(*) MASTER NOTES: Play fantasy with the All Star Game
Jul 11 2014
For some of us, the All Star break is a nice mid-season respite from the daily drone of accumulating statistics and shifting standings. For the other 99% of us, the break is four days of interminable darkness.
The All Star game itself is, well, a distraction. While it determines the home field advantage for the World Series, that value is still artificial.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
This year, I am going to give you a reason to watch the game with more than just a passing interest.
About nine years ago, I introduced a fantasy game that revolved around a single Major League Baseball contest. It was called Quint-Inning. While it generated a bit of interest back then, I haven't done much to sustain the early buzz.
The All Star Game is a terrific opportunity to re-introduce the concept. And if you're not already intrigued enough, here is one more reason to consider playing it this Tuesday... the Federal Government says this game is illegal.
Now, the feds are not going to break down your door and arrest your friends; it's pretty much as safe as playing poker down in your basement. But you won't ever find online Quint-Inning tournaments like you can find most other daily fantasy contests.
Still, this can be a lot of fun. Here are the rules, adjusted slightly for the All Star Game's larger roster sizes.
1. Start with five owners.
2. Prior to first pitch, conduct a draft where each owner selects five players. This can be done as a simple snake draft, or if you're more ambitious, auction off the 25 players. Give each owner a budget of $50 of real or fake money.
3. Scoring is simple. For batters, singles, walks, hit-by-pitches and stolen bases are one point each. Doubles are 2 points. Triples are 3 points. Home runs are 4 points. Pitchers get one point for each out recorded but lose one point for every hit or walk they allow. This is a little different from the standard game and is done to accommodate the fact that there will likely be a pitching change almost every inning.
4. At the beginning of the 5th inning, each owner has the option of doubling any future points for one player on his roster. We call that player the Quint. Points for all batters are doubled beginning in the 9th inning. That means the Quint's points would be quadrupled.
5. At the end of each inning, you can cut players, claim players from the free agent pool or trade players. You must maintain five players at all times, so all adds, drops and trades must keep your roster square. Free agent claims are done in reverse order of the standings. If two teams are tied and both want the same player, I find it helpful to have a deck of cards handy - the owner who draws high card would get the player.
6. Quint-Inning is a betting game, which is one of the reasons it's technically illegal. Owners need to ante up to play, typically $5, though if you're using a $50 auction budget, that works fine. It then costs $1 per inning to stay in the game for the second through fourth innings. Beginning in the 5th inning, the stakes increase to $2 per inning to stay in the game.
7. Owners can fold at any time, forfeiting any monies they contributed to the pot. Their players are released into the free agent pool and are available to the remaining owners in reverse order of the standings.
8. Finally, the owner with the most points at the end of the game wins the pot.
The All Star Game is a terrific venue for Quint-Inning because there are so many players. Conceivably, I imagine you could expand the game to six or seven owners. Even with a $5 buy-in and five owners, the pot by the end of the game could be 90 bucks if everyone stays in to the end. Not a bad payday for three hours work.
I'd be interested in hearing from any of you who take Quint-Inning out for a spin. Comment below.
More From Archives
The e-version of the 2024 Minor League Baseball Analyst is now available to all who have purchased directly from BaseballHQ.com.
Jan 16 2024 6:00pm
Jan 16 2024 6:00pm
Baseball is back soon! And even thought the Hot Stove hasn't seemed to get going, fantasy drafts are happening and there's move to discuss. Join co-GM of BaseballHQ.com Brent Hershey at 12 noon ET for some 2024 talk.
FREE
Jan 15 2024 12:00pm
FREE
Jan 15 2024 12:00pm
The full set of electronic files from Ron Shandler's 2004 Baseball Forecaster are now available for download, if you bought the book direct from BaseballHQ.com. Links inside!
Jan 3 2024 9:00am
Jan 3 2024 9:00am
-300x200.png)
Thursday night, 8pm ET! Join us as we celebrate the hard copy release of Ron Shandler's 2024 Baseball Forecaster.
FREE
Dec 14 2023 8:00pm
FREE
Dec 14 2023 8:00pm
Our first chat of the offseason. Winter Meetings are here, fantasy drafts are underway, and the Baseball Forecaster is a-comin'! Join co-GM of BaseballHQ.com Brent Hershey at 12 noon ET for some early 2024 talk.
FREE
Dec 4 2023 12:00pm
FREE
Dec 4 2023 12:00pm
