean Stadium on February 21, 2009 in Viera, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)

An out is an out, so don't worry about drafting Adam Dunn.

Avoid young pitchers in the very earliest rounds.

SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 3: Tim Lincecum #55 of the San Francisco Giants pitches against the Chicago Cubs during a Major League Baseball game on July 3, 2008 at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

They're prone to arm trouble.

Know which ballparks give up the most (and least) homeruns.

PHOENIX - FEBRUARY 22: Matt Holliday of the Oakland Athletics poses during photo day at the Athletics spring training complex February 22, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

A player who changes teams in the offseason can see his fantasy value go up (Mark Teixeira) or down (Matt Holliday) based on his new stadium surroundings.

If you're picking between two hitters and one of them plays for Colorado, take the Rockie

DENVER - MAY 18: Catchers Chris Ianetta #20 and Yorvit Torreabla #8 of the Colorado Rockies watch the action from the duggout against the Minnesota Twins during Interleague MLB action at Coors Field on May 18, 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The Rockies defeat

They play 81 games at Coors Field.

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written on February 24, 2009 Sports

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