Don't Be This Person in Your Fantasy Baseball League
Jun 5, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two run home run during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

There’s one owner in everybody’s fantasy baseball league that you simply don’t want to be. We explain it now.

If you are reading this, I am guessing that you are in a fantasy baseball, basketball or football league. Most of us are in leagues with our friends, college buddies or friends of friends and for the most part things run smoothly.

However, there are certain players that make playing fantasy sports rough to tolerate.

Isn’t that the whole point of playing fantasy sports? We all play this game because it’s fun and it gives us the chance to pretend that we are general managers of a team. It doesn’t matter if its fantasy baseball, basketball or football, we do this to have fun.

Most of my articles I give you have information and statistics about which players to play or pick up off the free agent wire, but today, this article is about the players we shouldn’t be in our fantasy leagues.

Enjoy playing fantasy sports but at the same time realize this is a game and everyone wants to have a good time doing it. Don’t make it personal.

Don’t be the person who doesn’t show up to the draft:

I understand if an emergency happens and you can’t make the draft, that’s understandable. Other than that, don’t miss the draft. The draft is the best part of being part of a fantasy league. You get to trash talk the other managers and make fun of them if they reach for a player. You get to choose the players you like and want to watch and help you win.

I know players that have said that they want the computer to draft their team because they will get auto drafted a better team. If that’s the case, don’t be that person and don’t play at all. If you don’t tell your league commissioner that you can’t make the draft and don’t show up that is just a jerk move on your part. Show up to the draft, do the pre-draft research and put yourself in the best position to win your league.

Don’t be the person who takes it too serious or makes it personal:

I’m sure that at one time or another we have taken fantasy sports way too serious, and that’s fine. It can be frustrating when you lose in fantasy, but especially in the playoffs or championship game and your emotions can get the best of you. It’s alright to feel angry or upset when you lose. Nobody likes to lose. Let’s be honest. Just don’t take it out on the person you lost to or make it personal down the road whenever you two play down the road.

Apr 28, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) celebrates his solo home run against the Baltimore Orioles with New York Yankees first baseman Greg Bird (33) during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

If you are a commissioner of a fantasy league it’s not your fantasy league. It’s everyone’s league. You’re there to just make sure it runs smoothly and no funny business is happening. You don’t control what the other players in the league do. You can’t turn down trades because it improves a team that you are competing against. You are not commissioner to give yourself an advantage over the other teams and veto trades that don’t involve you. If everyone pays their league fee and there is no conclusion between the two owners who make a trade, you can’t take it personal and veto the trade. Also, don’t form alliances with other owners in the league and tell them not to trade with other owners. I have been a victim of this and I know other owners that this has happened to. Other players don’t make trades with certain owners and take lesser trades just because the commissioner or another person in the league told them not to trade with someone. If you receive a good trade offer and it betters your team, take it.

Don’t be the person who doesn’t set their lineup:

If you sign up (and pay) for a fantasy league, please set your lineup. This is the worst possible thing that you can do in your fantasy league.

I don’t care if you start your season winless, set your lineup. It doesn’t matter how you start your season, it is about how you finish.  Not only are you giving the person a win that you are facing every week but you are making it harder for those who are trying to squeeze into the final spots of the playoffs. It honestly takes five minutes to set your lineup weekly and that includes adding and dropping players.

If you can’t make the commitment to doing a whole season, either add a second owner to your team or let your commissioner know so they can find a replacement. Fantasy sports is a full-time commitment, make sure you have the time to do it for the other people in your league.

Don’t be the person who criticizes others in the league:

There is always someone who puts down another player for making a trade or picking up a player. It doesn’t matter what you think, the other person is trying to improve their team. There have been many trades that I believed to be one sided and only approved one team but the trade doesn’t involve me and there is nothing I can do about it. It can be difficult to understand what another owner is thinking but give them the benefit. Just try to remember that they are doing this for fun and they are trying to improve their team.

Don’t be the person who thinks they know it all:

I have fallen into this category in the past but to be honest, nobody else cares about what you think of their team or a transaction that was made. I have helped others in my leagues with lineup advice and that is fine, there is nothing wrong with that. But please don’t be that guy that goes out of their way to tell another player to sit one of their players.

If you see that a player is inactive on their team, be a good guy and let them know. Worry about your team and yourself. If you try to manager others player’s teams, things will get ugly and quick. Stay in your line and if someone ask you for help, don’t be a tool, help them out. It takes a big person to ask another person for help in fantasy sports.

I love fantasy sports more than you love most things in life. I am great at giving fantasy advice because if it doesn't work out, it's the players fault not mine. I love to help others with their fantasy sports questions and instead of following politics or other important topics that are going on in the world, I do fantasy research. Let me help you guys win your leagues and in daily sports.