is this strategy unfair for my opponents

[GiantFan666]

This is more or less completely off-topic but pitcher churning questions are to Sept as when is Yahoo starting signups for fantasy baseball is to February!

You know, it might not be a bad idea to make one great big thread dealing with this next year and then just combine any new threads about it into the big thread. I'll give it some thought.

Maybe you could post up a sticky for a "glossary" of common fantasy baseball terms, the ABC's of fantasy baseball so to speak...
and a preseason sticky as well... when does yahoo start?? will it work if I draft all closers... etc etc

[Madison]

Some good ideas here guys.

I'll see about getting creative this offseason in preparation for next year.

[Fireball Express]

Churning = Playing Defense

What would the penalty for breaking this rule be? A tongue lashing on the message board? A Warning?
My commish says he'll lockdown your roster if you pick up and drop more than 2 players per position per day. Problem is some guys qualify at more than 1 position. Our big stink came when a guy picked up 3 Ps yet 2 of them were SP/RPs.

Yahoo uses the terms "improving the owner's team and/or its standing within the league" and "sole purpose is to hamper the play of other owners". If you pick up a player that your opponent would likely pick up (a SP in this case) you are both "hampering" and "improving your standing within the league".
You can never really prove intent, especially if the owner waits before he drops the player instead of doing it immediately.

[LBJackal]

Right, it's hard to prove intent. But when you're playing agaisnt a guy H2H, and you stop him from adding multiple SP's every day by churning, what does logic tell you the churner's motive is? To help himself win. That's quite obvious.

It's a very cheap way to play so I understand why so many people think it's illegal in public Yahoo leagues. But I guess we all learned a lesson - make sure we have rules against it in all of our private leagues!

[Lofunzo]

What some people fail to realize is the clear difference. There is a big difference between picking up 2 SP's a day and then dropping them the next day after you have used them and picking up a player and dropping him immediately for the sole purpose of not letting someone else pick that player up.

If people want to pick apart the semantics of what Yahoo wrote, then so be it. In the least, it is morally wrong and I like to win the right way.

[ukrneal]

I just posted this on one of the other churning/spot starting threads, but I can't accept a definition of spot starting to refer to the regular use of FA starters. Spot, in this case, means occassional. The M-W dictionary even has a definition:

"e : performing occasionally when needed <chance of making the... varsity as a spot starter and relief pitcher -- N. Y. Times>"

Even the expression: 'Regular Spot Starting' is odd because it means regular occassional starting.

[Madison]

What would the penalty for breaking this rule be? A tongue lashing on the message board? A Warning?

Actually, Yahoo can delete your entire account. Fantasy leagues, mail, etc. Right there on the rules page:

These restrictions may include:


The suspension of specific game privileges (trading, message board posting, etc.) for the remainder of the season.
The suspension of all playing privileges for the remainder of the season.
The complete deactivation and removal of the corresponding Yahoo! account.
Any other action that Yahoo!, at its sole discretion, feels is necessary to restore fair play to the league.