Just a thought...

[mikemcj55]

I should preference this post by saying that I love yahoo's fantasy services, I think its easy to use and accessible, and I understand the concept that you get what you pay for. However, I also think a service can never stop improving, and there's no harm in trying.

I think yahoo needs more stats. My particular beef is with the lack of quality starts as a pitcher category. While far from perfect, i think its a more accurate predictor of a pitcher's consistency and team-independent value than is wins. However, each of the past two years that I've requested it, I've been rejected, without any stated reason (though most definitely economic).

So my thought was to use the power of the consumer. I was wondering if there was any way that the cafe could get some sort of petition going to ask them to add quality starts to their categories, along with any other stats that seem to be in high demand (opp BA, net steals, etc.). I don't know if the stat licensing finances become unmanageable for them if they start adding too many stats, but if enough people want certain things, maybe they would consider it, and there's certainly no harm in asking.

If this is a terrible idea, or has been done, or if people think we'll be beating our heads against a wall, please let me know, I'm just trying to gauge interest/reactions. My general sense when perusing the cafe and the baseball world is the growing rise of sabr and other more accurate player stats is leading to a growing recognition of the imperfections of 5x5 stats and other traditional baseball categories. Yahoo, one of the biggest providers of these services, will undoubtedly turn like a battlership on this issue, but I'm hoping that if the cafe gives them a push in the right direction, they might just turn a bit faster.

[Giambis]

I would definitely get in on it, though I agree with you that yahoo might not listen or change anytime soon.
There are several stats I would like to see be added. The problem I might see is that if we would petition them effectively, we couldn't ask for every stat, it would be too easy to dismiss.
We'd have to pick a select few that we could agree on. Would a poll be the best way to do that?

[rotterdam_82]

Its free.

[go_jays_go]

I get what your saying, but I'm cool with what they are providing. I mean, you can't beat it if it's for free.

[Madison]

I would if we were discussing a stat that I use often. 6 innings, 3 earned runs is not a quality start to me, so it's not a stat I use often. When I do want to check a pitcher's quality starts, I just scan his game log. Really easy to do, and leaves the judgement on what I call a quality start, up to me.

Good luck with getting what you want though.