So, you find yourself in 6th place in your fantasy baseball league. A little out of the top five payout spots but still far enough away from the bottom that you still feel that you might be 'in it.' That's the hardest place to be when deciding on whether to start dealing for younger, cheaper talent to hold on to for next year or to try and trade those elements away to try and make a run yourself.
Obviously, this is only relevant for keeper leagues. If you are playing in a one year and start over type league, I feel sorry for you (did I say that out loud?). Really, play like you mean it and actually get yourself into a keeper league:) It is much more fun and provides for a lot more intrigue whether you are toward the top or at the bottom.
I have been playing in a keeper league for over twenty years. Each year is something different. I've won and I've also been toward the bottom where I work the trade wires similar to what the Cubs, Phillies, Brewers and the other second division teams are starting to do. Play for next year. In a keeper league there is always something that will make the season interesting.
Off of the 'keeper league' soapbox, the hardest position to be at is when you are around the top. Some folks feel that anything less than a title is not enough so even if they feel they can finish in the top 3 or top five, it does not matter. They are dealing. We have a couple of guys in our league like that. If they know the top is probably out of the question for themselves this year, they are hitting the trade route. Others in that category will make a few deals but still work the waiver wire and free agent pool to grab a guy or two that can propel them into the top group, even if it means not winning it.
It's all in your perspective. I am actually in that boat right now. I am in sixth place and we pay out the top five. It's not so much the prize money as it is the pride of finishing 'in the money'. One of our guys keeps track of that stuff historically and prints an update each off-season. I have to admit that it is nice to see my team name mentioned more than others when it comes to finishing in the top five.
However, there have been years where it is so disappointing to finish fourth as opposed to winning it that I have dealt guys left and right even though I was toward the top. Again, assess what your thoughts were going into the season. How has that changed now at the All-Star break? What do you want to accomplish for the rest of the year? How badly do you want to beat out some guys? All these questions, and probably more, come into play in deciding whether to play for next year or keep moving forward with this one.
The All-Star break always brings a sense of withdrawal, since there are no stats to look at for a few days. However, it can be a time to reflect and honestly ask yourself where you want to go from here.
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