Cutting Off Your Competition

There is a little utilized strategy out there of trading to your competition’s competition. If you can make them stumble along the way, maybe you will have a clearer path to your league title. I have been trying this out in the last week and I’m hoping it helps lead me to a championship.

Every league has a Darth Vader. This is the guy who usually is in the hunt every year and often wins. Your number one goal every year is to win the title, but if you can beat The Evil Empire, it’s considered a successful season. This is only my second season in my keeper league and I have positioned myself for a playoff run. I am currently trading off some minor pieces to teams in TEE’s division to see if any of them can possibly catch Vader. Since I’d much rather play that second place team in the playoffs than TEE, it is worth giving away these pieces for next to nothing.

For instance, I traded away Eric Hinske to the second place team in Vader’s division for Jason Marquis. Marquis is not a very good pitcher, so I’m not really interested in him. I have enough hitters to get where I want to go, so Hinske was a luxury that could serve me better in other ways. Since this other team is fielding Richie Sexson at 1B, I knew this would be an upgrade for him.

Finding ways to help your team can be difficult. But being creative is the secret to being successful. And beating The Evil Empire is always good.