Fantasy Baseball: Leading Off

Editor's Note: Derrick Webb is a sports writer for the Media Network of Central Ohio. His column on fantasy baseball will appear on this website at 4 p.m. each Wednesday. 

The game of baseball has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

At 4, my parents signed me up for tee-ball and after the first sniff of infield dirt, I was hooked. That year started a love affair with myself and America's past time — and yes, it's still America's past time no matter how profitable the National Football League may become.

Every summer since that tee-ball registration, I've found myself at the ballpark, still very much in love and still very much in awe.

You see, baseball isn't just a game. Baseball represents tradition, our nation's culture, and has provided countless generations with genuine entertainment; even in the darkest of times. The game has given us timeless images, legendary figures, Herculean heroes, and lovable scapegoats.

1930: America has just been catapulted into a Great Depression. With President Herbert Hoover making $75,000 per year, New York Yankees legend George Herman Ruth — you may have heard of him —  was asked how he felt about making $80,000 that same year. His response? "I know. But I had a better year than Hoover."

1941: In the midst of World War II and the evil of Adolf Hitler, baseball fans were treated with one of the game's most historical seasons to date. Boston's Ted Williams hit a record .406 that year and New York's Joe DiMaggio hit safely in a record 56 consecutive contests. Both would later trade their baseball uniforms for army slacks and fight for their country.

2001: As the United States endured one of the most gruesome terrorist attacks in world history, the game of baseball picked up the pieces to a nation once more. I can still remember watching Mets catcher Mike Piazza hit that home run and round the bases with the crowd cheering 'USA! USA!'.

I could go on. But you get the point.

It isn't just a game. Baseball has, I believe, a sort of healing power. It takes the mind to a different, happy place when the ugly realities of life are brought forward.

So what does any of this have to do with fantasy baseball? The answer is nothing.

I simply wanted to let you readers, who will hopefully make a trip back to this publication next week, know that I have a passion for the game. I care about what's happening each night and I'm without question keeping an eye on each and every contest.

The game has changed and fantasy baseball has been brought to the forefront. In an age of technology, fans have put down their scorebooks and are now holding their smartphones, keeping an eye on ESPN's Gamecast or their own Yahoo Fantasy Baseball lineups.

What's funny is I'm also one of those fans. I catch myself checking to see if that player that just hit a towering home is in my Fanduel lineup, or if I remembered to start my powerful right-handed starting pitcher who just threw a two-hit shutout — forgetting is the worst.

The point is I care. I care about the game and I care about how each and every one of you performs in your daily fantasy baseball leagues; whatever format they may be.

So next week, when you purchase a newspaper or read this column online, be confident in knowing that you're receiving valuable advice from someone who shares the same passion as yourself. I'm not guaranteeing you fortune and fame but I'd like to think I give you a better shot at gaining year-long bragging rights over your friends.

I'll be dishing out advice for two different formats: leagues that use daily point totals and leagues that use rotisserie scoring.

I hope you take the chance on me and venture back next Tuesday. I'll do my best to prepare you for a league trophy and hey, if you don't win, you're still reading about baseball on your lunch break as your mind takes a much needed break to a far away destination. You can't beat that.

dwebb@nncogannett.com

Twitter: @dw1509