News
Fantasy Baseball returns to MLB.com
Free game offers customizable, fan-friendly features
By Tim Ott / MLB.com
02/08/10 8:00 AM ET
With the opening of Spring Training approaching, it's time for fantasy owners everywhere to get their leagues in order.MLB.com is here to help baseball fans get ready for the season with the dual launch of MLB.com 2010 Fantasy Baseball and the 2010 Fantasy Preview
Entering its fifth year of existence, MLB.com Fantasy Baseball is the most fan-friendly fantasy experience on the Internet.
What makes MLB.com 2010 Fantasy Baseball so fan friendly? For starters, it's free, so anybody can join a league and put together a winning team.
Users will be able to watch daily video highlights of their fantasy teams and get live scoring and stats straight from their homepages. And those who have signed up for MLB.TV will be able to link to live games to watch their players in action.
The game offers the chance to customize league size, providing the opportunity to either play with family and friends or to open a league to the public. Additionally, participants can choose to either take part in a live draft, have a team automatically selected based off personal MLB player rankings or have a roster of players automatically assigned to them.
Throughout the season, our team of experts will be updating the system with 150-200 player notes on a daily basis, providing MLB.com 2010 Fantasy Baseball participants with all the information they need to stay competitive in their leagues.
How to play
Your league & lineups: MLB.com 2010 Fantasy Baseball leagues typically consist of 12 teams competing in a weekly head-to-head format in which points are awarded for every hit, homer, win and more. Each week, owners will need to set a starting lineup that consists of one first baseman, one second baseman, one shortstop, one third baseman, one catcher, three outfielders, one utility player and one team pitching staff. In addition, owners will also have six bench players to rotate in and out of their lineup as they see fit.
Points system: One point is awarded for each total base a hitter racks up -- a single equals one point, a double is worth two points and so on. One point is also awarded for every RBI, run and walk accumulated. A stolen base gives you two points, but a caught stealing will dock your team one point.
Pitching staffs: On the pitching side, a win will translate to three points, while additional points will be awarded depending on the number of earned runs and baserunners allowed, along with total strikeouts accumulated. For example, you'll get seven points if your staff throws a shutout, but no points if at least five earned runs are surrendered.
Top 10 Scoring: This year, fans will also have the option to join a league using MLB.com's new Top 10 Scoring Option. Experienced fantasy owners know the frustration that comes when a high-scoring player is sitting on the bench, but the Top 10 Scoring Option counts the highest point total produced at each position, regardless of whether the players are in the starting lineup or not. So if your backup shortstop hits three homers and steals five bases over the course of a week, his numbers will be counted as if he were starting.
So go ahead and start formulating your strategies for the upcoming season. Is Angels first baseman Kendry Morales here to stay among the game's elite after an MVP-caliber '09 campaign? And can Mets third baseman David Wright find a way to regain his missing power stroke?
You've had all winter to ruminate on the possibilities; now's the time to start making some decisions. Even if you don't land in the winners' circle, MLB.com 2010 Fantasy Baseball offers an easy opportunity to get involved with a game enjoyed by millions of fans every year. Sign up to play today, as Opening Day isn't far down the road.
Tim Ott is a fantasy writer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
