Rules to Draft By

1) Never take a pitcher in the first round. Pitchers will pitch 1-2 games per week, a position player will play five to seven games a week. I don't know, you do the math.

2) Grab two strong pitchers in the first 7 rounds. Two strong starters are better than four mediocre starters. You always want an ace and a #2 pitcher. Draft inning eaters with a decent ERA and WHIP to fil out the rest of your staff.

3) Relievers are overrated in fantasy baseball. Draft one after the 10th round. Few innings pitched, little affect on ERA, K, and IP. Only useful for saves. See tip #5 for the exception

4) If you find a pitcher that qualifies for both starter and reliever, won't sound like a bad idea to draft him. Especially if it's a big name pitcher (ahem Joba C.). Will help in all pitching categories.

5) Follow the draft. If you notice that one position is strong in one round, jump on the bandwagon and draft one before you are left with the scraps.

6) Take advantage of homers. If one player is drafting his favorite team, grab one of them and rob him in a trade. People like them exist.

7) Don't draft by name, draft by stats. Fantasy baseball does not care if Alex Rodriguez took steroids, they care about the numbers he puts up.

8) Always have a depth chart at least five players deep. Chances are, you won't have the best players from each position on your team. As a matter of fact, you won't...ever.

9) Don't stock up on one stat. Spread out your draft picks to cover all stats. If you draft for AVG, where will your HR and RBI totals come from?

10) Watch the weak positions. OF, 1B, and SP are very deep. 2B and C are two of the more shallow positions. Draft accordingly.

11) Pay attention to the latest injury reports. Hear about Ben Sheets?

12) Trade value. If you follow the first 11 rules, your team will have trade value that you can take advantage of.

13) Don't believe in the hype of sophomore seasons and contract years. That Varitek choice didn't pay out too well, did it?

14) Just because a player is ranked higher than another player does not mean they are statistically better. See #7.

15) Draft smart. Your #1 draft choice will not win you a title, but it can cost you one.