Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues

NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head; Championship Week Extended!

September 23, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues |

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I realize that some of you beautiful people out there may have your H2H Championship this week, and I don’t want to leave any of you hanging!  If you have read this article all season long, you know that you should always play your studs!  Don’t get too cute, they have gotten you this far.  This is designed to give you that competitive edge that feels like cheating but isn’t!  It’s the first time a Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contestant introduced a glass of water to dip the bun.  Dip those buns, Razzballers!  (Welcome new readers who googled Nathan’s Buns.  Sorry, it didn’t produce what you were looking for.  You can find those pics on page 11).  

Welcome back from Page 11.  Now let’s turn our focus to your Championship Week!  I would love to see everyone’s championship score!  Screenshot it to me @natemarcum on Twitter.  I will enter all winners into a drawing for a nice little prize!

Please, blog, may I have some more?

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NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head: Championship Week!

September 18, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues | 6 Comments

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Hey there!  Do you look familiar?  I recognize you from reading this article over the past 20+ weeks.  While this may be the end, let’s ensure it ends on a high note!  While many will be happy just to have made it to the finals, our goal is to hoist that trophy…or cash those checks.  Whatever it may be that is your driving motivation.  Let’s take it one step further, do you have any clue who Ken Rosewall is?  Didn’t think so.  What about Raymond Poulidor?  The correct answer to that is “WHO?”.  How about an easier one?  Have you heard of Jim Kelly?  Yes?  Perfect!  So what do those names all have in common?  Ken Rosewall was a historic loser of the Wimbledon finals!  How about Raymond Poulidor?  His nickname was “The Eternal Second” due to his countless 2nd place finishes in the Tour de France.  And finally, Jim Kelly.  Yes, most of us old-timers know him from his historic 4 Super Bowl losses with the Buffalo Bills.  

Ultimately, what has the paragraph above taught us?  Finishing second is an easy way to be forgotten.  To quote the great Ricky Bobby, “If you ain’t first, you’re last!”  Now let’s Get Ahead In Head To Head and win that ‘ship!

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head: Round 2…Fight!

September 9, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues |

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Congratulations!  If you are reading this, you fall into three categories.  1.  You had a BYE, and this is your first week.  2.  You won last week with the suggestions of Razzball. 3.  Hi Mom…thanks for reading again.   Regardless of your reasoning, you are because you have some trust in the process.  I hope that I have guided you through some murky waters, around treacherous falls, and into safe pastures.  This game isn’t all too tough.  We simply have to utilize a process, identify some advantageous matchups, and have more luck than the person we are playing.  No need to dredge on, let’s get to Round 2!

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head: Playoff Edition!

September 2, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues | 2 Comments

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We have gotten here, everyone!  That is, assuming you are in the playoffs of your H2H league.  If you are reading this and didn’t make the Playoffs, you are my hero for still checking out this article.  For 20+ weeks, we have talked about strategy weekly, and nothing has changed since the playoffs are here.  If you have a stud, you should start them.  While there could be a case for a marginals stud in Atlanta who only has 5 games, don’t overthink it!  You are not sitting Acuna or Reilly, no matter what.  What we should be doing is looking at the week-by-week rotations and trying to get the most ABs possible.  This may be common knowledge, but there are a few additional “tricks of the trade” that could help you…

If you have a BYE, start looking ahead to next week’s matchups while your opponents are hyper-focused on this week.  For instance, the Reds have 9 games.  CLE, MIA, PITT, and TB all have 8 games.  
Check the IL reports and see if anyone is coming off early.  
Look at your potential opponents’ strengths or weaknesses (categorical H2H), and make sure to take advantage
See if you can forecast the upcoming 2-start pitchers.  The early bird gets the worm. 

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head; The Final Week!

August 26, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues |

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In most H2H leagues, this is the final week of the regular season.  I reflect on this week as I have watched Pujols and Molina make their final journey around the MLB before they leave for good.  Well, as far as we know!  Pujols has gone on record that even if he doesn’t get to 700, he will retire.  I believe that about as much as I believed he was 19 when he joined the Cardinals.  I think it would be an awesome situation to watch Albert come back next year (if he doesn’t get 700 this year) and have all of America watching his every AB in hopes of 700.  Then again, the swan song for Pujols and Molina hasn’t exactly been one that I had imagined.  I can remember when Mariano Rivera was retiring, he was getting rocking chairs made of broken bats, gold records, and terrifying sand sculptures.   Derek Jeter received a ticker tape parade with every stadium he visited, and yet Pujols and Molina pale in comparison.  Sure, Molina doesn’t deserve the send-off that Jeter or Mo had gotten, but Pujols deserves so much more than what he has gotten.  Hell, the Red Sox and the Cubs gave him the same gift, the #5 from their scoreboards. 

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head: Junis Gone But The Playoffs Are Near!

August 19, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues | 1 Comment

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It feels like only yesterday that we were beginning this Head-to-Head journey together, and magically we are entering the final weeks of the regular season.  With only a few more weeks left until the playoffs start, the wins become ever so important.  I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention again that the fantasy football season has crept upon us, leaving, on average, 25% of the league’s cellar dwellers empty.  There are those teams that are still competitive, despite their poor standings, but the odds are greatly reduced.  This is also the time of year when I trim my roster.  Here are a couple of “end-of-season” tricks that I use in preparation for the playoffs.

Trim your roster.  If you have players who are just “certain” they will come out of hibernation.  It’s time to cut bait, it’s nearing September.  I’m looking at you, J.D. Martinez.
Check waivers for returning players.  Not all leagues have IL spots (leave that league if so).   Ozzie Albies, Bryce Harper, Mike Soroka, Manny Margot
Rotating spot among staff.  I always leave at least one spot available among my pitchers to have a stream-worthy option.
Sunday night waiver dump.    If you have limited roster moves per week, use the remaining moves on Sunday night for the week ahead. 

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head For Week 14: Saved By The Bell, Where’s Slater?

July 21, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues | 2 Comments

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If I was ever looking to control a key demographic of our articles, I believe the headline just reeled in all 16 of you!  For those of you that don’t have a clue what Saved By the Bell was a teen sitcom based around a group of high school friends.  These friends shared countless stories of heartbreak and humor and ultimately led to some amazing careers post recording.  The teen heart throb, Zach, has gone on to star in countless hits like Dead Man on Campus and Saved By the Bell: Hawaiian Style.  His love interest, Kelly Kapowski, was the first crush that many of us 40 year olds had growing up!  Vying for the love of Kelly opposite Zach was A.C. Slater.  A.C. was always cool, had some sick dance moves, and has led off for the Giants in his last 3 appearances vs LHP.  Oh wait, divergent stories!  

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head For Week 12: New Kids In The Hall

July 1, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues |

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Happy 4th of July to Everyone!  It is the nations’ Independence Day, but more importatnly, it is the day I risk my digits for 500 grams of gundpowder magic!  Each year myself and a host of others gather at my house and compete in the neighborhood firework contest (there is no actual contest, just a local bragging rights of sort).  I guess the actual prize is that of no injury!  If you are keeping score, I do have whistlin’ bungholes, spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don’ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, and one single whistlin’ kitty chaser!  For all the “your pet hates them and subsequently hates you”, I am aware.  My precious Zoey is kept safe and happy away from all the chaos.  

With the holiday upon us, there is always the chance that your leaguemates will get lost in libations and/or just forget that there are some quality plays this week that will Get You Ahead In Head To Head.  Here they are!

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head For Week 11: Wrath Of Kwan

June 24, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues |

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It’s time for another rousing edition of Getting Ahead In Head To Head.  As we enter the dog days of Summer, it’s really time to grind out those wins and stay ahead of the competition.  Side note—Why do they call them the “dog days of summer”.  I am rather partial to dogs and find them to be comforting and kind.  There is nothing about the 99-degree days with 70% humidity in St. Louis that I find neither comforting nor kind.  On a positive note with the MLB, it does appear that with the rise in temperature, there is also a rise in the offense.  Batting averages are up nearly .20 points since April and there were roughly 1200 more runs scored in May than in Mar/Apr combined.  

So what does this have to do with head-to-head baseball? Not really anything, but it shows that attention to offense is paramount.  Use this time to make sure that you put the best players in a situation to succeed. Yes, I know that this is pretty generic information, but I can speak out of personal experience.  I have had Myles Straw in my lineup way too much and should have heeded my own advice.  While I am not saying to bench your studs because they have a tough matchup, but there are times when a “gut” call is necessary.  Let me be the rumble in your stomach and play the role of your “gut”.  But if you happened to have Taco Bell last night, that isn’t me talking, get to the bathroom!

Without further ado, let’s Get Ahead In Head To Head, Week 11 edition!

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head For Week 10: Luke, I Am Your Father!

June 17, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues | 4 Comments

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While the 1st Father’s Day was celebrated in 1910, it wasn’t until 1972 that it became a National holiday. Yes, it will never compete with Mother’s Day, and it probably shouldn’t, but Father’s Day is special nonetheless.  For starters, Jim Bunning once threw a perfect game, the 1st for the Phillies.  Bunning only needed 90 pitches, which he threw 79 for strikes!  The Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, defeated the Sonics in 7.  This was Jordan’s 1st championship following the death of his father.  And who could forget Tiger Woods’ 15-stroke victory in the US Open at Pebble Beach?

While these amazing achievements highlight the special day, there are a few other interesting factoids.  Whiskey was the most gifted item for fathers in the 1980s.  The 1990s were headlined by clothing (most likely ties), with the introduction of improved technology beginning to overshadow towards the end of the decade.  As we enter the 2000s and into the present day, materialistic gifts have given way to “experience” gifts.  For instance, fathers are no longer getting a hat, but instead, they are gifted tickets to go see a concert or a sporting event.  I would like to follow in the footsteps of the kids of today and gift all of you fathers out there (and honestly everyone else reading this) the gift of knowledge.  Here are some helpful tips to give us the gift that we all really want…a Head to Head Fantasy Baseball victory in Week 10!

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head In Week 9! He Who Smeltz It, Dealt It!

June 10, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues |

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So last week we decided to go hunting for mushrooms, Morel to be specific, and it appears we stumbled upon a few.  It was very nice to see the Farmer produce.  (Get it…Farmer/Produce). I’ll keep the comedy to the internet trolls whose keyboard commando skills rival no one.  It may be a little early, but even Stripling had a fantastic 1st start with his next start still TBD.  

Yes, it would appear that I am simply patting myself on the back, but for each nut that this blind squirrel finds, there is a Keegan Thompson start to bring me back to Earth.  Let’s be honest, we got lucky that Kimbrel’s wife went into labor so that Daniel Hudson could pick up a few saves.  With that being said, I focus my attention on Week 9 and which players/schedules are designed to help you Get Ahead In Head To Head.  And without further ado, let’s go from hunting shrooms to hunting for “he who dealt it”!

Please, blog, may I have some more?
NateMarcum

Getting Ahead In Head To Head In Week 8! Picking Morels

June 3, 2022 | 2022 Fantasy Baseball, Fantasy Baseball Head-to-Head Leagues | 4 Comments

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With the most sincere apologies, I am back for Week 8!  Last week, my wife and I took a much-needed vacation to Sin City.  With respect to my wife, I probably should have stayed at home and written last week’s article instead of dropping way too much money at the casino.  

At week’s end, we will be 1/3 of the way thru the fantasy season, and the next 8 weeks will go a long way in determining your outcome.  With each week that passes, there are a handful of managers that either decides it is football season, or that they are just too far out of contention.  As I learned in Vegas, the hard way, don’t hit on two Queens.  Take this advice with a grain of salt, but it should give you some good guidelines to adjust your lineup.  Don’t overthink it!

As with each week, let’s take a look at the schedules and players that will help you Get Ahead In Head to Head for Week 8!

Please, blog, may I have some more?