Insult to Injury

With the end of the season in sight, I can see that the end won't be pretty.  I couldn't pull off the miraculous surge to make the post season, my team was injury plagued all year, and now I can't even win when the pressure is off.

There's a moral dilemma which seems to present itself around this time in the season.  Does an owner, whose team is dead in the water, need to continue to try to win games?

My league has an interesting feature that keeps lame duck owners interested.  The team with the most overall points accumulated throughout the season gets a piece of the prize money.  There is a problem with this however.  If you are in last place, like myself, chances are that you do not have anywhere near the most points among the teams.

So in all actuality it's kind of insulting.  You spend all season trying to put together the best team possible, only to fail over and over again.  Sure there were bouts where you thought you were on top of the world, but in the end you have to slump back to the reality that your team flat out sucks.  Now your expected to keep the charade going even after you have no business in winning a dime.

It's over... Everybody knows it, yet we continue to set our line-ups like the responsible fantasy managers that we are.  When it's all officially said and done, there's a good chance that I will still be in last place, which continues to add insult to injury.  I guess I can look forward to receiving my leagues toilet bowl shaped trophy for coming in last place.

Stick a Fork in It

It's over when it's over, ain't it baby ain't it.
rips you like a dagger, can it baby can it.
Wish we could do it over, damn it baby damn it.
We had it in the air, we just couldn't land it.
- Eric Church "Over When it's Over"

These lyrics may be about a failed relationship, but what better way to sum up where I'm at with my season.  Overall, the connection I have with my team is like a relationship. This year it was a rocky one, but it's a relationship.

I have to give my team attention.  Without attention a fantasy team will fail, just like a relationship.  A fantasy team needs loyalty.  An owner who doesn't show his team some loyalty will have a widely different roster each week, which most likely isn't a good thing.  A good owner has to spend time with his team.  I'm not saying you need to hangout with the professional players, as cool as that would be; but you need to spend time thinking about your roster each week.  Comparing match ups and keeping an eye on injuries, picking only the players that will give your team the best chance of winning.

Comparing a fantasy team to a human relationship isn't as big of a stretch as one might think.  Sure you'll have some ups and downs, but in the end it's the thought that counts.  My relationship was a failure, but there's always next year to start over and try again.  We may not have worked out too well, but just like any tough breakup, you'll be back for more sooner or later.

For the rest of the year, I will focus on not finishing in last place, regardless of the fact that I will not be making the playoffs.